Chapter 185 - 183: Immeasurable Profits (Second Update)

Chapter 185: Chapter 183: Immeasurable Profits (Second Update)

After all, he never expected that Xu Jing’s actions would be so swift, and on the day they agreed to cooperate, he was rushing back to Anping County.

He originally thought of waiting until he returned to the Western Capital next time to tell Xu Jing about those matters.

Xu Jing’s brow furrowed slightly, and she said calmly, "It seems we need to find a place to have a good talk."

Soon, they were seated in Zhou Qi’s study in the Western Capital, which he used to entertain guests. Zhou Qi said, "Previously, I told you that I’ve been keeping tabs on the Lin Family of Guangming Hall, which is why I know the influential figure they’ve connected with in the Western Capital is the Jiang Family.

During that time, I also discovered something. The relationship between the Lin Family and the Jiang Family is quite complex. It can be said that the two families have formed an intense cooperation."

Xu Jing was slightly taken aback.

However, Zhao Shaohua clearly said that the reason the Jiang Family promoted the Lin Family was merely because the Lin Family had a secret formula to treat Old Mr. Jiang’s asthma.

It seems that their relationship isn’t the kind that’s out in the open; otherwise, Zhao Shaohua wouldn’t possibly be unaware.

Xu Jing asked, "May I ask about your source of information?"

Zhou Qi hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Since we are already cooperating, there’s nothing that can’t be said. It’s because I’ve always suspected that my father’s death is related to Guangming Hall, so over the past three years, I’ve placed a number of spies within Guangming Hall. Some of the spies can now touch upon the core of Guangming Hall, even if they are still at the relatively peripheral locations, but the information they bring should not be false."

So that’s how it is.

Xu Jing asked, "Then do you know what is the bond that ties together the deep cooperation between the Lin Family and the Jiang Family?"

Every form of cooperation is invariably for the sake of profit. The interests involved that can lead the Jiang Family to engage in deep cooperation with the small Lin Family must be unimaginable to ordinary people.

Zhou Qi said, "I don’t really understand the specific matters myself. As I told you earlier, my people are still at the relatively peripheral areas. However, they said the Lin Family and the Jiang Family have been working on promoting something over the years, and it seems to be related to... the military.

After learning about this, I specifically investigated further, finding out that the Jiang Family rose to power through military achievements. Currently, their lord is on the path of a military general, and the current head of the Jiang Family is also the Governor of the Heavenly Martial Army, commanding an entire army. Moreover, the Jiang Family’s influence in the Great Chu military is already vast and intricate, akin to a spider’s web.

So I guess that what the Jiang Family and the Lin Family are promoting is an attempt to have Guangming Hall... undertake the supply of medications for the Great Chu military."

Xu Jing’s heart skipped a beat; it turned out they are supplying medicine to the army!

Although Xu Jing wasn’t very familiar with the military affairs of the Great Chu, she knew that the army stationed long-term in the Western Capital numbered over two hundred thousand!

Merely producing medication for these over two hundred thousand soldiers already yields a profit that is incalculably enormous! Not to mention the troops scattered across the Great Chu!

Zhou Qi observed Xu Jing’s expression and realized she understood the implications, then sighed with emotion, "So, when you say that there is no influence from the Jiang Family in Guangming Hall’s suppression of us, I find it hard to believe. In fact, in these recent years, Guangming Hall has not only suppressed our Tianyi Hall but has also suppressed many large medical halls in the Western Capital.

Of course, being right under the emperor’s nose in the Western Capital, they dare not act too blatantly, but their covert actions are plentiful.

Moreover, it’s quite intriguing that since three years ago, no new major medical halls have appeared in the Western Capital."

Xu Jing said solemnly, "If they want to stand out and be chosen by the court as the supplier of medications for the military, they certainly hope that no other strong and powerful competitors emerge."

No wonder Jiang Yu told her the day before yesterday that Guangming Hall would not provoke them again in the short term!

So that’s what ’in the short term’ meant!

Xu Jing sorted out her thoughts, raised her hand to rub her temple, and said, "I understand Mr. Zhou’s concerns, but you can rest easy."

Seeing Zhou Qi’s confused expression, Xu Jing deliberated a bit, explaining how she managed to get the Jiang Family to agree to have Tianyi Hall open a branch in the Western Capital.

She merely omitted the details of her initial help to Young Madam Jiang, simplifying it to say she did the Jiang Family a great favor.

Zhou Qi was utterly astonished as he listened, and Xu Jing concluded, "Jiang Erlang personally promised me that Guangming Hall wouldn’t provoke me and my friends again in the short term. Their words essentially mean they tacitly opened a path for Tianyi Hall, as long as Tianyi Hall doesn’t engage in activities that conflict with the interests of the Jiang Family. The Lin Family and the Jiang Family should no longer proactively cause trouble for us."

However, Zhou Qi suddenly gave a bitter laugh, "Not engaging in activities that conflict with their interests... that’s easier said than done. How can I just sit back and let those who killed my father be so smug, but it’s not that simple."

It’s easy to imagine that if the plan of the Lin Family and the Jiang Family is successful, the Lin Family will soon become the most prestigious family of medical practitioners in the Great Chu, which Tianyi Hall cannot compare to, no matter how many branches they open in the Western Capital.

How can he accept this!

Xu Jing gave him a glance and said calmly, "Mr. Zhou, you are a wise man. You certainly know what should and should not be done. The Lin Family has been plotting for this for so many years; it’s not something others can easily sabotage. Focusing on doing your own thing well is the most important. Regardless, your father in the afterlife would be very pleased to know you have restored Tianyi Hall to its past glory."

Zhou Qi was silent for a moment. He knew what Xu Jing said was right. Smiling bitterly, he shook his head and said, "Miss Xu, don’t worry, I won’t act recklessly. Protecting Tianyi Hall and the Zhou Family is always the most important thing, and besides, I can’t let down Miss Xu’s expectations of me.

This time, Miss Xu has helped us greatly, and I have no way to repay you. Let me toast you with tea instead of wine."

With that, he raised the teacup from the tea table in front of him, gestured to Xu Jing, and then drank it all.

Due to the preparation for opening a branch of Tianyi Hall in the Western Capital, Zhou Qi stayed in the Western Capital for a relatively long time. Every day, different people came and went from the Zhou Family, making it quite lively.

However, these livelies had little to do with Xu Jing. These days, she was busy with her affairs, training doctors, instructing the siblings of Cheng Xianbai, and teaching the five female medical apprentices Zhou Qi found for her.

In her spare moments, she also went to Xiao Yi’s residence to look over the files of the Smiling Killer case.

She had earlier promised Xiao Yi she would assist him in solving this case, and she was quite concerned about it, even willing to spend her time on it.

That day, while she was reviewing files at Xiao Yi’s home, Xiao Yi had gone out on an errand. As Xu Jing had visited frequently recently, the household had set up a resting room specifically for her.

When Xiao Yi returned and heard from the servants that Miss Xu had come, his eyes flickered slightly, and he headed straight for the room where Xu Jing was.

As soon as he stepped into the room, he was slightly taken aback.

Inside, at some point, a wooden board had been set up, with a white sheet of paper nailed to it. On the paper, a chart was drawn, neatly listing the details of each victim in the Smiling Killer case.

Fan Xue’er, sixteen years old, went missing on March 18, the second year of Tianxi; found deceased near the small pine forest outside the Western Capital on March 19.

Zeng Tao, nineteen years old, went missing on February 20, the third year of Tianxi; found deceased near Aiwan Pavilion outside the Western Capital on February 22.

Chen Lili, twenty-two years old, went missing on January 15, the fifth year of Tianxi; found deceased near Xiangsi Cliff outside the Western Capital on January 19.

Qian Honglian, twenty-four years old, went missing on July 26, the fifth year of Tianxi; found deceased near Famen Temple outside the Western Capital on July 31.

Sun Man, twenty years old, went missing on January 20, the sixth year of Tianxi; found deceased near Little North Slope outside the Western Capital on January 27.

The names, ages, times of murder, and locations where the bodies were found—all sorted out at a glance.

Xu Jing was standing in front of the board, deep in thought. Hearing the footsteps, she immediately turned her head, saw it was Xiao Yi, and slightly raised her eyebrows, "Vice Minister Xiao, you came just in time. I’ve finished reading all the files today and found some key points I’d like to discuss with you.

Firstly, I noticed that almost all victims were found only several days after their disappearance. This indicates that after the perpetrator abducted them, he held them captive for a certain period. The perpetrator must have a secret safe house unknown to others!"