Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 278 Western Poison [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

and so……

Although Shen Lian felt that Yan Maoqing's gaze meant that, he couldn't figure out his true intentions for a moment.

Could it be that they wanted to use the "notorious and fierce reputation" of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to scare this servant and teach him a lesson?
After all, when it comes to deterring the common people, the long-established Embroidered Uniform Guard is definitely stronger.

Even the Eastern Depot and the Western Depot were actually far superior to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

After all, Yan Maoqing had not held privileges comparable to those of the Western Depot for very long, and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices had not targeted the common people so far.

Even though many powerful figures and merchants were arrested in Shanxi, let's just call them "the people" for now, it was all done in the name of suppressing the White Lotus Sect. Even if there were some negative comments, they were all overshadowed by Yan Maoqing's heroic act of beheading Anda and recovering the Hetao region.

Therefore, so far, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices has not aroused much fear, at least in the eyes of the people, no matter how great its power is, it has nothing to do with them.

However, regarding Liu Laizi's behavior, Shen Lian felt that even if he didn't have to be tortured or imprisoned, it was indeed necessary to teach him a lesson.

So he reluctantly put on a stern face, coldly staring at Liu Laizi, who was so frightened he could barely speak, and said in a deep voice:
"If that's the case, then this is a case of using the power of the Duke of Biguo to accept bribes, and should be dealt with severely."

According to the "Great Ming Code", if one is found guilty of embezzlement without being punished for breaking the law, and accepts bribes not for official business, the maximum penalty is one hundred strokes of the cane and exile for three thousand li.

"In other words, if the amount of bribes you received was not large, but if the amount reached eighty taels, there would be no need to impose caning and exile. As long as the evidence is conclusive, you can simply be hanged!"

The voice just fell.

"Alas--!"

Liu Laizi gasped for breath, his eyes rolled back, and he nearly fainted.

Even a hundred strokes of the cane and exile for three thousand miles wouldn't be enough for him!

Let alone the fact that if the Embroidered Uniform Guards used their caning methods with care, at most twenty strokes could kill a person.

Even if he were lucky enough to survive, someone like him would be exiled three thousand miles away to a desolate border region or wasteland to serve his sentence, and he could forget about ever having a good day again in his life.

Having finally recovered, Liu Laizi's face was ashen, and he kowtowed frantically, kowtowing to Yan Maoqing and then to Shen Lian.
"Master, spare me! Official, spare me! I deserve to die. I was blinded by greed. I will never do it again. Please, Master and Official, give me a way out..."

"..."

Yan Maoqing gave Shen Lian a grateful look and finally spoke:
"Brother Chunfu, is accepting a bribe of fifty taels of silver really this serious?"

"This is still mild; the law has become much more lenient in recent years."

Shen Lian continued to cooperate,
"If it were during the reign of Emperor Taizu, fifty taels of silver would be enough to be beheaded and displayed to the public, sixty taels of silver would be enough to be skinned alive, and eighty or one hundred strings of cash would be enough to be executed by slow slicing."

"Brother Chunfu, I didn't expect this punishment to be so severe. Why don't you just pretend I was never here today?"

Yan Maoqing then said with difficulty,

"This servant is actually an attendant that my wife brought from Jiangxi, but my wife is unaware of this."

"If my wife finds out, given her nature, she will surely feel guilty towards me. Even if I don't send him here for proper punishment, my wife will definitely punish him according to family rules and banish him from the mansion forever."

"Such a solution will probably not be hidden from my wife."

"But I don't want my wife to know about this, lest she feel guilty and uneasy, and I would feel sorry for her if I saw it."

"master……"

Upon hearing this, Liu Laizi saw a glimmer of hope, but it was also accompanied by even greater fear. He immediately began to slap himself in the face, cursing himself as he did so.
"I am a worthless wretch! I have failed my wife and my master! I will never dare to do it again! If I accept even one more penny, may the heavens strike me down with lightning!" He knew perfectly well that even if he escaped this punishment, what would happen if his wife found out?

In particular, it was important to let the lady know that the master was bothered by this.

Then the lady will truly not let him off easily, and even the Bai family will not let his family in Jiangxi off easily; at the very least, they will definitely drive them all out of the mansion.

This shows that the master was not only kind-hearted, but also deeply in love with his wife. Otherwise, why would he have secretly sent him to the Embroidered Uniform Guard for punishment?
If we're talking about kindness, then the master is indeed the kindest!

If he does such a thing again, he's no longer human, and the master would be justified in having him skinned alive.

"This……"

Shen Lian finally understood Yan Maoqing's intentions. This guy really did come to use him to teach this head servant a lesson.

Moreover, the methods used... well, they can't be called despicable and shameless, they can only be described as filthy and vile.

This was the first time in his life he had ever seen someone like Yan Maoqing, who went to such lengths to deal with a servant, using a combination of coaxing and deception, and making the most of the "slap and rub" tactic.

Especially now that he is a Duke, who is almost second only to the Emperor, doesn't he feel that this is beneath him at all?

Fortunately, Shen Lian also felt that at least Yan Maoqing wasn't doing anything bad, so he cooperated and said:
"Since it was Bi Guo who spoke out, how could I dare not give him face? However, I will record this matter. If there is a next time, I will punish him severely for both offenses!"

"Brother Chunfu, thank you very much."

Yan Maoqing then cast a grateful glance at Shen Lian.

The cooperation went fairly well. Since that's the case, the previous grudges are now settled. From now on, I won't curse you in my heart like I curse Gao Gong.

However, this incident has also made Yan Maoqing feel some pressure from within the family.

His prediction was correct.

As his official rank rose, both he and those associated with him inevitably began to face more and greater temptations.

Even a gatekeeper right under his nose is treated this way.

What about his parents, relatives, and in-laws in Jiangxi? Even if they are strict with themselves, there will be people constantly offering them benefits and tempting them to be dragged down.

Therefore, this return to his hometown will likely present challenges no less significant than those faced in the imperial court.

After all, even an upright official has difficulty settling family disputes, right?
……

Imperial kitchen, Imperial kitchen.

"Godfather, do we really have to do this? This is a matter of exterminating the entire clan and losing our heads!"

A young eunuch, pale-faced, spoke in a barely audible voice that trembled uncontrollably.

"Just relax, there's always someone taller to hold the sky up if it falls!"

The old eunuch pressed down on the young eunuch's shoulder and patiently explained,
"Besides, didn't Godfather already tell you?"

"This substance is a rare poison introduced from the West. Even the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital have never seen it before, so there is no way to investigate it."

"Even if someone is poisoned, the symptoms are nothing more than appearing to be insane, talking incoherently, and having a fever. Outsiders would only think it's a sudden epileptic seizure, and no one would ever suspect that they died from poisoning!"

(End of this chapter)