ng Su had made up his mind, regardless of the outco, he couldn’t stand by idly.
ng Su looked at Chang Tong: "Have you sent a ssage to Song Jiedu?"
Chang Tong nodded.
ng Su inexplicably felt much more at ease, though it shouldn’t be so, as Song Xian clearly seed like a junior, and he wasn’t previously employed at the coastal garrison, so he shouldn’t be knowledgeable about these matters. But after this incident, he discovered that Song Xian was intelligent and ticulous. If he investigated the case with him, he would certainly be a great help.
The matters Chang Tong ntioned were too cruel, coupled with ng Su’s continuous investigation into the case in Hai State, causing him several sleepless nights.
After a few days like this, Song Xian finally arrived.
The two t in the courtyard of the ng Family residence.
ng Su welcod Song Xian into the study and seated him: "The eight states must be busy, it shouldn’t have asked the Military Governor to co at this ti, but the matter is of great importance. I dare not leave Yuezhou and can only make haste to verify the events that happened years ago in Hai State."
Song Xian said, "Currently, the eight states are managing the Official dicine Bureau, and there was a storm not long ago. Fortunately, Princess Jia’an was there, otherwise, I couldn’t have co so quickly."
When ntioning the Commandery Princess, ng Su felt again that among Daqi’s won, there was no one more formidable than Princess Jia’an. He heard that because of the large spinning wheel, many craftsn went to the North. It’s said that they are now experinting with making ink with oil smoke in the North, with so dicinal materials added in it, which ng Su had never seen before.
Moreover, ng Su noticed that when ntioning Princess Jia’an, Song Jiedu’s expression would beco much gentler. It’s said that Song Jiedu and Princess Jia’an had a deep affection as a couple, which seed true.
You should know that when Song Jiedu got married, even the Liao people knew about it.
After Song Xian finished speaking, he asked ng Su, "Is what Ah Jing said true?"
ng Su nodded: "I found a military leader nad Yang Wu in the Hai State Army records, and the county’s docuntation clearly noted that when Yang Wu returned ho, he coincidentally encountered pirates who killed and looted Yang Family Village, and finally burned down the entire village. Actually, even if I didn’t investigate, I rember this matter since it caused quite a stir back then, and the court dismissed two Deputy Generals, who were demoted and later assigned to Fuzhou."
"The one handling this case was precisely the Governor of Hai State, Xue Yuanzong."
Xue Yuanzong was fined so salary because of this, but it didn’t affect his career, and he still serves in Hai State.
There must be sothing fishy about Xue Yuanzong. Who is behind him? ng Su frowned slightly and said, "This is the difficult part now. On the surface, Xue Yuanzong seems to be the Emperor’s person. Since entering the civil service, he has been appreciated by the Emperor, who personally promoted him to Hai State."
Song Xian looked at ng Su: "What does Mr. ng think? Is all this secretly colluded by Xue Yuanzong and Li Tao?"
If it were soone else, ng Su would not speak the truth, but Song Xian was different. ng Su said, "I have been in Yuezhou for many years and have always been concerned about mariti affairs. Although there is no conclusive evidence, I know that many coastal officials are not as loyal to the court as they appear. Whenever I ntion mariti trade, they make various excuses to shirk it..."
"When I interacted with the Prefect of Fuzhou, once when he was drunk, he ntioned Prince Lu. Although I had been drinking, I clearly rembered the Prefect of Fuzhou’s appearance, clearly wanting to win over to work for Prince Lu. But there is no concrete evidence of these."
"Moreover, can just one Governor of Hai State alone wield such power, causing such chaos at sea?"
ng Su shook his head: "Not very likely."
We have to know that the opposition to the court’s mariti trade is not only from the Governor of Hai State. These people are united, solid as a rock; are they really just doing this for profit?
ng Su and Song Xian exchanged glances, ng Su knew Song Xian was also thinking along these lines, otherwise, he wouldn’t be so concerned about this matter.
Just as the two of them finished speaking, they suddenly saw the steward of the ng family hurriedly approaching: "Master, so people suddenly ca to the door, not wearing official uniforms, but claiming to be from the Palace Departnt... We..."
The steward was about to say: "We couldn’t stop them."
The courtyard was suddenly filled with a cacophony of noise followed by voices. The people the steward ntioned had already broken into the courtyard.
ng Su quickly looked at Song Xian, who appeared calm, seemingly having expected this.
The heart ng Su had raised suddenly relaxed sowhat. He took a deep breath and stepped outside.
"Governor ng," the leading man’s eyes pierced sharply at ng Su, and after he erged, the man’s gaze shifted to the room, "Does Governor ng have a guest?"
ng Su’s gaze was clear, his expression solemn: "May I ask why you did not wait for the family to be notified before barging into the courtyard?"
The man smiled slightly, though his face was tinged with coldness: "We are here on an imperial order to investigate a case, and we ask Mr. ng to bear with us."
As he spoke, he handed over the docunts and token to ng Su: "Mr. ng can personally verify."
The token and docunts from the Palace Departnt appeared to be authentic beyond doubt.
ng Su’s brows knitted slightly: "Please follow to the study in the front courtyard; I will compare the seal."
The people from the Palace Departnt did not move, their eyes still fixed on ng Su’s back: "No hurry, even if we go to the front courtyard, Song Jiedu should accompany us."
ng Su’s face grew more unpleasant, and he imdiately looked at the steward.
The steward was about to leave the courtyard, but as he took his first step, the people from the Palace Departnt drew out the steel blade from their waist: "Before the case is clear, no one in the courtyard may leave."
As he finished speaking, the leader of the Palace Departnt was about to enter the house when ng Su, in his urgency, blocked his path: "There is no one in this house."
The man frowned: "I need to see for myself to know."
ng Su still refused to yield.
The man raised his voice: "What does Mr. ng an by this? Are you trying to defy the imperial decree?"
"Mr. ng, there’s no need to stop him."
A voice emanated from within the house, followed by Song Xian stepping out.
The lead man from the Palace Departnt saw Song Xian, smiled slightly, unsure if he was mocking ng Su or relieved about the completion of his task: "That’s right... I was saying..."
The man from the Palace Departnt didn’t finish before a flash of light appeared before his eyes. Instinctively reaching for the long knife at his waist, he didn’t expect a sharp pain in his wrist, his fingers instantly losing strength. When he recovered, Song Xian’s long sword was already at his neck.
The man couldn’t help but shout: "Song Xian, what do you intend to do? Attempting treason?"
Song Xian spoke indifferently: "That depends on whether you are truly sent by the Emperor."
Song Xian then looked at ng Su: "Mr. ng, have soone escort the won out, and then verify the docunts he brought."
...
Outside the ng Mansion.
Li You and the eunuch stood there waiting for news.
This ti, the Emperor sent Li You to Yuezhou to investigate ng Su and Song Xian’s affairs.
The people from the Palace Departnt saw with their own eyes that Song Xian went to the ng Mansion, and combined with the clues Li You had found previously, there was already enough reason to summon Song and ng for questioning.
The eunuch whispered, "Does Mr. Li think they are plotting sothing in private?"
Li You frowned: "Without evidence and without interrogation, it is unknown."
Just after saying this, Li You saw the people from the Palace Departnt hurrying over to report: "Song Xian has captured Mr. Du Dianjian."
The eunuch’s face changed color: "Isn’t this treason?"
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