Chapter 483 - 482: Suspicious Points

Chapter 483: Chapter 482: Suspicious Points

Hee Lingchuan asked her, "What kind of person is Fu Songhua?"

"He doesn’t talk much, doesn’t like socializing, and, and he doesn’t laugh much either, but he’s shrewd and has his own opinions."

"How was he captured a few days ago?"

"It was hot, so he came home, had two bowls of plum soup, and took a nap. Suddenly, people rushed in from outside. Master Fu... Fu Songhua jumped over the wall to escape, and I immediately heard sounds of fighting and shouting from outside. A short while later, someone came in and said Fu Songhua had been captured, that we were all accomplices, and we... we were all going to prison!"

"Have you seen Fu Songhua since you were brought in?"

The Li woman shook her head.

"Who else is in his family?

"I... I’m not sure. I’ve never met his family, nor have I heard him mention them," the Li woman said. "He usually came straight home after his social obligations outside, and he hasn’t taken any new concubines in recent years."

"His parents, brothers, wife, and children—you know nothing about any of them?"

"I asked before. He only said his parents passed away long ago, and that he had no brothers and had never married. If I pressed any further, he’d get impatient."

Baisha Jue was a fine place for recuperation, so many powerful figures would buy land and build residences here, keeping a concubine on the side. This concubine would have no contact with the main family, only serving them in Baisha Jue.

If Fu Songhua did the same, it wouldn’t be strange at all.

Hee Lingchuan leaned in slightly and said in a low voice, "Fu Songhua has already confessed. Do you know what that means?"

The Li woman shook her head. From the moment she was thrown in jail until now, she had been completely bewildered, only knowing that Fu Songhua had committed a serious crime from the scraps of conversation she overheard from the constables.

"Lingxu City has always been merciless in punishing spies from enemy kingdoms who stir up trouble. Decapitation is the lightest sentence. Everyone implicated will be executed along with him. You won’t survive."

At these words, the Li woman’s face turned deathly pale, and she was struck speechless with horror.

"So think hard. Does he have any relatives? Even the smallest clue will do."

At the precipice of life and death, the Li woman finally wracked her brains.

After a long moment, she finally said, "Twice, Fu Songhua wasn’t in Baisha Jue for the New Year. I don’t know where he went. I asked, and he said he was away on business, but his stewards were still in the city."

The New Year is a time for family reunions. At the very least, you should have someone with you.

"Very good. What else?"

The Li woman thought for a moment then added, "My maid, Amei, saw Fu Songhua buying things on the street twice. One time, he bought pine nut candy cakes, which children love. Another time, it was two toys, and neither was cheap. I originally thought he was buying them to please the children of his clients, but thinking back now, maybe...?"

Maybe Fu Songhua was buying them for his own children.

The Li woman couldn’t say any more. Before the jailer led her away, she begged desperately for her life.

Hee Lingchuan could only say he would do his best.

Next up for interrogation was Fu Songhua’s Steward.

The interrogation revealed that Fu Songhua’s main business was seafood. With the many lakes, rivers, streams, and bays around Baisha Jue, the fishing haul was indeed abundant. With supply and demand both thriving in and around Baisha Jue, there was naturally a need for middlemen to get the seafood from the fishermen’s docks to the city dwellers’ tables. The city was full of merchants in this fresh goods trade.

Additionally, Fu Songhua dabbled in a few side businesses to hedge against the seafood off-season. These included trade in oil and medicinal herbs, but only in small quantities, or so the Steward claimed.

Across all of Baisha Jue, if there weren’t eight hundred to a thousand people in these three trades, there were at least three to five hundred.

The three visiting merchants further corroborated the Steward’s testimony.

Hee Lingchuan also asked the Steward, "Do you often travel with Fu Songhua on business?"

"Yes, I’ve frequently accompanied him on his travels over the past seven years."

"Where does he often go?" Hee Lingchuan raised a hand to stop him from speaking. "The place he’s gone to most often in recent years—which one?"

He stressed the last two words.

The Steward answered without much thought, "That would be Shalun Town, about sixty li away. We go there three or four times a year. We don’t visit any other place that frequently."

"What for?"

"To procure goods. Shalun Town produces a white lacquer that acts as a preservative."

Hee Lingchuan thought for a moment, then asked, "Do you always stay at the same inn in Shalun Town?"

"Yes, the Dazhao Inn. There’s another inn closer to the raw material source, but Fu Songhua said the Dazhao Inn was quieter. I originally thought he was just trying to save money."

"Last question. While staying at the Dazhao Inn, did he ever go out alone?"

"Yes. When he was entertaining clients, he wouldn’t always take me with him."

Hee Lingchuan was done with his questions.

After they were all led away, he stared blankly at the cell wall opposite him.

The Baisha Jue County Magistrate, having been rebuffed by him several times already, didn’t dare to make a sound.

After a long while, Hee Lingchuan suddenly asked him, "After Zhongsun Mou arrived in Baisha Jue, which local families did he interact with most closely?"

The Baisha Jue County Magistrate jumped in fright and immediately said, "How would this lowly official dare to spy on Lord Zhongsun’s movements?"

"I think you would," Hee Lingchuan said, staring at him. "If you didn’t have eyes and ears all over the city, how did you find out the Inspector had just arrived on your turf?"

’Zhongsun Mou may be arrogant, but he still has to do his job, right? He can’t just announce his identity the moment he arrives somewhere.’

’With so many outsiders in Baisha Jue, how did the County Magistrate recognize a Spirit Inspector from Lingxu City?’

The County Magistrate waved his hands frantically. "Ah, this lowly official has no such ability!"

"If you don’t, then who does?" Hee Lingchuan looked at him, his tone earnest and weighty. "County Magistrate Tian, have you not yet figured out who’s on your side? When the Emperor is enraged, neither Zhongsun Mou nor these powerful figures in the city can protect you!"

The words were heavy with warning, leaving the Baisha Jue County Magistrate caught between a rock and a hard place.

’So be it,’ he thought. ’Whether I stick my neck out or turtle up, the axe will fall either way. I might as well deal with the immediate problem first.’ He secretly took a deep breath.

"It was the rich and powerful from Lingxu City who first discovered the Inspector’s whereabouts. The news spread throughout Baisha Jue within a few days. That’s why Lord Zhongsun has been so busy lately, torn between official duties and social obligations, unable to split into a Clone."

Hee Lingchuan’s eyes darted. "I heard that high-ranking officials from Lingxu City also live in Baisha Jue?"

"Isn’t that the truth?" ’Every official in the city outranks me. My job as County Magistrate isn’t easy.’

"And these powerful figures all like to live in the northwest of the city?"

"Yes, the powerful and the mega-rich all like to live there. The scenery is beautiful and the air is fresh." ’What was that saying again? Step out into prosperity, return home to tranquility.’

Hee Lingchuan was lost in thought. "What sort of businesses do these great Noble Families run?"

"Anything that makes money in the Chiyan Kingdom, they probably have a hand in it. After all, they have the money and connections," the Baisha Jue County Magistrate said with a grimace. "As for the specifics, this lowly official wouldn’t dare to pry."

"You wouldn’t dare to pry, but you’ve certainly ’heard’ things. Come, come, here’s a brush for you. You write it down." Hee Lingchuan pushed the paper, brush, and ink on the table toward him. "Don’t be afraid. There’s no one else here, and I promise you, this won’t get out."

The paper and brush had been prepared for suspects like the Li woman, but who would have thought the County Magistrate himself would end up using them.

The Baisha Jue County Magistrate grabbed the brush as if it were a searing hot brand. Knowing resistance was futile, he could only move the brush as if it were flying.

Hee Lingchuan was still across from him, urging, "Be thorough. The more thorough, the better."

It was as if County Magistrate Tian was writing his own confession.

In an instant, he had filled two large sheets of paper.

County Magistrate Tian put down the brush, pushed the papers forward, and said in a small, soft voice, "My lord, please take a look."

Hee Lingchuan picked them up and examined them closely, asking, "Are you sure nothing is missing?"

"Well, in such a rush, it might not be completely comprehensive..."

He thought Hee Lingchuan would reprimand him, but instead, the other man smiled. "No matter. I was the one who rushed you. If you think of anything else, come find me anytime to fill in the gaps."

County Magistrate Tian was, on the contrary, flattered and overwhelmed. "Yes, yes."

"What I asked you today must not be spread to others."

County Magistrate Tian nodded immediately. "Absolutely, absolutely!" He couldn’t be happier about that.

Hee Lingchuan then turned to the tiger lying on the floor, his face wreathed in smiles. "Old Jiao, you’ve had a long journey. Aren’t you tired?"

Jiao Yu was already used to his antics and remained impassive. "What do you want from me? Just say it."

"I need you to run an urgent errand." Hee Lingchuan leaned close to its ear and whispered.

The Baisha Jue County Magistrate didn’t dare to eavesdrop, instead taking two steps back to avoid any suspicion.

He only saw the great tiger shaking its ears incessantly—Hee Lingchuan was too close.

When Hee Lingchuan finally finished, it nodded quickly. "Alright, I’ll go now." It stood up, arched its back in a stretch, and strode out with a tiger’s gait.

Hee Lingchuan watched its retreating figure and remarked with admiration, "Demons are so honest. Once they agree to something, they just do it. They don’t play those hypocritical games."

The Baisha Jue County Magistrate felt as if he were being targeted and could only force a constant, placating smile.

Only then did Hee Lingchuan stand up and stretch.

"Alright, find me a place to stay. I want one with a good view."

County Magistrate Tian let out a long sigh of relief. Finally, they had reached the part he was best at!

...

「The next morning」

Hee Lingchuan went out to enjoy the local scenery.

He made no effort to hide his movements. Many of the city’s powerful and wealthy heard that the Crown Prince Envoy had arrived and sent him invitations requesting an audience.

Hee Lingchuan had no time for social calls and was about to throw all the calling cards away when he happened to notice the signature on one of them. He then tucked it into his robes and headed out.

It was from a Retired Official of the Chiyan Kingdom.

Even in a world full of green mountains and clear waters, Baisha Jue stood out. With its Shazhou as fine as snow, a placid lake where ten thousand birds gathered, and an Ice Spring that still emitted a cold mist in the height of summer, it was truly a Holy Land for travelers.

Today, he was once again accompanied by the Baisha Jue County Magistrate.

Stepping out after a soak in the hot springs, Hee Lingchuan adjusted his robes.

"County Magistrate Tian, Baisha Jue’s scenery is as beautiful as its reputation suggests, but why is there construction everywhere? All this CLANGING and BANGING is really ruining the mood."

On his way here, he had seen at least two scenic spots under renovation, as well as a Divine Temple and three large private residences where craftsmen were working furiously.

Even the hot spring villa they had just left had a gatehouse under repair. The main gate had just been painted and still smelled.

"My lord, Baisha Jue is known as the confluence of a hundred waters. There are thirty-seven lakes of various sizes alone, not to mention rivers, streams, ponds, and marshes. We had heavy Celestial Rain this spring and summer, and the moisture eats away at the wood. Doesn’t that necessitate frequent repairs? Otherwise, falling wood could injure someone, which would be a huge problem."

There were too many local dignitaries. If a flowerpot or a wood chip fell from a building, it was bound to hit someone rich or powerful.

Hee Lingchuan said, "Oh. I want to go to Tide Lake Tower. How far is it?"

"Very close. It’s a quarter of an hour’s walk," the Baisha Jue County Magistrate recommended. "It’s very pleasant to drink tea and enjoy the view there."

"Alright. Lead the way."