Chapter 103 Cause and Effect (Part 1) A Letter from a Dead Man
The Zheng family of Xingyang and the Cui family of Qinghe are related by marriage, and they have some grudges against Li Yunru.
This dates back to three years ago when she and Yan Ning had a falling out over Emperor Xuan's affairs. When their conflict reached its most irreconcilable point, she left Jiankang and traveled south. When she passed through Dongwu, she discovered that the local county magistrate was inactive, that a Buddhist temple was encroaching on the land of the local people, and that people had even died. Later, she used her status as the county magistrate to coerce the Cui family into dealing with the Zheng family.
They disliked her, and knowing she had come alone, it was understandable that they wanted to harm her.
But this involves the Langya Wang clan.
Wang Wu, the eldest grandson of the Langya Wang family, married Cui Wan, the eldest daughter of the Qinghe Cui family.
She and Cui Wan also had many conflicts because of Yan Ning.
Cui Wan once tried to kill her.
Therefore, if the Wang family is involved this time, Li Yunru can't help but suspect that it was actually Cui Wan's idea...
As for Wang Wu, he probably knew about it too, since only a handful of people knew that she was alive, and Langya Wang Wu was one of them.
"yes."
Song Ji said, "According to people, it was done by a girl from the Cui family in Qinghe."
The Zheng family's status was not high enough to be considered part of the Wang family. Their only connection with the Langya Wang clan was through their in-law, the Cui family woman.
"Oh!"
Li Yunru sneered, "She really hates me!"
"In that case, sir, why don't you pack your things and come with me to Langya?"
She had said that she had too many things to do and that she should put aside this grudge for the time being, but since Cui Wan was pressing her so hard, it would be too cowardly for her to hide here and wait to be beaten!
"Yes!" Song Ji accepted the order. "I will make the arrangements immediately!"
He needs to find someone he trusts to take over Jiangzuo before he leaves.
"Hmm," Li Yunru said, "But there's one more thing to do before I leave."
Song Ji took over the conversation and said, "It's about the mine."
"Yes, although this incident was partly orchestrated by the Langya Wang clan, the fact that the mine was completely emptied in such a short time is something that no single person could have accomplished. There must be other things involved, so we need to continue investigating and get to the bottom of it, to give an explanation to the people at the foot of the mine and to the people of Jiangzuo."
As she said this, the person standing next to Songji looked uneasy.
Li Yunru keenly noticed something was wrong, turned her gaze over, and before she could ask a question, she knelt down with a thud.
"I am guilty, and I beg you, Madam, to punish me!"
“This matter concerns you all.” Song Ji was not stupid; he reacted quickly even when it was not Li Yunru’s business and immediately understood.
"yes!"
Zhu Er said, "We dug that mine ourselves."
Li Yunru was somewhat surprised, "You guys?"
She put down the flowers, sat on the stone bench, and asked, "Why are you digging it up?"
Based on her observations over the past few days, she didn't believe they knew what these things were, let alone what their purpose was.
Why would someone who knows nothing go to such lengths to do all this?
Just as she expected, Zhu Er said, "I don't know. The man said he would buy it and even offered us a price of one hundred coins. We all thought that the harvest from this land was not good every year, and since it was at the foot of our own mountain, we might as well take it and make a little money."
Li Yunru: "...So you just kept mining day and night?"
Zhu Er: "..."
"yes."
At the foot of the mountain, there are more than a dozen households. Excluding children like Xiaohuzi who are only a few years old and unable to undertake such labor, there are nearly thirty or forty people. Everyone wants to get more for their own benefit, and everyone is putting in their best effort. It is indeed possible to mine this scale in just over a month.
...
According to Zhu Er's confession, Li Yunru and others caught the illegal merchants who used this group to illegally harvest and sell the produce at high prices to various noble families and weapons shops, and seized hundreds of thousands of taels of silver.
Part of the money was deposited into the treasury, and the other part was used to rebuild homes and improve the business environment in Jiangzuo.
Jiangzuo has a ferry crossing for convenience, which has always been the preferred choice for most merchants. In the past, she and Du Sanniang traded here and sold their goods. The taxes were low and the selling price was high, so the profits were huge. The caravan liked this place. However, the environment was relatively chaotic, and some unscrupulous merchants would take advantage of it to make a profit for themselves.
This is unavoidable. Human weaknesses become exposed in the face of huge profits, and those who suffer and are ignorant become sharp knives in their hands.
This sharp knife could turn on you at any moment, just like the people at the foot of the mine this time...
well.
Li Yunru couldn't help but sigh. Song Ji packed his things and came over. Seeing her like this, he knew that she was overthinking things again.
Since returning from this trip, she has been thinking about many things, but most of the time, she no longer talks to him.
Song Ji missed the carefree little princess of the past. She didn't think so much. Her biggest worries every day were what to eat, what to drink, and what to play. She would rack her brains to sneak out of the palace to play. When she encountered a few petty thieves, she would teach them a lesson, help them get their money back, and then proudly say with her head held high, "See? This princess is amazing! These people are no match for me!"
She would help poor old women, women with children, and even down-on-their-luck scholars; she would casually toss them some money or buy them a piece of calligraphy or painting, even if she didn't understand the meaning of the painting at all.
But she wouldn't think too much about it, at most she'd sigh and say, "They're so pitiful."
Then she would be happy all day for the good deed she had done, and take the opportunity to have the kitchen give her extra food, so that she could eat more of the things that Empress Zhenyuan usually forbade her to eat because of her teeth.
At that time, she didn't think, "I have so much delicious food to eat, such a big house to live in, and warm blankets to cover myself with, while they have nothing."
I am worried and saddened by this.
Songji didn't know whether her changes were good or bad; all he knew was that he missed the person from the past very much.
If only she could stay like that forever.
"All packed up?"
Li Yunru glanced at him and saw him behind her, looking at her with complicated emotions. She didn't know what he was thinking, nor did she want to guess.
"Yes, it's all packed. We can set off anytime the princess gives the word."
"good."
Without delay, Li Yunru put down the document in her hand, tidied it up, and said, "Then let's go."
Song Ji did not move.
"What's wrong?"
The man spoke up: "Our scouts have discovered that the governor is heading towards Jiangzuo and will arrive in the city in less than half a day. Should the princess wait for him?"
He thought for a moment and said, "With him here, this trip will be twice as effective with half the effort."
Li Yunru waved her hand, "No need."
Having him would indeed make things twice as easy, but one of them is her childhood sweetheart cousin, and the other is a friend of many years. The Wang family and the Yan family are also old friends with close ties. Even though he has left the Yan family, those old feelings still exist. If she lets Yan Ning go over now, what kind of person will he become?
This is her own business, she can handle it herself!
Besides, he has already passed the fifteenth, and the poison has flared up again. He has also traveled a long distance and is in a weakened state. He should rest and recuperate properly when he returns to Jiangzuo, instead of being made to travel like this again.
"yes."
Song Ji thought that his princess had truly changed.
In the past, she would have been more than happy to do so. She could do it herself, but she would definitely have asked Yan Sanlang to step forward and seek justice for her. This would not only save her trouble, but also let people know how much Yan Sanlang loved her.
She enjoys being showered with affection in the public eye, just like the person she is.
...
May 17th.
Li Yunru, accompanied by Song Ji and a dozen or so followers, left Jiangzuo by waterway. Four days later, just as dawn was breaking, they disembarked and entered the main city about half an hour later.
The group found an inn to stay at and had breakfast. Li Yunru asked the innkeeper to bring her paper and pen and sent a visiting card to the Wang family in the name of the "deceased" Lady Liyang.
She didn't give it to Cui Wan separately, but instead handed it directly to Xie, the matriarch of the Wang family and Wang Wu's mother.
Upon suddenly receiving a visiting card from a princess of the previous dynasty who had died many years ago, Madam Xie was stunned. In disbelief, she asked the nanny beside her, "Look, am I just too old to read this correctly?"
The old woman took the letter and looked at it. It clearly read "Liyang pays her respects." Even if she wanted to say she had misread it, she couldn't.
But how could someone who is already dead come back to life and send her something like this?
Xie couldn't help but ponder.
She also had some dealings with Cui, the former matriarch of the Yan family, and learned about the princess's personality from her. She was incredibly domineering and arrogant. Back then, when she divorced Yan San, it was only because the Yan family gave up their interests to protect her Li family that the princess was allowed to leave.
She is a person who refuses to suffer losses or admit defeat, and she has a clear sense of right and wrong.
But the Wang family... doesn't seem to have any grudges against this little princess. If there is, it's Emperor Xuan's business. However, that was the result of discussions among the aristocratic families, a game between the aristocratic families and the imperial power for their own interests. Although the Wang family is considered the leader, it can't really be entirely blamed on them.
Oh, there's one more.
Liu Yanheng, a young woman from the Liu family, was the daughter-in-law of her son who had not yet been married.
They certainly acted inappropriately; they shouldn't have gambled away a young woman's marriage and life.
Such things are not uncommon in aristocratic families, and this is not the only one in the Wang family!
Besides, Miss Liu has been dead for so many years, and her husband, the former Crown Prince Li Xun, is still alive and well. He has even become the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince. He has never said anything about seeking justice for his wife. So how could it be Li Yang's turn?
Xie thought and thought, but still couldn't understand why this sudden visiting card was sent.
"Perhaps it was just a prank." She burned the visiting card and ignored it.
Li Yunru waited for half a day but did not receive a reply from the Wang family.
This was expected.
Even if she were alive, given the Wang family's current status, it's possible they could simply ignore her, let alone treat her as a "dead person."
She was very patient and played this game with them!
The next day, Li Yunru wrote another visiting card, this time to the second wife of the Wang family.
But it's the same.
Still no reply.
The following day, she sent another visiting card, this time to the third wife.
Several days later, she sent out multiple visiting cards at once, even to her collateral relatives.
Xie initially thought it was just a prank and decided to ignore it. However, over the next few days, not only her own sister-in-law received the invitation, but also members of the collateral relatives.
The arrival of a letter from a dead man caused great unease and fear among the people, who flocked to Xie's door seeking his help.
After much deliberation, she decided she could no longer stand idly by; whether the person opposite her was a human or a ghost, she was determined to meet them.
A moment later, she asked someone to bring her pen and ink, and wrote a reply in a long and flowing style. She then handed it to the boy who had delivered the letter, inviting Li Yunru to come over for a chat.
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