Chapter 94 I Want to Meet That Woman
"Your Highness, I have searched the harbor thoroughly and have found nothing amiss, except..."
The masked man knelt on the ground, his hands raised above his head. "This is the evidence I have found. Your Highness, please review it."
The man raised his hand, and Mochou took the paper and handed it to him.
"This... is a footprint?" Mo Wei's eyes widened, and he looked down in disbelief. "I clearly searched the fishing port. Where did you find this?"
"It was unintentional. I searched the fishing port and its surroundings but didn't find any suspicious clues. It was only when I was leaving that I accidentally bumped into a wooden box on the east side and discovered half a footprint behind it. It's likely that person was careless and didn't notice the mud under their feet. That gave me the key to breaking the situation."
"Hiding behind the wooden box?" The man looked at the footprints carved on the paper, raised his eyebrows slightly, and his eyes flickered. "These are women's feet."
The footprints on the paper were about the size of his palm, either a woman or a child.
Thinking of the stunning beauty he had just glimpsed, the man's fingertips turned white with force and he said in a deep voice, "I want to see that woman within half an hour."
"yes."
-
Ganping Zhongjia
"This...what should I do?" Zhong Ping stood with his hands behind his back, pacing anxiously in the hall. "What I feared is what will come true!"
"What's the master worried about?" Mrs. Zhong didn't understand why he was so nervous and whispered, "The conflict between the Gao and Wu families is a good thing for us, isn't it? Now the prince has no choice but to use you."
"You're really short-sighted!" Zhong Ping was furious when he heard this. He turned around and cursed, "The Gao family provided the money, the Wu family provided the grain, and we're just a cloth shop owner. What can we do to help them? They're just helping me along. Now that the Gao and Wu families are in such a mess, the prince may very well give up on Gan Ping and move to another city or county!"
Zhong Ping spoke very directly, and even though Mrs. Zhong didn't understand strategy, she could understand it.
"Then..." Mrs. Zhong's face turned pale instantly, and fear flashed in her eyes. "We promised my aunt and uncle that they would be able to bring the goods to Ganping before sunset today. If the prince really doesn't care about us, how are we going to explain it to our relatives?"
"Ridiculous! Is this a matter of whether to explain or not?" Zhong Ping was so angry that he felt dizzy, but he had to speak to her patiently. "Gao Shicheng is a very mercenary man. He has the support of the prince, so why would he trip up Wu Sheng at such a critical moment?"
"Gao Shicheng married Wu Sheng's sister when he was young, but he was addicted to gambling and fickle, squandering his wife's dowry. This caused Wu Sheng to become depressed and sick, and she died with regret. Wu Sheng was understandably resentful. Ever since Wu's death, the two families have been at odds. But anyone with any sense wouldn't have made a move at this time!"
Zhong Ping narrowed his eyes, a deep glint flashing in his eyes, "They've been tricked."
Mrs. Zhong trembled with fear and called out softly, "Master..."
Zhong Ping closed his eyes and sighed. "Who knows, maybe it's time to go home."
"Then what should we do?" Mrs. Zhong could no longer sit still and asked hurriedly, "Master, are we just going to wait foolishly for others to plot against us?"
"No, we can't wait..." Zhong Ping's face was solemn. He sat in a chair in deep thought for a while before he spoke slowly, "Madam, please check how much money is left in the family account and take out your dowry and the betrothal money for Yun'er. I have already ordered the doors and windows of the cloth shop to be sealed to prevent theft. If we can pay enough money, the prince may look upon us with more respect."
Mrs. Zhong also knew the seriousness of the situation. She quickly helped the maid's hand and stood up, walking towards the outside of the hall. "Okay, I'll go right away!"
"Master! Master, something's wrong!"
Without waiting for Mrs. Zhong to leave, the servant hurried into the room.
Zhong Ping's eyebrows jumped, and he stood up hurriedly, staring into his eyes, muttering, "What happened?"
"The master's cloth shop... was burned down!"
After hearing this, Mrs. Zhong rolled her eyes and fell backwards.
"Madam!" The maid beside her quickly caught her and called out, "Madam, please don't scare me!"
Troubling things happened one after another. Zhong Ping looked a little dazed. He felt dizzy and couldn't even see the things in front of him.
"Master..." The servant raised his head and looked at him with a worried look on his face, "The cloth shop is in chaos. You can't let anything happen to you again!"
Zhong Ping grabbed the corner of the table and managed to steady himself. He forced himself to stay calm and asked, "Did you catch the thief?"
"No." The servant shook his head and lowered his head. "They fired arrows, and someone even poured oil behind the cloth shop. In the blink of an eye, the fire spread unstoppable. The cloth inside... is all gone. The loss is incalculable."
"Poof—" Zhong Ping was so angry that he spat out a mouthful of dirty blood and then fainted.
"master!"
-
Xinghua Village
Su Cheng sat in the courtyard, carefully picking beans from the basket and checking Su Chen's homework from time to time. "The school accepted you as an exception, so you have to be more motivated and don't embarrass your second uncle."
Su Chen didn't even raise his head. He took the paper and pen given by his second uncle and practiced calligraphy over and over again. "Don't worry, mother."
Xie Jinyu scooped up water for washing the pot, Xie Ming went to the fields early, Du Heng was drying the herbs he had prepared in front of the main hall door, Yan Ci and the little girl were peeling garlic together.
Yan Ci is now becoming more and more adept at doing farm work, and he doesn't feel uncomfortable at all.
He understood clearly that even if he was a dog, he would have to work when he came to the Xie family.
"Where is Su Cheng?"
A man's voice was heard outside the courtyard gate, and everyone in the courtyard turned around and looked outside.
Anyone who can ask this question must not be from Xinghua Village.
Su Cheng saw the very familiar face, slowly stood up, and said softly, "I am Su Cheng, what do you want to talk to me about?"
Yan Ci noticed the man and his expression changed slightly.
Huo Beiting, the loyal king.
How did he find the Xie family?
Yan Ci's face remained expressionless, but his heartbeat was getting faster and faster.
Could it be that... my sister-in-law and Ah Ming have been exposed?
"Young Madam, is this yours?" Huo Beiting curled his lips slightly and walked into the courtyard, holding a magnolia silver hairpin in his hand. It was the one that Xie Suzhou gave to Su Cheng before leaving.
Su Cheng's heart skipped a beat. He wasn't sure where he had picked up the hairpin, so he didn't respond immediately.
Huo Beiting glanced towards the west room. Two pairs of clean women's shoes were placed on the windowsill. He said lightly, "That day at the market, you bumped into my arms and left this silver hairpin."
Hearing this, Su Cheng felt relieved and raised a faint smile, "It's my hairpin. Thank you for coming all the way from the county."
As soon as she finished speaking, she raised her hand to take the hairpin, but Huo Beiting dodged sideways.
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