Gao Residence. Front Hall.
The members of the Gao family were gathering one by one.
Some came willingly, such as Gao Yunran.
Others tried to flee but were caught by the Embroidered Uniform Guard surrounding the Gao Residence and escorted here.
After more than half an hour, all several hundred members of the Gao family had arrived.
Lu Zhenghai asked indifferently, "Are you all here? From this moment on, if any Gao family members are still hiding inside the Gao Residence, they will be executed on the spot if found!"
"Yes!" Liu Quan and the other Squad Leaders shouted sternly.
Gao Yunran was among the Gao family crowd. She angrily raised her head, looked at Lu Zhenghai, and cursed, "Lackey, kill me!"
She thought, dying under the Embroidered Uniform Guard's blade was better than being sent to the Imperial Entertainment and Discipline Department.
Lu Zhenghai looked in the direction of the voice and immediately saw Gao Yunran.
"Isn't she the Gao family girl who stopped us that day asking who the murderer was?" Zhou Hu stood beside Lu Zhenghai and whispered, his voice suddenly becoming lewd, "Boss, this little firecracker is so beautiful, it would be perfect if you took her back to the Lu Residence to be a Maidservant..."
Let's see you look down on the boss, daring to be presumptuous in front of him!
Just as Lu Zhenghai was about to say something, Zhou Hu continued, "Boss, taking her away would be a tremendous act of kindness. Otherwise, given her looks, if she goes to the Imperial Entertainment and Discipline Department, ha, she probably won't even have time to rest..."
Gao Yunran's appearance, of course, couldn't compare to Pei Muwan, Jiang Chiyao, and the others.
But she was still one in ten thousand.
If Gao Yunran were to become a Maidservant, she might be the most beautiful Maidservant in the entire Imperial City, bar none.
"Why? Is going to the Imperial Entertainment and Discipline Department so terrifying?" Lu Zhenghai was slightly curious; he had never been to the Imperial Entertainment and Discipline Department.
"Inside the Imperial Entertainment and Discipline Department, the family members of high officials are the most sought after. Many people have a malicious interest in trying out these noble ladies who were once high and mighty, especially if they are very beautiful..." Zhou Hu spoke frankly.
Gao Yunran's face grew paler. She vaguely heard what Zhou Hu said and knew clearly that everything he said was true. For a moment, she bit her lip fiercely, wishing she could smash her head and die on the spot.
However, saying the words "smash her head and die on the spot" was easy, but how many people could truly do it?
The desire to live is human nature!
Being alive is always the most wonderful thing in the world!
Then, the thought of becoming Lu Zhenghai's Maidservant actually arose in her mind.
This way, she wouldn't have to die, nor would she have to go to the Imperial Entertainment and Discipline Department.
This was probably the glimmer of hope she was praying for in her heart.
Even if this imperial lackey intended to take her home as a Maidservant to torment her, just to retaliate for her harsh words that day, she would accept it!
Gao Yunran's beautiful eyes were filled with tears as she stared at Lu Zhenghai, her gaze containing expectation, pleading, and angry glares, as if she were mentally split.
Lu Zhenghai ignored Gao Yunran and suddenly shouted, "All Gao family members listen up! Men and women stand on separate sides!"
Facing the xiuchun sabers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the hundreds of men and women of the Gao family dared not utter a single word of defiance, obediently separating into male and female groups.
"Since this is a confiscation, all assets of the Gao family must be seized. No one has hidden anything, correct?" Lu Zhenghai continued indifferently, "If you have, take it out immediately."
The Great Yu Dynasty had banknotes; a banknote could be folded very small, making it truly undetectable if hidden.
No Gao family member spoke up.
Lu Zhenghai snorted, "You Nannies, search the female dependents. Liu Quan, you take your subordinate officers and search the Gao family men."
Nannies were necessary additions for every house raid.
This was because it was inappropriate to directly search female dependents; otherwise, it would cause unpleasant rumors and make it easy for officials to impeach them.
Zhou Hu was clever. He raised his hand, pointed at Gao Yunran, and told the Nannies, "She doesn't need to be searched."
"Only you know how to handle things," Lu Zhenghai kicked Zhou Hu's backside.
Zhou Hu chuckled, feeling very pleased.
Why did the boss kick his backside and not someone else's? This was closeness; this was the sign of a true insider.
Soon, the body search was complete.
They actually found 9,000 taels in banknotes, 37 gold hairpins, and over 50 pieces of jade... "Find out who hid these and teach them a lesson." Lu Zhenghai's voice became much colder.
I already warned you that a search was coming, yet you still dared to hide things? You must be looking down on this Banner Commander!
"Slap, slap, slap, slap..."
Next, several Gao family members, both male and female, were whipped.
The whips held by the Embroidered Uniform Guard were terrifying; they were not only made of pure cowhide, but the tip was also covered in small metal barbs, and the whips had even been soaked in salt water for a long time beforehand.
In short, one strike caused pain severe enough to induce near-fainting.
"Zhou Hu, you and Qian Sheng immediately lead men to move all assets inside the Gao Residence here. Remember, don't miss places like the cellar; search thoroughly," Lu Zhenghai ordered.
"Yes!"
Zhou Hu and Qian Sheng took their subordinate officers and scattered throughout the Gao Residence.
What followed was a patient wait.
Gao Yunran kept staring at Lu Zhenghai, continuously weeping and praying, hoping that Lu Zhenghai would take a liking to her and take her away to be a Maidservant.
But as time passed minute by minute, Lu Zhenghai ignored her the entire time, and every second felt like a year to her.
Nearly an hour later, Zhou Hu and Qian Sheng returned.
On the ground before them were the confiscated assets, stacked box after box.
"Count it," Lu Zhenghai turned to look at the accountant brought from within the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Soon, the accountant reported: "39,000 taels in actual silver, 17,000 taels in banknotes (including the 9,000 taels previously hidden), 24,000 taels worth of gold, jewels, and accessories, and 58,000 taels worth of shops, fertile land, and manors combined, totaling 138,000 taels."
"That's quite a bit," Lu Zhenghai was quite surprised.
As the saying goes, silver in the Great Yu Dynasty was very valuable; over a hundred thousand taels was truly astonishing.
However, thinking about it again, although Gao Shihan's official rank wasn't high, he happened to manage the Ministry of War.
Plus, he brazenly dared to secretly sell military equipment, so having this much money was understandable.
Moreover, the Gao Shihan family had been officials for more than just one generation.
"Boss, hehe, I still have 50,000 taels in banknotes in my pocket."
Qian Sheng stood beside Lu Zhenghai, lowered his voice, and slipped 50,000 taels in banknotes to Lu Zhenghai.
Since this was a house raid, it was impossible not to take any money; raiding houses was always a lucrative task.
This was known not only within the Embroidered Uniform Guard but was also perfectly clear even to the Emperor.
As long as it wasn't excessive, it was fine.
He thought, why did the amount of banknotes seem too low? So that was why.
"Are you sure you searched thoroughly?"
"Confirmed."
"Very well." Lu Zhenghai nodded, "Send all the Gao family men to the great prison; they will be executed soon. Escort all the Gao family female dependents to the Imperial Entertainment and Discipline Department."
As soon as he said this.
"Wuwuwu..."
"Help me!"
"You damn imperial lackey, kill me, kill me now!"
"I won't go to the Imperial Entertainment and Discipline Department!"
...It was utter chaos.
The Gao family members began to wail, struggle, and curse.
If the Embroidered Uniform Guard officers were not standing ready, xiuchun sabers in hand, they might have rushed Lu Zhenghai.
Gao Yunran could no longer hold back. She suddenly knelt on the ground, "Sir, I want to be your Maidservant. I promise... I promise to be obedient, I beg you!"
With her kneeling, the other Gao family female dependents also seemed to grasp the last straw of hope, one by one kneeling and begging Lu Zhenghai to take them in.
Lu Zhenghai still didn't say anything, merely glancing at Zhou Hu.
Zhou Hu immediately understood and arranged for men to send Gao Yunran to the Lu Residence at once.
"Boss, you are truly kind-hearted," Zhou Hu flattered him.
"Are her indentured papers and everything ready? Are the formalities in order?"
If there were issues with the paperwork, he would rather not take Gao Yunran in.
Yes, Lu Zhenghai, our Chief Lu, was absolutely not lustful.
He simply happened to be missing a personal Maidservant, wasn't he? Besides, he was kind-hearted.
Gao Yunran was kneeling and begging; if he truly refused, what if Gao Yunran committed suicide? Saving a life was better than building a seven-story pagoda.
Zhou Hu was slightly smug, "Boss, you can rest assured when I handle things."
"When it gets dark, transport the bed from Gao Shihan's bedroom to the Lu Residence; I have taken a liking to that bed." Lu Zhenghai thought for a moment, then solemnly instructed, "The bed doesn't need to be disassembled, just send it over whole. Also, handle the entire process personally and don't cause any unnecessary trouble."