“My in-law, you must help us this time!”
Leaving the Prefectural Governor's Residence, Song Jinshan kept begging Zhao Jianzhi.
Now, he could only rely on Zhao Jianzhi!
No, to be precise, he was relying on that Prince.
“Help, how do you expect me to help?”
Zhao Jianzhi was furious, “That’s five hundred thousand taels of silver! Where do you expect me to get five hundred thousand taels of silver for you? Do you want me to open the state treasury and let you just walk in and take it?”
Zhao Jianzhi was also seething with anger at the moment.
Help him?
He said it so easily!
He had just helped them get eighty thousand taels of silver, and it hadn't even been a few days before they were swindled by Shen Jing again.
This time, it was five hundred thousand taels of silver!
Even if he begged the Prince on behalf of the Song family, the Prince would not bother with them.
The Prince needed the Song family to gradually become an Imperial Merchant, thereby gaining their financial support!
Now, it was turning into the Prince providing silver to support them?
Did he think the Prince was a fool, or did he think the Song family was too important?
Now it wasn't a matter of whether or not to help the Song family, but whether or not to make Song Jinshan disappear completely!
Once the Song family's annual tribute cloth failed to be delivered on time, the imperial court would inevitably hold them accountable, and by then, Song Jinshan would not be able to keep the secret!
At this moment, Zhao Jianzhi was filled with regret.
He should have known better than to tell Song Jinshan about that matter!
This was truly bringing trouble upon himself!
“My in-law, you can’t abandon us!”
Song Jinshan looked at Zhao Jianzhi with a face full of pleas, “Now only you can help us!”
“I…”
Zhao Jianzhi suppressed the urge to kick Song Jinshan away, trying to calm his emotions, and said with a headache, “In such a short time, what method do you expect me to come up with? Let’s go back first, and I’ll go back and think hard, to see where I can find a solution…”
“Alright, alright!”
Seeing that Zhao Jianzhi seemed to have relented, Song Jinshan finally calmed down a little.
“You all should also quickly think of a solution!”
Zhao Jianzhi glanced at them, “If there’s any development, let’s contact each other immediately! This matter is indeed very tricky, but there’s no use in rushing now. A living person can’t be suffocated by urine; let’s think of a way…”
With that, Zhao Jianzhi took Zhao Ying, who still wanted to say a few more words to Song Lianxin, and left.
On the way back, Song Jinshan and Song Lianxin's faces were both gloomy.
“Father, if the Zhao family doesn’t help us, what should we do?”
Song Lianxin asked in a low voice, full of unease.
“Not help?”
Song Jinshan’s face fell, and he snorted coldly, “That’s not up to his Zhao family! If they don’t help us, and something happens, if we can’t survive, they shouldn’t expect to either!”
Song Jinshan suddenly felt that being forced by Zhao Jianzhi to write that letter earlier was simply fate.
If they hadn't known about that matter, they would have no hope at all now.
Now, at least they could still hope for the Prince!
Zhao Jianzhi, with all his calculations, never expected this day, did he?
Song Lianxin thought for a moment, then asked, “What about Big Brother?”
“Let him stay in jail!”
Speaking of Song Rui, Song Jinshan immediately gasped for breath in anger, “If it weren’t for this fool falling for it, how would we have ended up in such a state?”
If he didn't only have Song Rui as a son, he would have wanted to tear this fool to pieces.
Song Lianxin clenched her fists and said through gritted teeth, “We must never let Shen Jing off! Even if we die, we’ll drag Shen Jing down with us!”
“Hmm!”
Song Jinshan nodded heavily.
…
On the other side, Zhao Jianzhi returned to his residence and locked himself in his study.
At present, their situation was already very critical.
A slight oversight could lead to utter destruction.
Zhao Jianzhi picked up the teapot and gulped down a few mouthfuls of tea, then paced back and forth in the room, seemingly making a difficult decision.
However, Zhao Jianzhi now had too many concerns.
Any decision he made had to be cautious and re-cautious.
It was originally a very simple matter, but he was unable to make up his mind for a long time.
Unconsciously, half an hour passed.
“Thump-thump…”
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door from outside.
“Who is it?”
Zhao Jianzhi asked in extreme irritation.
“Master, it’s me.”
The butler replied, “Someone has sent a calling card and wishes to see you.”
“I’m busy!”
Zhao Jianzhi snapped impatiently, “Tell him to hurry up and…”
Halfway through his sentence, Zhao Jianzhi suddenly froze.
Calling card?
Could it be…
After pondering for a while, Zhao Jianzhi walked over and opened the door, “Bring the calling card for me to see!”
The butler dared not delay and quickly presented the calling card.
Zhao Jianzhi opened the calling card.
It was a very ordinary calling card, simply stating that the sender wished to see him and hoped he could spare some time from his busy schedule, and so on.
But very quickly, Zhao Jianzhi noticed something unusual.
There was a small ink stain on one corner of the calling card.
Zhao Jianzhi’s heart tensed, and he feigned annoyance, throwing the calling card aside, “Tell him I’m busy and can’t see him now. If he wants to wait, he can wait; if not, he can scram!”
“Yes!”
The butler saw that Zhao Jianzhi was in a bad mood, dared not say more, and quickly left.
Zhao Jianzhi sat down again and resumed his thoughts.
Unconsciously, it was time for lunch.
After Zhao Jianzhi finished his lunch, he then feigned asking the butler, “Is that person still waiting?”
“Yes.”
The butler nodded gently, “He’s been waiting the whole time, hasn’t left a single step.”
“He does have some sincerity.”
Zhao Jianzhi snorted lightly, then said, “Bring him to the study!”
Having said that, Zhao Jianzhi walked towards the study.
Before long, the butler brought a middle-aged man dressed as a scholar to the study.
After motioning for the butler to leave, Zhao Jianzhi lowered his voice and asked the middle-aged scholar, “Where does the esteemed guest come from?”
“From the south, heading north.” The middle-aged scholar replied.
“Where is the south, and where is the north?” Zhao Jianzhi asked again.
“The south is above, the north is below!” The middle-aged scholar replied.
That's right!
Zhao Jianzhi quickly invited the middle-aged scholar to sit down, “May I ask your esteemed guest’s name?”
“Just call me Master Leng.”
The middle-aged scholar raised his eyes, and a sharp glint suddenly appeared in them, making Zhao Jianzhi’s heart tremble.
Zhao Jianzhi avoided Master Leng's gaze and asked in a low voice, “Did the Prince send you?”
“Hmm!”
Master Leng nodded gently, “I’ve come to eliminate Shen Jing for you.”
Indeed!
Zhao Jianzhi suppressed the excitement in his heart, “Now it’s not a question of whether or not to eliminate Shen Jing, but whether or not to eliminate the Song family! I haven’t been able to make up my mind and wanted to ask for your opinion…”
With that, Zhao Jianzhi recounted how the Song family had been swindled by Shen Jing to the point of near ruin.
After listening to Zhao Jianzhi’s words, Master Leng immediately said grumpily, “What kind of mess are you making? You’re asking for trouble!”
“I…”
Zhao Jianzhi said with a bitter face, explaining weakly, “Didn’t I also want to completely bind the Song family before? Who would have thought something like this would happen!”
Zhao Jianzhi felt very wronged.
He was also thinking for the Prince's great cause!
After a moment of thought, Master Leng said in a low voice, “I cannot make a decision on this matter on my own; I must ask for the Prince’s instructions!”
“Is there still time?”
Zhao Jianzhi worried, “Shen Jing only gave the Song family seven days!”
“Don’t worry!”
Master Leng vowed, “I have a way to contact the Prince quickly, and there will be a reply soon!”
“Alright, alright…”
Zhao Jianzhi nodded repeatedly…