Chapter 466

De-De Ward, Earl's Mansion.

After the family banquet at Dengxian Pavilion concluded, Jia Mu and the others returned to the West Mansion, while Jia Cong returned to his courtyard feeling somewhat unsettled.

Because Jia Cong had helped bring back a carriage of gifts from Lin Ruhai for Lin Daiyu, these items were not for Daiyu's personal use alone; they were gifts Lin Ruhai had asked his daughter to present to their relatives and friends.

As the quantity of items was vast, Daiyu pulled Yingchun and Seeing Tan Chun over to help organize them, separating the portions for each person in the household before sending them out one by one.

Xichun was young, only ten years old, and could not yet handle such tasks, so she followed Jia Cong back to his courtyard to play.

Not long after, Daiyu arrived with Hearing Zi Juan and Xueyan; both maids were carrying parcels of various sizes.

Daiyu herself held a few items, her pretty face flushed with a faint rosy glow from the walk.

Upon reaching Jia Cong's study, she set the items down one by one: an exquisitely carved Duan inkstone with a pine-moon and clear-wind motif, two blocks of ancient Longxiang-scented ink, two Xiang-bamboo jade-bucket brushes with red bristles, and two volumes of Song-edition poetry collections.

Jia Cong teased, "Sister, why have you brought so many fine things? I couldn't possibly use all of these."

Daiyu feigned a slight pout and said, "Since you complain there are too many, I shall just take them back."

As she gathered them in her arms, Jia Cong hurriedly stopped her and laughed, "Can't I just be a chatterbox? I want everything you give me. If I receive less than others, I won't have it."

Daiyu wrinkled her nose at him and said, "As if I would ever give you less than the others. Besides, these items were brought back from Yangzhou with your help; I naturally picked the best ones for you to use."

She smiled and pointed to the brushes, ink, and inkstone on the table.

She continued, "I know that Third Brother has plenty of these things, even imperial gifts, so you wouldn't find them rare. I just picked a few for you to show my intent; if you don't like using them, just leave them out for display."

Jia Cong laughed, "I treasure everything you give me, Sister. These items are not common at all; in my opinion, they are even better than imperial gifts."

Daiyu pursed her lips to stop him, "What nonsense are you spouting? Fortunately, we are at home, so you needn't fear breaking taboos."

She then took a long, narrow parcel from Hearing Zi Juan and smiled, "This is a hibiscus mat from Gusu. Chen Yiniang sent me two; they are the coolest to sleep on in summer. I'm leaving one for you to use next year."

In Xueyan's hands were other delicate items Daiyu had selected: a Xiuyu jade fan pendant, a mandarin duck scented sachet, and some clear-soul incense.

While chatting with Jia Cong, she opened his fan case, took out his folding fan, hung the pendant on it herself, shook it a few times to admire it, and only put it back in the case once she was satisfied.

She also hung the chosen sachet at the head of his bed, helped him find a place for the hibiscus mat, and lit a stick of the newly opened clear-soul incense on his desk.

Jia Cong watched her graceful silhouette, her waist like a willow in the wind, moving about his room with such zest. A stray lock of hair at her temple fluttered slightly, creating an indescribable harmony—a beauty that was unspeakably charming and moving.

After Daiyu finished her tasks, she left with Hearing Zi Juan and Xueyan, as the gifts had already been sorted and she still needed to personally deliver them to the West Mansion several times.

Jia Cong watched Daiyu's departing figure, his heart filled with warmth, and that trace of unease gradually calmed.

He saw Xichun nearby playing with a nine-linked ring. She was wearing a pale purple embroidered jacket with a front-opening, an exquisite ivory-white pleated skirt, and her hair was styled in playful double buns. With her bright eyes and delicate brows, she was as lovely as jade and snow.

Jia Cong smiled slightly and took out a box of Huizhou clay figurines from the trunk he had brought back from Jin Ling. Inside was a set of figurines depicting singing, playing the zither, blowing the sheng, and dancing—all vivid, lifelike, and exquisitely small.

He laughed, "Fourth Sister, playing with the nine-linked ring all the time is so boring. Here, take this box of clay figurines to amuse yourself."

Xichun's mother had died early, and her father and brother were both unreliable; one was wasting his life in a Daoist temple, and the other had died in a rather filthy and disgraceful manner.

Xichun had lived in the Rongguo Mansion since she was small; in terms of background, she was similar to Daiyu, perhaps even worse off.

This was because Daiyu still had a renowned father in Yangzhou and the doting love of Jia Mu in the Love Shenjing, whereas Xichun in the Rongguo Jia family, much like Yingchun in the beginning, was a young lady with very little presence.

Because Jia Cong knew the future, he felt an extra measure of sympathy and pity for Xichun compared to the other sisters.

He felt that such a young lady of a noble house, if given more attention and closeness, would not have to grow into that reclusive, cold character she later became, eventually spending her life with only a green lamp and an old Buddha, wasting away a miserable existence.

Perhaps based on this sentiment, every time he returned from official business, he would bring her small gifts and tease her whenever they met.

Xichun took the figurines, laughing with joy, unable to put them down. Suddenly, she saw another box in the trunk, very similar to the one in her hand.

Curious, she opened it and saw three clay figurines inside—one man and two women. They were so realistic and lifelike, just like real people, that she couldn't help but gasp in amazement.

She looked at one of the female figurines and couldn't help but be surprised, saying, "Third Brother, this figurine looks just like Rong's wife. Oh, no, not just like—it's exactly the same!"

Jia Cong felt a slight embarrassment upon hearing this. That day, when he, Qu Hongxiu, and Qin Keqing went to Daci Temple to fulfill a vow, they met a master of Huizhou clay figurines who could mold images based on people. The three of them found it fun and each had one made.

Fortunately, Xichun was young and didn't know much about Qin Keqing's situation. Although surprised to see her image, she didn't think much of it.

If someone like Wang Xifeng had seen this figurine, the fact that Jia Cong had hidden Qin Keqing in Jin Ling would have been exposed in an instant.

Xichun quickly lost interest in the female figurine and happily picked up the one of Jia Cong.

She said, "This figurine looks exactly like Third Brother. How adorable."

Jia Cong hurriedly said, "If Fourth Sister likes it, I'll give it to you."

Xichun's bright eyes shone with joy. She tucked the box of Huizhou figurines under her left arm, held Jia Cong's figurine in her right hand, and walked away happily.

Jia Cong looked at the figurine of Qu Hongxiu in the box and decided to send a message via feather-post to Jin Ling, asking the Xin Chun Hao firm to keep an eye on the movements of the Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard.

When investigating the private firearms workshop in Jin Ling, he had found wooden crates labeled "Hongchun Furs," but they did not specify which prefecture or county they were from.

Jia Cong did not know if, after so many days, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had managed to locate the whereabouts of Hongchun Furs.

Before he went down to Jin Ling, he had heard Jiang Liu say that Jia She had privately opened a fur shop in the Love Shenjing, but at the time, he hadn't paid attention to the shop's name.

Today at the family banquet, Lady Xing had inadvertently mentioned that Jia She was at the fur shop, entertaining a guest from Jin Ling.

In other words, Jia She's fur shop had business dealings with Jin Ling. Such a coincidental and sensitive piece of information could not help but make Jia Cong draw connections.

In fact, it would be very simple to find out the name of Jia She's fur shop; he just needed to let Jiang Liu take a look at Hongping Street.

If these were not coincidences, and if things were truly as Jia Cong suspected, the Rongguo Jia family would face an unfathomable disaster...

He thought of Daiyu, who had been busy in his room just moments ago, Xichun, who was happily playing with the figurines, and Yingchun and Seeing Tan Chun, who had helped him prepare the family banquet early in the morning.

Although sometimes things were beyond his control, he could at least discern them as early as possible and make the best possible preparations.

Love Shenjing, Hongping Street.

On the bustling street, a fur shop with a three-bay frontage was doing a thriving business.

The shop was filled with various precious tiger, bear, and leopard furs from the north, and behind the shop were three locked warehouses, though it was unknown what was stored inside.

In a private room on the second floor, decorated with elegance and wealth, two men were sitting and drinking tea.

One of them was dressed in luxurious clothing, his eyes puffy, his complexion somewhat pale, and he exuded an air of arrogance and indulgence—it was Jia She, the First-Rank General of the Rongguo Mansion.

The other was a man in his thirties, dressed with refined elegance, of medium build, with a straight posture, sharp eyes, and a meticulous demeanor.

He said respectfully to Jia She, "I am Chen Yongchuan. Sent by my young master, I am returning to Liaodong to transport a batch of furs back to Jin Ling. The young master asked me to thank you, my lord, as I pass through the Love Shenjing."

Jia She asked, "Sun Shaozu has been in the south for quite some time now. Is he still in Jin Ling?"

The man replied, "Indeed. The furs, medicinal herbs, and mountain goods from the various prefectures along the Liaodong border are very popular in Jin Ling, and business is booming. The young master cannot leave his post there to manage it.

Now, many merchants are eyeing the market in Liaodong. Large southern firms like the Ziyun Pavilion and Xin Chun Hao in Jin Ling are all setting up branches in Liaodong, earning vast amounts of gold and silver."

Jia She's eyes lit up as he heard how profitable Liaodong's local products were in the south, and his expression was filled with envy.

Ever since the imperial court implemented the New Policies, wealthy and noble families like the Rongguo Jia family had to pay thirty percent more in taxes for their spring and autumn harvests compared to previous years. The silver entering the Rongguo Mansion's public treasury had shrunk by more than half, and the monthly allowance distributed to the East Courtyard had decreased significantly, which could no longer sustain Jia She's habitual extravagance.

However, as a member of the military nobility who still held a sinecure in the imperial court, he had to maintain his status and could not travel around like Sun Shaozu, raking in vast amounts of silver, which he found somewhat regrettable.

Chen Yongchuan's eyes darted around, taking in Jia She's expression, and he smiled as he took a stack of silver notes from his bosom and placed them on the table.

He said, "The young master said that for the batch of furs brought from Liaodong last time, we owe much to your shop, my lord, for transporting them to Jin Ling. As agreed beforehand, we are offering you a ten percent profit share."

"Before I set out this time, my young master specifically instructed me to bring you these two thousand taels as the final payment. Please accept them, my lord."

Jia She looked at the stack of silver notes on the table, his eyes shining.

Last time, after Sun Shaozu's batch of Liaodong furs was transported to the Love Shenjing, because they were unfamiliar with the southern trade routes and market conditions, they used the channels of Jia She's fur shop to transport them to Jin Ling by land.

In fact, Jia She hadn't put much effort into it; it was just a matter of convenience. He hadn't expected Sun Shaozu to be so sensible, offering him a ten percent profit share of four thousand taels.

Before he left the Love Shenjing, he had already given him two thousand taels. He had thought the remaining two thousand would not be easy to get; after all, no one's silver came from the wind.

Over the past few months, he had even stopped holding out hope. He hadn't expected this steward named Chen Yongchuan, acting on Sun Shaozu's orders, to deliver the final two thousand taels—truly an unexpected joy.

Jia She could not hide his delight; this money was earned truly easily and pleasantly. From this, one could tell how booming Sun Shaozu's business in Jin Ling must be.

He thought that as long as he could maintain a long-term connection with Sun Shaozu, he would never have to worry about silver again.

At this moment, he suddenly remembered the sixteen-year-old, enchanting singing girl at the Xingxiang Pavilion who made his mouth water, and his heart couldn't help but stir with lust.

That singing girl, named Yanxiang, was someone Jia She had taken a fancy to months ago. Because she was the top star of the Xingxiang Pavilion, her redemption price was not cheap, so he hadn't managed to get his hands on her yet.

With these four thousand taels of extra income, he could not only buy her but also set up a chic private residence...

Chen Yongchuan said, "I still need to stay in the Love Shenjing for a few days to handle some miscellaneous matters. When the batch of mountain goods from Liaodong arrives in the Love Shenjing, the young master has instructed that if there are any difficulties, you may ask for your help, my lord."

Jia She was all smiles, stroking his beard as he said, "Shao Zu is my nephew, and the Jia and Sun families are family friends. Helping each other is only natural. Since he has instructed you, if you have any difficulties, feel free to speak."

Chen Yongchuan looked delighted and said, "Then I shall thank you first, my lord. The young master also instructed that if we receive your help, my lord, the profit share will remain as before..."

Jia She nodded and replied, "That is excellent. Cooperation benefits both parties. We shall proceed as Shao Zu said."

Chen Yongchuan added, "The young master also asked me to convey to you, my lord, that merchants everywhere are eyeing the business opportunities in Liaodong. Please handle your assistance with discretion, my lord, so as not to give other firms an opportunity."

Jia She laughed, "That goes without saying. Last time I helped Shao Zu transport northern goods, besides myself and the shop manager, no third person knew. Please rest assured."

Chen Yongchuan flattered Jia She a few more times before rising to take his leave.

Jia She watched the man leave the shop, feeling very pleased. It was fortunate he hadn't gone to that brat's family banquet; otherwise, he would have missed out on a good business deal for nothing.

Jin Ling, Embroidered Uniform Guard Battalion Commander's Office.

Ever since Zhen Shiwen was killed, Zhen Fangqing had received Jia Cong's warning and, with lightning speed, swept away all the hidden dangers Zhen Shiwen had buried in the Zhen family's shops.

This left Ge Captain Ge Zhi Cheng, the Battalion Commander of the Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard, who had wanted to use Zhen Shiwen's trouble to verify the Zhen family's involvement in private firearms manufacturing, without any leverage, completely deadlocked.

Furthermore, the Love Shenjing Embroidered Uniform Guard Command had sent a reprimand days ago, ordering him to bring the murderer of Du Hengxin to justice within ten days, or else face dismissal and investigation.

This reprimand from his superiors in the Love Shenjing put immense pressure on Ge Captain Ge Zhi Cheng.

He mobilized a large number of Embroidered Uniform Guard personnel and practically turned the entire city of Jin Ling upside down, but there were still no clues regarding the assassination of Du Hengxin. Bringing the murderer to justice within ten days was nothing but a pipe dream.

Ge Captain Ge Zhi Cheng already sensed that his official position was in jeopardy. Having been immersed in the Embroidered Uniform Guard for many years, he knew that such a reprimand from his superiors was already a very dangerous omen.

Perhaps the person coming to replace him was already on the way; it was impossible to know.

But Ge Captain Ge Zhi Cheng had been in the officialdom for over twenty years, climbing from a commoner of a humble background to the high position of Battalion Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. His depth of character and intellect were not those of a mediocre or retreating man.

Even though he seemed to be at the end of his rope, he had not given up hope. He made up his mind to fight with all his might—a desperate struggle!

Since the trail regarding Zhen Shiwen was broken and there were no clues in the Du Hengxin assassination case, he decisively shifted his direction, seeking another path to find a breakthrough and extricate himself from the predicament!

The only straw Ge Captain Ge Zhi Cheng could grasp at the moment was the private firearms manufacturing workshop discovered in the northern suburbs of the city.

A private firearms manufacturing workshop was a major case of treason. The secrets hidden behind it might shake the imperial court. As long as he found the mastermind, he could come back to life and save his official career.

Although the Embroidered Uniform Guard had captured all the craftsmen and killed or captured most of the guards when raiding the workshop, after repeated torture and interrogation, they had never been able to get the truth out of these people.

The only useful clue left during the raid on the private workshop was two wooden crates containing the stolen firearms from Liaodong, because the crates were marked with the emblem of "Hongchun Furs."

This meant that the nine stolen firearms from Liaodong had been transported to Jin Ling by water or land through this firm called Hongchun Furs.

However, the emblem on the wooden crates did not specify a location, making it impossible to determine which prefecture or county this Hongchun Furs was in. Finding the location of this fur shop would be extremely difficult.

However, Ge Captain Ge Zhi Cheng's own official career was at a dead end; even if the chances were slim, he would not easily let go.

He handed this matter over to his most trusted confidant, Liu Yong, and allocated Embroidered Uniform Guard personnel to him to carefully investigate the whereabouts of the two wooden crates.

For the past few days, Ge Captain Ge Zhi Cheng had been worried, pouring all his energy into this matter.

Not only did he allocate enough personnel to Liu Yong, but he also had Liu Yong report the investigation results to him every day.

At this moment, the sun was setting in the west. He glanced at the Western pendulum clock in the office and looked toward the door from time to time.

Not long after, he heard footsteps and saw Liu Yong enter the office.

Ge Captain Ge Zhi Cheng's spirits lifted, and he hurriedly asked, "You have been investigating for several days. Have you had any gains today?"

Liu Yong replied, "Reporting to you, my lord, if the two wooden crates from the workshop were transported to Jin Ling by water, they must have left traces of passing through the Water Supervision Office and the Maritime Trade Office.

Over the past few days, I have mobilized personnel to carefully examine the relevant documents of water transport investigations from these two government offices, hoping to find relevant clues.

But so far, there has been no gain. Therefore, I infer that these two wooden crates should not have been transported to Jin Ling by water; otherwise, it would be impossible for them to have left no traces at all."

Ge Captain Ge Zhi Cheng felt disappointed, but seeing Liu Yong's haggard expression and bloodshot eyes, and knowing the huge number of documents involved in the Water Supervision Office and the Maritime Trade Office, he figured he had done his best.

Ge Captain Ge Zhi Cheng understood that such a method of searching was like looking for a needle in a haystack. It was not too surprising that there were no gains in the end. Could it be that he had truly reached a dead end, with no way to turn things around?

Liu Yong said, "My lord, even if we cannot find traces of these two wooden crates on the water routes, they must have been transported to Jin Ling by land.

I have read the testimonies of the workshop craftsmen and guards. These two wooden crates were escorted back to the workshop from the outside by the workshop guard leader, Sun Dacheng. This means Sun Dacheng handled the land transport of the crates.

According to the confessions of the captured guards, Sun Dacheng is the only person who escaped from the workshop. He is not only the guard leader but also the actual manager of the workshop. His identity is very important."

Ge Captain Ge Zhi Cheng's eyes flickered, "But after Sun Dacheng escaped, the Embroidered Uniform Guard searched extensively, and this person seems to have vanished into thin air, with no traces to follow..."

Liu Yong said, "My lord, although Sun Dacheng cannot be found, as long as he handled the land transport of the wooden crates, he would have left traces.

I believe that as long as we allocate enough personnel to carefully screen all the carriage and horse transport businesses in Jin Ling, perhaps we will have some gains."

Ge Captain Ge Zhi Cheng was encouraged by these words and said, "That is indeed a method. But Jin Ling is the intersection of the north-south trade routes of the Great Zhou, and the carriage and horse transport industry is very prosperous.

The number of carriages, horses, and personnel in the entire city of Jin Ling is huge. Screening them will definitely take a lot of effort. I will draw elite personnel from the ten company commander stations set up in the city and have you coordinate them uniformly.

I give you three days to find results!"

Searching for traces of Sun Dacheng's land transport among the complex and countless carriage and horse transports in Jin Ling was like "carving a boat to mark where a sword fell"—the results were very slim.

But apart from this clumsy method, Ge Captain Ge Zhi Cheng, trapped in a predicament, had no other way and could only treat a dead horse as a living one. (End of chapter)