strictlysupreme Chapter 423 Master Wang is Dead
Chapter 423 Master Wang is Dead
As the group entered the Wang family home, a young man immediately came to greet them.
"Sir, the shops in the East City have already stored their rice and grain in the granaries. This time, two warehouses will be opened for relief purposes, with profits controlled to within five percent. Also, regarding the Jiangnan canal transport..."
The man gave a clear and organized report on the various businesses under the Wang family, his calm and composed eyes giving people a sense of security and reassurance.
Master Wang praised with satisfaction, "Good, with Butler Shen here, I feel very reassured. Are the guest rooms for our two distinguished guests ready?"
Butler Shen replied with a gentle smile, "Don't worry, sir, everything is ready."
"Very well, sir, please come in!"
Seeing the young butler leave, Qin Miaoxi couldn't help but take a second look. "Master Wang's butler is exceptionally talented; he is truly a rare find."
Master Wang smiled and proudly praised, "That child is a good one; he has been the steward of the manor for quite some years."
Although his face showed praise, his eyes concealed arrogance and disdain, with a hint of anger mixed in.
Qin Miaoxi stared at him for a moment with her bright eyes. It seemed that he was both satisfied and disgusted with her family. He was truly a contradictory person.
Master Wang personally welcomed them into the guest room, an elegant and independent courtyard. The osmanthus flowers were in full bloom, and the delicate petals, accompanied by their fragrance, swayed gently in the wind, filling the courtyard with a tranquil and serene atmosphere.
"Please rest here, gentlemen."
"Thank you!"
Master Wang looked at the two of them, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back. Lu Qingchen then pulled Qin Miaoxi and walked straight into the courtyard.
Seeing this, Master Wang panicked and hurriedly asked to stop them, "Please wait, gentlemen. I wonder if the Ministry of Justice will send reinforcements?"
Lu Qingchen couldn't help but sneer inwardly, "You're so big... umm..."
"Yes, there will be other guests checking in this afternoon, so please prepare guest rooms for us, Mr. Wang."
Master Wang's old face broke into a wide smile again, and he repeatedly agreed, "Yes, yes, I will definitely make all the preparations."
After everyone left, Lu Qingchen angrily turned his head to shake off her palm, saying sarcastically, "What's so good about that brainless pretty boy? He's obviously a good-looking but useless weak scholar. He probably can't even protect his own woman. What's the use of him?"
Qin Miaoxi's eyes twitched uncontrollably. "What does it matter to you whether he can protect you or not? It's not like I'm asking him to protect you."
Lu Qingchen's eyes widened in anger, her expression one of utter disbelief, her inner voice resounding with despair.
[It's getting dark. Has my wife taken a fancy to that pretty boy? That won't do. Looks like I'll have to find a chance to break his legs.]
Qin Miaoxi looked up at the sky speechlessly. This barbarian only knew how to fight and kill, and had no capacity to recommend or employ talented people.
If Lu Qingchen could hear her inner thoughts, he would probably launch into another tirade: "My wife is looking at other men and I can't even say anything? That's outrageous!"
"You've had too much soy sauce, look at that sour face..."
She joked lightly, but when she met Lu Qingchen's solemn gaze, her voice gradually faded.
"Honey, you can't joke like that."
My woman can only look at me, not at other men, otherwise...
Qin Miaoxi's expression hardened. She listened intently but couldn't hear what he said next. However, judging from his deep emotion, she knew it wouldn't be anything good.
She sighed helplessly and patiently explained, "I'm just curious about the relationship between Butler Shen and Master Wang. There are plenty of men like that in the capital..."
"Lots of them!?" Lu Qingchen's voice suddenly rose, her expression turning murderous. "Who else have you taken a fancy to? Tell me the truth!!"
Qin Miaoxi: "..."
She blinked innocently, wondering if she had said something wrong.
"No, that's not what I meant."
"Then what do you mean?" Lu Qingchen snorted coldly, staring intently at her. "I'll give you a chance to explain."
Qin Miaoxi blushed with anger and growled in a low voice, "...You yourself are just an old man who's jealous, what am I supposed to explain?"
"Fine! We've been married for less than a year, and you're already going to abandon me after taking advantage of me?"
Her voice was filled with resentment, and one could see a pitiful look on Lu Qingchen's face, like a big dog wagging its tail and begging for mercy, if... one ignored the stack of silver notes he was clutching in his hand.
Qin Miaoxi gritted her teeth. This guy was despicable; he used gold and silver... no, he used a handsome man to seduce her.
"Don't forget that His Majesty only gave you a ten-day deadline. Do you still have the energy to care about these things?"
"Heh, so what if we catch the Ghost-Faced Judge? My wife doesn't want me anymore."
Is this topic unavoidable now?
She sighed in despair, "No, I only have eyes for you, is that alright?"
Despite her impatient tone, it ignited a dazzling firework in Lu Qingchen's eyes. Her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment, and she twisted her body shyly, a hint of smugness in her eyes.
"Haha! I told you my wife loves me the most, but you still wouldn't admit it."
"I know even if you don't say it, after all, you have expressed your love for me many times."
Qin Miaoxi clenched her fists and squeezed out the words through clenched teeth, "Don't forget the important reason we came here."
"Yes, don't worry, I will definitely find evidence of the Wang family's crimes."
After saying that, he made a promise with a grin, but the corners of his mouth disappeared the moment they brushed past each other.
Watching him leave, Qin Miaoxi couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. She was becoming increasingly powerless against this guy's wealth...
Okay, I'll internally condemn myself for fifteen minutes!
Meanwhile, Lu Qingchen, who had just left, went to the Wang family's side courtyard as quickly as possible, where someone was already waiting.
"Master!" Wen Zhu quickly stepped forward to await orders.
"What's going on? Why would the Wang family have a genuine brand?"
"Sir, all the plaques are kept at the manor, not one is missing."
"Not a few?"
Lu Qingchen immediately fell into deep thought. He had seen the sign; it was genuine.
Since nothing in the manor was missing, where did the plaque come from?
"Where's the Ministry of Justice?"
"There were quite a few; each brand had its own corresponding cases."
"Investigate, we must find out where the brand came from."
"Yes." Wen Zhu hesitated before asking, "Is the Wang family still under investigation?"
"Of course, but it was I who investigated it personally. Someone used the reputation of the Ghost-Faced Judge to do this. One possibility is that it was the Ghost-Faced Judge's enemy trying to stir up trouble for him; another possibility is that the Wang family really has a problem, and he used the Ghost-Faced Judge's reputation to lure people into the investigation."
"Then wouldn't our investigation of the Wang family be falling into that person's trap?"
"Do you think that by not investigating, you won't be in a trap?"
The air fell silent for a moment. Wen Zhu gasped and asked cautiously, "You mean the one who lured you into this trap?"
“How could that be?” Lu Qingchen sneered self-deprecatingly. “He wishes I were dead in prison, and not just me, but everyone connected to me.”
His eyes were deep and dark, his upturned lips held a murderous intent, and his cold voice rang out.
“He’s too idle. Increase the manpower. I don’t want the court to be too quiet lately.”
Wen Zhu's eyes flashed with admiration. "Understood!"
Before evening, all the helpers from the Dali Temple had arrived. It wasn't that Liang Hongkai wanted to lend people; it was just that Lu Qingchen shamelessly invoked the Meiji Emperor's authority. Not helping him would be disobeying the Emperor's will and defying the imperial decree.
Qin Miaoxi made arrangements in a very short time and instructed, "Alright, everyone take turns on guard these next few days to be wary of a sudden attack by the Ghost-Faced Judge."
The night passed in silence. The next day, just as dawn was breaking, a high-pitched scream came from the neighboring yard.
"The master is dead!"