In the afternoon of the next day, Lu Yan and Shen Zhen, led by Zhuang Yue, went to Luyuan, where Wulipu was located.
The tightly closed Zhumen slowly opened, and even Shen Zhen, who grew up in the rich and noble nest, couldn't help showing amazing eyes.
When you enter the garden, you can see the rockery piled up with stones on the front hall. The rockery slope is three feet high, and there are several green pine trees. It seems that there are many kinds and disorganized, but as long as you count the flowering period, you will know that even if the four seasons rotate, the flowers are still unbeaten here.
The zigzag corridor in front of it is well-known for its secludedness and depth.
At the corner of the corridor, there is a water pavilion, as long as a boat, across the Jinhe River, surrounded by shrubs and birds chirping.
Looking around, Heron Garden is full of beautiful scenery. The most wonderful thing is the hot spring pool in front of the main courtyard. Looking at the scenery in winter, the white mist curls up, which is comparable to a fairyland.
Of course, the price of this courtyard is not too much compared to Tongyifang at the foot of the Imperial City of Chang'an City.
However, Lu Yan still bought it.
After all, if you want to get close to Yangzhou's dignitaries, you can only live here.
The news of Luyuan's change of owners soon spread in Yangzhou City.
—
Three days later, in the study.
Yang Zong handed over a letter. After Lu Yan read it, he tapped the table with his index finger.
During the unannounced visit to Yangzhou, he dispatched more than 30 soldiers. Half of them disguised as Wei Jia Ding, the other half went to Yangzhou first, and went to the tea house outside the city, the wine shop, tea house, pawnshop, restaurant and other places in the city, and hibernated secretly.
However, the strange thing is that as soon as they inquired about Yangzhou's taxation, they found that most of the people in the city were of the same caliber, or they avoided talking about it, even the mother and daughter of the banker were no exception.
In the end, it was Yang Zong who learned some news through a murder case outside the city the day before yesterday.
The person who died the day before yesterday was Miao Kang.
The Miao family used to make a living by selling rice, and their life was pretty decent.
Speaking of Zhao Chong, this person can be said to have a great appetite. He first took office as a new official and wiped out the original county officials, and then he took all the mills in Yangzhou City as his own.
A few mills, which don't sound like much profit, are not.
After all, as long as the common people want to grind brown rice into white rice, they have to use their mill. In the whole city of Yangzhou, as long as they eat rice, everyone will pay for it.
This behavior is tantamount to compulsory trading.
In the long run, he not only collected countless wealth, but also forced several rice shops to close one after another, and the Miao family fell like this...
After a while, Lu Yan placed the letter in his hand diagonally on the candle, and in an instant, it burned to ashes.
He raised his hand and pinched between his eyebrows, and said to Yang Zong in a deep voice, "Apart from these, have you found a rental shop?"
Yang Zong nodded, and took out a map of Yangzhou City from his arms, saying: "According to the investigation of his subordinates, the pavement under Zhao Shiqiao's hands, from Xiaoshi Bridge to Taiping Bridge, accounts for more than half, but on the surface , the money belongs to Mrs. Zhao's mother's family, and the Gao family is in charge."
Lu Yan took the map and couldn't help sneering coldly.
According to the prefect's salary, it is estimated that he will not be able to save so much wealth in two lifetimes.
After a long time, Lu Yan said slowly: "Tomorrow morning, you will leave for the Gao family, and rent five shops as the housekeeper of the Wei residence." If you want to get in touch with Zhao Chong, you can only start with the Gao family.
"My subordinates understand." Yang Zong cupped his hands.
In the evening, it was dark.
The sun fell, and the layers of white clouds flowed slowly, and finally disappeared in the boundless night sky.
Lu Yan crossed the covered bridge and returned to the main courtyard - Chunxi Hall.
Shen Zhen was keeping accounts in the room, and when he looked up, he caught a glimpse of Lu Yan's tall and solemn back when he closed the door.
Her gaze couldn't help but linger.
Speaking of which, since he moved into Luyuan, he has been busy almost day and night, and they haven't spoken for a long time.
She woke up early yesterday and went to sit in the yard for a while. The study was next to Chunxi Hall. She glanced sideways and could see Yang Zong and several other subordinates coming and going in and out of his study.
At that time, it was not yet dawn, and he should not close his eyes all night.
When it was noon, I wanted to call him for dinner, but I saw him lying on the table, already falling asleep.
Think back to when you were in Chang'an.
Although she knew that there were a lot of things in Jingzhao Mansion, but because he only went to Chengyuan occasionally, she had never seen him look so tired.
As a result, some words can not help but become difficult to speak.
Lu Yan sat on the couch, his eyes hard to hide.
Shen Zhen hurriedly walked to his side and whispered, "Do you want to eat, sir?"
Lu Yan rubbed his temples, thinking that it was time for him to eat something, so he let out a low "um".
After a while, Shen Zhen brought in some soup and rice.
Lu Yan took a sip and found that it was still mutton lotus seed soup, so he raised his eyebrows and asked her, "You made this?"
Shen Zhen nodded, "Last time I saw Lord Lu frowning, I guessed that the taste might be worse. This time I deliberately added ginger to get rid of the fishy smell. What do you think?"
Looking at each other, Lu Yan chuckled lightly.
Unexpectedly, she was more clever than she thought.
However, there is no such thing as unprovoked flattery in this world. Lu Yan knew that she was so diligent because she was still thinking about seeing Shen Hong.
He put down the bowl and said in a low voice, "I promise you that there are still many things to do. It's just that there are a lot of things going on recently, so I need to wait."
Shen Zhen was stunned, her face slightly red.
Since she was found out, she naturally wouldn't lie in front of Shaoyin of Jingzhao Mansion, so she nodded obediently and said, "My lord has a lot of business, I can still remember it, I am very grateful."
Seeing her honestly admit it, without covering it up, the unpleasant feeling in Lu Yan's heart gradually dissipated with a bowl of hot soup.
Lu Yan had eaten, and then went to the clean room. When she came back, she happened to see her sitting in front of the table, holding up a few white fingers, fiddling with the abacus.
He walked straight over and found her keeping the books.
Looking at the neat rows of small print, you can guess how seriously she writes. However, when it comes to accounting, he just gave a random order.
Shen Zhen felt the scorching heat on the top of her head, and when she raised her head, she just met his eyes.
She whispered, "Is your lord going to rest?"
Lu Yan held the scroll in his hand, moved a tug and sat down, and said in a low voice, "How far is it?"
Shen Zhen lowered her head and glanced at it, and said, "I remember almost everything, just the vase and charcoal fire I bought this morning." In order not to make people suspicious, Shen Zhen had already bought everything he could think of.
Hearing this, Lu Yan looked around, only to realize that the furnishings in the house were very different.
Hanging paintings, couch tables, wall tables, porcelain, handover beds, screens, and incense burners are all exquisite and elegant.
He looked down at her, and suddenly felt that the advantages of bringing her here outweigh the disadvantages.
"No hurry," he said.
As soon as the words fell, Shen Zhen continued to write.
Lu Yan looked at her serious face, and had to sigh, the girl taught by Yunyang Hou's mansion is really good. A woman who has not left the cabinet can make such an account, she can be a role model for Lu Heng's generation.
While flipping through the book, he said nonchalantly, "When did you start learning about housekeeping?"
There were only two people in the room, and he was obviously not talking to himself, so Shen Zhen couldn't help but stop writing again.
She bit her lower lip and said, "I started learning after I got married."
Lu Yan turned another page, frowning slightly, and the words were too sensitive.
He suddenly recalled an old incident.
The daughters of the Shen family are beautiful, and everyone in the capital knows it. It is joked in the community that no matter which one of the Shen family reaches the age of 笄, they are afraid that the threshold will have to be repaired again.
I remember that at that time, he had just been transferred to Jingzhao Mansion, and the first case to be tried was related to the Shen family.
Around the beginning of July, Chunnanbo’s only son, Tang Lu, was rejected when he went to Yunyang Hou’s mansion to propose marriage.
Although the Marquis of Yunyang was powerful, Chunnan Bo had only one son, Tang Lu.
When Tang Lu was in a coma, the Shen and Tang families were completely torn apart.
At that time, although he sneered at Tang Lu's actions, he couldn't help scolding Shen Zhen in his heart.
Who would have thought that in only two years or so, he himself had tasted the scourge of misfortune.
But even if it tastes good. He can still clearly distinguish the gains and losses in Fengyue.
Like what's worth it and what's not.
However, he also admitted that Lushui's marriage is indeed particularly attractive.
Thinking of this, he looked at her again.
White clothes with black hair, picturesque eyebrows, and a small white face, under the illumination of the light, seemed to have a goddess-like brilliance.
Once the charming thoughts arise, it is like throwing a torch into the dry wood.
It ignites at the touch of a button.
He suddenly felt.
The scroll in his hand is very boring, why don't you go and capture the pair of snow-like wrists...