Chapter 1344: Xiao An

How many nobles can participate in this, actively making money?

Why are the mandatory projects on a city wall increasing? They look useful but are actually flashy and insubstantial. The two of us, having been in officialdom, know how this works, and we can't help but chuckle, understanding each other without words.

"Ah, I went off-topic." Fan Shuang took a sip of wine, then the conversation drifted back, "But I estimate Huang Shen also needs to rush back to the country recently; his family has encountered a major incident."

"What happened?"

"His father is the acting governor of Shuicheng in Ducheng of our Yao State. Four months ago, he was investigated for dereliction of duty and bribery, convicted, and beheaded five days later."

He Lingchuan exclaimed in surprise: "Only five days? That's too fast, isn't it?"

Fan Shuang sighed deeply: "Indeed, there's no precedent for such speed."

"Why such urgency? Is it related to some major case?"

"No, it's not." Fan Shuang suddenly came to her senses, thinking why she said that, and quickly steered the topic back, "In any case, Huang Shen should have received the bad news and is probably on his way back to the country now."

He Lingchuan didn't press further and casually said: "I heard your state's ruler's grand birthday is approaching?"

"Yes, in a month, it will be our sovereign's fifty-ninth birthday! At that time, the entire country will surely celebrate." Fan Shuang smiled, "He Lingchuan, if you come to attend the ceremony, our king will certainly welcome you."

Local custom holds that celebrations for ages ending in ten should be prepared a year in advance. Therefore, the Yao King's fifty-ninth birthday is equivalent to a sixtieth grand birthday and will be held with great grandeur.

He Lingchuan repeatedly shook his head: "I will prepare a gift; by then, please have Fan Shuang present it on my behalf."

He is not going, and Fan Shuang certainly cannot force him.

This meal ended with host and guest thoroughly pleased, and Fan Shuang returned happily.

This trip to Ju City was fruitful; upon returning, I can submit several important pieces of information, all of which will count toward his merits.

He Lingchuan strolled along the riverbank back to Yangshan Chamber of Commerce, with a gentle breeze blowing all the way.

The Soul-Capturing Mirror asked him: "Are you trying to use Shuangye State Preceptor's tiger skin as a banner to bluff Yao State and Qingyang?"

"Mm-hmm. Giving myself two more chips." He Lingchuan clearly understood that, given Yangshan's current scale and influence, Yao State actually doesn't take him seriously. He needs to weigh himself down with one or two weights to appear more substantial.

The mirror chuckled: "Being able to strike Qingyang, this old rival, Shuangye State Preceptor should not mind, but rather be pleased, right?"

"You're wrong. You're also underestimating Shuangye State Preceptor too much."

"Ah?" The mirror objected, "Where am I wrong?"

"Shuangye and Qingyang have been old rivals for years; when both were in power, they hated each other so much they wanted to choke each other to death." He Lingchuan explained, "Now Shuangye has won and even forced Qingyang to flee far away. If there were no personal grudge between them, this struggle would already be over."

"There's an old saying: 'Spare where you can, and spare.' Shuangye, as an old hand in officialdom, should best understand its essence." He continued, "Qingyang has already lost power; if he still wants to pursue and attack fiercely, he's actually seeking trouble for himself."

The mirror seemed to half-understand: "So, you're causing trouble for Shuangye, is that it?"

"Yes." He Lingchuan smiled, "When he receives the news, he'll probably not be too pleased. But I never mentioned his name at all; it's all the Yao people filling in the blanks themselves."

He originally did something even more outrageous, yet Shuangye didn't react. This time, what is it? Returning to Yangshan Chamber of Commerce, it's rare that Dong Rui is also present, and He Lingchuan inquired about Wanqi Feng's whereabouts.

That fellow has been missing for two days.

He asked casually, but upon seeing him, Wanqi Liang instinctively straightened his back: "The clan leader went out to gather targets; it seems he has already arrived near Liuxian County's suburbs and the Green Intent Mountain Villa."

He is a member of the Black Armor Army; the so-called targets are, of course, the next object the Black Armor leader wants to deal with! Wanqi Liang clearly remembers how violent and fierce the lord became after putting on the Jinglong Battle Armor. Although He Lingchuan now wears ordinary clothes, Wanqi Liang still feels no less reverence toward him.

"How is your waist injury?"

"Just a minor injury; I can move!" Even the lord remembered where he was wounded.

He Lingchuan glanced at him; this young man stood at attention upon seeing him, as if a bit nervous—was it because he was frightened by Dong Rui's corpse puppet last time? "Well, Green Cloud Mountain Villa is not far from Liuxian County of Yi State; notify Wanqi Feng, we'll meet in Liuxian County."

"Yes." Wanqi Liang said nothing more, turned, and went to attend to it.

"Liuxian County?" Dong Rui was startled before recalling, "Are you referring to Old Fu's task?"

Earlier, when He Lingchuan just mentioned this matter, he was interrupted by Fan Shuang's visit.

"Fu Liushan originally wanted to go, but he's recently busy with two manuscripts, needing to submit them to the troupe for rehearsal in three days, to be performed five days later; he simply can't free himself, so he asked me for help and also told me this task is more suitable for the Nine Abysses..." He Lingchuan struggled to utter this term, "... Great Emperor, rather than Heavenly Master."

Fu Liushan's original words were: "If you're willing to act, I'll feel relieved."

Killing dozens of people at once, whether the perpetrator is a demon or a ghost, is quite fierce and vicious.

He Lingchuan and Dong Rui's abilities, he has witnessed firsthand. Moreover, haven't these two people started their work of eliminating violence and ensuring peace? Dong Rui laughed uncontrollably.

He Lingchuan thought for a moment, then sought out Jiang Lishui: "Do we currently have contacts with several chambers of commerce in Yao State?"

"Six."

"I have an old friend named Huang Shen, who has just rushed back from Lingxu City to Yao Ducheng. His father is the acting governor of Shuicheng; a few months ago, he was dismissed and beheaded, seemingly with some hidden circumstances. You send people to inquire about his father's situation before and after his downfall."

"Yes."

￥￥￥￥￥

Thirty li west of Liuxian County, a mule cart drives toward Green Cloud Mountain Villa.

On the cart seat, the human trafficker is dozing off, while two little girls sit opposite each other, both curiously scrutinizing each other.

Among them, the eleven or twelve-year-old girl spoke up: "My name is Tingting, Han Tingting. What's your name?"

The coarse cloth clothing on her body has been washed faded, doesn't fit well, and has three or four patches, but these cannot conceal her nascent clear and lovely features.

The girl sitting opposite her is only five or six years old, like a lovely porcelain doll, with eyes large and round, black and white distinctly separated.

She hugged her knees, resting her chin on them, silent.

Tingting noticed her socks were already torn, exposing two toes.

"Take off your socks; I'll help you mend them."

She urged twice before the little girl took off her socks and handed them to her.

Tingting took them and looked: "These socks are too big, not snug on the feet?" Bigger than her feet.

"They were given by Aunt Wu."

Tingting naturally didn't know who Aunt Wu was; she glanced at the human trafficker nearby: "What's your name?"

This time the little girl answered: "Xiao An."

"How did you end up on this cart? Were you also sold by your family?"

Xiao An shook her head: "I fell asleep by the roadside, woke up in the cart, and then different people came to look at me. Later, I was brought here, and then I saw you."

These few words took Tingting a long time to digest before she barely understood: "You were picked out by them?"

Not sold, but directly picked out?

Xiao An blinked, as if she didn't understand.

"What about your family? Your parents?"

"My father is terrifying, I don't want to be with him." Xiao An showed a gloomy expression, "My mother is gone, she passed away just a few days ago."

Han Tingting sighed: "You're also pitiful. Don't be afraid, I'll help you from now on."

Xiao An tilted her head to look at her: "Where are we going, and why are you on the cart?"

"Lüyi Mountain Villa, we were sold to Lüyi Mountain Villa as maidservants." Han Tingting mended socks while speaking to her, "My family is truly too poor; my parents sold my sister for only ten jin of coarse grain, which was eaten up in a few days. My mother came weeping to beg me, so I agreed. Anyway, even if I stayed at home, I would eventually starve to death."

She smiled at Xiao An: "The human trafficker told my mother that Lüyi Mountain Villa bought me not to be a rough maid, but to be the young master's personal attendant, with food and lodging, and a monthly wage of five qian of silver."

Xiao An didn't understand: "What is a personal attendant?"

"I heard it means serving the young masters with food, clothing, and fetching things, waiting on their orders."

The human trafficker also woke up, speaking unhappily to the two girls: "What's all the noise? Still not sleeping?"

Tingting hurriedly asked him: "How many young masters are there at Lüyi Mountain Villa?"

"Two."

"Which one will I serve?"

The trafficker glanced at her two eyes: "Probably the second young master."

"Is he kind?"

"Yes." The trafficker smiled, "The second young master of Lüyi Mountain Villa dotes most on girls like you."

His smile made Xiao An feel a wave of malice, but Tingting was very happy and even pointed at Xiao An: "Then where will she go? Can she be with me?"

"That's Lüyi Mountain Villa's arrangement; how could I interfere?"

With the creaking of wheels, the donkey cart finally entered Lüyi Mountain Villa. Behind it was the mountain path, making the stone-carved gate tower look like a giant beast opening its huge mouth.

Tingting leaned by the window, exclaiming in admiration: "Wow, I've never seen such a magnificent gate tower."

"Is it that big?" Xiao An blinked, "The place I lived also had a gate tower, bigger and more beautiful than this, with three colors: red, white, and black."

"Ah, then you are a young lady from a wealthy family?" Tingting looked at the trafficker, Xiao An was abducted and sold?

"What does wealthy mean?"

"It means having money at home, being able to eat many delicious things, wear beautiful clothes, and have many people to serve you."

Xiao An thought for a moment: "Then yes, my family has all that."

The trafficker sank his face: "We've arrived, stop chattering!"

The donkey cart stopped behind the firewood shed, someone came forward to meet them, and the trafficker bowed his waist: "Manager Zou, I've brought these two little ones to you!"

Manager Zou looked at the two girls on the cart: "Dirty, but not bad-looking. Are you sure they're not from around here?"

"No." The trafficker pointed at Tingting, "This one is from the county, and this little one was picked up from the roadside of Chen Family Village, far from this place."

Only then did Manager Zou hand him several taels of silver, and said to the girls: "Come down now."

The two girls got off the cart, the trafficker also received his money, then sat on the donkey cart and left.

After sending him away, Manager Zou said to the two: "Follow me. You two are too smelly, you need to wash properly, or the young master will blame me again."

(End of chapter)