Chapter 191 - Not yet
Every year, the amount of salt shipped to various locations was recorded, but after reviewing the records, Teng Yu noticed that the quantity decreased significantly at each destination.
The official explanation was that a lot of salt was lost along the way. If there was no seal, it would consu a lot, but it was impossible for so much salt to be filled with an urn each ti.
There was more to the story, and if the salt on every boat or cart was overstated by ten percent, the annual accumulation of salt would be a staggering amount.
Additionally, he discovered that so salt ships even sank or disappeared entirely, usually during the spring and sumr when the rain was heavy. Even if they found out the truth, it would probably be difficult to uncover.
Teng Yu maintained a serious deanor for several days. Each new clue he found didn't make him happy; instead, it weighed heavily on his mind.
“Tang Jian deserves to die!” Teng Yu slamd an account book he had found from the Tang Family onto the table and paced around the study angrily.
The entire Tang Clan was already imprisoned, and all their wealth had been accounted for. This ti, Teng Yu had dug a few feet into the ground to find the account book.
When Tang Jian was transferred to the capital, he likely didn't expect that he would never return, so he preserved the information in his family.
When his cri was announced, the officials from Yunjin City also wanted to act against the Tang Family. However, when Tang Jian left ho, he spent a large sum of money to hire many guards to protect his family mbers.
This account book was very thick and ticulously maintained. Each page recorded the profits Tang Jian had obtained from the salt revenue managent, as well as his shares with others.
Among them, the person who shared the most with Tang Jian was the Mu Family, followed by the Xiao Family.
Teng Yu had long expected that if the Duke of Yunjin City didn't agree, Tang Jian's matter wouldn't have progressed so smoothly. Not to ntion that the note “Cloud Bridge Pier's Midway” had actually appeared in Xuanzhi Mansion's study.
“Your majesty, news has arrived.” Han Qing walked in quickly and whispered a sentence into Teng Yu's ear.
Teng Yu threw the account book into a box and instructed Han Qing to lock it. With a cold face, he ordered, “This ti, those with the surna Mu might not co out personally. Bring your n and cut off the boats. Capture every single person involved in this matter!”
“Yes, and Xuanzhi Mansion…”
“I will naturally find a way to delay them!”
“What if there is resistance?”
“Kill!”
“Yes.”
In the afternoon, the sky darkened. Black clouds rolled in, and thunder and lightning appeared one after another. A heavy autumn rain began to fall.
Just as Yin Xu finished reading a letter from the capital, he turned to Teng Yu and said, “My little disciple asked when we could go back. He completed the mission I gave him.”
Teng Yu was still reviewing the intelligence reports from the capital, and upon hearing this, he looked up and laughed, “You took in a pretty good disciple.”
“Of course, this young master has good taste!” Yin Xu glanced at the ssy handwriting of the letter and felt that not only was his disciple's perception similar to his, but her writing was also as ugly as his!
Teng Yu took a glance at it and snorted, “Go back and invite him over. How dare he write such disgraceful words! If he keeps this up, he'll never step out of the Third Prince Mansion again. It would be embarrassing!”
Yin Xu's brows twitched as he retorted, “What's there to be embarrassed about? There's an expert in the art of writing, and if you have ti to practice, why not spend it learning sothing useful. It's fine as long as you can write.”
He didn't plan to let Wang Ren beco an official; who would he write such good words to?
Teng Yu couldn't argue, so he secretly decided to listen to Wang Ren and not be unreasonable.
“Did sothing big happen in the capital?” Yin Xu rembered that when the letter was sent over, there was a thick stack, and the letter Wang Ren wrote to him was only two pages long.
“Zuo Shaotang and Xiao Feng left the day after we departed from the capital. Qingsheng wanted to follow as well, but he wasn't released without your permission.”
Yin Xu nodded. He didn't intend to imprison the two of them initially. The reason he captured them was to go to the Evil Sect's main altar, et the Sect Leader, and see if there were any treasures to pick up.
He already knew the forr, and it was said that the old man went into closed-door cultivation once he returned. When he erged from cultivation, he would definitely co to find him.
He wasn't in a hurry to obtain it, as he wasn't necessarily attracted to any of the cultivation technique dicines left behind by the Evil Sect.
“If Qingsheng wants to leave, let him go,” Yin Xu said generously.
Teng Yu was montarily startled and then asked, “You can bear to let him leave?”
Yin Xu snickered, “If I don't let him experience the coldness of human nature, how will he appreciate having a good master?”
Back then, Qingsheng had already inford Wu Lin about it, and it was clear how those martial artists would view him. The Myriad Demons Sect that he created had already spread, so as a mber of the Myriad Demons Sect, Qingsheng wouldn't have a chance to shine in the orthodox martial arts world.
Qing Xiaoyan, on the other hand, understood the situation. Upon hearing that he had accepted a disciple, he even sent congratulatory gifts, with words implying he wanted his son back. How could Yin Xu compromise so easily? After saying a few words, he dismissed the matter.
Teng Yu pinched his nose and jokingly scolded, “Your master is really ruthless!”
Yin Xu slapped his hand away and asked, “Is there anything else? Any progress on the drug?”
Teng Yu's expression turned serious as he showed him a letter, “There's been so progress. The pill isn't from Da Liang and likely ca from overseas. The symptoms in the first month are not too obvious, but gradually, it damages the internal organs, especially the liver, causing irritability, dreaminess, and lethargy, slowly eroding the body and spirit. They've developed an antidote and are asking if I want to present it to the Emperor.”
“What do you think?”
“Now isn't the ti!” Teng Yu's eyes flashed. “The Emperor must have been poisoned for two or three months, so there's no need to rush. Let's wait for news from the palace. If it succeeds, the Emperor will surely have soone concoct the antidote. At that ti, we can just make the prescription public.”
In any case, the person who concocted the antidote was originally an Imperial Physician. The Emperor definitely wouldn't abandon the Imperial Physician to find the antidote himself.
“Then you need to send more people to keep an eye on the Duke of Qin. If he interferes, this matter won't be resolved easily.” It wasn't that Yin Xu underestimated Teng Ji, but compared to the cunning Duke of Qin, Teng Ji was still too inexperienced.
Teng Yu imdiately flipped to the last page, showing it to Yin Xu. “He just can't stop. Yesterday, the emperor suggested that the storage should be completed as soon as possible to ensure no successors are left out.”
“Oh, your Royal Father must be really angry.” Yin Xu held back his laughter.
“People have been bringing this up for years. It's normal for the Duke of Qin to suggest establishing the crown prince while managing the clan's estate. The emperor might not be furious, but he definitely isn't pleased.”
As an emperor in his pri, who would like soone suggesting finding a successor and rembering his legacy?
“This ti, I'm going to force him to reveal himself!” Teng Yu taunted. “His manpower, financial resources, and military strength aren't very strong. The Xiao Family and the Sky Piercing Sect are only cooperating with him and won't give their all to help. When the ti cos, these people will be the quickest to fall.”
The Duke of Qin couldn't be left alive. He was a poisonous snake hiding in the shadows, ready to strike at any mont.
Teng Yu didn't like the idea of a bystander erging at the end to fight for the throne.
“You should also be careful of Lai Jiquan. This person has strong martial arts,” Yin Xu reminded.
Teng Yu nodded. He had considered this, but unless he and Yin Xu personally took action or sent hundreds of Dark Guards, it would be too difficult to get rid of Lai Jiquan.
The emperor is suspicious and cautious. As long as he is prepared, Lai Jiquan won't easily succeed. Moreover, I don't think he will act rashly.
At the sa ti, Manager Xiao also received a letter from the capital. He sat alone in his study and carefully read the letter twice.
After finishing, he sighed and pondered for a mont.
Getting on the Duke of Qin's ship was undoubtedly dangerous, but he needed money and people. If he didn't take the risk, he would remain stagnant for the rest of his life.
Even if it wasn't for himself, for the future generations of the Xiao Family, he didn't want to be stuck as a rchant forever.
He had considered choosing one of the three princes, but given their status, he couldn't get close to any of them.
The Duke of Qin was different. Coincidentally, he t the Duke of Qin and saw his ambition and desire for revenge. The Duke had what he lacked, and he was willing to give the Duke what he needed.
With his protection, the business of Sky Piercing Pavilion would thrive. The Xiao Family's business in the capital would also be quite profitable.
Although the money ultimately went into the Duke of Qin's pocket, as long as he succeeded, it would all be worth it!
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