Tianliangyuan

Chapter 136 Is Good Fortune About to Turn into Misfortune?

Zhao Changqing was the Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture, so he was naturally qualified to go directly to the palace to meet the Emperor.

This threw the Deng family into chaos.

Deng Dalang was summoned to the court, while his subordinates were immediately arrested.

When Deng Dalang devised this plan, he had naturally made thorough preparations.

After being flogged more than a dozen times in court, the steward confessed everything. He said it was all his own idea, because the woman surnamed Yu was pregnant with his child, and he had a shrewish wife at home, so he dared not bring her home. That's why he came up with such an absurd plan.

Regardless of whether this reason is valid, the steward has now taken full responsibility for everything, and Yu and her brother and sister-in-law have been in contact with this steward for days. As for whether there is another master behind him, they have no idea.

Xu Junting also knew that reaching this point in the investigation was already the best possible outcome.

Deng Dalang was the eldest son of Deng Xuan, the Vice Minister of Revenue. Even if he were implicated in this scandalous affair, it wouldn't be enough to cripple the Deng family.

Since that's the case, we might as well just go along with the result given by Zhao Changqing, which would be a way of giving Zhao Changqing face.

Xu Zhaozhao was furious when she learned that the Deng family was behind this.

"It seems some people just don't learn their lesson. We didn't make them suffer for long enough before, and now they dare to extend their claws towards the Xu family again!"

Dingxiang also felt that it was truly despicable for a son of an official to come up with such a vile and harmful method.

"Miss, what do you mean?"

"I heard that the Deng family's most profitable business is their paper mill?"

“Yes, Miss. This papermaking secret recipe of the Deng family has been passed down for hundreds of years. In the previous dynasty, the Deng family relied on this papermaking workshop to obtain official positions in the court. Later, when my Great Xing Dynasty was founded, the Deng family donated silver and paper, which earned them a good reputation. Later still, Deng Xuan was recommended by Grand Tutor Jiang to enter officialdom.”

Simply put, the Deng family started out as merchants, and Deng Xuan was quite talented in literature, which is why he was noticed by Grand Tutor Jiang and recommended for officialdom.

The Deng family had first-rate ways of making money, so his entry into the Ministry of Revenue was a good use of his talents.

"Dingxiang, summon Gao Da Kui. I have something to tell him to do."

"Yes, ma'am."

The Deng family's most profitable business was their paper mill. Throughout the entire Daxing Dynasty, there were no more than five families that could produce good paper.

The Deng family was one of them.

The paper used by ordinary poor people could not possibly be produced by the Deng family's paper mill, because it was too expensive, too white, and too smooth, and they couldn't afford it.

Xu Zhaozhao, wanting to strike at the Deng family, naturally wouldn't overlook the area the Deng family excelled at.

In addition, the Deng family also owned more than a dozen shops in Beijing, some of which were rented out to others to operate, while others were managed by family stewards.

Overall, business is pretty good.

After receiving his master's instructions, Gao Da Kui immediately left the city.

Xu Zhaozhao also disguised herself and went to Wannian County.

There are many farms outside Wannian County, including one belonging to the Deng family.

“Master, that old locust tree in front is the symbol of Dengjia Village. I heard that this tree is over a thousand years old, but I don’t know if that’s true. But when the old patriarch of the Deng family was alive, he always said that this tree was the Deng family’s good fortune. Deng Xuan also cherished it because of this and had the people in the village take care of watering and looking after it all year round.”

Xu Zhaozhao chuckled, "Then let's choose this one!"

For three consecutive days, the old locust tree in Dengjiazhuang kept losing leaves.

It should be the time when the leaves are lush and the branches are full, so why is this old locust tree doing the opposite of the other trees?

Moreover, it's unclear when it started, but some people have been saying that the old locust tree's good fortune has run out and it's now turning into bad luck.

The reason this place is called Dengjiazhuang is because the land here belongs to the Deng family, and the people living here are all tenant farmers, farmhands, or even servants who have made mistakes and have been dismissed by the Deng family.

It's been over a hundred years, and now the old locust tree is having frequent problems. The steward of Dengjiazhuang doesn't dare to hide it and has to report it.

When Deng Xuan learned of this, he actually came to investigate in person, which shows that he was really superstitious.

After returning to his residence, Deng Xuan was restless and had a feeling that something bad was about to happen.

That night, Deng Xuan stayed at his wife's place. He didn't know why, but he felt that he could smell a faint fragrance in his nose. It was very faint, but it was very intoxicating.

When Deng Xuan woke up in the morning, his face was solemn. Instead of washing up, he sat blankly on the bed.

Madam Deng asked in surprise, "Is the master unwell?"

"No," Deng Xuan said listlessly. "I kept having dreams last night, dreaming about the old locust tree dying and my father chasing after me with a whip, scolding me for being indecisive and causing trouble!"

Mrs. Deng was taken aback; this dream sounded strange!

After Deng Xuan finished recounting the whole story, Madam Deng suddenly realized: "The reason Father scolded you was probably to make you sell that piece of land. Think about how our son almost got into trouble before, and then there was the matter of the old locust tree losing its leaves. There must be a connection between them."

Deng Xuan was skeptical: "But when my son almost had an accident, the old locust tree didn't shed any leaves!"

Mrs. Deng's logical thinking was impeccable: "It must be that the old locust tree protected our son from disaster, which is why it kept losing leaves afterward. I guess it used up all its good fortune and could no longer support the continuation of this good fortune."

Deng Xuan thought to himself, "That makes sense!"

After overhearing the conversation between the couple, Xu Zhaozhao almost spat out her tea.

This couple is interesting!

Especially Madam Deng, she originally thought of finding someone to deliberately mention it in front of Deng Xuan, but she didn't expect that she didn't need to make any arrangements, Madam Deng's logic was self-consistent.

Haha, that's good. It saves her from worrying anymore, and it leaves no trace of the deed.

Deng Xuan told his wife to take some time to visit a Taoist temple or Buddhist temple to seek guidance from a master, not to worry about the cost, as long as it could prevent the Deng family from suffering misfortune.

Madam Deng did not disappoint him; she visited all the Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries.

The result obtained will naturally be the same.

As long as they sell all that land, there will be no problem.

Deng Xuan, however, was not keen on selling the land.

That large tract of land, more than 1,400 acres, is all top-quality farmland. It would be such a waste to sell it all.

Madam Deng playfully punched him: "Why are you getting so stubborn, sir? That old locust tree has been rooted for over a thousand years. We only see the trunk above ground, but in reality, its root system is extensive. If we don't sell all the fields over there, how can we escape our misfortune? I heard from the steward over there that overnight, the wheat in the fields closest to the old locust tree withered. If we don't act soon, they'll all suffer the same fate!"

Deng Xuan was startled: "Is that so?"

Why would I lie to you!

It wasn't that Deng Xuan didn't trust his wife, but over a thousand acres of land—that was a huge fortune!

Deng Xuan decided to go and see for herself, just in case it was a misinterpretation.