CHAPTER 60 – PROBINGAccording to Mo Nian Yuan"s confession, on the day Yue family was slaughtered, the Yue family"s little page boy was covered in blood as he used his last breath to bring the baby to him who was at the mountain foot of Lu Ming Mountain. In his shock, he left that child temporarily to the neighbouring aunt while he secretly climbed up the mountain to investigate.
Those murderers seemed to be searching for something. After killing everyone, they didn"t immediately leave. The distinguished family in casting swords, the only things worthy they had were the treasured swords forged by them and the sword casting technique. Mo Nian Yuan saw one murderer at the front entered his elder brother"s sword casting room and a long time pa.s.sed before he came out. Mo Nian Yuan was an illegitimate son. He had never involved himself with the Yue family"s sword casting and didn"t know what those people were searching. He didn"t know if they had found what they wanted.
Mo Nian Yuan was not good in most martial arts. He was only good in qinggong as he followed them from afar. He was thinking since he couldn"t avenge the Yue family, he should at least understand who their enemy was. Mo Nian Yuan said, “With one look, I instantly know I"m not their opponent. Plus, my father has never acknowledge me and I"m afraid of death. It"s only because there is still some Yue family"s blood running in my body and my mother appeared in my dream, requesting me to help Yue family.” He trailed after them up until the Ru Nunnery and personally saw that murderers" leader entered the old nun"s living quarters. After that, he didn"t see him coming out. He then decided to try his luck and staked out at the Ru Nunnery.
He stayed for about two years before later decided to trick the ladies" feeling. On the first year it was really eating in the wind and sleeping in the dew day and night as he sleeplessly stared at the Ru Nunnery. Hence, there were no big catch but he found quite some small info.
For example, the "wors.h.i.+ppers" of Ru Nunnery liked the nun named Miao Ru the most. However, one year ago this Miao Ru had returned to the secular world. At first Mo Nian Yuan didn"t know where she went. Later, he found out. Because Mo Nian Yuan had met Miao Ru at Qing Feng Ming Yue Brothel. After the Qing Feng Ming Yue Brothel was closed down, Miao Ru disappeared.
Another one, Mo Nian Yuan noticed sometimes there would be some people in black clothes with their face covered appearing and disappearing. In the Ru Nunnery, there would be those who only entered but never leave or those who only left but never enter. It was like they came out or disappeared from the flat ground. He wasn"t sure if there was any secret pa.s.sage in the Ru Nunnery.
Chu Xun arranged all the clues they had for now. His Highness Crown Prince secretly thought:
First of all, the Ru Nunnery received those salt smuggling partners and even a ** had returned to the secular world. Then, it must had some sort of connection with the Qing Feng Ming Yue Brothel. The hidden boss of the Qing Feng Ming Yue Brothel was Prince Chen so the Ru Nunnery couldn"t say they had no connection with Prince Chen. It must be investigated. It just that the only one who was known to related to both Ru Nunnery and Qing Feng Ming Yue Brothel, Miao Ru"s current location was unknown. If they need to find the proof, they must first find Miao Ru. Chu Xun had already dispatched people to search for many days but sadly there was no result.
Next, that old nun in charge of the Ru Nunnery was completely mysterious. She never left the living quarters. Let"s not say how Mo Nian Yuan had checked for two years yet he had never see properly that old nun"s appearance, even those martial arts experts that Chu Xun dispatched to monitor couldn"t say clearly that old nun"s appearance. It looked like she was the highest rank one and hard to battle. He had to properly plan.
Senior Official Song said too, “Little Long. You will surely be unable to defeat the old demoness in this nunnery. For now, you don"t need to appear. Just let laofu go meeting her.”
Chu Xun nodded. He agreed with Senior Official Song"s thought. Such a dangerous matter, as the future monarch and the leading one in the empire"s attractiveness index, naturally he didn"t have to show off his skills. It was better to let Senior Official Song give his life for it.
Finally, Chu Xun wasn"t idle. Since Mo Nian Yuan felt the Ru Nunnery was a little fishy, he decided to team up with Mei Qian Deng and checked other suspicious places. Half a year ago, Nan Bai Cheng entered the capital city to file directly to the Emperor but he didn"t mention the illegal salt matter. Imperial Father had already get ready to pull the net but the news Di Mu Yang brought from the northern region, not only smuggling salt, there was also saltpetre mixed in the salt sent together to the other nation. With one matter after another, the issue became more complicated. Hence, the Emperor"s suggestion to just let it wider to bait bigger fish.
Today, the three of them reached the small town they previously stopped by with the salt smugglers. They even rented the same inn. The only difference was this time His Highness Crown Prince brought enough money. Arrogantly he threw the money on the table and said, “Waiter, give us three first-cla.s.s rooms!”
He had just said when Senior Official Song put on airs and added, “Just two rooms are enough. The two of you share a room.” He took back the money on the table and changed to a smaller one.
“……” Chu Xun turned his head around and narrowed his eyes. Senior Official Song blinked his eyes at him. Laofu trying to help you here. Why are you this stupid? Sadly, Chu Xun didn"t understand Senior Official Song"s good intention. He only thought Senior Official Song was reminding him that he was the leader when they were outside. However, at least the final result was not too bad. Chu Xun thought to himself that two rooms were fine too. This time he would surely make Mei Qian Deng sleep on the bed with him!
Female warrior Mei didn"t say anything. She didn"t even put this trifling matter and a certain person"s plan in her heart.
After the three of them found a place to rest, they let the waiter send four dishes into the room. They ate while discussing. Senior Official Song said, “Little Long, this time leaving the palace is not as leisure as last time. Prince Chen"s spies will surely watch closely. You can"t investigate too obviously. But if you do nothing, Prince Chen will not believe it. What do you think?”
Chu Xun took over, “I have discussed it earlier with Imperial Father. Just let Prince Chen think I"m here to investigate the smuggled salt. The Ru Nunnery will be handled by Senior Official. Senior Official, are you fine doing it alone? Those nuns probably have some martial arts and there is still that mysterious abbess. What if they make you……”
“Laofu is the old but vigorous type. How can laofu can"t do it?”
“Fine then. You will climb up the mountain while we first go check the neighbouring. We move tonight?”
“Sure.”
At the same time, Chu Xun moved swiftly as he intercepted with a pair of chopsticks and screamed at a certain person who was moving without attracting attention, “This half chicken thigh is mine!!!”
It was night. The moon was bright and the stars were scattered.
Senior Official Song and Chu Xun only exchanged a glance when in a flash the former had disappeared from the room. Chu Xun was slightly surprised. “Mei Qian Deng, did you see how Senior Official Song left the room? He went through the door or jumping out of the window?”
“Senior Official went out through the window.”
“His martial arts are this excellent?!” Thinking carefully, this was really the first time Chu Xun saw Senior Official Song demonstrated his martial art.
“En, excellent until he may not have any opponent.” Mei Qian Deng actually never saw Senior Official Song"s martial arts. She only noticed that old man"s internal energy was very thick and bottomless. With such excellent martial arts and he had roamed the jianghu when he was young, it was impossible for him to be unknown by others. Mei Qian Deng quickly listed out those famous jianghu experts around Senior Official Song"s age but she couldn"t match him with any of them. She could only blame herself for knowing too little and being too young.
Chu Xun gulped. He really had eyes but failed to recognise Mountain Tai. To prove he was not going to tumble from the very able person character, His Highness Crown Prince ignited the blazing fighting will inside his heart. “Let"s go now too.” Saying so, Chu Xun stretched out his hand, hinting Mei Qian Deng to pull him to fly out of the window as well.
The small inn beside them didn"t have much difference. It just that the surrounding was colder, the warehouses made of planks were extremely frail under the cold wind. There were areas which were quite loose and produced "papa" sounds when blew by the wind. There was no one around. Chu Xun and Mei Qian Deng sneaked to the first warehouse door. Mei Qian Deng was planning to let Chu Xun find a corner and hide there while she steal the key when Chu Xun pulled her and shook his head. From his sleeve, he fished out two all-purpose unlocking pins.
I have these! Chu Xun complacently smiled at Mei Qian Deng. Both his orchid-shaped fingers were holding the pins" top and put them inside the big, black holes on the warehouse"s door. That was the final work obtained from a master locksmith found by Minister of Works when Chu Xun specially visited the Ministry of Works before departure.
With a pin in in my hand, I have the world.
Mei Qian Deng stretched her neck as she watched Chu Xun fiddled around. She was very curious of His Highness Crown Prince"s newly learnt unique skill. As she watched Chu Xun rummaging periodically after inserting the pins into the hole, straining her ears against the big black lock, she could hear some pivotal clunking sounds. The dog at the north had barked, the night watchman at the west had already pa.s.sed by, the tired birds in the forest were almost unable to open their eyes to watch the situation. Finally, with a clunking sound, Chu Xun had unlocked the lock.
He turned his head around with a jubilant grin. I did it!
Mei Qian Deng gave him a thumb up. Amazing!
Chu Xun pushed open the door. He was the first to sneak inside. However, what entered his view was an empty house. Other than dirt, there was no suspicious items around. Chu Xun beckoned Mei Qian Deng. Although there was nothing around anymore, at least that secret wooden board was still around. It just that it was sealed completely by nails and couldn"t be open at the moment.
“What should we do with this?” Chu Xun looked at Mei Qian Deng.
Mei Qian Deng pondered for a few moment before she said, “I can split it open.”
“This is not really right though……”
Mei Qian Deng put one hand on the wooden board, with a deep breath she pressed. Chu Xun had already unconsciously closed his eyes and crunched his face. However, nothing happened. It was an awkward silence. Chu Xun doubtfully opened his eyes. “What happened?”
“It"s solid underneath, hard to break it.”
Chu Xun was surprised. “What you mean is this salt tunnel had been sealed completely from inside and outside?”
Mei Qian Deng nodded.
Chu Xun foolishly stared at that piece of wooden board for a moment. After thinking, he felt it was reasonable. Imperial Uncle was not stupid. He probably had predicted Imperial Father would investigate when Nan Bai Cheng entered the capital city to report to the Emperor. Even though Imperial Father didn"t bother with him at the moment, Imperial Uncle wouldn"t just sit back and wait. Now that they had lost this clue Chu Xun currently couldn"t think of another way to pretend investigate the smuggled salt.
Why not just let Imperial Uncle be gratified, thinking that he didn"t manage to investigate anything?
“Let"s stop at here tonight. Let"s return,” Chu Xun clapped his hands, no longer in predicament.
As if he got angry purposely, when Chu Xun left, he didn"t lock back the door. He took great pains to unlock the door, why should he lock it back?
For big matters, Mei Qian Deng had always followed Chu Xun. After all, that person was the master. Silently she brought Chu Xun back into the inn but she still couldn"t stop from asking, “Not going to investigate anymore?”
“How can we not investigate? Tomorrow we"ll go catch people.”
“Then, what about now?”
“Now, you go and ask the waiter to bring me warm water. I want to take a warm bath and warm my body.” While waiting for Senior Official Song to return and report the situation from the Ru Nunnery"s side.
Female warrior Mei was going to find the waiter when Chu Xun deliberately provoked her, “In this very cold season, you shouldn"t sleep on the wooden bench. If your father and those brothers of yours find out and think I"m ill-treating you, it"s bad if they hate me. I will share half the bed with you. Let the waiter move another tub over. You should take a warm bath too.”
Chu Xun thought Mei Qian Deng would find some excuse to decline but who would have guess she only replied with a sound and actually went to find a waiter to ask for two tubs. However, the waiter only moved a tub and apologetically said, “It"s very regretful, patron but our inn has a shortage of warm water. We can only boil one tub at a time.”
Fine, consider your inn amazing. This Crown Prince still have other way.
“Mei Qian Deng, don"t stand there stupidly. Come over and help me change my clothes.”
“Oh.” Mei Qian Deng really came over calmly and moved her hands to remove Chu Xun"s clothes without any hesitation.
Taking off until only his short pants left, it was still Chu Xun"s face too thin as he couldn"t take it any longer. “Stop, stop, stop. Go out. The remaining one I will do it myself!!!”
Mei Qian Deng obediently walked out. In the corridor where Chu Xun couldn"t see, female warrior Mei gave a few copper coins to the water who was waiting outside while complacently raising her chin. You have done well. This is your reward. The waiter happily nodded and left. Mei Qian Deng walked a few steps forward and directly entered another room.
Inside the room, her eldest brother was sitting.
Seeing Mei Qian Deng entered, Eldest Young Master Mei stood up.
“Seventh Brother, how is it?”
Mei Qian Deng shook her head. Those matters regarding Prince Chen, she really didn"t know. However, even if she didn"t know anything, she had a foreboding Mei family might really been pushed I whinto Prince Chen"s matter this time. She asked, “What about father?”
“He and our several brothers are busy placing the Mei family"s disciples. He still have to sell off the family"s properties. You also know how our father is, caring wealth like his life. Fortunately there"s a help from Young Master Zhao so it"s still smooth and doesn"t attract too much attention.” Everything was according to the plan.
Mei Qian Deng took out three tokens from her chests. They were specially brought out to use this time.
She picked the black token and gave it to Eldest Young Master Mei. “Eldest Brother, this is the token from General Di"s family. That year, Madam Di and Her Majesty Empress had come to our house and asked for the son-praying water. They gifted the tokens as keepsake for our family to ask a favour in return. Father said it has nothing to do with our family whether other people"s wives can give birth to a son. So, he just throw them into the storehouse and never touch them. The matter this time is very serious. As a precaution, let a disciple stay in the capital city. If the Emperor gets angry and decrees to eliminate Mei family, just return this token to Di family. Ask them not to make things difficult for the Mei family"s collateral members and those already dismissed disciples.”
Eldest Young Master Mei kept well the token. His vision moved to the other two golden tokens of same set. It was obvious the remaining two tokens were items from the imperial family. However, Mei Qian Deng obviously didn"t plan to pa.s.s these two to her eldest brother. She only silently caress them for a moment. He didn"t know what she was thinking about.
“Qian Deng?”
Mei Qian Deng returned to her sense, “En?”
“Father and Prince Chen are only former good friends. They didn"t seem to have any interaction in these few years. Do you really want to do this far?”
This question, under a certain red evening sun beside the palace wall Zhao Mo Ran had reasoned with her. She had thought about it for numerous silent nights.
Zhao Mo Ran seemed to know everything. He told Mei Qian Deng, the reason Chu Xun was always with knitted brows after he start attending the court was because of Mei Zi River Islet that piece of land. The ministers were proposing the Emperor to quickly take back the Mei Zi River Islet. It was a mystery why those ministers suddenly couldn"t put up with the Mei Zi River Islet.
Mei Qian Deng had thought, Can"t we just return the land deed to the Emperor? The Mei family didn"t want to offend the imperial court due to this matter. It was just a matter of a piece of paper.
However, Zhao Mo Ran said the matter wasn"t this simple. Those difficult parts, actually Chu Xun and Mei Qian Deng could think of them and they understood too. The imperial government and jianghu didn"t wish to see Mei family this new power grew larger. Prince Chen didn"t wish for Chu Xun to have a solid wing. And for the Emperor, if he could use one Mei family to make Prince Chen unable to stand up forever and even take back Mei Zi River Islet, why shouldn"t he?
The blow to his understanding of the Mei family was: Mei family and Prince Chen really didn"t a.s.sociate with each other?
Eldest Young Master Mei mumbled, “Father complained, at that time he didn"t know he"s Prince Chen. Later after a problem occurred inside the Emperor"s family, Prince Chen seemed to have change completely. They had not meet for several ten years already.”
“So, he really didn"t have any contact with Prince Chen?”
If Old Master Mei was currently at the scene, he would surely move in circles and stammer, “There"s really nothing. It"s just two years ago he suddenly send his servant to bring words. He said he want to see if the Chun Yang Spring"s water is really miraculous. I only fill a bottle of it and send it to him.”
Old Master Mei had mentioned this matter inside the letter for Mei Qian Deng. He suddenly wanted the spring water? Why so sudden? At that time, Old Master Mei didn"t think much of it but what about now?
Mei Qian Deng then said, “Upstream of Mei Zi River Islet is the source of Yue River. There"s a rumour Prince Chen colluded with the northern nomadic tribes. I heard from Crown Prince that Prince Chen didn"t only smuggle salt, there are also military weapons and gunpowder. If this big hat is put onto us, we can"t even avoid.”
“His Highness Crown Prince is very good with you, to tell you everything.” Eldest Brother Mei suddenly said a line. It carried some taunting and displeasure.
“Eldest Brother, I know what you want to say. The Emperor suddenly fall sick and Crown Prince"s wing had yet to grow strong. Even if he want to protect us fully, it"s like a mantis trying to obstruct a chariot[1].” This was like entering a deadly cycle. To make Chu Xun become truly strong, they need to want until he becomes the Emperor; yet for Chu Xun to smoothly ascend the throne, they need to first eliminate Prince Chen this big mountain; to eliminate Prince Chen this big mountain, there will be a need of some "dynamites" to bomb him flat. Mei family was most possibly the **. If the ** was nipped off, how Chu Xun could be the Emperor without any hitch?
Eldest Young Master felt it was true after some thinking. He sighed repeatedly. The affairs of the world were indeed changeable, stormy situation couldn"t be predicted. During spring, they were still happy that Seventh Young Master Mei entered the palace as the Crown Prince"s study partner, bringing honour to their family. Winter had just arrived yet it was said Mei family about to suffer a sudden misfortune. When the tree toppled, the monkeys on it scattered[2].
“So we should make the first move to gain advantage, seize an initiative.”
“Then, I will wait for your news.”
Mei Qian Deng walked out of the room. It was just drinking a cup of tea period. Chu Xun was still humming a song while taking a bath. Mei Qian Deng gazed at the night sky outside the window of the corridor. Tomorrow should be a fine day.
[1] An idiom. To overrate oneself and try to hold back an overwhelming force.
[2] Another idiom. Means, when an influential person falls from power, his hanger-on disperse.