Chapter 248 Ji Wensheng Comes to the Shop to Ask for Supplies
Just as dawn was breaking, a messenger from the post station delivered a letter from the capital.
The sealing wax bears the Song family's unique mark.
Jiang Ling opened the letter, and Madam Song's delicate handwriting came into view.
Although the investigation revealed little information in the letter, it confirmed Fang Shijie's identity as a spy for the Great Sheng Dynasty and his use of his merchant status to build a network of relationships in the capital and spy on the government.
In her letter, Madam Song also mentioned that before and after the Mulou Restaurant closed, there were indeed some suspicious people loitering around, seemingly cleaning up traces.
The imperial court is investigating very strictly now, and Jiang Ling is advised not to investigate this incident any further and not to get involved in anything else.
Although the letter provided an account of the events, it did not reveal whether Fang Shijie was alive or dead, or where he was.
It's unlikely that a businesswoman like her would know about such things.
Clutching the envelope, Jiang Ling hesitated, wondering how to explain this to Hongxiu.
But I'm also considering whether to write to Cheng Fang and ask him, since he probably knows more.
Sometimes, whatever you think about comes true.
Cheng Fang arrived on horseback right after lunch.
Two fine horses stopped one after the other in front of the general store. Besides Cheng Fang, there was another somewhat familiar face.
"Jiang Ling!"
Cheng Fang spotted Jiang Ling at a glance, a smile immediately spreading across his face as he strode in.
"Cheng Fang, what brings you here?" Jiang Ling was somewhat surprised and came out to greet him.
"With things in the capital temporarily settled, I thought I'd come and see you when I had some free time."
Cheng Fang glanced at Jiang Ling and saw that she looked well, which deepened his smile.
Without Cheng Fang's introduction, the young man greeted him with a familiar smile and cupped his hands in greeting:
"This must be Miss Jiang? I am Ji Wensheng, a close friend of Cheng Fang. I have often heard him mention you, so I have come to pay my respects today. Indeed, seeing is believing!"
He spoke crisply, his eyes bright, as he sized up Jiang Ling and the grocery store behind her.
Jiang Ling then remembered that she seemed to have seen him when she was eating crabs in the capital.
"You flatter me. It's cold outside, please come in and sit down."
Jiang Ling invited the two inside and made them some hot tea again.
Xiao Ran cleverly served hot tea, then quietly led Xiao Yi to the side.
Cheng Fang took a sip of tea, which dispelled some of the chill, and then got straight to the point:
"I have come here to express His Highness the Crown Prince's gratitude. Last winter, without your timely help, the disaster in and around the capital would have been difficult to control. His Highness specially ordered me to deliver this small gift to express his gratitude."
As he spoke, he gestured to his attendants to bring in several exquisite gift boxes.
"Your Highness is too kind."
Cheng Fang's expression turned serious:
"Secondly, it concerns Fang Shijie. In fact, we have been investigating Fang Shijie for a long time, but we have been struggling to find evidence. Thanks to what you reminded us of in your last letter, Jingxing and I secretly investigated and found that the connections behind him are far deeper than we imagined."
Recalling these things, Cheng Fang's expression still held a hint of sharpness:
"He is no ordinary merchant, but a hidden pawn carefully planted by the Great Sheng Dynasty in our Great Yu. He is suspected of interfering in court affairs, stirring up trouble among the court officials, and colluding with the harem, all in order to disrupt our dynasty from within. His Yan Yang Merchant Caravan is even more sinister, committing many evil deeds on the border and within our Great Yu territory."
Ji Wensheng chimed in, "This fellow is incredibly cunning. He uses restaurants and brothels as bases to befriend officials and scholars, ostensibly discussing poetry and philosophy, drinking and having fun, but in reality, he's secretly gathering dirt on them and gathering information. What's more, he even orchestrates situations where court officials are given ammunition to use against them! He's truly shrewd!"
Cheng Fang sighed, "Fortunately, the matter has now been investigated and clarified. It's just a pity that this person is cunning and treacherous. He received advance notice and fled to avoid punishment. We were unable to bring him to justice, but we eliminated many of his strongholds in the capital and clipped some of his wings, which at least curbed the spread of his conspiracy."
Just as I expected.
Although Jiang Ling had suspected it before, her heart still sank when it was confirmed.
Cheng Fang paused, glanced at Ji Wensheng beside him, and suddenly spoke.
"Wen Sheng contributed a lot to the swift resolution of this matter. The Ji family's merchant caravans, which are located all over the country, provided many crucial clues."
She looked at Ji Wensheng: "I see. Young Master Ji, you are doing a great service to the country by eliminating a scourge."
Ji Wensheng waved his hand with a grin: "Miss Jiang, you're too kind. It's my duty to serve the country. Besides,"
He changed the subject, glancing at Cheng Fang with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Cheng Fang agreed to my conditions, so I naturally have to work harder."
Cheng Fang glanced helplessly at his friend and said to Jiang Ling:
“I promised him that if he helped me find out the truth, I would bring him to meet…the supplier of this floral water.”
Floral water?
Jiang Ling was stunned.
Then he remembered that he had sold two bottles of floral water to Fang Shijie.
I was in a bad mood at the time, so I just randomly pulled out two bottles to trick him.
But why is this being brought up?
Ji Wensheng immediately perked up and took out the bottle of floral water that was wrapped tightly in silk cloth from his pocket.
Jiang Ling took a look and, sure enough, it was the floral water she had sold to Fang Shijie.
"Miss Jiang, to be honest, ever since I used this product, I have been amazed by its divine quality! Its fragrance is clear and long-lasting, and it is also refreshing and invigorating. Such a fine product cannot be found anywhere else in the Great Yu Dynasty! Ever since Miss Hongxiu danced at the Guose Fangxiang Pavilion, this exotic fragrance has spread throughout the capital, and countless ladies and young misses have been seeking it but could not obtain it!"
I've come here today to discuss the supply of goods with Miss Jiang. The Ji family is willing to cooperate long-term at the best price. If there are any other requirements, please feel free to mention them, Miss Jiang!
Ji Wensheng only had half a bottle of floral water left. In order to salvage his family's business, he had been spreading the floral water as a gimmick.
Of course, to prove the authenticity of the news, he naturally had to contribute some of the floral water.
This time, they were naturally risking the family's reputation. If they couldn't get the agency rights for the floral water, their business would plummet.
Jiang Ling stared blankly at Ji Wensheng's eyes, which were practically gleaming.
She simply grabbed two bottles of floral water to get by, completely unaware that it would cause such a huge reaction.
She hesitated before speaking, "Young Master Ji, this item... in my opinion, is mainly used to repel mosquitoes in the summer. Now that it's the dead of winter, I'm afraid..."
There will be no sales.
Who would use floral water in the dead of winter? Don't they feel cold?
"Mosquito repellent? It has such a miraculous effect?" Ji Wensheng seemed to have discovered a new continent.
It's no wonder he didn't know; it was already winter when he got the bottle of mosquito repellent, and there were hardly any mosquitoes around.
He thought the cool feeling when he applied it was just a miraculous effect and never considered that it could repel mosquitoes.
Seeing that he had misunderstood, Jiang Ling spoke again:
"What I mean is that this product, this floral water, is more effective at repelling mosquitoes in the summer, but I'm afraid it won't sell well in the winter."
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