Chapter 364

"Impossible. If the Great Ming authorities detained someone, they would notify the Ministry of Rites and me as well, yet there is absolutely no news, not a single word!"

"Could it be delayed by some other matter?"

Cui Linyu felt restless inside at this moment, pacing back and forth several times.

Finally, unable to hold back, he gave an order: "Go out again and investigate what exactly is happening. According to the schedule, they should have returned by now. If they encountered any trouble, come back and tell me first!"

"Yes!"

Cui Jiahui, who had been assigned to go out, quickly agreed.

He was a distant relative of Cui Linyu, bound to him in a relationship where they would either prosper together or perish together.

He could be called Cui Linyu's confidant, so he listened very closely to Cui Linyu's words.

After going out, he immediately sought out a tea stall to inquire about the situation.

Generally, places where news is most accessible, or where information is concentrated and easy to gather, are establishments like tea stalls and gambling dens.

And the fastest, most convenient place is the tea stall.

Cui Jiahui chose just such a location.

There were people at two tables in the tea stall, and the people at one of the tables were discussing exciting news.

This included matters concerning Yi Hong Lou, Zui Xian Lou, and the Tongyue Fur Shop.

"Hey, tell me, isn't the Gao Li envoy being too arrogant? They've only been here for half a month, and today they've already started causing all sorts of trouble."

"Yes, I heard they are being unreasonable, like a shrew, with a chattering mouth; they deserve to be taken by the authorities!"

"Oh, don't call them Gao Li anymore; they changed their name to the Chosun Dynasty long ago. Call them Chosun people. They came to the capital supposedly to pay tribute."

"Maybe they are poor again and want rewards?"

Cui Jiahui sat at a position not far from that table.

He tilted his ear to listen to their words; his face turned red, then green, then black, shifting through several colors.

After listening roughly, he dared not delay, quickly stood up, and paid for the tea.

He hurriedly rushed back to the guest house.

"My Lord Deputy Envoy, your subordinate has returned!"

Upon Cui Jiahui's return, Cui Linyu impatiently asked him: "How was it? Did you find out anything?"

"I found out. It seems Pu Qi'en and the others were causing trouble and were caught by the authorities; it is said they will be imprisoned for a while."

Cui Linyu did not expect they were actually imprisoned; his expression became somewhat unpleasant. "That's not right. Their status is that of envoys; how could they be arrested so decisively? Where are the officials of the Great Ming Ministry of Rites? Why was I not notified?"

"My Lord Deputy Envoy, what should we do?"

Originally, their group was not large; including Cui Linyu, there were only eight people.

Of course, there was also a group of Chosun people secretly infiltrated within the capital.

They were also under the command of Chosun General Li Kangcheng.

People in the shadows would not reveal themselves unless absolutely necessary.

Their responsibilities were also different; they only handled dark matters.

Only Cui Linyu knew about them.

The other envoys knew nothing about them.

After hesitating for a moment inside the guest house, Cui Linyu changed into his official robes and decided to go find the officials of the Ministry of Rites to ask.

Just like before.

The officials of the Ministry of Rites, as long as they were Fifth Rank, Senior Grade or above, were all completely busy.

They pushed Cui Linyu back to Zhao Wenhua, the Keeper of the Seal.

Who else could it be, since Your Majesty issued the decree?

The task of receiving the Chosun envoys was assigned to Su Qiao; among the Ministry of Rites officials and Su Qiao, the only one who could communicate with the Chosun envoys...

... was Zhao Wenhua.

He could be called a very important link!

"What business does Deputy Envoy Cui have with me?"

Since Su Qiao gave him backing, Zhao Wenhua, when facing the Chosun envoys, also became neither humble nor arrogant.

Cui Linyu keenly sensed the change in Zhao Wenhua's attitude.

However, he still came to inquire about Pu Qi'en and the others who were arrested today.

So he came straight to the point and detailed the matter of Pu Qi'en and the others going out and not returning, and how he went to inquire and found they had been caught by the authorities.

Zhao Wenhua listened to him finish and was speechless for a moment.

What use is finding me for this matter? I am just a Fifth Rank, Junior Grade minor official, at most slightly better than an ordinary Registrar.

I simply cannot manage it, alright?

"Deputy Envoy Cui, regarding this matter, this humble official can at most help you inquire; I do not understand the specific situation."

After weighing his words, Zhao Wenhua spoke slowly.

Cui Linyu raised an eyebrow. "It's fine; it is enough that Lord Zhao is willing to help. I trouble Lord Zhao!"

While speaking, he even took a pearl from his sleeve.

It was of great value, with a bright luster and a considerable size; taken out, it would be worth at least several hundred or even a thousand taels of silver.

Cui Linyu directly stuffed the pearl into Zhao Wenhua's hand.

"I trouble you; thank you!"

Zhao Wenhua wanted to refuse, but his strength was not greater than Cui Linyu's; he watched as Cui Linyu turned his head and left.

This eastern pearl is a rare item.

Its value is high, and it is easy to hide.

Yet Zhao Wenhua did not dare to take it; unconsciously, Su Qiao's face appeared in his mind.

"No, it's too hot to handle!" He feared being trapped in it.

Zhao Wenhua quickly found a pouch to put the eastern pearl inside, then went out heading for Su Fu.

218, The Strange Affairs of the Delegation!

When Su Qiao learned that Zhao Wenhua was looking for him, he initially thought something had happened to the Korean delegation.

Upon seeing Su Qiao, Zhao Wenhua hurriedly took out from his bosom the forbidden pouch containing the top-grade eastern pearl.

"This is..." Su Qiao watched his movements, somewhat puzzled and confused.

"Mr. Su, just now Cui Linyu, the Vice Envoy of the delegation, found me. He said their people were detained by the Viceroy Yamen and asked me to help investigate. This item was a bribe for me."

While speaking, Zhao Wenhua quickly took out the eastern pearl for Su Qiao to inspect.

After a quick glance, it was indeed a top-grade eastern pearl.

It seems Cui Linyu was also desperate; otherwise, he would not have given such a precious gift.

Su Qiao smiled and told Zhao Wenhua to put the eastern pearl away.

"How much is your monthly salary?"

Su Qiao asked Zhao Wenhua.

Zhao Wenhua hardly needed to think and answered directly: "About ten-plus taels of silver a month, barely enough for expenses."

"Nowadays, ten-plus taels of silver seem unable to buy as much grain as before."

Su Qiao could not help but sigh.

Zhao Wenhua nodded. "Yes, ten-plus taels of silver a month is slightly better than ordinary families. Living in Jingcheng is no small feat! Expenses in Jingcheng are also very high."

Ten-plus taels of silver a month is only slightly better than ordinary families.

The value of silver in the late Ming was not as high as in the early Ming 613.

In the early Ming, ordinary families with two or three taels of fragmented silver, if the husband and wife were frugal, could barely eat their fill in a month, let alone eat meat.

But by the late Ming, five or six taels of silver were needed to barely eat their fill.

The value of silver depreciated by more than half!

Conversely, grain prices rose.

But was it really solely due to rising grain prices?

Actually, there were quite a few reasons.

The late Ming had many disaster years; droughts and floods occurred frequently, so reduced grain harvests and rising prices were inevitable.