In the Zhong residence, inside a side room.
After listening to the report from a steward, Zhong Su collapsed weakly into a chair and asked in a daze, “Why? Why is he doing this?”
Earlier, when a group of civil and military officials had burst in looking for someone, he had sensed something was wrong. He had specifically sent people to inquire at the Censorate and learned a shocking piece of news. A Shihuang had actually resigned from office.
The steward Li and Du Fei beside him were also shocked. They similarly did not know why Yu Qing would do such a thing, and their faces turned ugly in an instant.
“You go and attend to your own tasks first. Do not reveal this matter to anyone for now, including the madam and the two young misses.”
Steward Li instructed the Zhong residence steward who had personally gone to inquire. The latter acknowledged and withdrew.
After a good while, Zhong Su asked the same question again, “Why did he do this?”
Steward Li said, “Master, I will arrange for a group of people to search for him right away. Once we find the young master and ask, we will know what is going on. Perhaps the information is mistaken.”
These words were self-deception.
With those civil and military officials still waiting stubbornly at the Zhong residence, how could they not have an idea in their hearts? If something like this had not suddenly happened, how could these officials stay without giving any reason.
Zhong Su remained silent, lost in a mood of utter puzzlement, occasionally uttering the word “why” from his mouth.
Steward Li had no choice but to make the arrangements himself.
Outside the Zhong residence, in a quiet spot separated by one street, a carriage was parked under the shade of a large tree.
A person sat inside the carriage. A pale-faced man with narrowed eyes sat upright in the centre. He was Gao Zeyu, the Vice Director of the Ministry of Justice, dressed in casual clothes.
An official stood in the alley nearby, grasping a servant from the Zhong residence and giving him instructions.
After a good while, the official came out and reported in front of the carriage, “Sir, it is done.”
Gao Zeyu inside the carriage said calmly, “Old Three, we are putting on a hasty show with no time to prepare. The actors found in such a rush, are they reliable? If the matter goes wrong, we will not be able to cover it up.”
The official replied, “Sir, rest assured. This fellow stole something from the Zhong residence and sold it outside. We caught him once. The Zhong residence is not to be trifled with. If they find out, not only will he lose his life, but his two legs will likely be broken first. You just say when to act, and I guarantee there will be no mistake.”
Gao Zeyu gave a sound of agreement. “Timing is very important. Not a single step can be wrong. Wait a little longer. First try to calm him as much as possible so he does not get nervous or show any flaws.”
“Understood.” The official agreed and went back into the alley to chat with the Zhong residence servant.
After waiting for about half a stick of incense, a rider arrived. The knight reined in his horse in front of the carriage window, pulled open the curtain and said inside, “Sir, report from over there. The target should arrive within two quarters of an hour.”
Gao Zeyu gave a sound of agreement, waved for him to continue scouting, then pulled open a corner of the curtain and nodded to the official in the alley.
The official understood, patted the Zhong residence servant on the shoulder, whispered a few words, and the latter nodded before leaving from the other end of the alley.
The official returned to the side of the carriage to report, “Sir, it has started. I have also prepared the other manpower.”
Gao Zeyu instructed solemnly, “Remember, you must clearly see the number of people. If not everyone has left cleanly, you must find a way to lure them away or keep them in place.”
The official patted his chest. “I understand. Sir, please rest assured.”
On the surface the Zhong residence looked no different from usual.
Not to mention many servants did not know what had happened, even Wen Jianhui and her three daughters did not know.
There was a knock at the back gate of the Zhong residence.
The servant who opened the door looked outside and shouted, “Scar, where have you run off to play again? When the steward finds out later, you will be punished with kneeling again.”
The servant called Scar outside only had a large scar on his chest from being burned. As he entered the door he replied, “Do not shout blindly. The steward sent me on an errand.” He waved his sleeve and left with a snort.
On the way he looked around and headed straight towards the front hall.
In the front hall, one civil official and one military official could neither sit nor stand, feeling rather impatient.
Outside the hall, several civil and military officials were pacing, some under the eaves and some in the pavilion.
Scar quietly approached and observed from behind a rockery. He then turned and looked left and right. Before long he saw an acquaintance passing nearby. He immediately sidled over, crept behind the person, and suddenly patted his shoulder to give him a fright.
While the servant was angrily cursing, Scar pulled him along and comforted him, “Do not be angry. I bought something good to give you.”
Hearing there was a gift, the servant did not believe it. “You would buy something for me?”
Though his mouth said he did not believe, he was still led away arm in arm by the other.
Scar asked, “Just say whether you want it or not.”
The servant affirmed, “If it is real, of course I want it. Bring it out.”
Scar glanced at the two officials whispering in the pavilion over there and asked again, “Guess first what it is.”
The servant said, “How can I guess that? Tell me quickly, what is it?”
Seeing they were getting close to the pavilion, Scar said, “Two catties of cooked beef. Hehe, by the way, guess who gave it to me?”
The servant’s eyes showed cunning, as if imagining something, but seeing outsiders in the pavilion, he immediately put on the proper etiquette that a Zhong residence servant should observe.
Scar seemed not to mind. As they passed the pavilion he spoke out, “Let me tell you directly. It was given to me by our top scholar son-in-law. I just met him on the street when I returned. The son-in-law had probably just come from a meal invitation and casually gave me the cooked beef.”
The servant beside him was quite surprised. That son-in-law seemed never to interact with them. Would he even remember what Scar looked like?
However the two officials in the pavilion suddenly turned to look. One shouted, “Stop.”
The other beckoned to Scar. “You come over.”
Scar quickly walked over with small steps and stood outside the pavilion to salute.
“You just returned from the street?”
“Yes, sir. This small one has just returned to the Zhong residence.”
“You saw A Shihuang on the street?”
“Yes, I saw the son-in-law.”
“Where was he?”
“I met him on the main street. The son-in-law was with a few friends. I heard them say they were going to take a pleasure boat on the West City Lake for a cruise.”
“Are you sure you did not hear wrong?”
“It is true. I would not hear wrong. One of the son-in-law’s friends even said the flower queen on a certain boat is beautiful.”
The two officials exchanged a glance, then quickly ran into the hall to report.
Several people then came out from the hall. Someone waved and called, “Go.”
The group of civil and military officials who had waited for a long time left together like a gust of wind, just as they had arrived like a gust of wind.
In the alley, seeing a group of people ride past on horseback, the waiting official immediately turned, ran through the alley to the other end, and reported to the person in the carriage, “Sir, it is done. Six people all came out.”
Gao Zeyu in the carriage asked, “Have all arrangements been made?”
The official replied, “Sir, rest assured. Everything is arranged.”
Gao Zeyu said, “Let us go. Follow me to check the situation.”
The official immediately climbed into the carriage, entered the compartment, and the coachman whipped the horse and drove away.
Not long after the carriage left, the Zhong residence servant Scar came again. He crept into that alley, lowered his voice and shouted, “Third Master, Third Master, where are you?”
Creak. The door of an old house in the alley opened. A minor official beckoned to him. “Here, come over.”
Scar immediately ran over eagerly. As soon as he stepped through the door, he saw two expressionless minor officials walking towards him. Then he suddenly heard the door slam shut behind him and vaguely felt something was wrong.
Before he could turn around, a hand covered his mouth from behind. Severe pain came from his chest. He saw a bloodied blade tip protruding from his own chest. In his terror he also felt the strength in his body being drained away rapidly. His legs went soft, blood surged in his throat and choked his breathing.
His body was quickly dragged to one side.
There were pried-up floor tiles and a dug pit. The still-breathing Scar was thrown in, quickly buried, and then the tiles were laid back.
Gao Zeyu’s carriage stopped outside the back gate of the Zhong residence. The official got down and knocked on the back gate to announce their arrival.
Before long, Zhong Su personally hurried to the back to welcome them. Seeing Gao Zeyu who had come to the door, he cupped his hands and said, “Lord Gao, why have you deigned to use the back gate?”
He was also familiar with Gao Zeyu and had never missed sending gifts on various festivals.
“Master Zhong, do you really not know at all what has happened?” Gao Zeyu questioned.
Zhong Su immediately showed a helpless expression and invited the other inside to talk. The doorway was not a place for conversation.
The two had just sat down in a quiet room when Steward Li hurried over to report, “Master, the young master has returned. He went back to the east courtyard.”
Zhong Su stood up abruptly. He immediately cupped his hands to apologise to Gao Zeyu, saying he must see Yu Qing first before asking further.
Gao Zeyu had come precisely to probe the situation while he was here. He wanted to determine whether the other faction’s communication with this side had been grasped at the right rhythm by his own side. He would decide whether to continue only after confirming the situation. Therefore Gao Zeyu did not stand on ceremony and went together with Zhong Su.
Yu Qing had indeed returned. He had indeed gone back to the east courtyard and was packing his things, preparing to bid farewell to Zhong Su later. Once he explained the situation he would leave immediately. He did not want to stay one extra day in this damned capital.
His mood was still quite good, as he now had over thirty thousand taels in silver notes in hand.
He had just finished packing the bundle when the hurried Zhong Su arrived with people.
Before he could react, Zhong Su asked bluntly, “Why? Why did you resign from office?”
Yu Qing was stunned for a moment. He looked at Du Fei and Steward Li, whose faces had also darkened, and there was an extra unfamiliar person, some busybody from who knows where.
He paused, then sighed, “You already know. Uncle Zhong, I am sorry for disappointing everyone. This capital really is not suitable for me.”
Gao Zeyu glanced at the attitudes on both sides and roughly understood in his heart. He immediately spoke out, “A Shihuang, do you know that you have already caused big trouble and brought big trouble to the Zhong residence as well?”
At these words, both Zhong Su and Yu Qing were stunned.
Yu Qing immediately asked, “May I ask who you are?”
Gao Zeyu said in a deep voice, “I am an old friend of your father-in-law for many years, the Vice Director of the Ministry of Justice.”
“Ah, Lord Gao.” Yu Qing cupped his hands in greeting, then asked in return, “I resigned from office simply because I no longer wish to serve. What trouble can that cause? There is no principle in this world that forces people to be officials, is there?”
Gao Zeyu gave a cold laugh. “You speak so lightly. Do you know what is being said outside? It is said that because His Majesty demoted you from top scholar to third-place scholar, you angrily threw down your official hat and left. You resigned in resentment because of dissatisfaction with His Majesty and the court.”
These words startled everyone present.
Yu Qing quickly raised his hand to stop him. “Lord Gao, you cannot put such a hat on me randomly. I resigned only because I feel officialdom is not suitable for me. Heaven and earth as my witness, I have no other meaning.”