Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 208 is definitely our enemy!

Yan Song's carriage appeared in the Wei family mansion. As Yan Song landed and followed Wei into the house, Lu Jia, who was hiding in the corner of the eaves, glanced back at Shen Qingzhou behind her and asked her to pull her away from the guards' line of sight and retreat into the alley.

Shen Qingzhou said, "The people have arrived, so what should we do next?"

The old scoundrel Yan must have been very careful to hide the Wei family for so many years. The entire courtyard is guarded by sentries every three or five steps; you couldn't even find a needle to slip through.

Lu Jia sneered: "If others can't break through the Yan family's defenses, can't they break through them themselves? The travel permit that Yin Liu took back from the ship at Tongzhou Wharf last time should still be in your hands, right?"

Shen Qingzhou paused for a moment: "That's natural."

Hu Yucheng quickly amassed a record of victories along the southeast coast. At this juncture, even the matter of the Tongzhou Wharf could not suppress the Yan family. With the case shelved, those travel permits were temporarily put to no use.

Lu Jia said, "Take it out; it's just what we need right now!"

……

Because of Yan Song's reliance on Yan Shu, although Yan Shu only held positions outside the Six Ministries, official documents from the Cabinet and the Six Ministries piled up on his desk. The visiting cards from officials seeking favors and requests for assistance also accumulated like fallen leaves in the courtyard.

But he didn't care about any of these things; all he wanted to do was find reports from the southeast coast.

"Since the last military report was sent, there has been no new news. It is said that General Hu is busy leading his troops to defend against the Japanese pirates during the year-end season, so he probably has no time to write a letter."

Upon hearing his advisors' explanation, Yan Shu stopped searching, but his brows furrowed: "If he doesn't send a letter, then send someone to inquire!"

Hu Yucheng was recommended by the Yan family. He was Yan Song's student and also Yan Song's adopted son, though Yan Song had not formally recognized him. Sending Hu Yucheng to fight against the Japanese pirates was a strategic move by the Yan family to turn the tide.

The upright officials in the court targeted the Yan family in several ways: accounts of military pay during the early war in the Northwest, the conversion of rice paddies to mulberry fields, and matters related to river transport.

But the emperor was not confused; he knew that the safety of the nation was of paramount importance. Once Hu Yucheng secured the southeast, his military achievements would be enough to secure the support of the Yan family.

After the staff left, Madam Yan walked in as dusk fell: "Father is not at home. I heard he is staying at Bieye tonight. Let's go to Mother's for dinner together."

Years ago, the old lady was injured while protecting Yan Song. During her recovery, she used this opportunity to secure a future for her family in front of Yan Song. Later, Yan Song rose through the ranks, and her family also established themselves in various parts of the court.

Although Madam Yan is now in charge of the inner quarters of the Yan family, the power of life and death still rests with the old lady. Her only son and daughter-in-law both show great respect for their mother.

Yan Shuzheng couldn't continue writing either, so he put down his pen and stood up.

At this moment, the curtain was lifted, and the steward bowed at the door, handing over something: "Master! There was a fight on the street just now, and a bundle was dropped. Someone picked it up and brought it to our mansion!"

Yan Qu reached out and took it, his expression changing drastically after a glance: "Where did you find it? Where is that person?"

"It was an alley inside the North Gate. The person was extremely agile—it was a woman! It seemed she was being followed. The two sides fought in the alley, and her bundle was torn off. The woman hurriedly picked it up and ran away!"
"These photos were found after being left on the ground."

Upon seeing this, Madam Yan quickly asked, "What is this?"

"It's the batch of customs permits that were seized at Tongzhou Wharf two months ago!"

Madam Yan's expression changed upon hearing this: "I remember you said that the one who uploaded it back then was also a maid. Has this maid reappeared? What is she trying to do!"

"Regardless of what she's doing, the fact that she was able to track down our ship means she must know a lot about us. There must be a big fish behind her, and we must catch her!"

Yan Shu quickly ordered, "Take more people and search immediately! Start from inside the north gate, search house to house, and tell them that something important has been stolen from the Yan residence and must be found!" Madam Yan reminded him, "Such a large-scale search is probably not a good idea."

Yan Shu glanced at it and then changed his order: "Send more people to conduct covert investigations along the route!"

"master!"

Just as the steward was about to speak, someone else walked in. It was a guard with a sword at his side. As soon as he entered, he handed over two pieces of paper: "We were ordered by the steward to search the northern part of the city. As a result, we found a pool of fresh blood near Anqing Alley, and we also found two of these papers lying on the ground!"

—These are also two travel permits for ships! And the bloodstains on them are still wet!
Yan Shu and his wife's expressions changed simultaneously. "They're willing to risk their lives to board the ship and seize Guan Yin, so they must be our enemies. And who are they chasing after her?"

The steward immediately replied, "It was definitely not someone I arranged! I've never heard of the old master arranging anyone!"

Madam Yan looked at Yan Shu and said, "If it were done by our subordinates on their own, they would have informed us. Since they didn't, it's most likely an enemy from another faction."

Yan Shu's face was ashen: "Follow that pool of blood and search in all directions. If there is any unusual activity anywhere, report back immediately!"

……

The people from the Yan family acted quickly.

Lu Jia and Shen Qingzhou slurped half a bowl of chicken soup by the charcoal stove in the teahouse, while two or three groups of men in ordinary clothes walked by downstairs.

Yinliu walked over to them, munching on a chicken leg: "There are still two or three hours until midnight, but they're working hard. It seems we'll definitely be able to find Anqing Alley by midnight."

Anqing Hutong is where the small house belonging to the Jiang family and the Wei family was located.

Lu Jia glanced at her blood-stained arm: "If I had known there was so much blood, I would have just slaughtered a chicken."

Yin Liu said, "I'll take the extra one to Brother Tang when I go to the next restaurant!"

She threw away the chicken bones she had finished gnawing on, wiped her hands, and went outside.

After finishing her soup, Lu Jia stood up and said, "Let's go too."

……

Mr. Jiang usually goes to bed late, but he has been going to bed even later these past two days.

Madam Jiang knew that Madam Yan would agree to her suggestion of substituting one thing for another. However, after Yan Shu contacted Lu Jie, the matter remained unresolved.

Judging from the current situation, Lu Jie is obviously not willing to send Lu Jia to his death in the Shen family, but since he is bound to the Yan family, and has already been bound to them, he must make some sacrifices to show his loyalty.

Madam Yan replied that the outcome would be clear within three days, but two days have passed and no imperial edict has been issued yet. It seems that the issue is still with Lu Jie.

Does he really value this daughter that much?
She turned over in bed, feeling inexplicably unsettled.

While she was grappling with countless ideas, Granny Hu pushed open the door: "Madam! The eldest young lady just quietly went out, wrapped herself up tightly, and went silently to the west corner gate."

"An old woman saw a carriage parked outside the west gate, with a young man standing under it. The two of them went to each other and whispered to each other, which looked very strange!"