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Chapter 486: The Death Of A Palace Serving Girl
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Spring arrived in February. Flowers bloomed and withered depending on the time of day. Until the flowers bloomed toward the sky, one temporarily borrowed clever hands to plant the spirit of spring. People often wondered where is the sense of spring, the spirit of spring? They were planted on people's clothing. Those flowers bloomed, abundant and layered amongst the gold-edged embroidery.
A day earlier, the foreign cloth the empress in the Eastern Palace ordered had finally arrived in the Palace. There were countless yards, and it needed the labor of countless eunuchs. The person who had brought the cloths into the Palace was Hong Zhu. For the simple tasks, such as dividing up the cloth and the heavy labor work, he was too lazy to do it himself.
He stayed in the Eastern Palace and noticed that the Crown Prince was not there. As he carefully moved the yellow copper piece in the fragrance pot to prevent the incense from burning too quickly, he ordered the serving girls to work more diligently and to quickly spread out the three layers of mattresses because the empress was going to read in a moment.
A gust of fragrant breeze blew in, and the inner curtain was lifted. Black-browed, red-lipped, and with a pair of smooth and slanted eyes, the empress walked out weakly. She leaned on the low couch, drank the already steeped scented tea, and read the book in her hand.
The book was a novel published by the Danbo bookstore. Although the empress hated Fan Xian with a passion and was terrified of him, this mother of a nation was unwilling to lower her living standards in her recreations.
After reading a few pages, the empress's brows furrowed as she thought about something.
Hong Zhu was standing behind the empress gently hammering on her frail body with his particularly clean fists. The empress always liked Hong Zhu's tact, carefulness, and considerate service, particularly, his skill in massage. However, she did not close her eyes in enjoyment, as usual, rather, she stared at the book in front of her in a daze.
"Mistress, what are you thinking about?" Hong Zhu smiled slightly and said.
Compared to the nobles, the eunuchs and serving girls were like ants in the mud. When normal people saw a noble like the empress, they would always be terrified to even make a loud noise. They were always timid and respectful, as if they wished they could completely retract their hands and feet.
However, Hong Zhu had once received Fan Xian's teachings. He also felt that although these people looked to have high and powerful positions, dressed and ate well, and had little to be discontented with, these nobles easily felt suffocation in the palace, loneliness and uneasiness, and liked to have someone keep them company and talk with them.
From when Hong Zhu was in the royal study, he was different from the other young eunuchs. He would not always lower his eyes and never forgot his servile appearance. Rather, he was respectfully and a bit more magnanimous when dealing with matters.
In reality, this logic was simple. The nobles in the palace also needed to talk. However, their status meant that they did not have any close friends with whom they could talk. If the eunuchs, who were always at their side, did not appear vulgar, were not coy or suspicious, their mood would be much better.
That was why Hong Zhu was liked by so many nobles, including the empress.
The empress seemed to be used to talking with Hong Zhu and sighed. "I was just thinking… it's rather irritating to stay in the Palace all day. Aunt is busy fasting and reading prayers, so I don't have much opportunity to see her."
Hong Zhu smiled and said, "Your servant can chat with you for a bit."
It was imperative that he said "servant," but there must not be a subservient expression on his face. Otherwise, if the master or mistress saw the subservient servant, their only desire would be to hit him and would certainly not share their thoughts.
"What can you talk about?" the empress asked with great interest. "How about you tell me of your childhood spent wandering around like you did a few days ago?"
After Hong Zhu's family was ruined by a corrupt official, he and his brother escaped to Jiaozhou. In those years, they had suffered endlessly and saw plenty of the joys and sorrows of life. Speaking of experience, his was far richer than those nobles who had grown up in royal families.
Every time he spoke of beggar secrets, little rumors on the jianghu, and food and entertainment among the common people, the empress always found it new and interesting.
Hong Zhu told her about the true jokes that he had heard while wandering on the road related to the girls in a brothel. However, he was in the Royal Palace, and the person listening to the story was the mother of a nation, so he told the story with particular care, not daring to say anything too explicit.
As the empress listened to this story, her eyes twinkled. She smiled slightly. She found it funny and quickly gave a yawn to hide it. She was in front of Hong Zhu, so he couldn't see. He only found it strange that the empress had not stopped him from continuing.
After all, he was very young. He had no idea that no matter how inviolable nobles were, the things in their heads were not much different from the women in the marketplace.
After he finished telling the story, the empress sighed and said, "The commoner's children do have it very tough. However, they can see some very different things."
Hong Zhu mumbled indistinctly, "Speaking of bitterness, given Mistress' status, ever since you were young…"
This very naturally brought the conversation onto the empress's childhood. For a moment, the empress's mind wandered. She thought of how the present Emperor, when she was a child, was still a boy careful with his words and smiles, but they seemed to have the occasionally joyful moment. Later… how did it become like this?
She immediately thought of the prince her family paid that night Jingdou ran red with blood. Her emotions became unstable. Gradually, feelings of sorrow welled in her.
Hong Zhu carefully controlled his word and watched the fluttering of the empress's eyelashes. He then turned the contents of his words to the little playthings the empress had in her childhood.
The empress was warning herself that she could not tell a servant so much about herself. Hearing him change the subject, she relaxed and began to count with great familiarity.
In the end, after endless turns, Hong Zhu finally successfully, and without leaving any traces, made her remember a piece of jade. A piece of jade that she had brought into the Royal Palace from her home.
The empress gestured as to the size of the piece of jade and smiled. "The color of that jade was pretty good. Of course, it couldn't compare to the tribute goods kept in the Great Dong Mountain. However, it was an item of rare quality in a normal royal family… Oh yes, it was gifted to my family by the previous Emperor, so it has the Emperor's mark carved on it. It can't be worn outside and had to be kept among the clothing."
The empress unconsciously pointed at her chest. Although she was wearing thick winter clothing, her finger still sank into the plumpness.
Hong Zhu gently swallowed and carefully smiled along with her. "I don't think I've seen Mistress wear it in the Palace."
"Although that piece of jade was gentle, the green is too light… Back in the day, I often wore it before my marriage, but now it doesn't suit me."
Flatteringly, Hong Zhu said, "Mistress is beautiful and no less so than the past. There is little difference to a young girl… No matter how light the jade is, it is suitable."
A severe light flashed through the empress's eyes. She lowered her voice to yell, "Your words are becoming more and more impudent!"
Hong Zhu's expression became one of great shock. He quickly slapped himself heavily on the face. He did not notice the glimmer of a satisfied smile at the corners of the empress's lips as well as the meaning growing thicker and thicker in her eyes.
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…
The empress learned of the entry of the embroidered cloths into the Palace, but, naturally, she did not worry much about these little things. The Palace would send it to the various palaces based on ranking. The empress dowager would be the first, and the concubines with ranking would each receive some. In the end, it would reach the Eldest Princess' Guangxin Palace. Although the empress did not much like this aunt, she had to keep her mouth shut tightly for her son's sake.
Meanwhile, a side room in the Eastern Palace was busy with the distribution of the cloth. Hong Zhu was serving the empress but did not have any specific tasks. With nothing at hand, he stood outside the door and stared at the slender serving girls rushing around. His gaze swept over the serving girls' plump and perky behinds.
Suddenly, he felt pain at his waist and turned his head to see that a charming serving girl was staring ferociously at him.
He couldn't help but scold in a low voice, "Xiu'er, are you crazy? There are so many people, and this is in the Palace!"
This serving girl, who was so bold as to pinch the head eunuch of the Eastern Palace, was the Xiu'er that Fan Xian had once heard about. She was also a companion Hong Zhu had found in the loneliness of the Palace.
Xiu'er bit her bottom lip and mumbled, "Where are your eyes looking? Are you sure you know this is the Palace?"
Hong Zhu chuckled and said a few soothing words. He thought to himself that since he was a eunuch, he could only satisfy his cravings with his eyes and fingers. What was there to be jealous about? He didn't think much of it, but he suddenly thought of something and asked, "What are you doing here?"
His heart suddenly jumped, and he lowered his voice, "Surely they're not sending you to the various palaces to deliver the cloth?"
Xiu'er looked at his nervous expression with curiosity and said, a little startled, "No… For some reason, the empress suddenly remembered a little item she hadn't used in a long time and sent me to look for it in the side room."
Hong Zhu relaxed a bit and carefully asked, "What item?"
"A light green piece of jade," Xiu'er pouted and said. "Someone must have said something to her and made her remember this item. It hasn't been used in so many years, where am I to find it in an instant? If I don't find it, how will I explain it to the empress?"
Hong Zhu was overjoyed. He knew that his words from earlier had worked. The empress had finally thought to look for that piece of jade.
A serving girl covered her smiled and walked by the two of them.
Xiu'er said angrily, "What are you smiling about?"
The serving girl stuck out her tongue and said, "Can only you two smile but I cannot?"
The empire of Qing Kingdom was not as radiant and imposing as the people thought, but it was also not as dark and terrifying as described by some novels. Particularly in the Eastern Palace, the empress was aware of her weakness and helplessness, so she purposely put in more effort in the details. She was relatively gentle toward the serving girls and eunuchs and was not very harsh in front of the Emperor. She had the intention of having everyone get along.
Hong Zhu was also a very careful person. Even now, as the head eunuch, he was not arrogant and bossy toward those below him. That was why the serving girl dared to make a joke about the two of them.
"Where are you going?" Hong Zhu smiled at the serving girl, as well as the little eunuch behind her holding two rolls of superior cloth.
The serving girl giggled and bowed. "This is being delivered to Guangxin Palace."
Hong Zhu nodded with a smile and let her go.
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…
The serving girl was called Wang Zhui'er. To be able to have a family name meant that she was a fairly favored figure in the Eastern Palace. She led the two little eunuchs to Guangxin Palace. She knew the Eldest Princess' habit and waved her hands to have the two eunuchs wait outside. Laboriously, she took the embroidered cloth and went in.
Inside the palace were the Eldest Princess' serving girls, who took them away. Since it was someone representing the empress, the Eldest Princess casually said a few words with the serving girl, asked after the empress, and then sent her away.
When Guangxin Palace was quiet and empty, only then did the Eldest Princess turn behind the screen and looked at the Crown Prince, whose face was filled with a content expression. She smiled warmly and said, "Have you memorized 'The Three Ways to Govern a Country?'"
The Crown Prince stared at her in a daze and nodded. Gently, he held the Eldest Princess' soft hands and lifted them to the side of his face like they were a delicate and easily broken piece of jade. He rubbed them back and forth and said in a quiet voice, "Qian'er has already memorized it."
The Eldest Princess gently tapped the place between his brows with her finger. Looking at the familiar mark between the Crown Prince's brows, for some reason, her heart moved and then softened. Holding his face between her hands, her eyes twinkled. She gently said, "Good, now recite it for aunt."
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In the Eastern Palace, the empress was angry because the serving girl had searched for a long time and still had not found that piece of jade. This made the empress's mood very bad.
Xiu'er stopped in fear beside the empress and wondered why her mistress was so set on this piece of jade today.
She had no idea that the empress had been touched by Hong Zhu's words and wanted to seek out some of her past radiance.
"Search carefully!" The empress was very angry. She suddenly wanted to find something but was unable to find it. She was generous, and now her servants had taken advantage of that. She had also faintly heard that there were some fellows in the Palace whose hands and feet were unclean, but she had not thought that these people would be so daring as to stretch their hands into the Eastern Palace.
Thinking of how she was alone and without support in the Royal Palace, and now these servants were riding above her, the empress's mouth shook with anger. In a dark voice, she said to the row of kneeling eunuchs and serving girls in front of her, "If you can't find it in the treasury, then search every room!"
The expressions of the line of kneeling people were unpleasant. They were all wondering if this was a preparation to search the palace. The three eunuchs to the right were scared pale and terrified because the small and old items from the Eastern Palace had almost all been smuggled out and sold by them. The piece of jade the empress had mentioned earlier was among them.
Fortunately, everyone was terrified by the empress's sharp scolding. All of them were rather pale, so no one noticed the drumming of these eunuchs' hearts.
The empress slapped her right hand down heavily on the table. The emerald ring on her right middle finger shattered. In a great rage, she said, "If you discover who has been stealing, there is no need to report to me. Drag them out and beat them to death!"
Hong Zhu lowered his head and looked at the shattered pieces of the emerald on the table, thinking to himself, with a bitter smile, This ring was worth far more than that piece of jade. However, he knew that the empress had an idea and was angry. She was also using this opportunity to clean out the palace, so he couldn't say anything. He bowed slightly and accepted his orders. He then led some upper-level serving girls and eunuchs to search the Palace.
In a flash, footsteps rang out from the back of the side rooms in the Eastern Palace. The sounds of chests being opened and cabinets emptied rang out. It was just like a search, and it filled people with unspeakable fear.
Those serving girls and eunuchs who were waiting patiently outside the doors for the orders of fate were not very worried, not even the three eunuchs who had done this because they had done this many times. No one was stupid enough to hide the taboo object in their own room.
However, it looked like someone was indeed this stupid.
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…
The three eunuchs were shocked. The serving girl who had worn a proud expression as she watched the crowd suddenly became pale and said in a sharp voice, "It's not mine! It's not mine!"
In order to avoid suspicion, Hong Zhu did not personally join in the search. When he saw a eunuch find that piece of jade from beneath a serving girl's bed, he couldn't help but sigh and shake his head as he looked at that serving girl.
This serving girl was the one who had delivered the cloth to Guangxin Palace earlier. Her face was pale, and her eyes were wild. With a crash, she knelt in front of Hong Zhu and said in a shaky voice, "Eunuch Hong… this has nothing to do with me, nothing to do with me… nothing to do with me…"
The three eunuchs who had stolen the piece of jade met each other's eyes, thinking, Hadn't this piece of jade already been sold out of the Palace? How could it suddenly appear in the Eastern Palace and in the hands of that serving girl? Cold sweat immediately poured down the eunuchs' backs. With the appearance of the item, who knew what could be discovered in questioning later?
Hong Zhu furrowed his brows and looked at the serving girl kneeling in front of him. He sighed and said, "Bind her and wait for the Mistress to decide."
A few slightly sturdier eunuchs came forward and flipped her onto the ground. They then used hemp rope to bind her solidly. The serving girl was already terrified out of her mind and could only cry out that she was wronged and had never seen this piece of jade before.
Hong Zhu shook his head and went forward to the palace to debrief. The three eunuchs met each other's eyes and had the slightly braver one follow behind Hong Zhu. He lowered his voice and said, "Sir, earlier, the Mistress intended for us to find the item and then directly kill the thief… If you talk to the Mistress right now, she might not be happy and make things difficult for you."
Hong Zhu stopped his steps. "This matter is too important. It's best to wait for the mistress to speak. For us servants, it's better to not be too interfering."
A streak of disappointment flashed through the eunuch's eyes. He had thought to use Hong Zhu's hand to directly kill the serving girl. Then, regardless of how that piece of hade once again entered the Palace, as long as she was dead and the jade had returned, it was impossible for it to be linked for him. He had not expected that Hong Zhu would still seek the empress's orders.
"The matter is not as simple as you think." Hong Zhu smiled coldly and glanced at him icily. "She doesn't have enough courage to steal things from the Eastern Palace by herself. There has to be someone else helping her hide it. Even if she doesn't have someone helping her… after the inner court questions her carefully, we will definitely find clues as to the origin of this item."
The eunuch felt his heart chill, thinking, The origin… If this is truly investigated, it will single out all three of them. However, no matter what, he did not dare to confess to this to Hong Zhu. He only said, probingly, "I wonder how the Mistress will punish this."
"If we really find the scourge in the Palace… beaten to death would be pretty good. I would be worried about being thrown into prison and having those freaks from the Overwatch Council torture me." Hong Zhu sighed.
The eunuch's mind spun. He swallowed in terror. "This is, after all, a Palace matter. If it is investigated by the internal court and the Overwatch Council, I'm afraid… the Mistress would lose face. Why don't we… investigate it ourselves first?"
Hong Zhu seemed to have been moved by these words and slanted his eyes at him. Coincidentally, he saw the murderous intent in the eunuch's eyes and smiled. He nodded his head and ordered, "Question her carefully."
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Once they reached the bedroom in the front of the Palace, Hong Zhu had changed his tone. He told the empress what they had already learned and then sincerely urged her to be merciful in her punishments. After all, the empress dowager was praying these days. If someone died, it might make her unhappy.
At first, the empress was very angry. After hearing Hong Zhu's argument, her anger gradually dissipated. Holding that piece of jade in her hands and slowly stroking it, she furrowed her brows and said, "That is reasonable. She may be able to escape the death sentence, but she will have to suffer in life. Give the order to have her heavily beaten!"
Hong Zhu took the order. As he prepared to go, the empress suddenly called him to a stop. "Why are you going? Just give the order… You stay here. I have long heard you praise your clever hands. Weave a golden cage and hang up this piece of jade."
The empress's expression was calm. Nothing could be heard in her voice. Hong Zhu was overjoyed in his heart, thinking, If he had headed the questioning, he might have become implicated.
After an indeterminable amount of time, a eunuch knelt with an uncomfortable expression outside the Palace. Hong Zhu furrowed his brows and went to listen to him. His expression also became uncomfortable.
He moved closer to the empress's ear and quietly said a few words.
The empress furrowed her brows and said with disgust, "So unlucky… if she couldn't stand the beating, it would have been fine. At least she had some sense of shame and committed suicide to make a clean end of things…" this mother of the nation said carelessly. "Have Jingle Hall drag her out and burned."
Hong Zhu's heart trembled. He knew that in the eyes of these nobles, servants like him were just things to be ordered around and played with. Their lives were worth no more than that of ants. He silently bent his body and went to organize the serving girl's funeral matters.
He knew that the serving girl's death was not as simple as suicide. The eunuch he had arranged to question her earlier must have secretly killed her in order to keep her silent and protect his wealth, life, and property.
Since this was something Hong Zhu had planned, he was not very surprised. He only felt a glimmer of remorse for the innocent serving girl.
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The Qing Royal Palace was very expansive. It took up a quarter of the area of Jingdou. Inside it lived the most honorable men and women, but it also had the lowliest women and people who were neither man nor woman. In this cold Palace, countless stories happened every day. No one knew how many of the lowliest disappeared and died strangely without a sound, and there was no one to remember they once existed in the Palace.
Although the Qing royal family was not famously cruel, the strict barriers between classes destined the Royal Palace to forever be a place where each person fought for themselves.
Thus, the death of an average serving girl in the Eastern Palace did not draw anyone's attention. There was just an extra body on the Jingle Hall's burning plains. A girl in the embroidery office, fortunately, received the opportunity to enter the Eastern Palace to serve the empress. She still listened to Hong Zhu tell jokes every day. The empress dowager continued to fast, and the Crown Prince continued to study the ways of governance every day and to go to Guangxin Palace to ask the Eldest Princess for advice.
Everything was as normal.
"For a large family, if someone asks from the outside, it will never be all at once because the foundations are strong. However, if the family has internal problems, if their own people began to act and suspect, and there is conflict, then they are not far from the day of their death."
On the newly constructed riverbanks in Yingzhou, Fan Xian looked at the Great River flowing east and said thoughtfully, "Thousands of li of riverbanks destroyed by an ant hole; a thousand years or clan, destroyed by a thought."
He turned his head and said to the dark-skinned Yang Wanli, "I am not just talking about the riverbank you repaired or the Ming family, but the entire world."
Fan Xian did explain things clearly. He meant that in terms of time, today should be the day that the serving girl died. In a few more days, once the rumors started, the Emperor would notice the Eastern Palace serving girl's strange death. Given his suspicious nature, he would certainly notice there were many problems.
On the surface, the royal family appeared calm and harmonious. But, perhaps because of the serving girl's death, it would spiral into unexpected upheaval.
Chapter 487: Who Could Obstruct A Large Escorted Stone-Carrying Carriage?
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Yang Wanli glanced at Fan Xian beside him and said, "Teacher, the Jiangnan matter is set. You shouldn't worry too much."
He said this very honestly and sincerely. The Yang Wanli of this moment had already gone through the ordeals on the riverbank for more than half a year, as well as the wrangling and shirking of the River Transport Governor's yamen. He had gradually come to understand the real meaning of being an official and the difficulty of the people.
As an official, to do things for the people and help the court required power and money in hand. Otherwise, it was impossible to achieve anything. Since Yang Wanli had Fan Xian as a support, no one in the Ministry of Works ordered him around. Although the River Transport Governor's yamen was a mess, he had the power to directly transfer money from the palace treasury. In this matter, no one could create obstacles for him.
He was no longer the innocent and pure youth of the past who dared to cry and storm to his teacher. Every time he thought of this, he felt deep admiration for his teacher's lecture that year beside Xi Lake in Hangzhou.
At this moment, the endless riverbanks beneath their feet were the result of Yang Wanli's year of work. Every time he saw the square rocks, yellow dirt, and tamed river below the riverbanks, his heart filled with satisfaction and pride. The patched clothing on his body and dark appearance all became a mark of glory.
Yang Wanli knew that he was able to achieve his dream because of old Minister Fan and Sir Fan junior's meticulous care and promotion. He was both happy and worried about his teacher's arrival and said what he did earlier.
Everyone knew that Fan Xian had been attacked on his return to Jingdou. Yang Wanli was concerned about his teacher's health.
Fan Xian shook his head and gazed at the river beneath his feet and said, "No worries, don't think so highly of me. I am a lazy person. I won't be so busy with state affairs that I harm my health. As for the Jiangnan matter, the Ming family's weakness has long been grasped. They have no way to retaliate. However, if we want to swallow them whole, it is still a bit difficult."
The present Yang Wanli could understand what his words meant. It was not difficult to swallow the Ming family. What was important was the members of the royal family behind the Ming family. If Fan Xian didn't create a taboo situation for the Palace, the Ming family would have destroyed him long ago.
Fan Xian smiled and didn't give any details of the situation. He only comfortingly said, "This return to the capital yielded great returns. Although the Emperor had not changed the entire style of governance, the changing of blood on the court has begun…you should have seen Cheng Jialin's name on the imperial bulletin."
"Yes, Jialin is the first of us four to return to the capital for a post," Yang Wanli said happily. Although the investigation into the attack on Fan Xian came to nothing, the Qing Emperor had used this opportunity to chase away a bunch of old people and inserted many new people into the court. The least famous of Fan Xian's four disciples, Cheng Jialin, was selected and promoted over many ranks. Now, he was a member of the Ministry of Rites and a key member to be developed by the court.
Fan Xian glanced at him and smiled. "Of the four of you, Jialin is the most silent and mediocre. Despite this, his path was smoother than that of Jicheng's…of course, Jicheng's problem lies with me. If I hadn't called him to Jiaozhou, he would not have sunk into such an impasse. I can only hope he doesn't blame me."
Yang Wanli shook his head and said, "Teacher, what are you saying? For the Jiaozhou matter, Jicheng has written to me and said that this was an important matter. Besides, only Jicheng could have handled it."
Fan Xian nodded. Since the four of them all knew of his struggles, he didn't need to explain anymore.
The two of them followed the riverbank downstream. As they strolled, they chatted leisurely. Fan Xian reminded him, "I know of your work in the river works yamen and so does the court. Now that the title 'hard-working Wanli' has entered the Palace, this will be greatly beneficial to your future. However, you have to remember what I said before. In things like river repairs and in things you know how to do, you should work hard at them. For things you don't understand, never give orders randomly."
Yang Wanli smiled and replied, "Having been on the riverbanks for a year, even things I don't understand, I know a little of it now."
Fan Xian glanced at him with disapproval and said, "The river works is an important business. It is even more important than the battles in Xi Lake and Northern Qi. If you only understand a little…how could it be enough that you can speak with such confidence?"
Yang Wanli immediately understood and accepted the scolding with embarrassment.
"A mere one year of time is, of course, not enough to stop a river disaster." Fan Xian furrowed his brows. "This is a decade-long job or even a century-long job. As long as there are people living on the two banks of the Great River, it will have to be repaired. You have to lose your pride and irritation…you must be satisfied and silent."
"Yes, teacher."
"However, you have to take care to train a few capable subordinates and specialists," Fan Xian said sincerely. "Although you have the desire to create happiness for the people, after being exposed to the elements for many years, your body probably won't be able to take it. Train some capable people, and there will be no need to stay in the river works yamen. Then, you can get back to Jingdou and work seriously there."
Yang Wanli was startled and quickly said, "Teacher, I don't want to return to the capital. The capital is much more troublesome than the river banks…besides, I'm not afraid of hard work. I'm long used to it."
"Of course, the capital is troublesome. But if you want to do things, you have to return to the capital," Fan Xian said resolutely. "This has nothing to do with whether or not you can handle the hardship. I'm counting on you living for a few more years…for someone at such an age to not even have a wife yet, what would people say if that got out?"
Yang Wanli was unhappy but didn't say anything more. Speaking of which, it was rather strange. Fan Xian was younger than all four of his disciples. However, whenever they ran into each other, Fan Xian was becoming more and more used to putting on his teacher role and lecturing them. This was probably what was meant by "different environments raise different people."
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…
In the following few days, Fan Xian continued to linger in Yingzhou. Most of the time, he was on the river banks and advising Yang Wanli. However, it was inevitable he would receive a feast invitation from the river works governor's yamen. Fan Xian could make excuses to normal local officials, but this time, the river works Governor had come personally to extend his invitation. With such face, he really had no choice.
The reason the Governor invited Fan Xian out was very simple. What the river works governor yamen lacked was silver, and the palace treasury that Fan Xian controlled was full of silver. This year, the river banks governor's yamen had acted smoothly and been greatly rewarded by the Emperor. This was because Fan Xian, openly and not, had been very warm toward this yamen and provided countless liang of silver. For such a favor, the Governor had no choice but to be thankful.
What confused Yang Wanli was why his teacher continued to linger in Yingzhou. A surveying Jiangnan Road imperial envoy could inspect the building of the riverbanks. However, looking at Fan Xian's appearance, it looked like he was preparing to stay for half a month.
"Teacher, are you not going to Suzhou?" One day, Yang Wanli gathered his courage and asked.
"No rush, I'll wait a bit longer."
Fan Xian smiled. Jingdou was in the north and Suzhou was in the east. At this moment, he sat comfortably in Yingzhou and watched what was about to happen on the two sides with cold eyes, like a porter carrying baskets of spiky fruits. Coincidentally, a shoulder pole took all of the weight, so he was not worried about the spiky fruits pricking his thigh.
He was waiting for the event in Suzhou to properly begin and the Jingdou matter to explode. Yingzhou was the best place to watch the show. Although in the eyes of the officials he was someone who liked to cause trouble, in such a sensitive time, he still had to avoid suspicion.
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The Overwatch Council's Qinian Unit had two leading figures in Jiangnan. One was in charge of the three large workshops' production in the palace treasury in North Min, Su Wenmao. The other was in the Suzhou palace treasury transport company keeping an eye on the Ming family's movements, Hong Changqing.
The plan targeting the Ming family had been laid out a year ago. The first steps had begun half a year ago. On one side, the Zhaoshang money house lent heavily to the Ming family to support their means and daily needs. They also began to provoke Ming Lanshi in developing a new trade route. At the same time, they had also acted on the Sixth Ming master who liked wrestling. The muddled-headed Sixth Ming master only knew that Zhaoshang money house had lent him a great deal of money, but he had never thought that his shares in the Ming family had long become a few deeds in Zhaoshang money house.
All of this was being done openly. Even if the Zhaoshang money house wanted to enforce the debt, given the Ming family's strong foundations, the goods in their hands, daily income, and Taiping money house's support, they could still make do and not be forced into bankruptcy and use their company and lands to repay the debt in full.
The problem before Fan Xian was how to reduce the Ming family's income and cause serious problems for their cash flow.
To defeat a business as large as the Ming family's, no matter how much money was available, it was still very difficult to reach this goal. The problem was that Fan Xian had full authority over the palace treasury and a death grip on the supply of goods. It was equivalent to having a chokehold on the Ming family's throat.
With Su Wenmao taking the lead, with the full cooperation of the deputy of the palace treasury transport company and the cousin of Ren Shao'an, and with the clever planning by a few of Qingyu Hall's old shopkeepers from the end of last summer, the production of the three workshops in the palace treasury had gradually increased. The quality had also risen greatly.
With more supply going out, more supply needed to be taken in. It was impossible for the Ming family to pass up on this opportunity. Additionally, during this time period, the Overwatch Council had greatly relaxed their harassment against the Ming family, so the entire Ming family business had come alive again. In a flash, they had taken on countless goods and were shipping them in the direction of Dongyi and Quanzhou.
Although such a large shipment of goods had taken out a large chunk of the Ming family's silver, Ming Qingda was not worried. This exchange would bring silver back into the account. This was the reason he was feeling relaxed during those days. If it continued like this, what a lovely future it would be.
However, for some reason, the palace treasury transport company's three large workshops suddenly stopped work.
…
…
After the news of the work stopping reached Suzhou, Ming Qingda flew into a rage. He had Ming Lanshi rush to the palace treasury transport company yamen to ask exactly what had happened. Very shamelessly, Hong Changqing took down his question but was only willing to say that the three large workshops were currently undergoing regular equipment checking and needed some time.
The Ming family had the right to be angry and roar because they were royal merchants who had paid out tens of thousands of liang of silver. Since the palace treasury had taken their bid money, they had to ensure their supply of goods. Otherwise, they could take the lawsuit before the Emperor.
However, Hong Changqing also had an excuse to delay because the three large workshops had already completed the amount stated in the bids last year. Even if they stopped for a few days or weeks, the Ming family had already received everything it was supposed to receive.
Ming Qingda had no choice. He could only use the power he had in officialdom to inquire as to the truth. With great difficulty, the news got back and said that the three large workshops were striking again. Sir Su of the Overwatch Council had beheaded 20 people before just barely managing to quell it. However, there would be many days of missed work.
Hearing this reason, only then did the Ming family let out a breath. As long as it wasn't Fan Xian's plot, it was fine. They began to wait for the day the palace treasury resumed working. The reason the Ming family was so anxious and nervous was because everything had been going well for the past two months. Gradually, the Ming family came to believe in the palace treasury's production ability. Going by their normal figures, they had signed a large contract with Dongyi and other countries.
The deadline for the goods had already arrived. The Ming family needed a large number of goods, and merchants needed credibility. The Ming family would rather lose money than have no goods to sell.
After a few more days, the three large workshops finally resumed work. However, there were not many of each type of good produced and the amount was woefully inadequate. It was impossible to know when it would be able to recover last year's circumstances. For a while, the Ming family sank into a small panic. In order to complete the order, they had no choice but to bring in goods from all over. Not only did they deplete the last of their stored goods, they had no choice but to borrow goods at a high price from a few companies on the North Road and South Road.
Having received the account master's report and weighing the useable cash currently within the clan, Ming Qingda furrowed his brows and said, "Just what is Fan Xian doing? Does he think taking some of my goods will bring me down? So naïve."
Ming Lanshi listened at the side. His mouth tasted slightly bitter. Recently, he had moved some money from Zhaoshang money house in preparation to enter the illegal salt business. His partner this time was Yang Jimei, Jiangnan's largest salt merchant. He knew that Yang Jimei was very close to Governor Xue Qing, so Ming Lanshi was not worried about anything. However, the return on illegal salt needed at least three months. If his father knew that he had moved the family's cash flow to another place, would he still be as confident as he was now?
"The Ming family doesn't have anything else, it only has money." Ming Qingda smiled coldly. "Fan Xian wants to control the price on the market to eat up our silver, then we'll give it to him to eat. In any case, he will have to spit it back out in the future. We have to complete the order this time."
The Overwatch Council's actions were not as simple as just controlling the market price. The day after the Ming family had successfully paid a high price to gather all the goods, the workers in the three large workshops became as excited, as if they had taken ephedrine. The workings of the palace treasury suddenly exploded, and there wasn't a trace of striking to be seen. In a short time, they created new records for peak daily productivity.
Although the selling prices of the royal merchants were balanced by the court, the selling price was controlled by the supplier. At this moment, the price of the goods sank, but business was better. The Lingnan Xiong family, Sun family, and even Xia Mingji gained a lot during this market price. Most importantly, they had earned a huge price difference from the Ming family. It was their own fault that they had the most trade routes.
The Ming family had worked hard to gather the high-priced goods and had fulfilled most of the orders. Yet, they watched as the market price fell and felt an indescribable anger. In particular, as Quanzhou's foreign export partners shamelessly changed routes and turned to Lingnan to take on cheaper goods, it left the Ming family with a large amount of porcelain and perfume in hand.
With this one move, the Ming family lost 700,000 in cash flow.
If this had been in the past, the 700,00 would not have been much for the Jiangnan Ming family. After having been suppressed by the Overwatch Council for a year, the Ming family's cash flow had long dried to a trickle. The Ming family was completely dependent on the support of Taiping and Zhaoshang money houses. Now, another 700,000 liang had melted like snow. The Master of the Ming family, Ming Qingda, had no choice but to become wary.
…
…
"This order has to be sent out. Although Shi Pibao is a foreigner, he has a large foreign business behind him. He would certainly not be as shameless as those islanders. He also keeps his promises." Ming Qingda rubbed his tired eyes and said to his son below, "Lanshi, escort the goods personally this time. You must be careful."
Ming Lanshi made a sound of acknowledgment. He also knew that this batch of goods was very important as this was the batch of demo goods for which his father had spared no effort and used countless connections to bring out of the palace treasury.
The so-called demo items referred to the first batch of successful new goods like liquor and perfume in the past. Although the price was very high, everyone knew that it would be a curious new item. Once it was sold, it could be sold like gold.
The demo item this time was a batch of mirrors. Ming Lanshi had tested them personally. The main component of these mirrors was glass, but the material at the back was something unknown. It actually had a layer of silver plated on the back. It appeared very delicate and thin, and was truly a treasure.
Logically speaking, given the relationship between Fan Xian and the Ming family, it would be impossible for the Ming family to become wealthy from such important demo goods. However, the Ming family had done business in Jiangnan for a long time. They had to use another royal merchant family to be able to take in this batch of goods. Ming Lanshi still felt a sense of unease. If they could safely deliver this batch of silver mirrors to Shi Pibao in Quanzhou, the Ming family's very difficult cash flow issues would be greatly relieved, but…would it go so smoothly?
"Don't worry about anything," Ming Qingda said with a dark expression. "I have already communicated with the capital. You're personally delivering this batch of goods, and the Jiaozhou Navy have also been given orders. This time, we won't sail out ourselves. Although we will earn less, it should be safe to travel between the provinces…."
This Master of the Ming family, who had already tolerated Fan Xian for a year, said in a chilly voice, "If someone…truly dares to kill to steal the goods…it's impossible for them to kill everyone. After someone escapes back, we will go to the capital and take them to court before the Emperor!"
Three days later, on a small mountain south-east of Suzhou, Hong Changqing looked at the long line of carriages and smiled. There were not many carriages with mirrors, there were only two carriages. However, the Ming family had sent out 500 of their personal soldiers to escort it. It was clear they highly valued this export order.
His smile was immediately restrained and turned cold. He suddenly remembered a year ago, the day large numbers of the Jiaozhou Navy and officials came to massacre the island. He thought of those flesh-eating birds and his pirate brothers who had died with grievances.
Although he was an Overwatch Council secret agent from the beginning and responsible for investigating the island, after being with the pirates on the island for a long time, there would also be some affection. Thus, as he stood on the mountain today and looked at the Ming family's carriages and soldiers, a bloodthirsty and joyful smile appeared at the corners of his lips.
He was not killing anyone day, but it would cause more pain for Ming Qingda than the death of these people.
As he was thinking, a group of about 200 riders escorting a few carriages came from the official road directly opposite the one the Ming family was traveling on.
The two sides faced each other and were blocked at the foot of the mountain.
Ming Lanshi had been carefully watching the situation on the road. Seeing this group of people, he immediately felt a strange atmosphere. He ordered his private soldiers to draw their weapons and prepare to meet the enemy.
However, the 200 riders did not do anything. They only passed the Ming family group coldly. Although these riders sat straight on their horses, a cold and severe murderous intention emanated from all over their bodies. The Ming family's private soldiers did not dare move impudently.
Just as the two groups formed two lines, the sides of the carriages that the 200 riders were escorting suddenly broke and everything inside fell out, smashing against the Ming family carriages that held the mirrors.
If it were the usual goods, what did it matter if it was hit?
However, the problem was that the items that crashed against the carriages carrying the mirrors were green stones, very heavy and very sharp green stones.
No one dared to use their bodies to block it, not even the Ming family soldiers under strict orders. After a few muffled booms, there came countless sounds of shattering.
Ming Lanshi let out a sharp cry. He quickly dismounted to check, only to see that of the 100 or so mirrors, most of them had been shattered into shiny pieces. Although it still reflected a dazzling brilliance, but…
Chaos immediately broke out on the official road at the foot of the mountain. Countless people drew their weapons. The two sides confronted each other, and a large battle was imminent.
Ming Lanshi's vision went black. He knew it was all over. He viciously turned his head and stared at the leader of the 200 riders. He gritted his teeth and said, "As expected…when did the Overwatch Council's Black Knights start to do such things as highway robbery?"
The leading figure, who wore a silver mask on his face, was not surprised that the Ming young master recognized their identity as they had not intended to hide it.
The deputy commander of the Overwatch Council's Black Knights, Jing Ge, gazed at Ming Lanshi and coldly said, "I have not killed anyone and have not stolen any goods…I am escorting the stone materials that the palace treasury's three large workshops need and passed through this place. However, you merchants dared to block the path. The road was narrow. Unfortunately, our carriages flipped. Both sides have suffered losses. We are not asking you for compensation…so you should not make such a din. If you provoke my rage, be careful of your head."
Ming Lanshi's vision dimmed. He looked at the Black Knights, who emanated bloodthirstiness and eagerness. He forcefully suppressed the anger in his chest only to feel the taste of blood rise in his throat. He stared with pain and in a daze as he said, "Carriages flipped?"
How in the world could a carriage flip so accurately? Both sides suffered losses equally? Your greenstones could flip however they want and not lose a corner, but ours…were fragile mirrors!
Chapter 488: This Is A Conspiracy
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The valley was silent. The atmosphere was oppressive and terrifying, but no one dared to make a move.
Ming Lanshi knew that Fan Xian had planned everything from the very beginning, but he didn't understand. After all, he was an official of the court, how could he do something so shameless? Faced with such a terrifying cavalry, Ming Lanshi didn't want to fight against the other party and lose his life. However, the shatter pieces on the ground filled his mind with rage.
"I will go to Jingdou to file a lawsuit!"
Ming Lanshi cursed shrilly in anger.
"As you wish. I will not be accompanying you."
Jing Ge coldly tossed out these words and led the troops away. Before he left, he didn't forget to lift the heavy stones back onto the carriage. He left behind Ming Lanshi, who wanted to cry but did not have the tears. As well as the dazed and tongue-tied private Ming family soldiers, and shining pieces of glass that were scattered all over the ground.
In the past, the Ming family had secreted funded pirates and colluded with the Jiaozhou Navy to steal goods on the East Sea. They killed without care, harmed countless lives, and forcefully stole innumerable amounts of court goods. Now, Fan Xian did the very opposite. Instead of striking on the water, he attacked on land. He neither harmed the lives of the Ming family members nor stole their goods. He only destroyed everything so that the Ming family couldn't even cry.
The cycle of the natural order was absolutely fair and reasonable. This is what it was.
The matter was still not over.
Wearing official robes, Hong Changqing coughed a few times and walked down from the mountain to Ming Lanshi's side. He smiled slightly and said, "Greetings, young master Ming."
"Sir Hong?" At this time, Ming Lanshi was already numb. He wasn't even surprised at seeing Fan Xian's trusted aide. He just didn't know what the other party wanted to say to him.
"My original name was Qing Wa. I was once one of the brothers on that island." Hong Changqing moved closer to Ming Lanshi's ear and coldly gritted teeth. "These worthless pieces of glass are my thanks to you on behalf of Brother Meng Zi, Sister Lan Hua, and the hundreds of brothers who died on the island. You haven't forgotten Sister Lan Hua, right? She was your favorite concubine…"
Hong Changqing finished speaking. His chest was filled with the joy of revenge. In a loud voice, he said, "Thanks!"
Amidst his roaring laughter, Hong Changqing left carelessly, leaving behind Ming Lanshi, whose face was the color of dirt and filled with shock. He looked with shock at his own hands as if he only just remembered that he had once used this pair of hands to end the life of a woman who was infatuated with him.
When the news got back to Ming Garden outside of Suzhou, Ming Qingda's right hand shook. The superior porcelain bowl held in his hands shattered onto the ground into countless pieces. However, he didn't care at all.
The crisp sound of the mirrors shattering into broken glass already numbed his heart to the pain. This old man suddenly felt that his heart was also like the porcelain bowl and those mirrors, shattered into countless pieces.
…
…
"A lawsuit? I'm not afraid. I would be even less afraid if it was before the Emperor. Who is he going to find to make the case for him?"
After hanging around in Yingzhou for half a month, Fan Xian waited until Wang Qinian arrived before finally climbing into the carriage and continuing toward Hangzhou.
The news from the Overwatch Council had long arrived. Fan Xian raised his brows. He found it funny and joyful. Although he stirred up trouble last year in Jiangnan, he was always gloomily obstructed by that old fox, Ming Qingda. At this moment, Jingdou was calm and he had his opponent in the palm of his hand. It was truly a very joyful thing.
He had only given a general direction. The specifics of it were left to the person carrying it out. He had not thought that Hong Changqing still hung onto the tragic scene on that island and refused to let the Ming family die quickly, instead insisting on using a slow knife to cut flesh.
"A slow knife to cut flesh and boiling a frog in warm water," Fan Xian said to Wang Qinian beside him. "Even I feel bad for the Ming family. Send the order down. The time has come. Tell the boys to stop playing and quickly wrap everything up."
Wang Qinian had stayed in the capital for almost a month just to watch the movements in the Palace. "In a few days, the Eldest Princess and Crown Prince won't have time to care about the life and death of the Ming family. We have to act before the Ming family realizes this. Right now is the best time."
Fan Xian nodded and said, "What we want is for them to think I won't come down hard. Right now, the Ming family is afraid that I will continue to wear them down. I want to catch them by surprise."
He suddenly smiled. Lifting the curtain at the front of the carriage, he watched the slowly retreating Jiangnan official road. Unable to contain the joy in his heart, he began to hum a tune.
As Wang Qinian listened to that weird sounding tune, he couldn't resist smiling and asking, "Sir, are you really this happy?"
Fan Xian laughed loudly and said, "After being suffocated for a year, I can finally let go and do things. It's difficult to not be happy."
…
…
As the imperial envoy's carriage headed toward Hangzhou at the slowest possible speed, the various people in Suzhou were all lost in their own thoughts. After Governor Xue Qing, who was all-powerful in Jiangnan, had received Fan Xian's personally written letter, he had sat in his study in a daze. His left and right advisors also knew the contents of the letter and were also in a daze.
They looked like three clay Bodhisattvas.
Xue Qing had left the capital early and traveled quickly. He arrived in Suzhou 25 days ago. He was very aware of the losses the Ming family had suffered recently, but he had thought that this was the Overwatch Council once again weakening the Ming family. He had not Fan Xian to be so confident in his letter. It seemed like he was preparing to finish everything in one stroke.
"What makes Fan Xian so confident? This isn't a fight."
It was clear that Xue Qing did not know of the collusion with the Zhaoshang money house. He was thinking deeply about where Fan Xian's confidence came from and why he was letting him know in the letter to have him be prepared.
"Since the imperial envoy has said so, then he must have a measure of certainty." The left advisor furrowed his brows and ventured an idea. "The problem now is, what should we do?"
Xue Qing sank deep into thought. If Fan Xian was truly able to bring down the Ming family, as a trusted aide to the Emperor who well knew his thoughts, he would cooperate fully. However, he also felt a slight fear of the royal power behind the Ming family. As long as the capital did not clearly lean a certain way, he would not act first.
"What if we…do the same as last year and just keep watching?" The right advisor thought for a long time and only managed to think of a way to smooth things over.
Xue Qing suddenly opened his eyes wide. Two streaks of light shot out. "Watch…of course, we have to keep watching, but we can't just watch. Fan Xian is only a Jiangnan Road imperial envoy. Even if had a way to chase away Ming Qingda publicly, he won't be able to secretly have the Overwatch Council take action. He has to look out for the feelings of the Jiangnan people."
The Jiangnan Governor finally said, "Move the provincial soldiers to keep an eye on Ming Garden and the Ming family's 1,000 private soldiers…if Fan Xian doesn't have a way, then we will keep watching. If Fan Xian succeeds, then we have to help him clean up these people!"
The right advisor said in a trembling voice, "Sir, moving troops and killing people…if those people in the Palace found out, it will cause big troubles."
Xue Qing waved Fan Xian's personally written secret letter that was in his hand and calmly said, "Since he dares to take action, then he must be certain of the situation in the capital. This young imperial envoy is not an idiot. He wrote a letter to inform me because he wants to share the credit with me. However, the Jiangnan Road yamen has not done anything this year. If we want some of the credit, then we have to do something."
Suddenly, a bout of urgent knocking came from outside the study. Xue Qing furrowed his brows. An advisor went forward to open the door. A lower-level official of the Jiangnan Road Yamen rushed in. Without time to bow, he directly reported to Xue Qing, "Governor, Sir, something has happened to the Ming family!"
Something happened to the Ming family?
Xue Qing was shocked and sighed quietly to himself that Fan Xian sure acted quickly. However, his expression remained calm. "Tell me the details."
The official swallowed and said, "In the morning, the palace treasury transport company yamen went to the Ming Garden and took a payment. The item was mirrors, I think."
Xue Qing knew the inside information about Fan Xian having someone shatter that batch of mirrors. He furrowed his brows slightly and couldn't help feeling a little heartsore about it. "What about it? The Ming family had signed a contract, naturally, they had to pay the silver."
These words clearly favored Fan Xian's side. When the court turned against merchants, they were always so shameless.
"What's important isn't the silver," The official glanced at the Governor and carefully said. "I heard…the Ming family's cash flow has had some problems. The money houses that are connected to the family have now all gone to the Ming Garden to demand repayment of debt!"
Repayment of debt?
Xue Qing suddenly stood up. The Ming family had been in Jiangnan continuously for a hundred years. There were not many who would dare go to the Ming Garden to demand a repayment. The Ming family had a lot of silver, and no money house wanted to offend that family. How…how had it suddenly changed today? Countless thoughts immediately spun thought Xue Qing's mind. Had Fan Xian messed with the Ming family for a year and had pushed the Ming family to the end of the line?
If the Ming family truly could not repay the money and were forced by the money houses to sell the business, the family would fall into chaos…this…Xue Qing's brows furrowed. He knew the Emperor's intentions. The Ming family must be controlled by the court but, the Ming family could not fall into chaos.
Once the Ming family went bankrupt, never mind the tens of thousands of people within the clan, what about the Jiangnan people who were closely bound up with them?
"Did Taiping money house go as well?"
"No."
"Send someone to keep a watch outside Ming Garden." After hearing that the Ming family's largest partner, Taiping money house, had not participated in this matter, Xue Qing's heart felt slightly more at ease. However, his expression remained dark and he ordered, "Tell those people, the court does not care about the disputes between the Ming family and the money houses, but the Ming family cannot fall!"
…
…
Like Xue Qing, Fan Xian also understood what the Emperor wanted. The Ming family had to be taken down and taken down as a whole. However, it could not be done in too ugly a fashion. The Ming family could not lose too much of their power, which would affect the stability of the rest of Jiangnan.
Thus, he would not watch as the Ming family fell. Ming Qingda could also not watch as the Ming family fell.. There was no intention of clearing the Ming family out with this forced repayment, he only wanted to obtain some significant benefits. The reason a number of money houses went to Ming Garden together to demand money was purely because Fan Xian still held onto a hope…that he would be able to hide the unseen owner of Zhaoshang money house.
…
…
In this world, the one who owes money always has more reason and confidence that the one who lent the money. Thus, the current Master of the Ming family, Ming Qingda, held a slightly warm bowl of tea and drank it slowly, barely bothering to raise his eyelids even though below him sat the representatives from various money house who, in name, were all his creditors.
The shopkeepers from the money houses did not have the sense of being debt collectors. They sat wretchedly in the chairs, only daring to place a third of their bottoms on the chair and occasionally raising their eyes to look at the Master of the Ming family with a glimmer of fear flashing through their eyes. They certainly didn't look like they were here to collect debt.
These shopkeepers of the money houses knew they were all little ants. The Master of the Ming family only had to move his finger to crush them to death and chase them out of Jiangnan. However, they had no choice but to come today because the problems the Ming family had suffered for a year had already made them worried. Additionally, someone had stirred up their hearts, so they were all gathered in the Ming family's guest meeting hall today.
They represented capital. Although it was not a lot of silver, it was still capital. The capital always loved itself best. The thing it could least endure was loss. Particularly in this month, everyone knew that the Overwatch Council's harassment of the Ming family had increased again. The Ming family repeatedly suffered losses. Recently, the batch of mirrors went to waste and now the palace treasury transport company had come to demand payment. This finally successfully crushed the defensive line in the hearts of these shopkeepers.
An old shopkeeper with an uncomfortable expression respectfully said, "Master Ming, the Ming family has been part of the Jiangnan commercial world for almost a hundred years, if someone said you could not repay the silver…no one would believe it. However, there are many rumors on the market. You can't fault us for asking you to give us a promise."
"A promise?" Ming Qingda furrowed his brows in disgust at these shameless locust-like creatures. Usually, even if they came on their knees, he wouldn't be bothered giving them a glance. Now, they dared to come and extract promises.
The Master of the Ming family did not care about these money house shopkeepers at all. No matter how difficult the Ming family's cash flow was, they still had sufficient silver to repay them. He only slightly slanted his gaze at the shopkeeper who had been sitting silently at the very back.
That was the head shopkeeper of the Zhaoshang money house with a handsome young man standing behind him. Not many people knew of the connection between Zhaoshang money house and the Ming family. Zhaoshang money house's reputation in Jiangnan was also not very bright, so he sat at the very back. Ming Qingda had an unlucky premonition. What was Zhaoshang money house doing here today?
He had no more interest in talking more with these shopkeepers and lifted his tea bowl to send off the guests. At the same time, he coldly had these people go to the account house to clear off all the debts. It was a total of a 100,000 liang or so of debt. The Ming family could not suffer such humiliation.
After the shopkeepers felt overjoyed, they were greatly shocked. First, the money was finally in their hands, though they had lost some interest. What was shocking was seeing the wealth of the Ming family. Was there something wrong with the news they had received?
…
…
All of the shopkeepers had already left. Ming Qingda tilted his head and looked at the unmoving shopkeeper with interest. In a quiet voice, he said, "I know they were all here on your urging."
The head shopkeeper of Zhaoshang money house smiled warmly and did not deny this.
Ming Qingda furrowed his brows slightly and said, "Speak, what do you want?"
They were both foxes who had risen and fallen for countless years in the commercial world. Looking at this year of cooperation with Zhaoshang money house, Ming Qingda was sure that this unknown head shopkeeper of the money house had once been a ruthless figure. Now that all the annoying little ants had left, the two of them spoke much more straightforwardly.
Ming Qingda knew exactly how much silver the Ming family had borrowed from Zhaoshang money house. If Zhaoshang money house had joined in the demands for repayment earlier, the Ming family could only go and sell land and property. Even if they managed to make it through this time, the family's foundations would have been damaged. However, since the other party had stayed silent, until now, then they did not want to laugh at the Ming family. There must have been something else they wanted.
Given the receipts in the hands of Zhaoshang money house, they indeed had the right to ask for something from the Ming family.
The head shopkeeper smiled slightly and said, "Master Ming, the owner wants…to work with you."
Work together? Ming Qingda's eyes narrowed. A cold light shone out and was immediately restrained. What kind of partnership could there be between a money house and a merchant? He closed his eyes and thought deeply for a moment then quietly said, "No."
Although the word "no" was quiet, it was powerful and resonating, leaving no room for doubt.
The head shopkeeper seemed not to have expected for the Ming family to reject it so straightforwardly. Recovering from his surprise, he continued to smile and said, "Even if it's no…it has to be yes."
Ming Qingda opened his eyes wide and stared at the shopkeeper with pity and disdain. His cold voice seeped through the spaces between his teeth, "Are you…threatening me?"
"I dare not," The shopkeeper of the money house said warmly, "It is only a request."
Ming Qingda once again sank deep into thought. He didn't ask what the other party was going to threaten him with. In this year, he had borrowed a significant amount of silver from Zhaoshang money house. It was enough for the other party to have some confidence in what they said.
The head shopkeeper said, steadily, "Business is business. You understand the current situation. If my money house used our receipts to demand repayment, the Ming family's cash flow would immediately break. What would you use for the follow-up payments to the palace treasury? Sir Fan junior is waiting for you to run out of silver…then he can halt your right to sell to the East. Although the Ming family is wealthy and powerful…it cannot lose its status as a royal merchant, and it cannot do without the silver flowing out of the palace treasury."
Ming Qingda fell silent. He knew that the other person had hit on his weakness. Right now, the biggest problem facing the Ming family was that their cash flow looked to be drying up.
"It's written clearly on the lending contract. Until the time arrives, you won't get a single liang back." Even now, Ming Qingda still did not panic at all because he had sufficient confidence.
Unexpectedly, the head shopkeeper of Zhaoshang money house smiled slightly and said, "Who says I can't take it back? It's written in the contract that if the money house is willing to sell the debt at a discount, then you must return the silver within five days. Even if you take this case to Jingdou, I will still win and you will still have to return the silver."
"Discount price!" Ming Qingda spoke up abruptly as an expression of disbelief appeared on his tired face. He lowered his voice and reprimanded in a dark voice, "You're crazy! You'll lose 30 percent!"
The head shopkeeper's expression did not change, "If we really cannot work together…even if we have to lose 30 percent, the money house will still ask you to return the silver early."
Ming Qingda stared at him coldly as if determining whether or not the other person was a lunatic. He slightly relaxed his tone and said, "If you really do this, then the Ming family will just sell some land. We will still be able to repay you. However, your money house will suffer a large loss…"
"This precisely proves our determination and sincerity." The head shopkeeper smiled warmly. "The owner has long been in the money house business but is greatly interested in the country's trade. He is a man with wild ambitions and wants to work with a towering figure such as you, thus please give him this face."
Ming Qingda slowly sat down. He finally understood. The owner of Zhaoshang money house had planned, a year ago, to use the matter of lending money to enter into the Ming family's business. This plan was very far thinking
"Who is the owner?"
"The day the contract is signed, the owner will definitely come personally to thank you."
"What if I really don't want to?" Ming Qingda had already recovered his calm and lightly asked. "Even there is a lawsuit, the Ming family will go all the way. However, for the silver, it can always be dragged out for a year or so."
"Can you really drag it out?" The head shopkeeper smiled warmly. "A case before the Emperor was only a joke. Following the first three articles of the Qing Law that governs people's welfares, you should know that lawsuit concerning lending among the people can, at most, reach the Jiangnan Road yamen…it could only reach Sir Xue Qing. Are you sure you want to do this?"
Of course, Ming Qingda did not want to do this. The court had already looked at his family hungrily for a whole year. If they ran into such a lawsuit, they would certainly think of a way to trap them.
He had not expected for Zhaoshang money house to have already calculated all the other options and grasped the fight between the Qing court and the merchants so well. Ming Qingda's finger shook slightly. He stared at the head shopkeeper. His tired heart roared out, "This is a conspiracy!"
After a long bout of silence, Ming Qingda tiredly said, "How does the owner want to work with me?"
"Debt to balance out the silver, turning it into shares," the head shopkeeper said efficiently.
Chapter 489: The Major Figures
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Winter had passed, but spring had yet to arrive. The previous night, a gust of chilling wind blew through and immediately froze the tender new growths outside Ming Garden walls to death, covered in an unlucky pale white.
Ming Qingda slightly closed his eyes.
He had long guessed that the other party would propose this. Furthermore, if he put aside the humiliation of his family having been manipulated, if Zhaoshang money house's owner actually owned a share of the Ming family and the two sides joined together, the funding would immediately become abundant. In the future, their growth would be unlimited…to the point they wouldn't even care about Dongyi and Taiping money house's attitude.
Ming Qingda's emotions calmed. After considering for a while, he said, "How much do you want?"
"Thirty percent." The head shopkeeper let out a breath and lifted his face in a warm smile. "Thirty percent of all of it with the government writing the contract, an irrevocable title deed."
Ming Qingda had just felt a little better and now immediately sank into boundless anger and mockery. He gazed at the head shopkeeper disdainfully and said, "Thirty percent? Has the owner never seen the world? A mere 4 million liang…yet you want 30 percent of the Ming family?"
"You misunderstand," The old shopkeeper respectfully said, "Thirty percent of all of it refers to the Ming family's shares. The total does not include the shares owned by nobles in the court. Although the owner has wild ambitions, he doesn't have such a large appetite and daring."
Ming Qingda laughed coldly. The Eldest Princess and the Qing family had a large number of shares in his family. If they had said the 30 percent included the amount of these shares, that would have been great. He could then just watch how they died, in the future. However, even the 30 percent of the rest was a very outrageous amount.
"It's not worth this much," he said coldly, preparing to send away the guest.
The head shopkeeper smiled and said, "The Ming family is the richest in the world. You control not just the lives of people in Jiangnan, but also have tens of thousands of acres of land and countless properties. Of course, a mere 4 million liang was not worth this amount…however, times change. Cash is not the same as property. Even though they are both worth one liang of silver, at different times, they have different values."
He continued, "In the past, these 4 million liang of silver would only be the Ming family's cash income for a year. Naturally, it could not be worth 30 percent of the shares. However, right now the Ming family lacks cash flow and desperately needs cash to survive. After the owner has the shares, they will provide a great deal of financial support. This 4 million liang now represents a more important value. It is not greedy to exchange it for 30 percent of the Ming's family shares. You are a clever man, so you know that the price the owner has given is already very fair."
Ming Qingda was silent for a moment. He knew that what the other person said was true.
"This is a big matter. Although I am the head of the clan, I cannot decide alone. I need to think about it a bit more." He raised his teacup. The head shopkeeper of Zhaoshang money house. The young man behind him said their goodbyes and then left.
Ming Lanshi walked out from the side. He looked at his father and said anxiously, "Father, you can't give it to them." Following this, he continued angrily. "Only now do we know that this Zhaoshang money house is shady as f*ck! To think that they've been plotting for our property since a year ago."
Ming Qingda glanced at his son and shook his head unhappily. He did not approve of his words and said, "Business is business. In this year, if we didn't have the support of Zhaoshang money house, our lives would be even more difficult. The 4 million liang loan, in addition, to cash flow support in exchange for 30 percent shares is actually, as they said, a very fair price."
"But…"
Ming Qingda waved his hands tiredly. During the negotiations with Zhaoshang money house, he had appeared confident, but he was actually backing up step by step to the point that he developed doubt in himself. After a year of being repeatedly beaten by the Overwatch Council, did he no longer have enough confidence? Did he lose some boldness after kneeling to Fan Xian once and having made countless bitter retreats? Was he used to being led by the nose by someone else?
But…he was the Master of the Ming family!
Ming Qingda slowly said, "Business is business, but since Zhaoshang money house is using underhand tricks…why should we pretend our hands are clean?"
Ming Lanshi felt cold sweat pour down his back and he hesitantly said, "Father, once the matter fails, it'll be a death sentence for the clan."
Ming Qing laughed coldly. "With the protection of the Eldest Princess, even Fan Xian wouldn't dare to act rashly…a mere Zhaoshang money house, who did they think they are?"
"But Zhaoshang money house must have accounts in their main branch in Dongyi." Ming Lanshi looked at his father and suddenly felt a chill. He felt that his usually wise father was now gradually becoming stupid and angry.
"We can't care about that!" A glimmer of malevolence flashed through Ming Qingda's calm and clever eyes. He coldly said, "Who can be bothered to acknowledge Dongyi people asking the Qing Kingdom for money?"
"What if we…what if we…" Ming Lanshi stuttered, "sell land and houses? Although this is a lot of silver, we can still afford to return it."
Ming Qingda said darkly, "If you can think of it, do you think they haven't thought of it? The court strictly prohibits the private sale of land. If it was a small clan it could be done. If we sold this much land, how could it not alert the government? All the paperwork would take at least a year…Zhaoshang money house is willing to take a 30 percent loss to have us pay the debt early. Why is that? Of course, it's to force us to split our shares."
The old master's heart suddenly sank. He remembered that the court's strict law against selling land had been one of the new policies forcefully pushed forward by the mistress of the Ye family back in the day.
Ming Lanshi left with his face the color of dirt. He guessed what his father would do but didn't know how his father would do it. He only knew that his father had finally lost his reason under the storms the family had experienced and the pressure of this year. Although he still managed with difficulty to maintain a glimmer of clarity and felt that it was better to work with Zhaoshang money house, because of the matter he had long kept secret, he also didn't dare open his mouth to persuade his father of anything.
…
…
That night, there was suddenly a scratching sound on the paved streets in Suzhou. It sounded like an old mouse that had been trapped in his hole all winter and suddenly smelled the fragrance of a delicious dessert, and used the protection of the night to sneak out.
However, there were only three mice. Three aces wearing black night-walking clothing. They easily broke through Zhaoshang money house's defenses and directly went into the back hall.
The defenses around the money house had always been very strict. In addition, the identity of the person behind Zhaoshang money house had secretly invited a number of jianghu aces. However, the defensive abilities of these guards could not stop the lighting strike attacks of the three night-walkers. From this, one could see the superior power and capability of these three.
The scariest thing were the long swords in the attackers' hands. The sword seemed to be sealed with some kind of magic power. The sword swung through the air without sound. It went out and never returned. It pierced with the anger of heaven, and its imposing atmosphere always pushed forward and never turned back. In a moment, they had left a dozen bodies in the stall of the money house and the ground covered in fresh blood.
No one had the time to give a wretched cry for help.
However, these three very powerful swordsmen found a very large obstacle in the money house's back garden.
They had clearly seen the box of lending receipts the head shopkeeper of Zhaoshang money house had held tightly to his chest. However, they were unable to pierce the other person's throat with the tip of their swords.
Even the leader, who was an extraordinary ace, was unable to do it.
Since his superior mountain splitting and river parting green sword was in his hand, it was enveloped by a green banner that seemed weak but actually contained boundless power.
With three rasps, the swordsmen drew back the swords and raised their hands, bowing to the young man holding the green banner.
The martial arts had their own honor. Having carried out an assassination to this stage, it had become a contest of skill.
The green banner had already been shredded into countless pieces by the brilliant and steady sword intent. The words "Tie Xiang" written on it had also become little black dots on the shredded cloth. The young man, who once went by Tie Xiang and now went by Thirteenth Wang, held the bare banner pole in his hands and looked at the black-clothed man with the air of a master and a green sword in his hand. He slowly lowered his head to return the bow.
"You first."
The black-clothed man took off the scarf covering his face. His expression was severe. His three-forked beard floated lightly in the breeze. He lifted his sword cautiously and channeled all of his focus into the sword and gently raised his lips to speak.
Even given Thirteenth Wang's fearless attitude and careless personality, even he couldn't help but be moved when he abruptly saw this person's face.
If Fan Xian were here, once he saw the black-clothed man's face clearly, he would probably also immediately turn and leave. Not staying a moment longer.
Yun Zhilan, the lead disciple of Dongyi's Sigu Jian. The superior ninth-level sword master Yun Zhilan.
Thirteenth Wang's right hand held the banner pole tightly. His pupils constricted slightly. He was very nervous.
The two night-walkers who had followed Yun Zhilan into Zhaoshang money house were aces from Dongyi. They saw Yun Zhilan lift his sword in preparation to fight face-to-face, so they respectfully retreated to one side. In their hearts, although the young man holding the banner pole had deep cultivation, as long as he wasn't a Great Grandmaster or someone weird like the Qing Kingdom's Fan Xian, then they would certainly be unable to stand against one of Yun Zhilan's attacks.
Thirteenth Wang stared at him in a daze and suddenly said, "Have you…recovered?"
Yun Zhilan furrowed his brows and slowly said, "You know me?'
Last spring, Yun Zhilan had traveled to Jiangnan alone. One reason was that he wanted to secretly watch his female disciples train but, most importantly, his goal was to watch for an opportunity to assassinate the Jiangnan Road imperial envoy, Fan Xian. However, the ending of the matter was a bit bitter. The swordmaster of a generation only sat on a fishing boat and glanced at Fan Xian from a distance before falling into the Overwatch Council's trap.
Until today, Yun Zhilan still remembered that streak of sword light that had mysteriously appeared from the water. He was secretly chilled because that mysterious attack had given him his heaviest injury since the start of his career. News of his injury had also been strictly controlled. Presumably, Qing court also didn't want to stir up a diplomatic crisis. When Thirteenth Wang asked him if he had recovered, Yun Zhilan was shocked.
Thirteenth Wang smiled a little helplessly and said, "You are the sword master of a generation, so how could you be a thief for someone?"
Yun Zhilan smiled and said, "Are you not the same?"
"Even if you kill everyone in Zhaoshang money house and burned all of these deeds, it still cannot help the Ming family," Thirteenth Wang sighed and said. "All that is left here are copies. The originals are not in Suzhou."
"If the originals are in Dongyi, they should be gone by tomorrow," Yun Zhilan said slowly. "I don't know what side you serve, but the Ming family is too important to Dongyi. I ask that you don't obstruct me."
Thirteenth Wang said, "It's already over for Ming Qingda."
Before he even finished talking, the black-clothed figure who had been waiting quietly by Yun Zhilan's side opened their mouth and said, "Teacher, this person is stalling for time."
Thirteenth Wang was slightly startled. He realized that the black-clothed figure was actually a female. Her voice was particularly sharp and clear. He couldn't help but tilting his head and smiling, "Sisi came too?"
The black-clothed figure's body froze. Yun Zhilan also looked curiously at Thirteenth Wang. He sighed and said, "I never expected that you would be so familiar with my students…it is truly very curious. However, it is a pity there is not much time left. People from the Suzhou government are about to arrive."
He slowly raised the sword in his hand. The point of the sword trembled slightly. He waveringly pointed it at Thirteenth Wang's throat.
"You won't kill me." Thirteenth Wang said.
"Why not?"
"Because…"
Thirteenth Wang's expression suddenly became stern. He took half a step back with his left leg and suddenly swung down with the pole of the green banner. His left hand went behind his back to hold the tail end while his right hand pushed down. The tip of the pole went downward with great strength.
The sound of it breaking through the air rang out and drew a line in the air.
What powerful sword intent!
Yun Zhilan's pupils constricted slightly. He slowly asked, "Who exactly is the owner of Zhaoshang money house?"
Thirteenth Wang hesitated for a while and then slowly took back the green banner and opened his mouth to silently mouth the words.
The astonishment on Yun Zhilan's face appeared and then was immediately hidden. He laughed helplessly. Without another word, he turned and led his two female disciples to leave the back garden. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly turned around and said, "Brother, be careful. Fan Xian is more sinister than you can imagine."
Thirteenth Wang forced a smile and said, "Brother, if you tell Ming Qingda, I trust I will definitely have the opportunity to see how Fan Xian will slowly trap me to death."
Yun Zhilan didn't turn his head. His shoulders were as steady as cast-iron. He was silent for a moment and then said, "I don't understand…he used such a large gambit to test how loyal you are to him."
"I also don't understand," Thirteenth Wang said slowly. "Perhaps he is confident that even if I betrayed him, he has a way to end the Ming family. He just wants me to manage this matter and check my attitude along the way."
Yun Zhilan said, "What exactly does teacher intend? Is the Ming family more important or Fan Xian's trust in you? I need to know to be able to decide what to do."
"Sir Fan junior's trust is the most important," Thirteenth Wang said sincerely. "Even if I joined alliances with you and told Ming Qingda the truth of the matter and helped the Ming family get through this difficulty, what about next time? In the end, the palace treasury belongs to Sir Fan junior. Teacher does not object to forming some kind of friendship with foreign friends."
"Then you shouldn't have told me earlier," Yun Zhilan said slowly.
Thirteenth Wang glanced at the head shopkeeper behind him clutching the documents with a wary expression on his face and a smile. "Even if I didn't tell you, no one knows whether or not I would tell you in secret. It is better to tell you in person."
"Looks like nothing will happen in Dongyi." Yun Zhilan sighed. He wasn't sighing because of his wasted trip. Rather, he was sighing in admiration of his teacher's cleverness that was hidden beneath that idiotic appearance. It was not until today that he learned that the mysterious little brother disciple had been following and working for Fan Xian the entire time after learning the Hut.
"Yes," Thirteenth Wang lowered his head and said. "Presently, I am attacking, so I will have to ask you to temporarily retreat. Please maintain your silence."
"I can retreat, but why must I stay silent?" Yun Zhilan asked calmly.
Thirteenth Wang took out a small jade token from inside his clothes and showed it to him. Yun Zhilan looked at this jade token and immediately sighed, he shook his head with a smile and said, "Everyone in the school knew that you don't have a sword token, who would have thought that the teacher had given you this one."
…
…
In this world, all the people and all the factions were sitting on the fence while the Dongyi faction was, without question, a towering tree. If it fell in any direction, it could produce difficult to predict results and be unable to float back again.
Thus, Sigu Jian could not fall because his sword needed to protect Dongyi. He had to completely understand the situation in Qing Kingdom before making a decision. In other words, only if there was a sufficiently powerful allure of making a fatal strike would he take action.
Because of Fan Xian's abrupt rise, he had to demonstrate sufficient sincerity on his side. Part of that was Thirteenth Wang. He also maintained some interest in the Eldest Princess' side, for example, Yun Zhilan.
Only in this way could he obtain equal benefits regardless of which internal faction of Qing Kingdom was victorious in the future.
This was what it was to grasp with both hands. Both hands had to be firm.
The sudden attack on Zhaoshang money house had made Sigu Jian's two hands come together and begin to share their strength. This situation might be one that even this Great Grandmaster had not thought of.
Fan Xian had struck first, so Yun Zhilan had no choice but to retreat. But, he didn't have to stay silent. He could tell the truth to Ming Qingda and have him reject bringing Zhaoshang money house into the business. When he saw his teacher's sword token, he understood that, in the current situation, the Great Grandmaster was leaning toward the other side.
…
…
Zhaoshang money house was completely silent. The smell of blood faintly came through from the front of the yard.
The head shopkeeper of the money house, who had been wary earlier, had now recovered his calm and warm expression. He bowed formally to dazed Thirteenth Wang with the green banner in his hand and respectfully said, "Congratulations, Sir Thirteen, on passing the test."
Thirteenth Wang tilted his head in a daze and sighed a moment later. "People's hearts are truly very complicated. Teacher and Fan Xian are truly…two very interesting people."
…
…
Ming Qingda once again habitually directed his gaze toward the trees outside Ming Garden's high walls and felt a chill in his heart. He thought, Winter was clearly already over and the spring winds washed over his face, so how could the new tender growth from a few days ago have suddenly frozen to death?
He knew that the situation in front of him and his clan was as harsh as winter. The Ming family had a foundation of a century. It should have been difficult to be manipulated and crushed by others. However, ever since they had become royal merchants for the palace treasury, the Ming family had earned more but had also sunk deeper. Now, it was impossible to extricate themselves. Gradually, they became an arena for various powers in court to test themselves.
No matter how powerful a merchant was, how could it stand against the manipulations of the court? Regardless of whether it was the suppression this year, the price control a few months ago, or that vicious to the point of shameless incident with the rocks hitting the mirrors…the Ming family had paid out too much blood and sweat and lost too much power. The entire family business was becoming more and more difficult to run.
If he was able to extricate himself, the Ming family would still be able to remain.
However, he was unable to extricate himself, so he had to solve the problem. The most urgent problem in front of the Ming family was that their cash flow was not fluid enough. There was a desperate lack of cash. To solve this problem, they needed external support. Taiping money house was, after all, not a bottomless hole and would not be able to forever support the Ming family. Apparently, there were already objects in Dongyi. While that damned Zhaoshang money house…
Ming Qingda furrowed his brows and coughed. He coughed until there was a sudden piercing pain in his chest.
If Zhaoshang money house had not wanted 30 percent of the Ming family's shares and didn't have sufficient leverage in their hands, then Ming Qingda would not have made such an unwise reaction. He was even willing to work even closer with Zhaoshang money house. After the Ming family had survived this storm, they could join their hands together and earn all the money in the world.
But…they wanted his property, which touched on Ming Qingda's bottom line. This was the family property he had murdered his mother, knelt down, and suffered humiliation to get. How could he offer it up for just 4 million liang of silver?
Right now, the Ming family actually could not bring out enough silver to repay the 4 million. Even if Zhaoshang money house sold the debt at a discount, Ming Qingda still could not bring out almost 3 million liang of silver.
He coughed harder until a faint disappointment and surrender flashed through his eyes.
Yun Zhilan once again took his people and left. The last time this great sword master had been hurt by a subordinate of the Overwatch Council. This time, he was leaving freely. The difference between the two made Ming Qingda sense a great danger. Although many people died in Zhaoshang money house that night, he did not manage to obtain the accounts book or receipts. There was also no news about the mission in Dongyi. On the contrary, the Jiangnan Road yamen had taken this opportunity to take over Zhaoshang money house's murder case and stationed a heavy guard around it.
At the same time, all of the Ming family's private soldiers were closely watched by Governor Xue Qing's provincial guards.
Ming Qingda knew that he could no longer use lightning tactics. Now that he was being watched by the court, he could only think of commercial solutions. To resolve the Ming family's present danger, he could only choose to lower his head.
He said, tiredly, to the concubine beside him, "Go invite someone from Zhaoshang money house over…go personally and have a good attitude."