Chapter Thirty: The Guest is Two Masters and Servants

  Everyone is an ordinary citizen, the name of this crime of deceiving the emperor is really too scary. When listening to books, I've heard that this crime involves the punishment of nine clans. If the master has committed such a serious crime, does everyone have to be implicated and punished together? The accountant let out a loud cry and turned around to run towards the door.

  He's still quite responsive, while others were scared stiff on the spot. Seeing this scene, Hu Gonggong and Liu Xinyong's group became even more complacent.

  I thought Wang Tong would be flustered and kneel down to beg for mercy, but unexpectedly, Wang Tong's expression changed, and he asked with a fist bump:

  "May I ask where Lord Hu is on duty and why he says that the little one has committed a great crime of deceiving the king?"

  It's true that the imperial guards have great power, but not everyone has the authority to arrest and convict people, let alone deal with a Jin Yiwei. Looking at the situation, it's clear that someone is trying to take advantage of the situation by making false accusations. If you don't investigate clearly, won't you be taken advantage of by the other party?

  Wang Tong's calm and composed demeanor stunned Hu Gonggong, who immediately flew into a rage. A eunuch standing beside him spoke up in a shrill voice:

  "Blind your dog's eyes! This is the chief eunuch of our imperial palace, Hu Gonggong. If you know what's good for you, kneel down and confess immediately, beg for Hu Gonggong's mercy!"

  The inner official system, the twelve monitors, four offices and eight bureaus were combined into twenty-four yamen. The Zhi Dian Jian was responsible for the maintenance and cleaning of various palaces and houses in the imperial city, equivalent to the property department in later generations, and also had some real power.

  But outside the imperial city, people didn't quite recognize this Zhi Dian Jian, and even Wang Tong had to think for a moment before remembering what kind of government office it was. However, the inner officials colluded with each other, and although the Zhi Dian Jian had no power, they did have the right to speak with the Si Li Jian Yu Ma Jian, and if things got entangled, it would be a big trouble.

  This is also why Wang Tong cannot fully belong to this era. For those with power and influence, the current approach is to be humble and courteous, absolutely not offending anyone, who knows which eunuch in the palace is whose confidant, a slight carelessness would invite great disaster.

  Wang Tong's slight hesitation made Hu Tai-guan even angrier, and he shouted in a loud voice:

  "With the Spring Festival approaching, the palace is short-handed everywhere, yet you're opening this brothel to lure in officials and outsiders, delaying the festival preparations, delaying the Emperor's, Empress Dowager's and all the nobles' New Year celebrations. What are your true intentions? Are you harboring some sinister plot?"

  The Heavens have no minor matters, and Hu Taijian's great hat is indeed difficult to shake off. After settling this crime, seeing Wang Tong's face change suddenly, Hu Gonggong's anger dissipated, leaning back against the chair back, coldly saying:

  "Don't think that just because you're wearing this flying fish costume, you're a big shot, waiting for the Eastern embroidery factory to come and take you away. You can't even compare to a flea."

  Dongji Factory is the full name of Dong Factory, which is a powerful government office that surpasses Jin Yiwei. Wang Tong's heart sank, and the other party came here with an unknown purpose, but he had no way to resist, so he could only let the other party do as they pleased.

  The only good thing is that this matter may have something to discuss, if this eunuch and Liu Xinyong don't want to come and talk, it's likely that the bailiffs will directly come to take people away.

  It's hard to get the business going, but it's being taken away by someone else. Wang Tong is really unwilling, but the gap in status and power is there, and he has no choice but to grit his teeth and lower his head.

  Wang Tong touched the dagger at his waist, restrained himself and didn't move. Within the Imperial Guard, there was still room for bravery and ruthlessness to turn around. If he hurt an imperial official, that would be a serious crime of offending the royal dignity, which would lead to the extinction of nine clans and a slow death.

  After thinking of many ideas in his mind, Wang Tong could only clench his fists and ask in a low voice:

  "What does Mr. Hu want to do?"

  During this short period of time, there were occasionally some low-ranking eunuchs who lifted the curtain and wanted to come in to eat, but they were all scolded away by the attending eunuchs of Hu Taijian.

  The atmosphere inside was tense, and the eunuchs who came here outside could not enter the store. They inquired about each other's discussions and rumors, and the noise from the streets was quite loud.

  Liu Xinyong heard Wang Tong's concession and exchanged a glance with Hu Gonggong before speaking up:

  "Everyone has been colleagues for a while, and I won't force you too much. You can resign from your position in the Imperial Guard, hand over this shop and house, take out 500 taels of silver, and then get out of the capital."

  What is meant by "sucking the marrow from one's bones" is precisely this. Wang Tong's shop has been open until now and has only earned a little over 100 taels, and when it reaches around 300 taels, he will have to use up his last savings to make up for it.

  At that time, I was penniless and powerless, with no control over life or death. If I didn't agree, thinking about it carefully, it would only be a choice between dying early or late.

  Previously, it was said that this store affected the preparation for the Spring Festival in the Imperial City, but now no one mentions it. Hu Taijian and Liu Xinyong have a pleased expression on their faces. This prosperous business is about to fall into their hands, and they will completely eliminate the thorn in their eyes. This step-by-step plan has been successfully executed, eliminating enemies while gaining benefits, and they are truly delighted.

  "It's just our family being kind and giving you a way out, if it were someone else..."

  Hu Taijian was leisurely teasing, enjoying the thrill of cat and mouse, while the shop assistants were silent as cicadas, Wang Tong's face was sinking like water, already thinking about how to fight fiercely with the people in front of him, his hands had reached for the handle of his dagger, but no one in the house noticed that the street outside had become eerily quiet.

  At this time, the cotton curtain at the front door of the restaurant was lifted, and two people walked in. It was still early for lunch, so it couldn't be that official and Xiao Pang had arrived. Looking at the official's majestic demeanor, he might be able to help him get out of his current predicament. Wang Tong turned sideways to look over, but found that the newcomers were not them - they were two adults.

  "The eunuch in the palace is on duty, irrelevant people retreat!!"

  The attendant of Hu Tai-monitor said in a shrill voice, presumably because he saw that the two guests did not look like ordinary people, so he didn't say anything unpleasant.

  The eunuchs in the palace handle affairs, hearing this, ordinary officials will also dodge, let alone those big shots in the court, how can they patronize such a small shop.

  However, the two of them did not leave, and instead walked up to the middle-aged man who was stunned for a moment before turning around and asking:

  "Uncle Hu, which yamen is this?"

  Liu Xinyong also wanted to shout, but he swallowed his words back when he saw that the man was wearing a dark red embroidered robe with a Confucian scholar's hat, and looked like he was in his forties or fifties, with a gentle face and benevolent eyes. The person behind him was dressed as a household servant, wearing a green jacket and a small cap.

  It looks like a master and servant are traveling together, but the man's every move exudes an air of majesty that inspires awe. Wang Tong had seen such a person before, when he saw him from afar during a certain big shot's inspection of the school, and at the time he couldn't help but sigh and say that those in high positions are indeed different.

  But today, after only a brief observation, I feel that what I saw back then was far inferior to this old man at the door. The difference is not measured in miles, but rather like the gap between heaven and earth.

  As for that servant, he was over thirty years old, tall and sturdy in build, with a fierce appearance, cautious in his movements, clearly resembling a great general, but strangely enough, he wore a perfectly fitting servant's uniform.

  Thank you everyone, during the World Cup interval, please watch Lao Bai's Jin Yi representing the country. Please continue to support, collect and recommend. Actually, the update speed of this book's public version is almost the same as Su Ming's evil Ming, haha, thank you everyone!