Chapter 399: A Cover-Up

Magistrate Tian had not expected the secret the Yan family was hiding to be such a significant matter.

The Consort of the Heir Apparent’s wedding ship had been robbed, and it was an inside job within the Prince’s Manor.

Recalling the letters from his old friend mentioning that the Prince’s Manor had sent people to search the riverbanks between Gufeng and Changping for lost items, it seemed they were looking for these chests submerged in the water.

He had another, even more headache-inducing suspicion. To dare strike at the Consort of the Heir Apparent so brazenly, the identity of the person behind it was practically screaming to be revealed.

Coupled with the fact that the note used to deceive the border defenses this time originated from the Prince Ying’s Manor, Magistrate Tian’s mood was extremely complicated.

“Teacher, let’s tell the Heir Apparent about this,” Yan Lao’er whispered.

Magistrate Tian was still nursing a headache and did not answer immediately.

Yan Huaiwen said, “Sir, since the Heir Apparent sent the silver notes privately, it is best if we inform him quietly as well.”

As for what the Heir Apparent would do after finding out, that would have nothing to do with them.

However, after this incident, their connection with the Heir Apparent would undoubtedly become even closer.

He looked deeply at Magistrate Tian. If not for Tianyou, this Magistrate Tian should have died on the day Crouching Tiger was breached, meeting his end heroically alongside the Second and Third Masters.

The Heir Apparent was supposed to have died young, but since Magistrate Tian could be saved, who knew if the Heir Apparent’s fate might also differ from his previous life.

The twists of human fortune were truly marvelous.

He had not separated from the family, had not parted from Tianyou, and had brought his family and the entire village to Guanzhou. Since then, everything had changed.

At first, it was just changing the fates of those around him, but gradually, all the people and events he touched were developing in unpredictable directions.

Only the timing of the heavens could not be altered by human effort.

Yan Huaiwen remembered clearly that in this year, Guanzhou reported a winter disaster, followed by years of unending hardship.

In the first two years, the imperial court would still provide timely relief, but as the struggle for the succession grew more chaotic and disasters broke out everywhere, the central government could no longer manage everything. Guanzhou, a barren land, was gradually ignored.

Disasters and Northern Rong border raids… these became the norm in Guanzhou’s reports.

It wasn’t until the Heir Apparent died that the Emperor remembered Prince Ying, far away in Guanzhou.

That year was exactly when the old Emperor resolved to appoint an heir.

He recalled the princes stationed outside back to the capital one after another to keep them close for observation.

Prince Ying had just lost his beloved son, and the war in Guanzhou was pressing, so he missed the deadline to return to the capital and lost the chance to compete for the throne.

However, based on his understanding of Prince Ying, missing out that time might not have been a bad thing.

The old Emperor was deep and calculating. Appointing an heir was like raising venomous insects^[1], watching the princes fight and attack each other while using them to handle affairs…

He treated his sons this way, and his officials even more so.

When he, who loathed evil as if it were a personal enemy, began to show his brilliance, the sharp blade named Yan Huaiwen was held in the old Emperor’s hand. He was used to investigate and kill corruption, to purge the officialdom, to warn the masses…

That sharp blade was hung high over everyone’s heads, making them wish they could kill him quickly.

In just six years, he had climbed to a celestial ladder^[2] that was out of reach for almost all officials.

Every step was like walking on thin ice; the slightest slip would mean being smashed to pieces!

Even though he was careful and thorough, he still failed to protect his Heng’er.

…

Magistrate Tian fixed his gaze on his disciple.

Logically, it would be best to leave this matter to Tianyou. Only he and his daughter knew where the submerged chests were.

But he had just taken Tianyou to the Prince’s Manor for a visit. Going again now would be too conspicuous.

Moreover, tonight was the scheduled time for the transaction.

Magistrate Tian did not want any complications.

Yan Huaiwen shared the same thought, so he shifted his gaze to Yan Yu.

…

Yan Yu carried the letter written by her Grandmaster and rushed toward the Prefectural City.

Brother San Tie followed her all the way.

San Tie had gone to the Prefectural City to deliver news before, and the guards at the gate still remembered him, so they didn’t ask for the copper coins required to enter the city.

Yan Yu smiled and said, “Brother San Tie, it looks like you should come often. The more familiar you get with the guards, the better. If we don’t have to pay copper coins to enter the Prefectural City in the future, think of how much money we’ll save.”

San Tie thought about it and realized she was right.

“Xiao Er, you’re right. I’ll try to get closer to the brothers guarding the gate from now on.”

The father-daughter duo of Yan Lao’er and Yan Yu influenced many people unconsciously.

San Tie admired Yan Lao’er’s ability to chat with anyone the most and wanted to try learning it.

They didn’t want to be noticed during this trip.

Their donkey cart was filled with goods.

There were bundles of firewood and the prey caught by Xiao’an Village over the past two days.

After paying the copper coins at a market not far from the Prince’s Manor, they set out their goods. Yan Yu then held Maomao in her arms and squatted in front of the stall.

She began to conduct business in earnest.

Not many people brought firewood into the city to sell like they did. Most nearby villagers waited at the city gate; by not entering the city, they didn’t have to pay copper coins.

Since everyone thought this way, a lot of wood sellers gathered at the city gate every day. The price was stable, around ten wen per bundle.

Yan Yu could only say that the people of this world were very honest. Fearing their own firewood might be less than others’ and thus harder to sell, each bundle was tied larger and tighter than the last, with no intention of cutting corners.

Buying one bundle of wood would last many days if it was only used for lighting the stove to cook.

The firewood Yan Yu and the others brought was tied quite normally, so it wasn’t very popular. She asked for ten wen, but hadn’t sold any after half a day.

However, Yan Yu wasn’t in a hurry. She let Brother San Tie wander around nearby to try his luck, seeing if he could run into the guards who were with the Heir Apparent that day.

The wild pheasants and rabbits gradually started selling.

Yan Yu sold them by the piece and didn’t set the price high. Her tongue was sweet^[3], calling people auntie, grandma, or sister with great warmth. Her crisp hawking could be heard from far away. People love a spectacle, and seeing a child sitting at a stall selling things was a novelty, so they were willing to show support.

Gradually, two bundles of firewood were sold along with the meat.

San Tie even came back and made a home delivery for one bundle.

Just when Yan Yu thought they would return empty-handed today.

Maomao, who had been quiet, meowed twice and placed a small paw on the back of her hand.

Yan Yu said to the newly returned San Tie, “Brother San Tie, try walking over that way again. If you still don’t run into anyone, we’ll call it a day and go home.”

San Tie complied and walked in the direction Xiao Er pointed.

When he saw the young man named Pengshu who served the Heir Apparent, a look of joy appeared on his face.

Pengshu saw him too and looked at him doubtfully several times before confirming it was indeed the person from Xiao’an Village who had come to the city to report the news.

Before he could react.

San Tie rushed over and seriously recited the lines Xiao Er had set for him: “Little brother, does your noble residence need firewood?”

Pengshu was stunned for a moment.

As expected of someone by the Heir Apparent’s side, he quickly sensed something.

“You’re selling wood? Where is it? How much?”

“Ten wen a bundle, just over there. You take a look first, little brother. If you like it, I’ll carry it to your house for you.”

Pengshu followed him.

After that, he saw the Yan family’s Xiao Er sitting behind the stall.

Although they used the firewood as an excuse to lure Pengshu over, Yan Yu didn’t actually sell him wood. Instead, she worked hard to sell him the last wild rabbit.

Taking advantage of the movement of handing over the rabbit, she passed the letter from her sleeve to him.

(End of Chapter)