Hot flashes

Xie Xun led him into the main hall. Tea and snacks had already been prepared in the hall, with a set of celadon teaware, several plates of exquisite pastries, and even the incense being the finest agarwood.

The two took their seats as host and guest. Xie Xun personally poured tea for Zhou Heng.

"This is a new Yangxian tea from this year, please have a taste, Lord Zhou."

Zhou Heng picked up the teacup and took a sip. The tea was clear and bright, slightly bitter at first, with a lingering sweetness. He put down the teacup and smiled, "Excellent tea. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Master Xie."

Xie Xun smiled and waved his hand: "Lord Zhou, you flatter me. May I ask what brings you here today?"

Zhou Heng looked at him.

Xie Xun was also looking at him. His eyes were smiling, full of warmth, as if he were genuinely just curious.

Zhou Heng put down his teacup and slowly asked, "Does Master Xie know what I've been doing these past few days?"

Xie Xun nodded: "I have heard that Lord Zhou has implemented new policies in Jiangling, such as repairing irrigation canals, making agricultural tools, and writing off debts. These are beneficial measures for the country and the people, and I admire them."

Zhou Heng smiled and asked, "Does Lord Xie truly admire you?"

Xie Xun's smile paused for a moment, then returned to normal: "Of course it's sincere."

Zhou Heng looked at him, his gaze flat.

"Does Master Xie know that a few nights ago, the blacksmith I hired was murdered, the newly cleared irrigation ditch was filled in, and three local thugs—two are dead, and one is missing?"

Xie Xun's expression changed.

Zhou Heng did not look away.

The hall fell silent for a moment. Wisps of smoke rose from the incense burner, drifting slowly between the two people.

Xie Xun sighed.

"Lord Zhou," he put down his teacup, his expression turning serious, "I understand what you mean. You want to ask whether the Xie family did these things."

Zhou Heng remained silent.

Xie Xun looked at him, his gaze filled with complex emotions.

"I can tell you it wasn't the Xie family who did it. But I also know you won't believe me."

Zhou Heng remained silent.

Xie Xun stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the bamboo grove outside.

"Lord Zhou, do you know how many families in Jiangling depend on the Xie family for their livelihood?"

Zhou Heng did not answer.

Xie Xun continued speaking to himself: "The Xie family has more than three hundred tenant households in this area. The Xie family owns twelve pawnshops. I myself can't even count how many people the Xie family has supported through lending."

He turned around and looked at Zhou Heng.

"Your new policies—equal land distribution, tax reduction, and the establishment of government-run pawnshops—do you know what these mean? They mean that half of those three hundred-plus tenant farmers will consider buying their own land and no longer becoming tenants of the Xie family."

This means that the twelve pawnshops will see their business halved. It means that those who rely on loans from the Xie family will turn to government-run pawnshops for cheaper loans.

"Lord Zhou, the Xie family is an aristocratic clan. What is the foundation of an aristocratic clan? It is land, money, and people. Your new policies will dig up the Xie family's foundation bit by bit. In the end, what will the Xie family have left?"

Zhou Heng listened without interrupting.

Xie Xun walked back and sat down opposite Zhou Heng. He looked at Zhou Heng, and the gentleness in his eyes was gone, replaced by a deep weariness.

"I can tell you, those things weren't done by the Xie family. Because the Xie family wouldn't be that stupid." He paused, "But in Jiangling City, the Xie family wasn't the only one who wanted to do these things."

Zhou Heng's pupils contracted slightly.

Xie Xun looked at him and suddenly smiled. There were many things in that smile—helplessness, mockery, and a little bit of something he couldn't understand.

"Lord Zhou, you are a good man. I can tell. The things you've done—canceling debts, treating the sick, finding homes for orphans—are all good deeds."

But have you ever considered how many people in Jiangling City live off the "bad things" you mentioned?

Zhou Heng remained silent.

Xie Xun continued, "Those loan sharks, those pawnshop owners, those who live off rent, and those who run errands for them, protectors, and informants—if you cut off their livelihoods, what can they do?"

He picked up his teacup and slowly took a sip.

"Lord Zhou, guess how those dead thugs died?"

Zhou Heng's heart skipped a beat.

Xie Xun put down his teacup and looked at him.

"I don't know who did it. But I can tell you, those three people weren't killed by the person behind it. They were scapegoats."

Zhou Heng paused for a moment.

Xie Xun's gaze was deep.

"The people behind this won't leave any survivors. Those two who died were silenced. And the one who's missing—do you really think he's gone?"

Zhou Heng's voice was a little dry: "You mean..."

Xie Xun shook his head and didn't say anything more.

He stood up, walked to the door, and looked at the daylight outside.

"Lord Zhou, that's all I can tell you." He paused, "The rest is up to you to be careful."

Zhou Heng stood up and walked to his side.

He looked at Xie Xun's profile—that refined face held an indescribable expression.

"Master Xie," he asked, "why are you telling me all this?"

Xie Xun remained silent for a while.

Then he turned around and looked at Zhou Heng.

"Because I don't want to see you die," he said. "The Xie family doesn't like your new policies. But I don't dislike you as a person."

He paused, then suddenly smiled.

"And," he said, "I also want to see if you, young man, can actually accomplish this."

Zhou Heng looked into those eyes.

He cupped his hands and bowed deeply.

"Thank you very much, Lord Xie."

Xie Xun waved his hand without saying a word.

Zhou Heng turned and left.

As he walked out of the Xie residence, he stopped and looked back.

The two vermilion doors slowly closed, shutting out everything inside.

Chen Shen stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Young Master?"

Zhou Heng stood there, gazing at the door.

Then he said, "Go back."

Chen Shen was taken aback: "Go back? Back to the post station?"

Zhou Heng shook his head.

He gazed at the setting sun in the distance, his voice very soft:

"Back to Qingnigou."

Chen Shen was taken aback and wanted to ask something, but Zhou Heng had already walked forward.

He could only keep up.

That night, Zhou Heng stayed in Qingnigou until very late.

He sat on the threshold of the Zheng family's house—Zheng Liushi was already asleep, and there was no light in the house. He just sat there, gazing at the dark mountain shadows in the distance, motionless.

Chen Shen stood not far away, watching that figure from behind, without saying a word.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhou Heng stood up.

He walked up to Chen Shen and said, "Tomorrow, bring Ge the blacksmith's apprentice. I remember he had two other apprentices who weren't in the shop that day and escaped unscathed."

Chen Shen agreed.

Zhou Heng added, "And that peddler, keep investigating. We need to find him alive or dead."

Chen Shen agreed again.

Zhou Heng thought for a moment and then said, "Also, starting tomorrow, increase the number of people in Qingnigou. Keep an eye on things day and night."

Chen Shen's eyes flickered slightly: "Does Young Master think that someone else will come?"

Zhou Heng did not answer.

He looked up at the starry sky.

The stars were very bright, densely packed, like scattered silver on a black cloth.

He suddenly remembered Xiao Jue.

He suddenly missed him a lot.