Chapter 108: Blackmail Letter
“Oh my! Who are you people? How dare you barge into this widow’s home in broad daylight?!” Madam Ma cried out, startled by the sudden appearance of several people.
“Shut up, we’re looking for Shao Si.” Ma Ping’an’s gaze was like a knife, scaring Madam Ma into silence.
The group searched inside and out but found no sign of Shao Si.
“Who… who exactly are you people?” Madam Ma asked, mustering her courage.
“We’re here to arrest Shao Si; he’s committed a crime. You’re his mistress, do you know where he is now? If you conceal him, you’re harboring a criminal. You’re a widow, yet you don’t uphold your chastity; do you want to be paraded through the streets?” Ma Ping’an pointed to the items for pleasure they had found, clearly indicating the widow was quite promiscuous.
“Oh, your excellency! It has nothing to do with this humble servant! Shao Si pestered me once, but I never agreed to…” Madam Ma’s pretense of being a respectable person was unconvincing.
She mistook Ma Ping’an and his group for imperial officers in disguise and hastily tried to distance herself.
“We don’t have time to listen to your nonsense,” Ma Ping’an said sternly, “If you don’t want to get into trouble, tell us honestly where Shao Si is, or we’ll take you in first!”
He knew these people feared officials the most, and since Madam Ma had mistaken them, he decided to go along with it.
“No, no, no!” Madam Ma waved her hands repeatedly. “I know something, but I’m not sure. That ungrateful Shao Si abandoned me once he got money. He’s been involved with Sun Wanjv’s wife outside the city, and more importantly, with Sun Family’s daughter, that little vixen. She’s only sixteen or seventeen, yet she’s already learned to seduce men…”
Madam Ma grew more indignant as she spoke, forgetting her earlier fear.
“Stop rambling! I’m asking you, where is this Sun Widow’s home?” Ma Ping’an asked.
“Huh?” Madam Ma was taken aback for a moment, then understood and explained, “Sun Wanjv is still alive; his wife isn’t a widow. It’s just that Sun Wanjv is a natural cuckold; ever since he was young, he’s let his wife seduce men and then enjoyed the fruits of her labor.
Now with his daughter added, he’s even more pleased. Shao Si used to hook up with his wife, but he didn’t go there that often. They only care about money, unlike me… cough cough…”
Madam Ma realized she had misspoke and quickly corrected herself: “Their home is in Sun Family Village, northwest of the city. I once argued with that slut. I know their house is the only one at the east end of the village, with a large camphor tree planted by the entrance.”
Ma Ping’an felt hopeful upon hearing this. Shao Si, now with money, looked down on Madam Ma but was currently infatuated with Sun Family’s daughter.
Their home was also secluded, making it difficult to be discovered even if they stayed there for some time.
He then said to Madam Ma, “If Shao Si is truly there, you’ve rendered a service, and you’ll be rewarded later. Remember not to say anything carelessly; if Shao Si gets wind of this and escapes, he’ll come back to settle the score with you!”
After leaving Madam Ma’s house, Ma Ping’an tossed a piece of silver to An Xi: “You know what should be said and what shouldn’t.”
An Xi bowed and scraped: “Master, please rest assured! This old man’s mouth is the most discreet.”
Fearing he didn’t have enough men, Ma Ping’an returned to the mansion.
He reported all the information he had gathered that day truthfully to Wen Mingqian and Gong Xu.
Those previously sent to investigate Qi Dahuizi also returned, saying, “I found Qi Dahuizi’s residence, but he was no longer there. According to his neighbors, a few days ago he was overjoyed, saying his brother had struck it rich and invited him to celebrate. So he locked up his door and left. He didn’t say where he went. But it shouldn’t be far, as he hasn’t terminated his lease.”
“If that’s the case, these two should be together,” Wen Mingqian deduced. “Most likely in Sun Family Village.”
“We will head out of the city now, and if all goes smoothly, we can bring them back before the city gates close,” Ma Ping’an knew there was no time to lose.
Meanwhile, there was still no reply from Zhang Ma, suggesting she was still searching.
In the blink of an eye, it was time to light the lamps.
Gong Xu sat there, his brow furrowed. He was naturally worried about Gong Changan but didn’t know what else he could do.
“Master, Madam, dinner is ready, please eat a little!” Yun Ying also had a worried look on her face. “Fourth Young Master is blessed, he will surely return safely.”
“You serve the Master to eat! I need to go check on the Old Madam, otherwise, she’ll become suspicious,” Wen Mingqian got up.
Gong Xu quickly said, “I’ll go with you.”
“Master, it’s better if you don’t go,” Wen Mingqian immediately stopped him. “They say a mother knows her child best. If Master shows even the slightest hint of worry, the Old Madam will notice.”
“Alright, then you go alone!” Gong Xu felt Wen Mingqian’s words were reasonable. “Sang Er, please assist Madam carefully.”
Wen Mingqian went to placate Old Madam Gong, leaving Gong Xu to eat his dinner alone, feeling dejected.
“Madam… Master!” Old Huang rushed in. Seeing Wen Mingqian wasn’t there, he went straight to Gong Xu. “Someone delivered this!”
He held a box in his hands, his hands trembling like a sieve.
Gong Xu didn’t bother to ask further questions and snatched the box. As soon as he opened it, he dropped it as if startled.
Fortunately, Yun Ying’s hands were quick, and she caught it, but she was also greatly shocked.
Inside the box was a severed finger, bloody.
“There’s a letter in this box too!” Yun Ying said, clutching her chest, and took out the letter from the box.
Although the letter paper was soaked with blood, the writing was clear: If you want your young master to be safe, quickly prepare thirty thousand taels of banknotes, and at the time of lighting lamps tomorrow, go out of the city to Baihu Bridge and take a boat eastward. Arrangements will be made. Only one person may go, no tricks allowed.
Attached is a severed finger of the pageboy. If you do not comply, await the recovery of a corpse.
“Who… who delivered this letter?” Gong Xu asked, his shock finally subsiding.
“The messenger was a fool, a beggar who often wanders around this area,” Old Huang sighed. “He said someone gave him a piece of shortbread and asked him to deliver this box. I also asked the person about their appearance, age, height, and build, but he couldn’t describe anything clearly.”
“It seems this finger belongs to Fourth Young Master’s pageboy, Heming,” Yun Ying said. “He was the one who went out with Fourth Young Master today.”
Wen Mingqian had already speculated that these people would pretend to be kidnappers demanding ransom, and now they had indeed asked for money.
Wen Mingqian was with Old Madam Gong, and only came out after serving the Old Madam her dinner.
Upon returning, she learned that someone had delivered a ransom note, demanding thirty thousand taels.
It was clear that the other party wanted both money and lives, aiming to make the Gong family lose both wealth and loved ones.
“This situation is truly perilous,” Gong Xu said. “If it comes to it, I’ll go find Song Xiang! I’ll tell him face-to-face that if anything happens to my son, I’ll make his entire family pay with their lives!”
