Chapter 038: Winter Thunder

Yesterday, the weather was clear, and in the evening, you could even see the sunset.

But when Jiang Xuening left the mansion in a carriage today, the sky outside had already turned gloomy, with thick clouds hanging low. The cold wind after the start of winter had a bit of a biting chill.

It looked like it was going to rain.

The street vendors in the alleys had already hurriedly packed up their stalls, and the usually bustling capital had suddenly become much quieter and emptier. Only the wind occasionally swept some withered leaves through the rows of buildings.

There were only a few guests left at the Cengxiao Tower.

On such a day, it was unlikely that anyone would come. 

The waiter, who had been busy all day, was leaning against the counter, thinking of chatting with the shopkeeper. Unexpectedly, at that moment, the sound of an approaching carriage came from outside and soon stopped in front of the Cengxiao Tower.

The waiter was stunned for a moment before quickly running out to greet them.

Amidst the swirling cold wind and falling leaves, the curtain of the carriage was lifted. A maid got out first and then helped the young lady put on a cloak trimmed with a circle of ermine fur. The waiter had seen many high-ranking officials and nobles in this Cengxiao Tower, but it was the first time he had seen such a beautiful girl.

Judging by her attire, her background was certainly not low.

What was the necessity of going out in such weather?

The waiter welcomed them inside and hesitated for a moment before asking, “Miss, what brings you here?”

Jiang Xuening glanced at the empty hall downstairs and then looked at the stairs leading to the second floor. She lowered her eyes and said, “Choose a private room on the second floor. I’m waiting for someone.”

The waiter immediately said, “Please, upstairs.”

Jiang Xuening went upstairs with her entourage.

In the corner of the street outside, Dao Qin stood in the swaying shadows of the trees, watching the two doors of the Cengxiao Tower open and the figure of “Second Miss Ning” gradually disappear up the stairs. His brows slowly furrowed.

*

Today, Xie Wei was unusually not carving a qin in the Zuo Qin Hall.

Lu Xian, like an old man, was lounging on a Luohan bed in the room, pushing the originally neatly placed table aside to make himself more comfortable. He was eating pastries just delivered from Xing Fang Zhai and holding his account book for the month, happily calculating how much he had earned this month.

When he looked up and saw Xie Wei standing by the window looking at the sky, he almost died laughing.

“Isn’t it true that people get their comeuppance?” Lu Xian pretended to sigh. “Look at you, always squeezing me and making me spend money to do things for you. In the end, you didn’t expect someone to beat you to buying raw silk, and now there’s such a big mystery. You sent Dao Qin out, and he hasn’t come back yet. He must have seen something. Ah, Xie Ju’an, I’m your god of wealth. You have to treat me better in the future, understand?”

Jian Shu stood diagonally behind him and rolled his eyes.

Lu Xian, as if he had eyes on the back of his head, said leisurely, “Jian Shu, your eye-rolling is not attractive. If you keep glaring at me, I’ll make you go next time.”

Jian Shu: “…”

Better not. Following people in secret is a tough job, with no one to talk to and pass the time. If he ended up like Dao Qin, who had been tormented into a chatterbox that talked to himself, it wouldn’t be good.

Endure for a moment, and the wind and waves will calm.

Xie Wei finally turned to look at Lu Xian, seeing him lounging with his feet up. His brows furrowed slightly, and he said, “Do you believe I won’t have you thrown out right now?”

Lu Xian: “…”

Alright, the boss is here.

Endure for a moment, and the wind and waves will calm.

He reluctantly sat up straight, showing a somewhat intriguing expression. “Xie Ju’an, you’re quite interesting. You look like a proper scholar, but these two kids around you, named ‘Shu’ and ‘Qin,’ are fine, but you had to add ‘Dao’ and ‘Jian.’ The more I think about it, the more I realize you have a dangerous side.”

Xie Wei calmly replied, “If I weren’t dangerous, would you work for me?”

Lu Xian clapped his hands and laughed, “Exactly, exactly!”

Back in the day, among all the talented people in the Hanlin Academy, Lu Xian, proud of his talents, only respected Xie Wei. Later, when Xie Wei returned home for mourning, Lu Xian found everyone else mediocre and incompetent. He resigned and returned to Jinling, visiting Xie Wei, and gradually fell into his trap. A proper scholar ended up being tricked into doing business.

Thinking about it brings tears.

Lu Xian sighed deeply, “The road ahead is long and arduous, I will seek it high and low!”

As he finished speaking, a report came from outside, “Young Master Dao Qin has returned!”

Lu Xian showed a speechless expression.

Sure enough, a moment later, a young man in blue attire appeared at the entrance of the Zuo Qin Hall. He walked in from outside, his footsteps almost silent, and bowed, saying, “I followed the person.”

Lu Xian immediately perked up, his eyes gleaming, and hurriedly asked, “Who is the master behind You Fangyin?”

But unexpectedly, Dao Qin did not answer.

He just raised his eyes and looked at Xie Wei, with a rare hint of hesitation in his eyes.

Xie Wei realized that the person Dao Qin had followed might be somewhat unusual. “Tell me.”

Dao Qin then said, “I’ll keep it brief. At first, following your instructions, I went to the Qingyuan Marquis’s residence to observe. I waited outside for half a day, thinking that Miss You wouldn’t leave the mansion today. But unexpectedly, around noon, she quietly left the mansion, dressed like a servant, and carrying money. She first went to a silk shop called Dongshi and bought a piece of fine Hangzhou silk, which seemed to be of cloud crane pattern. Then she bought some writing brushes and ink, but I couldn’t see clearly what kind of brushes they were from a distance. There were also…”

Xie Wei: “…”

Lu Xian: “…”

Standing nearby, Jian Shu quietly rubbed his forehead and gently tugged Dao Qin’s sleeve, whispering, “Keep it brief.”

“Oh.”

Dao Qin then remembered his habit and nodded, deciding to take the advice and switch to a more concise report.

“She bought many things, including Hangzhou silk, writing brushes, ink, and even some cosmetics. Then she went to a temple to offer incense. There were many people there today, and I accidentally got spotted by a monk and had to donate two taels of incense money. You Fangyin also donated and then went inside to pray for a peace talisman…”

Lu Xian: “…”

Jian Shu: “…”

Xie Wei slowly pressed his brow with his hand and said, “Get to the point.”

Dao Qin suddenly felt a bit aggrieved, not thinking he had said too much.

Shouldn’t a tracking report be this detailed?

He pursed his lips and said sullenly, “Second Miss Ning.”

Jian Shu’s eyes suddenly widened in disbelief, and he instinctively turned to look at Xie Wei.

Xie Wei stood by the window, silent.

Lu Xian, however, was completely confused and almost got angry at Dao Qin. “When I asked you to get to the point, I didn’t mean like this! How is this person related to You Fangyin? Is she her master? What’s their connection? What did you see? Wait, who is ‘Second Miss Ning’? Dao Qin, are you stupid? Just saying a name, who knows who that is? There aren’t many people with the surname Ning in the capital, but there are still quite a few. Which family is she from? You—”

A string of questions poured out like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

Lu Xian’s mouth was like a torrent.

But after he had almost finished asking all these questions, he suddenly noticed that the expressions of the three people in the room were not right. His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately realized that things were not simple. “You all seem to know who this ‘Second Miss Ning’ is?”

“Boom.”

A muffled thunder rolled across the sky.

In the bleak and chilly late autumn and early winter, a heavy rain suddenly poured down, quickly covering the entire capital. The large raindrops fell, hitting the calm surface of the small lake outside the Zuo Qin Hall and the window lattice nearby, splashing fine mist.

Xie Wei turned his eyes and said slowly, “It’s raining.”

*

A clap of winter thunder, pale blue lightning tore through the low-hanging twilight, illuminating the dim study of the Marquis of Yongyi’s residence. The high stacks of books cast deep shadows, creating a mountain-like oppression.

The candle flame on the candlestick in the corner flickered in the wind.

Yan Lin’s handsome facial features were also illuminated by the flickering light, showing an unprecedented coldness.

Zhou Yinzhi sat calmly opposite him.

Recently promoted to the rank of Qianhu in the Jinyiwei, he had now qualified to touch the core of Jinyiwei’s power, completely becoming a prominent figure.

But all this had not come in a very honorable way.

But what did it matter?

Zhou Yinzhi felt that he had never been a gentleman. Any means that could achieve the goal were good means.

The newly bestowed embroidered spring knife at his waist had already been placed on the table by the door. At this moment, he was wearing a deep black flying fish robe and said to Yan Lin, “I, Zhou, am greedy for power and full of ambition. So although I knew about this matter early on, I did not dare to tell the heir apparent before seeing any benefits, bearing the heavy responsibility entrusted by the Jinyiwei. It was not until Second Miss recommended me to the heir apparent, and the heir apparent painstakingly secured the position of Qianhu for me, that I, a petty person, united by profit, decided to reveal everything to the heir apparent today.”

Investigating the Marquis of Yongyi’s residence was a secret order from the Jinyiwei.

Who in the world doesn’t know that the Jinyiwei only listens to the Emperor?

It was obvious who suspected that the Marquis of Yongyi’s residence was involved in the case of the rebel party of Prince Pingnan that had appeared in the capital.

Even though Zhou Yinzhi was a Qianhu, he was just following orders from above. For someone without power, defying orders was dangerous. He knew that this news was a bolt from the blue for the heir apparent and the entire Marquis of Yongyi’s residence.

So, observing Yan Lin’s expression, he did not offer any consolation.

Listening to the thunder outside and the pouring rain, he slowly said, “If the Marquis of Yongyi’s residence has no connection with the rebel party of Prince Pingnan, I, having received the heir apparent’s favor, would naturally not fabricate evidence to frame the Marquis. But you may not believe it, in my secret investigation of the Marquis’s residence these days, I found that the Marquis indeed had correspondence with the remnants of Prince Pingnan’s party. I don’t know if the heir apparent is aware of this?”

Yan Lin listened, feeling dazed.

How could his father be connected with the remnants of Prince Pingnan’s party?

His fingers resting on his knees slowly clenched, and he slowly closed his eyes, only asking, “Since you have found out, when will you report it?”

If Zhou Yinzhi could find out today, another investigator could find out tomorrow.

And perhaps they would find out even more, and more terrifying things.

Who can fathom the heart of an emperor?

Yan Lin, having spent time in the palace, knew that it was impossible to completely suppress this matter. The best he could do was to prepare in advance.

Zhou Yinzhi looked at the young man who was just a month away from his coming-of-age ceremony and suddenly felt that he was not as naive as he initially thought.

On the contrary, this heir apparent’s thoughts were far beyond those of his peers.

He then thought of Jiang Xuening and simply replied, “In seven days, I will report it truthfully.”