Chapter 79 (Chapter 79) Defaulting on a Debt
The thin mist gradually dissipated, and wisps of blue smoke swirled around. The charred wood and broken beams emitted a strong, pungent odor, which mingled with the fishy smell blown in by the wind from the dock, making one feel nauseous.
From the scene, although the fire spread to three miles, it was mostly only partially burned due to the heavy rain yesterday, and repairs were not difficult.
Surrounded by his retainers, Lu Xi stood before the ruins, uttered a few polite words with a stern face, and attempted to disperse the onlookers. Still shaken and emboldened by his arrogant demeanor, the people, emboldened by his anger, demanded an explanation from him.
“Lu Sanlang,” the shopkeeper selling porcelain across from the inn spoke, his voice unusually loud as he had a long-standing feud with the inn, “Everyone says this fire was started by Madam He at her inn! Madam He and her husband, Liu Dalang, were doing errands for you, Lu Shi. Call her here, and we’ll have a good talk about how to settle the compensation!”
He took the lead, and dozens of shop owners who had suffered losses echoed his sentiments. Lu Xi was seething with anger, but he couldn't vent it on these commoners, so he could only suppress his rage and say:
"I only just learned of this matter myself. The woman didn't send any news yesterday, and I've already sent people to look for her! The fire started strangely, and we can't determine why it happened in the short term." He took a deep breath and raised his voice, "But since it involves my Lu family's property, the Lu family will definitely compensate for all the damaged houses and belongings in full, not a penny less! Please, everyone, remain calm and don't believe the rumors and spread them around!"
Having received confirmation, the crowd's anger subsided somewhat, their expressions improved, and their attention returned to the ruins of the inn that the soldiers were clearing.
Someone muttered under their breath, "Goodness, the ground's burned down to the foundation. I wonder if that fiercely competitive Madam He perished in the fire, or if she sensed something was wrong and ran away..."
"Run?" The person next to him scoffed, pointing to the charred area with his chin. "Look at it, burned to a crisp. Could this be an ordinary fire? It's probably been doused with oil!"
These words sparked a murmur among the crowd. Lu Xi's face grew increasingly grim, and he was about to order his men to disperse the crowd when suddenly a series of synchronized footsteps came from behind him.
"Lu Sanlang."
Lu Xi's heart skipped a beat, realizing something was wrong. He saw a cold-faced young man leading several soldiers with swords drawn as they parted the crowd and approached.
"Why is Military Advisor Zhao here?"
Lu Xi quickly composed himself and greeted them calmly.
The newcomer was none other than Zhao Xu, the military advisor in charge of granaries, warehouses, and markets. He was directly under the governor's office and a trusted lieutenant of Wang Du, known for his upright and unyielding character. Wang Du had always used him as a tool to keep an eye on the powerful families within the granary. If they encountered him, these families were likely to run into trouble. Lu Xi and other members of the powerful families disliked him.
Some time ago, this man returned to the governor's mansion to report on his duties and had not appeared in front of the granary for a month. Unfortunately, he was in trouble today, and Zhao Xu pounced on him like a wolf smelling meat.
Lu Xi was filled with resentment. This matter would be difficult to resolve.
Zhao Xu's face was as stern as a stone. His gaze swept over the mess before finally settling heavily on Lu Xi.
“Young Master Lu,” Zhao Xu said, bowing slightly, his tone flat, “I originally intended to go to the dock to inspect the cargo ships, but upon hearing of the fire in the market, I came here to investigate without stopping.”
Zhao Xu glanced at his subordinates, then stared at Lu Xi expressionlessly:
"Why didn't Young Master Lu report such a serious matter to the Military Advisor's Office immediately, but instead tried to handle it himself?"
Lu Xi also stared at him, smiling faintly:
"What do you mean by 'joining the army'? I was shocked to hear that the inn had caught fire and the fire had spread to the town. My whole family is very worried. Of course, we need to come and see for ourselves first and calm down the surrounding shops. How can we spare any manpower to bother you, Zhao, the military advisor?"
"It's urgent," Zhao Xu said coldly, his expression revealing nothing. The soldiers shouted, driving the onlookers back dozens of meters.
After inspecting the area for a week, Zhao Xu ordered his soldiers to take the damaged shop owners to the military governor's office to make statements, and only then did things quiet down a bit.
Zhao Xu glanced at Lu Xi and gestured for him to proceed. Lu Xi paused, and the two of them simultaneously found a quiet place.
Zhao Xu released his hand from the knife and cut to the chase:
"I wonder if Young Master Lu has heard some serious rumors last night," he slightly raised his eyelids, looking at Lu Xi, whose expression was unreadable, "about the Lu family's wharf in Cangqian."
Lu Xi's gaze turned cold: "What does Military Advisor Zhao mean by this? Could it be that there's something wrong with my Lu family's wharf that displeases the Prefect?"
Zhao Xupan said, “Third Young Master, please be careful with your words. The Governor is far away in Yangzhou, only a hundred miles away. How could he possibly send a message in the middle of the night?”
Seeing that Lu Xi still didn't quite understand, Zhao Xu's face grew even more serious: "Does the Third Young Master really not know?"
Lu Xi was stunned: "What brings Military Advisor Zhao here today?"
Zhao Xu remained silent for a moment, then whispered, "Yesterday evening, there were rumors that a royal orphan had recently arrived in Cangqian with a token. He passed by your Lu family's dock."
This strange fire certainly needs to be investigated carefully, but compared with the earth-shattering discovery of the royal orphan, it suddenly seems insignificant.
Having just returned from Yangzhou a few days ago, Zhao Xu was taken aback upon hearing this news. He hastily dressed and sent soldiers to arrest several groups of people, but they could not find the source of the rumor.
There's no smoke without fire. While the truth of this matter is unknown, it's certainly great news.
The governor now commands his own army and has secured his independence. Funds are plentiful, and materials for weapons and armor are on their way. He lacks nothing but a legitimate banner. Zhao Xu, as a trusted confidant, shares Wang Du's anxieties and is troubled by them.
The Jiangzuo region was relatively remote compared to the Central Plains, and the newly enthroned Emperor Ming of Jin kept fleeing north, seeking refuge with powerful local figures. Since the emperor wouldn't move south, the Jiangzuo forces couldn't lead their armies north. Even if they recruited soldiers and established a separate regime along the river, they still lacked a legitimate claim to rule. If the north attacked, it would be their right to reclaim their lost territory.
Zhao Xu and his colleagues lamented that it would be wonderful if there were only two emperors in the world. It wouldn't matter if Emperor Ming of Jin remained in the north; if Emperor Fei of Jin were still alive, he might move south to save his own life. Alternatively, even without Emperor Fei of Jin, a member of the imperial clan with Yan lineage would suffice. In short, with one emperor in the north and one in the south, it would be perfectly logical for Jiangzuo to establish itself independently.
Unfortunately, that deposed emperor was too ruthless; to conceal his power, he slaughtered the entire imperial clan, sparing only Emperor Ming of Jin. The empire was essentially handed over to him. Now, suddenly, a descendant has appeared at his doorstep, reportedly carrying a token. If this token is the imperial seal…
Lu Xi understood the implication in his words, and her heart skipped a beat:
"Absurd! Zhao Canjun actually believed such rumors? It's clear that someone is deliberately framing the Lu family!"
But if Fang Bai is killed, why does this other case occur at the same time?
Lu Xi suddenly felt uneasy. In his mind's eye, he recalled the boy's thin, sunken face, as if he were looking at him with a half-smile. His heart pounded wildly.
If Fang Bai has the ability to escape, spreading rumors would be just as easy for him.
His reaction silenced Zhao Xu, who then said:
"The Liu couple who manage the inn are important witnesses here. Once they are found, they must be brought in for questioning and reported to the governor. These soldiers are stationed nearby, so the Lu family's troops can rest for a while. I hope the Third Young Master will understand and cooperate with the authorities. I still need to inspect the cargo ships, so I will not accompany you."
Zhao Xu had caught him red-handed and was going to tighten the reins step by step according to the established rules. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Lu Xizhi had no choice but to admit defeat: "That's only natural. Once things have calmed down here, I will personally go to the Military Advisor's office to explain. As for that couple..." He gritted his teeth, "I have already sent people to look for them. If there is any news, I will inform the Military Advisor immediately."
The soldiers scattered, taking over the guard duties from their troops to watch over the ruins. The conscripted laborers, who had been brought in beforehand, stepped forward to clear the area. A commotion arose outside the crowd.
The soldiers shouted, "You're on duty, who's making a scene here!"
Startled by the official's imposing manner, the stall owner shrank back, but still mustered his courage and raised the conspicuous crimson horse saddlecloth in his hand, shouting:
"My lord, please understand! I'm not causing trouble, I'm here to find someone! There's a young man named Fang staying at the inn who owes me five taels of silver, which he promised to pay back within a month! I'm afraid something might happen to him and he'll default on the debt, so I've come to collect it now!"
His loud voice instantly attracted the attention of those around him.
Almost simultaneously, a plain sedan chair stopped at the outer perimeter. Two beautiful young women stepped out of the carriage. One of them was Wang Shu.
Seeing the large crowd, she frowned and said to the young woman approaching from behind:
"It seems that Zhao Xu and Lu San are both here. Shenxiu, your Xichun Hall is probably badly burned."
The young woman who appeared later was beautiful and dignified, with a graceful and elegant gait. She was none other than Cui Shenxiu, the young lady from the Cui family who had recently gone to Jianye to discuss marriage, and Wang Shu's close friend.
Upon receiving her friend's letter of return, Wang Shu rushed from her detached residence to stay with Cui Shenxiu for a few days. Amidst their joyful reunion, no one could have predicted the state of Xichun Hall upon Cui Shenxiu's return.
Cui Shenxiu shook his head, signaling Yuchuan to stay in the carriage, his expression still calm.
"If it burns out completely, it won't matter."
Wang Shu's eyes flickered slightly. "There's not much stuff in there... is there?"
Cui Shenxiu nodded: "As always, medicinal herbs make up the bulk of the warehouse. Shuniang, don't worry. Anyway... things can be transported from Jizhou to Jinkou."
Wang Shuxin made up her mind.
The stall owner, holding up his horse-drawn turban, kept pushing forward, muttering about looking for a room. Wang Shu and Cui Shenxiu were attracted by his commotion. Seeing that she and her companions were dressed in fine clothes and moved with ease, the crowd knew they couldn't afford to offend her, and spontaneously parted to make way for her.
Cui Shenxiu's gaze swept over the horse's bridle, his steps faltered slightly, and he let out a soft "Eh."
“Shuniang,” she called softly, gesturing vaguely, “look at that piece of cloth…”
Wang Shu glanced at it, initially unconcerned: "It looks like the old style from the north. It was probably brought by northerners, what's so special about it?"
“Not only that,” Cui Shenxiu frowned slightly, a hint of reminiscence flashing in her eyes, “the gold thread woven into the beaded pattern seems to also have scrolling grass patterns... the design is quite antique, like the patterns used in the Luoyang Palace many years ago.” Her voice lowered, still lingering with doubt, “Do you remember when we went to the capital to pay homage to the emperor with our fathers when we were young…”
Wang Shu, reminded by her, looked closely and remembered: "At that palace banquet... the tassels on the palace lanterns at the corner of the hall seemed to have such intricate patterns." She paused, her tone carrying a subtle hint, "I didn't look closely. I only remember that the palace was spacious and the fragrance was intoxicating, and there was a prince who looked like a fairy boy next to the throne."
The young prince, whom they glimpsed briefly during that distant trip to the capital, was once a vague memory in their casual conversations. The young ladies had even naively discussed which noble family the future crown princess would come from.
It's nothing more than the Cui, Wang, and Xie families, right?
At that time, no one could have imagined that the once high and mighty imperial nobles would one day die without a burial place.
Upon first hearing this, Wang Shu felt a pang of sadness.
Cui Shenxiu remained silent, but Wang Shu's interest was piqued:
"If it weren't for that palace banquet, where you secretly shielded me from drinks to prevent me from behaving improperly before the Emperor, how could we have met? That deposed Emperor and his son committed countless evil deeds, but that one act of kindness brought my dear friend together."
"Why are you saying all this?" Choi Shin-soo chuckled lightly, but his handsome eyes held a thoughtful expression.
This object, bearing traces of old courtly practices, ended up in the hands of a street vendor, becoming evidence for collecting debts…
Cui Shenxiu recalled the absurd rumor of "Yan-Jin bloodline" that he had heard this morning, and fell silent for a moment.
The two were not in a hurry to inspect Xichun Hall, and instead looked at Lu Xi, whose face was not good.
Lu Xi was unsettled by the series of events, especially upon recognizing the familiar horse turban, which filled him with dread. Just as he was about to dismiss the stall owner, he caught a glimpse of Wang Shu and Cui Shenxiu hiding in the crowd, and instinctively turned away. At that moment, a slightly husky, pleasant young male voice rang out from the opposite side of the crowd:
"Why make such a big fuss? I have lived for sixteen years and have never defaulted on a debt before."
The crowd turned to look at the source of the sound. A young man and a young woman, dressed in hemp clothing, strolled leisurely out of the alley on the opposite side.
The young man who spoke wore a veil and was tall and slender, yet his posture was upright. The girl slightly shorter than him had clear, bright eyes and a beautiful face, a generous smile playing on her lips. Both were dressed neatly, with only a few specks of cigarette ash on their hems. Their demeanor was composed and measured, showing no sign of disarray.
It was completely out of place amidst the chaos before them.
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Author's Note: I think you can guess what happened.
One of the two beauties, Wang and Cui, is the "real female lead" in the later stages of the story writing process. [Facepalm and peeking]
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