Chapter 383 - 383: Poaching

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Chu Qingning still had to go pick mulberry leaves. “Young Master Xu, 1 still have some tasks to complete. You rest well. 1’11 ask two kids from the village to look after you. If you need anything, just let them find me.”

Xu Jizhou wanted to ask Chu Qingning to stay, but he didn’t have the authority to say such things. “Thank you for your help earlier.”

Chu Qingning smiled, “No need to be polite. These are things I should do.” After saying that, Chu Qingning left the room.

Xu Jizhou’s gaze followed her closely…

Jiang Zhaoyong moved over to block Xu Jizhou’s gaze. Now that Chu Qingning wasn’t here, he didn’t need to hold back any longer.

“Xu Jizhou, don’t have any ideas about Qingning.”

Xu Jizhou’s expression turned cold as he met Jiang Zhaoyong’s gaze. “What’s your relationship with her? In what capacity do you have the right to say such things to me?”

Jiang Zhaoyong was caught off guard by the question, but he wouldn’t willingly lose to Xu Jizhou. “It’s none of your business what my relationship with her is. In any case, you won’t have any relationship with her.” With that, he turned around and went after Chu Qingning.

Xu Jizhou gritted his teeth. It was just Jiang Zhaoyong’s wishful thinking, and he wouldn’t give up easily.

The capital, Ning Mansion.

Ning Yuting brought Grandpa Ning to the main hall and asked with great importance, “Grandfather, this is the Mid-Autumn Festival gift I prepared for the Qingyue’s family. See if there’s any problem?”

In the room, there was a large box containing a rich Mid-Autumn Festival gift.

Grandpa Ning carefully inspected it and smiled, “Very thorough preparations, no issues.”

Ning Yuting felt relieved, “Grandfather, I’ll immediately have someone deliver it.”

He really wanted to personally deliver the Mid-Autumn Festival gift, but these days Grandfather’s health was not good, and he didn’t dare to leave.

Grandpa Ning smiled and nodded. “Send it.”

Ning Yuting immediately summoned two servants to carry the box. The carriage was already prepared at the front gate, ready to transport the box right away.

A carriage approached the Ning Mansion, with Tang Jinghong sitting on the horse.

“Yuting.”

Ning Yuting looked toward the voice and quickly bowed, “General Tang.”

Tang Jinghong got off the carriage and helped Ning Yuting up, “No need for so many formalities.” He glanced at the carriage, “Are you planning to send a Mid-Autumn Festival gift to Qingyue? ”

Ning Yuting nodded, then asked, “General Tang, do you want me to help deliver your gift?”

Tang Jinghong said, “There’s no need. I’ve already prepared. But my men don’t know the way. I will ask them to come here to join your people so that they can travel together.”

Ning Yuting said, “No problem. I’ll instruct my servants.”

Tang Jinghong went back to the carriage and brought out a delicate box, “This is entrusted to me by Qingyue. There’s also a letter inside.”

Ning Yuting received the box with great surprise, “General Tang, please wait a moment. I’ll go write a reply.”

Tang Jinghong nodded. “Go ahead. There’s no hurry.”

Ning Yuting quickly returned, handing the letter to the leading servant, and gave detailed instructions. Only then did he feel at ease letting the convoy depart.

Watching the convoy go into the distance, Tang Jinghong bid farewell to Ning Yuting and went to the Ministry of Justice.

Previously, Chu Qingzhi had given him some hints. These three days of investigation should have yielded some results.

When Tang Jinghong arrived at the Ministry of Justice, he happened to meet Ren Buqing coming out. “General, 1 was just about to find you. We’ve found a very useful clue.”

Tang Jinghong stopped. “Speak.”

Ren Buqing had been investigating the family members of the Minister of War these days. Surprisingly, he found that the son of the Minister of War, Cao Changsheng, was addicted to gambling and had a significant involvement with illegal things. This immediately caught his attention.

“Cao Changsheng is addicted to gambling, and he bets big.”

Tang Jinghong frowned. “Why haven’t 1 heard of it before?”

Ren Buqing shook his head, “He doesn’t gamble in ordinary gambling dens but in the black market. The black market only opens every three days, and he goes every time. Although the Minister of War has restricted him numerous times, as soon as he’s released, he goes to gamble.”

Tang Jinghong unraveled a doubt in his mind, “No wonder the Minister of War’s family should be wealthy, but during the house search, there were only a few thousand taels of silver. Turns out, it was all used up by his son for gambling.”

Ren Buqing added, “By the way, General, how about we investigate the black market tonight? Maybe we can catch Cao Changsheng, who has disappeared without a trace?”

The Minister of War had a premonition that something might happen to him and sent away some people from his family in advance, including Cao Changsheng.

Now that they knew Cao Changsheng liked to gamble in the black market, they were likely to catch him.

Tang Jinghong naturally agreed and whispered, “I’ll talk to Third Master Lu and ask him to cooperate.”

“I’ll make some arrangements as well.” Ren Buqing said with excitement, “Capturing Cao Changsheng might bring a significant breakthrough to the case.”

Tang Jinghong nodded. “Yes.”

At this moment, an unfriendly voice interrupted, “You guys are really idle, standing at the gate, chatting away instead of investigating the case. Aren’t you afraid of His Majesty blaming you?”

It was Rong Dayuan, the eldest son of the Prime Minister, in his forties, tall with a square face, exuding an imposing official aura. He and Tang Jinghong were arch-enemies, diametrically opposed but mutually restrained in the imperial court.

Tang Jinghong held a higher rank than Rong Dayuan, and Rong should bow to him, but their relationship made such gestures impossible.

Ren Buqing wasn’t as arrogant as Rong Dayuan; he gave Rong a courteous official salute.

Rong Dayuan cast a disdainful glance at Ren Buqing, “If you find Tang Jinghong unpleasant to work with, you can consider joining my side. I also appreciate talent.”

Openly poaching under Tang Jinghong’s nose, is this really okay?

Ren Buqing politely replied, “Thank you for your appreciation, Lord Rong. Currently, my abilities are limited, and I’m afraid I can’t be of assistance to you.”

Rong Dayuan snorted and ignored Ren Buqing, glancing at Tang Jinghong, “I came over to tell you that I’m taking the Minister of War away. If you can’t find anything, it will be up to us to interrogate.”

“Lord Rong, you can’t take him away!” How could Tang Jinghong let Rong Dayuan take someone away? The case was difficult enough to investigate, and taking him away would make things even more challenging.

Rong Dayuan said with a stern face, “General Tang, as a military officer, you should stick to your role. Investigating the case should be left to specialists.”

The atmosphere became tense…

Tang Jinghong calmly said, “The Emperor gave me a month. Only ten days have passed. How do you know I won’t find anything in the remaining twenty days? Does Lord Rong know something I don’t?”

Rong Dayuan’s face darkened, “What do 1 know? If I knew, I would have reported to the Emperor long ago. Why would 1 waste time talking to you here?”

Tang Jinghong, neither fast nor slow, said, “Lord Rong, the Emperor assigned me to lead this investigation, and you and Ren Buqing are supposed to assist.

In theory, you should be helping me.. Taking him away doesn’t seem like helping me, does it?”