Chapter 408: Death and Life Cannot Be Bound

Jin Ling, Qingyin Pavilion.

When Jia Cong's carriage arrived at the gate, he had barely stepped down when Jiang Liu came forward to meet him.

He said: "Cong Sanye, that Wu Sao who bought hairpins and rouge on the street—many people around here know her. As you instructed, we've traced her residence to Chongsheng Alley."

"But when I took men there, no one was home."

"I asked the neighbors—they said two days ago, a stranger came to Wu Sao 's house."

"After that, no one has seen her again, but the gate to her courtyard was locked—perhaps she left on her own, maybe to visit relatives."

Jia Cong frowned slightly at this; that day, Wu Sao had recognized Zou Min'er at Qingyin Pavilion's entrance, and he had taken notice.

Zou Min'er had stayed at Qingyin Pavilion under the pretense of being dispatched by the Ministry of Rites; Jia Cong used Qingyin Pavilion to communicate with her, a fact known to all.

He could not rule out that someone suspicious might have placed spies at Qingyin Pavilion to watch him.

And yet Wu Sao had suddenly appeared at Qingyun Pavilion's gate and recognized Zou Min'er when she was utterly unprepared.

As the daughter of Zou Zou Huaiyi, Zou Min'er's identity in Jin Ling was sensitive—could this scene have been seen by someone with ulterior motives? Jia Cong had to be wary.

That was why he had ordered Jiang Liu to track down Wu Sao —but he never expected this outcome.

…

In Qingyin Pavilion, third-floor private chamber.

When Jia Cong entered, Zou Min'er was already inside, examining a portrait.

Jia Cong saw the portrait depicted a man with a dignified face, high nose bridge, and short beard, radiating stern authority.

The face seemed familiar to Jia Cong, though he could not be certain.

Seeing Jia Cong study the portrait with confusion, Zou Min'er guessed his thoughts, then pulled another portrait from the documents on the desk and handed it to him.

"Look at these two portraits—what differences do you see?"

When Jia Cong saw the second portrait, he understood why the first had felt familiar.

"This is Zhou Zhou Zhengyang's portrait!"

Zou Min'er replied: "Correct. Our people searched the riverfront prefectures for traces of Zhou Zhou Zhengyang, carrying the first portrait—the official military archive image of him."

"A few days ago, Zhongche Office personnel showed the first portrait to several close associates of Zhou Zhou Zhengyang; they said it resembled him only five or six out of ten."

"So I had the best painter in Jin Ling redraw the portrait based on detailed descriptions from those who knew Zhou Zhou Zhengyang's face intimately."

"I had the same people compare the new portrait—they said it now resembles Zhou Zhou Zhengyang eight or nine out of ten."

"I now understand why the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Ying Tian Prefecture could never find Zhou Zhou Zhengyang's trail—perhaps the original portrait was inaccurate."

She gazed at the first portrait, then asked thoughtfully: "Do you think the discrepancy between the military archive image and Zhou Zhou Zhengyang's true appearance might be tied to Zhang Kangnian?"

Jia Cong pondered a moment, then replied: "Hard to say. I once served as an observer in the Ministry of War in Love Shenjing; I know something of their procedures."

"The Ministry of War maintains detailed dossiers for all military officers of fourth rank and above, including portraits of their appearance—but such tasks are handled by clerks in the Ministry's Dossier Office."

"A high-ranking official like a Vice Minister would never touch such mundane duties; if he tried to tamper with them, he'd leave clear evidence."

Since two years ago, when Jia Cong entered the Zou household to arrest Zou Zou Huaiyi, Zhang Kangnian had entered his field of vision.

And this man had an unclear, unspoken connection to Zou Zou Huaiyi's public suicide in court.

…

Since then, the Dalisi and the Judicial Court both conducted covert investigations into him—but found no flaw.

After arriving in Jin Ling, Jia Cong had also asked Zou Min'er to use Zhongche Office resources to screen Zhang Kangnian.

Though some suspicious connections were found, no concrete evidence emerged.

Thus, even though Jia Cong operated under secret imperial orders and Zou Min'er held authority over Zhongche Office in Jin Ling, they could not act against Zhang Kangnian without proof.

Zhang Kangnian was not only a third-rank official in the Ministry of War, but also a close in-law of the current Prince Zhao—and Prince Zhao's status was unique, widely regarded by court and realm as the future heir.

If Zhang Kangnian were punished without proof of guilt, it would implicate a prince eligible for succession—that would be a catastrophe.

With Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's cunning and depth of calculation, at that point, to preserve the imperial dignity, even Jia Cong, though deeply favored, would be made a scapegoat and expendable pawn.

Thus, though Jia Cong and Zou Min'er had long monitored Zhang Kangnian's movements, neither had taken any substantive action.

Simply because the web of connections behind him was too vast.

…

Zou Min'er said: "Our Zhongche Office personnel in Jin Ling are insufficient—we need four or five more to travel to riverfront prefectures and replace the old portraits."

Jia Cong said: "I have men available—I'll handle this task."

Zou Min'er had anticipated he would say this; she had long wondered why he carried so many men with him.

Jia Cong said: "Miss Zou, the Wu Sao who recognized you last time—I investigated her residence and learned that a few days ago, a stranger visited her, after which she vanished."

Zou Min'er's expression turned startled: "How could she vanish suddenly?"

Jia Cong said: "I don't believe it's coincidence—she recognized you, then a stranger came, and then she vanished."

"I suspect that stranger came for you—he likely inquired about you from Wu Sao."

"For your safety, you should avoid leaving Qingyin Pavilion alone for now—or better yet, move into my household."

Zou Min'er's face flushed suddenly: "Move into your home…?"

Jia Cong quickly explained: "Don't misunderstand—I mean no other intention; I only seek to ensure your safety."

"Xinglong Alley is home to Jin Ling's noble families; the Jia ancestral residence is secure. Lingguan and Douguan also live there."

Zou Min'er said: "No need—I'll be careful and won't leave Qingyin Pavilion alone. The back courtyard is guarded by strong women; outsiders cannot enter—it should still be safe."

She paused briefly, then said: "If someone wants to strike me, I'd rather they come to me—then I'd know their purpose. Is it only because I'm my father's daughter?"

Jia Cong frowned slightly: "If they come to you, they'll kill you. What good is knowing their purpose if you're dead?"

Zou Min'er said nothing in reply, only glanced at Jia Cong once, then turned her gaze away.

Being demoted to the Teaching Bureau as a courtesan had already been a kind of death.

She had spent her entire life as a Jianji of the Teaching Bureau; even joining Zhongche Office could not erase the stain.

And this youth, who still held a deep grudge against her, was now a hereditary marquis—between them, the gap was as vast as heaven and earth.

She smiled faintly, her face radiant—but the smile was hollow, detached, making Jia Cong feel a chill.

Jia Cong recalled the innocent, shy young girl he had first met in Zi Yun Pavilion.

The noble daughter, weeping over her father's corpse in the Zou household, lost and helpless.

Now she had hardened into a cold, unyielding heart—willing to become bait, indifferent to life or death, just to uncover the truth she sought.

Jia Cong sighed inwardly; her nature had been twisted and suppressed this way—not only by fate's cruelties, but perhaps partly by his own influence.

…

Jin Ling, Taiping Gate.

A young man drove a mule cart, carrying a middle-aged woman, blending unnoticed into the crowd leaving the city.

The young man was seventeen or eighteen, strong and sturdy, with clear eyes and a slightly simple expression.

"Mother, I finally came home—why won't you let me stay with you for a few days? Why rush off to Second Uncle's in Changzhou? What's so urgent?"

The woman replied: "I'm afraid. I need to hide at your Second Uncle's for a few days—I can't sleep at night otherwise."

The young man asked curiously: "Mother, what happened? I'm here—what are you afraid of?"

The woman replied: "A few days ago at Qingyin Pavilion, I saw Zou's daughter. I'd heard she was sold into the Love Shenjing Teaching Bureau."

"I thought she might be dead—or if alive, still in Love Shenjing. I never expected to see her in Jin Ling."

The young man's eyes lit up: "Mother, you mean the big official from the Water Supervision Bureau—the one you worked for as a cook years ago?"

The woman sighed: "Yes, that's him. That old Master Zou was rumored to have colluded with Japanese pirates, killing and looting ships at sea—no one knows how many lives he took."

"When the court moved to punish him, he slit his own throat."

"Poor his wife and daughter—they were to be sold into the Teaching Bureau. The wife died of rage in prison."

"The wife was a kind soul, generous to servants—good people get no good fortune."

"Miss Zou was a gentle, beautiful girl—a noble daughter, destined to be sold into the Teaching Bureau and abused—what a tragedy."

"The day I recognized Miss Zou, the next day a stranger came asking about her. I thought he looked suspicious."

"People in Jin Ling say Master Zou hoarded mountains of gold and silver—but no one ever found them after his death."

"That man asking so eagerly about Miss Zou—how could he be good? We're common folk; getting involved in such matters could mean losing our lives without knowing why."

"Tell me—how could I dare stay home?"

…

The young man now understood why his mother had rushed to pack and send him to take her to Changzhou the moment he returned home.

Since their family suffered sudden misfortune—his father fell gravely ill and died, and his mother lost her job as a cook—

Their once comfortable, stable household had become destitute. His mother, burdened by fear, had grown timid and jumpy, trembling at every whisper.

The young man said: "It's fine for you to stay at Second Uncle's for a while. When I return from my next voyage, I'll come to Changzhou to fetch you. Here—these are my savings. Take them."

The woman took the money pouch he offered and counted carefully—thirty taels of silver.

She exclaimed in surprise: "You've only been at sea half a year—how did you earn so much?"

The young man replied cheerfully: "Mother, you don't know—recently, Liu Linjiang Xian, the chief steward of the Zhen family, said he'd been ordered by the Zhen family's third daughter to reorganize their fleet."

"Now they favor new sailors like us—hardworking, obedient."

"And our wages have increased significantly. I work hardest, so the overseers give me extra bonuses."

The woman beamed: "That's wonderful! More than I ever earned working in the Zou household."

When the mule cart passed beyond Jin Ling's gates, the young man glanced toward Longtan Harbor and said: "Mother, after I drop you in Changzhou, my next voyage will be longer."

"The Zhen fleet is building a new pier on an island offshore—so their ships can rest there mid-journey. The Zhen family's third daughter is very keen on this project."

"The overseers say this voyage will carry vast quantities of construction materials—it'll take three months to return…"

…

Jin Ling, Rongyu Alley, Zhen residence.

On the twenty-eighth day of this eighth month, Zhen family's matriarch celebrates her sixty-eighth birthday; these past days, the Zhen residence has been adorned with lanterns and decorations, the festive atmosphere growing daily.

Major clans of Jin Ling, officials from offices friendly with the Zhen family, and old relatives and associates from the imperial capital have all sent envoys with birthday gifts.

Zhen Shiwén, the third son of the Zhen family's eldest branch, has been implicated by the Embroidered Uniform Guard for secretly hoarding firearms; to avoid trouble, Zhen Zhen Yingjia has now confined Zhen Shiwén to the residence.

Zhen Zhen Yingjia has assigned his son to handle the distribution of birthday invitations and to receive guests arriving to deliver gifts.

In Zhen Shiwén's view, such trivial tasks should be left to womenfolk inside the inner quarters—like his own cousin sister—why force his status as the eldest branch's legitimate son to do such meaningless drudgery?

Yet his cousin sister never stays quietly within the inner quarters; she thrives most in managing the family's business ventures.

As he mechanically endured the arrival of guests bearing gifts, Chen Qiong, steward of the eldest branch, approached him.

"Cong Sanye, while you've been locked inside, the family's shops have fallen into chaos; Third Miss and Chen Linjiang Xian have withdrawn all of the second branch's profits and cash reserves from the shops this year."

They withdrew a total of 580,000 taels of silver, reportedly all converted into banknotes to fund the new Xiùwéng Pavilion business."

Also, Third Miss has been reorganizing the Zhen family's fleet these past days, dismissing many unsatisfactory personnel—many of whom were your own appointees—and has brought in a new cohort of sailors."

Rumor has it the fleet is about to sail on a major venture, but all our people have been purged by Third Miss, so we have no idea what the business entails."

Moreover, Liu Linjiang Xian has recently been auditing all family enterprises, including idle properties; no one knows his purpose, but he must be acting on Third Miss's orders."

Upon hearing this, Zhen Shiwén's face turned grim.

His confinement at home was orchestrated by his third sister before the matriarch—under the pretense of shielding him from scandal—when in truth, she had long planned this.

He had long known his cousin sister intended to withdraw cash from the shops; though the sudden removal of 580,000 taels pained him, it was not entirely unexpected.

But her sudden reorganization of the Zhen family fleet took him utterly by surprise.

The Zhen family amassed its great fortune through maritime trade, and the fleet was the very foundation of that trade, occupying a pivotal position in the family's business chain.

This fleet was personally established by Zhen Zheng Yingquan; every captain and first mate aboard had been trained by the second branch's old guard.

Five years ago, when Zhen Zheng Yingquan fell from grace, the eldest branch had finally dared to openly seize control of the maritime trade the second branch had built.

Zhen Shiwén, though shrewd and calculating, had long recognized the fleet's critical importance; though his third sister now ran the business, he could not touch the captains and first mates.

But over the years, he had planted many men among the helmsmen and sailors.

He never imagined that, while he was confined at home, his cousin sister would strike so swiftly and decisively, sweeping all his appointees out of the fleet.

Worse, she filled the ranks with fresh recruits, and with the original captains and first mates still in place, the fleet's loyalty was now firmly secured—reinserting his own men would be exceedingly difficult.

Was her timing no accident? Was she purging his eyes and ears from the fleet to prevent leaks about this major overseas venture?

What kind of business could possibly require such extreme caution from his cousin sister?

Yet these were merely Zhen Shiwén's own speculations; he could not yet untangle any clear thread. (End of chapter)