Chapter 6: Deception and Trickery are the Path to Wealth

He stepped forward gradually and politely asked the young lady, "May I inquire if you have come to see me?"

The phrase "never go back on one's word" is indeed striking, yet Xu Qian smiled subtly and said, "Whether you keep your word or not has nothing to do with me; I only care about written agreements. It is better to draft a contract first."

Miss Zhao harbored a profound disdain for someone like Xu Qian, and coldly remarked: "What exactly do you want? If it is money, my Zhao family can still offer some. Just state a figure, and my Zhao family will naturally comply."

"Pah!" Xu Qian shook off Deng Jian's filthy hands and scornfully reprimanded, "What do you take me for? Am I someone who is blinded by money?"

Xu Qian's gaze was filled with ill intentions, causing Miss Zhao to feel somewhat embarrassed. However, driven by her urgent desire to save her father, she did not dwell on it and simply nodded, saying: "Of course"

Xu Qian could not help but ask: "Will you really agree to everything?"

He wrote an IOU filled with grief and indignation. This IOU, along with Miss Zhao's contract of servitude, was collected by Xu Qian. Xu Qian felt an immense sense of satisfaction in his heart. It seemed that making money by selling prescriptions was indeed a lowly endeavor. To achieve wealth and prosperity, one could not escape the four words: deception, trickery, and swindling. Fortunately, Xu Qian was skilled in this regard, if nothing else.

Xu Qian thought to himself, if my father had the surname Zhu, would I still need to explain myself to a dead eunuch? However, he did not dare to show it, and with a cheerful smile, he said: "Yes, yes, father is right. Without you, where would I be, right? One should not forget the well-digger when drinking water, and one should remember the source of the water. The grace of nurturing is something I keep in my heart. Well, having said so much nonsense, does father have any ideas now?"

Xu Qian was deeply inspired and thought to himself: "I understand now, it is necessary to conduct an investigation. Where should I start? Yes, to be able to switch the items, one must first have the right to enter and exit the flower hall at will. Moreover, the time taken to switch items is considerable, so this person must hold some position in the residence of Lord Wang."

This young lady is actually the wronged daughter of a merchant. Upon hearing that her father was implicated in some herbal medicine poisoning and was taken away by the authorities, she inquired everywhere and learned that there was a connection to Lord Wang. The person responsible was captured by Xu Qian's father. Furthermore, she heard that Xu Qian had visited Lord Wang's residence last night, leading her to mistakenly believe that her father had offended Lord Wang, and since the Xu family had a close relationship with him, this father and son framed her father at Lord Wang's behest

Xu Qian said: "Who is your father? I do not know."

Xu Chang苦笑: "The most difficult task now is how to identify the murderer among these few people"

Xu Qian looked at her with a teasing expression, saying, "Aren't you high and mighty? Aren't you wealthy? You have money, and I, as a gentleman, have integrity. Even the sages say that integrity is worth a fortune. In that case, I, Xu the official, can also be considered immensely wealthy. How can you compare?"

In fact, Lord Wang has already determined that the matter was caused by Xu Qian, so the merchant no longer holds any value for exoneration, and whether or not to release him is of little consequence. The incident originated from Xu Qian; logically, the young lady only needed to come to the door, and Xu Qian would immediately discuss it with the old gentleman, then casually devise a solution, and the person would be released.

As for who this speaking sage is, Xu Qian cannot recall clearly; perhaps it was a sage with the surname Xu, but that is not certain

Faced with the young lady's frosty inquiry, Xu Qian began to ponder.

Miss Zhao seems to feel that her previous remarks were overly harsh, which is understandable; what experience can a sheltered young lady have? She doesn't even know how to ask for favors, and all her emotions are written on her face, so naturally, others will turn her away.

The young lady looked at Xu Qian with a mocking glance and said, "Xu, you are truly forgetful. The trouble you caused yourself, yet your father, who is none other than Xu Ban-tou of Qiantang County, actually took my father to bear the blame, claiming that my father mixed poison into the medicinal herbs. A man should have the courage to admit to his actions, shouldn't he?"

Deng Jian could not help but think to himself that the Xu family was truly heartless. Yesterday, he taught him in black and white, yet now he has learned everything and taken it for himself. It is said that teaching a disciple can lead to the master starving.

At this point, Deng Jian surrendered, quickly putting on a mournful expression and said: "Alright, alright, alright, I will write it, I will write it. It's just my bad luck for associating with the wrong crowd... Ah no, that's not what I meant. What I meant to say is that getting to know Brother Xu is truly a stroke of fortune, and I am honored to have this opportunity."

Xu Qian was taken aback; he had thought he was experiencing a stroke of good fortune, as a beautiful woman had come to seek him out. However, judging by her demeanor, it seemed as if he owed her money. Consequently, his attitude shifted abruptly, and he said with a wary tone: "What if it is? What if it isn't?"

After sending Miss Zhao away, Xu Qian's skin was already thick enough that he did not care about her disdainful gaze. Deng Jian, on the other hand, was hiding behind Xu Qian, gritting his teeth, pondering whether he had offended someone petty. Recently, even drinking cold water felt like it was getting stuck in his teeth, which was truly an ominous sign

Xu Qian stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the sky, and said: "Let me think about it."

Without waiting for Xu Chang to ask, Xu Qian recounted his experiences. Xu Chang's expression grew serious, his eyes slightly closed as he slowly processed the information

Miss Zhao did not hesitate; instead, a look of ease appeared on her face. She followed Xu Qian to fetch the writing tools and composed a document, which merely stated that if her father could be released from prison within three days, she would be willing to submit herself as a servant.

The young lady took a deep breath and said, "Does Master Xu still remember my father?"

In that fleeting moment of brilliance, it is often the time when the little hero makes a shining appearance

Xu Qian suddenly realized, and he recalled that he still had such a debt to settle. No wonder last night, Eunuch Wang mentioned something about his father framing him. When he was confined at home, it was likely that his father had captured a merchant selling medicinal materials to take his place, and as a result, the merchant had come looking for him

Xu Qian deeply agreed and could not help but say: "In that case, there are at most only a few people who are suspicious."

Miss Zhao fell silent for a moment, then bit her thin lips and said, "Alright, as long as I can rescue my father with the help of *the book*, I will become your servant and will not go back on my word"

When he calls out, it is as if the Potato Brother, who battles against evil, descends from the heavens draped in colorful clouds, exuding an aura of righteousness.

Xu Qian said: "What insights can I offer? This matter is not my area of expertise, which is why I specifically returned to seek your guidance, esteemed elder"

Xu Chang's sense of self-esteem was greatly satisfied, yet he felt something was amiss. Was it all just empty talk after Xu Qian had spoken so much about the grace of upbringing? Irritated, he shot a glance at Xu Qian and said: "This matter can be investigated easily; we just need to narrow down the scope. By checking each individual one by one, we can identify a few suspects. Once we apply severe interrogation techniques, the truth will come to light."

Xu Chang was elated, his eyebrows dancing with excitement as he said: "Let’s not mention anything else; just talking about this investigation of clues, your father, after all, comes from a public service background and is most skilled at it. You, fortunately, have a father like me; otherwise, how would you explain yourself to that nobleman?"

Her attitude softened as she bit her lip and said: "As long as I can save my father, I can agree to any conditions. I only ask that Young Master Xu show some mercy and speak a word on my behalf to Lord Wang. The Zhao family will be eternally grateful."

Xu Qian asked Deng Jian to act as a guarantor. Deng Jian's body trembled slightly, and he hurriedly said, "I am most skilled at being a guarantor. Since you both are willing, what harm is there in me being this guarantor?" After saying this, he picked up a pen and signed his name. Just as he was about to put the pen down, Xu Qian called out, "Brother Deng, hold on a moment. Don't you still owe me ten taels of silver? I meant to ask you for an IOU last night, but I forgot. Just look at my memory..." Xu Qian rubbed his forehead, appearing quite vexed, and then continued, "Now is just right; let's write your IOU as well. What do you mean by that? Why are you staring at me with such a terrifying look? We are brothers..." He was about to put the pen down again when Xu Qian called out, "Brother Deng, hold on a moment. Don't you still owe me ten taels of silver? I meant to ask you for an IOU last night, but I forgot. Just look at my memory..." Xu Qian rubbed his forehead, appearing quite vexed, and then continued, "Now is just right; let's write your IOU as well. What do you mean by that? Why are you staring at me with such a terrifying look? We are brothers..."

Xu Changhe nodded in agreement, clearly expressing his understanding, and added: "That counterfeit must have been framed beforehand and then sent to the residence of Lord Wang. Moreover, ordinary servants cannot go out at will. Since this person who switched the items has been colluded with, they must have the privilege to go out frequently. Only by going out regularly can they maintain contact with their accomplices outside."

However, Xu Qian could not tolerate the condescending attitude of this young lady. Damn it, who is really begging whom here? Would the illustrious Xu family care about your meager sum of money? This is truly a slight against my integrity.

Miss Zhao was taken aback and then angrily asked, "What do you intend to do?"

Xu Qian coldly said: "Do you think a few dirty coins can make up for the crimes your father committed?"

Deng Jian found it uninteresting

Xu Qian rolled out of bed and put on his shoes to open the door, only to see a sedan chair parked in the courtyard. Deng Jian drew half of the knife from his waist, the blade partially concealed, glinting coldly. The person being blocked was a young lady with red lips and white teeth. She had a graceful figure, fair skin, and was dressed in a light green long dress, her waist barely fitting in a single grasp, stunningly beautiful.

Xu Qian is in a difficult position, what should be done? Time cannot be delayed any longer; if this continues, the painting will be taken out of the residence, and where will we go to retrieve it then

... ...

On the morning of the second day, Xu Qian woke up to hear someone arguing outside

After Xu Qian finished speaking, he let out a long sigh and said: "I never expected that misfortune could lead to fortune; this is also your luck. Did that Lord Wang send you to investigate that piece of calligraphy? Do you have any leads?"

Although the young lady is beautiful, her expression is quite indifferent as she gazes intently at Deng Jian, defiantly confronting him

Deng Jian suddenly became excited, gently tugging at Xu Qian's sleeve, and said: "Defraud her of three hundred taels of silver, three hundred taels..."

This is to leave some room for oneself. If the other party says, "So it was you, you scoundrel," Xu Qian would immediately deny it, saying, "Who is Xu Qian? You must have the wrong door, miss"

"Alright," Xu Qian said with a smile, "If I rescue your father, will you become my maid, in the sense of signing a contract of servitude? Are you willing?"

The young women of the Ming Dynasty are like turtles, all tucked away in their boudoirs, not allowing even a glimpse of themselves or any opportunity for interaction. Now, a beauty has come to visit, and Xu Qian, as a normal man, naturally feels the need to uphold his dignified image

Xu Qian went to see Miss Zhao again. Although Miss Zhao softened her stance, the disdain emanating from her beautiful eyes was still palpable. This feeling made Xu Qian quite uncomfortable. He chuckled and said, "It is not difficult to save your father; the only concern is whether you are willing to agree."

The crux of the issue lies here: all the suspects are individuals from the palace of the eunuch Wang. Should we subject all the suspects to severe torture? It is not permissible to inflict punishment before confirming the identity of this person. Xu Chang and his son are well aware of this principle; otherwise, they might face retaliation. After all, they are merely a dog in the household of a eunuch, and they cannot afford to provoke them

Miss Zhao watched Xu Qian warily and gritted her teeth, saying: "There is nothing I cannot agree to. If Ti Ying can save her father, although I may not be as capable as Ti Ying, I am willing to do anything."

Xu Qian shouted without hesitation, "Brother Deng, spare the lives of the people!"

"Sir Xu has not yet risen, young lady. It would be futile for you to seek him. I am Deng Jian, a first-class guard under Lord Wang, who holds me in high regard. Do not underestimate me. The reason I am here to guard the door for the Xu family is that Lord Wang considers me an exceptional gatekeeper, as every profession has its own expertise... Hey, hey... I have already said that Sir Xu is asleep. Are you still intent on barging in? Stop... By forcing your way in like this, you are disregarding the face of Lord Deng, the Blade King of the North. Who are you? State your name!"

The young lady's attitude remained very indifferent, as cold as an iceberg that cannot be melted, exuding an air of rejecting others from a thousand miles away. She said in a detached tone: "Are you Xu Qian?"

He pondered for a long time, sitting in silence, before suddenly having an idea, saying: "I've got it! Father, I have a solution!"

Xu Qian is not a good person, or rather, the dictionary of the Lao Xu family does not contain the words 'good person' at all. Given Xu Qian's character, merely extorting a little would have sufficed, but seeing Miss Zhao's disdain for him made him change his mind