Chapter 91: Setting the Stage

Xiao Yong, belly protruding fat, looked at He Yunshan with a puzzled expression and asked, "Brother He, what's this all about?"

He Yunshan's rat-like eyes blinked, equally bewildered, and he muttered thoughtfully to himself: "Could it be that this unremarkable workshop has some kind of backing?"

Xiao Yong shook his head and asserted: "Impossible. If it truly had backing, they would have acted long ago. Why wait until now?"

He Yunshan's small eyes narrowed. A nagging unease lingered in his heart as he said, "Judging by this, either they have no backing at all, or they have backing and are planning something."

Xiao Yong remained unconvinced. Gazing at the unremarkable workshop as if it were a piece of fat meat, his eyes gleamed as he said, "No need to speculate. Let's go back and ask that fellow Zhao—then everything will be clear."

He Yunshan thought it over and nodded. "Fine. Since they haven't made a move for so long, a little more time won't make a difference."

The two then boarded their sedan chairs one after another and quickly disappeared not far from the workshop.

Those keeping an eye on Zhu Xu's workshop were naturally not limited to these people. The merchants large and small who had already tasted the sweetness all sent people to probe for information. The moment they saw the Shuntian Prefecture yamen personnel withdraw, they hurried back to report.

Before long, Zhao Han returned to the Shuntian Prefecture yamen.

Prefect Shen Yan had received word early and hurried out from the back hall to greet him. Seeing Zhao Han covered in wounds, with a swollen face and blackened eyes, he asked with alarm: "What happened? What's going on?"

Although Shen Yan did not care much for Zhao Han, the man was after all the Deputy Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture. When you beat a dog, you look at its master—and besides, Zhao Han being beaten itself showed just how serious the matter was.

Zhao Han's mouth twitched, sending another jolt of pain through him. Covering his face, he looked at Shen Yan, then snapped angrily at the people around them: "Get out, all of you! Can't you see I have matters to discuss with His Excellency the Prefect?"

The crowd glanced at Shen Yan, and only after receiving his nod of consent did they hastily withdraw.

Shen Yan helped Zhao Han sit down in a chair off to the side. Only then did Zhao Han speak: "Your Excellency, our yamen is in trouble."

Shen Yan's expression immediately soured. His mind was still in turmoil—earlier, the treasury had been sealed by Prince Hui, and not only had the confiscated goods been hauled away, but the funds originally stored there were gone as well. The losses were severe, and he had no idea where to make them up. If something else went wrong now, he would truly feel that Shuntian Prefecture was cursed against him, that it could no longer accommodate him.

"Speak in detail." Shen Yan said in a low voice.

Zhao Han hesitated for a moment, then still recounted the whole affair from beginning to end. At a time like this, he naturally could not conceal anything, because he needed Shen Yan to take the fall. If even Shen Yan could not withstand it, then the one to suffer would be him.

After hearing this, Shen Yan's face turned the color of yellow soybean paste. He sat there in a daze.

If they had poked a hornet's nest, that would be manageable—at worst, cover your face and run, and once you were far enough away, it would be over. But if you had touched a tiger's backside, what were you supposed to do?

After a long while, seeing that Shen Yan still had not spoken, Zhao Han said nervously: "Your Excellency, we..."

Slap!

Shen Yan suddenly slammed his hand on the table and stood up, his expression grave and his gaze flickering. Although this matter had been stirred up by Zhao Han, that Prince Hui would likely not settle the account with only him alone.

Zhao Han was startled. What he feared most now was Shen Yan throwing all caution to the wind and offering him up as a scapegoat. He stood up shakily and said, "Your Excellency?"

Shen Yan's expression was gloomy as he said coldly: "I am going now to see Lord Fu of the Ministry of Revenue. You take men and arrest all those who filed the false accusations. Do not make any move against them for now—wait until I return!"

Zhao Han was also a seasoned old hand in officialdom. He quickly grasped Shen Yan's intent, and a ruthless look crossed his face as he said: "This subordinate understands. I'll go at once!"

The movements of the Shuntian Prefecture yamen were quickly relayed back to Zhu Xu's Jinghuan Palace.

But Zhu Xu had been sleeping the whole time. This trip had exhausted him considerably, and he slept especially soundly. With his earlier instructions given, naturally no one dared to disturb him.

Without any reply from Zhu Xu, those outside the palace did not presume to act on their own. And so, the Shuntian Prefecture yamen, along with He Yunshan, Xiao Yong, and the others they had detained, all waited in anxious torment.

The night was cool as water, and the lanterns burned bright.

"The night was cool as water" referred to the imperial palace—Jinghuan Palace was pitch black, and His Highness Prince Hui was still asleep. "The lanterns burned bright" referred to the Shuntian Prefecture—Shen Yan stayed up all night without rest. At the same time, people came from all directions to plead for leniency, practically wearing down the doorstep. Yet they had no idea what the reason was, and Shen Yan and the others remained tight-lipped.

"Lord Shen, if you arrest people, you must have a reason, surely? If you seize goods, you must explain what law has been violated, mustn't you?" A Bureau Director from the Ministry of Works blocked Shen Yan, making a racket.

"Yes, Lord Shen, what crime has my master committed? At least tell us, so we know what to do. Right now the whole household is in a panic..." This was the steward of He Yunshan's household.

"Lord Shen, these goods were meant to suppress the rebellion. You cannot seize them at will. If the court investigates this, we cannot bear the consequences..." This was from the Xiao family.

Shen Yan listened to these people clamoring and shouting, his expression not moving in the slightest. Only when they fell silent did he say impatiently: "Throw them all out!"

The yamen runners immediately swarmed forward and, regardless of what anyone said, drove them all out of the yamen.

But the next day, all the detained people were released—not one was left—yet the goods remained seized.

As soon as he was released, Xiao Yong sought out Zhao Han, his face full of bitterness as he said: "Your Excellency Zhao, you must at least give us an explanation. And our goods..."

Zhao Han waved his hand with an indifferent expression and snorted coldly: "You falsely accused fellow merchants and conspired to frame court officials. All goods are confiscated."

Then, without allowing any argument, they too were driven out.

By the third day, Xiao Yong, He Yunshan, and the others gathered together, all wearing grim expressions.

"Old Xiao, a batch of goods I just brought into the city was inspected by the Patrol Censor!"

"My warehouse outside the city was also searched by the Shuntian Prefecture."

"It's not just that—my warehouse in the city was already raided before, and now my shops have all been sealed. I don't know when I'll get them back..."

"What on earth is going on? Which great deity have we offended? If this continues, it won't do..."

Although this group had not formed a formal merchant guild, they had always stood together through thick and thin. Especially with such a major incident this time—every grain and rice shop in the capital had been sealed and inspected—their fellow tradesmen were all shaken to the core, unable to sleep soundly at night.

He Yunshan and Xiao Yong were the leaders of this trade. The two exchanged a glance, vaguely aware of what had happened, yet still not knowing just which great Buddha stood behind that workshop.

"Brother Xiao, having our goods seized is a small matter. If this continues, we'll all be eating the northwest wind!"

"Yes, the two of you have formidable connections. Please, lend us your aid."

"We can't wait any longer..."

Xiao Yong's fat body trembled, and his plump face was full of gravity. But even when worshipping Buddha, you had to know which one you were worshipping, didn't you?

He Yunshan blinked his rat-like eyes and pondered for a long while, then suddenly said: "Brother Xiao, why don't we pay a visit to that workshop? No matter what, it wouldn't hurt to test the waters first."

Xiao Yong hesitated and said: "Wouldn't that be too rash? If we upset them again, might they throw us back in?"