Chapter 105 The Wind Rises
The next evening, a heavy rain had just fallen.
The Yunhe Ferry Port was still packed with people, nearly a hundred of them standing. The boatman methodically lowered the anchor, lowered the planks, and people boarded and unloaded the boat in an orderly manner.
The river wind after the rain was bitterly cold. Chu Yizhou led a dozen strong men to one of the boats.
The person in charge of escorting the goods was a thin middle-aged man, dressed simply, with a gold tooth showing when he smiled, and spoke in a very mercenary way. While greeting Chu Yizhou, he arranged for his men to help unload the goods.
When dusk fell and the goods were loaded onto the carriage, a heavy rain began to fall again, and the road conditions were not suitable for rapid travel. Chu Yizhou specially invited his brothers to go to Hexianlou to play for a night, and the loaded carriage was parked in a shed in the back alley of Hexianlou.
After a night passed and the sky was about to brighten, Chu Yizhou finally came out of the building.
Compared to the cheerful look on his face when he entered the building last night, he now looked extremely ugly. He lost all his money in the brothel and almost lost his pants. Fortunately, Yu Niang persuaded him to stop the loss in time and gave him a way out, otherwise he would not be able to get out.
Yu Niang, wearing a snow-white fox fur coat, personally escorted him to the back door, swaying her slender waist in a charming manner, and watched them quietly count the goods.
"What's in Mr. Chu's carriage?" Yu Niang was curious.
"Spices." Chu Yizhou answered briefly, his tone revealing a sense of irritation.
Yu Niang smiled, walked to the side of the carriage, glanced at the box casually, and her expression changed slightly: "Oh, these spices are very expensive, right?"
Speaking of this, Chu Yizhou immediately became interested, "Yes, this is popular in Kyoto now, it's the size of a little fingernail, at least this number--" He made a five with his right hand.
"Fifty taels?!"
Yu Niang's eyes widened. After a brief moment of surprise, she smiled brightly, "Master Chu, we are old acquaintances. I have never used this spice before. How about sharing some with me?"
Chu Yizhou folded his arms, looked Yu Niang up and down, and said slowly, "That won't do. The princes and nobles in the city are waiting to use it. Besides, this spice has to be sent to Chufang Pavilion for processing. Even if I give it to you like this, you won't be able to use it."
Yu Niang pursed her red lips, gathered her fox fur, and pretended to be unhappy: "If Master Chu doesn't want to give it to me, then forget it. I'll go back first."
After saying that, he turned around and was about to go in.
"Hey, don't." Chu Yizhou hurriedly chased after her to comfort her, "Yu Niang has helped me so much, how could I be reluctant to give away a few spices?"
Yu Niang turned away and said in a delicate voice, "That's not necessarily true. Men's words can lie."
Chu Yizhou had no choice but to ask someone to bring a small box.
Just as the sky was getting light, a light drizzle began to fall again. The cargo on the carriage had been counted, and a group of people drove out of the back alley in the carriage.
As soon as the carriages left, a black shadow rushed into the alley beside the street. A low-key carriage with a green canopy was parked in the deep alley.
The man came to the car window, bowed and said respectfully: "Sir, it's done. They didn't find out."
After a moment, a clear, pleasant voice came from the car.
"Very good, let's go back to Beijing."
…
A winter rain had fallen, and the wind was chilly. Everyone in Kyoto was wrapped in thick coats, and the air was filled with the smell of damp earth.
Everyone in the Pacification Office was busy and the atmosphere was solemn and quiet.
A small flag officer hurried into the government hall and reported with a bow, "Sir, Master Kong is here."
Xuan Feng, who was working on official business at his desk, raised his head, his brows furrowed. "Kong Hansheng?"
"That's right. Master Kong said he has something important to discuss with you." said the flag officer.
Soon, a man in a dazzling peacock fur coat slowly entered the government hall. Unlike Xuan Feng, who spent his days handling official business and had a faint dark complexion, Kong Hansheng wore a gentle smile and an elegant demeanor, revealing that he lived a comfortable life.
Xuanfeng glanced at the glittering peacock fur coat. He didn't think the peacock had come to the Pacification Office to discuss something important. His tone was calm yet tinged with resentment: "What brings you here today?"
Kong Hansheng placed a small box on the table, then sat down on the pearwood armchair and slowly straightened his clothes.
"I said we had something to discuss. If nothing else, I wouldn't dare come here. The evil spirit is too strong."
Xuanfeng lowered his eyes to glance at the box, then picked it up and weighed it.
"What is this? Crane Immortal Tower makes a fortune every day, and you brought such a shabby gift?"
Kong Hansheng tsks softly: "You've already become the deputy commander, and you still lack me?
"Listen to what you're saying." Xuan Feng glared at him unhappily and patted his chest. "I work for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and receive a salary. I don't engage in any crooked ways."
The two chatted for a while before getting down to business.
"Look at what's in this box." Kong Hansheng said.
Xuanfeng raised his eyebrows and opened the lock. Inside were some half-finished spices. Apart from their strong fragrance, there was nothing special about them.
"What's this fragrance?" He picked up a small piece and put it to his nose to sniff.
"I'm not sure exactly, but Yu Niang smelled a hint of Xiong incense mixed in."
Hearing this, Xuan Feng moved his fingers away as if he had been electrocuted, rubbed his nose, and shook off the spices on his fingertips. "This is a spice banned by the court. Where did you get it?"
Xiongxiang is produced in the north and has paralyzing and hallucinogenic effects. It is often used by foreigners to make medicine, and overdose can easily lead to addiction. Due to the tense relationship between Dayuan and the foreigners in the north, it has been banned from circulation in the market by the court in recent years. However, as long as you have money, you can buy it in the ghost market near the north.
"Do you know the Chu family in the west of the city?" Kong Hansheng didn't say it directly.
"The Chu family, who manage the East City Military Department?" Xuan Feng frowned in thought. "Lord Chu has a close personal relationship with the Duke, and he's about to be promoted. There's no need for him to buy or sell forbidden incense, right?"
"It was his son Chu Yizhou. He went to Yunhe Ferry to pick up the goods last night and stayed at Hexian Tower. Yu Niang happened to see them counting the goods this morning and asked him for a box. It is said that this incense has been circulating in Kyoto for a long time and is used by many princes and nobles. You'd better report it to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and investigate it thoroughly. This is not a small case." Kong Hansheng said calmly.
The imperial court banned the use of Xiongnu incense. It could be bought at the ghost market, but at most it was used for medicinal purposes. Anyone who dared to use it to make spices and sell it on a large scale would be sentenced to imprisonment if investigated.
"I'll lead the team to get him now."
Xuan Feng was about to leave, but Kong Hansheng raised his hand to stop him, "Don't be anxious, I haven't finished what I want to say yet."
"What else? Tell me quickly."
"This Chu Yizhou has a close relationship with the young master of the Duke of Jin's Mansion. I heard that they are also the behind-the-scenes bosses of Chufang Pavilion. We have to be cautious about this matter involving the Duke's Mansion. You'd better go to the palace to report to His Highness. Before that, someone has to suppress this batch of spices." Kong Hansheng said seriously.
A quarter of an hour later, Xuanfeng sent a team of Jinyiwei on horseback to Chufangguan to intercept the goods, while he went into the palace to report the situation.
The imperial city is heavily guarded.
As soon as they arrived outside the Mingde Hall, they heard a creaking sound and the carved wooden door was pulled open from the inside. Feng Tong escorted several officials from the Ministry of Rites out, all of whom were flushed and sweating profusely.
Xuan Feng stepped forward and exchanged a few pleasantries before asking Feng Tong in a low voice, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, are you in a bad mood today?"
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