Chapter 207: Being Tricked

What is there in Jinzhou?

In addition to the rebels, barbarians, and corrupt officials, Jinzhou also has a heavyweight figure: King Cheng.

King Cheng's mansion is located in Jinzhou City. When the rebels were at their worst, King Cheng's mansion was still full of wine and meat every day, living a life of drunkenness and dreams.

When the rebels attacked the city, King Cheng's mansion relied on the soldiers of the mansion and the remnants of the defeated soldiers to resist the rebels for five days and persisted until the reinforcements arrived.

The previous generation of King Cheng was the brother of the old emperor, and this generation of King Cheng is the old emperor's nephew.

There is an unconfirmed rumor that the throne originally belonged to King Cheng. The old emperor used conspiracy and played a big trick when the previous emperor passed away, and robbed King Cheng of the throne.

This rumor was very popular in the early years. As the old emperor took the throne firmly and behaved wisely and bravely, similar statements gradually disappeared.

In recent years, as the old emperor became increasingly old and confused, this rumor was brought up again and had a new market.

The capital is guarded by the Jinyiwei, which is a huge mountain. It concerns the privacy of the royal family. The common people have a sense of propriety and will not run to the streets and alleys to talk nonsense.

However, outside the capital, especially the farther away from the capital, the more popular similar rumors are. Everyone has a gossipy heart, especially the gossip about the royal family. The government can't control it.

The place where this rumor spreads most fiercely is Jinzhou.

However, Jinzhou covered up the gossip about Cheng Wangfu because of the rebellion.

The court officials have naturally heard these rumors, and there are even rumors that are ten times more detailed than the folk version.

What on the night of the death of the previous emperor, the previous generation of Cheng Wang was tricked by the old emperor and did not rush to the palace in time. When he came to his senses, the old emperor had already controlled the entire capital, and the overall situation was initially determined. Cheng Wang was helpless and could not make up his mind to start a war. He was slow at every step, and he made mistakes at every step. In the end, the throne fell into the hands of the old emperor. After a few years, even the military power in his hands was taken away by the old emperor. He was disheartened and went to Jinzhou to be a vassal. He died at a young age due to excessive worry.

Liu Daowen ruled out all possibilities. No matter how incredible it sounded, everything pointed to Cheng Wangfu.

He was terrified, his heartbeat accelerated, and he had the illusion of being on the verge of death.

Why did Cheng Wangfu contact him?

He was a well-known corrupt official. Now he was in prison, counting his fingers to survive, and he would soon be killed by a knife from above.

His only value was money, a lot of money.

Liu Daowen swallowed his saliva subconsciously, his throat was tight and dry, his lips were cracked, and his mouth was on fire. No one knew how much money he had, not even his closest housekeeper.

No one knew where his money was hidden, and the housekeeper only knew part of the truth. The wealth in the mansion was only a small part of his embezzlement over the years.

With Jiangtu behind him and in the Construction Department, he would get involved in any project that passed his hands. He also took kickbacks from projects that he had not handled. He was extremely generous in his flattery and tributes from all kinds of people, especially those foreign merchants who had no connections.

So much money, he was going to be beheaded before he had time to enjoy it, he was unwilling to accept it.

He had already accepted his fate, not for himself, but for his mother, wife, and children at home, and for the family.

Now, a note has suppressed his unwillingness and it has resurfaced.

Unwilling!

Don't want to die!

If King Cheng gives him a chance, will he seize it?

Liu Daowen was rarely quiet and said nothing.

The jailer reported to Chen Guanlou, and Chen Guanlou said: "It's normal for him to be like this now. It's hard for him to accept it for a while. Let him think about it carefully and don't bother him. If he has any requests, it's wise not to be excessive and try to meet them."

After all, he was a rich man who gave five thousand taels, so he parted ways in peace and sent him off for the last time.

After work, Chen Guanlou changed his appearance to pick up the goods, and then changed back to his original appearance and went to the Marquis's Mansion to deliver the goods.

He went through the back door and met the eldest master smoothly after being notified.

Still in the study, the eldest master was surrounded by three or four literati guests to help identify the goods he brought. In addition to the red gold Buddha, he brought all other antiques, calligraphy and paintings, including the famous painting "Walking on the Snow".

"Marquis, this painting?" One of the guests pointed to a plum blossom lady and whispered.

"What's the problem?"

"There is no problem with the painting. It is indeed from the hands of Liang Jushi, a court painter of the previous dynasty. But the seal on it, Marquis, please look at this one, and this one... If it is not forged, then the origin of this painting..." The guest did not continue to say the rest of the words, those who understand will understand.

Chen Guanlou did not understand.

Before coming, he only made a preliminary inspection to ensure that the goods were intact and not damaged. As for the seal on the painting, he really didn't study it, didn't understand it very well, and couldn't tell whether it was good or bad.

Hearing the guest's words, he also shamelessly approached and stared at the seal, but he couldn't find any problem.

So he asked, "What's the problem? Could it be that the seal is forged?"

After going in and out of the Marquis's mansion several times and dealing with the master several times, he became bolder and was not as reserved as when he first came back. He seemed very familiar.

He didn't treat himself as a younger brother, but looked at everything with the attitude of doing business.

In business, it is natural that you give and take, and it is a fair trade.

"No, no one in the world dares to forge these two seals."

"Why?" Chen Guanlou was too curious.

The guest first glanced at the master, and seeing that the master did not express his opinion, which meant that he did not object, he explained to Chen Guanlou: "Because this seal is the private seal that His Royal Highness used frequently in the past few years, and the other seal is His Majesty's. His Majesty liked to use this seal for a period of time in his early years. You may still see it when you look through the memorials of the early years. His Majesty's seal has been sealed for nearly 30 years. I didn't expect to see it on this plum blossom lady painting today."

"Ah!"

Chen Guanlou exclaimed, he was really shocked.

Damn!

The housekeeper of the Liu Mansion bullied him for not knowing antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and actually hid private goods in the goods, which was a good trick to divert the trouble. Once the Liu Mansion was raided, the plum blossom lady painting was seized, and the seal on it was seen, Liu Daowen's theft of the palace's collection of famous paintings could no longer be concealed.

At that time, it would not be just him who would be beheaded.

From the palace to the Shaofu to the guards, everyone will be punished. I'm afraid there will be hundreds of heads falling. That's really a lot of heads rolling.

Liu's housekeeper knew that this painting was a disaster, and he bullied Chen Guanlou for not knowing antiques and calligraphy and paintings, and he also had the fluke of thinking that Pingjiang Hou had the ability to eat this painting, so he secretly mixed this painting with the goods.

Du Fuzi's knowledge was limited after all. He had never come into contact with antiques and calligraphy and paintings stamped by the old emperor and the prince, and he also made a mistake.

Chen Guanlou's face turned red. He actually suffered such a big loss and was actually tricked.

He immediately said: "I will return the goods now."

"No hurry."

The eldest master looked calm and unhurried, and he took it lightly. It seemed that this matter was just like eating and drinking water in his eyes, a trivial matter.

I only heard the eldest master say: "It's just a painting, there's no need to be so nervous."

Is it really a trivial matter?

Chen Guanlou asked in a low voice with an apologetic look and a hint of hidden regret, "You really don't need to return it?"