Chapter 75: World’s Number One Swordsmith (1/2)
“Mother, don’t worry. Leave this matter to me.”
Wang Chong held his mother’s hands tightly as he spoke. What Censor Fu, other people might he afraid of him, but how could Wang Chong fear him? After weathering so many storms in his previous life, how could he be afraid of a mere censor?
Wang Chong knew a bit about this Fu He. He has a hostile relationship with Big Uncle Wang Gen, and he seemed to be dissatisfied with the prestigious standing Wang Chong’s grandfather, Duke Jiu, has in the country. As such, he was often trying to find fault with the Wang Clan.
Also, of all censors, he had the closest relationship with the Duke of Su. Otherwise, no matter how bold Su Bai was, he wouldn’t dare to invite him over.
“Censor Fu, you sure are free. When did checking on the officials and maintaining order become an inspection on the lives of ordinary civilians? Indeed, our Wang Clan’s stipends do not allow us to save up to a thousand gold taels, ——But does that mean that I won’t be able to?”
Knowing about his background, Wang Chong didn’t bother acting courteously around him.
Hearing Wang Chong’s words, everyone was flabbergasted. Fearful that the censors would report them up to the royal court, others usually acted carefully around them, trying to speak less if possible. After all, the more one spoke, the more likely one would misspeak. Yet, Wang Chong refuted the censor directly.
“Gongzi, you should tone down.”
“A censor isn’t a joke.”
Shen Hai and Meng Long tugged on Wang Chong’s sleeves with a lowered head. They had come from the military, but after living in the capital for several years, they understood whom one should not trifle with.
“Wang gongzi, you’re saying that you earned this sum of money yourself?”
Censor Fu eyes narrowed. For the first time, he seriously looked at Wang Chong in the eye.
“Yes!”
Wang Chong said without any hesitation. Su Bai’s intention of trying to get a handle over Wang Chong through Censor Fu was a mistake from the very start. From his obtaining of the Hyderabad ore to the smithing and sales of his sword were all legal, and they could be easily checked on. Even if a censor were to look into the matter, he would be unable to find a single fault with it.
“Hahaha, what a joke. Wang Chong, you were able to earn this sum of money?”
Before Censor Fu could even talk, Su Bai burst out laughing.
He would never believe that Wang Chong could possess such abilities. To be able to come up with such a ridiculous excuse, it was as though he was treating them all as fools. If Wang Chong had such abilities, the Wang Clan would have prospered long ago. The word incorruptibility wouldn’t have been used on the Wang Clan either.
What does being incorruptible means? It means being poor!
To dare speak nonsense before a censor, Wang Chong sure was brazen.
“Wang gongzi, it is best that you speak of the truth. This matter isn’t a joke.”
Censor Fu slowly spoke with a stern voice. Wang Chong’s actions of spouting nonsense before him made him feel uncomfortable.
He was challenging his prestige as a censor!
“Hmph! It is up to you to believe it. If I say that I am the one who earned it, then I am the one who earned it. Do I need to lie about it? As a censor, you might possess great authority, but I don’t think that you are so powerful that I have to report my finances to you.”
Wang Chong said coldly.
“Audacious!”
Hearing Wang Chong’s words, Fu He flew into a rage.
“Madam Wang, how do you educate your child? Censors represent His Majesty himself, and given how this fund came from an unknown source, do you think that it is appropriate for me not to investigate it? Has the Wang Clan grown so powerful so as to treat His Majesty with such contempt?”
Fu He glared at Madam Wang, Zhao Shu Hua, with incomparably cold eyes.
Upon hearing Censor Fu’s words, Madam Wang’s complexion paled. Disrespecting the emperor was a heavy crime!
“Chong-er, don’t say anymore.”
Madam Wang hurriedly pulled Wang Chong’s hands.
“Censor Fu!”
Angered, just as Wang Chong was about to reveal the matter at the Bluebottle Pavilion, a resounding voice suddenly echoed in the air:
“Hasn’t Wang gongzi said it already? I will face off with anyone who dares to say that Wang gongzi is lying! ——”
Hong long long, the ground tremored. Before anyone could make sense out of what was happening, from the far end of the street, numerous carriages galloped toward here, the Wang Family Residence, and dust danced into the air.
“The Imperial Army?!”
Upon seeing the insignia on the carriages, the faces of the scions paled. The insignia on those luxurious and elegant carriages clearly belonged to the Imperial Army.
But the problem was what was the Imperial Army doing here?
“Scram to the side! Brats, scram to the side! ——”
“Don’t block the way! To dare to even block the path of the carriage of an Imperial Army member, do your eyes grow on the back of your head?”
“The Imperial Army has something to attend to, the small fries in front, get out of the way!”
…
Domineering and unreasonable bellows roared from the carriages.
The scions here all came from wealthy or prestigious families. But their identity meant nothing before the Imperial Army.
“Go to the side, don’t block the way!”
“Hurry up and move your carriages away!”
“Does those bastards not have any ears?”
……