"The two of you are already so old. Have you lived in the stomachs of dogs?" Li Daozong was furious when he saw the two's change from arrogance to deference.
Qu Tushou and Zhang Xiangxiang were both in their thirties and forties. They usually held high positions and power, but in front of Li Daozong, they could only bow and apologize.
"Uncle Li is right! Your nephew has eyes but failed to see and wronged Brother Mo! "Zhang Xiangxiang admitted defeat like a hoodlum.
Zhang Xiangxiang was a powerful name. Not only that, his two younger brothers were called Zhang Dasu and Zhang Daan. They were probably in the family tree and were ranked in the "Da" generation. It was really difficult to name them.
Qu Tushou also repeatedly apologized. Li Daozong was not only a member of the royal family, but he also had outstanding military achievements. His status was too high, so Qu Tushou could only listen.
"Meton, these two idiots. The Old Man has already scolded them. The Old Man is thick-skinned enough to plead for leniency on their behalf! Don't lower yourself to their level! "Li Daozong glared hatefully at them and pleaded with Meton.
"Marquis Merton, my father and my late father were comrades. Marquis Merton, please forgive us on account of our past relationship," Zhang Xiangxiang said sincerely.
"You're just saying!" Li Daozong snorted coldly.
Qu Tushou suddenly understood. He quickly took out a yellowed document and handed it over.
"Land deed?" Li Daozong took it and looked at it. His eyebrows raised.
"We know that the Mo Family's experimental field is experimenting with new crops. Even His Majesty is full of praise. However, a hundred mu is really too small. I'm afraid it will delay His Majesty's plans. The two of us happen to have four hundred mu of land adjacent to the Mo Family's experimental field. We have specially gifted it to the Mo Family as a token of our sincerity." Qu Tushou did things very openly. He was clearly apologizing to Meton, but he did not let Meton take any responsibility.
To be honest, four hundred mu of land was nothing to the two High Duke's Manors. However, these lands were close to Chang 'an City, so it was especially rare. Moreover, the two of them had specially gotten the lands adjacent to the Mo Family's experimental field. This showed their sincerity.
The two High Dukes had personally come to apologize. It could be said that they had given Meton enough face. in addition, Li Daozong had personally pleaded for leniency, so Meton could not do anything.
"The two Grand Dukes are too courteous. The two Grand Dukes have dedicated their entire lives to the country. Painting for the two Grand Dukes is my duty and obligation. As for these generous gifts, I really don't dare to accept them." Moton declined.
........ If you don't accept it, how can you let these two idiots remember? Besides, the sooner the Mo Family's experimental field can cultivate high-yielding seeds, the better it will be for the people of the Tang dynasty. "Li Daozong did not wait for Meton to refuse and took the land deed.
"Don't worry. This is the compensation you deserve. It's not a bribe. The Old Man can guarantee that nothing will happen to you." Li Daozong promised in a low voice.
Meton suddenly smiled bitterly. He just remembered the history's evaluation of this Prince. He was very avaricious. Since Li Daozong had made the decision to accept it, Meton could not refuse anymore.
Seeing that Meton did not refuse, Zhang Xiangxiang and Qu Tushou were also relieved.
"I wonder when Marquis Merton has time. I will personally visit you to ask for advice." Zhang Dashou's posture was very low.
"Why wait? I think now is fine," Li Daozong said simply.
"I wonder if Brother Mo has time?" Qu Tushou asked. He was also anxious. The sooner this matter was resolved, the sooner the Jiang Zhong Mansion's reputation could be restored.
Meton thought about it. This time he came to help the Ministry of Justice with the portraits. He had all the brushes, painters, and paper. He nodded and said, "I don't have anything. It's just that I need a few people close to the two Old Dukes to dictate the painting. "
"Brother Mo, don't worry. We have already gathered everyone!" Zhang Xiangxiang pointed to a few carriages that were already waiting not far away. They had already learned about Meton's conditions from Old Man Yin and had prepared everything in advance.
"I am also very familiar with these two old friends. I should be able to help!" Li Daozong said.
In that case, what else could Meton say? He immediately borrowed the Ministry of Justice's territory and started work.
When Zhang Xiangxiang and Qu Tushou took the portraits of Qu Tutong and Zhang Gongjin and thanked Meton again and again and left with tears in their eyes, the entire Chang 'an City focused on the Lai Duke Mansion.
So far, 23 of the 24 portraits of the Lingyan Pavilion had been completed. Only Duke Du Ruhui's portrait was not completed. Everyone was waiting to see what the Du Mansion was going to do.
"Unfilial son!"
In the Lai Duke Mansion, Madam Du angrily rebuked Du He who was kneeling in front of Du Ruhui's coffin.
At this moment, Du He's face was ashen. He was no longer as arrogant and despotic as yesterday. Bad news came one after another. First, Yin Yuan, whom he thought was stupid, personally went to court to prove Mo Jiazi's innocence. Then, Yan Liben refused to paint, cutting off his last path of retreat. Then, Jiang Zhong Mansion and Duke Zou Mansion betrayed him, putting the Lai Duke Mansion in the eye of the storm.
"I don't believe that Mo Jiazi dares not to paint father!" Du He was still stubborn.
"The son of the Mo Family wouldn't dare, but the longer he drags on, the more our Du Family will become the laughingstock of Chang 'an City. We will lose the Emperor's heart, and the reputation that your father has worked so hard to build will be destroyed." Madam Du said sadly.
"Sister-in-law, don't worry. The most important thing now is to get Mo Jiazi's forgiveness as soon as possible and paint Second Brother's portrait as soon as possible. This is the only way to restore the Du Mansion's reputation. " Du Chuke comforted her. He was Du Ruhui's younger brother. Madam Du immediately invited him to discuss such a big matter in the Lai Duke Mansion.
"Everything is up to Uncle!" Madam Du said helplessly.
Du Chuke thought for a while and said, "As far as I know, Qu Tushou and Zhang Xiangxiang only settled this matter after the King of Jiangxia interceded and took out 400 mu of land adjacent to the Mo Family's experimental field."
"400 mu of land is easy. Our Du Mansion can take it out," Madam Du said hurriedly.
"Sister-in-law, don't worry. Since we want to show our sincerity, we naturally can't give the same compensation as the other two families. I remember that the Du Mansion has a house near the Imperial College. The Mo Hospital of the Mo Family is preparing a women's medical school for the Empress's illness. Why don't we use this house as compensation so that Mo Jiazi can't refuse?"
The land near the Imperial College was expensive, but Madam Du didn't feel any heartache at this moment. She directly asked the housekeeper to take out the title deed and hand it to Du Chuke.
"The cause of this matter is He 'er. I'm afraid …"
Madam Du looked at Du He and closed her eyes sadly. "Please tell Marquis Merton that He 'er will return to the Du Mansion to mourn for her late husband for three years."
"Mother!" Du He looked at her mother in shock. Returning to the Du Mansion to mourn for three years? Didn't that mean that he wouldn't be able to come to Chang 'an City for three years? He was used to the prosperity of Chang 'an City. To let him live those boring mourning days in his hometown was even worse than killing him with a pen.
Looking at her mother's determined expression, she knew that she was serious. She lowered her head dejectedly. Her jealousy and hatred towards Meton reached its peak.
Du Chuke opened his mouth. He originally wanted Du He to personally apologize, but he didn't expect Madam Du to be so heavy-handed.
However, looking at the unconvinced Du He, Du Chuke still felt that Madam Du's method was right. Otherwise, who knew what this fellow would do in the future.
Unfortunately, if Madam Du and Du Chuke knew that Du He would instigate Li Chengqian to rebel in the future and bring disaster to the Du Family, they would probably strangle him to death.
That night, Du Chuke personally came to apologize. After Meton learned of the Du Mansion's compensation and Du He's punishment, he understood the Du Mansion's sincerity.
Meton also wanted to resolve this matter as soon as possible. That night, he used Du Chuke as a template to draw a portrait of Du Ruhui.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
