On the second day of the Gu family's banquet, Ji Zhifei, the young master of the Ji family, took the initiative to go to the government and confessed his crime of buying, murdering, and deliberately seizing the shop. The prefect immediately used this as a clue to conduct an in-depth investigation, and it only took a short time.

The real culprit was captured in seven days and Boss Chang was cleared.

On the day Boss Chang was released from prison, Qin Zhao and Jing Li went to the Yamen to pick him up.

He has been in prison for about half a month, but he looks like he has aged several years, and even his temples have a lot of gray hair.

The prison conditions in the government office are not much better. Ordinary people have to shed a layer of skin after staying there for a few days, not to mention that Boss Chang has experienced family changes. Fortunately, Qin Zhao once asked Gu Changzhou to tell the prefect that he would treat Boss Chang well.

This prevented him from having any serious illnesses.

As soon as Boss Chang saw the two of them, he saluted them solemnly: "Thank you both for your life-saving grace."

He didn't know much information in prison, but from Qin Zhao beating the drum and demanding a retrial of his case, to Ji Zhifei later surrendering, it is not difficult to guess that these two people helped.

If they hadn't intervened, he would have been executed for murder long ago.

"We didn't do anything, so you're welcome, Boss Chang." Jing Li helped Boss Chang up and took out a peace charm from his arms and handed it to him, "I went to the temple to ask for this for you yesterday. Wear it on your body.

, get rid of bad luck."

Boss Chang said gratefully: "Sir, you are very thoughtful."

"There is still this thing, and it should be returned to its original owner."

Qin Zhao handed him back a land deed.

After Ji Zhifei confessed his crime, this land deed was used as evidence in court. Now that the real murderer was caught, the prefect handed this thing to Qin Zhao and asked him to return it to Boss Chang on his behalf.

When Boss Chang saw this thing, his eyes suddenly turned red.

A small land deed involved so many things, and even cost him the life of his biological brother.

Even if the real murderer is caught now, it cannot replace that living life.

Boss Chang had mixed feelings for a moment. He realized that he had lost his composure. He turned his head and wiped his eyes with his sleeve before taking the land deed back: "Thank you, thank you very much."

Qin Zhao was the host and treated Boss Chang to a light meal.

During the dinner, Qin Zhao asked: "What are Boss Chang's plans next?"

"What else can we plan? Life will eventually come to an end." Boss Chang smiled bitterly and said, "Go clean up and reopen as soon as possible. In the future, do your duty and don't cause trouble again."

"Don't say that." Jing Li said, "This matter is not your fault."

"But this incident did happen because of me." He tilted his head and looked out the window at the blue sky, "Mr. Zhaoli, I am also a scholar. I don't have the talent like Mr. Qin, but I think I still have it.

The integrity and character of a literati are not willing to compromise. But now I realize that those things are not worth mentioning in the face of this world."

"I have been thinking these days, if I had agreed when the Ji family wanted to buy the shop. After taking the money and bringing my brother back home, would things have been completely different?"

"such a pity……"

Boss Chang closed his eyes and said: "On the day I was imprisoned, I never thought I could come out alive. But now that I'm out, I'll spend the rest of my life well so that I can live up to the kindness you two have shown me.

."

Jing Li wanted to persuade him again, but Qin Zhao gently held him back.

Qin Zhao raised his glass and replaced the wine with tea: "There are still many days ahead. I wish Boss Chang a prosperous business and all the best."

"Thank you for your kind words." Boss Chang raised his glass, clinked it with him, and said with a smile, "I heard in prison that Mr. Zhaoli's new book is selling extremely well, and many people are waiting for the reprint. When my shop reopens,

, do it immediately."

After dinner, Boss Chang said goodbye to the two of them and headed towards the bookstore.

Qin Zhao led Jing Li towards ‌.

‌There happens to be Ji's shop on the road to our home. The silk and satin shop that used to have a prosperous business is now deserted. Pedestrians who see it from a distance take a detour to avoid it.

Ji Zhifei's story has spread throughout the city in the past few days, and the Ji family's reputation has been severely damaged.

It is said that Mr. Ji fell ill on the day Ji Zhifei was imprisoned. The Ji family, which was once very wealthy, does not know where to go in the future.

Jing Li looked at the deserted silk and satin shop, feeling a little lost.

Qin Zhao asked him: "What are you thinking about?"

"It's okay." Jing Li lowered his head and whispered, "I always thought that finding out the truth and bringing the real culprit to justice would be a very happy thing. But I don't know why... I always feel that I can't be happy.

.”

"Because people cannot be resurrected after death." Qin Zhao said, "Whether it is revenge or justice, only living is meaningful."

Jing Li remained silent.

"But my efforts are not meaningless." Qin Zhao held Jing Li's breast tightly and said warmly, "Think about it, if you didn't intervene this time, how could Boss Chang leave the government office alive?

‌Saved a life, don’t think too much.”

"Yeah." Jing Li responded softly.

Jing Li doesn't understand these principles. But this is the first time he has faced this kind of thing directly, and it is also the first time he has intuitively experienced the injustice of this world to ordinary people. This kind of impact is more powerful than reading it in historical books.

It's overwhelming.

Jing Li took a breath silently and suppressed some of the emotions in his heart.

"Qin Zhao, I seem to understand why you insist on going to the capital." Before entering the door, Jing Li suddenly said, "In this world, if people don't learn to move up, they can only choose when they are bullied.

Just bear it silently, right?"

Qin Zhao paused in his steps.

Jing Li turned his head to look at the thin and tall man beside him and blinked: "So, in order not to be bullied, we have to work harder."

Qin Zhao laughed: "You're right."

"In order not to be bullied, we have to work harder, that's it."

Ji Zhifei's murder case caused a stir in Fucheng. Not long after, the government posted a notice saying that the real murderer in the murder case was sentenced to be executed by Qiu Houwen. Ji Zhifei took the initiative to plead guilty and was sentenced to hard labor.

Save a life.

A few days later, the master of the Ji family resigned from Gu Changzhou on the grounds of health, sold all the shops of the Ji family, and stopped doing business.

The Ji family, which had great reputation in Fucheng, gradually disappeared.

As for Boss Chang, as he promised, he reopened the bookstore soon and republished the first and second volumes of "Dream Talk". But this time, readers were surprised to find that "Dream Talk"

The book cover of "Xiaoji" is different from the past.

On the light blue cover, the title of the book is no longer simply printed, but replaced with a pair of beautiful calligraphy characters.

The handwriting is smooth and flowing, vigorous and powerful.

Most of the readers are knowledgeable, and they were attracted by the handwriting of the title at a glance. In a short time, the sales volume of the storybook increased several times.

For a long time, the discussion in the streets and alleys of Fucheng was about who the words on the cover of "Dream Talk" came from, and whether it was Mr. Zhaoli.

Jing Li was still a little dissatisfied with this.

"My limelight has been robbed." Jing Li said.

When he was talking about this problem, Qin Zhao was reading in the study. When he saw his young husband came over to accuse him aggressively, he had to put down the book and asked helplessly: "What should we do? Let Boss Chang take down all the new editions?"

Jing Li said "Huh" and shook his head: "Let's forget it."

It was he who asked Qin Zhao to write the inscription in the first place. Is it his fault that it was too good?

Jing Li didn't know that this was the result of Qin Zhao's restraint. You must know that the calligraphy and paintings he made during his reign are still widely circulated in the literati circle and are being imitated by others.

Qin Zhao thought of this and asked with a smile: "Will we still use this book cover for the next volume?"

"Of course." Jing Li said angrily.

You know, "Dream Talk" attracts people not only by its book cover, but before it is reprinted, this book is already hard to find in Fucheng.

The book cover inscribed by Qin Zhao is the icing on the cake at best.

He is not afraid of being upstaged.

Qin Zhao patted the seat next to him, asked Jing Li to sit down, and put him in his arms: "If you really care, why don't you admit your identity directly?"

"Trouble." Jing Li took a piece of snack from the table and stuffed it into his mouth, saying vaguely, "As it is now, I can't even finish the letter sent to Boss Chang's bookstore. If I really reveal my identity, I won't finish it."

It’s gone.”

Qin Zhaodao: "That's right, my Xiaoyu is now considered a celebrity in Fucheng."

Mr. Zhaoli is very energetic now, no worse than Qin Zhao, a little Sanyuan.

No, can he really keep his identity a secret?

Qin Zhao had some doubts in his heart.

In the case of Ji Zhifei, several people did know Jing Li's true identity. It was Qin Zhao who asked Gu Changzhou to intervene and temporarily cover up the truth.

But now that "Mr. Zhaoli" is getting louder and louder, it's probably only a matter of time before the news leaks out.

Qin Zhaogang wanted to remind Jing Li a few words, but was interrupted by the latter: "I won't disturb you anymore. I will attend the Autumn Festival in a few months. Let's study hard. I will take my son to play on the street."

It is now the end of March, and the Autumn Examination in August is only April or May. The Autumn Examination is hosted by Gongyuan, and the difficulty and competition are much greater than the government examination. Even Qin Zhao cannot deal with it as casually as Xian.
To be continued...