"It's you!" Lin Tao recognized this fat sheep, of course!
That very night, he used some money to bribe his superior and then went on a debauched spree.
He'd encountered fat sheep before, but never one this fat.
He'd even planned to have someone rip off Lu Ming again; such a fat sheep was rare.
He didn't care if the other party was there to do business; merchants were meant to be fleeced!
Now, his delusional fantasies shattered. Only after being arrested did he realize he'd offended someone he couldn't afford to offend.
Looking at the person standing behind him, he recognized him—it was Lin Dong, the steward of the Prefect's mansion!
It seemed he'd kicked a hornet's nest!
"M-Sir, I, I..." Lin Tao stammered, trying to speak, but couldn't utter a single word. He knew what he'd done made him the target of everyone's hatred!
"I just came to see how you were doing, and it seems you're doing quite well. You don't need to pay back the money; consider it dog food. Gentlemen, treat him well, don't let him die, make his family of three suffer a fate worse than death." Lu Ming clapped his hands with a sneer, and his personal guards took out some silver and gave it to the jailers, instructing them to "treat" him well.
This "treat" was undoubtedly a brutal beating. A leather whip was secondary; the real pain came from a whip soaked in salt water, a searing, unforgettable experience!
"What?" Lin Tao finally saw that his father and son had been arrested. "Sir, this...this doesn't extend to family!"
"Haha, from the moment you did this, you should have known this would be your fate. I'll take good care of your wife; she can repent here for your mistakes." Lu Ming leered, sending his enemy to prison so he could enjoy his enemy's wife and mother—it was pure bliss!
"You! You demon!" Lin Tao collapsed, utterly powerless, and knelt on the ground. His own greed had led to the destruction of his family, leaving him only with endless regret.
Upon his release from prison, Lu Ming said to Lin Dong, "Steward Lin, I'll leave this matter to you. Lock him up for seven days, then have his entire family exiled from Chang'an. Doctors dislike killing; whether they survive is up to fate. What is done today will be punished in the future."
"You're too kind, Doctor Lu. It's my duty. My master said you are a distinguished guest; whatever you command, I will do." Lin Dong dared not ask for anything in return. Judging from his demeanor, he knew this man was vindictive. It's better to avoid provoke a petty person than to be vengeful.
At the Prefectural Governor's residence, Yang Cong felt sticky after applying the medicine, but at least the burning sensation and discomfort were gone.
Zhang Wen was with him, the two sitting on the couch playing chess.
From the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Three Kingdoms period, except for some chairs in the Western Liang region, the Central Plains region was predominantly populated by kneeling on a round cushion.
"Etiquette—all forms of things originate from etiquette"—is the central tenet of ancient Chinese philosophy.
In earlier times, etiquette was observed between rulers and subjects, and between superiors and subordinates; it wasn't like later times where superiors were solely in a superior-subordinate position.
"The ruler treats his subjects with propriety, and the subjects serve their ruler with loyalty"—this wasn't about servility, but rather about each fulfilling their duties to achieve a harmonious and non-aggressive relationship. When paying respects to superiors, the most appropriate expression was for the superior to sit upright with solemn respect. Sitting upright was dignified and solemn, though tiring, it demonstrated the ancients' meticulous approach to life.
After listening to the steward's report, Yang Cong nodded and dismissed the steward.
Zhang Wen, however, never avoided suspicion. The two were classmates and close friends, both students of the master Ma Rong.
Now serving in the same court, they naturally became even closer and more supportive of each other.
"Looks like Lu Ming isn't very magnanimous," Yang Cong remarked, casually chatting as he placed his black piece. This was a common form of conversation.
"Young people are normal, which makes them easier to control, isn't it? Haha," Zhang Wen said, quite satisfied. A subordinate without flaws? Was he trying to be a saint?
"Hmm, indeed, talented, but lacking in virtue." Yang Cong's assessment was brief and to the point. Seeking revenge wasn't necessarily immoral; at most, he wasn't a good person, but that wasn't a big deal.
"When does Bo Shen plan to go to Luoyang?"
"Five days later. I hope Yongren will offer his assistance then." Zhang Wen had come to cultivate relationships. Those in power never chat idly; every word was about interests. Without interests, who would have time to chat?
It's much better to listen to music in a brothel, accompanied by beautiful women—more enjoyable and fulfilling.
"Don't worry about this. I've already written to Luoyang, explaining the facts. Just be careful of which butcher. Bo Shen has really made him lose face this time; we must be on guard." Yang Cong's words were a wake-up call; the so-called butcher was He Jin.
General He Jin, who commanded the army, was originally a pig butcher.
He only became General because Empress He entered the palace, gave birth to the emperor's son, and then gradually became Empress.
It was also a form of power struggle between the empress's relatives and the powerful elite. Eunuchs, empress's relatives, and aristocratic families represented the pinnacle of power in the Eastern Han Dynasty.
Originally, General He Jin was supposed to personally lead the rebellion in Xiliang. But he was just a pig butcher; he was good at playing with women, but asking him to fight on the battlefield would be a death sentence!
Rumors circulated that the emperor and empress were at odds, and as the empress's brother, General He Jin was naturally in an awkward position.
Lu Ming first went back to his residence to make an appearance, then left for his newly purchased house.
The house wasn't large, just one courtyard and six rooms, in an average location.
Such a house cost two taels of gold; living in Chang'an was no easy feat—this saying truly resonated with him.
He sent his personal guards to rest, leaving two to keep watch.
Lu Ming, leering, pushed open the door. This time, he wasn't going to rape Lin Tao's wife, Liu Ming, but rather Lin Tao's mother, Gu Shi!
A woman of advanced age, a pitiful old woman!
"Everyone, no, please! Ah! Waaah!" Gu Shi's screams quickly followed, then suppressed gasps and the sounds of violent impact.
She never imagined that at her age, she would be forced to serve another man.
Her son suffered, her mother was violated—what kind of situation was this?
She had thought that old age and fading beauty would allow her to escape this fate, but she never imagined that Lu Ming was only after satisfying his lust and seeking revenge.
He hated the people who made things so difficult for him, and all his frustrations, which had been suppressed, were now released at this moment!