Chapter 55 Target: Shanghai

The night was as dark as ink, and the oppressive atmosphere of the day vanished from the study.

"Go to Shanghai."

Su Wantang stood up, her voice breaking the silence, her eyes conveying both a question and an unquestionable decision.

Lu Jingyan looked at her, his eyes, which could see through all the fog, burning with a fierce determination.

"I'll apply right away."

Actions speak louder than words.

The next morning, Lu Jingyan went out. Without alerting anyone, he went directly to the military region's highest command. In less than half a day, an official document bearing a bright red seal was delivered to him.

"Comrade Lu Jingyan is hereby authorized to go to the Shanghai Military Control District to be fully responsible for the investigation of the theft of 'Candle Dragon'. All units along the way must provide full cooperation."

With this approval, he was no longer the "junior" constantly constrained in the capital, but an imperial envoy wielding the sword of authority. The investigation would move from the shadows to the open.

Su Wantang met Qin Zheng in the backyard of Tangdixuan.

"I need to go to Shanghai with Lu Jingyan. It will take anywhere from half a month to several months." Su Wantang got straight to the point, pushing a thick brown paper bag in front of Qin Zheng.

"Here is Tangdixuan's operating plan and funding for the next three months. Just follow it."

Qin Zheng took the paper bag, his fingers turning white as he gripped it, and said in a deep voice, "Miss, I'll go with you. Shanghai is a place where all sorts of people mingle, and I'm worried about you going alone."

“Beijing needs you more.” Su Wantang shook her head, her eyes sharp.

“Lu Wenbo has suffered such a huge loss, he will definitely not let it go. He can’t do anything to me openly, but he will definitely do a lot of dirty tricks behind the scenes. Tangdixuan is our face in Beijing, and it is also our eyes and ears. We must not let anything go wrong.”

She paused, her tone growing colder: "While I was gone, you did only two things. First, continue to expand our manpower. I don't want a rabble; I want people like you and your brothers—absolutely reliable and capable. Second…"

Her fingertip lightly tapped the stone table. "Keep a close eye on all the letters sent from the labor camps in the Northwest, especially those sent to Beijing. If the letters are sent from those people in the Su family, I need to know every single word in them, no matter what it takes."

Qin Zheng's eyes sharpened, and he instantly understood. The young lady was wary of that venomous snake from the Su family.

"Don't worry, Miss. As long as there's news, it won't even get past my eyes." Qin Zheng stood at attention, like a javelin.

Su Wantang was very satisfied. Qin Zheng's loyalty and ability were her greatest source of confidence in leaving Beijing. She then took out another slip of paper from her pocket and handed it over.

"Go to this address and find a manager named Wu. Tell him I can help with his daughter's illness. Make him behave, or I won't hesitate to send certain accounts to people he shouldn't see."

This is Manager Wu from Huitong Bank, who helped her transfer the Su family's assets—a pawn that could be used by the enemy at any time. Su Wantang never places her hopes on other people's consciences; she only trusts the leverage she holds in her hands.

Qin Zheng took the note, nodded emphatically, turned and left without saying a word.

At the same time, Lu Jingyan was also in the military district building, giving Gao Jianjun his final instructions.

"After I leave, you keep a close eye on Lu Wenbo. He's extremely nervous right now; any slight movement could give him away."

Gao Jianjun looked bitter and resentful: "Commander, are you really going to take your wife to such a dangerous place? That's Shanghai, a place that eats people alive! How about I go with you and leave your wife in Beijing? I promise I'll protect her well!"

Lu Jingyan shot Gao Jianjun a sharp look, and Gao Jianjun immediately shut up.

"Your task is to continue to contact those opportunists." Lu Jingyan ignored his joking around.

“Lu Wenbo’s ship is already cracked. What you need to do is tear that crack even wider. Tell them that I, Lu Jingyan, will be back soon. By then, those who have chosen the wrong side will know exactly what will happen to them.”

Gao Jianjun's expression turned serious. He knew that the regimental commander was playing a long game.

"Understood! Don't worry, Commander, I'll poison the minds of these bastards one by one! I guarantee they won't be able to sleep!" Gao Jianjun patted his chest, then leaned closer and lowered his voice.

"Commander, be careful while you and your wife are out there. Especially... in that area, take it easy, don't tire your wife out."

Lu Jingyan's face darkened.

He kicked this tough-as-nails fool out the door.

Everything is arranged.

......

The southbound train sounded its whistle, and its huge steel wheels rolled over the rails with a loud, clanging sound.

The scenery outside the window rushed past, and the oppressive, gloomy gray cage of Beijing was left far behind.

Inside the sleeper car, Su Wantang leaned against the window, playing with a smooth, warm jade bracelet in her hand.

It was the phoenix blood jade bracelet that she had personally "taken" back from Su Yuting's wrist.

This bracelet was a keepsake from my mother. She always wore it close to her body. Nourished by the spring water day and night, the jade became more and more translucent, and that touch of blood color seemed to come alive, flowing slowly within the jade.

Lu Jingyan sat opposite her, saying nothing, simply gazing at her. His gaze, like a net, enveloped her completely. From her slender wrists to her fair neck, and then to the graceful curves outlined by her cheongsam.

He felt guilty because of this mess.

Su Wantang seemed to notice his gaze, looked up, and gave him a sly smile: "What are you looking at? Afraid I'll run away?"

"I'm afraid you'll get tired," Lu Jingyan replied seriously, his eyes growing even more profound.

Su Wantang's cheeks flushed slightly. She spat and ignored him, continuing to examine the bracelet.

Before, she simply thought it was a keepsake left by her mother. But after experiencing so much, she began to suspect that everything her mother left behind might have a deeper meaning.

Her fingertips gently, inch by inch, caressed the smooth inner surface of the jade bracelet.

Once, twice...

Suddenly, her fingertips paused slightly in one spot.

There, there seems to be an extremely tiny bump, different from the warm and smooth feel of the jade itself.

She squinted, brought the jade bracelet close to her eyes, and examined it carefully in the light coming through the car window.

Under the light, an extremely tiny scratch, almost invisible without close inspection, was revealed.

Those are not scratches, nor are they the natural textures of the jade.

It was a carefully carved, diamond-shaped mark.

What's this?

Why would the Su family's belongings have such strange markings?

Lu Jingyan had woken up sometime earlier. He didn't make a sound, but simply watched her quietly. Seeing her frowning and intently studying the jade bracelet, he leaned closer and spoke in a deep voice in her ear.

"What's wrong?"

The warm breath brushed against her earlobe, causing Su Wantang's body to stiffen almost imperceptibly.

She looked up and met his deep eyes.

She didn't answer immediately, but simply turned the jade bracelet over and hid the diamond-shaped mark in her palm.

Then she smiled, a smile that seemed particularly mysterious in the dimly lit carriage.

"nothing."

She drew out her words, her eyes sparkling.

"I'm just thinking that our trip to Shanghai will probably be much more interesting than we expected."