Chapter 190 All the Same
Three days is not a long time, it passed in the blink of an eye.
In these short three days, Zhao Jue didn't know how many times he got angry. In his impression, he didn't get angry as much as he did in the previous three years.
The main reason was that the perfunctory degree of these yamen runners and clerks was too disgusting. For those with abnormal household registration, it was okay to check two large books within one day.
What's more outrageous is that the first clue found based on the portraits turned out that one of the two people was an old farmer in his 60s and the other was a hunter in his early 50s.
In other words, Zhao, who was young and strong and had entered the rank of commander, had to rely on sneak attacks to kill two skinny old men.
The yamen runners also brought both of them in front of Zhao Jue as if to take credit, and mocked them in person!
He was so angry that he overturned the table on the spot. It took half a day to explain, but actually it was scolding for a long time, and then it was normal, at least the men brought were all strong men.
He was busy until the third day, and there was still no progress. I simply didn't count on these people. After drinking the tea in the cup, I walked around in circles and made sure that no one followed me before entering the coffin shop.
"Sir, you are here again!"
The young man was sharp-eyed and recognized Zhao Jue at a glance. He put down the rag in his hand and greeted him with a smile.
Again? Why does this sound so unlucky? I always feel like lying in the coffin next to me.
"Where is the thing I want?" It's unlucky, but there is no need to bother with him. It's important to do business first. I'm not really here to buy a coffin, so why bother about it.
"It's ready. Don't worry, we are professionals in the ghost market!"
After saying this, the two people froze at the same time, you looked at me, I looked at you, and the atmosphere was awkward with the naked eye.
Out of kindness and to break the awkwardness, Zhao Jue gently reminded, "I seem to be from the ghost market too..."
"Yes, yes, yes! Forgive me, I'm talking nonsense..."
"Here, this is what you want!" After putting two stacks of paper on the table, the young man scratched his head. Knowing that he was uncomfortable speaking, he just shut up and stood aside, working silently.
Zhao just smiled, picked up the first stack of papers, and looked at them one by one. Soon he picked up the second stack, which had only two thin sheets with few words. After a rough glance, the anger that had finally subsided suddenly came out again.
Pointing to a piece of paper, he asked in confusion, "You want five hundred taels for this kind of thing? The ghost market is no longer doing black business, but is it robbery?"
"I don't need to spend money to buy this kind of news? Go out and see, it's all posted on the streets."
Hearing the suppressed anger in the words, the young man turned around and took the two stacks of papers. After reading it once, he almost slapped himself. What is this?
The most valuable information about the two people in the portrait is that they are dead!
"Ah this..." The young man lowered his head in embarrassment.
"What is this? Five hundred taels! I spent five taels of silver to find two copyists in the calligraphy and painting street, and they can help me copy two hundred copies!"
In order to prevent himself from reading it wrong, Zhao Jue took a copy and read it twice, but the content was still exactly the same.
"Friend, it doesn't matter if you say a few jokes, but things must be done well! Otherwise, jokes will not be funny!"
"In business, you must be honest!"
Although the voice was gentle and calm, the threat in it was almost overflowing. Coupled with Zhao Jue's expressionless expression under the candle, the young man's face changed drastically.
Quickly explained, "Yes, yes! You must be honest. I don't know about this..."
Stretched out his hand to block the silver bill pushed by the young man, and didn't take all of it, but just pulled out one of them, "The money you spend cannot be taken back, this one is considered compensation. I'll give you two more days. If it's still these few pieces of paper, hehe."
"Then we have something to talk about."
The young man was numb all over. From Zhao Jue's eyes, he could see that Zhao Jue really wanted to kill him. But before he could explain, Zhao had already walked out of the door.
He didn't breathe a sigh of relief until there was no one at the door and the cold wind blew in. The knuckles holding the paper were a little stiff, and he sighed helplessly.
"It's a bad start. I met a profiteer in the first business. Fortunately, this man didn't do it on the spot..."
Zhao was in a very bad mood when he walked out of the coffin shop. The delay in the result had made him feel a lot of negative emotions.
Both sides hated each other. The longer the time dragged on, the more he would suffer.
It was precisely because he understood this truth that he started to investigate non-stop as soon as he arrived in Lin'an, just to take advantage of the time and take the initiative. I didn't expect the ghost market to give such information, which was really incredible.
It was simply a murder for money!
But it was not completely ineffective. At least he still checked everything in the villa, but it was just not used.
Back to the prefectural government office, he was stopped by the clerk at the door before he walked in.
"Lord Zhao, Lord Qi told me to have a banquet at Linjiang Tower tonight, so I'm waiting for Lord Zhao."
"I know." He turned and walked towards Linjiang Tower.
But I was puzzled. Is this Qi Zhifu so presumptuous? Going there twice in three days, not to mention which account to keep, can this middle-aged man's body bear it?
Could it be that you are also Li Yizhen?
I pushed open the door of Linjiang Tower with a teasing look, but I didn't see anyone. I couldn't help but sigh, these local officials are still good at having fun, and they actually booked the whole place! Under the feet of the emperor, let alone the marquis, even the prince would not dare to play like this!
After adjusting his expression, he pushed open the door with a smile, "Lord Qi, you are playing so big? Your body is still..."
Seeing the people sitting in the yard, Zhao Jue stopped talking instantly, and his relaxed expression suddenly became serious.
"Lord Lu, this is the problem. I should be the one waiting for you, how can I let you wait for me!"
"Okay, there's only me, no one else!" Lu Wenyu waved his hand to interrupt.
After looking around to make sure there was no one, he sat down to drink tea with peace of mind, "Why did you come to Lin'an in person? Is everything okay in the capital?"
"I read your letter, half of it was incomprehensible, and half of it was confused. I think it's better to talk in person."
Zhao Jue put down the teacup awkwardly, pretending not to hear it and smiled, "Alas, there's no way, you can't hold a knife and a pen at the same time."
Lu Wenyu didn't care about Zhao Jue's jokes, and asked while drinking tea, "There are notices all over the city, have you found anything?"
"No news at all."
"Then take your time." Lu Wenyu's expression didn't change, and he explained lightly, "There are more important things for you to do."
"Is there anything more important than life?" Zhao Jue asked suppressedly.
Listening to Zhao's half sigh and half euphemism, Lu Wenyu calmly threatened, "You can choose not to do it, I won't force you."
"What you said is to relieve the emperor's worries." Zhao was a sensible person and immediately expressed his determination.
Then he asked, "What is it?"
"Raising grain. One month's deadline, send 100,000 dan to Beijing. This is the amount required by the emperor, the amount in Jiangnan." Lu Wenyu's expression was calm, as if he was talking about a trivial matter.
After a slight hesitation, Zhao shook his head and refused, "I can't do it. I only know how to kill people, I'm not good at robbing."
Lu Wenyu asked back, "What's the difference between the two?"
"No difference, they are the same!"