Volume One, Chapter Six: The Requisition of Horses

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Song Fanghuai didn’t take Shen Ji seriously at all.

After picking up the scattered silver, Song Fanghuai began to ponder quietly.

His daughter had gone missing!

And that half of the jade pendant was still with her!

The person who had given them instructions had already left Qingzhou!

Without that half of the jade pendant, the person responsible for guarding the silver wouldn’t even consider handing it over or helping them transport it. They wouldn’t even be allowed to see the silver.

This was truly a troublesome matter!

That damned girl—where on earth had she run off to?

“Master, bad news!”

Just as Song Fanghuai was quietly anxious, a house servant came running over, panic-stricken.

At the servant’s words, Song Fanghuai’s heart tightened.

Could it be news about Qingluan?

Had something happened to Qingluan?

He prayed to heaven with all his heart, hoping it wasn’t bad news.

Then he sternly scolded the servant, “Why are you so flustered? What kind of conduct is this? The Song family is now one of the imperial merchants. Though you are servants, you must remain calm in chaos!”

“...”

The servant nodded stiffly, “I know my mistake.”

Satisfied, Song Fanghuai glanced at him and then slowly asked, “Well, what is it?”

The servant hurriedly reported, “Young Master Shen Ji has stormed in with a large group, and...”

“What?”

Song Fanghuai suddenly stood up, sneering coldly. “He really dares to come rob the Song family openly? Let’s go meet him! I want to see how he plans to snatch silver from the Song family!”

With that, Song Fanghuai strode outside.

The servant hurried to follow, anxiously saying, “Master, Young Master Shen Ji still...”

“What’s there to panic about?”

Song Fanghuai interrupted harshly. “He won’t be Young Master Shen Ji much longer. What’s there to fear? Besides, even if the sky falls, I’ll be the one to bear it. What could you possibly...”

But Song Fanghuai’s words stopped abruptly.

Because he saw Shen Ji!

Behind Shen Ji trailed a host of county soldiers clad in leather armor.

But what caught the eye most was the glaring yellow object in Shen Ji’s hand.

It was... an imperial edict!

This useless wretch had posted the imperial edict in Qingzhou?

He knew perfectly well what the edict said!

Could it be that this fool overheard the conversation between Qingluan and that person yesterday?

No!

Impossible!

If this fool had heard, he would have stormed in with the soldiers straight away!

Finding the relief silver would surely bring him great rewards from the court!

He might even have his fiefs restored!

Why would he need to ask me for two thousand taels of silver?

This idiot wants to use the imperial edict as a pretense to openly rob the Song family!

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Revenge!

This fool is determined to go down with the ship!

He doesn’t even care about his own life just to retaliate against the Song family!

Song Fanghuai hadn’t expected Shen Ji to be this mad. He hurried forward, heartbroken, saying, “Nephew, why are you so foolish? You are—”

“Who the hell are you calling nephew?”

Shen Ji interrupted roughly, “Call me Young Lord, or Your Excellency! Imperial merchant? Don’t you even know the rules?”

Song Fanghuai’s face stiffened; he forced himself to say, “Young... Young Lord...”

“I have been appointed by the Emperor himself to investigate the whereabouts of the relief silver!”

Shen Ji brandished the imperial edict at Song Fanghuai. “I just received intelligence that a suspected Fire Worship cult demon has fled into the Song family’s residence. I am here to search the Song family! Anyone who dares to obstruct will be executed without mercy!”

Song Fanghuai’s expression changed. Suppressing his anger, he growled, “Young Lord, you are using this as a pretext for personal revenge!”

That useless wretch!

Treating a scrap of paper like an imperial decree!

He knows now!

This idiot wants to destroy the Song family!

“What do you mean by personal revenge? Can’t you read the words on the imperial edict?”

Shen Ji patted Song Fanghuai’s shoulder. “Song Fanghuai, I’m doing this for your own good! If you cooperate with my search and there really is a Fire Worship demon hiding here, then if you continue to resist, you will be harboring a criminal!”

Hearing Shen Ji’s words, Song Fanghuai’s fury surged to the sky.

There was a moment he wished he could strangle Shen Ji on the spot.

But now Shen Ji had the imperial edict.

For the next few days, Shen Ji was acting as the Emperor’s envoy.

He was practically a commissioner appointed by the court.

Not just Song Fanghuai, even Feng Min wouldn’t dare to do anything to Shen Ji.

Furthermore, in matters concerning the investigation of the relief silver, even Feng Min had to obey Shen Ji’s orders.

One thing was certain: Shen Ji had not overheard the conversation between Qingluan and the others yesterday.

This fool was simply mad, determined to make things difficult for them by any means.

Song Fanghuai took a deep breath and forced a smile. “Young Lord, may I have a word?”

Shen Ji nodded slightly and followed Song Fanghuai aside.

Lowering his voice, Song Fanghuai smiled ingratiatingly, “This old man is willing to offer one thousand taels of silver.”

Shen Ji’s eyes narrowed. “What’s this? Are you trying to bribe me?”

“N-No!” Song Fanghuai shook his head repeatedly. “You and your men are working hard for His Majesty. This is just a little token of appreciation from me!”

Shen Ji shook his head and sighed, “Your judgment is a little off.”

A little off?

Song Fanghuai cursed inwardly.

This idiot obviously thinks the silver is too little!

“Two thousand taels!”

Song Fanghuai gritted his teeth and raised the offer.

Shen Ji smacked his lips. “The weather’s fine today—perfect for a search.”

Song Fanghuai’s face stiffened. “Three thousand taels!”

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Shen Ji stroked his chin. “By the way, I should warn you—I’ll also be leading men to search your family’s dye house and cloth mill later, in case the Fire Worship cult demon is hiding there...”

“You...”

Song Fanghuai trembled with rage, clenching his fists tightly.

This fool isn’t searching for a Fire Worship cult demon.

He’s going to cause trouble!

If this idiot really does that, the Song family could suffer great losses!

“Five thousand taels!”

Song Fanghuai bit his lip and growled.

“Now you’re being sensible!”

Shen Ji snorted lightly, raising his voice a bit. “Go get the cash, and remember, it has to be in pure silver! I want to check if the silver has been looted relief funds!”

Shameless!

Song Fanghuai cursed silently.

Yet he dared only curse in his heart.

Now, the only way to avoid disaster was to spend money.

Consider it buying a coffin for this useless wretch!

Well, it would also conveniently make the Song family appear as victims, preventing suspicion from falling on them.

Thinking this, Song Fanghuai felt slightly better.

Suppressing his fury, he ordered the steward to bring five thousand taels of pure silver.

Shen Ji had the money collected and then earnestly told Song Fanghuai, “I’ll take this back for careful examination. Afterward, it will be returned.”

“Mm, good... good...” Song Fanghuai forced a smile.

“By the way, one more thing!”

Shen Ji spoke again. “In the coming days, I’ll be frequently investigating both inside and outside the city, but my men and I lack horses. I’ll need to requisition some of your family’s horses for several days!”

Shen Ji, damn you!

Song Fanghuai cursed inwardly.

“Young Lord, that might be difficult,” Song Fanghuai said, struggling to restrain his anger. “You know we’re rushing to produce tribute cloth recently and urgently need those horses to transport materials. If something happens with the tribute cloth, neither you nor I will be able to answer to the court!”

“Can’t you use mules to transport the materials?” Shen Ji said sternly. “Remember, investigating the whereabouts of the relief silver is the most important matter right now! Don’t worry, since I’m requisitioning them, if anything happens, I will bear full responsibility!”

Full responsibility?

You can bear responsibility for your own damn self!

In a few days, you’ll be facing execution!

Song Fanghuai was burning with rage and deeply regretted his earlier decisions.

If he had known this fool would be so shameless, he should have just given him two thousand taels from the start!

Now, not only had he spent extra silver, but his horses were going to be requisitioned as well...