Chapter 605: Great Changes in Jin Ling

Love Shenjing, Wuma Lane, Liufangju.

It was a sunny day with warm weather. Wuma Lane was bustling with people, and a faint sweet fragrance permeated the air.

There were many southern and northern pastry shops on this street, which were quite famous in the Love Shenjing. Among them, the most famous old brand was Liufangju, known for making Gusu pastries.

Liufangju was also the largest shop in Wuma Lane, and its business was the most prosperous. In this spring sunshine, there were more diners coming in and out to consume.

At this time, a tall black horse trotted into the street, attracting the attention of many passersby.

Because this black horse was extraordinary, not only was it pitch black like ink, but its four hooves were bright white like snow.

Such a horse with outstanding appearance was rarely seen in the market, so it could not help but attract attention.

But what attracted more attention was the pair of young man and woman riding side by side on the horse.

The man was clear and bright, handsome in appearance, elegantly dressed, and radiant in style;

The girl sitting behind him had a tall and slender figure, dressed simply and briskly, quite different from ordinary young ladies.

She wore a moon-white soft silk headscarf on her head, covering her thick dark hair, revealing only a few strands of dark brown and dark gold hair at the bun.

She wore a moon-white magnolia branch dark-patterned Shu brocade Hu robe, with a dark blue fragrant sweat towel tied around her waist, binding her slender waist, making her figure even more graceful, like the beauty of spring mountains.

Her appearance was quite brisk and heroic, and she was likely a beautiful beauty, but unfortunately, she wore a white gauze veil hat, so her face could not be seen clearly.

Although the Great Zhou inherited the laws of the former Song Dynasty, after a hundred years of war and founding the country, the etiquette was not as strict and terrifying as the previous dynasty, but it was not too relaxed either.

It was rare to see such young men and women riding together on the road, but such youthful spirit was not too rare either.

Moreover, the woman wore a veil hat, which could be considered a cover-up.

Although there were many pedestrians in Wuma Lane, it did not appear crowded or embarrassed at all. The young man's riding skills were good, and he was effortless in finding gaps.

When they rode to the entrance of Liufangju, the young man dismounted first and reached out to the girl on the horse. The girl only borrowed a little strength from his palm and dismounted gracefully, her movements as light as a swallow.

The shopkeeper saw the two and hurriedly greeted them with a smile, let the waiter lead the horses to the stable, and took them into a private room on the second floor.

Although the shopkeeper did not know the identities of the two young people, they often sat in the shop and were regular customers.

As for their identities, the shopkeeper naturally would not inquire. The Love Shenjing was the capital of the Great Zhou, full of noble and high-ranking officials. The common people did not need to know everything, just treat the guests well.

Moreover, the pair of man and woman had been here many times, and their appearance and demeanor were first-class. They must be descendants of some noble families, and in short, they were figures who could not be easily provoked.

The young man said: "Shopkeeper, bring two plates of freshly baked hundred-fruit honey cakes, a plate of top-grade Liaodong honey-glazed pine nuts, several kinds of trendy Su pastries, and a pot of top-grade jasmine tea."

Although the girl was wearing a veil hat, hearing the young man's clear voice, a beautiful and intoxicating smile could be seen under the white gauze.

……

That day, when Jia Cong went to the examination compound for the examination, Through Ai Li specially rode over to see him off. Meeting a traffic jam, they rode together like this, and she sent Jia Cong to the examination compound.

The two also agreed that after Jia Cong left the examination compound, he would invite Through Ai Li to sit in Liuxiangju, because Through Ai Li liked the hundred-fruit honey cakes of Liuxiangju the most, as well as various exquisite Su pastries.

It was just that after Jia Cong finished the metropolitan examination, he first rested for two days, then went to Mount Luocang to thank his teacher, and then there was the birthday banquet held by the prefecture for him.

He had been busy for many days before he had time to take Through Ai Li out for a stroll.

In the private room by the window on the second floor, Through Ai Li was concentrating on tasting the freshly baked white fruit honey cakes. Girls always had a natural preference for such sweet and fragrant things.

Beside her was the white gauze veil hat. Since she was brought back to the Love Shenjing by Jia Cong, because she felt her appearance was different from others, she developed the habit of wearing a veil hat every time she went out with Jia Cong.

While tasting the pastries, her bright eyes reflecting the meaning of the sea would look at Jia Cong from time to time.

Finding him focused and reading letters, she smiled slightly, helped him refill his empty cup with jasmine tea, and then looked at the bustling and prosperous street scene outside the window.

……

Through Ai Li also brought many letters when she came out this time, all of which were letters sent from Jin Ling, Liaodong, and other places by Feiyu during Jia Cong's examination in the examination compound.

Jia Cong's several noble estates in Liaodong were currently managed by Zhou Guangcheng of the Liaodong Xinchun Firm.

At the end of last year, Zhou Guangcheng escorted the harvest of the estates to the Love Shenjing and talked about how since Sun Zhanying, the hereditary commander of the Datong Army, defected to the enemy, the three border passes of Datong, Xuanfu, and Jizhen were often harassed by Mongol cavalry.

Since the Xinchun Firm established a branch in Liaodong, it not only relied on Liaodong's low-cost manpower and materials to build workshops and produce perfume and other things.

It also relied on Liaodong's local medicinal materials, furs, mountain treasures, timber, and other abundant products to sell northern goods in the south. The business was prosperous, the profit was very rich, and it could even catch up with the Xinchun Jiangnan general firm.

Therefore, relevant news about Liaodong and the Nine Borders was often transmitted through the Liaodong Xinchun Firm and reached his desk in time through Feiyu.

But since he left Liaodong, the Nine Borders had always been calm.

But ever since the incident of Datong commander Sun Zhanying defecting to the enemy, the originally calm Nine Borders, like dead water, began to ripple.

Jia Cong had led troops to fight in Liaodong and had a sharper perception of the various dynamics of the Nine Borders than ordinary people.

Because the war fluctuations in Datong, Xuanfu, and other places affected each other, the entire Nine Borders would be affected to a greater or lesser extent.

Whether it was as an official of the imperial court, worrying about the border towns of the country, or as the actual controller of the Xinchun Firm, talking about business.

He had to pay more and more attention to the Datong incident.

In addition, Datong was not only a key town of the Nine Borders but also a distribution center for timber, mountain treasures, fruits, and livestock local products in the northwest.

So, not long after Zhou Guangcheng returned to Liaodong at the end of last year, he received a letter from Jia Cong, asking him to deploy manpower to establish a branch in Datong.

After several months of operation, the Xinchun Firm's Datong branch had already gained a firm foothold locally, and information such as Datong's local business conditions and war fluctuations was often transmitted through Feiyu.

The letter sent by Zhou Guangcheng, apart from describing the Mongol cavalry often harassing border villages and towns.

Half a month ago, a great battle occurred at Wosha Fortress, ninety miles away from the Datong border.

According to the news sent back to the city by the Datong border army scouts, Wosha Fortress was not within the territory of the Great Zhou and had always been occupied by the Urat tribe of the remnants of the Mongols.

Half a month ago, Anda Khan of the Tuman tribe suddenly dispatched elites to capture Wosha Fortress overnight and slaughtered the three thousand Urat tribesmen who were occupying it.

Because it involved the infighting of the Mongol tribes, the Great Zhou border army naturally watched from the sidelines and strictly guarded the border stockades……

Another two letters came from the Jiangnan general store of the Jin Ling Xinchun Firm and were just sent to the Love Shenjing yesterday.

The content in the letter involved the Zhen family of Jin Ling, and Jia Cong felt somewhat solemn after reading it.

Qu Hongxiu said in the letter that ever since Ge Captain Ge Zhi Cheng, the commander of the Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard, was dismissed, the new Embroidered Uniform Guard thousand-household Wang Zhangjiang was a formidable figure.

As soon as he arrived in Jin Ling, he checked the old case of Zhen Shiwen involving firearms, and now he had caused quite a stir.

Because the Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard's investigation and arrest were done on the surface, they could not hide it from people. Plus, Liu Hai, the hundred-household of the Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard, was a close friend of Jia Cong.

Qu Hongxiu naturally had channels to know the details of this matter in time……

As for why Qu Hongxiu was so concerned about the Zhen family's matter, once she got the news, she immediately sent a letter to herself using Feiyu.

It must be because he and Zhen Fangqing once had a marriage relationship. Although the imperial marriage was revoked, the relationship was always somewhat unusual. Qu Hongxiu felt that he must care about this matter……

……

Love Shenjing, outside the north suburb of the city, the tomb of Emperor Hongxuan.

On the west side of the imperial tomb, there were several villas where the imperial family guarding the tomb lived.

In these two years, apart from the Zhen Old Imperial Consort, who was the foster mother of the Retired Emperor, no one of prominent status in the imperial family had passed away.

Therefore, these several villas guarding the tomb, except for the first one, were quite deserted.

In the center of the main room of the villa, the Fulu Shou auspicious cloud blue enamel incense tripod flickered with fire-red light, and the milky white smoke of dragon saliva incense drifted slowly from the tripod, filling the room with fragrance.

The Love Shenjing had passed the deep winter. For Zhen Fangqing, who had long been accustomed to the warmth of Jiangnan, the warmth of March made her feel exceptionally comfortable.

Apart from going to the tomb of the Zhen Old Imperial Consort every day to burn incense and pray, she spent most of her time in the villa guarding the tomb.

Daily, apart from checking the business accounts sent by fast horse from Jin Ling, she read books and wrote calligraphy to pass the time. She did not know how many times she had copied the calligraphy of Xijiangyue sent by Jia Cong. Since the Zhen Old Imperial Consort was buried, Jia Cong had been to the imperial tomb once in the following half year.

That was because of the sacrificial ceremony in early spring. The Jia and Zhen families were old relatives, so he represented the Jia family to pay respects to the Zhen Old Imperial Consort, and the two met because of this.

Apart from this, even if the two were in the Love Shenjing, they had not met again.

It was not that Jia Cong was unwilling to come and see her, but because the two had a marriage agreement due to the imperial marriage, and later the imperial marriage was revoked due to an accident, making the relationship between them special.

If there was no proper reason, with the ambiguous relationship between them, meeting privately in the imperial tomb villa would cause a big incident if it spread out.

In March, the spring breeze was thin. Zhen Fangqing had long changed into a lined jacket and fur, and because she was in the mourning period, her clothing was plain.

She wore a cyan unembroidered jacket, inside was a plain white soft silk stand-up collar shirt, and on her lower body was a plain ivory white skirt. Apart from a silver hairpin on her head, there were no other head ornaments.

Although it was a plain dress, it did not appear dull, but increasingly like a chrysanthemum, her pretty face was white and crystal clear, her wonderful eyes were clear like water, her style was outstanding, and she was clear and moving.

At this time, she was flipping through the business accounts of the Zhen family shop sent by fast horse from Jin Ling ten days ago, speculating on the progress and possible profits of several businesses in the account.

The Love Shenjing and Jin Ling were thousands of miles apart. She could get the accounts of the Zhen family business for half a month, which was considered very timely and fast.

!

……

At this time, footsteps came from outside the room, and a woman in her thirties entered with a full face of smiles.

She said: "Third Young Lady, just now the young servant of the Count of Lord Weiyuan sent a letter, saying that the Count specially explained to ask the young lady to open it personally.

Although the young lady's happy event did not succeed, the Count of Lord Weiyuan still keeps the young lady in his heart. Not only is every festival gift thoughtful and exquisite, but he also specially sent a letter."

Liu Xian's words carried joy. Zhen Fangqing was also happy in her heart and asked: "Where is his young servant? You take a string of money and ask him to drink tea."

Liu Xian said: "That young servant put down the letter and left."

Zhen Fangqing was stunned when she heard this, feeling that something was wrong. Why did he send a letter suddenly?

She hurriedly opened the letter in her hand. By the time she read the content of the letter, her face had changed greatly.

Liu Xian saw Zhen Fangqing's face was wrong and hurriedly asked: "Young Lady, what important matter did the Count of Lord Weiyuan say in the letter?"

Zhen Fangqing got up and walked a few steps, her pretty face somewhat pale, and said: "Yuzhang said in the letter that he got news from Jin Ling that the Zhen family had trouble recently.

After the new Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard thousand-household Wang Zhangjiang took office, he began to check the old case of the Third Brother privately transporting firearms and hiding Ottoman fine iron, causing quite a stir."

Liu Xian was shocked: "The Third Brother of the eldest branch is already dead. Isn't his case already cleared? Why did the Embroidered Uniform Guard check the old account again?

Besides, among the shops, many of the people left by the Third Brother have unclean hands and left handles, which have all been cleared by the Third Young Lady. What else can the Embroidered Uniform Guard check?"

Zhen Fangqing said: "The original Zhen mansion steward Chen Qiong was my father's follower. Later, after my father passed away, he became the Third Brother's confidant and helped the Third Brother do the work of stealing firearms.

After the Third Brother passed away, I checked the accounts and found that Chen Qiong had done many things that violated the rules. In order to clear the family business, his affairs were reported to the government, and he was imprisoned.

But he had two sons, one of whom was the steward of Haiyun Pavilion. The Third Brother privately hid Ottoman fine iron in the Haiyun Pavilion warehouse, which was handled by this son of Chen Qiong. This person is called Chen Rong.

Ever since Chen Qiong was imprisoned, Chen Rong luckily got the news and fled Jin Ling City privately.

Therefore, because this person was just a steward, he fled privately, and we Zhen family did not mention it, so the government did not notice this person.

I did not expect that the new Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard thousand-household Wang Zhangjiang was a formidable figure. I don't know what means he used to pull out the cocoon and think of Chen Rong who fled.

And he sent the elites of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to search for Chen Rong everywhere, and he was so supernatural that he caught Chen Rong from Quanzhou.

That Chen Rong entered the Embroidered Uniform Guard prison and could not bear the torture. Six days ago, he confessed the old affairs of the Third Brother.

Originally, the Ottoman fine iron in the Haiyun Pavilion warehouse was not deposited by the Third Brother's friends at all.

It was the Third Brother who used the convenience of the Zhen family's sea ships to order it from the Ottoman country himself. Chen Rong had personally participated in this matter.

This kind of Ottoman fine iron is specially used to forge firearm barrels. Chen Rong's testimony confirmed that the Third Brother had conspired to privately manufacture the imperial court's prohibited firearms, which is the crime of rebellion.

But the Third Brother had already passed away, and the Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard could not convict him for a while. And the eldest uncle is currently the Chief of the Tiren Institute of the Jin Ling Province, so the matter was not done to the end for a while.

However, using the Third Brother to frame the Zhen family for also having the suspicion of private manufacturing, five days ago, they sealed three shops including the Zhen family's Haiyun Pavilion.

Four days ago, holding official documents, they entered the Third Brother's residence before his death in the Zhen family mansion to search for evidence, and the Third Brother's private residences in Jin Ling City were also sealed."

Liu Xian heard this, her face turned pale with fright, and said: "Third Young Lady, the Embroidered Uniform Guard actually entered the Zhen family mansion to search. Will they find anything?"

Zhen Fangqing was also pale and said: "After the Third Brother passed away, I had already cleaned up the tail. They would not find anything in the Zhen family mansion and the Third Brother's villa.

I think now that the eldest uncle still has an official position, there is still some concern, but how long it can be maintained, I cannot say for sure.

In fact, if the Embroidered Uniform Guard really wants to convict the Zhen family, where do they need to find real evidence? They have never lacked such means……

After the Third Brother passed away, more than half a year has passed. Originally, I was worried about this matter and made many preparations. Later, seeing that it had always been calm, I even thought I was overthinking.

I did not expect that after Ge Captain Ge Zhi Cheng, the new Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard thousand-household was such a formidable figure. How it looks is somewhat deliberate.

If he was not instructed by his superiors, how could he pursue an old case so relentlessly!"

……

Zhen Fangqing pushed open the window and looked towards the direction of the imperial tomb, talking to herself: "In the past, the Zhen family still had the protection of the Old Imperial Consort. Now that the Old Imperial Consort has passed away, the Zhen family has lost its greatest reliance.

This is probably called settling accounts after autumn. This time, it is likely that a great disaster is imminent……"

Liu Xian at the side was also a woman who had experienced storms. The two of them had been in the Zhen family's second branch for half their lives and had seen the ups and downs of the Zhen family over the past ten years.

The Zhen family's second branch was the place where the figures were. The glory and wealth of the Zhen family over the past decades could be said to have originated from the second branch.

The Zhen Second Master of that year was an extremely capable figure. It was a pity that he died too early.

As for the Zhen Third Young Lady, although she was a girl, she had always been resourceful and did things with ease, even more powerful than capable men.

Now that even she said such words, I am afraid that the Zhen family is really in trouble this time.

Zhen Fangqing looked at the letter in her hand and said with a puzzled expression: "The Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard made trouble five days ago, and searched the Zhen mansion four days ago. The time is very short.

Jin Ling and the Love Shenjing are thousands of miles apart. Even if they change to top-grade fast horses along the way, it will take more than five days to deliver the news.

I think Uncle Xian's urgent letter must have been sent, but it must still be on the way.

I did not expect Yuzhang to be so supernatural. Being in the Love Shenjing, he could get the news so early. Since he could send a letter to me, he must have received the news within four days……"

Zhen Fangqing could not understand what method Jia Cong used to get the news so quickly.

However, the danger of the Zhen family had arisen, and she did not want to implicate Jia Cong. It was already a great favor for him to send the news in time.

Fortunately, when Zhen Shiwen's incident happened last year, Zhen Fangqing vaguely anticipated today and had long made many preparations. A large amount of family assets had been secretly transferred by her in various ways……

Zhen Fangqing said to Liu Xian: "Aunt Liu, you go to the courtyard and have the young servants prepare more fast horses. Once I write the letter, send it to Jin Ling immediately, so that Uncle Xian can make proper preparations early."

……

Rongguo Prefecture, Jia Cong's Courtyard.

Jia Cong sent Through Ai Li home and returned to the Count's Mansion alone. He took the Su-style pastries brought back from Liufangju and had Qingwen and Zhen Ying Lian send them to the sisters' residences.

He took out the lychee frozen paperweights from the drawer of his desk, touched and played with them in his hand, his thoughts surging.

Just now, as soon as he returned to the prefecture, he immediately wrote an urgent letter and had Jiang Liu send it to the imperial tomb east of the city by fast horse. This was all he could do at the moment.

The Love Shenjing and Jin Ling were thousands of miles apart, and Zhen Fangqing was beyond his reach. He hoped that Liu Xian, the steward by her side, could make some effective response in Jin Ling.

He thought for a moment and finally picked up paper and pen to write another letter.

Then he left the mansion again and went to Through Ai Li's residence……(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 606 =====