Exploiting the people
"General, it was just an ordinary arrow. We searched in the dark but found no other trace."
Zhou Cong carefully handed the arrow to Wei Shu. Ever since his wife disappeared, Wei Shu had been unpredictable, and even Zhou Cong and Zhou Liao, who had been with him for a long time, could not accurately judge Wei Shu's mood.
"Have you found any trace of her?" Wei Shu examined the arrow closely, his eyes filled with an unfathomable depth.
"Your subordinate is incompetent." Zhou Cong stood by the horse, head bowed, watching the hooves, daring not to say another word.
"Back to the prefectural residence!" Wei Shu turned his horse around and rode towards the prefectural residence, with the rest of the Imperial Guards following behind him.
The group returned to the governor's mansion in a grand procession. The mansion was brightly lit, and the steward was already waiting at the entrance.
"General Wei, your courtyard has been prepared." The steward bowed and led Wei Shu inside. They walked through the outer garden to the covered walkway, where the scenery changed every few steps. After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they finally arrived at the courtyard.
It was a three-courtyard house, larger than the main courtyards of other houses, with pavilions, terraces, bridges, and flowing water—a truly exquisite place where every step revealed a new vista.
"Leave two people to guard the courtyard gate, the rest of you disperse." Wei Shu led Zhou Cong and Zhou Liao to the main courtyard.
"General, we sent men to search in the direction of the capital and Yuezhou, but we found no trace of the Lady." Zhou Cong handed the secret letter to Wei Shu.
"The secret guards are also searching, but we don't know when they'll find any clues." Zhou Liao placed another secret letter beside Wei Shu.
"Spies from all over the world are also searching, but the lady seems to have vanished into thin air without a trace."
“Vanished without a trace? Jiang Jin doesn’t just vanish without a trace.” Wei Shu suppressed his anger and said, “Has the direction towards Bianzhou been thoroughly investigated?”
"Yes, but we haven't found anything yet." Zhou Cong carefully exchanged a glance with Zhou Liao, taking a deep breath.
"Since Madam has the ability to conceal her whereabouts, she must also have the ability to protect herself," Zhou Cong said helplessly after being pinched by Zhou Liao.
"What if she didn't do it willingly? What if she was kidnapped and forced to disappear? Jiang Jin can't die!" Wei Shu panicked for a moment, then quickly regained his composure.
"Put the capital aside for now. Conduct thorough searches on the way to Bianzhou and Beizhou. Search every woman, including those who have purchased horses."
Wei Shu took the arrow, broke off the arrowhead, examined the fletching carefully, and then sniffed it. The smell of cold noodles entered his nostrils.
"General, if we find any trace of the Madam, should we bring her back?" Zhou Cong hesitated for a moment before finally voicing his doubts.
"No need. As long as we know she's safe, that's enough. Jiang Jin isn't someone who disregards the bigger picture; she'll show up when she wants to." Wei Shu touched the dagger tucked into his waistband and asked, "Has there been any news from the capital?"
"Not yet." Zhou Cong handed the secret report from the capital to Wei Shu. "This is a list of some recent events in the capital, along with a list of officials who have impeached you."
"Understood, you may all leave." Wei Shu flipped through the secret report, while Zhou Cong and Zhou Liao silently withdrew.
The candlelight flickered. Wei Shu placed the dagger on the table, his unease and doubt deepening. He broke off the arrowheads and fletching, tucked them into his waistband, and then slipped out of the governor's mansion, returning to the long street he had just been on. He gazed in the direction from which the arrows had come.
The streets were lined with ordinary shops. Wei Shu used his martial arts skills to investigate each shop one by one. By the time he arrived at the clothing store, it was already broad daylight. With no other option, he had to return to his residence. Jiang Jin, on the other hand, had already spent the entire night in the secret room. She only emerged from the secret room when Yi Yi announced that the search was over.
"Have you compiled the list I mentioned last night?" Jiang Jin rubbed her temples. She had personally arranged the selections for Bianzhou, never expecting the situation to change so drastically in just a few years.
"Everything has been sorted out. The other prefectures are fine, but Governor Wang's case is a bit tricky." Tian Sui turned to that page in the book.
"We originally placed three people in there, but unfortunately one went back to the capital with Third Madam after her marriage, another is sweeping in the garden, and the last one works in Madam's courtyard, but only as a sweeping maid." Jiang Jin held the list, seemingly pondering something.
"Prefect Wang has become increasingly arrogant in recent years, and trade in Bianzhou has flourished, but the lives of the people have not changed much, while his prefectural mansion has grown larger and larger." Tian Sui placed the account books and tax records from the past few years in front of Jiang Jin.
“This is clearly not right.” Jiang Jin flipped through the ledgers and taxes. “Last year, Bianzhou only reported 100,000 taels of tax. You’ve already paid 5,000 taels. Does that mean our clothing shop is the only one making money in the entire Bianzhou?”
"The governor will keep two sets of accounts, one for the living and one for the dead. We'll hand over the original account, and he'll give us the other one." Tian Sui placed the other set of accounts in front of Jiang Jin.
"This is the visible account, the hidden account. By reducing the visible revenue, the taxes paid to the court will naturally be less." Jiang Jin quickly discovered the loopholes after reviewing the two sets of accounts.
“But the accounts and goods don’t match. The censor will investigate and find out the trick. The censors of the Censorate won’t show favoritism,” Jiang Jin asked, looking at the obviously suspicious account books.
“Ah Jin, although the censor is no different, Governor Wang knows exactly when and where he comes from. Since he can do these things, it shows he has a backup plan.” Tian Sui then placed another letter in front of Jiang Jin.
"The imperial court has been working to curb exorbitant taxes in recent years, but rural taxes in Bianzhou still reach as high as 40%, with 10% of that going into Wang Juesong's pocket." Jiang Jin's face grew increasingly grim.
"These are all alright, just greed. At least the common people and merchants can still barely make ends meet." Tian Sui's eyes suddenly turned venomous.
"He, a dignified prefect, actually lends money at exorbitant interest rates! If he can't repay, he'll take his children... to pay off the debt!" Tian Sui gritted his teeth.
“Those women were manipulated by him and then sent to the residences of various officials in the capital. Even Rou Baolin, who served His Majesty, came from Bianzhou.”
"Men were treated as servants, and some effeminate women became their playthings, right?" Jiang Jin patted Tian Sui's hand.
"Several exceptionally handsome concubines suddenly appeared in the Lotus Garden of the capital, attracting many officials. Of course, this was only discussed in private, but then a major event occurred."
Jiang Jin recalled the incident she had heard before her marriage: "An official went to seek pleasure, but the concubine, unable to bear the humiliation, stabbed the official and then committed suicide. The official was in the wrong and was not seriously injured, so he did not intend to pursue the matter. However, the person he was with was from the Xun family."
Jiang Jin fiddled with the jade pendant at her waist, a cold glint in her eyes. "He wanted to make an example of someone, so he had people investigate that person's family and relatives, thinking that he would punish them as a warning to others. But he didn't expect that the investigation would reach him. His concubine was that only sister of his concubine."
"And then, how did this end?" Tian Sui's heart clenched upon hearing this.
“If the Xun family wanted to save face, they would just let it go.” Jiang Jin looked out the window. “So you see, below the level of aristocratic families, everyone is just a plaything.”
"So you want to help Wei Shu? If the position of Prefect of Bianzhou becomes vacant, it's possible that one of His Majesty's people will take it." Tian Sui handed the sachet she had sewn to Jiang Jin.
"Next time you walk the mountain path, take this sachet with you. It's better than sprinkling medicine powder on it." Jiang Jin smiled as she accepted the sachet and tied it around her waist.
"I'm not that noble, I just thought that if I helped Wei Shu so much, I'd have leverage to negotiate with him." Jiang Jin sighed and put down the hairpin she was holding.
“Wei Shu is sensitive, suspicious, and deep-thinking. Even if I do everything perfectly, there will always be some flaws. It might be a glance or a gesture. As long as he has doubts, the situation will repeat itself, like in the greenhouse.” Jiang Jin said wearily.
"Ah Jin, why don't you just act like an ordinary person while you're by Wei Shu's side? Don't try to find out about the plan or contact the clothing workshop anymore. Wei Shu has been trained by His Majesty since he was a child; no one knows what he's thinking." Tian Sui looked at the swaying Jiang Jin and touched her face with heartache.
"I remember last year you suggested to His Highness that we open a teahouse in Bianzhou, and you've been in charge of it ever since. How's the teahouse going now?" Tian Sui seemed to have anticipated Jiang Jin's question, and laid out everything about the teahouse in front of her.
"They're all trustworthy people inside. Bringing them to Wei Shu's side would be a good choice," Jiang Jin said, carefully examining the people in charge of the teahouse.
“Keep only Fen Yue, San Feng, and Nian Pi; everyone else, withdraw.” Jiang Jin put the list together. “Select two or three more people from Bianzhou to enter the kitchen. Remember, they must be people you trust very much and who only came to Bianzhou last year.”
"Okay, what about Wang Juesong's side?" Tian Sui watched as Jiang Jin collected all the account books on the table.
“We can find the information, and Wei Shu can do the same. Don’t worry about him.” Jiang Jin put on a veil and changed into local Bianzhou clothing.
"I'll just wander around the city for a bit. Yi will be with me, so don't worry." Jiang Jin hid the poison in her hairpin and then went out onto the street through a small door behind the clothing store.
The morning in Jiufang City was also very lively, with shouts and calls coming from the roadside. Jiang Jin carefully examined the surrounding shops.
"My lady, we have some fresh flowers here, perfect for flower arranging!"
"My lady, these are fresh soup dumplings, please have a taste!"
"My lady, this is the best jewelry shop in all of Bianzhou. You are welcome to come and take a look!"
Jiang Jin's eyes were drawn to the flowers in the shop. "White jasmine?"
"My lady has excellent taste. This is a fine product from the Buddhist kingdom." Jiang Jin picked up a jasmine flower and held it to her nose. Its fragrance was even stronger than the jasmine sold in the capital.
"How much? I'll buy one." Jiang Jin took out some copper coins from his pocket.
“Only 300 coins.” Jiang Jin paused, her hand still touching the copper coins. “Can gold beans work? I don’t have that many copper coins with me.”
"Madam, it's not easy for us to give you change here," the shopkeeper said, looking at Jiang Jin with some difficulty.
"It's alright, I'll bring enough copper coins tomorrow to buy it again." Jiang Jin put down Jasmine and was about to turn around when someone called out to her.
"My lady, these jasmine flowers suit you perfectly. May I have the honor of presenting them to you?"
A man dressed in a moon-white round-necked robe, with a jade pendant hanging from his waist belt, was holding a jasmine flower and smiling gently at Jiang Jin.
"Thank you for your kindness, sir, but I prefer to buy it myself." Jiang Jin turned and left, lifting the hem of her skirt, while the man, without hesitation, bought all the jasmine flowers in the shop.
"Go and find out where that woman lives." The servant behind the man obeyed.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com