Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 308: Chapter 298: Gourmet Food, Fine Wine, Beautiful Women

Time passes day by day, Yang Zhenshan is busy integrating the Tenglong Guard while keeping an eye on the situation in Liao’an Prefecture.

For over a month, Liao’an Prefecture had been very quiet, and Zheng Xiao had not encountered any difficulties, seemingly having gained Luo Fu’s trust already.

One day, Yang Zhenshan met with Liu Zhe to discuss whether they should now send Zheng Xiao’s memorial to the Capital City.

“Do you think Luo Fu has let his guard down?”

In the teahouse, Yang Zhenshan asked.

Liu Zhe slightly shook his head, “Not clear, are there still people watching Guard City?”

“Yes!” Yang Zhenshan confirmed.

Ever since Zheng Xiao left, there were people lingering around Guard City.

Initially, there were about a dozen people, but recently it seemed that only two were left.

“That means he still doesn’t fully trust Zheng Xiao!” Liu Zhe said.

Yang Zhenshan slightly nodded, “But dragging it out too long, the more dangerous it is for Zheng Xiao.”

Although due to the Luo family incident, Zheng Xiao had already established preliminary trust with Luo Fu, this trust was fragile. Any small slip from Zheng Xiao, and Luo Fu’s trust would vanish.

Additionally, Luo Fu would definitely continue to test Zheng Xiao, using all sorts of methods, including money and attractive women.

“Let’s wait two more days, and send it after the people outside the city have left!” Liu Zhe was worried, but the more anxious he felt, the more he felt they should not rush.

Yang Zhenshan thought it over and didn’t rush to send out the memorial.

The two people outside the city were Martial Artists; it would be easy to eliminate them, but doing so would alarm the enemy.

Therefore, Yang Zhenshan had been keeping them around and even instructed Song Dashan not to interfere with those two.

Otherwise, how could those two continue to linger outside the city, as if Tenglong Guard’s soldiers were vegetarians.

Meanwhile, as Yang Zhenshan and Liu Zhe were discussing, in a lavishly decorated courtyard in the city of Liao’an Prefecture, Luo Fu was hosting a banquet for Zheng Xiao.

Luo Fu, in his forties, had a medium build, neither fat nor thin, nor tall nor short, but he exuded an air of authority. His deep-set eyes were like lakes, seemingly reflecting a wisdom that could pierce into the affairs of the world.

Luo Fu was not the type of corrupt official with a fat face and large ears; in fact, Luo Fu was exceptionally talented. He became a successful imperial scholar at the age of twenty, a genius surpassing even Lu Wenquan, who is already twenty-four this year.

By now, he had been an official for twenty years, having served as the head of the Ministry of Revenue, the chief of the Jiangnan Maritime Trade Department, an inspector of the Ministry of Revenue, and now serving as the Salt Transport Commissioner of Secondary Third Rank.

Steadily climbing the ranks, if he continued to maintain his trajectory, eventually, he would surely return to the Ministry of Revenue as a vice minister, and perhaps even reach the position of Minister of Revenue.

It can be said that Luo Fu was a capable, bold, and quick-witted individual, otherwise, he would not have come up with the idea of salt advance sales.

On this occasion, Luo Fu wore a blue and white long robe, his demeanor noble yet tinged with scholarly elegance, as he looked at Zheng Xiao with a mild manner.

“Today’s food and drinks were prepared by a top chef from the Capital City I invited; Mr. Zheng, please enjoy!”

He spoke with a cordial tone.

Zheng Xiao felt somewhat helpless; during this period, Luo Fu frequently entertained him with delicious food, fine wine, attractive women, and of course, not without gold.

Half a month ago, Luo Fu had sent him a thousand taels of gold.

A large chest of gold, nearly blinding him.

The chest of gold was still in his residence.

As for the beautiful women!

Zheng Xiao chuckled and said, “Then I will not be polite, I’ll try it first!”

While he spoke, he picked up some fish with his chopsticks, and it was indeed delicious – fresh, tender, melting in the mouth, truly a delicacy.

At this moment, Luo Fu clapped his hands, and a group of gorgeously dressed dancing girls entered the hall.

The sound of silk and bamboo instruments rose, a soft and alluring music accompanied by a faint blue fragrance spread through the hall, featuring graceful ladies with clear, refined appearances, black hair, and flowing long sleeves, twirling their delicate bodies.

The graceful bodies of the dancers appeared ethereal through the silk veils, their charming faces wore enticing smiles, causing Zheng Xiao’s heart to run wild.

If Yang Zhenshan were here, he would certainly recognize this scene!

This was the same tactic used by Sha Pingchuan to test him; now, Zheng Xiao faced the same test.

Zheng Xiao stared blankly at the swirling ladies – indeed, he was watching, but in his mind, he continually chanted, “Amitabha, form is emptiness, emptiness is form.”

He not only watched but also tapped along with the music and singing, seemingly enjoying the scene.

Beautiful women, naturally, he liked.

Zheng Xiao really did enjoy it, and he was more than willing to appreciate such scenes.

If the man opposite him were not Luo Fu, he would be even more uninhibited.

Don’t think of Zheng Xiao as a “noble gentleman”; in his younger years, he also enjoyed seeking pleasure in the brothels.

Unfortunately, with such beauty in front of him, there was an inconvenient person by his side.

Zheng Xiao’s handsome face wore a light smile, his bright eyes appreciating the most beautiful dancer among them.

“Mr. Zheng seems very fond of Miss Zixia!” Luo Fu laughed: “If Mr. Zheng likes her, I can give her to Mr. Zheng!”

Zheng Xiao glanced at him quietly, but slightly shook his head, “Lord Luo, can you really bear to part with her?”

“Hahaha~ As long as Mr. Zheng likes her, there’s nothing I’m reluctant to give up!” Luo Fu laughed heartily.

Zheng Xiao lowered his eyes and continued to enjoy the soft, charming face.

Beautiful women!

This world never lacks beauties!

However, most beauties are doomed to a tragic fate.

The reason is simple, a beauty without status and backing will only end up as a plaything for the powerful.

What good end can there be for a plaything!

Luo Fu also looked at Miss Zixia, his face still wearing a faint smile, but deep in his eyes flashed a trace of ferocity.

Zheng Xiao’s hand trembling slightly from within his sleeve.

This was another probe.

He had already experienced several such probes before.

Each time, he refused without making a sound, each time he performed well, but each refusal made Luo Fu more suspicious.

Zheng Xiao didn’t know how much patience Luo Fu still had.

As for taking this woman back home!

Zheng Xiao had thought about it, but he dared not, because he had already taken Gold, and if he took someone back home, then he would truly be colluding with Luo Fu.

Then he couldn’t explain himself at all.

And if he took someone back home, Luo Fu would definitely give him even more things.

The more he was given, the harder it would be to prove his innocence in the future.

After the banquet, Zheng Xiao walked out of Luo Fu’s residence as usual, but as he left Luo Fu’s residence, his heart started beating rapidly.

“I can’t wait any longer!”

Returning to his own residence, Zheng Xiao’s expression grew even darker.

His residence was bought after he arrived in Liao’an Prefecture, a large compound with three entries, and his wife and children lived there too.

If it was only himself, it would still be manageable, he could just run away, but with his wife and children by his side, he couldn’t escape at all.

Zheng Xiao paced back and forth in the study for a long time, suddenly bit his teeth, and shouted: “Jiang Yuan, Jiang Yuan!”

“Master!” A strong man pushed the door and came in.

“Go to Tenglong Guard now, ask Master Yang to save me!” Zheng Xiao felt that Luo Fu was about to make a move, this feeling was getting stronger and stronger, he couldn’t wait any longer.

“Yes!” Jiang Yuan promptly replied.

But Zheng Xiao suddenly stopped him, “Wait, you can’t go, you’ve always been by my side, if you disappear, they will definitely notice!”

“Pick two brothers to go, don’t go out through the main gate, climb over the wall to the next door, leave from the next door!”

Jiang Yuan nodded heavily, without saying anything, he immediately picked two skilled brothers and had them climb over the wall to the next house.

Next door was also a compound with three entries, inhabited by a wealthy businessman. The two men who climbed over just reached there and encountered two servants, knocked them unconscious without saying a word, and then quietly left from the back door of that house.

Just as the two men left, two figures emerged from near the back door of the Zheng family’s house, looked towards their retreating figures for a few moments, and then retreated back to the corner.

“They’re gone!”

In the study, Zheng Xiao looked at Jiang Yuan who had returned and asked.

“Yes, they’re gone!” Jiang Yuan replied.

Zheng Xiao let out a long breath.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside.

“Master, it’s not good, a group of soldiers has entered the residence!”

A frantic shout sounded.

Zheng Xiao’s face changed slightly, Jiang Yuan quickly opened the room door and asked, “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know, those soldiers just barged in!” The servant who came to report said in a panic.

Zheng Xiao took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and stepped out of the room.

“Let’s go, let’s go see!”

With no other alternatives at the critical moment, he had to face it head-on, whether he could save his life depended on whether Luo Fu dared to kill him, and whether Yang Zhenshan’s support could arrive in time.

When Zheng Xiao stepped out of the study, a group of soldiers was pushing about seven or eight guards and servants into the courtyard.

“Stop!” Zheng Xiao shouted sternly.

The chaotic scene instantly quieted down, those soldiers stopped shoving the Zheng family’s servants and guards, and just stood quietly in the courtyard.

“Who is your superior?” Zheng Xiao demanded.

At that moment, a man wearing an armored mask stepped forward and saluted him with a fist, “Xu Huazhen, Commander of the Liao’an Advanced Guard, greets Mr. Zheng!”

“Liao’an Advanced Guard!” Zheng Xiao’s pupils shrank suddenly.

The Salt Transport Department naturally couldn’t mobilize garrison troops, only the Liao Yuan Prefecture could mobilize the Liao’an Advanced Guard.

That is to say, Luo Fu had conspired with someone from the Liao Yuan Prefecture.

“Who sent you?” Zheng Xiao asked with a dark expression.

“Subordinate is here by the order of the Governor’s Office to protect Mr. Zheng!” Xu Huazhen was somewhat skinny, the armored mask he wore looked quite uncoordinated on him, giving a feeling of a small foot wearing a large shoe.

Facing Zheng Xiao’s questioning, he was not flustered, but showed a smile and said, “Recently there have been strongmen causing harm in the city, the Governor’s Office feared that the strongmen might harm Mr. Zheng, specially instructed me to come to protect Mr. Zheng.”

He had a small mustache, his smile giving off a cunning feeling.