“Gu Gongzi, I wonder if you are familiar with the commercial landscape of Jiangnan?”
“The commercial landscape of Jiangnan?” Gu Wangchen paused to recall, and soon found the relevant information from the memories of both his past and present lives.
The Jiangnan region of Daqian, traditionally known as the land of fish and rice and a place of picturesque bridges and flowing water, is truly the treasure trove of the world. Commerce and industry there are highly prosperous, with all trades thriving, especially in textiles, ironworks, and handicrafts.
The discovery of the super-large Ling Mine Vein outside Lingcheng further promoted the development of local mining.
“I know it fairly well. After all, it’s the place contributing the most to Daqian’s taxes. My father talks about it at home every day, so I’ve picked up a bit through osmosis.”
“Good, as long as you’re familiar,” Lu Quan nodded, then continued, “The super-large Ling Mine Vein outside Lingcheng was originally under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Works Mining Bureau, with the Lingcheng Government Office and local business guilds jointly organizing the mining. The Ling ore excavated was all purchased by the Chao Court in unified fashion.”
“Yet over the past half year, the purchase volume has plummeted compared to before, and Lingcheng claims it’s due to Mining Tunnel Collapse and Ore Source Contamination lowering mining efficiency.”
“But the Crown Princess…” Lu Quan paused, then changed his words: “But the Mining Bureau once sent professionals to survey, and the results…”
“What did they find?”
“No, they didn’t get any results. Those who went… have vanished without a trace to this day.”
“Oh?” Gu Wangchen’s eyes narrowed slightly, a bad premonition surfacing in his heart.
The Chao Court’s Mining Inspector sent to the local area mysteriously disappeared… isn’t this the classic open and covert struggle between the central court and local powers?
Because commerce is so prosperous in Jiangnan, it has given rise to many large, influential family conglomerates, the most famous of which is the Lingcheng Xiao Clan—birth family of Empress Dowager Xiao Wan.
What a coincidence, isn’t it?
Besides, even if the Xiao Clan dominates Lingcheng and the surrounding counties, without the government’s backing, they wouldn’t dare to do anything to the Chao Court’s Mining Inspector.
If anything happens, the Xiao Clan in Jiangnan might rely on their local influence and distance from the throne to make the court helpless, but what about Empress Dowager Xiao Wan in court?
Wouldn’t the Crown Princess Faction use this to press her hard?
Even if the Empress Dowager has long cut public ties with the Xiao Clan, who would truly believe it?
Thinking of this, Gu Wangchen frowned, an ominous conjecture rising in his mind.
The Lingcheng Government Office must also be involved, and Gu Wangchen recalled that the current Prefect of Lingcheng once attended his father’s lectures—there’s a teacher-student bond between them.
Which means the Prefect of Lingcheng is a “Prime Minister’s Disciple”—a man of the Xiang Party.
Pulling up one root drags up a heap of mud. Not only would the Empress Dowager’s faction become the Crown Princess Faction’s main target, even the Xiang Party would be implicated.
Putting these thoughts away, Gu Wangchen spoke slowly, “Mr. Lu, does your Secret Letter contain evidence of Lingcheng ** smuggling Ling ore?”
Upon hearing this, Lu Quan’s face changed, and he hastily replied, “No, that’s not it! The Secret Letter only contains some Mining Report collected by local miners—concrete reports on Mining Tunnel Collapse and Ore Source Contamination…”
“Alright, Mr. Lu. Though I tend to be playful, I’ve told you many times—I’m no fool.” Gu Wangchen stood up, walked in front of him, and smiled faintly:
“I may not know much about Lingcheng, but I know Sheng’an inside out. The crows under the heavens are all black… so how much better could Lingcheng be?”
“As for this excuse about Mining Tunnel Collapse, it’s just for show on the official front. Given our life-and-death camaraderie… there’s no need to act like this, right?”
After he finished, Gu Wangchen sat down again at the table, poured himself another cup of tea, and drank as he looked at Lu Quan’s sullen face.
Lu Quan looked at Gu Wangchen’s indifferent expression and was inwardly shaken.
How could this notorious wastrel of Sheng’an not match his expectations at all?
True, judging from previous interactions, Gu Wangchen certainly seemed like a useless Young Master, someone who rescued him just to please a maid—a notion he still found absurd.
But then this person not only produced the Yingwei Armor and Weapons from the assassins, but also instantly guessed the Lingcheng mining smuggling case.
This didn’t seem at all like a random rescue—more like… he’d come prepared.
Could it be Prime Minister Gu?
At this thought, cold sweat instantly beaded Lu Quan’s brow.
If Prime Minister Gu and the Empress Dowager have joined forces, then Crown Princess is in danger!
But in this situation, he’d already fallen into Prime Minister Gu’s hands—there was no chance of escape!
He clutched the Secret Letter and Account Book beneath his clothes, unsure what to do.
“Seems Mr. Lu doesn’t wish to satisfy my curiosity,” Gu Wangchen said, seeing Lu Quan refuse to talk, but not minding.
After all, he’d already achieved his goal for this visit. From Lu Quan’s reaction, he’d confirmed the content of the Secret Letter, and since the letter was on Lu Quan and Lu Quan was in his hands, everything was under control.
As long as Li Zhaoning couldn’t get the Secret Letter and evidence, she wouldn’t be able to strike a major blow at the Empress Dowager. The balance between the two factions could be maintained, and he’d have more room to maneuver.
Clearing his thoughts, he stood up and said, “Mr. Lu, I have no other virtues but stubbornness. What I’ve set my mind on, I’ll see through. Since you’re unwilling to satisfy my curiosity now, I’ll just wait until you’re ready.”
“Gu Gongzi, you…”
“So, until you change your mind, please stay here for now.”
“Of course, you’re a guest of the Prime Minister’s Residence. If you need anything, just say the word. After all, I’m not a bad person.”
With those words, Gu Wangchen didn’t linger, giving the thick-browed Messenger a final glance, then left the guest room with An Li in tow.
Stepping out the door, the two strolled through the courtyard. The lingering fragrance of flowers and the gentle moonlight fell on An Li, draping her gauzy dress in a layer of hazy luminescence.
“Young Master, why didn’t you make him produce the Secret Letter? Didn’t you have me save him just for that letter?” An Li obediently walked behind him, asking softly.
Gu Wangchen smiled and answered casually, “No, my goal isn’t that Secret Letter, but rather to prevent the Crown Princess from getting it.”
“Eh?”
“An Li, you heard just now—the letter is about the Lingcheng Xiao Clan and the Lingcheng Government Office colluding to smuggle Ling ore. If the Crown Princess gets hold of that evidence…”
He didn’t go on, but trusted that with An Li’s cleverness, she would understand the consequences.
“I see! Xiao Li understands! Then what do we do now?”
“Now? Naturally, we wait for the Empress Dowager’s Edict.”
“?”
Seeing An Li looking slightly dazed, Gu Wangchen reminded, “Do you remember that one-thousand-character Self-Reflection Letter I had Yuwan Cheng of the Jingting Guard write?”
“I remember.”
“Xiao Li, you don’t think I made him write that just to make things hard for him out of boredom, do you?”
An Li blinked her big eyes and didn’t answer.
“Sigh,” Gu Wangchen sighed helplessly, explaining, “Yuwan Cheng’s Zhenmo Division of Jingting Guard is under the Empress Dowager’s power. This was a signal I sent her.”
“Together with the Yingwei’s failed assassination of Messenger Lu Quan, I reckon she’ll summon me in the next few days.”
“Oh, oh, Xiao Li understands!”
After a moment’s thought, Gu Wangchen lowered his voice, “An Li, go do one more thing—spread the word that I was accidentally injured by men from the Zhenmo Division of Jingting Guard.”
“Accidentally injured?”
“Yes, accidentally. Feel free to embellish it—make it as eye-catching as possible.”
“Understood, Host.” An Li nodded lightly, her figure vanishing instantly into the courtyard.