Murong Ke made his move today not only because he didn't want to waste time, but also because he had found out that the case of the Pan and Feng families was indeed related to the royal family and the Cao family. When the former Emperor ascended to the throne, the national treasury was empty, and the former Emperor ordered to increase the taxes on merchants. Nanyue and Jinkou City were the top priorities. Jinkou City was a special place where merchants didn't dare to pay taxes. However, Nanyue was different. With the Pan family as the leader, no one in the entire business world was willing to pay taxes.
The Governor of Nanyue, Cao Jingyao, was unable to collect taxes, so he wanted to vent his anger on the Pan and Feng families, fabricating their crimes. Cao Jingyao framed the two families for selling illicit salt. Immediately, there were people in the imperial clan who secretly supported him and helped him cover up and fabricate the crime. For the sake of the national treasury, the former Emperor turned a blind eye and ordered the Pan and Feng families to be exiled. Back then, the imperial clan was more powerful than it was today. Along the way, they withheld half of the taxes and wrote an IOU to the former Emperor. At that time, the former Emperor's power was unstable, so he allowed the imperial clan to manipulate everything in Nanyue.
The Pan and Feng families were framed. Back then, they did not smuggle salt. It was the Cao family who really smuggled salt out to sea. Hundreds of people from the Pan and Feng families died unjustly because of the Cao family's framing. With such a huge injustice, even if they had no descendants to avenge, Murong Ke could not let the Cao family off.
"Have they all confessed?" Murong Ke stood outside the prison. Hearing the cries coming from inside, he knew that they were using torture to extort a confession.
Lu Xiangzhi said in a low voice, "Apart from Sun Jiasheng, the others couldn't stand the torture and confessed. All of Nanyue's illicit salt and coal were passed through Cao Xingyu's hands. No one else dared to steal this business. Sun Jiasheng should be one of Cao Xingyu's men and has been working for him all this time."
Murong Ke's lips curled into a terrifying smile. "Cao Xingyu alone can control the entire Nanyue?"
"According to the confessions of the others, there are still people in the capital who are involved." Lu Xiangzhi handed a confession to Murong Ke.
"Marquis Ping, Prince of the East, Prince of Wen, Luo Jincheng …" Murong Ke read the names on the list, and his eyes seemed to be covered in a layer of frost. "It seems that it is not far from what we found. There are many people of the imperial family who have interfered with Nanyue."
Lu Xiangzhi said, "We still don't know who tried to assassinate the young prince on the way."
Murong Ke said lightly, "We'll get the answer from the interrogation. Did you catch Cao Xingyu?"
"Song Jiong has already brought people to capture him." Lu Xiangzhi said.
"Very well, This King will personally interrogate him." Murong Ke said calmly, "Things will end here in Nanyue soon. Once the injustice of the Pan and Feng families is made public, there should be a new governor here."
Regardless of whether it was the case from back then or the smuggling in Nanyue, he would be able to find out everything within a month.
Lu Xiangzhi looked at Murong Ke's back. "Sixth Marquis, don't tell me you don't intend to stay in Nanyue anymore?"
Now that he was the governor of Nanyue, from what he said, did he want to leave this place?
Lu Xiangzhi wanted to ask again, but he only saw Murong Ke's disappearing figure.
Not long after, Song Jiong caught Cao Xingyu.
Murong Ke still met him in the study.
"Sixth Duke, good move." Cao Xingyu looked at the man sitting behind the desk. He had already seen Murong Ke twice today. The first time, he had treated Murong Ke as his life-saving straw. This time, he had become a knife hanging on his neck.
"Compared to everything that Master Cao has done for Nanyue these years, what this King has done pales in comparison." Murong Ke smiled faintly.
Cao Xingyu pulled out a mocking smile. "So Sixth Marquis is the Emperor's right-hand man. In this half a year, people really thought that you were a thorn in the Emperor's side."
Not only him, but probably everyone who had bribed Murong Ke in this half a year knew that Murong Ke liked the Empress, so he had always held a grudge against the Emperor. Especially when the news of the Empress' sudden death came out of the capital, they all thought that Murong Ke must have hated the Emperor to death. If it wasn't for the war in Xiliang, perhaps the Emperor would have already changed the governor of Nanyue and wouldn't have let Murong Ke stay here.
So all of this was fake. Perhaps even the matter of Sixth Marquis liking Lu Yaoyao was fake.
Murong Ke smiled faintly. Because of Yaoyao, he did not want to see Mo Rongzhan again, but this was different from Nanyue.
"This King only wants to know two things." Murong Ke said faintly, "Who wants to assassinate Young Marquis? Who poisoned Her Majesty the Empress? "
"Sixth Marquis, what are you talking about? This commoner doesn't understand a word." Cao Xingyu asked with a smile.
Murong Ke said faintly, "It doesn't matter if you don't understand now. However, you should still remember the fate of the Pan and Feng families. Others may not remember, but your Cao family cannot forget."
Cao Xingyu's expression changed. "You want to frame our Cao family!"
"Frame?" Murong Ke looked at him amusedly. "Do you still need others to frame you for the evidence of your Cao family selling illicit salt? How many ships of illicit salt in the port belong to your Cao family? "
"Sixth Marquis, what do you want?" Cao Xingyu said. "I can give you half of the Cao family's property."
Murong Ke glanced at him lazily. "Your Cao family's property has been confiscated. Now, the only one who can decide the life and death of your Cao family is you."
"What do you stand to gain by doing this?" Cao Xingyu's eyes were red with anger. "If we fall, all of Nanyue will fall. Do you think this is a good thing for the Jin Country?"
"Cao Xingyu, you are too confident in yourself. Nanyue will still be fine without you." Murong Ke sneered. In the past six months, he had already supported another group of merchants who could be of great use. Even if Cao Xingyu and Sun Jiasheng fell, Nanyue would still not be affected much.
Cao Xingyu, who had a monopoly on all business, was no longer around. For the other small merchants in Nanyue, it was a good thing.
Cao Xingyu already understood that Murong Ke had long expected this day. He came prepared.
"Sixth Marquis, you have done so much. Other than offending people, what do you gain?" Cao Xingyu asked. He was still struggling, not believing that he would lose just like that.
"Do you think this King cares who I offend? Marquis Ping? Prince Dong? Prince Wen or Luo Jincheng? "Murong Ke asked with a faint smile.
Cao Xingyu's expression changed. He knew everything?
"Sixth Marquis, Sun Jiasheng confessed," Song Jiong said outside the study.
Murong Ke glanced at Cao Xingyu indifferently. "Master Cao, please go and question him."
"Wait a moment!" Cao Xingyu shouted. He knew that Murong Ke must have already investigated. Even if he did not say anything, he would not have a good ending. "Sixth Marquis, I only beg you to let my family go."
Murong Ke sneered. "That depends on how much you say."
"I can tell you everything you want to know. I will bear the consequences of my actions. At least … leave a drop of my Cao family's bloodline." Cao Xingyu knew that he would not survive. Now, he could only pray that his entire family would not be executed.
"Why didn't your Cao family want to leave a bloodline for the Pan and Feng families?" Lu Xiangzhi asked coldly.
...
(Nine-Headed Bird Academy)
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