freenovelworld Chapter 200 Concealment
Chapter 200 Concealment
Chapter 200 Concealment
Even if the Song family kept it a secret, the fact that the head of the Song family had not shown up for many days had already begun to spread rumors.
Unlike most people who were unaware of the situation and only guessed based on rumors, the main branch of the Song family and several branches of the Bai family knew why the head of the Song family did not show up.
Witnessing the carnage and blood on the ground in the early hours of that day, it was already remarkable that the head of the Song family did not suffer a stroke and die on the spot.
The third master of the Song family slammed his fist on the table: "This is outrageous! Our Song family has been entrenched in Youzhou Prefecture for over twenty years. This newly appointed prefect first withheld the grain seeds, then threatened my father, causing him to fall ill and be bedridden. How long are we supposed to tolerate him?"
The eldest son of the Song family said in a deep voice, "Sit down."
Even though the third master of the Song family was furious, he obediently sat back down in his original seat in front of his elder brother, who was born of the same mother.
He was still furious, but seeing his elder brother's calm and composed demeanor, the Third Master of the Song family said, "Brother, I can't take it anymore!"
Old Master Song: "Times have changed. Even if you can't stand it, you have to bear it."
As for what kind of person the eldest son of the Song family was, others only described him as a "Confucian businessman," which was already a high compliment for a businessman. However, the third son of the Song family knew that this was just a facade put on by his eldest brother.
The other party's methods are more ruthless than anyone else's.
The third master of the Song family asked hesitantly, "What does eldest brother mean?"
Instead of answering, the eldest son of the Song family asked, "How do you think Father treated you and my brother?"
“Of course…” Seeing the other party’s cold gaze, the third master of the Song family said truthfully, “Although Father is good to both of us, he is even better to Second Brother.”
The second master of the Song family was born to a concubine of the Song family head. However, this concubine was not born a servant, nor was she a girl from an ordinary family. Instead, she was the Song family head's cousin. If her family had not fallen into decline, she would not have become the Song family head's concubine.
Third Master Song: "No matter his background or ability, he can't compare to my eldest brother. Even if Father treats him well, what does it matter? Father and Grandfather value you the most, eldest brother."
He waved for his men to leave, leaving only the two brothers inside.
The eldest son of the Song family said, "What you see is only the surface. Since last year, Father has handed over the family's silk business to my second brother. Although the Song family has always been in the tea business, silk is very profitable. I don't need to say more, you should know that."
The third master of the Song family was unaware of this news, as he spent most of his time outside engaging in cockfighting and dog racing.
But he knew the importance of the family's silk business. In the past, when the family's silk business was not profitable, his father handed it over to his eldest brother. His eldest brother ran around for two years before gradually turning the family's silk business from loss to profit.
The third master of the Song family said indignantly, "How could Father do this? What about you, eldest brother?!"
"He is the head of the Song family and also my father. Why can't he do this?"
The eldest son of the Song family raised his hand to stop him from getting angry: "There is a roundabout way to handle this matter. It will be beneficial to you and my brother after Prefect Zheng takes office."
He looked at the third master of the Song family and saw that the other party was as bewildered as his own newborn child. He explained helplessly, "Although Lord Zheng is dissatisfied with the Song and Bai families, he will not completely suppress us. He will probably change the heads of the families."
The third master of the Song family asked in confusion, "In that case, aren't we being controlled by others?"
"Do you think the Song family can remain unscathed forever?" said the third master of the Song family. "In Youzhou Prefecture, the Song family is at the height of its power, looking very formidable, but in reality, it has long been seen as a fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered by others!"
“You have never left Youzhou Prefecture, but I have often been traveling for business. Do you know how difficult it is for merchants to survive in other places? Ordinary people all say that we are a wealthy and powerful family, but who really controls the lifeline of a prefecture is an ordinary merchant like us? Youzhou Prefecture is a remote and desolate place, without any long-established aristocratic families. It is only through hard work that our family has managed to accumulate some wealth. But don’t forget, none of our family members are officials in the court.”
“In other places, merchants not only have to pay tribute to local officials, but also to the stationed army and powerful families. Third brother, the Song family has been enjoying peace and comfort for too long. If it weren’t for the Zhenbei Army guarding here, and my frequent donations of grain to the Zhenbei Army, do you think the Song family could have remained peaceful all these years?”
The third master of the Song family was speechless.
There were some things that the eldest son of the Song family didn't mention. With the outside world in turmoil, he didn't know how long the Great Qian Dynasty could remain stable. If that happened, the Song family would be powerless and helpless, and how would they resist others' plunder?
The eldest son of the Song family continued, "Lord Zheng's arrival is a golden opportunity to break the deadlock."
The newly appointed prefect, whom the eldest son of the Song family had never met, was a man of great talent and ability, judging from his conduct after taking office and the information he had gathered from his friends in the capital.
What he needed to do was to make the other party see his value and rightfully take over the Song family from his father.
The eldest son of the Song family instructed the third son of the Song family: "Don't be impulsive no matter what the other family members say in front of you. Just make a show of it to appease them."
Song Heng didn't think much of the other families. If he hadn't dealt with them for many years and associated with them, he would have felt that it would have tainted him.
inside the house.
Several charcoal braziers were burning in the corner, and as soon as he entered, the young official took off his outer garment.
Seeing this, Gu Lin said, "It's already springtime, let's have someone take the charcoal brazier away, otherwise it will feel too hot and dry if we stay in the house for too long."
Gu Lin added, "In recent years, I have been drinking tonics, and my health has improved a lot. I am not as afraid of the cold as before."
After hanging up his clothes, Zheng Hao approached Gu Lin and sat down next to him.
Then, he reached out his large hand and grasped the young man's hand. It was slender, thin, delicate, and slightly cool. Zheng Hao looked down at Gu Lin and asked, "Is this considered hot?"
Before the young man could argue, Zheng Hao continued, "Youzhou Prefecture is colder than the capital. Even though it's springtime, the snow on the higher mountains outside the city hasn't melted yet. Uncle Gu, don't be careless and catch a cold."
Listening to the other person's lecture, Gu Lin waved his hand but couldn't pull his own palm out, somewhat helplessly: "I can't argue with you. You're getting more and more fond of lecturing me these days."
She was not nearly as well-behaved as before.
A hint of helplessness and warmth flickered in Zheng Hao's dark eyes as he softened his tone: "Your concern is just like Uncle Gu's constant reminders when he was worried about my illness. My heart is no different from Uncle Gu's."
"How can these be the same?" Gu Lin thought to himself.
Back then, the young man was just a child, so it was understandable that he cared about the other person. He was an adult, but the young man always treated him like a child.
As if he could read his thoughts, Zheng Hao lowered his eyes slightly: "Uncle Gu, are you finding this annoying? I suppose so. I wish I could stare at Uncle Gu every day. Most people would find it unbearable, so it's understandable that Uncle Gu can't stand it."
Seeing Zheng Hao lower his head slightly, analyzing and reflecting on himself, and thinking about the other party's thoughtfulness and care for him, Gu Lin felt that he had gone a bit too far.
He moved his palm to feel the movement beneath it. Zheng Hao looked up at him, and Gu Lin said, "You know that's not what I meant."
The young man stared at him, and Gu Lin moved his lips to explain, "I wasn't bothering you."
Originally, Zheng Hao was only teasing Uncle Gu, but seeing how seriously the other party treated him, Zheng Hao said to Gu Lin in a low voice, "I know that Uncle Gu is the best person in the world to me."
Gu Lin's heart was pounding, and he felt his palms getting hot. He wondered why Zheng Hao, who was usually so aloof, was saying so many nice things.
The young man completely forgot that he had heard plenty of nice things from the other man when he was a teenager.
The only difference was the change in their identities; the young man's sweet talk had changed from compliments to elders to sweet words to his partner, which made Gu Lin feel embarrassed.
Gu Lin moved on from that matter and asked about the important matter: "You just offended the Song and Bai families, and then you released news that you were going to host a banquet for the city's major families. What were you thinking?"
"I can't make Uncle Gu angry," Zheng Hao reminded himself as his gaze swept over the other man's bright, light brown eyes.
In response to Uncle Gu's doubts, Zheng Hao said, "In the past, I have repeatedly tried to test them, but I have always turned them down. Now I am generously hosting a banquet to return the favor of their tests."
Hearing the young man's words, Gu Lin was not at ease. Now he knew that the young man was different from the regent in the original book, but both of them had a sense of madness in their bones. The difference was that they had different experiences. Zheng Hao was more able to control himself and had more empathy. He would not kill innocent people indiscriminately like the regent.
Thinking about the rumors he'd heard recently, Gu Lin frowned and asked Zheng Hao, "Is the fact that Patriarch Song was frightened unconscious by the thugs related to you?"
The Song family kept the news very secret. Apart from a few close relatives, no one outside knew why the Song family head was bedridden.
Meeting the young man's discerning gaze, Zheng Hao remained calm, with a hint of helplessness: "I spend all my time with Uncle Gu. How can I intervene when Patriarch Song has an accident in the middle of the night?"
Thinking back to the day the Song family head had his accident, Zheng Hao stayed at home and was almost always by his side, so he really didn't have time to instruct the servants to intimidate the Song family head.
Gu Lin did not completely relax. The young man seemed calm and composed, but sometimes he did things without leaving any way out for others or himself.
Gu Lin did not want Zheng Hao to end up like the regent in the original book, who indiscriminately climbed to a high position by stepping on countless bones.
He said to the young man, "When will the banquet be held? I will attend with you."
The day of the banquet.
After receiving the invitation from the prefect, the Song and Bai families in the city had various speculations running through their minds.
After the Song family head was inexplicably intimidated and fell into a coma by the thugs, some people who knew the real story guessed that the prefect had begun to retaliate. The other family heads who originally had some ideas to make things difficult for the young prefect temporarily stopped and watched.
They thought that after the Song family head suffered such an ordeal, the eldest son of the Song family would retaliate and teach Prefect Zheng a lesson. Unexpectedly, the eldest son of the Song family had no reaction and even came to the banquet. They had different thoughts.
Before attending the banquet, Gu Lin reminded Zheng Hao: "Don't act impulsively. If they don't cooperate, we can deal with them after the banquet."
Don't let it out on the spot and give others a handle to use against you. Zheng Hao's official position has risen too quickly in just over a year.
After changing into his official robes, Zheng Hao glanced at the worry on the young man's brow and said, "Uncle Gu, don't worry."
According to his original plan, he invited the Song Bai family to the banquet today, and then had the Zhenbei Army surround the government office. If the Song Bai family did not cooperate, he would not bother with them and would directly send troops to surround the government office. However, Uncle Gu seemed to be able to foresee the future and knew what he was going to do next.
With his eyes half-closed, how could Zheng Hao possibly reveal his brutal side in front of Gu Lin? He gradually suppressed the anger in his heart.
But if those people refuse to listen to reason and end up having to suffer the consequences, then he can't be blamed.
After Song Bai's family and other prominent merchants from Youzhou Prefecture arrived, Da Yan came in to report. Zheng Hao and Gu Lin exchanged a glance and then attended together.
Inside the spacious hall, the seats were arranged in an orderly fashion, with not a single seat vacant. As the young prefect entered, all eyes turned to him.
The group rose and bowed to the young prefect: "This humble subject greets Your Excellency the Prefect!"
"No gift."
As Zheng Hao walked towards the head seat, he said calmly.
Everyone looked up and realized that the prefect was not alone. He was accompanied by a handsome young man, not behind him, but beside him. It was clear that Prefect Zheng valued this young man highly.
They had inquired and learned that this Lord Zheng had no wife or concubines in his harem, but he had a respected uncle. If they were not mistaken, this should be the man in front of them.
They had initially wondered who was sitting in the empty seat next to Lord Zheng, since Judge Wan was sitting below him. Now, seeing the young man sit down as if nothing had happened, their doubts were answered.
After taking his seat, Zheng Hao glanced around the room and said, "I have been busy for many days since taking office in Youzhou Prefecture. I only had a little free time to invite you all to meet."
As soon as these words were spoken, a merchant who knew how to speak responded, "It is an honor for us that you, sir, have taken time out of your busy schedule to invite us to this banquet."
If it were in Jibei Prefecture, Zheng Hao might have been more patient and spent some time arguing with them.
Now his vision extends beyond a single place or prefecture. Zheng Hao said calmly, "I invited you all to this banquet to ask you to generously donate to make agricultural tools for the people and speed up spring plowing."
After these words were spoken, the entire room fell into a brief silence.
Before attending the banquet, they knew it was a trap, and that Prefect Zheng had come prepared. Knowing this, they could not openly oppose the government, so they all came to the banquet.
They had expected that Prefect Zheng would urge them to return the grain seeds at the banquet, and they had even prepared their responses. However, Prefect Zheng asked them to donate money to make farm tools.
After exchanging glances, one of them, having received a signal, tentatively spoke up: "We are the people of Youzhou Prefecture, and we also have a responsibility to carry out the important task of spring plowing. Your suggestion is excellent, sir. I am willing to donate two hundred taels of silver for the making of farm tools."
The scene fell silent again. The young prefect remained silent, his eyes half-closed as he looked down at the crowd below.
Seeing that he did not make a move, the merchants present took turns trying to speak.
"This humble citizen is willing to offer two hundred taels..."
"This humble citizen is willing to offer three hundred taels..."
The room was filled with top merchants from Youzhou Prefecture, whose daily meals cost more than a hundred taels of silver, yet they tried to fool the young prefect with only two or three hundred taels.
Unperturbed, Zheng Hao considered these people to be on the verge of death. He turned his gaze slightly to the young man beside him and saw that the man's expression was frozen, his light brown eyes seemed to be filled with flames.
He was furious; Zheng Hao lowered his eyes slightly.
With a slight turn of her head, Da Yan received the signal and immediately jogged towards her husband after the person serving the dishes.
Da Yan said in a low voice, "Husband, the young master has returned and has important matters to report."
The young master is Gu An. The important matter is probably the distribution of grain seeds. Zheng Hao is busy dealing with everyone. Gu Lin said to Da Yan, "You stay here and watch over things. I'll go take a look."
After saying that, Gu Lin got up and left the lobby.
The merchants below continued to speak, but after the young man left, Zheng Hao's gaze deepened, and he looked at the crowd below with a cold expression.
He turned his head to look at Da Zhuo, who, upon receiving the signal, immediately stepped forward and raised his hand downwards to interrupt them.
"quiet!"
[Get your wife away before unleashing your ultimate move.]