Watching the bailiff's mocking smile, Qian Zhuo couldn't even hear what he was saying.
"Sir, this fellow is really pathetic, so shallow..."
From the crowd, a coachman watching the spectacle couldn't help but curl his lips.
"That's several thousand guan. It would be a miracle if he could endure it!"
Yuan Xingchi, however, paid no mind to this. Before choosing Qian Zhuo, he had already sent people to thoroughly investigate the man's background. This fellow had originally spent 1,500 guan to buy the position of a Langzhong in the Ministry of Revenue. Because he was caught for corruption, he was kicked to the northwest and became the magistrate of a small county. With a total population under 2,000, he had managed to extort 5,000 guan in three years. It was with this 5,000 guan that he smoothed his connections and was gradually transferred to the Censorate. He was originally aiming for further promotion, but he happened to coincide with Cai Jing's downfall and Wang Fu's fatal blow. The Ministry of Personnel then underwent a major reshuffle, forcing the buying and selling of offices to a halt. Furthermore, he was dissolute and lustful, and the expenses in Bianliang City were too high. In less than a few months, the wealth he had extorted was directly squandered. It was for this reason that he had to dutifully muddle along in his position as a censor. But now, all of this fellow's affairs were completely over.
"Let's go. Someone will handle the Kaifeng Prefecture matters. We should go and attend to our own business now!" Seeing that there was nothing more to watch, Yuan Xingchi stretched and then closed his carriage window again. The weather was getting colder, and life without a hand-warmer was simply unbearable.
"My Lord, Qian Zhuo has been arrested!" Normally, such a matter would not have alerted Wang Fu, but since this fellow had just visited the Wang residence last night, Qin Hui dared not conceal such news.
"Arrested? For what?" Hearing this news, Wang Fu was taken aback. He did not want any more complications at this time.
"It seems he's involved in some theft case. It's said he harbored stolen goods. The Kaifeng Prefecture has already notified the Censorate about the case!"
"What nonsense is this?" Hearing the charge, Wang Fu was stunned. For a moment, he didn't know what to say. His subordinates engaged in corruption and bribery, and extortion, but as for anything related to thieves, this was truly the first time.
"Is this kid out of his mind with poverty?" After a long pause, Wang Fu finally cursed.
"My Lord, what should we do now? If he loses his official position, then the severe punishments in Kaifeng Prefecture..." Qin Hui said with a wry smile.
"I don't care if he dies!" After pacing back and forth more than ten times, Wang Fu heavily slapped the table. At this moment, he truly felt a sense of disappointment in his subordinate. It would have been better if the fellow had just asked him for money. By committing such a disgraceful act, and with stolen goods found in his possession, unless Wang Fu revealed his identity and rescued him immediately, this fellow was surely finished. However, if he intervened, the fellow would lose all his value. He was merely a minor censor, an insignificant official, and now with a tarnished reputation. From any perspective, Wang Fu had no reason to act for such a person at this time.
"But he was at our residence last night, and if he implicates you, won't that be even more embarrassing?" Hearing Qin Hui's analysis, Wang Fu's face darkened further.
"Find someone to go and warn him to shut his mouth!" After a moment of deliberation, Wang Fu said viciously.
"My Lord, a judge from Kaifeng Prefecture is here. He says Kaifeng Prefecture has something they wish to confirm with you..." Just as Wang Fu finished speaking, a servant's voice suddenly came from outside.
"My God!" Hearing this, Wang Fu was completely dumbfounded. This kid was too useless! If you want someone to save you, at least give them time to save you!
"When did I become so idle? Let them investigate their own matters in Kaifeng Prefecture. This Duke has no time to see him!" Enraged, Wang Fu immediately cursed without thinking.
"Yes, sir!" Hearing his furious voice, these servants of the Wang family dared not utter another word.
"My Lord, perhaps I should go out and ask?" This fellow was too quick to back down. Qin Hui was now worried that this old fellow might say something fatal.
"Ask what? Even if he says the sky falls, does anyone dare suspect this Duke because of a mere censor?" Since he had said so, Qin Hui could do nothing but bow to him and then shut his mouth. This matter came too suddenly and too strangely, yet it also seemed plausible within its strangeness. As a result, neither Wang Fu nor Qin Hui thought of anything else, and naturally, neither of them expected that such a small matter would become the turning point for Cai Jing's counterattack...
"Father, I've found out!" As the sun was about to set, Cai Jing was preparing to go back to sleep when Cai Tao hurriedly entered from outside.
"Found out what? You're making such a fuss!" Seeing his son enter, Cai Jing waved away the courtesans around him.
"This surname Qian, he's actually Wang Fu's man!"
"What did you say?" Hearing this, Cai Jing's previously cloudy eyes suddenly flashed with brilliance.
"That kid was desperate for money. After Yang Chengchou gave him a scare, he immediately confessed. He's an undercover agent planted by Wang Fu in the Censorate!" Cai Tao himself did not expect such a significant discovery this time.
"It truly is that scoundrel causing trouble! Then where did this news come from? No outsider could know about such a thing. Who leaked this news to him?" Originally, such matters could not be brought to light. However, in these turbulent times, Cai Jing did not want the Cai family to be put in the spotlight. After all, a prime minister's family being as rich as a nation was not a good thing!