Chapter 253: Witnessed Firsthand
Pingjiang City, Loutou Town.
Zhou Shennian stood at the entrance of the two side rooms rented by Ni Rushi and his mother, hands behind his back, leisurely surveying the surroundings.
Ni Rushi, carrying a load of firewood, walked in quickly. Upon seeing Zhou Shennian, he froze for a moment, then smiled, “Sir, are you lost, or is there something you need?”
“You are Ni Rushi, aren’t you?” Zhou Shennian looked Ni Rushi up and down, carefully examining him.
“Yes, sir, are you looking for me?” Ni Rushi quickly put down the firewood, his heart slightly apprehensive as he looked at Zhou Shennian.
“My surname is Zhou, and I handle some miscellaneous matters for the Young Lord,” Zhou Shennian said with a smile.
Ni Rushi’s eyes widened. As he looked at Zhou Shennian, he pursed his lips slightly, a little nervously, waiting for Zhou Shennian to continue.
Zhou Shennian chuckled. This Ni Rushi was quite composed.
“However, the errand I’m on today is not for our Young Lord, but I was asked by the Fourth Mistress of the Li Family to speak a few words to you.”
Zhou Shennian paused, smiling as he looked at the visibly nervous Ni Rushi.
“Is it the Li Family from the Yueyang Business Firm?” Ni Rushi asked.
“Do you know any other Li Families?” Zhou Shennian retorted.
Ni Rushi shook his head.
“The Fourth Mistress read your ink scrolls and felt your understanding of investigation of things was lacking.” Zhou Shennian paused again, looking at Ni Rushi, who moments later became tense and his face paled slightly. He continued with a smile, “The Fourth Mistress asked me to tell you:
“There is a Gao Family School in Gaojiaji, Kunshan County, where a Mr. Shao is currently lecturing as a guest. Although Mr. Shao is not extremely proficient in the investigation of things, he is more than capable of teaching you. You might as well go to the Gao Family School and stay for a few days, asking Mr. Shao for guidance. Mr. Shao traveled extensively in his youth and also served as an adviser in county affairs for several years. He can also offer guidance on policy essays.”
As Zhou Shennian spoke, he took a small silver nugget from his sleeve pocket and handed it to Ni Rushi. “This five taels of silver was also entrusted to me by the Fourth Mistress.”
“Thank you, sir.” Ni Rushi did not refuse. He took the silver nugget and bowed deeply to Zhou Shennian in thanks.
“No need to thank me. Study hard,” Zhou Shennian patted Ni Rushi on the shoulder and walked away.
Ni Rushi followed behind, watching Zhou Shennian turn the alley entrance and disappear. He quickly retreated into the courtyard, holding the silver nugget and looking at it for a moment. He took a deep breath, put the silver nugget into his sleeve pocket, tied it securely, picked up his carrying pole, and ran out.
Taking advantage of the early hour, he hurried to buy two more loads of firewood and some rice, ensuring his mother had enough provisions. After returning, he would fill a water vat. After dinner, he planned to sleep for two hours before waking up to set off for Gaojiaji.
………………………………
Pingjiang City.
Mrs. Wu, the wife of Huang Zhubo of the Pingjiang Weaving Bureau, hesitated for several days but still felt she needed to speak with her husband and have Huang Zhubo think of a solution.
After dinner, Mrs. Wu watched her son go into the side room to study. She brewed a bowl of weak tea and brought it to Huang Zhubo, smiling, “Master, do you have a moment? We need to discuss Da Lang’s marriage.”
“This is a major matter, speak freely,” Huang Zhubo quickly put down the book he was reading.
“Didn’t you say the Young Lord favors the Li Family’s young daughter?” Mrs. Wu sat down next to her husband.
Huang Zhubo sat up straight.
“It seems it’s not the Li Family, or perhaps not just the Li Family,” Mrs. Wu subconsciously lowered her voice.
Huang Zhubo raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“The tea house on Academy Street, since the Young Lord arrived in Pingjiang City, has been taken over by the Prince’s Estate. You told me this.”
“That is true, everyone knows it,” Huang Zhubo nodded quickly.
“Next to the prefectural school, there’s a Qiao Dong Lane, very close to the tea house. In Qiao Dong Lane, the Wu Family has a young daughter, also around fourteen or fifteen years old, thin and timid. She goes to that tea house every few days, staying for over an hour each time. Once, when she came out, her clothes had been changed,” Mrs. Wu leaned closer to Huang Zhubo, her voice very low.
Huang Zhubo’s eyes widened. “How do you know?”
“I saw it with my own eyes!” Mrs. Wu pouted. “I first sent Wang Ma to watch. After hearing Wang Ma’s report, I personally went to see twice. It was clear as day, Wang Ma and I, with our four eyes, saw it clearly!”
“Then did you see the Young Lord?” Huang Zhubo’s brows furrowed tightly.
“Master, what are you saying? That tea house has several doors, a back door and a side door. If the Young Lord enters or exits, can we see him?” Mrs. Wu scoffed.
Huang Zhubo’s brows furrowed even tighter. After thinking for a moment, he said in a low voice, “This matter needs to be investigated clearly. If it is indeed…”
Huang Zhubo dared not finish his sentence. If the Young Lord truly favored a thin, timid young girl, this would be a great scandal that could not be revealed! They could only pretend ignorance, and marriage was absolutely out of the question!
“It’s too frightening,” Mrs. Wu said softly.
“Yes, tell Wang Ma to be more careful and not to speak carelessly. This matter,” Huang Zhubo frowned, rubbing his face forcefully, “I will find a way to inquire. You don’t act rashly. Alas, how could this happen!”
“I don’t think the Young Lord is that kind of person,” Mrs. Wu mumbled softly.
“Alas, who knows!” Huang Zhubo sighed deeply.
………………………………
Gu Yan returned to the Pingjiang Villa. Not long after, the shopkeeper of the Academy Tea House requested an audience.
Gu Yan quickly called the shopkeeper in.
The shopkeeper bowed and reported, “Reporting to the Young Lord, on the nineteenth of last month, Mrs. Wu from Qiao Dong Lane, who was staying there, came to the tea house for the first time. She ordered the cheapest tea and sat in the back garden for an hour. On the twenty-first, Mrs. Wu came again, ordered the cheapest tea, and sat idly for an hour.
“This time,” the shopkeeper looked up at Gu Yan, “before Mrs. Wu came to the tea house, an old woman hid at the Cai Lian Lane entrance, craning her neck to watch the tea house. An hour later, when Mrs. Wu came out, the old woman at the Cai Lian Lane entrance followed her all the way to the Wu Family residence.
“A day later, that old woman was again standing at the Cai Lian Lane entrance watching the tea house. Before long, Mrs. Wu entered the tea house again.
“I found it suspicious, so I had someone quietly apprehend that old woman. With a little scare, she told everything.
“The old woman said her surname was Wang, and she was a dowry servant of Mrs. Wu, the wife of Huang Qing, the Secretary of the Pingjiang Weaving Bureau. She said that Mr. and Mrs. Huang heard that the Young Lord favored the Li Family’s Fourth Mistress, and also heard that the Fourth Mistress’s elder sister, the Second Mistress, was arranging a marriage. They wanted to form a marriage alliance with the Li Family and had asked the official matchmaker Miao Meipo from the prefectural school area to propose marriage to the Li Family.
“However, Miao Meipo told Mrs. Wu.”
The shopkeeper paused, looked at Gu Yan, and swallowed. “I am reporting the old woman’s exact words. She said Miao Meipo said: The Young Lord fancies someone else. She told Mrs. Wu to see for herself, saying,”
The shopkeeper swallowed again. “She said she serves at the tea house every few days.”
Gu Yan’s eyes narrowed as he listened. After a moment, he relaxed his expression and said calmly, “You are very cautious and thorough, which is good. You don’t need to concern yourself with that side. If that Mrs. Wu wants to come, let her come.”
“Yes!” The shopkeeper breathed a sigh of relief.
After the shopkeeper left, Gu Yan instructed Shi Gun, “Find someone to send a message to Huang Qing. The Li Family’s Second Mistress already has a suitable suitor. Tell him not to bother looking for a match.”
“Yes,” Shi Gun replied, bowed, and withdrew to find someone to deliver the message.
Gu Yan sat and drank half a cup of tea, then ordered Wan Jing to be brought in.
