Chapter 85 Do you think I'll even acknowledge you?
Xiao Yunzhan slowly asked, "Where are the note you mentioned, and all those who could testify?"
The note is in the military camp.
If you trust me, sir, you may send someone to my residence in the West Camp to retrieve my mother's memorial tablet.
The note was hidden inside the base of the memorial tablet.
"A memorial tablet?" Xie Ji's eyes widened in surprise.
“My uncle is so strict in his military discipline, and his rules are more important than the heavens. How dare you carry my mother’s memorial tablet with you?”
Is nobody going to do anything about it?
Wu Xing looked up at Xie Ji, his eyes showing no emotion, but his voice was deeper than before, "It's not allowed according to the rules."
But there's no one left in my family anymore; I'm all alone.
I'm usually in the military camp, so I can't offer sacrifices.
I can only carry the memorial tablet with me. As long as I don't display it conspicuously, the higher-ups know my situation and turn a blind eye.
Pei Zhiwei didn't say much, but took out the Four Treasures from her brocade bag and handed them to Wu Xing.
Wu Xing accepted the four small items, cupped his hands in thanks to Pei Zhiwei, and said, "Thank you."
Without getting up, he pressed the paper to the ground and wrote, "I'll write it in the order it was written."
The one at the top is a low-ranking soldier under the person in charge of military procurement. He's the one who approached me, saying that Wang Heng has something important to tell me and that I absolutely must meet with him.
After writing three names, he paused, dipped his pen in ink again, and added another name at the end.
"The last one is the team leader I reported to the team when I was going out to see Wang Heng."
After Xiao Yunzhan finished writing, he reached out and took the list from him, casually asking as he looked at it:
"Have you ever considered that even if Cui Yanwu hadn't colluded with Xu Li back then, after what happened with rescuing Xu Li, could they have actually ended up together?"
Upon hearing this, Wu Xing stiffened abruptly, his hand gripping the pen tightening instantly until his fingertips turned white.
He remained silent for a long while before slowly lowering his head, his voice a little muffled: "Sir, I trust our commander."
It's impossible for him to collude with imperial merchants for personal gain.
But I'm a rough person, not good with words, and can't articulate any profound truths, so please don't ask me what I think anymore...
Once you've investigated thoroughly, you'll naturally know who the commander-in-chief is.
Seeing his expression, Xiao Yunzhan knew that he was afraid to say anything more because he had caught Cui Yanwu off guard by Cui Yanwu's comment about "the Xu family's meager assets."
He suddenly laughed, his tone becoming more relaxed: "You just said that the rules for scouts are both overt and covert. Now you've come with us openly, so where are the people following us in the shadows?"
Upon hearing this, Wu Xing immediately knelt up, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Xiao Yunzhan, and said in a serious tone that left no room for negotiation: "I'm sorry, sir, this is a military secret."
If you wish to know, I must obtain a decree from His Majesty before I can report the truthfully.
When everyone heard that he didn't deny it, they all subconsciously looked around.
But this side room was already small, with only an old wooden table and two broken chairs. The ground was covered with broken bricks and tiles, and weeds growing out of the cracks between the bricks. You could see the whole room at a glance.
Forget about Tibetans, they're more like Tibetan ghosts.
Xie Jixian couldn't help but laugh, and then Pei Zhiwei followed suit.
Even Liu Jingchang's lips curled up in a smile.
Xiao Yunzhan almost couldn't suppress his smile. He quickly folded the list and put it in his pocket, then cleared his throat.
“The people on this list haven’t been verified yet. You can’t go back to the barracks; you have to come with us.”
Until the case is fully investigated.
Wu Xing nodded, his tone decisive and without the slightest hesitation: "Okay, the higher-ups told me that as long as the magistrate doesn't order me back, I will follow his orders without hesitation during this period."
The group left the abandoned kiln and took a horse-drawn carriage to Yaoguang Garden.
Upon arriving at Yaoguang Garden, Xie Ji pulled Wu Xing towards the guest rooms, then turned back to Xiao Yunzhan and shouted, "I'll let Wu Xing share a room with Xiao Douzi!"
Pei Zhiwei watched his retreating figure and said to Xiao Yunzhan, "It's not like Yaoguang Garden doesn't have empty rooms, why does he insist on making the two of them squeeze into one room?"
Xiao Yunzhan smiled and said, "Xie Ji intends to train Xiaodouzi as a scout, and now that a master has come to our door, we must hurry up and send him over."
After making arrangements in Wuxing, Xie Ji returned to the main hall.
As soon as I entered, I saw Cui Yanwu leading a deputy general into the main hall.
Xiao Yunzhan handed over the list written by Wu Xing.
Cui Yanwu took the list, didn't even glance at it, and handed it directly to the deputy general next to him.
"Find a suitable reason to get these people to travel overnight..."
He paused, then looked at Xiao Yunzhan.
Xiao Yunzhan thought for a moment and said, "Let's go directly to Yaoguang Garden."
The Xu family didn't know the identities of these people, and their arrival wouldn't arouse suspicion.
The lieutenant took the list, clasped his hands in a fist and replied, "Yes, Your subordinate will take care of it immediately." Then he turned and left.
Lin Fu, the steward of Yaoguang Garden, passed by the deputy general. "Your Highness, Zhang Xuren, the governor of Yangdu, requests an audience."
Upon hearing the name "Zhang Xuren," Xiao Yunzhan raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.
"How many days have passed since the scaffolding collapsed?"
I thought our Lord Zhang had been driven to his death by his precious son.
It turns out that as long as Lord Cui comes more often, his legs and feet become quite nimble.
"Let him in."
A short while later, Zhang Xuren followed Lin Fu in.
He immediately assumed a kneeling posture as soon as he entered the room.
She had just bent her knees when she secretly raised her eyelids again and quickly glanced at Xiao Yunzhan.
Seeing that Xiao Yunzhan's face was expressionless, he actually knelt down on the ground with a "thump".
His voice even trembled with tears: "Your humble servant has failed in managing his household and in educating his children properly, and has come here specifically to apologize to Your Highness Prince Rui!"
Xiao Yunzhan sat at the head of the table, picked up his tea and sipped it slowly until he finished, then leisurely put it down.
"What trouble has Zhang Langjun gotten into this time?"
Zhang Xuren was stunned for a moment, then his crying grew louder, "Your Highness has struck a nerve with me!"
Your humble servant has come because of the disrespect shown by my unfilial son Zhang Xiao to Young Master Xie during the last banquet at Yuhuchun.
That unfilial son has been spoiled by me; he is so arrogant and ignorant that he dared to lay a hand on Young Master Xie! I am truly ashamed!
As he spoke, he secretly glanced at Cui Yanwu out of the corner of his eye.
But Cui Yanwu seemed not to see him.
Just like Xiao Yunzhan, he held a cup of tea in his hand and sipped it slowly without even blinking.
Xiao Yunzhan first showed an expression of sudden realization, then looked puzzled, stretched out his fingers and counted, and frowned after counting.
"Oh, so it's been five, six, seven, or eight days, right?"
"I thought it happened yesterday; I don't quite remember."
Zhang Xuren quickly explained, his tone tinged with urgency: "Your Majesty, I originally planned to come and apologize first thing tomorrow morning."
But he was so angry with that unfilial son that he couldn't catch his breath, and his old illness flared up again. He was bedridden for several days, and only today was he able to get out of bed with great difficulty, so he rushed over.
Your Highness, you are a magnanimous person; please don't hold it against me.
"So that's how it is. I was wrong to misunderstand Lord Zhang." Xiao Yunzhan nodded, as if he believed him, then suddenly changed the subject.
"By the way, Lord Zhang, have you heard?"
That night, not long after you left, Xu Fengyan was crushed to death by a falling pyre, and his steward, Chen Gong, also perished.
Upon hearing the name "Xu Fengyan," Zhang Xuren visibly trembled. "Your Majesty... Your Majesty knows."
But that evening a servant came to report that Your Highness and Minister Pei were in charge, so I didn't dare to go and cause trouble.
These past few days, while I was in the hospital, I heard that His Highness has solved the case with remarkable speed and has already found the real culprit. The case should be closed soon, right?
He looked up at Xiao Yunzhan, as if trying to read something from his face.
Xiao Yunzhan raised an eyebrow. "Lord Zhang, you've worked hard. Even while you're ill, you're still so concerned about the case. You're truly dedicated."
He picked up the tea that had just been refilled and drank it for a while. After putting the teacup down, he slowly said, "Lord Zhang has just recovered from a serious illness. Don't keep kneeling. Get up and sit down."
If he falls ill again, the people of Yangdu will be left without anyone to care for them.
Only then did Zhang Xuren dare to stand up.
He turned to Cui Yanwu and bowed, "When did you return from your inspection of military affairs, Lord Cui?"
“Last night.” Cui Yanwu’s voice was devoid of warmth.
Zhang Xuren, with a smile on his face, sat down next to Cui Yanwu.
"Lord Cui, my son offended Young Marquis Xie before, and I am truly ashamed to face you!"
"Rest assured, Your Majesty, I have already given that unfilial son a good lesson, and I guarantee he will never dare to do it again!"
Cui Yanwu scoffed, "It's none of my business that these kids are having."
I'm not his father, it's none of my business.
Zhang Xuren quickly said, "But you are his maternal uncle!"
“Even my maternal uncle doesn’t stop me from seeing him and being reminded of his annoying father.” Cui Yanwu had a look on his face that said, “You’re the one who brings up the most awkward things.”
Zhang Xuren didn't mind and smiled at Xie Ji, saying, "Young Master Xie, please don't take it to heart!"
You see, Lord Cui just returned to Yangzhou and rushed to see you, which shows that he still cares about you.
He's just stubborn, but he's soft-hearted!
He had barely finished speaking when, before Cui Yanwu and Xie Ji could even open their mouths, he turned to Cui Yanwu and sighed, “Lord Cui, have you also heard about Xu Fengyan’s death?”
Alas, it's been several days already, and Xu Fengyan's body is still lying in the county government's mortuary. Madam Xu hasn't even bothered to ask Magistrate Liu when the body can be taken back for the funeral.
It's really...it's really frustrating to watch.
He paused, looking at Cui Yanwu.
But Cui Yanwu didn't respond at all. He just held his teacup, his gaze fixed on the banana tree outside the window, lost in thought, as if he hadn't heard Zhang Xuren speak at all.
Zhang Xuren was not embarrassed and continued, "Now the Xu family only has Xu Wangshi left, a woman, how can she support such a large family business?"
Judging from the current situation, the Xu family's assets will likely be divided up by their clansmen even before Xu Li emerges.
He seemed to suddenly remember something, slapped his head, and looked quite annoyed.
"Oh dear, look at my brain, I'm so confused from illness!"
The Xu family is on good terms with Lord Cui. With Lord Cui around, no matter who causes trouble in Yangdu City, it won't affect the Xu family, right?
Lord Cui will definitely help look after the Xu family!
Upon hearing this, Cui Yanwu's aura changed drastically, and a strong sense of killing intent spread out.
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