Chapter 524 - 306: Ambition, Gift

"A disciple of the Celestial Sect? From the Hundred Herbs Hall?"

Xiao Jinghong had learned from several letters from home that Xie Tingyun had arranged for a group of Celestial Sect disciples to join the Hundred Herbs Hall. She also guessed that the ones Dragon Tiger had sent to the Ancient Tea-Horse Road to pose as horse bandits were most likely these very same Celestial Sect disciples. Bumping into one now couldn’t help but pique her curiosity.

However, after watching the Celestial Sect disciple head all the way out of the East City Gate, Xiao Jinghong withdrew her gaze and returned to her bed. Right now, her most important task was finding evidence of Liu Hong’s crimes. Everything else could wait.

Half an hour passed.

At the faint sound of movement, Xiao Jinghong’s ears twitched. She turned her head toward Liu Hong’s residence. From the inner rear courtyard, a series of unsteady, meandering footsteps echoed, clearly belonging to someone navigating the corridors and winding paths.

Then, the person called out, "Father."

Liu Hong’s voice followed. "Fang’er? What urgent matter brings you here so late?"

It was Liu Taofang. Recognizing the visitor’s voice, Xiao Jinghong remained completely calm and continued to eavesdrop.

"Father, your son has great news to tell you," Liu Taofang said.

"Great news? You’ve been stuck at home all this time—what great news could there be?"

"It’s true! Today, Lin Zhenghong from Lin’s Grain Store came looking for us and bought all the grain we had on hand! Fourteen taels of silver per stone, haha—"

"Nonsense!"

"Father, you..."

SMACK!

"You bastard! You’re good for nothing but ruining things! At a critical time like this, how dare you give our grain to Lin Zhenghong?"

"Father, I sold it to him, I didn’t just give it away. I got silver for it!"

"Fool! Do you have any idea what has been happening in Shu State lately? Today, Xiao Yuan and Xiao Jinghong came to see me, pressuring me to stabilize the grain prices here. Coupled with other recent events, a drop in Shu State’s grain prices is already a foregone conclusion! Lin Zhenghong and his lot can’t even save themselves right now. If they came looking for you at a time like this, they definitely harbor ill intentions!"

"Ah? Then... then I’ll go find him right now—"

"It’s too late! From now on, you’re not going anywhere. You will stay right here in the manor."

"But Lin Zhenghong..."

"They only did this because they want to drag me down with them! Hmph. What could you possibly resolve by showing your face? Hurry up and scram back to your room!"

"Y-yes... your son will take his leave..."

Soon, Liu Hong’s residence fell silent. Even Liu Hong merely cursed a few more times before quieting down.

Hearing this, Xiao Jinghong withdrew her gaze, her eyes beneath the mask revealing a hint of deep thought. "The grain store... selling grain at high prices... this counts as one crime. But it’s not enough to bring down Liu Hong."

Although the laws of the Great Wei Dynasty were strict, Liu Hong was not the mastermind behind this matter. At most, he would face a minor punishment, but it wouldn’t affect his Official’s Hat. Evidence of colluding with the enemy was the real key.

Meanwhile, in Lin Village.

On night watch, Xue Duanyun caught sight of a figure sprinting toward them in the distance. He quickly coughed to draw the person’s attention, then gestured for him to climb over the wall. The new arrival understood and vaulted over the wall into the courtyard.

"Senior Brother, there’s a door right there, why not let me use it?"

"Keep your voice down," Xue Duanyun warned. "The commoners keeping vigil outside just fell asleep. Don’t wake them."

Perhaps afraid that Guard Liu and the others would stop selling grain at low prices, the commoners who had rushed over from Prefecture City had all decided to sleep on the ground outside. Faced with such a spectacle, even the usually brash Liu Lang didn’t dare make any sudden moves, let alone Xue Duanyun. They were terrified that the slightest misunderstanding might turn the desperate civilians into a mob of bandits charging in to loot the grain.

Having traveled far and wide for many years, Liu Lang intimately understood the temperament of such crowds. The possibility of someone raising a rallying cry and inciting a riotous mob was not out of the question.

After a brief explanation, Xue Duanyun asked, "Why are you here?"

The visitor pulled a letter from his chest and handed it over. "The Shopkeeper told me to deliver this to Guard Liu."

Xue Duanyun took the letter. "Did he say anything else?"

"He also said that General Jinghong is currently in the city."

"General Jinghong?" Utterly baffled, Xue Duanyun was just about to reply when he heard the rush of wind behind his head, followed by Liu Lang’s deliberately lowered voice.

"General Jinghong is back? Damn it, why didn’t you say so earlier?" Not waiting for Xue Duanyun to respond, Liu Lang snatched the letter and began to read it.

He knew very well that Xiao Jinghong had been looking for him and the boss. He understood that if Wang Ji had sent someone here, it must be to pass on a message from the boss.

Sure enough, after reading the contents of the letter, Liu Lang silently memorized it. With a flick of his wrist, he shattered the Yunsong Paper into dust and cautiously tossed the remains into the brazier.

"I have an urgent matter to attend to and must leave. I’m leaving this place in your hands tomorrow."

Xue Duanyun was momentarily stunned. "Is this... about the boss?"

"Don’t ask what you shouldn’t know, lest word gets out."

Saying this, Liu Lang changed into a set of Night Clothes, strapped on his long blade, and after giving them a few brief instructions, silently slipped out of the manor.

Watching him vanish into the night, Xue Duanyun rubbed his messy hair and muttered to himself. "Does General Jinghong have a grudge against our... um, against the boss? Why else would Senior Liu run away the second he heard she was in Prefecture City?"