Chapter 329: Does the Dai family have a powerful background?

Dai Yuxi's gaze held a hint of scrutiny; the person before her was definitely not here to buy elixirs.

Her grandfather had come to the capital from Jiangnan Province. If it were her father's generation, they might have spent their youth in Jiangnan and retained some of the accent, but she and her younger brother were born in the capital; their speech had absolutely no Jiangnan accent.

Having been seen through by the other party that he wasn't here to buy elixirs, Lin Chen wasn't the least bit surprised. Since he didn't want to keep trying to fish for information, he decided to be direct and lay his cards on the table.

"To be honest, I only came in after seeing your grandfather's name on the apothecary's plaque. I am from Jiangnan Province."

"You came in only after seeing my grandfather's name? You know my grandfather?"

After asking this, Dai Yuxi shook her head before he could even answer. The person before her was even younger than she was, and her grandfather had passed away several years ago; it was impossible for him to have known him.

"My family has some connection to Lord Dai Jingfeng, but I am not certain if he is your grandfather."

Hearing this, Dai Yuxi finally understood the visitor's intent. He wanted to confirm if her grandfather was indeed the person connected to his family, to rule out the possibility of having the same name.

"My grandfather was from Quzhou Prefecture in Jiangnan Province."

Quzhou Prefecture?

Quzhou was adjacent to Raozhou Prefecture; there was still a chance for Zhou San to have obtained that scroll of Martial Will.

Lin Chen continued to ask: "May I ask, in the 275th year of the Daliang calendar, was your grandfather over fifty? Was he a Mid-Rank martial artist?"

Having the same name was possible, but having the same name, coming from the same profession, being the same age, and both being Mid-Rank martial artists—it couldn't be anyone else.

Hearing Lin Chen's inquiry, Dai Yuxi understood that his family might truly have had a connection to her grandfather, but it shouldn't have been particularly close; otherwise, he could have asked for more detailed information.

"That's right. In the 275th year of the Daliang calendar, my grandfather had just celebrated his fiftieth birthday. Before he passed away, he was a Fifth-Rank martial artist."

It matched.

Lin Chen's eyes brightened. He cupped his hands toward Dai Yuxi and said, "Miss Dai, I once received the grace of your grandfather's martial arts guidance."

"You received grace from my grandfather?"

Dai Yuxi looked Lin Chen over carefully. Her grandfather had passed away several years ago; before he died, this person probably hadn't even started practicing martial arts. Where would this "grace of guidance" come from?

"Your grandfather once had a scroll containing Martial Will, which ended up being used by me."

"A Martial Will scroll? Did my grandfather give it to your family?"

"No, it fell into my hands by accident."

Lin Chen answered truthfully. He believed this Martial Will scroll did not belong to Zhou San, but was obtained by Zhou San through some means. After all, Senior Dai Jingfeng had mentioned in the scroll that for his fiftieth birthday, the elders of his hometown had come to celebrate, and he had gifted this scroll to them as a return gift.

Zhou San was a native of Poyang County, not Quzhou.

"My grandfather's fiftieth birthday... I hadn't been born yet."

Having understood the cause and effect, Dai Yuxi knew what had happened. Her grandfather had given a scroll to the folks back home to show his support for the younger generation of his hometown, and somehow, this scroll had ended up in this person's hands.

If this person were also from Quzhou and a descendant of her grandfather's hometown, then her grandfather would indeed have bestowed the grace of Martial Will.

But since this person said the scroll fell into his hands by accident, he shouldn't be from Quzhou, nor a descendant of her grandfather's hometown. Thus, it couldn't be counted as "grace."

"Your grandfather's Martial Will scroll gave me a great deal of help back then."

Lin Chen knew what Dai Yuxi was thinking. To some extent, he really didn't need to care about the Dai family's favor; that Senior Dai hadn't prepared the Martial Will scroll for him. However, Lin Chen still intended to repay this "causality."

"May I ask what problem your apothecary is facing?"

Dai Yuxi glanced at Lin Chen and, instead of answering directly, asked, "How should I address you?"

"My surname is Lin."

"Young Lin Shi, this is a matter concerning my Dai family. It would be best not to involve you."

In Dai Yuxi's view, the Martial Will left by her grandfather wasn't prepared for this person, yet he still cherished this favor. It must be that her grandfather's Martial Will had been of immense help to his martial arts journey.

But this also pointed to a problem: if a Mid-Rank martial artist's Martial Will could be of such great help to him, it meant Young Lin Shi's family background wasn't very good—at least in the capital, he likely belonged to the lower class.

The person targeting the Dai family's apothecary likely had a background no worse than the Dai family's. It was better not to drag Young Lin Shi into this.

"Miss Dai, why not tell me? Perhaps I can offer some ideas."

Lin Chen smiled, knowing Dai Yuxi felt he couldn't be of any help.

Seeing Lin Chen's determined expression, Dai Yuxi thought for a moment and said, "Last month, someone wanted to buy our Dai family's apothecary, but my family refused. Since then, the apothecary has consecutively encountered three martial artists who bought our medicine, only for problems to arise after they consumed it."

"Elixirs from your apothecary?"

"My Dai family's apothecary has been operating in the capital for nearly thirty years. The effectiveness of our elixirs is well-known; we have never passed off inferior goods as quality ones, nor would we ever use fake medicine to impersonate our own."

Dai Yuxi's expression turned cold. Lin Chen didn't mind her attitude; he had asked to determine whether the Dai family's apothecary was actually engaging in fraud. Judging by Dai Yuxi's expression, they likely weren't.

At his current stage, his observation of others' expressions had reached a level of subtlety.

"In that case, it seems the person who wanted to acquire the apothecary is playing tricks behind the scenes. Has the Dai family not reported this to the government office?"

"When that person came to our door, they didn't state their identity or background. Even if we reported it to the government office, they would have no way to investigate. The hardest part of this matter isn't finding the person, but the apothecary's inability to prove its own innocence."

After hearing Dai Yuxi's explanation, Lin Chen understood.

The Dai family was likely on the decline.

Wherever there are people, there are connections and relationships; this is human nature, and no one can change it.

The Dai family reported to the officials, but the government office only expelled the troublemakers. It was nothing more than the Dai family lacking connections in the government office; those government office runners didn't want to waste too much energy on this matter, as it wasn't a brawl or a case involving death.

The person behind the scenes arranging for people to cause trouble must have anticipated that the Dai family would report it. As long as the troublemakers stuck to their story, it would be enough. It was even possible that the other party had bribed the government office runners.

"Miss Dai, I shall take my leave now."

Seeing Lin Chen think for a moment and then immediately bid farewell, a trace of disappointment appeared in the depths of Dai Yuxi's eyes.

Although she didn't think Young Lin Shi had a way to solve the Dai family's current predicament, the fact that he had asked had given her a glimmer of hope.

"Very well."

Dai Yuxi watched Lin Chen leave, then sat in the chair behind the counter and began to ponder a way to break the deadlock.

After leaving the Dai family's apothecary, Lin Chen headed straight for the Qingyun Wu Yuan.

In front of the Qingyun Wu Yuan, Lin Chen waited for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea before Kong Qing's figure hurried out from inside.

"Lin Lin Shixiong, why are you waiting at the gate?"

Kong Qing had received a report from the academy's gatekeeper that someone had come to the academy looking for him. The description of the visitor from the gatekeeper confirmed it was Lin Lin Shixiong, so he had rushed over immediately.

In his view, as long as Lin Lin Shixiong stated his name, the gatekeeper would have let him in without question.

The name of Lin Lin Shixiong might not have been heard of by gatekeepers elsewhere, but the gatekeeper of the Wu Yuan had definitely heard of it.

"Waiting here is the same."

Lin Chen hadn't stated his name because he didn't want to attract too much attention. If he had, he feared the entire Qingyun Wu Yuan would have known, and he would have been surrounded by many academy disciples again.

"Has Lin Lin Shixiong already been to the Wuzheng Force?"

"Yes, I have met with Lord Kong."

Hearing that Lin Chen had met Lord Kong, a trace of envy appeared in Kong Qing's eyes. He still hadn't met Lord Kong himself—seeing him from afar didn't count.

"Does Lin Lin Shixiong have any other plans for tonight?"

"I believe there is nothing else."

"Then I shall arrange a welcome banquet for Lin Lin Shixiong tonight to wash away the dust of his journey. I will call Lin Lin Shixiong Zhang Ming and a few other fellow disciples of the same age. Lin Lin Shixiong, what do you think of this?"

"A guest follows the host's arrangements; Lin Lin Shidi Kong, just make the arrangements as you see fit."

Lin Chen did not refuse, but he asked a question: "Lin Lin Shidi Kong, do you know anyone at the Kyoto government office?" "Uh..."

Kong Qing's expression turned strange. Under Lin Chen's puzzled gaze, he explained: "Lin Lin Shixiong, my father is the Prefect of Jingzhao."

Lin Chen:...

Only now did he realize that these junior brothers like Kong Qing were not only genius disciples of the Wu Yuan but also children of the powerful and influential.

"Lin Lin Shixiong, is there something you need?"

"It is not my own affair, but a matter that has befallen the family of an old acquaintance."

Lin Chen briefly explained the situation regarding the Dai family's pharmacy. Kong Qing understood what Lin Lin Shixiong meant: "Lin Lin Shixiong wants the government office to clear the Dai family's pharmacy of suspicion."

"Whether the Dai family is innocent or not is for the government office to investigate; I simply want the government office to investigate this matter clearly."

As a child of an official, how could Kong Qing not understand the subtext in Lin Chen's words? If the government office investigated this matter and the Dai family was truly innocent, they would catch the person behind the scenes, announce it to the neighbors, and restore the Dai family's reputation.

If the Dai family was not innocent, then this matter could not be handled with great fanfare.

Regardless, it had to be investigated clearly first.

The reason the Dai family could not do it was that such matters were not considered major issues for the government office, and those government office runners would not waste their efforts on it. To put it bluntly, it was because the Dai family lacked the strength themselves.

If someone were truly plotting against the Dai family, as long as the government office conducted a thorough investigation, the other party would absolutely not be able to hide.

Not to mention anything else, just those three troublemakers—if they were pressed hard, they would have to confess everything.

"Lin Lin Shixiong, rest assured, I will handle this matter for you. I will take you to a place first."

Kong Qing took Lin Chen to a relatively quiet manor and arranged a separate courtyard for him. Kong Qing then left; he had to go to the government office and also contact those fellow disciples.

Those fellow disciples would absolutely not want to miss the chance to welcome Lin Lin Shixiong, but given Lin Lin Shixiong's temperament, the number of people certainly should not be too large.

Kyoto, as the capital of the Liang State, has a Prefect of Jingzhao who is a Third-Rank martial artist, and the constables under him are all Mid-Rank martial artists.

"Investigate the matter of the Dai family's pharmacy?"

Liu Jun looked at the paper in his hand, which recorded the situation of the Dai family's pharmacy.

A pharmacy rumored to be selling inferior elixirs—would such a small matter warrant the Prefect himself asking about it?

Does this Dai family have some background?

After a long while, Liu Jun stood up and shouted outside the room: "Assemble the constables."

Half an hour later, Liu Jun held the results of his subordinates' investigation: the Dai family's pharmacy had been framed, and the mastermind behind it was the Cai family.

When the government office got serious, those few troublemakers confessed everything clearly.

The Cai family was a clan that had only entered the capital a few years ago. The current head of the Cai family was at the Sixth-Rank stage, equal in strength to him, the head constable, and the Cai family's ancestors had also operated pharmacies...

After Dai Jingfeng of the Dai family died, his sons failed to break through to the Mid-Rank, and the family began to decline. The Cai family then began to set their sights on the Dai family's pharmacy.

At the foot of the capital, the Cai family naturally dared not seize it by force, so they used this method to make things difficult for the Dai family, eventually forcing them to sell the pharmacy.

"Take a few men and go to the Cai family to make arrests."

So what if the head of the Cai family is a Sixth-Rank martial artist? When the government office makes an arrest, the head of the Cai family wouldn't dare to resist even if he were given ten times the courage.

"My lord, arrest them directly?"

The constable beside him was somewhat surprised; shouldn't this matter be reported to the superiors first?

Although the head of the Cai family was only at the Sixth-Rank, he was only in his fifties and had a high probability of advancing another rank; he must have his own connections in the capital.

"Arrest them directly."

Liu Jun's expression turned cold. No matter how extensive the Cai family's connections were, could they be greater than Lord Kong's?

What he was actually curious about now was how this Dai family had become involved with Lord Kong.

The Dai family's pharmacy.

"Young Lady, people from the government office have arrived."

Hearing the anxious words of the shop assistant, Dai Yuxi's expression changed, while Dai Yuze beside her was full of anger: "Did the other party get the government office to intervene?"

"Little brother, don't talk nonsense."

Dai Yuxi scolded in a low voice. She did not believe the other party could command the government office; if they truly had that ability, why would they set their sights on their family's pharmacy?

Pushing aside the curtain, Dai Yuxi saw the three figures standing in the pharmacy. When she saw the middle-aged man at the front, her beautiful eyes narrowed, and she quickly said: "Lord Liu has come; I failed to welcome you from afar, and I hope you will forgive me."

"Are you the Young Lady of the Dai family?"

Liu Jun was also sizing up Dai Yuxi. Her appearance could only be described as average. At first, he had wondered if this Dai Young Lady had some relationship with a powerful young master, but now it seemed he had thought wrong.

But this precisely indicated that the Dai family was not ordinary.

If this Dai Young Lady were a great beauty and had told this matter to some powerful young master who had feelings for her, and it finally reached Lord Kong, then these connections would not belong to the Dai family.

"Yes, junior Dai Yuxi, and this is my younger brother, Dai Yuze."

Dai Yuxi was also puzzled at this moment about the reason for Lord Liu's personal visit.

Lord Liu was the constable responsible for these few streets and would patrol them daily, which was why she recognized him.

"Young Lady Dai, Young Master Dai, I have come this time because someone said the elixirs sold in your shop were of inferior quality..."

"My lord, this is a frame-up."

Hearing this, Dai Yuze could not help but speak, directly interrupting Liu Jun's words.

"Little brother, be quiet." Dai Yuxi quickly stopped him, and at the same time said to Liu Jun: "Lord Liu, my little brother is ignorant; please do not take offense."

"I can understand your brother's feelings. If it were my family's pharmacy being framed, I would also be anxious. My government office failed to investigate this clearly at the beginning, but I have thoroughly investigated those few people today. Now I can confirm that the other party framed your pharmacy, and I have already sent men to arrest the mastermind behind it."

When Liu Jun said this, the entire pharmacy fell silent for a few breaths.

"Thank... thank you, my lord, for clearing the Dai family's name."

After a few breaths, Dai Yuxi's pretty face flushed red, and she spoke excitedly.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Liu Jun walked out of the pharmacy with a smile on his face: "Young Lady Dai, please stay; there is no need to see me off. Once I have interrogated the Cai family and obtained their confession, I will bring those few people who made the false accusations to the pharmacy to clarify things for the Dai family."

Watching the back of Constable Liu as he left with two constables, the excitement in Dai Yuxi's heart finally calmed down, allowing her to think coolly.

"This matter is strange."

"Sister, what's strange about it? Could it be that Constable Liu is fooling us?" Dai Yuze muttered on the side.

Snap!

Dai Yuxi could not help but flick her younger brother on the head: "Constable Liu naturally wouldn't fool us. What I find strange is why Constable Liu would help us?"

Unaccountably, Dai Yuxi thought of that Young Lin Shi who came from the Jiangnan Circuit, but she immediately shook her head; that Young Lin Shi should not have such ability.

"Sister, why are you shaking your head and nodding? Why worry so much? Anyway, this is a great thing for our family."

Hearing her younger brother's words, Dai Yuxi smiled. Her little brother was right; no matter what was strange about it, it was a good thing for the family, as it had at least resolved the family's crisis.

"Little brother, go back and tell Father and our uncles this good news so they won't worry."

(End of chapter)