Chapter 797: Points of Suspicion

“Well, he asked how much they ordered, and I told him that the He Residence had placed a three-month order for meat: four kilograms of pork, five kilograms of beef, and another five kilograms of mutton each month. The steward from the He Residence also wanted to buy some live livestock, saying they were to be sent to the country estates for breeding. So I introduced him to Old Six Li across the way—the shop over in the corner there.” He pointed across the market. “He raises livestock himself. The steward from the He Residence ordered several different breeds from him to send back. After the man surnamed Sun heard all that, he bought one kilogram of mutton and two sheep kidneys, then left.”

It was indeed very simple.

He Lingchuan thanked him and departed.

No matter where nobles lived, whether it be in Yuan or Beijia, farmland and country estates were indispensable parts of their holdings. Aside from supplying the owning household’s yearly needs, their more important purpose was producing goods that could be sold at market for profit.

The He Family had moved from Xia Province to the Yuan capital. While selling off their assets in the north, they had also purchased new farmland and estates near the capital. This was standard practice for newly elevated nobles entering the capital.

Second Steward Zhao had only recently arrived in the Yuan capital and knew little about the area. While buying meat, he had asked Butcher Wang to introduce him to someone selling breeding pigs and sheep so they could be raised on the estates. There was nothing unusual about that.

Shan Youjun followed behind him. “Eldest Young Master, is something wrong?”

“No.” After leaving the Cattle and Sheep Market, He Lingchuan looked down at the soles of his shoes. Hm, quite filthy. “Come on. Let’s go back for dinner. Don’t spread anything you heard here after we return.”

Shan Youjun immediately replied, “Yes. No fourth person will hear of it.”

Did Sun Hongye learn something else here? He Lingchuan pushed the thought aside and returned home for dinner.

He Chunhua was already back. At the table, he spoke animatedly about how interested the King of Yuan had been in his proposal.

He Yue asked, “Does Father think His Majesty will agree?”

“Of course,” He Chunhua said with a smile. “His Majesty was delighted and considered it an excellent solution. It offers genuine value while allowing the military supplies to be obtained quickly.”

After studying the king for many years, He Chunhua understood his temperament well. So long as the King of Yuan believed he was gaining an advantage, he would make decisions readily.

Yet it was difficult to have the best of everything in this world. Whenever someone tried to demand two benefits at once in matters of state, they often paid an even higher price in the end.

That evening, He Lingchuan summoned Qiu Hu to his courtyard and asked, “Are you accustomed to living here?”

“There’s nothing to grow accustomed to,” Qiu Hu answered. “I can live in fine clothes and eat delicacies, or sleep on sand and swallow bran. But eating my fill every day with nowhere to go is somewhat boring.”

The other Rongshan disciples enjoyed wandering through the Yuan capital and immersing themselves in the world of mortals. However, he had no interest in that.

As for precise calculations and bookkeeping, he knew nothing about them.

The thing he enjoyed most and understood best was fighting and killing.

He Lingchuan smiled and said, “Then I’ll give you an assignment outside.”

Qiu Hu did not hesitate and said, “Please.”

* * *

Early the following morning, He Lingchuan unexpectedly encountered another familiar face: Wu Shaoyi.

The man had just returned from outside the capital. Upon hearing that the He Family’s eldest young master had come home, he hurried over to offer his congratulations and, at the same time, collect some medicinal ingredients from the steward.

He Lingchuan saw that he had grown considerably thinner. Once, he had been a broad and sturdy man capable of fighting Lu Yao to a draw. Now he had lost nearly a quarter of his weight, and gray had appeared at his temples.

Whenever Wu Shaoyi coughed, an unhealthy flush rose across his cheeks.

Back then, he had forcibly extended his life through a life-substitution spell.

This was the price he had to pay for surviving.

“How is your illness?”

“I originally had only two years left. Lord He took me to meet the Grand Shaman Zhaomandu.” Wu Shaoyi smiled. “The grand shaman prescribed several secret medicines. Supposedly, they can forcibly extend my life by another ten months or so, though the final two months will be extremely painful. I came today to collect the medicinal ingredients Lord He ordered for me.”

This man’s life had already entered its final countdown. Even someone as eloquent as He Lingchuan did not know how to comfort him.

Wu Shaoyi himself, however, viewed it calmly. “I’ve already decided that I won’t endure those final two months. This life was something I snatched back by force. Being able to live another three years is already extraordinary fortune. What more could I ask for?”

He Lingchuan changed the subject and asked about Zeng Feixiong and the others.

It turned out that Zeng Feixiong had gone to the military camp west of Shihuan City, where he was helping He Chunhua train soldiers. Uncle Hao was not in the Yuan capital either.

As for Wu Shaoyi, he would still accompany He Chunhua south to suppress the rebellion.

Indeed, although He Chunhua continued bargaining with the King of Yuan, he understood perfectly well that in the end, the task of suppressing the rebellion would still fall upon him.

Wu Shaoyi’s illness prevented him from charging onto the battlefield, but he possessed extensive military experience. He could not only advise on strategy but also understood the mentality of “rebels” better than most.

Had he not once served as one of “Divine Master” Hong Xiangqian’s leading generals before He Chunhua persuaded him to surrender?

That was why He Chunhua still intended to keep him close.

Wu Shaoyi sighed. “Once the war in the south is over, Lord He has promised to let me return to the Yuan capital and spend my remaining two years in peace.”

He Lingchuan smiled. “Whether those years are peaceful may not be ours to decide.”

Wu Shaoyi lightly clapped his hands at those words. “Eldest Young Master is absolutely right. There are rebellions in the south and Dong Haoming in the northwest. Alas! Who knows when the people of Yuan will finally see peace?”

“I believe Father is still confident about suppressing the southern rebellion this time.” He Lingchuan smiled. “Do not say there is no road ahead. A turning point may appear with a single change of thought.”

His outlook differed from Wu Shaoyi’s.

The latter’s sun was already setting, and he could do nothing but drift with the current. He Lingchuan, however, remained optimistic regardless of circumstances.

Anyone who had survived the battle at Mount Xu and escaped Lingxu City alive had earned the right to be optimistic.

The two reminisced about old times for a while longer before a thought occurred to He Lingchuan. “By the way, do you know where Sun Hongye went?”

“Sun Hongye?” Wu Shaoyi looked completely baffled. “He left?”

His information was even less current than He Lingchuan’s.

He Lingchuan could only sigh helplessly.

Wu Shaoyi then added, “Eldest Young Master could ask Shan Youjun. He and Sun Hongye were fairly close.”

“Hm?” He Lingchuan found that strange. “Those two spent time together?” Why had Shan Youjun not mentioned it?

“They were close in age, and both of them worked under Lord He. Neither had relatives or close friends nearby, so it wasn’t strange that they became friendly.” Wu Shaoyi recalled, “I remember seeing the two of them drinking together at Pineflower Tower in Dunyu some time ago. Shan Youjun even borrowed fifty taels of silver from Sun Hongye.”

Fifty taels?

For a retainer earning a fixed salary, that isn’t a small sum.

The fact that Sun Hongye was willing to lend Shan Youjun fifty thousand copper coins worth was itself proof that the two had a close relationship.

He Lingchuan uttered several noncommittal sounds and changed the subject.

At that moment, a servant announced that an honored guest from the royal court had arrived!

Wu Shaoyi tactfully stood, took his leave, and departed.

The Soul-Stealing Mirror immediately exclaimed, “That brat Shan Youjun clearly said he wasn’t close to Sun Hongye! He lied!”

Their relationship was close enough for him to ask for a loan. Heh!

Had he even repaid the money?

He Lingchuan gave a quiet acknowledgment.

Why did Shan Youjun lie? Does he know the truth and fear bringing trouble upon himself? Or is he somehow connected to Sun Hongye’s disappearance?