Chapter 257: Rainy Night, Carrying a Knife, No Umbrella

When night seeped in.

The ram‑horn lantern hanging from the eave burned brightly, its orange‑yellow halo passing through the fine wooden lattice windows, staining the Blue Bricks floor with a few mottled bright patches, yet it could not penetrate the deep shadows of the hall.

In the corner, the copper‑crane incense burner still held faint smoke, so pale it was almost invisible, which only made the sandalwood fragrance in the air seem more lingering.

"Master, this batch of goods has been fully counted..."

"When the convoy arrives tomorrow night, we can load the carts and send them to the border, handing them over to the people of the Liang Kingdom!"

Having finished verification, Tang Sanding hurried in from outside, stopped by Xu Zhixiang's desk, and reported.

"Very well."

"After the hand‑over, what remains in our hands is at least more than three times what we had last time..."

Xu Zhixiang didn't lift his head, clacking away at the abacus, his eyes fixed on calculating the profit this time, a grin tugging at his mouth.

Besides the sixty percent handed over to the main house, another ten percent for smoothing relations, the remaining thirty percent profit far surpasses what we had before.

"Master, I have a remark but I'm not sure whether I should say it..."

Tang Sanding looked at the excited Xu Zhixiang, hesitating and conflicted.

His brows first furrowed slightly, then relaxed a bit, but moments later the worry resurfaced, his brow knotted shallowly again.

"Sanding, you've been with me for over a decade, old man..."

"Speak up!"

Xu Zhixiang heard that, completely oblivious to Tang Sanding's expression, and replied casually.

He paused, his eyes lighting up as he stared at the abacus and ledger, laughing, "Another large sum of silver is about to be recorded..."

He remained immersed in joy.

After choosing his words carefully, Tang Sanding finally said, "Master, isn't the quantity of the goods we're smuggling this time a bit too large?"

In the past, even at the peak, it was no more than ten boxes of copper, iron, silk, spices, and a few dozen Warhorses...

Now it's multiplied several times over; profit has risen, and the corresponding risk has increased geometrically!

"Is it large?"

Xu Zhixiang's hand on the abacus paused briefly, his brow raised, and he retorted, "If it weren't large, how could there be this doubled profit about to be recorded?"

He not only dismissed it, but even complained the quantity wasn't enough...

Tang Sanding's brows twisted into a knot, deep lines forming on his bridge, and he worried, "But this is too easy to be discovered; the Mingjing Agency isn't blind, what if..."

As a household servant, Tang Sanding didn't want to oppose the master at a time like this...

But the master, immersed in the doubled profit, had lost his reason; he had to be warned.

After all, none of the Mingjing Agency's wolves, tigers or leopards are herbivores!

Xu Zhixiang let out a light snort, cut Tang Sanding off, and sneered, "Afraid of the Mingjing Agency?"

"Even if we're discovered, what then?"

"Don't forget who stands behind us— the Pillar!"

Saying that, he leaned back on the Grand Master's Chair, his legs propped high, his shoe tip nearly scraping the edge of the desk, yet he seemed unfazed.

His left hand toyed with an exquisitely crafted jade pendant, tracing slow circles on its surface; his right hand rested on his chin, his index finger tapping intermittently, producing a light, lazy knock.

He wore an unmistakably unafraid demeanor.

If they dare smuggle so recklessly, they cannot be without backing.

And the sixty percent handed to the Pillar—was it a gratuitous hand‑over?

"But the Mingjing Agency has a new director; a new official brings three fires..." Tang Sanding inhaled deeply, cautiously reminding.

The former Mingjing director might have turned a blind eye...

But the newly appointed one is in his prime, vigor fresh, and may not refrain from using them to make a show of force.

"Hahaha!"

Xu Zhixiang seemed to hear the biggest joke ever, laughing heartily, and teasing, "Only us smuggling?"

"Do you know what 'Law does not hold the masses accountable' means?"

"Chen Yan probably knows best; this matter is so delicate that one cannot act rashly..."

Besides our Splendid Trade Guild, there are four other guilds that engage in such smuggling!

The backgrounds of those other four are no less than our own Pillar's!

Is this something a yellow‑mouth child could manage?

But as soon as the words fell, just as Tang Sanding was about to speak, a youthful voice came from outside:

"What a perfect example of Law does not hold the masses accountable!"

"Chamber Head Xu, could you elaborate on which other smugglers are involved?"

The wording was laced with mockery.

"Who?!"

"Who's speaking?!"

The previously smug Xu Zhixiang was startled, his eyes darting toward the source of the voice.

A bad omen surged wildly in his mind...

"The rain is really pouring..."

After the sigh, several damp black silhouettes pushed the door open, strolling leisurely into the hall, entering both men's view; the leading youngster smiled, "Chamber Head Xu, you were just muttering about the director, now you refuse to recognize anyone?"

"Isn't that a bit too forgetful?"

He said, raising his hand to lightly pat the rainwater off his clothes.

Besides these few, outside the hall stood a group of sharp‑eyed, muscular men, Weapons slung at their waists, and even from a distance one could feel the faint aura of lethal intent.

All of them were rain‑night, knives in hand, no umbrellas.

"Chen… Great Supervisor Chen?!"

Xu Zhixiang listened, then looked at that young handsome face and directly stated the newcomer's identity.

Immediately, after calming slightly, he instantly switched expression, plastered a smile on his face and said, "What wind has blown you to my humble presence?"

"What a dazzling spectacle!"

Saying so, he flattered forward without pause.

Unlike the earlier confident, fearless look, he was a completely different person.

It seemed as if he had never spoken those words before.

"Didn't your subordinate just say that?"

Chen Yan pulled the chair Zhu Yi had brought, sat down, raised his hand and pointed at Tang Sanding, and with a calm smile said, "The Mingjing Department is not blind; with such a flamboyant smuggling, do you really think we won't notice?"

Damned crow's mouth…… Xu Zhixiang heard it, cursed inwardly, then still wore a smile and explained, "It's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding!"

"Our Jinxiu Chamber of Commerce only conducts legitimate business; how could we be involved in smuggling?"

"Supervisor, you've come late at night, thank you for your effort; please have some tea with the brothers!"

Speaking, he took a Silver Note from his pocket and, with a deferential smile, handed it over.

"Five thousand taels?"

Chen Yan took it, lightly flicked the Silver Note, examined the numbers, with a half‑smile teasing, "Chamber Head Xu, you intend to bribe this Supervisor with a mere five thousand taels?"

"Who do you think you're looking down on!"

This fellow even finds it insufficient; his appetite is extraordinary…… Xu Zhixiang tugged at his mouth corner, muttered to himself, and quickly added, "I have these on me now; the rest, as a token of respect, will be delivered to your residence later!"

Scold as you will, be displeased as you will, but this young bastard in front of me still needs to be fed…

Otherwise, this matter cannot be resolved peacefully!

"Hahaha!"

Chen Yan laughed out loud, "Chamber Head Xu, you really are sensible!"

"Of course…."

Xu Zhixiang forced a smile and tentatively asked, "Supervisor, could you be so kind as to raise your hand?"

But as soon as he spoke, Chen Yan's expression changed sharply, his eyes filled with ferocity, and he sneered, "I think raiding your house, Chamber Head Xu, would yield greater profit!"

No amount of bribery is more than a drop in the ocean.

Far less effective than seizing a house…

"You…"

Xu Zhixiang was choked, his breath caught in his chest, and he gritted his teeth, "Supervisor Chen, I am here on behalf of the Pillar of the State!"

"Please think carefully before acting!"

"Hey, you're still a servant of the Pillar of the State?" Chen Yan raised an eyebrow, half‑smiling, sarcastically asking, "Which Pillar of the State is that?"

Xu Zhixiang lifted his head, shouted, "I am Shuyi of Duke Hou Mo, Chen Lao Zhuguo!"

"The Jinxiu Chamber of Commerce is also the property of the old Pillar of the State!"