Mu Jiang already knew that he wouldn't be able to avoid this. When he saw the Imperial Guard bring the bloody pearl over, he was already mentally prepared for the Seventh Prince to settle the score. But he never thought that the Seventh Prince would not come any earlier or later, but just when the Fourth Prince was making trouble, he would squeeze his way in. What was he trying to do? Were the princes ganging up on him? Would he be able to deal with this kind of battle prowess?
Mu Jiang knew his place very well and defined his current situation as "dealing with" rather than "dealing with". What a joke. In the entire empire, who would be able to deal with the princes? Which one of these princes wasn't tyrannical to the point of wanting to ascend to the heavens? Today, he had been tricked by that damned girl. He thought to himself that when he returned, he would definitely lock that girl up in the courtyard and never let her out again.
"Your Highness." Mu Jiang bowed again, his forehead covered in sweat. This prince of Dashun had the most divine aura, but he was an existence that no one dared to ignore. If anyone really thought that the Seventh Prince's personality was the same as his appearance, then they would be gravely mistaken. In reality, if this prince was offended badly, his explosive power would be even greater than the Ninth Prince's.
"Official Mu." Xuan Tianhua had already sat down on the other side of Xuan Tianming. He lifted his robe, every movement so natural and otherworldly like an immortal. However, the words that came out of his mouth were hard to accept. "I believe that Official Mu has already seen the pearl that was defiled by your daughter?"
He didn't mention that Feng Yu Heng had plucked the pearl from the hairpin herself and flicked it out. He only said that his daughter had defiled it. Mu Jiang couldn't help but admit that he was inferior to Mu Jiang's ability to lie without batting an eye. However, so what if he was inferior? Now that things had come to this, he could only accept it. "This official has already seen it." Mu Jiang continued to apologize in a low voice. "This official didn't discipline my daughter well when she argued with her son. It's all this official's fault."
"Of course it's your fault." Xuan Tianming interjected. "Could it be that your daughter isn't wrong, but I's wife is?"
Mu Jiang trembled. "No! The princess was definitely right! You're absolutely right. "
"Yes." Xuan Tianming nodded. "It's good that you think that way. This matter is much easier to discuss." He then asked Xuan Tianhua, "Hang Heng really likes the Pearl of the East Sea that Seventh Brother found."
Xuan Tianhua continued, "I have been in this world for more than twenty years, and this is the first time I have seen such a beautiful pearl. It was found in a thousand-year-old clam that was salvaged from the East Sea when he was returning to the capital from the East Border. It was hard to find such a beautiful pearl in the world. Even the Imperial Palace had never seen such beautiful pearls. So, Lord Mu, why don't you estimate its value? "
Without waiting for Mu Jiang to speak, Xuan Tianming added, "Lord Mu, you have to think carefully. Allowing you to estimate the value is already a magnanimous act."
Mu Jiang nodded with difficulty, but that pearl had already been described in such a manner by Xuan Tianhua. How should he calculate its value? He thought about it for a while, but he could only say: "The pearl … can't be considered damaged, right? It's … it's just a bit of blood. "
Smack!
Xuan Tianming threw the wine cup in his hand without any hesitation, shattering it at Mu Jiang's feet. In an instant, everyone in the hall looked over. Even the people that had been chatting stopped talking. Holding their breaths, they were all guessing Mu Jiang's fate.
They heard Xuan Tianming ask Mu Jiang: "You mean to say that the pearl that was stained with your daughter's blood is still being used by I's wife?"
The fourth prince, Xuan Tian Yi, also said: "That's right! You really are shameless! "
Mu Jiang could no longer stand and simply knelt on the ground, "Would your Highnesses please give a straightforward answer! As long as you can let this official off and let this matter pass, this official is willing to accept any compensation. "
"Very good." Xuan Tianming nodded, "That's more like it! As long as you are willing to cooperate, this matter can be discussed. " He then asked Xuan Tianhua: "Seventh Brother knows the value of that pearl the best. Let's have Seventh Brother state a price!"
Xuan Tianhua agreed, but he was not in a rush to state a price. Instead, he asked Mu Jiang: "How about Lord Mu first state your family's assets so that I can have an idea. That way, you won't be able to afford it if you ask for too much. If you ask for too little, you won't be able to close this pearl. "
Everyone that heard this felt their hearts tremble. State his family's assets? This was completely wiping him out!
The sweat on Mu Jiang's forehead fell to the ground, and his heart also began to tremble. State his family's assets? It was not that he was unwilling to part with money, but could an official's assets be reported? Whose family did not have two accounts, one in the open and one in the dark? If he were to report his assets in front of so many people, he might as well be hacked to death.
His face sank and he remained kneeling in place for a long time without making a sound. In his heart, he was thinking, if he honestly reported his assets, would he really anger these princes and have them behead him on the spot? In the end, he still had to live!
Seeing that Mu Jiang was not speaking, Xuan Tianhua was not polite at all. It was fine if the other party did not say anything. He said — — "It seems that Lord Mu's memory is not very good. You can't even remember your family's accounts clearly. Then why don't you let I help you calculate them!" As he said this, Xuan Tianhua began to list out Mu Jiang's assets one by one. From Mu Jiang's official annual income to how many fields, shops, and courtyards he owned in Luo Province, everything was listed out.
Of course, if it was just these, Mu Jiang would not be afraid. After all, which official did not have fields or shops? This was very normal. However, what made him feel terrified was that Xuan Tianhua was actually able to clearly list out all the deeds to the houses and fields that the Mu Family owned. He did not miss a single one, and there were even some that he himself could not remember clearly. This made Mu Jiang feel shocked. At the same time, he understood that the other party must have planted spies in the Mu Residence, and it was not just one.
However, what was even more terrifying than this was Xuan Tianhua's next words — — "It is reported that these are not the main sources of the Mu Family's wealth. Shutian Province is the last province in the southern border of Dashun and is next to Dashun. Many small countries in the desert first have to pass through Lan Province before entering Luo Province. Many merchants simply use Luo Province as their main source of goods. For all merchants from the desert to enter Dashun, Lan Province is a checkpoint, and Luo Province is an even bigger checkpoint. The taxes from these merchants and the amount of money that they have to pay to enter Luo Province are all reported to Dashun every day by Luo Province, but there is no proof. You said that only one merchant came this year, but in reality, it is possible that an entire country came. And you said that one country came, but it is possible that ten countries came. There are a total of sixteen small countries in the depths of the desert. Lord Mu, your concubine's daughter married into one of these countries. On the day of her wedding, the dowry was spread out for ten kilometers. The value of the dowry was equivalent to a third of that small country's wealth. At the same time, the other party's betrothal gift is also a shocking amount. Did I say anything wrong? "
Mu Jiang's head fell to the ground, and he could no longer speak.
The officials in the hall all sucked in a breath of cold air. The officials from the south were still fine. After all, they were well aware of these things. However, the people from other places, including the officials from the capital, had never heard of this before. When they heard this, they couldn't help but be shocked. All of them began to calculate in their hearts. Just how rich was Mu Jiang from Luo Province? A concubine's daughter's dowry was ten kilometers, which was equivalent to a third of the wealth of a small country in the desert. Then what if it was a daughter of the first wife? How much would it be?
While everyone was shocked, they began to worry about the Mu Family. How much money would they be extorted by the princes?
Xuan Tianhua's voice rose once more: "Lord Mu, I have already said what needs to be said. I will not force you today. Think about it carefully during this banquet. Go to the Chun Palace tomorrow and give I an explanation! "
Just as he finished speaking, the fourth prince, Xuan Tian Yi, also began to laugh, "Lord Mu, I never thought that your Luo Province would be that rich. Since that's the case, I will not be polite. The matter of your daughter hitting the Feng family's third young miss, I have also thought about it. How about this, you use the ten kilometers of dowry that you sent to that concubine's daughter to the small country in the desert as compensation! You also know that the Feng family is currently in dire straits, and the family does not have much money. The Feng family's third young miss has yet to be betrothed, and she will be getting married in the future. She also cannot hope for the Feng family to prepare a large dowry, so you might as well prepare it. We will not be picky about whether you want to use money or actual items, but before those things are handed over to the Feng family's third young miss, would Lord Mu please not leave the capital. " As he spoke, he looked at his two imperial brothers and said: "The matter of watching over Lord Mu will be handed over to seventh brother and Ninth Brother!"
Hearing this, Mu Jiang knew that he was going to be placed under house arrest in the capital, and he quickly said in fear: "That absolutely cannot be done! Luo Province is a large province in the South. If this lowly official does not return, the backlog of official matters will … "
"That is not a problem." Xuan Tianming spoke up, "I will send someone else to temporarily manage Luo Province in your place. When you have settled the matters in the capital, I will send someone to escort you back."
Once these words were said, it was the same as making Mu Jiang a mere figurehead. Who knew when the matters here would be settled. Also, going from the capital to the South, it would take at least two months. Like this, it was very possible that the person in charge would completely remove him. This was a huge matter!
His attitude was very firm as he shook his head and said: "Absolutely not."
Xuan Tianming nodded in surprise, "Since Lord Mu does not agree, then let's drop this matter."
"Hm?" Everyone was puzzled. The Ninth Prince was willing to compromise so quickly? This was not his style!
Of course, this was not Xuan Tianming's style. His style was: "Then let's report this to the authorities. You can sue Princess Ji An for stealing the flesh from your daughter's palm. We can sue you for embezzling the imperial court's taxes. The amount is huge, so it should be enough to sentence you to death, right? " As he spoke, he looked at the standard first rank official of the Imperial Clan Court, "Lord Xu, is it enough to sentence you to death?"
The official of the Imperial Clan Court was one of Xuan Tianming's people. When he heard his question, he quickly stood up and replied: "Absolutely."
Thus, Xuan Tianming nodded, "Then let's do it this way!"
Mu Jiang was stunned and blurted out: "No, no! You can't do it this way! Wait a moment! " He then looked at Xuan Tianming. His gaze was filled with anger and even more despair. In the end, he still compromised, "Forget it, the compensation that was mentioned earlier, this lowly official … will accept it!"
"That's more like it!" Xuan Tianming spoke up, "You have money, but you don't hand it over. Instead, you have to use your life to exchange for it. Lord Mu's calculations really are muddled."
"Then following this …" The fourth prince, Xuan Tian Yi, was still unsatisfied, "I will speak once more. Aside from the dowry compensation, I have two other claims."
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