Chapter 375

Early morning, Gusu, Tieling Pass Ferry.

After a day of sailing, the next day, just as the sky was slightly bright, Zheng Xiaohai's two-masted ship had entered Gusu territory.

Jia Cong and Zhi Shao stood at the bow, facing the cool morning breeze, gazing at the ancient city with its charming scenery.

At the ferry, where the morning mist had not yet dispersed, many night-sailing ships were entering the harbor.

The shouts of the boat captain poling the boat, the figures of laborers moving cargo back and forth, and the loud peddling of porters all converged together.

Not far away, Hanshan Temple, with its yellow walls and black tiles, and pavilions with flying eaves, was exceptionally eye-catching. The melodious and loud bell tolls, solemn and deep, echoed over the ancient city.

All these scenes were like a painting touched by ink, and in the dim light of the early morning, although shadowy, the outlines were clear, full of simple and lively vitality.

Jia Cong and Zheng Xiaohai's couple said goodbye, added ten taels to the originally agreed rent, and agreed to charter their boat again for the return trip.

The couple agreed with endless thanks and said many auspicious words about a hundred years of harmony and early birth of a noble son, which made Zhi Shao's pretty face turn bright red.

Someone had seen Chen Kuishan appear in a fishing village called Haishanzhu east of Zhenjiang, but after that, this person disappeared again.

When the two met and talked that day, Chen Kuishan, a secret agent planted by the Zhongche Office in the Jin Ling Guard, had disappeared while fleeing with Zhou Zhengyang.

This thought was only slightly considered, and he didn't take it to heart.

She also knew that Zou Min'er was in the lowly status of the Music Bureau. Such a miserable status, yet she could be valued by the Du file head of the Love Shenjing, which was indeed unusual.

Thinking of chartering their boat again on the return trip to Yangzhou, he added ten taels when paying.

However, even if someone discovered such details, they wouldn't take them to heart.

Just as Jia Cong and Zhi Shao walked out of the pier, another passenger ship was setting sail from the pier, traveling upstream along the river toward Jin Ling.

When Zou Min'er proposed to search for clues along the river and go to Haishanzhu in person, Xu Qiniang also felt a bit surprised.

They just assumed they were a young married couple returning home, and now that they had received a large sum of silver from them, they naturally had to say some auspicious words to please them.

Standing side by side with her was a slender and tall young man, his face like powdered makeup, his hair as black as ink, handsome and radiant, but his eyes were a bit cold, making it hard for people to get close.

The key criminals in the Jin Ling Guard related to Zhou Zhengyang were either fleeing with Zhou Zhengyang or had been assassinated and silenced.

There were only three or four sailors on this ship, and at first glance, they were not much different from ordinary boatmen.

The charming young woman said: "Young Master Zou, we not only went to Haishanzhu along the way, but we also checked the waterways along the way, yet we still have no clues."

By the time Jia Cong and Zhi Shao got off the ship, they could still vaguely hear the happy voice of Zheng Xiaohai's wife.

Zheng Xiaohai laughed and scolded: "Silly woman, just shut up. Why are you shouting about this, as if you're afraid others won't know?"

The reason Xu Qiniang inquired about Chen Kuishan was not to find Zhou Zhengyang's whereabouts, but because Chen Kuishan was a person from the Zhongche Office and could not disappear for no reason.

Jia Cong was sharp-eared and sharp-eyed, so he naturally heard these few bits of gossip, but he just smiled and didn't care. He had chartered Zheng Xiaohai's boat for thirty taels of silver, and later saw that the couple were honest people.

He looked at the bustling ships docked at the pier and suddenly thought that Zhou Zhengyang was involved in the major case of the Water Supervision Office, and he no longer had a foothold in the Great Zhou.

But if one paid attention, one would find that these few sailors were energetic and light-footed, a bit different from ordinary sailors.

Then he would look at the customs of Gusu along the way and then go to Panxiang Temple to stay.

If one looked closely, one would find that there were fine and exquisite ear holes on the young man's snow-white earlobes.

……

However, with several garrisons guarding along the way, I'm afraid he won't be able to fly even with wings.

Before Zou Min'er went down to Jin Ling, the Jin Ling Zhongche Office personnel had not received the imperial edict to collect information on Zhou Zhengyang's whereabouts, so they did not go deep into this matter.

All relevant clues had become kites with broken strings. The Jin Ling Yingtian Prefecture and the stationed Dali Temple were at their wits' end and had no countermeasures.

Forty taels of silver was enough for an ordinary family to live without worry for more than half a year, so it was no wonder the couple was happy.

Jia Cong saw the joy in her eyes and brows, which added to her charm. He thought it must be because she was about to see her master and senior sister, and she was very happy in her heart.

These two were Zou Min'er, who had not been in Jin Ling for long, and Xu Qiniang, the shopkeeper of the Yao family wine shop.

He looked back at his side. Zhi Shao was carrying a small bundle, looking at the Gusu city that was gradually becoming noisy in the morning light. Her bright eyes were rippling, her skin was like congealed fat, her pretty face was flushed, and she was indescribably beautiful and lovely.

Each garrison commander was of the same rank as Zhou Zhengyang. Military generals of the same rank were all rivals who could replace and compete with each other. At this time, who would be polite to him?

That missing Zhongche Office secret agent, Chen Kuishan, was the only clue Zou Min'er could grasp.

Standing at the bow was a charming young woman with a graceful figure and beautiful eyes.

……

Along the way, Zheng Xiaohai's couple saw that the two were young, outstanding in appearance, and intimate in behavior.

As the saying goes, it is easy to get things done when there are people in the court. Since Zou Min'er wanted to patrol the waterways along the way, as Zou Min'er's first contact in Jin Ling, Xu Qiniang naturally had to follow her the whole way.

If it were himself, the best strategy would be to flee overseas, where the emperor is far away.

The prefectures in Jiangnan had been prosperous since ancient times, with developed culture and education, and the folk customs were more enlightened than in large northern cities like the Love Shenjing. It was common for daughters of wealthy merchants and noble families to dress as men and go out to play.

He smiled and took the bundle from her hand, carried it on his back, and didn't call for a carriage, but just held her hand and walked out of the pier, preparing to find a place to eat breakfast.

"Husband, we've had such good luck these past two months, meeting such good customers. If we have a few more businesses like this, it will be enough for two years of food and clothing..."

She didn't expect Zou Min'er, who looked refined, to be unafraid of hardship and to do the hard work of patrolling along the way. She was dedicated and diligent, which was completely different from her slightly soft and charming appearance.

According to the imperial edict of the Love Shenjing Zhongche Office, Zou Min'er was fully authorized to handle Zhou Zhengyang's case in Jin Ling, and the personnel filed in the Jin Ling Zhongche Office had to be under her control in this matter.

She even brought capable people from the Yao family wine shop to prepare for any unexpected needs.

……

During this patrol, Xu Qiniang saw that Zou Min'er handled everything herself and arranged things meticulously.

Every time she arrived at a place, she would inquire at piers, inns, and wine shops, thinking deeply and cautiously, and never getting tired of it.

Xu Qiniang hadn't seen anyone who was so dedicated, but she hadn't seen anyone as persistent and resilient as Zou Min'er. Her actions and behavior were really inconsistent with her young and delicate appearance, revealing a strange flavor.

She only knew Zou Min'er's status as a musician in the Music Bureau, but she didn't know that she was once the only daughter of Zou Huaiyi of the Jin Ling Water Supervision Office.

And the Zhou Zhengyang case, which hid the inside story of the Water Supervision Office case back then, was most likely the root cause of the Zou family falling into the Avici Hell.

This was Zou Min'er's biggest knot in her heart. The persistence and fanaticism she poured into this matter were very difficult for outsiders to understand.

……

Zou Min'er said: "Zhou Zhengyang received the news in advance and escaped the arrest of the Dali Temple. According to common sense, he would never dare to hide anywhere in Jin Ling city."

No matter how big Jin Ling city is, it cannot withstand the investigation and search of the Yingtian Prefecture, Dali Temple, Embroidered Uniform Guard, and other parties. No matter how secretly he hides, he will be turned out.

And according to what Qiniang said, in order to avoid suspicion, the Jin Ling Commandery Commander Du Hengxin also sent capable people to assist in the search for Zhou Zhengyang in Jin Ling city.

So it is impossible for this person to hide in Jin Ling, but he must have left the city and fled at the first opportunity.

Chen Kuishan, as his confidant, was not silenced in Jin Ling city, but appeared in a fishing village in Zhenjiang, a hundred miles away from Jin Ling, which only shows that Zhou Zhengyang had also fled to this place."

Xu Qiniang saw that she was young and shouldn't have much experience, but her mind was meticulous and delicate, and every word was to the point, without any mistakes, and she was also surprised in her heart.

How did a musician in the Music Bureau develop such a temperament and ability?

Xu Qiniang didn't know that after Zou Min'er was demoted to the Music Bureau, she was rescued by Du Qingniang and recruited into the Zhongche Office.

At that time, Zou Min'er's miserable encounter twisted and honed an unusually resilient temperament.

For nearly two years, Du Qingniang only let Zou Min'er do one thing: be responsible for the screening and analysis of intelligence from various places.

From various complex and mixed information, she analyzed and compared useful information to find the truth and context needed by the Zhongche Office.

This requires the executor to have excellent document ability, meticulous thinking, and persistent and steady patience.

Coupled with Du Qingniang's constant guidance, this honed a weak girl into a cold and meticulous Zhongche Office agent.

……

Zou Min'er said again: "Our ship was inspected by patrol fast ships of the garrisons along the way every fifty miles, which can be said to be very strict."

If Zhou Zhengyang took the waterway and fled overseas along the Yangtze River estuary, the possibility is also very great. After all, the things he was involved in are difficult to end well within the Great Zhou territory.

Jin Ling is a large port for maritime administration. Zhou Zhengyang held a high-ranking third-grade military official position and had been operating in Jin Ling for many years, so it is not strange that he has some relationships with foreign merchants.

But it is almost impossible for him to escape the inspection of fast ships of the garrisons along the way and successfully go to sea."

Xu Qiniang said: "If he couldn't go to sea along the river because of the inspection of the garrisons along the way, then he is still hiding in some town or village along the river."

"But this journey passes through five prefectures, covering nearly a thousand miles and hundreds of villages and towns. Trying to find him is like looking for a needle in a haystack."

Zou Min'er's eyes flickered, and she said: "It is also possible that he has already fled overseas!"

Xu Qiniang looked surprised: "How is this possible? From Jin Ling to Songjiang, one has to pass through five major garrisons along the way. If he can still flee to sea like this, then he is too supernatural."

Zou Min'er's voice was cold, and she said: "Actually, there are ways, such as someone who is familiar with the waterway taking him to avoid the inspection along the way, or someone in the garrisons along the way practicing favoritism..."

When Xu Qiniang heard this, her heart jumped suddenly. This little girl was young, but her mind was deep and dangerous. If such speculative words were reported, I am afraid it would cause a huge uproar.

……

Mount Xuanmu, Panxiang Temple.

Moss on the green steps, the old path is like yesterday, the mottled temple gate is old.

Two years have passed, Panxiang Temple has not changed at all, what has changed are the people who were once related to it.

Zhi Shao went up to knock on the door knocker. The nun on duty who came to open the door happened to be a familiar face.

That year, in order to visit Zhi Shao, Jia Cong brought Ying Lian to Panxiang Temple to make a great offering. He vaguely remembered that it was this nun on duty who received them.

That nun's Buddhist name was Jingxuan, and counting it up, she was Zhi Shao's senior sister.

Back then, Zhi Shao was always in Buddhist clothes in the temple, but now she was in a pretty and bright secular outfit. When Jingxuan saw her, she was slightly stunned, but she recognized her quickly.

While smiling and inviting them in, she took them to the guest room to sit down, and then hurriedly went to the inner courtyard to report.

After a while, she saw Sister Miao Yu supporting Abbess Xiushan, who was full of smiles, entering the guest room. Behind Sister Miao Yu followed a pretty and delicate girl.

When Zhi Shao saw Abbess Xiushan, she was so happy that she shed tears. When she was drowning and dying, she was rescued by Abbess Xiushan. Her past was completely emptied, and she was guided and comforted by her. This affection was naturally extraordinary.

It was just that Zhi Shao hadn't seen her master for two years. Seeing her face full of illness, much older and haggard than before, with a weak and scattered twilight air between her brows, she felt a burst of heartache.

When Sister Miao Yu saw Zhi Shao return, the coldness on her face faded, and it seemed to dissipate all at once.

Joy spread between her brows, and her smile bloomed, as if an epiphyllum was quiet and fragrant, clear and beautiful, moving and moving.

Jia Cong, who was on the side, was slightly stunned. Last time he came to Panxiang Temple to look for Zhi Shao, Sister Miao Yu was always annoyed when she saw him, with cold words, as if he were going to take away her treasure.

Although Sister Miao Yu had a better look when seeing him off at the end, Jia Cong had never seen her smile.

He didn't expect this little nun to look so good when she smiled. It was really a sin.

Sister Miao Yu seemed to feel Jia Cong's gaze, turned her head to look at him, her smile slowly converged, and she nodded slightly to Jia Cong, which was considered a greeting.

Abbess Xiushan smiled at Jia Cong: "Young Master Jia, you have been well. Your style is better than before. Thank you for sending Jinghui back."

Jia Cong laughed: "Abbess, you don't need to be polite. You haven't seen each other for a long time, so go into the inner hall to talk. I'll sit here for a while."

Panxiang Temple is a nunnery, and male guests are forbidden to enter the inner hall, even with the relationship between Jia Cong and Zhi Shao, it is not allowed.

Zhi Shao and Abbess Xiushan hadn't seen each other for two years and must have a lot to say, which is why Jia Cong said this.

Abbess Xiushan was a high-virtue monk, open-minded and transparent. She sat down and chatted with Jia Cong for a few words, and ordered Jingxuan to serve tea and entertain him.

Only then was she supported by Sister Miao Yu and Zhi Shao into the inner hall. The three master and disciples met again after a long separation, and Abbess Xiushan's state looked very bad, so naturally, there were some private words to say.

When Zhi Shao entered the inner hall, she looked back at Jia Cong several times, and only after Jia Cong nodded to her did she follow Abbess Xiushan and Sister Miao Yu into the inner hall.

After the three of them entered the inner hall and Jingxuan went out to serve tea, there was still one person left in the guest room.

That person had a refined and beautiful appearance, skin as white as jade, and although her figure was slender and thin, she already showed a graceful charm. Her clothes were slightly old, but they were not stained with dust, and she was outstanding and indifferent.

Jia Cong laughed: "Miss Xiuyan, long time no see. You have grown much taller, I almost didn't recognize you."

That person was Xing Xiuyan, who hadn't left just now. She had always lived in Panxiang Temple and had long regarded herself as a member of the temple.

Just now, the three master and disciples of Abbess Xiushan went into the inner hall to talk, and Abbess Jingxuan went to the inner hall to prepare tea. She felt that she should stay. Leaving Jia Cong alone in the guest room would be impolite.

Two years ago, when Jia Cong first met Xing Xiuyan, she was still childish, a girl who would be happy for a long time after buying a silk flower.

Two years passed, and her appearance had changed a lot, but Jia Cong recognized her at a glance.

Xing Xiuyan had a cheerful and indifferent personality. Facing Jia Cong alone, she didn't know why she wasn't shy or embarrassed, but rather generous.

She thought of what Sister Miao Yu said that day, that Jia Cong would be a broad-minded person and would not easily vent his anger on her because of his biological mother's unkindness.

So she boldly said: "Cousin Cong, you have been well."

After speaking, her beautiful eyes rippled, looking at Jia Cong's expression, wanting to verify whether what Sister Sister Miao Yu said made sense.

She was content with her situation. If Jia Cong ignored her because of Lady Xing, although she would be a little sad, she wouldn't care for too long. Of course, it would be best if Jia Cong didn't have any estrangement because of this.

Jia Cong laughed: "I am doing well. Counting it up, we are not only old acquaintances, but also cousins. Sister Xiuyan, you don't need to be distant."

She called him Cousin Cong, and Jia Cong called her Sister Xiuyan. They understood each other and reached a tacit understanding. Although they didn't say anything, it was as if they had said a lot.

When Xing Xiuyan heard this, her brows and eyes showed a smile, sweet and quiet, happy in her heart. Sister Sister Miao Yu was right; he was indeed not a stingy person.

(End of chapter)