Chasing Jade (Zhu Yu)

Fan Changyu couldn't immediately grasp the key point and asked, "Why do you say that?"

Yu Qianqian analyzed for her: "If the county magistrate is extorting the people's blood and sweat because his superiors want to embezzle, then the magistrate wouldn't need to collude with bandits to block the roads to Jizhou Prefecture. Even if things escalated, his superiors could easily suppress it."

"As for using the old man's death to pressure me, it's simply because they've targeted the financial resources of Overflowing Fragrance Pavilion. Among the wealthy merchants in this town, my foundation is the shallowest, making me an easy target. The usual bribes I give officials might get me help with ordinary difficulties, but in such serious matters, they wouldn't dare get involved. Once Overflowing Fragrance Pavilion falls, the magistrate can then extort money from other wealthy merchants one by one. If those merchants don't want to end up bankrupt and imprisoned like me, they'll have no choice but to pay up."

Fan Changyu suddenly understood the stakes and slammed the table, saying, "Then we must quickly unite with the other wealthy merchants in Qingping County!"

But Yu Qianqian shook her head: "This matter requires careful planning. I'm just a merchant and have no idea how much grain each household is supposed to contribute under the Grain Requisition Order issued by the prefecture. If you hadn't mentioned that the magistrate might be embezzling by collecting so much grain, I wouldn't have thought this deeply. After all, while bullying a merchant like me might not draw much attention from the court, oppressing the entire population of Qingping County without protection from above would surely lead to disaster once exposed. The magistrate must understand this. After much thought, the only possibility is that he intends to defect to the Rebel King."

She paused here and looked at Fan Changyu: "Only officials know how much grain the military requires. Sister Changyu, how did you know the magistrate was collecting extra military provisions?"

After repeating Xie Zheng's reasoning, Fan Changyu added, "The magistrate blocking the roads to Jizhou Prefecture is surely because he's guilty!"

Yu Qianqian pondered briefly and said, "With the blocked roads, we can almost certainly conclude the magistrate intends to rebel. But unless he admits it and claims it's just bandits robbing travelers, we have no evidence to prove his collusion with them or to convince the people. The only thing that could expose the magistrate is the Grain Requisition Order. Simply saying this year's levy is higher than before isn't enough—Jizhou authorities wouldn't push the people to this extent, so it can't serve as proof against the magistrate. Besides, with Huizhou's recent defeat and grain supply lines disrupted, no one can guess what the officials are thinking."

When Fan Changyu heard Xie Zheng's analysis, she found it very convincing. Now, listening to Yu Qianqian, she suddenly felt Yu Qianqian's points also made sense.

As she carefully considered both Xie Zheng's and Yu Qianqian's words, a strange feeling arose in her heart.

Yu Qianqian said only officials knew how much grain the military required, yet Yan Zheng had spoken as if he knew exactly how much the government intended to collect.

Moreover, Yu Qianqian worried Jizhou officials might disregard the people's welfare for the sake of war, while Yan Zheng was absolutely certain Jizhou wouldn't dare push the people so far.

Was it because Yu Qianqian, with years of business experience, considered things more thoroughly, while Yan Zheng, lacking her experience, held unrealistic expectations of the government?

Yet based on the facts before them, Yan Zheng seemed correct—the grain requisition demanded by Jizhou wasn't as excessive as what the magistrate was collecting.She frowned in deep thought, her brows nearly knitting together in frustration.

Yu Qianqian noticed and, assuming she was troubled about the matter of accusing the county magistrate, comforted her: "Don’t worry about it for me, Changyu. I’ll figure out a way to handle the Overflowing Fragrance Pavilion situation myself."

Given how the county magistrate was using the old man who died of goat horn wind to smear the pavilion’s reputation, it was clear he intended to throw Yu Qianqian into jail.

Fan Changyu pressed her lips together and said, "That Master He is the magistrate’s lackey. He’s the one who hired people to frame you. I suspect he probably knows the real amount of military provisions Jizhou Prefecture is demanding. Why don’t we start with him?"

Yu Qianqian looked puzzled. "How?"

Fan Changyu replied, "Knock him out with a stick, stuff him in a burlap sack, drag him back here, and interrogate him. What do you think?"

Yu Qianqian stared at the seemingly sweet and innocent girl before her, hardly believing such words had come from her mouth.

Then she recalled how Fan Changyu had just used similar methods to deal with the ruffians harassing her earlier, and her initial shock faded slightly.

After careful consideration, she nodded. "Fine, let’s try it as a last resort."

She looked at Fan Changyu. "But don’t get involved yourself. I’ll hire someone to do it. Right now, the magistrate’s main targets for extortion are the wealthy merchants of Qingping County. If this gets exposed and traced back to you, your husband and your sister will be dragged into it too."

Fan Changyu opened her mouth to argue but swallowed her words at Yu Qianqian’s reasoning.

She truly feared nothing when acting alone, but once Changning was involved, she couldn’t afford to be reckless.

If anything happened to her, Changning would have no one left in this world.

And Yan Zheng—Yan Zheng was about to leave soon. She couldn’t let him get tangled in a legal mess because of her either.

In the end, Fan Changyu could only say, "Then, is there anything else I can do to help?"

Yu Qianqian smiled at her. "You’ve already given me so much advice—isn’t that help enough? And stop calling me ‘manager’ all the time. It sounds too formal. I may be six or seven years older than you, but don’t make me sound ancient. Just call me Qianqian."

Fan Changyu could clearly sense that Yu Qianqian was treating her with more familiarity than before. She didn’t dwell on the formality either and immediately said, "Qianqian."

Yu Qianqian grinned, her eyes curving like crescents. "I heard you brought a cartload of braised meat. There’s no way I can sell it here today, and it’d be a shame if it spoiled before you could sell it all. Here’s what we’ll do—take it to the Drunken Carp Restaurant. I’m on good terms with the owner, and they happen to have a banquet today. Your braised meat will come in handy."

She called over one of the pavilion’s attendants to escort Fan Changyu to the restaurant and settled the payment for the meat. "I’ll pay you first on behalf of the restaurant owner and collect from him later."

Fan Changyu refused. "Focus on resolving the pavilion’s troubles first. You can pay me after the restaurant owner settles with you."

Yu Qianqian pressed the money pouch into her hand. "Take it. If the Overflowing Fragrance Pavilion still can’t be saved, I might have to bring Bao’er to your place for a few meals. Can’t owe you money beforehand."

Since she put it that way, Fan Changyu had no choice but to accept.

After delivering the braised meat to the Drunken Carp Restaurant, Fan Changyu had the cart driver take the pavilion’s attendant back. Then, after some deliberation, she decided to pay a visit to Head Constable Wang’s home.It wasn't to ask Head Constable Wang to help Yu Qianqian. Fan Changyu knew Head Constable Wang was an upright man. If the county magistrate had him lead the constables under him to commit some heinous act, and Head Constable Wang, unaware of the magistrate's rebellious intentions, unwittingly became the magistrate's blade, he would likely spend the rest of his life in remorse.

What's more, if he were branded a rebel, the consequences would be even worse.

Fan Changyu knocked on Head Constable Wang's door. The same old woman answered, but she didn't seem as pleased to see Changyu as before, her face full of worry. "Ah, it's the Fan family's daughter-in-law."

"Is Head Constable Wang home?" Fan Changyu asked.

"He is," the woman replied.

She led her inside. Both Head Constable Wang and his wife were in the main room. Whether it was her imagination or not, Changyu felt there was a certain weariness about Head Constable Wang, not as heroic as before.

Wang Furen, however, smiled and invited her to sit. "Changyu, what brings you here? Are you in some trouble?"

Changyu shook her head. "No, I came to ask Uncle Wang about some matters at the County Government Office."

Wang Furen's face immediately showed hesitation. "Your Uncle Wang... I'm afraid he can't help you. He's no longer working at the County Government Office."

Changyu gasped in surprise. "When did this happen?"

Wang Furen sighed. "On the second day of the month, your uncle went to the office as usual, only to be told he needn't come anymore. They said it was because he handled the Treasure Map murder case poorly. All the lads who worked under him were replaced too. The County Magistrate has been quiet all this time, and now, just before his transfer, he pulls this stunt."

Changyu's eyelids twitched at this. Clearly, the magistrate knew Head Constable Wang's character and was afraid he might interfere, so he removed him in advance.

She asked, "Uncle Wang, do you know where the current Yamen Runners in the office are from?"

Head Constable Wang shook his head. "I didn't inquire, but I heard they specifically sought out men with good martial skills."

Changyu pressed her lips together. "Those men might be bandits."

This left both Head Constable Wang and his wife stunned.

Wang Furen was the first to react, forcing a laugh. "Child, what nonsense are you saying?"

Changyu's expression was grave. "Auntie, I'm not speaking nonsense. The magistrate has colluded with bandits to block the roads. He's also been extorting the people's blood and sweat under the guise of collecting military provisions. Now he's targeting all the wealthy merchants in Qingping County. He clearly intends to take this wealth and defect to the Rebel King."

Her words left the room so silent you could hear a pin drop.

Head Constable Wang was too shocked to respond for a long time, murmuring, "This... how can this be?"

Changyu then recounted Yu Qianqian's ordeal. "He's no longer just pressuring the Overflowing Fragrance Pavilion's shopkeeper for money—he wants all of the pavilion's wealth. And by blocking the roads, he's cut off the route from the county to Jizhou Prefecture."

Head Constable Wang was already somewhat convinced, but the news was simply too shocking. He still tried to reassure himself. "Blocking the roads might just be to stop Shopkeeper Yu from going to Jizhou Prefecture to report him?"

Seeing this, Changyu deeply felt that Yu Qianqian's concerns were justified. Without solid evidence, relying only on scattered clues and suspicions, most people—even if they harbored doubts—wouldn't dare take sides without seeing irrefutable proof.She recalled what Yu Qianqian had said about the Grain Requisition Order and asked, "Uncle Wang, have you seen the Grain Requisition Order sent from Jizhou Prefecture to Qingping County? If the magistrate's requisition amount differs from the order, that would be solid evidence."

Head Constable Wang shook his head. "How would I have seen that? The magistrate and Master He review it first, then directly order us constables to collect the grain. But all documents are stored in the county government office's archive. I have some acquaintance with the record keeper who manages the documents—he should have access to the requisition order."

Fan Changyu's heart pounded, her palms sweating unconsciously. "Can we go see that record keeper?"

Having worked cases for years, Head Constable Wang remained cautious. "We can't alert the enemy. If I visit Clerk Liu right after being dismissed, and the magistrate truly has rebellious intentions, word would reach him the moment I step into Clerk Liu's house."

Wang Furen suddenly spoke up. "We haven't paid New Year's greetings to the Liu family yet this year. That gives us a reason. It's almost noon—old man, you stay home. I'll take Changyu with some gifts to the Lius'. The magistrate won't suspect anything."

Head Constable Wang nodded. "That could work."

Wang Furen selected a few holiday gifts and took Fan Changyu to Clerk Liu's home.

Upon hearing their purpose, Clerk Liu was startled. "Jizhou Prefecture did send a military grain requisition document, but I've never seen it. The magistrate has kept the order himself."

The magistrate refusing to let Clerk Liu file the document further confirmed his rebellious intentions.

Fan Changyu and Wang Furen left the Liu residence, both weighed down with worry as they walked back.

Without the requisition document, their only hope now lay with Master He.

Wang Furen said sorrowfully, "That damned magistrate defected to the Rebel King with money and grain. What will the farmers whose seed stocks were seized live on?"

Changyu glanced at the sun, wondering if Yu Qianqian's group had captured Master He yet.

As this thought surfaced, another idea suddenly flashed through her mind.

She turned to Wang Furen. "Auntie, what if we just kidnap the magistrate?"

Wang Furen's eyes were still reddened. Staring at this seemingly sweet girl, she opened her mouth but remained speechless for a long moment.