Tianliangyuan

Chapter 182 Land Deeds Far Away in Suizhou

The Prince of Zhong immediately ordered someone to investigate the items Cheng Yuan had sent last time. If they were indeed marked or recorded in the palace, he would not dare to use them.

However, the Loyal King was no longer flustered.

At worst, he could simply admit that Cheng Yuan had offered the gift herself to curry favor, hoping he would help her clear her name. In that case, the gift would naturally be accepted by the Prince Zhong's residence.

However, I might inevitably get a scolding from my father, but that doesn't matter.

The Prince of Zhong was worried for several days, but since he was never questioned by the Emperor, he relaxed.

However, the things that Cheng Yuan had given her earlier were naturally returned discreetly.

Cheng Yuan looked at what was in front of her and cursed angrily!

Fortunately, the old servant came over to comfort her: "Miss, calm down. These things are marked and it is indeed not appropriate for them to stay in the Prince Zhong's residence. Moreover, the people sent by the Prince Zhong's residence did not say that they would not have any dealings with you in the future. Besides, I saw it clearly from the side. That servant was quite respectful to you. He was just worried that if these things were found out, it would implicate the Prince Zhong."

Cheng Yuan then sat down and took deep breaths.

The old servant was right; she mustn't act impulsively.

We need to stay calm!

"How could things happen so coincidentally? Are you sure all our stuff is gone?"

The old servant's face was grim: "This old servant cannot be sure if the things inside the house are still there, after all, this old servant does not have the key to that place, but right now this old servant dares not show his face again."

The key to the other hidden treasure is with Cheng Yuan, and the old servant dares not retrieve it without her permission.

The main problem is that we don't have the key.

Moreover, at a time like this, how could an old servant not know to keep a low profile?

If I go out now to retrieve the money, I will definitely be watched.

Unbeknownst to the two, Xu Zhaozhao was not only examining the contents of the box, but also figuring out how to retrieve the other treasure as well.

Last time, in order to intercept Jiang Ning, so much money was put into the national treasury.

This time, I'll have to indulge myself first.

Xu Zhaozhao took out two land deeds from the rosewood box and called Gao Da Kui over.

"Uncle Gao will have to make the trip again."

"Miss, you flatter me. Please give me your instructions."

"These are two land deeds from Suizhou. Go to Suizhou and calculate the harvest from these two fields. The main thing is to see who has owned the crops over the past three years. If you can get them to return the profits, that's fine. If not, it's okay too. Just go to the government office and get the paperwork done for both fields. From now on, the owner of these lands will have changed."

"Yes, then shall I deal with the steward of the estate?"

"You can make all the decisions yourself. Take more people with you. Also, have Mai Dong go with you. If you're investigating something, his methods are better than yours."

"Yes, little one understands."

"Once everything is settled, remember one thing: gather the managers and tenants of both estates together and make it clear that in normal years, we will only charge 30% rent. In the event of a major disaster, the rent can be reduced further, or even waived. There is only one thing: make sure they farm properly and do not cause any trouble."

"Yes, I will certainly handle the matter well."

"Your trip to Suizhou will likely take two or three months to return. For now, I'll hand over your duties to Zhuzi and let him handle them."

"Yes, I will go find Zhu Zi immediately and set off this afternoon."

With everything arranged, Xu Zhaozhao was actually quite curious.

It has been almost four years since the Cheng family got into trouble. Even the Cheng family members who live far away in Suizhou could not possibly be unaware of the situation.

However, they have never sent anyone to the capital, nor have they ever searched for the land deed.

Did the Cheng family have planned this all along, or did they want to seize these fields?

Without the original land deed, it was obviously impossible for them to simply obtain a fake one to process the official documents.

Unless, one of them has already colluded with the local government and then mutually benefits from it.

If that's the case, that would be interesting.

Xu Zhaozhao did not want to get involved in officialdom. After all, no matter how enlightened the rulers of the Daxing Dynasty were, they were unwilling to let women get involved in politics.

Now, all she wants to know is, if something happens in Suizhou, which family in the capital, the Jiang family or the Cui family, will suffer more?

Xu Zhaozhao instructed Gao Da Kui to transfer the land deed to one of his servants, who was a servant born into the Marquis's household and a lifelong slave. As a servant, he was not entitled to own private property.

In other words, all the property of a servant belongs to the master.

Xu Zhaozhao did this simply to prevent Gao Da Kui from being exposed prematurely. Once things calmed down, the two properties could be directly transferred to her name, and then everything would be fine.

Ultimately, it's because they're worried about another hidden hand at work.

Xu Zhaozhao put the rosewood box away and was still pondering. Who would have thought that the Cheng family's most valuable possession was hidden in such an ordinary-looking little box?

These two simple land deeds already involve more than 2,000 mu of farmland. Even if we calculate it at seven strings of cash per mu, the value of these 2,000 mu of farmland is quite staggering.

These two land deeds were the least valuable items in the box.

No wonder so many people want to find out where the Cheng family's wealth is.

It turns out the Cheng family really has a lot of good stuff hidden away.

And they are all very smart.

Some of the family's assets that were out in the open were confiscated.

These were all registered under the names of servants, some of whom might even be distant relatives.

Xu Zhaozhao wasn't in a hurry; she could take her time and eventually manage to get all of this into her own hands.

It's not that she's greedy, it's just that it would be too much to ask her to ignore the money that's being offered to her!

Cheng Yuan must be panicking by now, right?

I wonder if I can take this opportunity to get my hands on the other half of her wealth.

It seems I'll have to make time to visit the courtyard again.

I hope Cheng Yuan won't let her down!

Before Xu Zhaozhao could even take action, she herself was already in trouble.

Xu Lin's crying and fussing caused the old lady to fall ill. Now, every single one of the younger generation in the mansion is too afraid to run away at this time.

Apart from a few who had proper duties, everyone else had to obediently serve the old lady.

The old lady may not need you, but as a junior, you cannot refuse to go!

Not going is unfilial!

Xu Zhaozhao sighed. Xu Lin's occasional outbursts were truly annoying.

This time, because she angered the old lady to the point of illness, the second wife, Li, also became extremely dissatisfied with her.

Why?

The old lady is getting on in years. If something were to happen to her now, the whole household would have to observe mourning, which would definitely affect the future of the younger generation!