Chen Guanlou called Zhang Wenfu to his office, "You probably know a little bit about antique calligraphy and painting. I won't get these goods to the antique shop for valuation. I will give you a total price of six thousand five hundred taels. Do you agree?" Zhang Wenfu has been exposed to it since he was a child, and he knows a little bit about it. When you get the goods, you must have made an estimate in your mind. Otherwise, you won't just get a little more than five thousand taels of goods. He nodded, "Master Chen does things fairly, I agree, I have no objection." "As long as you agree. The five thousand taels are used for running the relationship and for the official's remuneration. The five hundred taels are the price you paid for going out today. How will the remaining one thousand taels be distributed?" "Give it to me, give it all to me. When I get out of prison, give it to me." Zhang Wenfu is now penniless. When he returns home from prison, he will definitely not have much money. He wants to run an official job, socialize, reconnect with people, and spend money everywhere. One thousand taels just solved his urgent need. "Okay! When you are released from prison, I will personally implement it for you." "Sir Chen is very kind. If I become prosperous in the future, I will never forget your kindness." "If you don't bear grudges against me, you can repay me." Chen Guanlou waved his hand and the jailer took him down. Zhang Wenfu turned his head and asked, "How long will it take for me to go out?" "There will always be news within ten days and a half. Don't worry, I will do things for my money and I will never let you down."
After sending Zhang Wenfu away, Chen Guanlou invited Du Fuzi to drink tea. Master Du looked at the furnishings in the office room. Chen Guanlou asked with a smile, "Is it different from what you imagined?" "It's different. It's clean and tidy, and the documents are placed in categories." "Prisoners are not born filthy, most of it is caused by the environment. I know you dislike this place, so I won't show you around. Have some tea and I'll have someone take you back later." "What do you plan to do with these antiques?" Du Fuzi asked curiously. Chen Guanlou asked, "What suggestions do you have?" "It's better to sell it to the Hou Mansion." "The prince also has a hobby of collecting?" "It doesn't matter whether you have a hobby of collecting or not. The key is that aristocratic families have the habit of collecting antique calligraphy and paintings. This thing maintains its value." "Okay, I'll do as you say and sell it to the Crown Prince. You step in this time, I'm busy here and I really can't get away." Du Fuzi looked suspicious. Chen Guanlou swore to the sky, "I'm really busy. I have several debts outside that I need to collect personally. I'd like you to pay a visit to the Marquis Mansion, as long as the price is higher than seven thousand taels." "Not profitable?" "This order is mainly to get rid of unsaleable goods. It doesn't matter if you make more or less." Zhang Wenfu, a good young man, in Chen Guanlou's eyes, has become a slow-selling product or a burden. Being despised! Master Du accepted the errand, patting his chest and promising that it would be done. Chen Guanlou wanted to ask Sun Daoning for an account, so he helped Zhang Wenfu to get some connections and quickly drove the unsalable goods out of the prison. As a result, before he went to the Criminal Department to find someone, Sun Daoning came over first.
He stood at the gate of Tianlao. Sun Daoning opened the carriage window on one side and greeted him, "Get in!" He simply got on the carriage without asking any questions. The carriage swayed forward. "Your Excellency is not in the Ministry of Justice, so why do you have time to go out today? Is this just on your way or..." "I came to Tianlao specifically to pick you up and meet someone." "Who are you meeting?" Chen Guanlou was curious, who was so solemn. "You'll know when we get there." It was so mysterious that Chen Guanlou became more and more curious. After walking out for a while, he took a look outside, and hey, it turned out to be the road to the former Prince Zhong's Mansion. He vaguely guessed something, but didn't reveal it. Sun Daoning closed his eyes and meditated all the way, neither explaining nor chatting. Pretending to be profound. As expected, the carriage was going to the former Prince Zhong's Mansion, and he entered the palace directly through the side door. The carriage stopped and Sun Daoning suddenly opened his eyes, "We're here." Chen Guanlou jumped out of the carriage first and was waiting aside. With the support of the coachman, Sun Daoning stepped out of the carriage on the horse stool and said, "Remember, talk less, look less, and don't ask anything." Chen Guanlou nodded and followed the other party. Someone answered, it was a eunuch. The previous speculation was confirmed once again. However…… They were led to the backyard. There was a person standing in the courtyard. When they turned around, it turned out to be Taifu Zhuang. Chen Guanlou was surprised. Taifu Zhuang did not return to the banker's house, but hid in the former Prince Zhong's Mansion? What does this mean? Sun Daoning coughed lightly and said, "Chen Yucheng, please tell me carefully, what was going on when you first met the Taifu? It doesn't matter in detail, please come with me one by one." Chen Guanlou was a little confused. He stared at Taifu Zhuang in front of him. He was obviously dull and had no reaction to their arrival. He coughed lightly, cleared his throat, and said, "I was meeting the Grand Tutor in the Zen courtyard on the mountain behind the palace..." He told the story of the initial meeting, and there was nothing to hide. Including what he experienced on the way back to Beijing, which stations he stopped at, what he ate on the way, who could testify, and whether he asked a doctor to prescribe medicine, all are recorded. He had nothing to hide about the Taifu matter, and he didn't feel guilty at all. After telling everything, he asked Sun Daoning, "I dare to ask, what's going on, Master?" Sun Daoning shook his head and said nothing. After that, he took him to the flower hall to sit down, drink tea, and wait.
Chen Guanlou:...... Is it necessary to make the matter of Taifu Zhuang so mysterious? Everyone knows that Zhuang Taifu is the right-hand man of Emperor Jianshi. Everyone suspects that the old emperor was responsible for Zhuang Taifu's disappearance. The old emperor often does nothing. Since Zhuang Taifu is back, he should return to the Zhuang family, recuperate, and live a peaceful life for a few years. It is very unusual to keep him in the former Zhongwang Mansion secretly. It gives people a guilty conscience. Could it be... Could it be... It can't be... Zhuang Taifu's disappearance was a thief crying thief, a carefully planned conspiracy? The old emperor was wronged? It can't be! How sick must Emperor Jianshi be that he would choose to cut off his arm when he was in danger. It's illogical. But... How many logical things are there in the struggle for imperial power since ancient times? Suddenly, there was a sound of footsteps outside, coming from far away and approaching, and there were many people. Most of them walked lightly, but there was only one pair of feet walking freely and unrestrainedly. A moment later, a group of eunuchs and maids from the palace rushed into the flower hall. Chen Guanlou hurriedly stood up and followed Sun Daoning to greet Emperor Jianshi. "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you." He followed Sun Daoning, bowed and paid his respects, and glanced at Emperor Jianshi. The last time they met was the day when Master Zhuang was imprisoned. At that time, Emperor Jianshi, who was still the prince, went to Tianlao to send Master Zhuang to prison in person despite the dissuasion. He was a man of love and righteousness. When we met again today, he was still a fat middle-aged man with a longer beard on his chin. He was full of pride and satisfaction, and he had changed his depressed look back then.