Xiyuan Pavilion (3)
The four exchanged glances, then looked at the chief clerk, waiting for him to continue.
Have you ever heard of the Wang Family Rice Shop?
Yan Yang nodded and replied, "The one in the East Market?"
As soon as Chief Secretary Liang mentioned Yan Qing, he immediately connected everything in his mind. The manager of the Wang family rice shop was the same person who had spent a fortune at the theater that day.
But she didn't do anything; she remained silent and continued listening to Yan Yang's introduction.
"Wang Family Rice Shop has been in the East Market for decades. In the past, they barely made a living by selling rice, but in recent years, due to the continuous wars, the owner has become quite wealthy."
Upon hearing this, Rong Xiao frowned deeply. "He hoarded grain and sold it at high prices during the war. He tasted success in Yunzhou and used this method to amass wealth everywhere. I've heard of his name before."
At this point, the fierce look between his brows turned into sorrow. "Although what he did was unjust, in the end, the world gave him an opportunity. Ultimately, the court did not do enough."
Yan Qing and Fang Bi simply listened; it was inconvenient for them to get involved in this matter publicly, and they also lacked sufficient understanding of Yunzhou personally. Thus, they remained as bystanders, not participating in the conversation between the three.
The chief clerk sighed and echoed Rong Xiao's words, then continued to ask, "Have you ever heard that Manager Wang is a great lover of opera?"
“In the past, his whole family was focused on running the rice shop. Manager Wang’s wife was also very capable, so Manager Wang would naturally not go out to seek pleasure.” Yan Yang paused, realizing the illogicality.
Liang Changshi continued her words: "Ever since he amassed his fortune, Manager Wang has begun to squander it lavishly in the theater, not for the sake of pleasure."
"He's offering a bribe!"
Yan Yang and Rong Xiao spoke at the same time, then asked, "Who did you bribe?"
The chief clerk lowered his voice and uttered a name, "Zheng Zhengzhong."
Sima of Yunzhou.
“There are Zheng Zhengzhong’s men in Qingyin Pavilion. If someone wants to ask him for favors, they can go to the theater and give money to the actors he has arranged, and then the actors will pass it on to him. In this way, even if someone wants to investigate, it will be difficult to trace it back to him.”
"Why would those actors obey him?" Yan Qing, who hadn't spoken until now, asked, seemingly puzzled.
Chief Secretary Liang smiled, as if looking at an innocent child who had never experienced the ways of the world. He explained, "With the life-and-death contract in hand, who would dare disobey him?"
“In chaotic times, there are many who would sell their lives for a few taels of silver. Life and death are not in their own hands. The more silver they take, the longer they can live.”
Yan Yang slowly explained, and the atmosphere grew even heavier with her words.
A heavy feeling, unlike anything he had ever experienced before, welled up in Yan Qing's heart.
The people of this country are suffering terribly. This was the information that Cat Number One provided to her, but before leaving the capital, it was just a meaningless sentence on paper.
The capital city was filled with illusory bubbles that blinded her. Nobles indulged in extravagant spending and pleasure-seeking, while the common people lived their lives diligently and peacefully—a scene that seemed perfectly normal.
But ever since they left the capital, their cold and aloof demeanor has transformed into withered and sallow faces. The further they traveled from the capital, the more pronounced their weariness became.
In Yunzhou, one of the few relatively wealthy cities, the people were still able to feed themselves and still had entertainment options.
In contrast, other small towns and villages are sparsely populated, and each one seems to be hanging on by a thread.
Yan Qing suddenly realized that the slow-changing happiness she experienced was backed by real people who were able to eat their fill.
Fangbi said that it wasn't like this in the past; it only became like this in the last ten years.
In the early years of the Jianyuan era, the emperor ascended the throne and devoted himself to government affairs day and night, while the people lived in harmony and prosperity.
In the fifteenth year of the Jianyuan era, the young emperor, who had dedicated himself to enriching the country and strengthening its military, entered middle age. However, his vision gradually narrowed with age, from seeing the common people to only seeing himself. He began to ignore the advice of his ministers, indulging in pleasure, and the affairs of state gradually became neglected.
Also in the fifteenth year of the Jianyuan era, it seemed as if Heaven was displeased with the emperor's actions and sent down heavy punishments.
From that year onward, flash floods destroyed farmland, and epidemics claimed the lives of able-bodied people. This cycle repeated itself, and the foundation laid in the previous fifteen years was finally exhausted.
The emperor, despite his high position, remained rebellious, allowing the crown prince to amass wealth both openly and secretly, causing the people to be disappointed once again.
Fortunately, Consort Shu did not spoil her eldest son. Rong Xiao was instilled with the idea that the people are the foundation of the world from a young age, and he frequently volunteered to go to the local areas from the age of twelve.
The hands that could barely hold a hoe have, through the trials of time, now firmly grasp swords and spears, thrusting them at enemies who sought to take advantage of the chaos to invade. From youth to adulthood, Rong Xiao's footsteps have traversed the entire country, from the front lines of the border to the newly turned farmland.
Finally, he returned to the court with unparalleled prestige, and finally received some favor from the Crown Prince.
No one could see the true meaning in those murky eyes.
It was said that the Crown Prince would inevitably become the next emperor, and although Rong Xiao had the support of the people and desired the throne, he could only remain as the Prince of Qi.
When the rumors reached his ears, he merely frowned and left again, spending only one or two months a year in the capital.
Rumors spread even more widely that a power struggle had begun between the King of Qi and the Crown Prince, and that the two were mortal enemies, with only one of them able to survive.
While there is some basis to this rumor, it is merely the conjecture of onlookers, lacking the genuine feelings of the main characters.
What is it that Rong Xiao is seeking?
Perhaps he had no interest in the throne at all, at least that's what Yan Qing thought.
With the Crown Prince suddenly falling from power, Prince Qi will return to the capital with his political achievements, and his power will inevitably expand rapidly. The throne will be within his grasp, and there will be no chance for Rong Xuan to stand out.
But he didn't.
He remained in Yunzhou, determined to find the well-hidden rat.
Is it better to arrest a petty corrupt official or seize the opportunity to strengthen one's own power?
Smart people know how to choose, but unfortunately Rong Xiao is a determined "fool".
This is Yan Yang's evaluation of him, which also aligns with Yan Qing's feelings after spending so much time with him.
But precisely because the world is so unpredictable, joining the army is clearly not a good choice. How could the Sima of Yunzhou have managed to accept bribes on such a large scale and still manage to escape the last major crackdown?
Perhaps it was a meeting of minds, but Yan Yang asked on her behalf, "Things are different now than before. Is there anything Manager Wang would like Zheng Sima to do for her?"
Chief Secretary Liang had anticipated her question and explained, "What he seeks is not military merit, but the prestige of a tiger. He wants to be the fox. Manager Wang has three sons and two daughters, all of whom are taking advantage of the chaos to engage in unscrupulous business in various places, and they are all doing quite well. This is all thanks to Zheng Zhengzhong, that fake tiger!"
As he said this, he stroked his long white beard, looking furious.
"A fake tiger?"
“He’s just a minor official, he doesn’t have that kind of power. I started investigating last year, but unfortunately I couldn’t produce any solid evidence when the Prince of Qi was handling the case of the former governor. But now we finally have some leads.” Chief Secretary Liang nodded and continued, “Zheng Zhengzhong is backed by the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince is the real tiger. Fortunately, he has finally been rejected by the emperor, and the people are all relieved to hear that.”
Realizing he had acted somewhat emotionally, Chief Secretary Liang solemnly returned to the matter at hand, "The gold and silver that Manager Wang sent out were first delivered to the actors of Qingyin Pavilion, then to Zheng Zhengzhong, and finally flowed into the Crown Prince's residence. Zheng Zhengzhong was just one of the Crown Prince's thousands of subordinates, specializing in extorting money from the people for him. We should thank the Crown Prince's downfall for being able to trace it back to Zheng Zhengzhong, which finally exposed his true colors."
After explaining everything clearly, the chief clerk revealed his ultimate purpose.
"There is actually another important matter to discuss with you today. Tomorrow night at midnight, the people from Qingyin Pavilion will go to the Sima residence again. This is the best opportunity to capture him. I wonder what Your Highness, Prince Qi, thinks?"
Rong Xiao pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Let's go together."
Just before they were about to leave, it was time for their meal. The Chief Secretary's wife stopped what she was doing, picking up shrimp, and came over to invite them, "Stay for a simple meal before you go."
Her hands were clenched tightly, her grip tightening. Yan Qing looked in the direction she had come from; the shrimp shells were peeled off in pieces, with only a few whole shrimp meat visible.
Noticing her gaze, Chief Secretary Liang smiled awkwardly and stepped forward, saying, "This is not something we often eat at home, please excuse the poor quality."
Upon hearing his words, Yan Yang and Rong Xiao also noticed what was happening over there, but neither of them said anything. They simply declined the invitation from the Chief Secretary and his wife and left the Chief Secretary's residence.
Liang Changshi's words were flawless, but Yan Qing had a strange feeling that he couldn't quite put his finger on.
The following evening, Yan Qing and Fang Bi went ahead to the address of the residence given by the chief clerk. They sat on the rooftop, hidden in the night, quietly waiting for Rong Xiao and Yan Yang to make their move.
From a distance, the mansion that was about to be surrounded by the government troops was very quiet, just like what Yan Qing saw from Chongchong's perspective.
Chief Secretary Liang made the right choice.
This matter is about to be concluded, but it is far too simple. She had just investigated this courtyard when the answer was revealed, and the mastermind was about to be arrested and brought to justice.
"Fangbi, what do you think of Chief Secretary Liang?" She turned to Fangbi.
Fangbi thought about it carefully for a moment, and then said, "An honest and loyal official, but it gave me the feeling that he was deliberately putting on an act."
"You think so too..."
Before I could say anything more, candlelight suddenly lit up in the courtyard ahead.
The two stopped and looked in that direction. Yan Qing squinted and carefully discerned the figures in the courtyard. Although they were still somewhat difficult to identify, she could still tell that it was Xiao Yue, a person from Qingyin Pavilion.
She was dressed the same as last time I saw her, and was talking to someone under the eaves, but unfortunately that person was completely obscured. If it weren't for her outstretched hand, one would think that Xiaoyue was talking to thin air.
Xiaoyue handed a box to the man.
The conversation inside the courtyard continued, while Rong Xiao and Yan Yang arrived outside with their soldiers.
Yan Qing and Fang Bi were standing close by, but they did not participate in the search; they only observed from a high vantage point.
The courtyard gate was kicked open, and the bright firelight illuminated the entire courtyard. Rong Xiaoyan stepped into the courtyard and looked at Xiaoyue and the mastermind who had been captured before they could react.
Yan Qing finally saw his face clearly.
He is Zheng Zhengzhong, the Sima of Yunzhou mentioned by Chief Secretary Liang.
Amidst the commotion, Chief Secretary Liang led his soldiers to quickly search the Zheng residence and uncover a large amount of money. Hundreds of people from the Zheng household were taken away.
Caught red-handed, Zheng Zhengzhong stopped denying the charges and, to avoid severe punishment, confessed all those involved. As a result, the number of performers at Qingyin Pavilion decreased significantly, Wang's rice shop was shut down, and the Wang family was imprisoned awaiting their fate.
With the matter concluded, Yunzhou seemed to have returned to peace.
On the day Zheng Zhengzhong was beheaded, the four of them went to Qingyin Pavilion again. The scene inside had not changed much. The missing actors had been replaced, as if nothing had ever happened.
When they arrived, the same wedding kidnapping drama was being performed on stage, but the singers had changed, and Shiyun was now the lead actress.
Shi Yun is undoubtedly the pillar of Qingyin Pavilion. However, due to Zheng Zhengzhong's schemes, his people stole the limelight. Now, she has returned to her original form.
Strangely, she didn't receive many tips.
The audience members below the stage were all scratching their heads, seemingly lost in thought.
The mystery was only revealed at the end of the performance; the audience was composing poems for her.
She doesn't accept gold or silver, only poems; that's her rule.
Appreciating it through poetry is refreshing and unconventional.
pity.
"Men, seize her!"
Rong Xiao shouted, and in an instant, the glamorous performer on stage turned into a bewildered prisoner.
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