inspire-indiana Chapter 870 Zhuang Quan also came with his master
Chapter 870 Zhuang Quan also came with his master
Shen Zheng quietly left the side hall.
Not long after, people from the three departments came to the door.
The leader was Sima Huai, the Minister of Dali Temple. After Shen Zheng exchanged a few words with him, she called Nanny Gu to invite all the people who were on the boat that day to the main hall.
Pei Zhaoqi, the young teacher, and Li Shiyuan who was "meeting guests" were no exception.
Each person was questioned individually. Since Shen Zheng was present, Sima Huai and others did not look at them in a frown. They just asked about the situation that day and then asked them to think carefully to see if there was anything they had overlooked.
The answers given by Mr. Qiao and others were basically the same.
There are two things that they still find strange.
One was that when everyone gathered on the deck that day, someone deliberately incited people and aroused Xu Ye's emotions, causing chaos on the deck. However, Xue Mai investigated for a long time afterwards but failed to catch that person.
During the investigation, Xue Mai also specially wrote down the voice of each crew member and asked them to repeat the words that caused the confusion, but still to no avail.
"The second is that the deputy helmsman Yang Hui who disappeared on the ship that day was found among the dead bodies when the ship was cleared afterwards, but apart from a severe blow to the head, he suffered no other injuries." said Old Qiao.
This feels very strange.
In such a panic situation, the murderer would definitely have used a knife to kill the witness, but why did he suddenly feel pity and only hit Yang Hui with a stick?
It seems that all the clues point to Yang Hui.
In fact, the three officials’ coming today is more like a formality.
The crew members were detained at the dock by them. Sima Huai and others were already familiar with the situation on the ship that day.
If they had any guesses in their hearts, they came here today to confirm those guesses.
Shen Zheng sent Sima Huai and others to the gate of the mansion. When she was about to return home, a shout came from outside the mansion.
"Shen, Master Shen!"
Shen Zheng knew who was coming without turning around.
Thinking of Zhuang Zhiyun who treated her like family, she stopped and turned to look at him.
Zhuang Quan also changed into a black robe embroidered with gold today. The garment was tailored to fit him perfectly, but he could not hide the thick black color, making him look like a child who had secretly worn adult clothes.
He took two or three steps forward, secretly glanced at Sima Huai and others who were leaving, and then said a little uncomfortably: "My master is just here to ask you a few questions, do you also need to hand in a note?"
Shen Zheng reached out and brushed him aside, then looked at the carriage parked opposite.
The curtains of the carriage were not lifted, and the entire compartment was covered tightly. Even the coachman sitting on the board did not look over here, as if they were just passing by.
She sneered: "You can ask your master to come in directly in the carriage."
Zhuang Quan also raised his head suddenly, his eyes full of joy: "Really?"
Shen Zheng smiled back, "Of course!"
After saying that, she turned and walked into the mansion.
Across the street, Zhuang Quan was also talking to the coachman when he saw the gate of the Shen residence slam shut.
“Hey——!” Zhuang Quan also ran and shouted, “We haven’t come in yet! Lord Shen, Sister Shen! What’s wrong with the doorman in your house? Don’t you even listen to the master’s words?”
Inside the mansion, Shen Zheng stopped and looked at the gatekeeper with a little surprise.
She hadn't even opened her mouth yet, but the doorman understood?
The dark and thin doorman turned around and smiled foolishly.
"..."
There are indeed many hidden talents in her house.
"Boom boom boom -- boom boom boom -- boom boom boom --"
“Open the door—!”
Zhuang Quan also knocked on the vermilion lacquered door, making loud noises. Shen Zheng felt sorry for the lacquer surface of the door.
The next moment, a man's voice sounded outside the door: "What's going on? Didn't she allow us in?"
There was a hint of displeasure in his words.
"Yes!" Zhuang Quan also said, "She is very polite. She also said that she would welcome your carriage in. Who knows what the gatekeepers in the mansion do? Master, please take a seat in the carriage. I will talk to them!"
Then, there were a few more "bang bang bang" sounds that made people's brains hurt.
Shen Zheng covered her ears impatiently and ordered, "If he knocks again later, just sweep it to the corner with a broom."
The doorman patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, sir. I was born a sweeper, so I know how to use a broom!"
......
After lunch, Shen Zheng began to check the accounts at home.
It was not until today that she found out that the silver used by the mansion for purchases was indeed a reward from the emperor last time.
Before she returned home, the family was very frugal in terms of food, clothing and other expenses.
Jiang Sheng would take his men out only at dusk every day, just to buy the vegetables that were left over by others. If he was lucky, he might get a large quantity of vegetables that were hard to sell, and he could save five cents on every ten kilograms.
As for the meat?
Jiang Sheng and his men built a chicken coop next to the stable.
The chickens and horses ate grass together, as well as leftover vegetable stems from the mansion, which could occasionally improve the chickens' diet.
These chickens are slaughtered one every ten days, and each person can get a bowl of shredded chicken soup, which can also be used to soak rice.
If they had money in their pockets, they would ask Jiang Sheng to help buy some meat and improve their meals.
In fact, the servants of wealthy families received more than this treatment, but since there was no master in the Shen Mansion, no one dared to touch the money in the account.
The servants also had only one set of clothes each.
If it is dirty, wash it at night and wear it during the day, even if it is not completely dry.
The more Shen Zheng listened, the more ashamed she felt, and once again realized what it meant to be "a child without a mother is like a weed."
She said to Gu Mama, "I only brought a small amount of cotton cloth with me to the capital this time. I will use fine linen to make two sets of summer clothes for everyone. When I return to Tong'an County, I will send someone to deliver cotton cloth and cotton. Gu Mama, you will take care of it. Spring and autumn clothes, summer clothes, and winter clothes, two sets for each person. Winter clothes should be stuffed with more cotton, understand?"
"I understand, old slave." Nanny Gu responded in a low voice, with a hint of joy in her heart.
With such a good master, I really made the right decision to follow him.
Then Shen Zheng asked Nanny Gu to wait in the study, and she went back to her room and took out the "small treasury" from the box.
She gave the "small treasury" to Grandma Gu.
"This is two thousand taels of silver. Let Lei Pancheng enter it into the mansion's account book and use it for mansion expenses. I usually eat with Old Qiao and the others. Ordinary food will do. No need to prepare delicacies. As for the expenses of other people in the mansion..."
Shen Zheng pondered for a moment, "Every two days, there should be a meal with meat. Even if it's not enough to eat, at least it can give you a taste."
She is not rich enough now.
When her business gets going and she has more spare money, she will let everyone in the house eat meat every day.
For those who follow Shen Zheng, life will be good.
After almost finishing her explanation of the affairs in the mansion, Shen Zheng checked the account books with Nanny Gu until there was a knock on the study door.
Mu Qing said that he was coming over as the commander.
After Yi Qun came into the study, he did not sit down, but took the tea handed by Shen Zheng and said, "Your Majesty directly agreed to the matter of female soldiers, and also said that the training expenses will be paid by the Ministry of Revenue."
When Shen Zheng thought of Ji Benchang, she felt that she should stay out of the spotlight for two days.
She asked Yiqun: "Where are the men selected from?"
Yi Qun put down the teacup and deliberately kept it a secret: "You'll know when the time comes."