Chapter 88: The Thirteenth Prince, a Man of Mengde's Style (Part )
Wanping County, county government office.

"Your humble servant Chu Mengfang pays respect to His Highness!"

The magistrate of Wanping County, Chu Mengfang, brought a group of officials from the yamen to pay a respectful visit to Zhou Haochen.

Some petty clerks in the government offices didn't even have the courage to raise their heads. They knelt on the ground with their legs weak.

For the petty officials in Wanping County, the Thirteenth Prince was a nobleman more important than the sky. When had they ever seen a nobleman of such status?

"Get up!"

"County Magistrate Chu, I have something to ask you."

Zhou Haochen's tone was calm and unperturbed, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.

Chu Mengfang felt a little uneasy and worried. He didn't know what the Thirteenth Prince wanted to see him about.

Entering the study, Zhou Haochen sat down, and Chu Mengfang stood opposite him with lowered brows and a pleasing look.

"Chu Mengfang, do you know the situation of the Wanping County Welfare House?"

"Of course I know about the workhouse. I wonder what exactly you want to ask?"

Hearing Zhou Haochen's words, Chu Mengfang felt slightly relieved. Fortunately, it was not about him collecting the money.

"I heard that the Sanhe Gang wanted to demolish the orphanage. As the chief official of Wanping County, are you going to let the Sanhe Gang do whatever they want?"

Zhou Haochen shouted loudly, and the temperature of the air around him suddenly dropped.

The stern tone immediately made Chu Mengfang's forehead sweat.

There was a hint of bitterness on Chu Mengfang's face, and his tone was quite helpless.

"Your Highness, you don't know that the Sanhe Gang has a great history..."

"I know they are Big Brother's money bags!"

Hearing Zhou Haochen's blunt words, Chu Mengfang smiled awkwardly.

Only as a prince could he tear off the fig leaf of the Sanhe Gang so blatantly.

"I donated three thousand taels to the orphanage. I hope to save as many lives as possible."

"Your Highness is merciful. Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda!"

Chu Mengfang said flatteringly with a flattering smile on his face.

"County Magistrate Chu, don't you have any comment?"

"Of course I have expressed my willingness to donate five hundred taels."

"Five hundred taels?" Zhou Haochen sneered, his face full of disdain, "Master Chu, are you sending away beggars?"

Chu Mengfang smiled bitterly and looked embarrassed.

"Your Highness, it's not that I don't want to be generous, but... I'm really short of money."

"Three years to clear the magistrate, one hundred thousand snowflakes and silver."

"Do you really think I have lived in the palace for so long that I don't know anything?"

"How much money have you embezzled over the years? Do you really want me to find out the whole story?"

Snap!
Chu Mengfang knelt down, cold sweat streaming down his forehead, blinding his eyes.

"This humble official deserves death. Please punish me, Your Highness."

"There is no need for punishment!"

"Donate 100,000 taels to the poorhouse, and the matter will be over."

"Thank you, Your Highness, for your grace! Thank you, Your Highness, for your grace!"

Chu Mengfang kowtowed repeatedly to express his gratitude and did not even have the courage to bargain.

If we really dig deeper, the shit on his ass won't stand up to scrutiny.

Zhou Haochen naturally knew that Chu Mengfang could not withstand the investigation, but most of the officials in Dayu could not withstand the investigation.

If they really investigate, there will definitely be a huge storm.

He estimated that Chu Mengfang had embezzled about 100,000 taels of silver over the years.

Donating it to orphanages to raise orphans is a good use of the people's money.

After saying goodbye and leaving the study, Chu Mengfang couldn't help but murmur in his heart.

What is the relationship between Madam Shen and the Thirteenth Prince?
Mrs. Shen has been a widow for many years, but she still has her charm. Could it be...

Your Highness, do you like this?
hiss--

The more Chu Mengfang thought about it, the more frightened he became. He made up his mind to treat the matter of the orphanage as a top priority.

He didn't believe that the Thirteenth Prince attached importance to the orphanage purely out of kindness.

It must be to make the beauty smile!
Chu Mengfang felt that he had seen through the truth.

Afterwards, Chu Mengfang summoned the legal advisors and the three shifts and six offices of the yamen.

"Ahem - I will donate 100,000 taels of silver to the poorhouse!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the clerks in the third shift and sixth room all showed shocked expressions, as if they had seen a ghost.

Has the county magistrate, who used to be like a Pi Xiu, only going in and never leaving, gone mad?

He actually wants to donate money to the poorhouse!

Is this the sun coming out in the west?

The clerks in the third shift and sixth room looked at each other, and the expressions on their faces were as wonderful as they could be.

"Sir, does an orphanage need so much silver?" asked a clerk.

Chu Mengfang took a sip of the fragrant tea slowly and said lightly.

"This is the order of the Thirteenth Prince. The Thirteenth Prince is keeping an eye on the affairs of the orphanage. There must not be any mistakes."

"Don't you want to share my worries?"

As soon as Chu Mengfang said this, all the clerks in the third shift and sixth room understood.

Chu Mengfang wanted them to share the money. However, no one dared to refute the Thirteenth Prince's order.

There were even clerks who wanted to contribute money and effort to leave a good impression in front of the Thirteenth Prince.

"I am willing to donate three thousand taels!"

"I'll donate five thousand taels!"

……

After a while, Chu Mengfang squeezed out 30,000 taels of silver from the clerks in the third shift and sixth room, and immediately felt much better.

How could he bear the pain alone?
Still have to share it with others!

"Also, the donation to the orphanage must be done in the name of His Highness the Thirteenth Prince." Chu Mengfang gave the order, fearing that the people below might not understand.

With the Thirteenth Prince around, this good reputation should of course be reserved for the Thirteenth Prince. How could he, a county magistrate, overstep his authority?

Soon, the news that the Thirteenth Prince donated 130,000 taels of silver to the orphanage spread throughout Wanping County and reached the ears of the Sanhe Gang.

"Boss, there's a rumor going around that the Thirteenth Prince donated 130,000 taels to the orphanage."

"130,000 taels of silver, all given to the poor, what a sin!"

"Boss, are we still going to demolish the workhouse?"

In the meeting hall, members of the Sanhe Gang were discussing the matter.

The leader of the Sanhe Gang, Lu Haian, had a solemn expression on his face. Zhou Haochen's move really caught him off guard.

Tuk-tuk-tuk——

The sound of knuckles tapping on the table continued.

If it were something else, Lu Haian would definitely give face to the Thirteenth Prince.

But...the key to Emperor Wen’s bedroom is hidden under the orphanage.

If he hadn't razed the poorhouse to the ground, how could he have dug deep into the ground and found the key to Emperor Wen's bedroom?

When Lu Hai'an thought of the treasures in Emperor Wen's bedroom, his heart was burning with excitement and he couldn't contain himself.

He is tired of being a dog!
As long as he could obtain the treasures in Emperor Wen's bedroom, he would be sure to become a powerful person in the upper three realms.

Once you reach the upper three realms, you can transform from a chess piece to a chess player, and completely change your destiny.

Even the Thirteenth Prince can't hinder his grand plan.

However, the Thirteenth Prince had to give some face after all.

If you can avoid using force, it’s best not to use force.

After some hesitation, Lu Haian made a decision.

"Prepare a generous gift. I am going to visit the Thirteenth Prince."

Half an hour later.

Lu Haian brought generous gifts to the yamen to visit Zhou Haochen.

"Lu Haian wants to see me!"

Zhou Haochen was slightly surprised. Although he didn't know what Lu Haian was thinking, he decided to meet him anyway.

"Greetings to Your Highness."

"Boss Lu is polite!"

After Lu Hai'an stood up, he immediately stuffed a silver note of ten thousand taels into Qin Qiulan's pocket, which was a generous gesture.

"It's just a small gift, Your Highness, please accept it."

"Boss Lu, what can I do for you? Please tell me directly!" Zhou Haochen said calmly.

The Sanhe Gang gave 10,000 taels of silver as soon as they met, so they must have something to ask for.

Lu Haian did not hide anything and spoke straight to the point.

"Your Highness, our Sanhe Gang is interested in the land of the orphanage and would like to build a shop there. The Sanhe Gang is willing to pay five thousand taels to ask the orphanage to move out. Your Highness, please give the Crown Prince some face."

"I am curious. The land of the orphanage is located in a remote area. If the Sanhe Gang builds a shop there, aren't they afraid of losing all their money?"

"This is the prince's order. How can I know?"

Lu Haian put on a fake smile and pushed all the blame onto the prince.

"Haha! I will naturally give you face, big brother."

"As long as the Sanhe Gang can settle the orphanage, I will naturally not object!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

……

Night falls.

In the orphanage.

"Dean Mama, I heard that His Royal Highness the Thirteenth Prince donated a lot of silver to us?"

"Can we eat meat now?"

"Dean Mama, I want to change into new clothes."

The orphans' joyful voices lingered in Mrs. Shen's ears.

When the news of the Thirteenth Prince's donation reached her ears, she was completely stunned.

She never imagined that the nobleman she had met before was actually the Thirteenth Prince.

"If it's the Thirteenth Prince..."

"Husband, your revenge...maybe...there is hope!"

Mrs. Shen had a determined look in her eyes. After settling her children, she went to the county government office.

(End of this chapter)