Chapter 110: Hidden Motives
The man didn’t speak for a long time. Gong Changan cowered there, looking at him with pleading eyes, like a small, lost dog.
“I won’t let you write it. If you play any tricks, all my efforts will be in vain,” the man said, very suspicious and not trusting even a seven-year-old child.
“Uncle, I wouldn’t dare play tricks. My life is in your hands.
If you don’t trust me, I’ll write whatever you tell me to write. I just want my parents to see my handwriting and be at ease, otherwise they’ll be worried sick.
Besides, if your handwriting is left behind, wouldn’t it be bad if someone recognized it later?
I’m doing this out of filial piety, for your consideration, and more importantly, to save my own life. Do you agree?”
The man didn’t speak for a long time, his eyes darting back and forth, clearly contemplating.
Finally, he said, “Since that’s the case, you write it. But don’t play any tricks. I have eyes that miss nothing.”
Gong Changan repeatedly agreed.
The man then gave him paper and brush, dictating a sentence for Gong Changan to write down.
After finishing, he took it to the lamp and read it over several times. Once he confirmed there were no issues, he folded it.
He put this letter, along with Heming’s finger, into a box and then left.
After a long while, he returned, bringing some food and throwing it to the two guards.
After that, he never came back.
Gong Changan became even more certain that this person would not let him go. He likely intended for him and Heming to starve to death here.
After all, the weather was hot, and if they were killed immediately, it would inevitably be discovered quickly.
However, he felt no fear in his heart, as fear was useless.
He then curled up in a corner of the cage, trying to fall asleep as quickly as possible. Sleeping more would make him less hungry and allow him to last longer.
Meanwhile, back at the Gong Family, Gong Xu couldn’t wait any longer and wanted to go find Song Xiang.
“We have no evidence. Going there would only be causing trouble. Song Xiang isn’t a three-year-old child; why would he admit anything? He might even turn it back on us and question what happened to Song Xiulian’s death,” Wen Mingqian said. “The priority now is to find Changan. Punishing the others can wait.”
“They’ve already made arrangements. How can we find him so easily?” Gong Xu was extremely anxious.
“Didn’t Master realize this letter was written by Changan?” Wen Mingqian asked.
“So what if he wrote it? It doesn’t say where he is or who abducted him,” Gong Xu said dejectedly.
“Master, perhaps you should look again,” Wen Mingqian handed the letter to him.
“Was he writing in a hurry? His handwriting is a bit more rushed than usual,” Gong Xu said after looking closely.
“He added musical notation to the characters. Look at these strokes and turns; aren’t they musical notation?” Wen Mingqian pointed out two particularly obvious spots to Gong Xu.
“You’re right,” Gong Xu said. “Can you figure out what he’s trying to say?”
“Due to the limited space, he didn’t write it all out. This first sentence is likely from ‘Su Wu Ge,’ which speaks of Su Wu being imprisoned in a cellar. Another sentence is from the Analects, ‘Among three people walking, there must be one who can be my teacher.’ Following that is ‘temporarily safe for one night.’
Putting these sentences together, he’s likely confined in some cellar, guarded by three people, and is currently safe,” Wen Mingqian deduced.
“Haven’t Zhang Ma and the others returned yet? If they have any more clues, the scope should be narrowed down,” Gong Xu’s mood improved slightly.
“Master, Madam, Steward Ma is back! He’s brought Shao Si with him!” Sang Er said with a pleased expression.
Indeed, Ma Ping’an then brought Shao Si in under guard.
Shao Si’s clothes were quite disheveled, clearly indicating a struggle.
He was dressed entirely like a nouveau riche, with everything new from head to toe.
“Kneel!” Ma Ping’an kicked him behind the knee, and Shao Si fell to his knees with a thud. “Master and Madam, we caught him at the Sun family’s place. He was drinking and gambling with some people! I didn’t bring the others back, but I have people watching them!”
“Master and Madam, spare my life!” Shao Si knew he wouldn’t get off lightly, so he kowtowed desperately, begging for mercy.
“Don’t rush to beg for mercy. If you want to keep your life, tell us honestly,” Wen Mingqian said with a cold face, as if covered in frost. “Who instigated you?”
“I was desperate, with no other options, and was misled by someone,” Shao Si tried his best to excuse himself.
“Less nonsense!” Ma Ping’an slapped him, and Shao Si’s face immediately swelled.
“Yes, yes…” Shao Si clutched his face. “It was Ma Daguang! A few days ago, I had lost so much money I couldn’t even afford food. He found me, called me brother, and gave me dozens of taels of silver to spend.
After accepting his favor, I thought of him as a good person. When the money ran out, I went to ask him for more. That’s when he told me that if I wanted lasting wealth, I had to take risks, otherwise people like me would never get rich.
Naturally, I asked him what method he had. He then told me that if I could lure your Fourth Young Master out, I would receive a thousand taels of silver as a reward.”
“You scoundrel! Isn’t that clearly asking you to harm someone?! How could you agree?” Gong Xu roared angrily.
“Replying to Master, he told me at the time that I only needed to bring the Fourth Young Master out, and I didn’t need to worry about anything else.
He also said he just wanted to make some money and wouldn’t take a life. I had already accepted his favor, and besides, he promised such a large sum of silver, so I agreed.
Furthermore, he has no past grievances with your Residence; it was purely for financial gain…”
“What kind of person is Ma Daguang? Do you know his background?” Wen Mingqian asked.
“He’s a hanger-on and knows many people. He has access to some noble households in the Capital City. I don’t know anything else,” Shao Si said.
“Where did you take him after you tricked him into the carriage today? Who were your accomplices?”
“When we arrived in front of your Residence, I was alone. The carriage had sleeping powder in it, and the Young Master fell unconscious shortly after getting in.
As agreed, I drove the carriage outside the city to a ruined temple. Two people were waiting there, one around forty or fifty years old, and the other in his early twenties. They looked like father and son. They didn’t speak to me, just handed me a packet of silver, about a hundred taels.
Ma Daguang had told me in advance to hide the silver and that once the matter was settled and things calmed down, he would give me the rest, and I could flee far away,” Shao Si said, not daring to hide anything. “In total, I only received less than two hundred taels of silver, which really wasn’t worth it…”
“Where is Ma Daguang’s home?” Gong Xu interrupted him. “Do you know? Tell me honestly, and you’ll be rewarded. Otherwise, if anything happens to my son, you won’t live!”
