Chapter 205 Dark under the lamp

Shen Huaichen left, having only drunk two cups of tea.

Looking at the box of jewelry and the stack of silver notes on the bed, Shangguan Jin felt a little dazed.

You left so soon?

Not even allowed to rest for one night in the tunnel?

Well, in the end, it seems like Shen Huaichen is the one with ambition!

Remembering what Shen Huaichen said before he left, that there was nothing to worry about, and that at worst he could just take his family and run north.

He'll definitely establish a base for them in the north...

Two knocks sounded on the door, and Dongmai quickly and gently pushed it open, then poked her head in.

"Miss, dinner is ready..."

Seeing the things on the bed and Shangguan Jin sitting on the edge of the bed in a daze, Dongmai immediately realized what was going on.

Could it be that the Duke has returned?

Gently closing the door, Dongmai tiptoed to Shangguan Jin's side.

"Miss, shall we prepare bathwater for the Duke? Should dinner be served in his room tonight?"

"Or are you still going to pretend to be sick?" Dongmai asked in a very low voice.

Shangguan Jin...

Have they become so skilled at growing winter wheat?

Including this time, he's only come back three times in total...

"No need, he's already gone. He'll only be back for a short time this time, so there's no need to prepare anything," Shangguan Jin said with a smile.

Dongmai glanced at the bed frame, which had been restored to its original state, and then at the box and silver notes on the bed.

"That Duke worked so hard, running all that way just to bring the money back to the young lady."

Dongmai's words made Shangguan Jin feel even more guilty.

Yes, after all that trouble, you still remember to bring some household supplies back home.

In the end, I drank two cups of tea, and they were still cold...

It seems I'll need to keep some snacks or something similar in this house from now on.

That way, when I get back I can eat something, at least something to fill my stomach.

Preparing snacks and keeping them indoors won't cost much...

Shangguan Jin sighed and gestured for Dongmai to put away the box and silver notes on the bed.

Shen Huaichen is right. We need to be ambitious. How can we just drift through life like this every day?

The road ahead is bumpy, and there's still so much to do; I can't keep living like this every day...

......

Shen Huaichen left the city through the tunnel and waited for less than half an hour at a pre-arranged location on the outskirts of Beijing.

A horse-drawn carriage then drove up.

"Where do you come from, sir?" the coachman suddenly asked.

"From where I came from," Shen Huaichen said calmly.

"Where are you headed, sir?" the coachman continued.

"Go where you're going," Shen Huaichen continued.

The coachman nodded, then asked, "What is your surname, sir? What brings you to the capital?"

"My surname is Du, and I have come to the capital to discuss a business deal."

After Shen Huaichen finished speaking, he took out a jade pendant from his pocket and tossed it to the coachman.

The coachman took a look and immediately jumped down from the carriage respectfully, inviting Shen Huaichen to get into the carriage.

Less than half an hour later, the carriage stopped at the back gate of the Marquis of Wuding's residence.

......

Two days later, the same carriage took Shen Huaichen back to the same spot.

At this moment, another carriage was already waiting for Shen Huaichen.

Watching Shen Huaichen get into that carriage, the original carriage turned around and headed back to the city.

After the groom reported the matter to Marquis Wuding, Marquis Wuding returned to his study.

Inside the study, both the Duke of Anguo and the King of Qin were holding teacups.

"Your Highness, Your Excellency, the person has been seen off. Song San said that a carriage is waiting for Mr. Du at the same spot."

"Those horses are clearly fine, and the people waiting are all skilled fighters," Marquis Wuding said respectfully.

"You talked to him? What kind of person do you think Mr. Du is?" Duke Anguo asked.

Marquis Wuding thought for a long time before uttering four words.

"Unfathomable!"

Both the Duke of Anguo and the King of Qin raised their eyebrows and glanced at the Marquis of Wuding.

"Unfathomable? You actually have such a high opinion of him?" Duke Anguo laughed.

Marquis Wuding smiled.

"Your Highness, Your Excellency, the feeling I get from that man is that he knows what I'm thinking."

I have no idea what he's thinking.

Furthermore, he was from the Central Plains and was very familiar with everything there.

Even now, he is fully aware of everything that is happening in the Great Yu court.

"Your Highness, this man is extremely dangerous," said Marquis Wuding.

Upon hearing what Marquis Wuding said, Duke Anguo also put down his teacup.

"I also have an inside source in Beihu, and I have also investigated this Mr. Du."

The information he received was that this Mr. Du had come to Beihu more than ten years ago.

He used to be a traveling merchant, but his wife and daughters died in a flood in Jiangnan.

He returned to the border to continue his business, but then he encountered the great fire in Sahara and lost half of his face.

Later on, he continued to do business in Sakhalin and other northern border towns.

He followed Achig, the King of War, until Achig arrived in Sahara.

In just one year, he helped Aqig transform Saha City into the most prosperous city on the northern border.

Furthermore, he also helped Achig gather the garrison generals of the other twelve border cities.

"This man... truly possesses great talent!" Duke Anguo said slowly.

“Uncle, so this person is a huge threat to Dayu. Why not eliminate him this time?” the King of Qin asked.

"Get rid of him? Why get rid of him?"

This person is a wolf; as long as you give him enough meat, he won't bite you.

He came on behalf of Achig this time.

If we kill him, who knows what hidden dangers might arise?

Don't forget, among the grain supplies burned in the fire in Sahara ten years ago, there were some for the Weiyuan Army.

If we kill Achig's men, who knows what that kid might do next?

Also, since Mr. Du dared to come, he must not be afraid of us using dirty tricks.

However, when working with such a person, don't reveal all your cards at the beginning.

Try it twice first.

Since the Crown Prince has already started organizing caravans in the north, we should do the same.

Silver is easy to earn in the North, and everyone wants a piece of the pie.

"How much did Mr. Du say he wanted?" Duke Anguo asked.

"Thirty percent, no less, no more. He guarantees that our caravan can roam freely in the thirteen border cities of the Northern Barbarians," said Marquis Wuding.

"Oh, that's good? He must have mentioned other conditions!" Duke Anguo asked with a smile.

"Yes, we need the caravan to provide information about the Weiyuan Army when necessary."

Duke Anguo smiled.

As expected, the Northern Hu people want more than just the profits from the caravans!

"Not-so-important information can be provided."

As for the rest, you are not allowed to utter a single word without my permission.

"Yes!" Marquis Wuding replied respectfully.

“By the way, my lord, I have a feeling that this Mr. Du is somewhat familiar, which makes me a little scared,” Marquis Wuding suddenly said.

"That's because you've done too many bad things."

"If you have a clear conscience, you have nothing to fear. You're a military general, so stop being so superstitious," Duke Anguo said with a smile.

Marquis of Wuding...

Is he really a little scared?

Could it be that he's the man from one of those young wives he stole?