They learned that Aunt Ning and the wives of the salt merchants had a business partnership.
That night, Aunt Xiang opened the window in the room and placed a candle next to the west window.
This was the method Lu Qiqi told her to use to inform the Shadow Guards.
After doing all that, I waited for them to arrive.
As midnight approached, the candlelight by the west window was almost gone, and only then did some movement occur outside the window.
A woman dressed in black and wearing a mask climbed through the window under the bright moonlight, tiptoed to close the window, and then quickly walked to the bedside.
After Lu Xiangxiang coaxed Xiao Lingyue to sleep, she gritted her teeth and refused to doze off.
Upon seeing the dark figure outside the curtain, she went from being terrified to being able to speak calmly.
She asked, "Is it you?"
A deep female voice came from behind, "Yes."
Lu Xiangxiang knew she was a member of the Shadow Guard. She got up, lifted the thin blanket, and got out of bed.
Looking at the Shadow Guard who was a head taller than her, she said, "The First Madam was imprisoned by the General yesterday."
These days, Aunt Ning has been doing business with the salt merchant's wife. Although I haven't found out what kind of business it is, I guess it's related to the general imprisoning the first wife.
There's another matter. Last night, someone came to me to inquire about General Wu, saying that a noble person there wanted me to do something.
They said that Aunt Cen was also one of their people, and now that the Cen family had been slaughtered and all their silver had disappeared, they wanted me to sound out the general's intentions.
They even said my indenture was still in their hands. I was afraid the general was testing me, so I said nothing.
The important people over there naturally refer to the people who run the Jiangnan Tower.
Upon hearing this, the Shadow Guard's eyes flickered slightly, and he said, "I will report this matter to the Prince truthfully. Until then, I hope Aunt Xiang will ensure her own safety."
Lu Xiangxiang nodded, and then watched as the Shadow Guards climbed out of the window.
After a long while, an autumn wind blew into the room. The thin undergarment was not enough to keep out the cold, and Lu Xiangxiang couldn't help but shiver. She then instantly woke up.
She stepped forward and closed the window, shutting out the bright moon as well.
......
The dire straits in the border town did not affect the prosperity of the new capital.
The fine salt was delivered to the new capital and was snapped up in less than an hour.
This rare item was naturally given to the emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty by the sycophantic officials below.
After the emperor had eaten a meal of dishes made with fine salt, he immediately summoned the Minister of Revenue to the palace.
The Imperial Study.
After bowing, Qian Lishe, the Minister of Revenue, lowered his head and waited for instructions.
The emperor looked at the fine salt that he presented and asked, "Where did this fine salt come from?"
Qian Lishe waited for two days before the emperor finally asked him about this matter.
He respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, two days ago, three hundred catties of fine salt were transported from the border city to the new capital, and they were looted in less than an hour."
"I arrived at my residence late and was unable to purchase any goods. These two pounds of fine salt are from my brother-in-law's house."
At this point, the emperor made no attempt to hide his astonishment, frowning and saying incredulously, "You, the Minister of Revenue of the Great Jin Dynasty, who controls the treasury of the Great Jin Dynasty, even you couldn't buy it?"
Upon hearing this, Qian Lishe quickly bowed his head and replied, "Your Majesty, that is indeed the case."
After selling out the 300 jin of fine salt, the shopkeeper refused to buy any more from customers who came to buy it.
Two scions of prominent families even barged into the storeroom, but couldn't find an extra ounce of fine salt.
Hearing that those unruly young nobles had even broken into the storeroom but still couldn't find any fine salt, it's likely that the quantity of fine salt was originally quite small.
The emperor, having regained his footing on the dragon throne, asked, "Can you find out who transported this salt into the capital?"
Qian Lishe naturally made sure he knew everything before he dared to offer the fine salt and wrote a memorial to the emperor.
He said, "Your Majesty, I have sent people to investigate. The salt merchant is using legitimate channels and has a draft ticket issued by the Salt Transport Office."
According to the shopkeeper who sells this salt, it was a solution devised by the magistrate of Kang Le Township, so that even the nobles of the border town could enjoy it.
For some reason, the people in the border town don't seem interested in promoting it.
These words struck a chord with the emperor, and those powerful families, relying on their past role in helping the previous emperor seize the throne, became increasingly unscrupulous.
Why else could it be!
Of course, they didn't want everyone to get to eat it!
Including him, the supreme ruler!
Their intentions are despicable!
He thought that even the finest salt in the palace couldn't compare to the salt in the bowls of wealthy families in the border town.
That tingling, bone-deep numbness, like ants burrowing into your bones, instantly surged into my heart.
He roared, "We must let these powerful families see who's in charge of this world!"
Minister Qian, I hereby order you to ensure that this dish is served at the dinner table within half a month, by any means necessary.
Entrusting this matter to the Minister of Revenue is really asking too much of him.
But now that the Prince of Libei is not in the capital, the only person who can handle affairs without being burdened by powerful families is the Minister of Revenue.
Qian Lishe bowed deeply and said, "Your humble servant obeys the decree."
......
Border town, commander's tent.
The only girl among the Shadow Guards was standing in the tent, reporting to Song Yanqing.
She recited the news that Aunt Xiang had told her word for word, which made Lu Qiqi's heart tighten.
In an instant, I realized that Aunt Xiang's presence in the Wu residence posed a huge threat to the lives of the mother and daughter.
Song Yanqing recalled the hidden room in Wu Jianshou's house, where gold and silver treasures were kept.
Those items were all stored in Wu's residence through collusion between the Cen family and Wu, the supervisor.
This Wu supervisor was Wu Guangping, a distant cousin.
The Shadow Guards had investigated the deaths of dozens of people in the Cen family and found that they were all victims of swordsmanship practiced by martial artists.
In this city, the military camp has the most martial arts practitioners. In the past few days, news came from the Dark Prison that the deputy general sent by the Second Prince had confessed to some things.
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