Chapter 507: Investigation

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The old shopkeeper smiled and said to them, “There are three main rooms, two rooms, and a bathroom. There are three meals, comprising three meat dishes, and three vegetable dishes a day. If you need anything else, you can order from the front hall. Coupled with the money for washing the horses and fodder, the room fee is ten taels of silver a month. See if you’re satisfied.”

Zhao Cai looked at Zhou Jia. “Master, what do you think?”

Zhou Jia nodded readily. “Alright, please take care of the horses more carefully and make the food better.”

When the old shopkeeper heard this, his smile was as bright as a spring flower. “Don’t worry, I promise to feed it meticulously. My food is fresh every meal. I guarantee that you’ll be satisfied. I’ll get someone to send hot water to you.”

“Thank you, shopkeeper.” Ruyi smiled.

“It’s only right.” The old shopkeeper smiled and left the key.

Ruyi and Zhao Cai checked around. After everyone sat under the eaves, Hu Cheng took out the paper ball and handed it to Zhou Jia.

It said that the eldest brother lived outside East City. After leaving the city, one had to walk for an hour to Cheng Family Village. In a small courtyard at the east end, there were considerate servants serving him.

Zhou Jia pondered for a moment and looked at them with a smile. ‘Everyone has been tired for so many days. Rest well today. We’ll call the merchant over to take a look at the goods tomorrow.”

“Yes, Master.” They smiled and agreed.

After a while, the inn assistant brought hot water. After everyone washed up, the food was also delivered. There were stir-fried cabbage, shredded radish, bean sprout soup, braised carp, stir-fried meat, radish stewed with pig trotters, and a few mixed grain pancakes.

Zhou Jia smiled and said, “It looks good. Don’t stand on ceremony. Hurry up and eat and wash up before resting.”

The few of them sat down and ate. The shop assistant sent hot water over. After washing up and drying their hair, they arranged for the people on night duty and split up to rest.

In an inconspicuous small courtyard at the east end of the Cheng Family Village, the items inside were all exquisite. There was someone in the dark of the residence, and a pale-looking young man was sitting on the couch in the main house. On closer look, he looked a little similar to Chu Yuhao. They both had phoenix eyes and a straight nose.”

A dignified middle-aged man sat on a chair and looked at him. “Your Highness, it seems that he already knows that you fled to Yuezhou. Since the decree said that you and the Princess Consort are sick, he might announce your death when the family head arrives in the capital.”

The Eldest Prince looked into the distance with a sinister gaze. “That’s a jackal. Uncle, it seems that the Cheng family is not on the same side as us. Otherwise, how could that dog get the news so quickly?”

Now that the world was already the Third Prince’s, the government office’s claws were even deeper into the Cheng family. The Cheng family’s eldest and second branches were considered to be on the same side. The third branch had long had their own thoughts. He wondered if the Old Master was getting softer as he got older. Otherwise, why couldn’t he bear to deal with the third branch? Or was it because he had stolen the prince behind his back this time and angered him…

Uncle Cheng shook his head and threw away the bad thoughts. “The Cheng family is so big. It’s inevitable that the people in the family have their own thoughts, especially after you and the Princess Consort are imprisoned. There are also a few families who want to join that person behind his back.”

The Eldest Prince propped himself up on the collapse and sat up straight. He looked at him and said, “Uncle, I advise you to take action early and eliminate those people to avoid future trouble.”

Uncle Cheng looked at him and hesitated for a moment. “Even if you want to make a move, you have to wait for Old Master to leave and hand the power to me.”

The Eldest Prince nodded. “You’re right. Who is the imperial envoy sent this time? Can we rope him in?”

“This person’s surname is Zhou. He was originally adopted by the Zhou family who owned a printing workshop. I heard that this person is very favored by him. It’s definitely not easy to rope him in.”

The Eldest Prince had a ruthless expression. “If you can’t rope him in, think of a way to get rid of him. If he finds out about the people in the mountains… Go back and discuss with Grandfather. Take action as soon as possible.”

“Alright, rest. I’m going back.” Uncle Cheng turned around and left.

The Eldest Prince watched him walk out the door and sighed in his heart. He was under someone else’s roof and had no choice but to lower his head. Now that he was already a cripple, that vicious woman from the Shen family had used some method to cause the deaths of a few children in succession all these years. Otherwise, why would he stay behind and suffer?

After Uncle Cheng left, a sweet-looking girl walked into the house and waited on him to rest.

The next morning, Hu Cheng and Ding Yi went out to look for the secret guards hidden in Yuezhou.

Zhao Cai wore rough clothes and prepared to go to the Cheng Family Village outside East City to gather information.

Zhou Jia instructed, “The people in the village are very vigilant against strangers. Go buy a basket and disguise yourself as an egg collector. You have to be careful not to be discovered.”

“Yes, Master.” Moneymaker agreed and strode away.

Ruyi said to Zhou Jia, “Master, why didn’t the higher-ups let Hu Cheng and the others come to Yuezhou the last two times?”

“From what Master said, he hadn’t recruited anyone yet. One of the people he sent was bribed, and the other was scared out of his wits.”

Ruyi looked at Zhou Jia in surprise and whispered, “Master, I’m afraid they’ve already investigated you and know that you can’t be bribed even if you’re bold.

Do you think…”

Zhou Jia looked at the spring flowers blooming in the courtyard. “They might kill us.”

Zhao Cai bought a basket and some grains at the market and carried them out of the East City gate. After walking for less than an hour, they arrived at Cheng Family Village. There was a large locust tree at the entrance of the village.

Most of the houses in the village were brick houses. Some people even had dogs. When they saw strangers enter the village, they bared their teeth and barked at Ji Xiang.

Zhao Cai knocked on the pole and shouted at the top of his lungs, “Collecting eggs! Collecting eggs…”

After a while, an old lady called out to Ji Xiang, “Young man, how do you collect the eggs?

Zhao Cai smiled at her. “One copper coin for a big one and two copper coins for a small one.”

The old lady thought for a moment and waved. “Wait for me to take it to you.”

“Aye!” Ji Xiang agreed loudly and pretended to look around casually. Soon, the old lady came out with her pocket. “Look, my eggs are well-proportioned. If we send them into the city, they can be sold for an extra copper coin.”

Zhao Cai smiled and said, “Aunt, you have to make a trip to the city. You have to pay to enter the city, and you also have to pay to set up a stall. Half of the money you earn from selling eggs would have been gone.”

The old lady nodded. “That’s why I’m selling to you.”

Zhao Cai placed the eggs in the wicker basket and paid. He shouted and continued forward. After accepting two more families, he walked to the east end of the village and saw that the walls of a few houses at the east end of the village were higher than those of the houses beside them.

Zhao Cai shouted as he walked to the door of the first house. He shouted at the top of his lungs and continued forward. When he reached the third house, an

old woman came out the back door, and waved her away. “Hurry up and leave.

Stop shouting here. No one sells eggs.”

Zhao Cai smiled at her ingratiatingly. When he left, he felt that someone was watching him in the dark. Zhao Cai continued to shout as if nothing had happened and only left with half a dozen of eggs after circling the entire Cheng

Family Village..

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