A thousand enlightenments in one night, starting from being a menial apprentice.

Chapter 444 Other Courtyard
A stick of incense later, a green velvet sedan suddenly appeared at the back alley of Zhu Peng's mansion.

In the dark night, four bearers carried the sedan chair, and a servant led the way with a lantern.

They walked to a street corner and met a team of patrolling soldiers.

At this time, it was already late at night at 11:00 p.m., and as usual, the soldiers would interrogate the sedan chair when they saw it.

The leader of the patrol team raised his hand to stop the sedan chair and asked respectfully, "May I ask who is in the sedan chair?"

The man stood beside the servant, his eyes fixed on the slightly swaying curtain of the green velvet sedan chair behind the servant.

The servant held up a lantern and shouted, "My master is Master Zhu from the Privy Council. He has something to do and is out."

The man stood there, his eyes flickering. The Privy Council was a confidential office, and the man's surname was Zhu, so he had already guessed who he was.

At this time, the curtain of the sedan chair was lifted up a corner, and Zhu Peng poked his head out, with a look of obvious displeasure on his face. He asked coldly, "What's the matter?"

The man often patrolled this area, so he naturally recognized Zhu Peng. He immediately bent down and said with a smile on his face, "Master Zhu, I am Wang Gui, and I am here on patrol as ordered. I am sorry to bother you, Master."

Zhu Peng said, "It's Wang Gui! You've made no progress. After two or three years you're still a patrol leader. Here, give me some silver to give to the brothers for tea."

As Zhu Peng spoke, he stretched out his hand and shook out a silver note.

Wang Gui immediately stepped forward to take it. With the residual light of the lantern, he saw the face value of the banknote. His heart skipped a beat and he shouted respectfully, "Thank you, sir!"

At this time, Zhu Peng had already lowered the curtain. The servant waved his hand, and four sedan bearers lifted the sedan and moved forward.

Wang Gui stood there, looking at the sedan chair poles that were bent by the pressure, his brows slightly furrowed.

The sedan chair poles were bent like that. Besides Zhu Peng, there must be something else in the sedan chair. It could be a valuable item, or there must be another person...

However, Wang Gui no longer intended to investigate the matter. How could a patrol leader like him interfere in the affairs of the adults?

Wang Gui took the banknotes and led the team of soldiers out of the street to patrol to the other side.

In the dreary night, in the swaying green woolen sedan, Zhu Peng sat hunched over on the legs of a bearded man. Both of them were of considerable stature and almost filled up the space inside the sedan.

As the sedan rocked, Zhu Peng's body could not help but rise and fall, and that posture was really quite ecstatic...

Zhu Zhengfu's mansion was also on Changle Street, not far from Zhu Peng. In just half an incense stick of time, the sedan chair had entered the back alley of Zhu Zhengfu's mansion and stopped at a remote corner gate.

Zhu Peng lifted the curtain and came out, walked to the corner door and knocked three times gently.

The corner door opened a crack, and a face illuminated by a lantern stretched out. It was the face of a middle-aged man in his forties with a deep forehead wrinkle. Zhu Peng naturally recognized him. This was Zhu Zhengfu's housekeeper Zhu Yu.

When Zhu Yu saw Zhu Peng, he called out in a hoarse voice, "Seventh Master!"

Zhu Peng was the seventh in their generation, and Zhu Zhengfu was his uncle. Zhu Yu called him this according to his rank in the family, which made him more intimate.

Zhu Peng whispered: "The people are here!"

Zhu Yu understood and immediately opened the corner door.

Zhu Peng stood there and coughed. Then he saw the curtain of the green velvet sedan sway, and a figure stood behind Zhu Yu.

Zhu Yu felt a chill on the back of his neck, like a breeze blowing past. He turned his head and saw a ghostly figure standing behind him.

Although Zhu Yu felt his scalp tingling, he was, after all, the steward of the Guanglu Doctor's Mansion and had seen quite a bit of the world. He had even met Zhu He twice.

Holding a lantern, he bowed slightly to the figure behind him and called out "Sir".

Zhu Peng stood there, waved to the servants and sedan chair bearers, then walked into the room, turned around and closed the corner door.

Here, the housekeeper Zhu Yu was holding a lantern, leading Duan Rong and Zhu Peng along a somewhat remote path. Zhu Yu said as he walked, "I have sent all the patrol officers away along the way."

After walking along the path for a while, they went around a pond and entered a corridor. After walking for a while in the corridor, Zhu Yu led Duan Rong and Zhu Peng to stop in front of a room. In the room, dim light shone through the gauze pasted on the carved lattice.

Zhu Yu stood there, bowed slightly to Duan Rong, then reached out and knocked on the door three times. Then, without waiting for a response from inside, he pushed the door open.

Zhu Yu stood at the door, extended his hand and said, "Please come in, sir. My master has been waiting for a long time!"

Duan Rong and Zhu Peng walked in one after the other.

Zhu Yu closed the door behind him, holding a lantern and standing guard outside.

As soon as Duan Rong stepped into the door, he saw two figures who immediately knelt down in front of him and shouted, "Your subordinate greets you, sir!"

The two people kneeling were Guanglu Dafu Zhu Zhengfu and Dali Temple Director Zhu Cheng.

Zhu Cheng is fine.

Zhu Zhengfu was Guanglu Dafu, one of the four ministers in the First Order, in charge of the money and grain taxes of the entire Qingzhou. He was one of the most powerful people in the secular world.

At this time, he also prostrated himself in front of Duan Rong.

In fact, what Zhu Zhengfu and others did was courtesy.

Duan Rong is Zhu He's direct disciple, and is only one generation younger than Zhu He in terms of seniority. However, Zhu He is the ancestor of their Zhu family.

According to his official position, Duan Rong was a direct disciple of the sect's elder.

The Palace Lord and one commander and four ministers were the power centers of the entire Qingzhou. They still had to perform formalities when they met inner disciples, let alone a direct disciple like Duan Rong.

Zhu Peng stood beside Duan Rong, looking at Zhu Zhengfu and Zhu Cheng kneeling in front of Duan Rong, and was slightly startled. He only realized at this moment that when he saw Duan Rong, he put his arm around his shoulder and called him brother, which was really inappropriate!
Zhu Peng immediately slid down to his knees and also shouted, "Greetings, sir!"

Duan Rong looked at Zhu Peng's funny appearance as he knelt and slid far away, smiled slightly, and said, "This is not the first time we meet, so there is no need to be polite."

Duan Rong said as he personally went to help Zhu Zhengfu. Zhu Zhengfu didn't dare to let Duan Rong help him and stood up immediately.

When Zhu Cheng and Zhu Peng saw Zhu Zhengfu stand up, they also stood up.

Zhu Zhengfu said, "Please take a seat, sir!"

Duan Rong was not polite either, and sat directly in front of the screen, on the right of the two armchairs at the top. After he sat down, the others took their seats.

As soon as Duan Rong sat down, he looked at Zhu Zhengfu and said with a faint smile: "Master Zhu, I think you should already know why I came here this time, right?"

Zhu Zhengfu nodded cautiously and said, "Your Excellency, the ancestor sent a letter and I received it five days ago."

Zhu Peng sat there, listening in confusion. He still didn't know why Duan Rong came this time. He didn't even know that the ancestor had sent a letter. He believed that if Duan Rong hadn't come to him as soon as he arrived, Zhu Zhengfu would not have called him for this meeting today.

Duan Rong looked at Zhu Zhengfu, nodded, and said straight to the point: "I need detailed information about Li Shensi now, the more detailed the better."

When Zhu Peng heard Li Shensi's name, his heart moved. He naturally knew this Shangshu Ling who had just taken office for two months. Duan Rong came for this Li Shensi, could it be...? Zhu Peng's mind was rolling, and he looked at Duan Rong in astonishment.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhengfu glanced at Zhu Cheng silently.

Zhu Cheng immediately stood up, picked up a thick stack of documents, and placed them on the table beside Duan Rong. Then he stepped back, clasped his fists and said respectfully, "Your Excellency, this is the detailed information about Li Shensi, as well as the various events we have discovered since he took office two months ago. I have made a preliminary arrangement in chronological order, please read it." Duan Rong's eyes jumped slightly when he heard this. He noticed Zhu Cheng's choice of words and the events he had discovered, which showed that the Zhu family had planted spies around Li Shensi.

Duan Rong glanced at the thick stack of documents and his eyes moved slightly. It was obvious that such a thick document could not be sorted out in one day. No wonder he noticed that Zhu Cheng's eyes were a little dark as soon as he came in. He must have stayed up for several nights to sort out the document.

Duan Rong said: "Also, all of Li Shensi's possible trips in the past half month should be listed, even those with low probability. Don't leave out any less."

As Duan Rong spoke, he looked at Zhu Cheng with a cold expression.

Obviously, Zhu Zhengfu had already handed this matter over to Zhu Cheng. However, Zhu Cheng was the chief of the Dali Temple, and handling this matter was both within his strengths and convenient for his position, so he was indeed a good candidate.

Zhu Cheng clasped his fists and said, "I have already started to sort it out. There is only one thing left to do. I will definitely hand it over to you tomorrow morning."

Duan Rong nodded with satisfaction. He was very satisfied with Zhu Cheng's steadiness and efficiency. He picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and said, "My Lords, do you have anything else to add?"

Everyone in the hall was silent.

Duan Rong smiled and said, "Let's leave it at that for today. I'll discuss the details with you gentlemen after I finish reading the information."

At this time, Zhu Zhengfu smiled and said, "Sir, I have already cleaned up the other courtyard in the mansion. I have arranged for reliable people to serve. Your visit is confidential, so it is better for you to stay in the mansion. It will be more private and convenient for me to pay my respects and report to you in the morning and evening."

Duan Rong said: "That's fine. Thank you for your consideration."

Zhu Zhengfu said: "This is all my duty. How dare I thank you?"

As Zhu Zhengfu spoke, he picked up the documents on the table and said with a smile, "I will escort you to the other courtyard to stay."

Duan Rong said: "Thank you, sir."

Duan Rong stood up and strode out the door. Zhu Zhengfu immediately followed with the documents in his arms. When he reached the door, he seemed to remember something, and suddenly turned around, looking at Zhu Cheng and Zhu Peng, and said, "Zhu Cheng, go back and do your work. Zhu Peng, don't leave yet, wait for me here."

Duan Rong walked out of the room, followed by Zhu Zhengfu holding the documents, while the housekeeper Zhu Yu held a lantern to lead the way.

The villa was not far from here. The reason why Zhu Zhengfu chose this place to meet Duan Rong was to make it convenient to go to the villa.

After the two left, Zhu Cheng hurriedly left because he had to go back to sort out Li Shensi's recent schedule as Duan Rong had mentioned. So, in the empty room, only Zhu Peng was left sitting there alone, with the door wide open. The late-night autumn wind blew through the hall, making Zhu Peng's neck slightly cold.

Zhu Zhengfu was talking to Duan Rong as he walked, and before long they had reached the villa.

The villa was quite quiet, and the rooms inside were brightly lit with red candles.

There was a figure at the door. In the late autumn night, he was lying on a large bluestone at the door with his chest exposed. He was holding a jar of wine and pouring it down his throat. He didn't even raise his eyelids as if he didn't see Duan Rong and Zhu Zhengfu coming.

Zhu Zhengfu looked at Duan Rong and said with a smile, "Don't be surprised, sir! This man is called Qiu Luan, and he is one of my personal guards. He has some eccentricities, but he is loyal and has good cultivation. I asked him to come over and watch the door for you, sir."

Duan Rong's eyes moved slightly, and his spiritual consciousness had already penetrated the man's dantian.

The fourth level of Qi realm!

This is already the top master in the secular world.

Because the Yuan Qi in the secular world is thin, it is impossible to advance to the Yuan Qi realm.

After all, Zhu Zhengfu is Zhu He's descendant and is also Guanglu Dafu, so it is not surprising that he has such guards.

Duan Rong only glanced at the man and strode into the room. Butler Zhu Yu stood at the door holding a lantern and did not enter the courtyard.

Zhu Zhengfu followed Duan Rong in, holding the documents. He placed the documents on the table and said with a smile, "I have renovated this place in the past few days. If there is anything you are not satisfied with, please let me know."

Duan Rong also realized at this time that the tables and chairs seemed to be new, and under the bright red candlelight, they were shining with a mellow luster.

Duan Rong said, "Master Zhu, don't worry! Duan Rong came here for important matters, and these small matters are not important. I really don't care how you live!"

Zhu Zhengfu looked a little embarrassed and said, "Since you are so kind, it's no wonder that the ancestor values you so much!"

Duan Rong and Zhu Zhengfu had been walking together, and he had already found that Zhu Zhengfu's words were a bit pretentious and too smooth. If he had to get along with someone, he would rather get along with Zhu Peng and Zhu Cheng.

Zhu Peng is innocent and generous, while Zhu Cheng is calm and capable. Both are people worth making friends with.

Duan Rong stood there and yawned deliberately.

Zhu Zhengfu immediately understood and said, "It's getting late, I won't disturb you from resting."

Duan Rong asked, "Master Zhu, why don't you sit for a while?"

Zhu Zhengfu said, "No, I will pay my respects to you tomorrow."

As Zhu Zhengfu spoke, he had already left the villa.

Duan Rong watched Zhu Zhengfu leave, then sat down in front of the desk, and under the light of a bright red candle, prepared to take a general look at the documents that Zhu Cheng had sorted out.

The butler held a lantern and led Zhu Zhengfu back to the room.

In the room, Zhu Peng had been waiting there for a while.

As soon as Zhu Peng saw Zhu Zhengfu coming in, he immediately stood up and respectfully called him "Seventh Uncle".

Zhu Zhengfu was indeed his real seventh uncle, but Zhu Zhengfu always looked down on his nephew.

Zhu Zhengfu hummed, then sat down on a chair not far from Zhu Peng and said, "Zhu Peng! I asked you to wait for me because I wanted to remind you again that the news of Lord Duan Rong's coming today and every word in this room must not be spread out! Do you understand?"

When Zhu Peng heard this, his expression changed slightly.

He thought Zhu Zhengfu asked him to wait here because he had something important to tell him.

So that’s what it means! ?

Judging from Zhu Zhengfu's tone, he still treats him as an innocent child!

Zhu Peng suddenly choked up and said, "How could I, your nephew, talk nonsense about such a confidential matter of Uncle Qi? Could it be that in Uncle Qi's heart, your nephew is so vulnerable to such things?"

Zhu Zhengfu sighed and said, "Seventh Uncle has watched you grow up, doesn't he know you? You are superficial, arrogant, and have no scheming. I won't feel at ease if I don't warn you."

Zhu Peng became even more angry and was speechless for a long time.

Zhu Zhengfu said: "Alright! Go back and rest early. Don't blame Uncle Qi for scolding you, you have to improve yourself!"

Zhu Peng suppressed his anger, reluctantly said hello to Zhu Zhengfu, and left the room.

He rode his horse towards the mansion, feeling even more depressed. He had originally brought back a little witch from Yanyue Tower tonight, intending to have a good night of fun, but he didn't expect Duan Rong to suddenly show up and ruin his plans.

The lust that he had suppressed before, mixed with the depression in his heart, made his lower abdomen surge with heat. The image of his concubine's waist kept flashing through his mind... He rushed to the mansion even more eagerly.

(End of this chapter)