eurekapd Chapter 155 Yang Guang: Let me see how much wealth you've confiscated.
Chapter 155 Yang Guang: Let me see how much wealth you've confiscated.
"Who else could it be but you!" Li Mi practically roared. "The evidence is right in front of you, and you still want to deny it?"
You Junda was already seething with anger.
Not only did I make a wasted trip, but I also got yelled at and insulted.
He immediately retorted, "I don't care who it is! It's not us anyway! Get out of the way, we're leaving!"
"Master Shan!" Wang Bodang finally couldn't hold back any longer, raising his golden-backed seven-star sword and shouting, "Don't force me!"
Behind him, the Wagang men also drew their weapons.
The young members of the Zheng family, their eyes red with rage, grabbed whatever sticks and stones they could find, ready to fight to the death.
Shan Xiongxin slowly turned his horse around, holding the Zhaoyang spear horizontally in front of him.
His gaze swept over Wang Bodang, over Li Mi, and finally landed on the few wailing and lamenting old men of the Zheng family:
"I, Shan Xiongxin, have always acted with integrity and uprightness. If I did it, I admit it; if I didn't, no one can frame me."
"But you're right here! The coffins are even on your carts!" Zheng Gong pounded his chest and stamped his feet, his voice hoarse. "You still dare to say it wasn't you!"
Cheng Yaojin also got angry and slammed his Xuanhua axe on the ground:
"Damn it! I took the coffin, but I didn't take anything else! You're trying to frame me, so let's fight! Who's afraid of who!"
As soon as he finished speaking, You Junda raised the five-pronged sky-supporting fork.
The henchmen also brandished their weapons, mostly scavenged and broken swords, but their sheer numbers made them look quite menacing.
Two groups of people faced off in the graveyard, torches crackling and illuminating faces that were angry, tense, or ferocious.
The night wind blew by, stirring up the ashes of the paper money on the ground, which swirled in the air, adding to the somber atmosphere.
"Let them go."
In the end, Wang Bodang chose to concede.
They simply didn't have many people on their side, especially with Qin Qiong absent and Wang Junke dead.
There are very few generals who can fight against Shan Xiongxin and Cheng Yaojin.
Besides, they came to collect valuables and were not wearing armor.
Although the enemy's armor was tattered, it was still relatively complete.
If a real fight breaks out, they will find it difficult to win.
"Bodang!" Li Mi exclaimed urgently.
"Let them go," Wang Bodang repeated, his voice low. "The bigger picture is more important."
Although the Wagang people were unwilling, they still slowly made way for each other.
Shan Xiongxin gave Wang Bodang a deep look, waved his hand, and led his men away on horseback.
The cart creaked and groaned as it rolled over the gravel, and the nanmu coffin gleamed with a dim luster in the torchlight.
As Cheng Yaojin walked away, he turned back and shouted, "I told you we didn't dig it up, do you believe me now?"
No one responded.
Only the hateful gazes of the Zheng family members felt like thorns in my back.
"Quick, let's go in and take a look!"
Upon seeing this, Zheng's men quickly went down into the tomb chamber.
But when they saw that the tomb had been completely looted, they knew that the Zheng family was finished.
The Zheng family had been massacred, but these key figures were still alive.
Especially inside the tomb, there was wealth that would allow them to rise again.
But now the wealth is gone, and the family is finished.
They are no different from ordinary people now.
"Do you have any other gold or silver hidden elsewhere?"
Having lost the wealth he had almost acquired, Li Mi, still somewhat unwilling to give up, pressed on with the question.
"Gone... all gone... all the wealth accumulated by our ancestors is here."
The old man, surnamed Zheng, shook his head and said with a sorrowful expression.
Who the hell would have thought there were actually tomb raiders!
Li Mi released his grip, staggered back a few steps, and leaned against the cold tomb wall.
The torchlight flickered on his face, casting a deathly gray glow.
Several days later, Lü Xiao had safely returned to Dongdu.
Everything was as usual inside the Prince Shuo's mansion. Lü Xiao sat upright in his study, playing with an ancient jade he had obtained from the Zheng family's tomb.
The jade is warm and lustrous, and the carving is exquisite.
The cicadas chirped outside the window, and the summer heat in Dongdu was intense, but Lü Xiao felt refreshed.
Not only because the Zheng family was wiped out, but also because the news sent back by the spies planted in Wagang Village was truly hilarious.
"Hahaha……"
Thinking of the unjust accusations leveled against Shan Xiongxin and his group, Lü Xiao finally couldn't help but burst into laughter.
The confrontation in front of the Zheng family ancestral graves that day was described vividly by the informant.
How Cheng Yaojin pointed at the coffin and tried to argue his way out, how Shan Xiongxin was speechless with anger, and how Li Mi was furious.
This series of unexpected twists and turns is even more exciting than the stories told by storytellers in teahouses.
"If I have the chance to see them again, I must make it up to them properly."
Lu Xiao stroked his chin, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
After all, they've been unfairly burdened with such a huge accusation, so it's only right and proper that we show them some appreciation.
"Are you out of your mind?"
A cool, clear female voice suddenly rang out.
Yang Ruyi was standing at the door of the study at some point, dressed in a pale yellow palace gown, her delicate brows furrowed as she looked him over.
These past few days, Lü Xiao has been smiling foolishly from time to time, which made her suspicious. Could it be that he has something wrong with his mind?
"Hmph." Lü Xiao stopped laughing and didn't explain, but simply put the ancient jade into his pocket.
He is now incredibly wealthy, possessing all the wealth accumulated by the Zheng family over hundreds of years.
He deliberately kept this from Yang Ruyi, not because he didn't trust her, but because he knew that if she found out, she would definitely cause a lot of trouble.
They either encouraged him to expand his private army or urged him to secretly plot against him.
"Your Highness, Yuwen Chenglong requests an audience."
A maidservant approached with light steps and announced softly from outside the door.
"understood."
Lu Xiao straightened his robes and got up to go to the main hall.
Yang Ruyi watched his departing figure, her eyes thoughtful, and then quickly followed after him.
In the main hall, Yuwen Chenglong was pacing anxiously. Seeing Lü Xiao enter, he hurriedly stepped forward and exclaimed, "Your Highness, something has happened!"
"What's the matter?" Lu Xiao raised an eyebrow.
Judging from Yuwen Chenglong's appearance, could it be that he suffered retribution for digging up graves and was haunted by some unclean spirit?
If that's really the case, you shouldn't be looking for him; you should be looking for a wise person.
"Your Majesty...His Majesty wants to see our goods!"
Yuwen Chenglong lowered his voice, and beads of sweat had already formed on his forehead.
It turned out that a few days ago, he had become carried away with his pride and boasted to his father, Yuwen Huaji, about what he had gained from digging up the Zheng family's ancestral graves.
Yuwen Huaji was envious upon hearing this, and immediately told Yang Guang about it.
Yang Guang was already interested in the wealth of powerful families, and upon hearing that digging up graves could be so profitable, he immediately wanted to see it for himself.
Lu Xiao was not surprised to hear this.
There are no secrets that stay hidden forever, especially not such a groundbreaking deal.
He pondered for a moment, then said calmly, "Since Your Majesty wishes to see it, then let's see it."
Now that things have come to this, there's no point in trying to cover it up.
However, he did conceal some details when reporting the battle results to Yang Guang earlier.
Now that the truth has come to light, it remains to be seen how the capricious father-in-law will react.
Before long, a eunuch's high-pitched announcement came from outside the mansion: "His Majesty has arrived!"
Lu Xiao and Yuwen Chenglong quickly straightened their clothes and went out to greet them.
Yang Guang, dressed in casual clothes, strolled over, accompanied by Yuwen Huaji.
Although he was not wearing a dragon robe, his imperial majesty remained unchanged, and wherever he went, servants and maids knelt down in obeisance.