Chapter 362 The Zheng Family
The shops in the Xiao family were basically brought as dowries by the wives of their ancestors.
This dessert shop is no exception.
Business was slow today, and the shop was planning to close early. But when the person coming to the door looked very familiar, like the eldest son of the Xiao family, their young master, the shopkeeper still cheered and went to greet him.
His gaze fell on the man and woman who had come with the young master, and his expression showed a slight surprise.
Why is the young master so respectful to these two ordinary-looking commoners? Could they be some important figures traveling incognito?
The innkeeper, having lived under the emperor's nose for decades, fully understood the inexplicable pleasures sometimes found in high-ranking officials and nobles. Upon seeing this, he immediately kept his eyes down and mind at ease, only instructing the waiter to tidy up the private room and bring up some delicious snacks and sweet soups, forbidding anyone from disturbing him further.
There was no sound coming from the private room upstairs, and the innkeeper didn't pay much attention. But as soon as he raised his eyes, he saw a group of guards patrolling the capital standing at the entrance of the shop, with serious expressions on their faces as if it were routine business.
"Oh my, what brings you gentlemen here! Please come in, please come in!" The shopkeeper himself came out from behind the counter, wanting to invite the group into the shop.
Among the social classes of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, merchants were the lowest of the low. If they didn't have the backing of royalty, they were even more despised, and they had to fawn over and flatter these guards.
The head guard raised his hand, interrupting his hospitality, and stated his purpose directly: "We are ordered to investigate spies from the Yue Kingdom. Have any suspicious persons come to your shop?"
The shopkeeper turned pale with fright and shook his head repeatedly: "No, no! Your Honor is wise! Our shop is an honest business and we would never dare to do such a despicable thing as colluding with the enemy and betraying the country!"
The guard looked around the shop and said in a nonchalant tone, "I knew you wouldn't dare, but everyone else is closed right now, and it's a bit odd that your shop is still open for business. Tell me, why do you dare to open at a time like this?"
The shopkeeper looked bewildered: "This..."
How can I put it?
Opening a business is naturally about making money. Although people are on high alert right now, some are still going out. After all, it's almost the end of the year, and who wouldn't want to earn more money to go home and have a good New Year?
He could only bite the bullet and say, "Sir, to be honest, the owner of this shop is not wealthy. It wouldn't matter if we closed for a day or two, but the owner will check the accounts at the end of the year. What if he thinks I've done a poor job and takes away my job next year?"
"I just want to stay open a little longer, do more business, and make the books look better at the end of the year, right?"
"Just now, a few guests came in for dessert. That's all hard-earned money. Who wouldn't like that?"
He became increasingly less confident as he spoke, unaware that the head guard's expression subtly shifted when he heard the names of the guests.
"Did they go to a private room?" he asked.
The shopkeeper nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes."
"Is there a man and a woman?" He gripped the sword at his waist.
The shopkeeper hesitated for a moment: "Yes..."
"Go! Go in and search!" He waved his arm and shouted, and a group of people immediately rushed into the dessert shop, looking like they were in no hurry.
The innkeeper and waiter were terrified and rushed forward to stop them, only to see the head guard draw his sword and point it at them, his voice filled with undisguised threat:
"You dare to obstruct our investigation of spies?! Are you tired of living?"
The two had no choice but to stop and anxiously watch the group of guards who had rushed upstairs. They could only pray that the young master would not take his anger out on them after this incident, as they were simply no match for them!
When the group rushed into the only closed private room, it was already empty, but when the guards touched the still-warm teacup on the table, they knew that the people hadn't gone far.
The head guard stared at the wide-open window, his tone ruthless: "Chase! The people must still be nearby. The Crown Prince said we absolutely cannot let the traitors escape!"
Although the imperial edict officially appointing the fourth prince, Qi Huan, as crown prince had not yet been proclaimed to the world, those well-informed individuals had already begun addressing the fourth prince as His Highness the Crown Prince, all in order to quickly choose sides and thus be rewarded when the new emperor ascended the throne.
The guards split into several groups and went out in pursuit. The poor innkeeper and waiter were not spared either; they were captured and taken to the government office, where they were to be severely tortured to extract a confession…
Qi Yuxuan and her group had sensed something was wrong as soon as they heard the conversation downstairs, and decided to leave early. After leaving the dessert shop, they planned to go to the Zheng family first.
The Xiao family is absolutely out of the question. The guards only need to do a quick check to know that the shop belongs to the Xiao family, and sealing off the Xiao family's property is only a matter of time.
The Zheng family is different. At least so far, the Zheng family members who are officials in the court still adhere to the family precepts that Zheng Lao used when he was prime minister. They have not rashly taken sides, nor have they expressed any attitude in public.
As a result, none of them have ever been given important positions, and they have all been content to remain in their awkward official positions.
At the small gate of the Zheng family's residence, the maid who had gone in to deliver the message quickly returned. She humbly invited the three of them into the Zheng family's residence.
Xiao Jue refused. He had only brought the two to the Zheng family, but in reality, the Xiao family was also in dire straits. He couldn't linger for too long and had to go back immediately to think of other solutions.
So, Qi Jun and Qi Yuxuan followed the people into the Zheng family home.
Qi Yuxuan had been here before when she came to find Zheng Yanling. She remembered that the Zheng family was a noble family, and the courtyard was elegant and unassuming. But today, she immediately noticed something was wrong.
The Zheng family's gardens and flower gardens are vastly different from what they were a year ago. Back when Princess Pingyin and Old Master Zheng were still in the capital and the Zheng family was enjoying its heyday, there would never have been a situation where precious Yao Huang and Wei Zi flowers were left unattended and withered in their pots.
After a nerve-wracking journey, Qi Yuxuan met Madam Zheng, who was Zheng Yanling's birth mother.
Madam Zheng looked completely different from her former bright and vibrant self; she appeared much more haggard and seemed to have suffered quite a few setbacks recently.
Upon seeing Qi Jun and Qi Yuxuan, she hurriedly knelt down to pay her respects, her words of greeting turning into sobs by the end.
"Madam Zheng!" Qi Yuxuan hurriedly went to help her up.
After everyone was seated, Madam Zheng wiped away her tears with her handkerchief and said sorrowfully, "Your Highness and the Princess have finally returned. We finally have hope!"
Qi Jun also noticed the changes in the Zheng family, his brows furrowing deeply: "Madam Zheng, are all the officials on duty now?"
Madam Zheng nodded, and began by recounting how the two had disappeared and were deemed never to return:
"The Qilin Guards keep saying that His Highness and the Princess's remains were never found; only their clothes and jewelry were discovered. The Princess's two maids even dug up every inch of soil at the foot of the cliff, but they couldn't find a single trace..."
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