Volume One, Chapter 10: Two Hundred Taels to Buy the Empress?

Upon hearing Steward Wang’s words, Li Chuntao could no longer hold back. She shouted indignantly, "If you take our land and house, how are we supposed to live? Are you trying to drive us to our deaths?"

Steward Wang chuckled lightly. "Debts must be repaid; that is the natural order of things, is it not?"

"Everyone!"

A hurried voice rang out from outside, followed by an elderly man dressed in a green robe who rushed in, looking anxious.

"Village Chief Zhao is here."

"Who invited him?"

Village Chief Zhao stepped inside quickly, offering a polite bow with his hands clasped. "Steward Wang, Manager Zhang, the Fan family has produced a Juren scholar. This is a joyous occasion not just for our Qinglin Village, but for the entire Qingyuan County. I wonder if you two could do me the favor of granting them more time?"

"Absolutely not!"

Manager Zhang, known as Zhang the Scarred, retorted disdainfully, "If there is no money, then they must pay with their possessions!"

With that, he charged straight toward the main room.

Steward Wang sighed hypocritically. "Village Chief Zhao, I am merely following orders."

He then followed Zhang the Scarred inside. He was very curious to see who exactly was hiding in the west room.

"No!"

Fan Xiu hurriedly moved to block Zhang the Scarred. "You cannot go in there."

The rest of the Fan family grew frantic, rushing to block the doorway as well.

"Move!"

Zhang the Scarred let out a cold shout and shoved Fan Xiu aside.

Clang!

A crisp sound suddenly rang out.

Those present looked down and were stunned to see a gold ingot fall from Fan Xiu’s person!

Fan Xiu’s expression shifted.

Damn it! How did the gold fall out?

This gold was his first pot of gold from trading; it was the foundation of his confidence that he could earn two hundred taels of silver within ten days! Without this gold, if he had to start from scratch, where would he even begin to trade?

Just as he reached out to pick it up, Zhang the Scarred was faster, snatching the gold ingot first.

"Gold?!"

Zhang the Scarred wore a savage, triumphant grin. "You little brat, you were hiding gold on you? And ten taels of it at that? Where did you get this?"

Everyone present, including the Fan family, was shocked. All eyes were fixed upon the gold ingot.

Fan Xiu, who had insisted he had no money, actually possessed ten taels of gold?

Fan Xiu gritted his teeth. Although he was unwilling, since it had been discovered and was now in Zhang the Scarred’s hands, he knew he couldn't take it back by force.

"That gold... I saved an old man on the road, and he gave it to me. I intended to return it to him, but take it as repayment for now," Fan Xiu said, his eyes filled with genuine pain.

"Ha!"

Zhang the Scarred sneered. "Given by an old man? I think you clearly stole it! Since it’s stolen property, I’m confiscating it!"

"Isn't this just daylight robbery?" Li Chuntao cried out in anger.

Zhang the Scarred replied with utter disdain, "Then why don't you go report it to the magistrate? See who they arrest—the Juren scholar who stole gold, or me?"

Li Chuntao froze, stepping back with a worried expression. If this gold really was stolen by Fan Xiu, and the matter reached the authorities, Fan Xiu’s Juren title would be forfeit!

Fan Xiu said in a deep voice, "Zhang the Scarred, the origin of this gold is clean; I do not fear an official investigation! But everyone here has witnessed you taking it. If it goes toward the debt, fine, but if this is blatant robbery, then we shall meet at the magistrate’s office!"

"Hmph!"

Zhang the Scarred gave a heavy, cold snort. "Even if it counts toward the debt, this ten taels of gold only covers one hundred taels of silver. You still owe me another hundred!"

At this moment, Steward Wang stepped up to Zhang the Scarred, frowning. "Manager Zhang, may I have a look at that gold ingot?"

Zhang the Scarred immediately shoved the gold into his pocket and said gruffly, "What do you want? Are you trying to rob me too?"

Steward Wang did not speak, but his eyes grew profound. From a distance, he hadn't seen clearly, but as he approached, he had observed it carefully! The gold bore the characters for "Inner Bureau." That meant it came from the Imperial Inner Bureau. Only members of the royal family, or those who had been gifted gold and silver by the crown, would possess such items. Ordinary people would never have a chance to touch such things. Had he not been the steward for Master Zhao and witnessed many grand occasions, having once been lucky enough to see gold marked by the Inner Bureau, he would not have recognized it at a glance!

At that moment, Steward Wang believed Fan Xiu’s story. It was highly probable that Fan Xiu had truly saved an old man and received the gold from him. He only wondered what the identity of that old man was. However, that was irrelevant. What mattered was that this gold must never be touched! Since Zhang the Scarred was foolish enough to rob it, he could only pray for him.

Thinking this, Steward Wang signaled to his two servants and silently took two steps back.

Once he returned to the Zhao estate, he had to inform Master Zhao of this matter.

Zhang the Scarred, completely oblivious to Steward Wang’s abnormal behavior, laughed greedily. "Since you were hiding gold, you must be hiding other treasures!"

With that, he shoved Fan Shoucheng and the others aside and burst into the main room, smashing a pottery jar as he went.

"Damn it! It's empty!"

Zhang the Scarred cursed, then his gaze suddenly landed on the west room, and his face was immediately filled with surprise.

"There’s actually a woman hidden in here?"

Zhang the Scarred said with delight, moving toward the west room.

Fan Xiu hurriedly blocked him, shouting, "That is my wife in there; she has a contagious disease. If you go in, you will be infected!"

"Get out of the way!"

Zhang the Scarred pushed Fan Xiu aside and stormed into the west room. His eyes swept over Xiao Ruoqing, revealing a lecherous intent. "What a beautiful woman!"

Steward Wang also narrowed his eyes and peered inside. With just one look, his eyes tightened. Although the woman lying there appeared somewhat haggard, her undeniable nobility and beauty were far beyond what any ordinary woman could possess. This woman’s identity was definitely not simple. Recalling Fan Xiu’s claim about saving an old man, could this woman be a descendant of that old man?

"What do you want?"

Xiao Ruoqing looked at Zhang the Scarred, her face expressionless and cold.

"Hehe."

A lecherous look appeared on Zhang the Scarred’s ugly face. He turned to Fan Xiu and said, "Scholar Fan, sell this woman to me, and I’ll consider your debt cleared! Otherwise, heh heh..."

Hearing this, Xiao Ruoqing’s eyes gleamed with murderous intent. This Zhang the Scarred was truly damned; he dared to try and buy her—the Empress—for a mere hundred taels of silver! However, the thought of being sold filled Xiao Ruoqing with a surge of dread. Although she was extremely dissatisfied with Fan Xiu, if she were sold to this brute, her life would be worse than death—she would have nowhere to turn for help.

The urgency of the situation made her even more desperate to relieve herself. Her face flushed red, her body stiffened, and cold sweat broke out on her forehead.

Fan Xiu, thinking Xiao Ruoqing was simply terrified, ruffled her hair and said, "Don't be afraid! I am here!"

Having said this, he looked at Zhang the Scarred. "Zhang the Scarred, if you aren't afraid of death, then try it! I have already called upon my ancestors; the worst that can happen is that we all die together!"