Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 231 The Embroidered Uniform Guard Becomes a Member of the Black Organization
Haiyue is already making final preparations for the wedding.

The auspicious day was set for ten days later.

The wedding room was a small rented house in Dongjiangmi Lane, east of the imperial city.

This place, located near the Hanlin Academy, was originally a place where Hanlin scholars rented rooms, including Zhao Shichun and Xu Jie, who shared a room here.

Many tenants, hoping to cultivate good relations with these countries and become future high-ranking officials, paid relatively lower monthly rents compared to other places in the capital. Over time, these residences earned the elegant name "Hanlin Residence".

Haiyue was quite wealthy and didn't need to live on his meager salary. He could have lived in a much better place, but he didn't go against the grain and still chose Dongjiang Rice Lane.

As he entered his home, he saw that although the house was small, its layout was exquisite.

The front yard serves as a reception room, with several green bamboo stalks planted there, and a plaque hanging under the eaves with the three characters "Le Dao Ju" (meaning "Residence of Joyful Paths").
Passing through the moon gate, there are three main rooms in the inner courtyard. The east room is the bridal chamber, the west room is the study, and the middle room is where the elders live. Even though Haihao and his wife will be leaving soon, the rooms must be arranged properly.

Upon entering the bridal chamber, one finds that the furnishings have already been arranged. A large red brocade curtain hangs above the canopy bed, with double happiness patterns adorning the curtain hooks. The bed frame is carved with a pomegranate and a hundred children motif, symbolizing the blessing of many children.

The bedding is covered with a red satin quilt depicting mandarin ducks playing in the water. On the wedding day, golden dates and silver-shelled peanuts are placed at the four corners to symbolize the auspicious wish of having a son early.

A desk was set up by the window, displaying a brush holder and an inkstone. The corner of the desk was piled with congratulatory poems scrolls from fellow scholars. A bronze mirror dressing table leaned against the east wall, with a rouge box and comb on its surface. A lamp hung from the beam, and paper-cut window decorations were pasted on the window lattice. When the setting sun shone through, the floor was covered with scattered red fragments, like a brocade.

There is also a plain silk screen that separates the inner and outer rooms. The screen is inscribed with the poem "Peach Blossom" and the words "May this maiden be well with her husband and bring harmony to her family." The calligraphy is elegant and vigorous, and it was also written by him personally.

The courtyard is also decorated, with wind chimes hanging under the eaves, their clappers engraved with small seal script, and two pots of crabapple trees tied with red silk in front of the steps. Although there are no carved beams like in a mansion, the literary spirit is evident everywhere.

Every object and every piece conforms to the rules of etiquette; every flower and every tree subtly contains poetic allusions, perfectly befitting the status of a Hanlin scholar in this dynasty.

Peace and tranquility, yet noble character; even in a small space, the universe is revealed.

Haiyue turned around and was very satisfied. Then, looking up at the sky above the capital, she suddenly had a different feeling.

He too is settling down in this era.

"Hai Hanlin!"

Just as I was feeling sentimental, a warm voice suddenly came from behind me: "You really are here!"

Haiyue raised an eyebrow and turned around: "Assistant Commander Sun?"

The newcomer was Sun Weixian. Compared to his initial hostility, the newly appointed Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard clasped his hands in greeting, full of warmth: "I just heard that Hai Hanlin is getting married. Congratulations! May I have a cup of celebratory wine?"

On the wedding day, Haihao and Zhu Lin sat in the high seat, and Sun Weixian must have known this, as there was a subtle look in his eyes.

"of course can!"

Hai Yue nodded without hesitation and continued, "We had a pleasant cooperation before. Even if Magistrate Sun didn't mention it, he would still send a formal invitation tomorrow. Has Judge Shen Mo confessed his guilt?"

The topic shifted somewhat abruptly, and Sun Weixian paused before saying, "Shen Mo colluded with the Qin family to murder for money. The evidence is conclusive, and he has been removed from his position as judge and formally imprisoned. However, he has not yet confessed why he did this."

Haiyue asked in surprise, "Even the imperial prison couldn't pry this person's mouth open?"

“I personally oversaw the torture; there was no possibility of showing mercy.”

Sun Weixian knew what the other party was wondering about, and explained: "This person's bones are indeed much harder than they look, but they won't last long. The tortures in the Northern Garrison Prison are more severe than I've heard of before. If they use extreme force, even the strongest person can't survive!"

Haiyue shook her head: "That's not necessarily true. Of the group of Liyuan Society thieves we captured before, only one of them spoke up after being imprisoned for over a year. This shows that torture has its limitations."

Sun Weixian said, "Does Hai Hanlin suspect that Shen Mo is also connected with that group of rebels?"

"Everything depends on the outcome of the interrogation!"

Haiyue said, "However, Madam Sheng may indeed have records of the private affairs of high-ranking families. If this item falls into the hands of the Liyuan Society, the consequences will be unimaginable."

The words sound serious, but in reality, judging from the intelligence channels of the Liyuan Society, they were not necessarily less aware of the sordid affairs of the powerful and influential in the capital. So it is really hard to say who instructed Shen Mo.

"Good! I will keep a close eye on this case and will not slack off!"

Sun Weixian nodded in agreement, then brought up another matter: "Hai Hanlin should know Sun Liu, right?"

"This man's nickname is 'Night Watchman.' Ostensibly, he is a night watchman at the Imperial Examination Hall, but in reality, he is one of 147 spies planted by the Embroidered Uniform Guard throughout the capital. However, six months ago, it was this man who orchestrated the kidnapping of the newly appointed candidates, after which he and his entire family fled, and their whereabouts remain unknown to this day..."

"Just now, the Five Cities Garrison and the Patrol Battalion joined forces to destroy a bandit hideout in the capital, killing thirty-one bandits on the spot, including Sun Liu!"

Hai Yue already knew that Yan Shifan had followed the clues and discovered Sun Liu's whereabouts, but the sheer number of thieves still surprised him: "Thirty-one people? Were any left alive?"

"The thieves fought back desperately, but only managed to capture four people, and two of them nearly committed suicide!"

Sun Weixian said in a deep voice, "Fortunately, in the secret hideout, we found the *Maitreya's Descent Sutra*, flags and wooden plaques, five-colored silk ropes, and other items." Hai Yue was finally moved: "The White Lotus Sect?"

There's no way around it; this sect still has to match their expressions.

Compared to the Liyuan Society, which was unknown to outsiders, the White Lotus Sect was much larger in scale and influence, and had a vitality that spanned dynasties, continuing from the end of the Yuan Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, becoming a professional rebel group that lasted for hundreds of years, and its presence was not small in each period.

Looking at the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang rose to power with the help of the Red Turban Army, which had a background in the White Lotus Sect. After becoming emperor, he immediately suppressed the Red Turban Army and defined it as a heretical sect. Then, from the Hongwu to the Chongzhen era, the White Lotus Sect launched dozens of uprisings, such as the Tang Sai'er Uprising in the eighteenth year of Yongle, the Xu Hongru Uprising in the second year of Tianqi, and most importantly, the uprising during the Jiajing era.

In the case of Li Fuda, a suspected core disciple of the White Lotus Sect, the officialdom was in turmoil. He created a huge uproar in the court, leading to another purge of officials.

Meanwhile, the White Lotus followers in the countryside established the "Bansheng" stronghold in the border region. They surrendered to the Mongols, taught them siege techniques, assisted Altan Khan in formulating strategies, and repeatedly invaded the border, harming the people of the Ming Dynasty. Later, when the Longqing Peace Treaty was being negotiated, one of the major issues was to hand over these White Lotus followers and send their heads to the nine border regions.

So it's not surprising that the White Lotus Cult members have been caught now. What makes Hai Yue speechless is: "So, Sun Liu isn't a traitor. He was a member of the White Lotus Cult from the beginning and actually became a spy for the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

"Yes!"

Sun Weixian said, "The Embroidered Uniform Guard is about to lose all its prestige, and a thorough investigation from top to bottom is absolutely necessary..."

Haiyue was silent.

Thinking about it, it makes sense. Previously, Lu Yuan, a captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, was found to be a member of the Li Yuan Society. Now, Sun Liu, a spy for the Embroidered Uniform Guard, has been discovered to be a member of the White Lotus Sect. There's also a descendant of Jianwen who holds the position of Commander-in-Chief...

The Black Organization?
Several undercover agents have gathered together?

The key issue is that it would have been better if the traitor had been identified on his own, but now the Five Cities Garrison and the Patrol Battalion have joined forces to arrest him, leaving the Embroidered Uniform Guard with no dignity whatsoever.

He could do nothing about it.

After resolving the Dingguo Duke's scandal, Haiyue suggested that it would be best to continue investigating the Sheng Niangzi case. Unfortunately, the other party did not take it seriously. Instead, Yan Shifan dug deeper, and the Yan family father and son even went directly to the palace to meet the emperor, mobilizing manpower other than the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Shuntian Prefecture, achieving great success in one fell swoop.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard's situation has become passive.

Especially the lineage of Wang Zuo, who held great power.

Sun Weixian had the same thought: "Hai Hanlin, I heard that you and Lu Wenfu are close friends. You're willing to come and solve this case because of him, right? But after this incident, Wang Zuowei, whom Lu Wenfu supports, will inevitably lose power. There are some things you should consider..."

He paused deliberately, then said, word by word, "Unlike the other officials in the court, you and I are the true allies!"

Seeing that the other party had made his intentions clear, Haiyue looked at him and gestured, "Please."

The two entered the reception room, where tea was prepared. Sun Weixian looked at the clear tea, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes, but he still picked up the teacup and brought it to his lips.

Halfway through the drink, the young scholar in front of him asked in a casual tone, "When does Vice Commissioner Sun plan to rebel?"

"puff!"

Sun Weixian spat out a mouthful of tea, looking utterly embarrassed, and said, "What did you say?"

Haiyue continued sipping her tea: "Aren't you trying to recruit me as an ally?"

Sun Weixian gritted his teeth, but kept his voice extremely low: "Why pretend to be ignorant when you know the truth! What I seek is the secret treasure. Once it is revealed, I am willing to split it 30/70 with you. You can swear a solemn oath, and if I break it, may I be struck down by heaven and earth!"

Haiyue didn't discuss whether it was reasonable for her to take 70%, nor did she question whether the so-called oath was meant to target Luo Shuifa. Instead, she calmly asked, "What are you planning to do with this secret treasure?"

"Do you really suspect me of plotting a rebellion?"

Sun Weixian said speechlessly, "How could that be! We are not surnamed Zhu, and even if we had that person's bloodline, it would be impossible for us to sit on the throne..."

Haiyue followed his words: "Then I don't understand, why are you going to such lengths to hide it? Even if there is an extraordinary fortune inside, with your family background and position, it would only be icing on the cake!"

“My family does indeed own thousands of acres of fertile land, and over the years I have accumulated a considerable amount of wealth in the Southern Garrison…”

Sun Weixian remained unmoved and said resolutely, "But it is our inescapable duty to unearth the secret treasures of our ancestors! Those treasures will not remain buried underground forever. If they are not retrieved, they will surely end up in someone else's possession one day—are you willing to see that happen?"

'I'm willing to accept this~'

Haiyue thought this in her heart, but remained silent on the surface.

"I have offended you in the past. I had no idea that your parents could raise such a talented person as Hai Hanlin. I am willing to apologize with a bundle of thorns on my back!"

Sun Weixian rose and bowed, his eyes burning: "Now that we are both officials in the same court and share a common background, we are truly allies made in heaven. If Hai Hanlin can help me establish a firm foothold in the Northern Garrison, it goes without saying that we will retrieve the secret treasure together in the future. Even now, if there is any need for my service, I will do my best without hesitation!"

(End of this chapter)