Chapter 532

If he were truly a subject of Zhu Youjian, or something similar, Su Qiao might have been swayed by Luo Yangxing.

But Su Qiao was thrown here by Zhu Yuanzhang.

That makes a huge difference!

While others worry about committing taboos, Su Qiao does not; he will simply turn around and leave when the time comes!

Luo Yangxing did not urge him, and Su Qiao did not agree immediately, but said he would consider it.

Although Luo Yangxing was quite anxious, he knew he could not be hasty, and instead said with patience that he could wait a few more days.

Then he took his leave and departed.

No sooner had Luo Yangxing left the front than Liu Rushi entered from the back.

While Su Qiao was deep in thought and weighing his options, Liu Rushi noticed a small stack of contracts on the table.

Out of curiosity, she lowered her head to take a look.

She would not have known if she had not looked; upon seeing it, she was startled.

"Master, could these contracts be the ones Master Luo just delivered?"

Liu Rushi's question interrupted Su Qiao's thoughts.

After a moment of surprise, he glanced at the contracts on the table and nodded somewhat helplessly, saying, "Yes, he invited me to help this time, fearing I would not agree, so he went to Jin Ling to find them all; it is said they are already on their way to the capital."

Liu Rushi looked at Su Qiao and asked tentatively, "Then Master's meaning is..."

Glancing at Liu Rushi, Su Qiao roughly guessed her little scheme.

He said casually, "I do not know what to do, but since they are coming, we cannot simply send them back; I will leave it to you to handle."

Having finished speaking, he handed the stack of contracts directly to Liu Rushi.

Liu Rushi had indeed been somewhat worried just now, fearing that all these "sisters" would enter the residence at once.

Thereby causing Su Qiao to forget the old for the new.

However, if you say she was extremely jealous or particularly envious, Liu Rushi truly was not.

First, her self-positioning was that of a concubine, unwilling to interfere with Su Qiao's decisions or anything of the sort.

Now that Su Qiao had entrusted the matter to her, she felt grateful and happy in her heart, while thinking about how to establish rules and help Su Qiao manage the inner quarters.

"Very well, since Master trusts me, I will certainly help Master handle this well!"

Su Qiao thought Liu Rushi had a method to help arrange the few who were coming, so he nodded with relief.

With the hot potato temporarily resolved, his heart felt a bit lighter.

The next day, Su Qiao still agreed to go to Tianjinwei.

Luo Yangxing was very happy, personally came to welcome Su Qiao, and impatiently expressed that they would depart that very day.

Su Qiao had thought he was truly not in a hurry.

He did not expect him to be so eager.

Fortunately, he was mentally prepared, so he followed and boarded the carriage, heading for Tianjinwei.

As for the Ministry of Rites' civil service examination reforms, Su Qiao had also given advance instructions; if there was an emergency, a message should be sent.

If there was no emergency, it would be temporarily left to the two Vice Ministers of the Ministry of Rites to resolve.

Liu Rushi did not go along, because she still had to handle the few famous courtesan sisters arriving in the capital in a few days for Su Qiao.

Thus, as soon as Su Qiao boarded the carriage, he was surrounded by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and rushed at high speed toward Tianjinwei.

It must be said that Tianjinwei has already been combed over several times by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Ever since clues were found pointing to Tianjinwei again, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has not spared any effort in searching here.

This has also raised the security of Tianjin City by several levels during this period.

Even the former bullies and hooligans are now nowhere to be seen on the streets.

They are all hiding, clean and neat.

No one is foolish; seeing how the Embroidered Uniform Guard, for over half a month, has maintained a fierce posture, refusing to give up until they find something.

It is as if they were on a powder keg.

Even the soldiers and officers of the Tianjin Naval Fleet now dare not be arrogant, all obediently and strictly taking detours.

Whoever crashes into them will likely have no good outcome!

Everyone has heard the rumors about how terrifying the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Eastern Depot Prison is; no one wants to provoke that bad luck.

However, although the surface appears calm, or rather, some rats are all hiding in the dark and trembling.

Yet, at the same time, someone is secretly plotting something behind the scenes.

Inside a dim room, two people sat in the shadows where the candlelight could not reach.

One of them was a woman: "The Embroidered Uniform Guard has already set their sights on this place; for over half a month, they have been wandering around Tianjinwei, seemingly refusing to give up until they find something."

The other person was a man, his voice somewhat hoarse.

"Yes, previously when the Embroidered Uniform Guard traced the carriage business, I thought they had found nothing and would not return after leaving; who knew they discovered something again, and now they are entrenched in Tianjinwei and won't leave!"

"There must be some loophole they discovered, but is it possible they are waiting for someone?"

"Luo Yangxing and Su Qiao?" The old man suddenly spoke out two names.

The woman paused for a moment, "If Su Qiao had not gotten involved and discovered so many clues at once, the Embroidered Uniform Guard would not have traced back to Tianjinwei again."

"Then if Luo Yangxing and Su Qiao come, should we take action to eliminate them?" The old man asked tentatively.

"Yes, if planned properly, we can not only kill Luo Yangxing and Su Qiao, but also wipe out a large number of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, buying time for our people."

"Very well, then let us wait and see!"

387, Investigate the Residence!

Su Qiao rode in a carriage for three days and finally arrived at Tianjin Wei once again.

Having barely made it to Tianjin Wei, Su Qiao did not immediately go to work with Luo Yangxing, but instead rested well for a day.

Only on the second day did he accompany Luo Yangxing to search for clues.

"You mean you have found clues regarding the mastermind behind this in Tianjin Wei?"

Su Qiao asked, looking at Luo Yangxing in the main hall.

"That's right. The moment we received the news, we surrounded the entire Tianjin Wei. While we can't say no one could get out, under such strict scrutiny, no thief should have escaped."

"So certain?"

"If investigating a case might be somewhat troublesome for the Embroidered Uniform Guard, when it comes to watching people and screening suspects, the Embroidered Uniform Guard does have some capability. Besides, we have been monitoring every ship coming and going in Tianjin Wei from bottom to top, searching every corner and even every wooden barrel. I don't believe so many of them could have escaped!"

Luo Yangxing stated with great certainty.

The reason he was so anxious was that the intensity of the search was too great, wasting time and manpower and resources.

Conducting such a detailed search for one or two days would be no problem.

But it has already been over half a month, and everyone's spirit and energy are about to dwindle to their lowest point.

Tianjin Wei is still a crucial hub for north-south freight transport.

Every day, hundreds of ships of all sizes come in and go out.

Searching them is truly far too tedious.

It also delays freight transport times.

That is why Luo Yangxing is so anxious.

Su Qiao nodded to show understanding.

"Very well, since Brother Luo is certain that bandits are hiding within Tianjin Wei, I also trust in Brother Luo's abilities. How about this: simply send people to search house by house?"

"No!"

Faced with the method Su Qiao proposed, Luo Yangxing shook his head and refused without a moment's thought.

Su Qiao had actually just spoken off the cuff.

But Luo Yangxing's so decisive refusal still made him feel somewhat strange.

For although this method consumes a long time and creates a huge commotion, it is the most safe and steady method.

Luo Yangxing saw that Su Qiao was somewhat puzzled, so he explained: "Brother Su, I cannot speak of the specifics. There are a few places in Tianjin Wei right now that are difficult to search and difficult to make such a big fuss over; otherwise, I would have sent people to search house by house long ago. So, Brother Su, please think of another way."

Although Luo Yangxing did not specify exactly which places could not be searched, nor explain too clearly why.

Su Qiao has already understood.

The reason the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot could become trusted covert forces beside the Emperor.