"It will probably take two to three days! I will try to hurry up."
Jun Ning waved her hand, "No, if it takes two to three days, County Magistrate Li’s health will recover. If he interferes or obstructs, we won’t have the opportunity to do what we need to. It must be faster. After tonight, the person must be found."
Chao Jiu looked troubled, "Your Highness, you know, I am skilled at direct confrontation with the enemy, not at gathering information or capturing people."
"Don’t worry about that, I have my ways."
Jun Ning walked to the window, opened it, and whistled to summon the Hai Dongqing she had brought.
This Hai Dongqing was trained by Ye Ying in his spare ti before he was injured. It obeyed Ye Ying and was specifically used for transmitting confidential ssages of the Qianji Pavilion to Jun Ning.
Now that Ye Ying was bedridden, the Hai Dongqing had beco idle.
Afraid it would beco useless with inactivity, Jun Ning secretly brought it along on this trip.
Not long after she whistled, the Hai Dongqing appeared at the sound.
"Chao Jiu, I know you’re not good at gathering intelligence, don’t worry, soone will help you." Jun Ning wrote a note, tied it to the Hai Dongqing’s leg, and let it take it away.
Before leaving, the Hai Dongqing chirped excitedly at her.
"Off you go!"
Jun Ning waved to the Hai Dongqing, and it fluttered its wings and flew away.
Hearing the noise, Chao Jiu curiously followed Jun Ning to the window to see the regal figure of the Hai Dongqing, clicking his tongue in admiration, "It’s said that the Hai Dongqing cos from the extre cold regions of Liao Dong. It’s not easy to ta. Your Highness, where did you get this Hai Dongqing?"
What seed like a simple inquiry was actually probing.
A princess, the beloved daughter of heaven, usually stays within the palace. Where would she find the ti to train or ta a hawk?
Moreover, the Hai Dongqing is known for its endurance and ability to recognize paths, often trained by the nomadic tribes of the southern border. Typically, only those who have dealings with the southern border tribes would carry one.
As a princess of the Eastern Chu Kingdom, having a Hai Dongqing by her side? Could it be she has connections with the southern border tribes?
If that were true, even if Jun Ning wasn’t a traitor, she would be linked to treason, impossible to argue otherwise.
Jun Ning discerned Chao Jiu’s probing from his words and smiled generously, answering, "This isn’t mine; it belongs to a business friend of mine who travels far and wide. I borrowed it to prevent losing it on this trip."
"Oh!"
Hearing this, Chao Jiu’s suspicion dissipated.
rchants who travel extensively often get lost, so it’s reasonable for them to carry a Hai Dongqing to guide them.
Jun Ning’s explanation made sense.
"Father has also assigned a spy skilled in gathering intelligence. The Hai Dongqing has already delivered the ssage, and I trust they’ll co soon."
"Chao Jiu, let them assist you in tracking the person down; you’ll find them quickly."
Jun Ning finished speaking and closed the window in front of her.
There were so servants passing by outside attempting to snoop.
Jing Shu, seeing Jun Ning’s action, didn’t need Jun Ning to say anything. She left a ssage, "Auntie, you continue; I’ll deal with the people outside," and rushed out with vigor.
Jun Ning thought for a mont; it seed all had been said, and there was no need for secrecy.
The servant wasn’t too close either; the key points of their conversation were just a few lines. She was watching, and the servant dared not approach, so it wouldn’t affect them. It was just an eyesore she preferred not to see.
Jing Shu didn’t need to chase them away.
But seeing Jing Shu’s enthusiasm, it seed she had found an outlet to find her value. Jun Ning didn’t have the heart to stop her.
Off you go, warning them would do as well.
It would prevent them from sneaking around here all day.
...
The next morning, Chao Jiu brought the captured person to Jun Ning. The people Jun Ning sent to assist moved very quickly and were exceptionally reliable.
With their help, Chao Jiu completed the task in a few hours.
After completing the task, it wasn’t yet dawn, thinking Jun Ning hadn’t awakened, they went back to rest a bit before coming to report to Jun Ning at daybreak.
Jun Ning looked at the captured man, took the tea Jing Shu handed her, took a sip, and said, "Chao Jiu, close the door, and while you’re at it, guard outside yourself. No one is to be let in while I interrogate him."
"Yes."
Chao Jiu went to do as he was told.
Jun Ning put down the teacup, circled the person kneeling on the ground.
The man looked young, about thirty years old, his legs seed injured, unsteady when walking, even unstable while kneeling.
At the mont, he wore a worn-out plain garnt, kneeling there with one shoulder high and the other low, looking shorter than he was.
But his back was straight, suggesting he was a man of character.
"Heh heh..." Jun Ning chuckled, "Sir, do you know what kind of dire situation the people of Yuyang County are in?"
Bai Wenzuo’s face showed no change, "I surely know."
"Since you know, why do you aid the wicked?" Jun Ning questioned, "Do you realize the impact and consequences of altering the ledgers?"
Bai Wenzuo, unapologetic, stubbornly said, "What difference does it make if I know or not? Ten years ago, I passed the imperial examination but was impersonated by soone else. I sought justice everywhere, but no one listened. The officials not only refused to help but also found annoying, sent people to break my legs, leaving with no way to complain and almost died of starvation."
"Do you know how difficult it has been for to survive all these years?"
Before Jun Ning could respond, Bai Wenzuo answered his own question, "You don’t know. Because you sit in the high halls and aren’t touched by the hardships of the human world."
Jun Ning: "........."
Heh heh... Heh heh...
This statent is seriously amusing.
Jun Ning simply laughed.
Bai Wenzuo continued, "My life has been completely ruined by this filthy place, I struggle even to fill my stomach, I nearly starved to death. If it weren’t for Mrs. Li asking for my help with these ledgers behind closed doors, offering Silver Coins upon completion, I wouldn’t even have clean water to drink."
"I don’t want to die, I want to live."
"So whether others are hungry or cold, whether they’re persecuted by officials ans nothing to . I just want to eat and survive."
This attitude clearly suggests indifference unless personal interests are at stake.
To put it nicely, if a person can’t even fill their stomach or stay warm, living on the brink of death for years, it’s hard to maintain a selfless attitude for the country and people.
But to put it harshly, Bai Wenzuo is just cowardly, incompetent, shallow-minded, unable to withstand trials and difficulties.
If he hadn’t displayed such apathy and still cared for the people, even a little bit, feeling he did wrong by aiding evil, Jun Ning would have cleared his na and brought justice to his grievance.
But he is already rotten in this land, unable to distinguish right from wrong. To clear his na? To restore his official position? What aning does it have?
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