Chapter 94 The Spy (First published on Jinjiang Literature City)
Fu Mingzi listened to the music until evening, ordering a lot of expensive but mediocre snacks and tea from the brothel. When he left, he generously tipped the madam, who smiled broadly and saw him off at the door.
Fu Mingzi also pretended to be slightly drunk and walked unsteadily toward the place she had arranged to meet Uncle Fu.
At this time, there were fewer people on the street, and they all avoided seeing a drunkard like him. This gave Fu Mingzi an advantage. He pretended to lean against the wall and slowly walked towards the street, but his mind was on watching behind him.
Sure enough, perhaps thinking that Fu Mingzi was really drunk, the servant who was following Fu Mingzi gradually lost his vigilance and began to openly follow behind him.
Fu Mingzi heard obvious footsteps behind him, his expression paused slightly, but he still staggered, looking every bit like a real drunkard.
As they approached the agreed-upon location, Fu Mingzi slowed his pace. Then, as he turned a corner, he pretended to stumble and turned around sharply, finally seeing the face of the servant following behind him.
She looked to be in her early twenties, still with a youthful air about her. When she met Fu Mingzi's gaze, a hint of panic flashed across her face, and she immediately stepped back, hiding in the shadows.
Fu Mingzi slowly got up from the ground, his clothes were dirty, but he had achieved his goal, at least he knew one of Fu Mingfeng's capable people.
When Fu Mingzi arrived at the agreed location, Uncle Fu had been waiting for a long time, his face full of anxiety. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Fu Mingzi had finally arrived and hurriedly went to greet her.
"Fifth Master, what happened to you?" Uncle Fu asked in surprise, looking at the dirt on Fu Mingzi's body.
Fu Mingzi covered her forehead, her words somewhat slurred: "I just tripped and fell. Let's go back quickly, my head hurts terribly."
Upon hearing this, Uncle Fu dared not ask any more questions and quickly helped Fu Mingzi to Fu Mingfeng's residence.
With Uncle Fu's support, Fu Mingzi walked much more steadily and didn't encounter any further problems. The servant who had been following her was also a little scared and dared not get any closer.
After returning, Fu Mingfeng seemed to have been waiting. Seeing Fu Mingzi's appearance, he felt relieved, but couldn't help but advise, "Fifth brother, you can't do this again. Spending some money is nothing, but if you ruin your health, it won't be worth it."
Fu Mingzi leaned against Uncle Fu and just chuckled foolishly, "Third, Third Brother, don't worry, I, I've remembered everything."
Seeing that he was still somewhat dazed, Fu Mingfeng stopped talking and waved his hand helplessly: "Help Fifth Brother down to rest."
Uncle Fu carefully agreed and hurriedly helped Fu Mingzi leave.
Watching Fu Mingzi and Uncle Fu's departing figures, the worried look on Fu Mingfeng's face finally disappeared, replaced by a cold and sinister expression.
The servant who was following Fu Mingzi took this opportunity to step forward from the side and whispered Fu Mingzi's movements that day.
After hearing this, Fu Mingfeng sneered, "A leopard can't change its spots. Even after coming to a place like Qinghe, he still can't forget this habit. It's a good thing I listened to Ze Fan and thought he had changed for the better."
The servant hurriedly agreed, "Who says otherwise? You don't know, I heard from Tingyu Tower today that Fifth Master really spends a fortune there. He's already given out two or three hundred taels of silver as rewards, not to mention the money he gave to that Miss Biqing."
Upon hearing this, Fu Mingfeng's face twitched, and he clenched his fist.
"The old man really spoils his fifth brother too much..." he murmured coldly.
The servant behind him couldn't help but shiver. Third Master was really angry. He couldn't help but look in the direction Fu Mingzi had left. Fifth Master, you'd better pray for yourself.
**
Fu Mingzi was helped back to his room by Uncle Fu, and collapsed onto the bed. Uncle Fu busied himself helping him change his clothes, and then personally brought a hot towel to wipe his hands and face. After he was tidied up, Uncle Fu helped him lie down and covered him with a blanket.
Throughout the process, Fu Mingzi kept her hand on her forehead, frowning and closing her eyes.
"Fifth Master, you're not feeling well, so I'll stay outside the door tonight. If there's anything you want, just let me know," Uncle Fu whispered back.
Upon hearing this, Fu Mingzi lowered her hand and opened her eyes to look at Uncle Fu.
"No need." His voice was a little hoarse. "You've had a long day, go back and rest. I'm a bit more awake now."
"Would you like some water? I'll get it for you." Uncle Fu observed Fu Mingzi's expression and found that he seemed to be feeling a little better than before.
"Bring it here." Fu Mingzi closed her eyes again. "Thank you for your trouble, Uncle Fu."
Uncle Fu quickly waved his hand with a smile: "It's no trouble at all, it's just that Fifth Master has been wronged."
Fu Mingzi did not speak again.
A moment later, Uncle Fu came in with tea. Fu Mingzi got up, leaned against the headboard, and took the tea.
"Alright." Fu Mingzi took a sip of tea and looked a little better than before. "You should go back now. It's getting late, and the roads outside are difficult to travel."
Seeing that he seemed to be much better, Uncle Fu stopped pressuring him, gave him some more instructions, and then turned to leave.
As soon as Uncle Fu left, Fu Mingzi's eyes, which had been somewhat drowsy, instantly brightened.
He threw back the covers, got out of bed, and gently pushed open a window, knocking three times on the door.
"Are you there?" Fu Mingzi asked softly.
The next instant, a black figure silently leaped down from the roof and knelt before Fu Mingzi: "Fifth Master."
Fu Mingzi raised an eyebrow and looked at the person in front of her.
"How come my brother's men are so powerful? They're much more powerful than his guards," Fu Mingzi thought to himself.
"How has your operation been going these past few days?"
"Everything is going smoothly. The investigation is almost complete. Fifth Master, do you have any instructions?" the man replied in a flat voice.
Fu Mingzi nodded: "You arrived earlier than me. If you have completed the investigation, you don't need to wait for me any longer. Go back and report to your elder brother."
Yes, the people Fu Mingsong secretly sent to investigate arrived in Qinghe five or six days earlier than Fu Mingzi. That's why Fu Mingzi dared to ride with Zhou Xiaoyan so brazenly on the way here. Otherwise, if Fu Mingsong found out, he wouldn't be as easily fooled as Fu Zefan.
"This..." The guard hesitated for a moment: "The master said that we should protect Fifth Master."
Fu Mingzi frowned at first, then couldn't help but laugh: "Alright, since you're all Big Brother's people, just do whatever Big Brother tells you to do. But you still need to bring the message back as soon as possible."
"Yes, we will send someone back with the message tomorrow, and the rest of us will escort Fifth Master back to the capital." The guard breathed a slight sigh of relief. He was afraid that this master would not take it seriously and would force them to leave.
"Fifth Master, is there anything you wish to send back? Your subordinates can do it for you."
Fu Mingzi paused after hearing this, and after a long while said, "You should have already found out about the abandoned mine in Qinghe County, right?"
The guards were taken aback and couldn't help but look up at Fu Mingzi. They had spent a lot of effort and time investigating this information, and only managed to get it from a wealthy man who was very close to Fu Mingfeng. Fu Mingzi had only been here for a few days and had been eating and drinking all day, yet she had also learned about this information.
Seeing the guards stunned, Fu Mingzi frowned and looked at them.
The guard then came to his senses, hurriedly lowered his head, and broke out in a cold sweat.
"Yes, I have investigated and found out that Third Master colluded with the local gentry in Qinghe County to conceal the news that iron ore had appeared in the abandoned mine. I cannot say more about the specifics."
Upon hearing this, Fu Mingzi found it to be similar to what he had imagined. However, it turned out to be an iron mine. Fu Mingfeng was truly audacious. Salt and iron were state monopolies, yet he dared to touch an iron mine. If this matter were to be investigated, not only would the Fu family be unable to cover for him, but the entire Fu family would be implicated.
Fu Mingzi's face turned cold as she thought of this.
“I understand. Report back to my elder brother as soon as possible. I heard that all the scattered migrants and refugees on the streets of Qinghe County have disappeared. They may have been driven to mines. I suppose they are in a hurry. You need to hurry. As for me, I don’t have anything to say. Just tell my elder brother to be careful.” Fu Mingzi spoke very quickly.
The guards felt increasingly ashamed as they listened. They hadn't paid attention to the issue of the scattered refugees and displaced people; they had only heard them mention it when they pressed the gentry for information.
"Your subordinate takes his leave." The guard clasped his hands in a fist salute, and in a flash, he disappeared from Fu Mingzi's sight.
After everyone left, Fu Mingzi finally took her hands out from behind her back.
Perhaps because I had gripped it too tightly, my palms were slightly red from being pricked by my fingernails.
Iron mines... Fu Mingfeng really has huge ambitions. And why is the Xia family involved in iron mines? What exactly do they want to do?
Fu Mingzi was in a state of confusion. She felt that there was some connection between these things, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Increasingly frustrated, Fu Mingzi closed the window and turned back to the bed.
Forget it, let's deal with Fu Mingfeng, this ticking time bomb, first. As for the rest, we can consider them later.
Fu Mingzi calmed herself down, turned around, pulled the covers over her head, and went to bed.
**
The next morning, Fu Mingzi was woken up by the servant who was helping him wash up. He was dizzy and groggy as he got out of bed, his anger rising. He wanted to curse, but then he remembered that this was not his home, and his anger subsided.
"Has Third Brother gotten up yet?" Fu Mingzi asked, suppressing her annoyance.
The servant boy, who had been watching Fu Mingzi's expression with trepidation, felt a little more at ease when he heard Fu Mingzi's question and hurriedly said, "Third Master has already gotten up and is waiting for you to have breakfast."
Fu Mingzi nodded: "Pour me a glass of water."
After finishing a cup of tea, Fu Mingzi's mind cleared up a bit, but the back of his head still felt a dull ache, as if someone had punched him.
Fu Mingzi thought it might be because she caught a chill after opening the window and talking to the guards in the middle of the night.
I couldn't help but curse my bad luck in my heart, but there was nothing I could do; I could only grit my teeth and bear it.
After washing up, Fu Mingzi changed into a new dress before going to the front hall.
"Third Brother, Zefan." Fu Mingzi greeted him with a smile as soon as he entered the room.
Fu Mingfeng also stood up with a smile: "You've finally arrived. I thought you were too drunk to get up. I was thinking of saving some food for you."
Fu Mingzi waved her hand with a smile: "This little bit of wine won't get me drunk."
Fu Mingfeng smiled and then pulled Fu Mingzi to sit down and have a meal.
After breakfast was served and tea was offered, Fu Mingfeng spoke calmly: "Fifth brother, you and Zefan have been here for a few days now. I was thinking that we shouldn't let Zefan's selfishness interfere with your work in the capital. Why don't you go back sooner? You saw your third sister-in-law a few days ago, and she's almost fully recovered. There's no need for Zefan to take care of her anymore."
Fu Mingzi raised an eyebrow after hearing this, wondering what kind of show this was going to be.
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