Imprisonment III
The bright moon hung high in the sky, and the two guards in front of the Vermilion Bird Gate were chatting about everyday things under the moonlight, each with a bag of melon seeds.
Once midnight arrives, curfew begins, and few dare to defy it or cause trouble in the dead of night. Night watch is an easy job; apart from the watchman striking the gong every hour, the guards can switch shifts and go home by morning. When things aren't too tense, two guards can even take turns splitting the first and second halves of the night, making it a good job.
Suddenly, the moon disappeared into the clouds, and the sky became completely dark.
One of the guards complained, "With such thick clouds, it looks like it's going to rain later tonight."
Another guard echoed, "It was dry and clear before I left home. My wife told me to bring a raincoat, but I thought it was in the way."
So, did you bring it?
"I didn't bring it."
"It's going to be tough. I'm all soaked. Going back to boil water and all that has to do will waste most of my morning."
They chattered on and on, and before half an incense stick's time had passed, the moon parted the clouds and peeked out again.
"I hope it rains after I get home."
Outside the city gate, a small team dressed in night clothes climbed down from the shadows in the corner of the city gate one after another.
After they came down, they formed a neat line. The leader counted the number of people and reported to Sun Mingyuan: "The team is complete. The horses prepared by His Majesty are in the suburbs, about a half-hour journey. We will have to trouble you, sir."
Sun Mingyuan, still shaken after being hoisted down the city gate by ropes, patted his chest and said, "It's alright, it's alright, just don't throw me down again."
Some members of the squad chuckled softly, while others choked on the teeth marks left by Sun Mingyuan's bite to stifle a scream. The last member, with a grave expression, spoke up to warn, "Commander, there are people in the attic of the tavern at the city gate."
He must be someone with extremely keen senses to be able to cover the rear.
The governor's expression turned serious: "These people have really gone too far. No wonder the emperor has been on the throne for more than two years and there are no capable people in the court."
Even sending a team to investigate a case requires covert operations and the use of private troops. Even Lord Sun Mingyuan, in particular, had to feign leave while secretly obtaining an imperial decree to leave.
But the current situation is unfavorable to them, and there is no better solution. He gathered his team, gritted his teeth, and said to everyone in a low voice, "Since they have planted spies in advance, we will be discovered no matter where we go. The enemy is in the dark while we are in the light. Our best course of action is to set off immediately and seize the initiative."
This group of night-walking soldiers were talking amongst themselves about how the enemy was in the dark while they were in the open. Sun Mingyuan, who wanted to correct them, held back his words and also became nervous.
The comfortable shoes he had specially acquired proved invaluable at this moment. Although it was strenuous to keep up with the well-trained soldiers, Sun Mingyuan managed to stay with them and set off towards Jinzhou Prefecture.
Meanwhile, inside the Minister's residence in a corner of the capital, the lights were on full display.
The master of the mansion, holding a wine cup, was mingling among his concubines and dancers, swaying and gesturing to the music.
A servant struggled to squeeze into the crowd, reached the man, and whispered something in his ear.
He was furious and smashed the cup in his hand.
The ceramic cups and saucers hit the corner of the chair and shattered into pieces.
The force was so great that the fragments bounced up and grazed the cheek of the kneeling concubine.
The concubine hadn't felt the pain yet. She reached out and touched it, then screamed in terror at the sight of the scarlet liquid: "Ah! Ah! Ah! My face!"
The man who was reveling in pleasure just a moment ago now had no thoughts of the women at all. He put down his wine glass and was about to leave when his concubine grabbed his sleeve: "My lord, my face, my face!"
The man impatiently pulled out his sleeve and ordered the servant, "Prepare pen and ink."
Unexpectedly, after he left the room, the concubine relentlessly chased after him.
With bruises on his face and bloodstains on his clothes and cuffs, the man felt an inappropriate sense of bad luck at this critical moment.
In addition, the concubines would make a ruckus regardless of the occasion, as if a hundred sparrows had crawled into his head, causing him great distress.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and looked at the concubine with cold indifference: "She's so noisy, kick her out of the mansion."
With a single, casual remark, the concubine's life was sealed. She stared in disbelief at the man's departing figure, then was lifted up by a servant and dragged towards the side gate of the mansion.
The man returned to his study, where a secret letter, tied to the leg of a carrier pigeon, was sent to the Jinzhou government office overnight.
After opening the letter, Lord Zhao was shocked and quickly summoned the magistrate: "The situation has changed. The higher-ups want to cut off the tails and have ordered us to clean house immediately."
With Lord Zhao protecting the Liuyun Chamber of Commerce's private ironworks, a group of upper-class officials in their government office were all lining their own pockets, making a fortune. They were all in cahoots.
Now that all are about to suffer together, the magistrate's eyes darted around, harboring a bellyful of wicked thoughts: "The Liuyun Chamber of Commerce is doomed no matter what, so why not let them take the blame for everything? We weren't really involved, so even if someone from above comes, they'll only punish us for dereliction of duty at most."
Lord Zhao was already in a panic, his mind a complete mess: "If we make him take the blame, how can you guarantee he won't turn against us?"
The magistrate replied, "Sir, don't forget, we still have people above us. As long as we don't let Su Shixiang know that the higher-ups have abandoned us, that's fine. What we need to do now is threaten him. If he doesn't comply and drags the higher-ups into it, they will wipe out his entire family."
This is a good approach.
Lord Zhao nodded with a stern face: "Go to the Su residence now."
The Su family had been wealthy for generations and occupied an excellent location in Jinzhou Prefecture to build their residence, which was only a short walk from the government office.
The prefect left in a hurry, and soon returned in a hurry as well.
Lord Zhao hurriedly went to greet him: "The matter has been taken care of."
The prefect gave him an approving look: "It's settled."
Lord Zhao breathed a sigh of relief, and the parrot hanging on the eaves of the house mimicked him, saying, "It's all right, it's all right."
Still not recovered, Lord Zhao picked up a small wooden stick and poked the parrot in the cage with it, saying irritably, "I'll teach you to mimic, I'll teach you to mimic."
The parrot, poked and prodded in its cage, flew around wildly, only to be left unharmed after its owner's outburst. It then smugly flicked its tongue, making a "deer-deer" sound, clearly defiant.
Lord Zhao had no time to pay attention to the parrot anymore. After venting his emotions, he hurriedly followed the magistrate to clean up the traces of the crime.
Prefect Zhao skillfully escaped the vortex of the case with this clever maneuver. Master Su, left with no other choice, had taken on this predicament—a potentially fatal blow.
How could Master Su possibly accept this?
The Chamber of Commerce was the foundation laid by the Su family's ancestors, but it was reduced to dust in his hands. He would have to kneel down and be criticized and denounced.
Moreover, it was only because the news from above that the new emperor's foundation was unstable that they dared to so brazenly amass wealth.
Master Su couldn't understand how such a golden opportunity could change so drastically overnight. They had originally planned to wait for the young emperor to gradually consolidate his power before restraining their behavior and keeping a low profile, but man proposes, God disposes.
Despite his disarray, Master Su remained calm and collected, able to rationally consider the message conveyed by the magistrate.
The overall message is already very clear.
If the government isn't involved, the rest of the Su family will be spared.
It can also be understood that as long as someone can take the blame for all the crimes and not implicate the government, they can get past the higher-ups.
If that's the case, how could he not use the same trick as Prefect Zhao, who managed to escape unscathed?
Since the birth of Su Lingzhao, the relationship between Master Su and his first wife has broken down. Their daughter, Su Lingya, has the same temperament as her mother, and they are both capable of fighting to the death. Master Su dares not put the blame on the mother and daughter. If they are pushed too far, the Su family can be wiped out.
They, mother and daughter, are not suitable.
Su Lingzhao is also out of the question. He is the only son of the Su family. Without Su Lingzhao, money, wealth, and the family business are all meaningless.
The second wife is no good either; although she is beautiful, she is utterly foolish. If she were sent out for trial, she would make a series of mistakes and end up in serious trouble.
The only one left to consider is Su Lingzhao's newly engaged fiancée, Wang Pan'er.
Master Su immediately summoned his entire family to discuss the plan.
The First Madam remained indifferent, taking the opportunity to threaten Master Su with reporting him, and obtained the divorce papers, intending to leave with her dowry and Su Lingya, penniless.
The second wife panicked and muttered incoherently, leaving her no choice but to obey Master Su's orders.
Only Su Lingzhao, her clear eyes filled with shock, was clearly not fully reacting.
Helpless, Master Su wrote the divorce papers, then watched as his first wife, along with Su Lingya, packed their belongings and left that very night.
He instructed Su Lingzhao, "Bring Wang Pan'er to the manor tomorrow. I want to transfer all the shops involved in smuggling to her name. What you need to do is induce her to leave her private seal on the account books of these shops. Then tonight, start instructing the clansmen to pack up the household items, ready to flee at any time."
When Master Su committed the crime, he didn't let the younger generation know. The younger generation wasn't in charge, and he wasn't only concerned about the seriousness of the matter, but he was also afraid they would let something slip.
Sure enough, Su Lingzhao reacted immediately, shouting incredulously, "Father, you have committed such a heinous crime!"
Master Su could no longer tolerate him. Pointing his finger at his nose, he yelled, "What do you know? It's not easy to get an opportunity like this. Who could have predicted something like this would happen? Besides, anyone can criticize me, but you can't. What makes you, a mere illegitimate son, think you have the status and wealth you have today? It's all because of me!"
Su Lingzhao argued forcefully: "How can we push Pan'er out like that? She is my betrothed, my savior. If she takes the blame, how will others view me in the future? There are so many people in the manor, why don't you just pick a few to take the blame?"
"Fool!" Prefect Zhao's attempt to shift the blame didn't make Master Su lose his composure. It was this good-for-nothing son of his that truly broke Master Su's spirit. "Just pick someone, they won't be credible enough. Are you stupid? Do you think the government officials are stupid too? At least it has to be someone from the master's family to have some credibility."
"That Pan'er isn't even married yet, and she hasn't been managing the Chamber of Commerce for very long. The officials aren't stupid, are they?"
"Just be able to deal with the officials coming to the capital. They won't know so many details. Your marriage to Wang Pan'er is almost done. If you don't back out, you'll die. Since you can't bear to let her take the blame, why don't you obediently go and take the fall?"
Master Su couldn't possibly use Su Lingzhao as a substitute, but Su Lingzhao, who had always been disliked by her father, took it seriously and fell silent.
If only one person could survive, and he had to choose between him and Wang Pan'er... anyone would make the same choice.
Su Lingzhao could no longer speak up for Pan'er from her perspective.
Master Su pressed on, "You agree?"
Su Lingzhao lowered her head and remained silent.
"Agreed. Go and invite them over tomorrow."
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