IDWBE -Chapter 413 Poisoning

Zhu Rourong gave Jiang Tuhu a sharp look and said, “When it comes to business, I’m certainly not as sharp as you. But sometimes, in certain matters, you’re not as clear-sighted as I am. Think about it—now that the people from the Military and Cavalry Department have all gone, there aren’t enough hands to catch the thieves. The Prefect of Ankang and the Court Guards are here to help. Isn’t that perfectly normal? Why are you making such a fuss about it? Why can’t you just see it that way?”

“Damn it, I’ve always underestimated you, old man, Zhu Rourong,” Jiang Yi said seriously all of a sudden. “Why don’t you come work with me at the Military and Cavalry Department? Your brain works better than most. Follow me, and when I eat meat, you’ll at least have a bowl of soup.”

Cao Xiaohuan chimed in, “That’s true. I never realized you were this clever before.”

She had to admit it: she had underestimated Zhu Rourong in the past, thinking he was just a brute with a simple mind. Now she realized this guy wasn’t as foolish as she had imagined.

After all, not many people who became Sanhe suppliers were truly upright.

“Go to your Military and Cavalry Department to drink soup? I’m just a butcher! What am I after?”

Zhu Rourong shook his head vigorously, “Besides, I don’t have the capability for that. Forget it—stop thinking about these unreliable things.”

Although he envied Huang Daoji and Mo Shun for becoming ninth-rank minor officials in the Armory Department, he didn’t have the ambition to become an official like Wang Xiaoshuan.

Throughout his life, there were many people he admired, including the Prince. But the person he admired most was Liang Qingshu, the head shopkeeper of Sanhe Lianggen!

Sanhe’s wealthiest merchant may have been Wang Cheng, but his two sons, Wang Xun and Wang Xing—one obsessed with officialdom, the other focused on business—only knew how to scheme for money. Neither of them was admirable.

The Liang family, however, was different: many sons, some truly outstanding, achieving in both the military and business. Most importantly, they had Liang Qingshu, the head shopkeeper. In most cases, he called the shots.

Zhu Rourong had seen Liang Qingshu issue a single order and move a million taels of silver. As a simple butcher, he still dreamed of enjoying that kind of prestige one day.

Unfortunately, the Liang Qingshu whom he admired had been judged by Xie Zan as “worldly-wise but inherently mediocre.” In other words, nothing special.

Even someone as impressive as Liang Qingshu was seen that way by officials. A mere butcher like him had no chance in the official world.

“Fine, then just think it over carefully,” Jiang Yi said with a smile, not pressing him. “Right now there aren’t enough hands. Even the National Academy has no one on duty. If you come, I’ll assign you a comfortable post.”

Just then, a round head popped out from the alley, its eyeballs darting left and right like they had a mind of their own.

Jiang Yi wanted to pluck those annoying eyes out—they were so irritating—but he didn’t dare.

The person before him was Su Yin, steward of the Prince’s kitchen.

If the Prince ascended the throne, this man could very well become the Head Steward of the Imperial Kitchen, a fifth-rank official. The rank wasn’t high, but being in charge of what the Prince consumed? Not just anyone could do that.

Even a single word to the Prince carried more weight than a hundred from others.

Jiang Yi was just a subordinate officer—there was no comparing his status to Su Yin.

“Steward Su, what brings you here?” Jiang Yi asked politely.

Su Yin stroked the whiskers on either side of his mouth and pointed at Zhu Rourong, “I’m here for them.”

Zhu Rourong laughed, “Last night I already told my men to deliver the meat this morning. Do you need me for anything else?”

As neighbors, Zhu Rourong wasn’t intimidated by Su Yin at all.

Su Yin snorted, “Your assistant Jin Rong is dead.”

“What?”

Zhu Rourong was shocked. Jin Rong had worked for him for three years.

Su Yin nodded. “Dead in the Prince’s kitchen. Stiff as a board.”

Cao Xiaohuan curiously asked, “How did it happen?”

“Poisoned,” Su Yin replied. “Physician Hu tested your meat—it’s all poisoned. And after inspecting Jin Rong’s stomach, it seems he ate lean meat porridge this morning.”

“Impossible!”

Zhu Rourong and Jiang Tuhu exclaimed in unison. Their faces drained.

Someone was trying to assassinate the Prince! If they were implicated, it could be a death sentence.

“Of course not,” Cao Xiaohuan said, “If Jiao Zhong suspected you, he would have already found you. He wouldn’t give you the chance to even speak here.”

As chief constable of Ankang Prefecture, she was worried but had no authority to intervene in the Prince’s household affairs. Only the Prince could give such orders.

“Correct,” Su Yin said, rolling his round head to Zhu Rourong. “Commander Jiao won’t suspect you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come here myself.”

Jiang Tuhu slapped his thigh, “Damn it! The capital garrison!”

Zhu Rourong’s face fell. Their meat was delivered daily to the garrison and palace. Any mishap would be their responsibility.

Su Yin said, “A batch of your meat has already been delivered to the garrison. If Commander Jiao hadn’t reported in time, it could have become a disaster. Not even a hundred heads would suffice to answer for this.”

Zhu Rourong asked, “Fatty, what exactly are you here for?”

Su Yin snapped, “What else? Your assistant is dead. Who else would I go to? Prepare the meat immediately—today the Prince wants intestines. If it’s not ready by mealtime, you’ll be scolded.”

The Prince had unusual tastes. Lamb offal, pork intestines, beef tripe—things typically eaten by the poor—were his favorites. He especially liked pork intestines, and always in new ways.

Now that the meat was poisoned, it was up to Jiao Zhong and others to catch the culprit. But when lunch arrived, if they couldn’t serve the Prince’s favorite dishes, they would be in trouble.

“This…”

Zhu Rourong slapped his head. “I’m going now!”

He grabbed Jiang Tuhu and ran off.

Su Yin shook his round body and yawned, watching the two disappear into the alley. “Damn, what a day.”

“Farewell.”

Cao Xiaohuan didn’t respond and left with the Ankang Prefecture men.

Anyone daring to poison the Prince’s household was lawless! Ankang City would face another storm of blood and chaos. She only had to remain diligent and make no mistakes—or she would be implicated.

The sun rose high.

Lin Yi sat in the garden. After Jiao Zhong finished reporting, he said grimly, “The enemy is hidden while we’re exposed. It won’t be easy. The Princess has guards—no mistakes can be allowed.”

He wasn’t worried about himself; he was most concerned about Hu Miaoyi. She was pregnant, and any mishap could jeopardize the child. He could not bear to see that happen.

Since crossing over, he had lived aimlessly. Finally having a child to prove his existence, he had to cherish it.

“Prince, rest assured,” Jiao Zhong knelt. “Three suspects have been arrested, and the Court Guards are investigating. Results should come tomorrow.”

“Zhu Rourong and Jiang Tuhu wouldn’t be that reckless,” Lin Yi waved a hand. “Don’t trouble them unnecessarily.”

Jiao Zhong nodded. He hadn’t even questioned the two. They would worry themselves more than anyone else.

Indeed, Zhu Rourong and Jiang Tuhu began gathering all their assistants that night.

At the slaughterhouse, Zhu Rourong stomped through dried bloodstains under the sweltering sun, pacing among the three rows of workers.

“Jin Rong is dead,” he said coldly. “We should have twenty-six men, but only twenty-three are here! Who can tell me where the other three are?”

“Li Shuo, Zhen Gui, Wang Dayong,” Jiang Tuhu spoke slowly. “It’s them, right? Where are they?”

The workers looked at each other, clueless. They had no idea what had happened.

Zhu Rourong cursed, “No one will admit it?”

A young assistant cautiously stepped forward. “Shopkeeper, your words confuse everyone. What do you mean? Before dawn, Jin Rong took Li Shuo and Zhen Gui to deliver meat to the Prince’s residence. We have no idea what happened after that.”

Jiang Tuhu said, “Fine, if you don’t know, then from now on no one leaves. Stay here. Only after everything is investigated will you be allowed to leave.”

“Shopkeeper, what does this have to do with us?”

“Shopkeeper, that’s unreasonable.”

“Jin Rong’s dead—so what? What does that have to do with us?”

Over twenty people grumbled loudly.

“Silence!” Zhu Rourong roared. “Do you think I’m made of clay? Don’t ignore my words! That’s settled. Until the investigation is complete, no one leaves the slaughterhouse, or you’ll be executed!”

The large slaughterhouse fell silent.

News of an attempt to poison the Prince spread only in a small circle, but it created widespread fear.

In Ankang City, everyone was on edge.

In the courthouse, Chen Desheng looked at Pei Qun, who stood nearby, “Pei, what do you think?”

Pei Qun braced himself. “I’ll follow your guidance, Lord Chen.”

He wasn’t the Prince’s trusted inner circle—what could he say? He had to follow Chen Desheng’s orders.

Chen Desheng said coldly, “Some people can no longer stay.”

“And by ‘some people,’ you mean…”

Pei Qun feigned ignorance.

Who else in Ankang City, besides those at the Jizhao Temple, could it be? He lacked the ability to apprehend the people from Jizhao Temple anyway.

“According to the Court Guards, the leader of Batang Gate, Tang Que, has entered Ankang City,” Chen Desheng said lightly. “Stop playing dumb. The urgent matter is to locate Tang Que.”

Pei Qun hesitated. “Lord Chen, I think Tang Yi holds the key.”

Chen Desheng said, “Tang Yi is Prince Yong’an’s maternal grandfather. If he refuses, how could we force him?”

Pei Jun smiled, “Lord Chen, Tang Yi, Tang Xun, and Tang Que are brothers from the same clan, but their relationship isn’t necessarily harmonious.”

Chen Desheng asked, “What do you mean?”

“You just said I’m pretending to be ignorant,” Pei Jun stepped forward. “Everyone thinks the Crown Princess’s husband, Tang Xun, was killed by the Emperor, but Tang Que is actually more suspicious.”

Chen Desheng frowned.

Pei Qun continued, “Tang Xun and Tang Que are both heroes. Both covet the position of Batang Gate’s leader. They cannot coexist—they will fight to the death. Tang Yi knows this best. He is Tang Xun’s elder brother and will surely avenge him.”

Chen Desheng chuckled. “It has to be Tang Yi?”

“Yes, it must be Tang Yi!” Pei Qun affirmed confidently.

“Send someone!”

Chen Desheng laughed, “Invite Lord Tang Yi to the mansion for a discussion!”

“By your order!”

Cao Xiaohuan, standing nearby, responded.

Dark currents flowed through Ankang City, but on the surface, it remained bustling—especially now that the so-called “commercial housing” outside the city began selling.

“Don’t forget the economics lessons the Prince taught us,” Wang Xiaoshuan said at the new “Sales Office” built by Tian Sixi, weighing his coin purse. “From ancient times, true wealth lies in real estate and land! Passed from father to son, generation after generation!”

Duo Mazi snapped, “Are you insane? Three hundred taels of silver for this house? That money could buy five houses back in Sanhe!”

“You know nothing!” Wang Xiaoshuan rolled his eyes. “The value of real estate is all about location! Where is Ankang City? Near the imperial city! A prime spot for sending silver!”

Duo Mazi scoffed, “Three hundred taels? Rent is ten taels a year. Thirty years to break even. What’s the point?”

“If you say that, it proves you’re brainless,” Wang Xiaoshuan said with a smile. “The outskirts are beautiful, with many new schools and clinics. People will realize the benefits of living there. Prices could rise to four hundred taels.”

Duo Mazi said, “Do whatever you want. I won’t buy it. I’ll retire back in Sanhe if I have money.”

“Then you’ll be poor forever,” Wang Xiaoshuan said, laughing. “I’m meant to get rich.”