Chapter 248 - 248: Surrounded by Wolves (2)
Chapter 248: Surrounded by Wolves (2)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Guan Shengxing wasn’t surprised ar all. He shook his head and sighed. “I don’t know what the Prince of Wu is thinking. Why did he have to rebel? With rhe private soldiers under his command, he might not even be able to defeat the Prince of Yan’s army cooks. 1 don’t understand why he dared to rebel…”
“Maybe he was instigated and used by someone with evil intentions. It’s a good thing that the Prince of Wu didn’t cause a war.”
Guan Shengxing shook his head. “This matter won’t affect the Imperial Court much, but the situation in Jianghu will change. Iron River Manor, the leader of the twelve sects, is close to the Prince of Wu. Once the Prince of Wu falls, the imperial envoys from the capital will come to deal with the rebels. It’s inevitable that they will investigate Iron River Manor.
“The day before yesterday, Iron River Manor sent people to send invitations to the heads of rhe twelve sects, asking them to go to Iron River Manor to attend a banquet to discuss countermeasures. They probably want the twelve sects to take responsibility for this matter together so they can get the Imperial Court to let the matter go instead of punishing everyone…”
Ye Jingtang was a genuine imperial envoy’. He was just worried about not knowing who to investigate. When he heard this, he became interested. “Iron River Manor is holding a heroes conference at this time. Does anyone dare to go?”
Guan Shengxing shook his head and sighed. “Iron River Manor’s Guan Yujia, nicknamed ‘Little Fist Chief’ in jianghu, is invincible among the twelve sects of Wu Province. It’s fine if the imperial envoys come and kill him. But if he doesn’t die, and the imperial envoys let him handle this matter… I wasn’t present at the conference today, so 1 definitely won’t be able to settle things peacefully. I’ve been worrying about how to respond these few days…”
Ye Jingtang smiled and said, “Uncle Guan, you don’t have to worry about this matter. Leave it to me to handle.”
Guan Shengxing s eyes lit up, bur he was still a little hesitant. “Guan Yujia isn’t simple, and the Imperial Court is even more troublesome. The Imperial Court will definitely take this opportunity to crack down on the Jianghu sects in Wu Province. If we don’t handle it well and attract rhe suspicion of rhe imperial envoys, we might be made an example of by the Imperial Court…”
Even if Ye Jingtang wanted to make an example our of someone, it was impossible for him ro kill his own people. After casually saying a few words, he asked, “Uncle Guan, you have a dock near Rising Sun City. You should be well-informed. Has the Prince of Wu Estate purchased a large amount of medicinal herbs in recent years?”
“Purchased a large amount of medicinal herbs…” Guan Shengxing recalled for a moment. “The Prince of Wu Estate has never openly purchased a large amount of medicinal herbs, but it’s possible in private. When I was sailing in Wu Province, I always kept an eye on the situation of the twelve sects.
“Since the year before last, the amount of medicinal herbs handled by the Grasping Moon Tower hasn’t changed, but the amount going out is clearly less than in previous years. As a result, the cooperating pharmaceutical merchants could only go to other shops to collect goods. There’s a high chance that this missing portion was eaten by an unknown wealthy merchant…”
When Ye Jingtang heard this, he mostly understood.
The Prince of Wu wanted ro replicate a medicine like the Snow Lake Flower, and he also wanted to use a forbidden medicine ro create a large number of one-time-use experts as elite soldiers. He definitely needed to stockpile a large amount of medicinal herbs to experiment and make medicine.
Medicinal herbs were an important resource for war. If a vassal prince hoarded a large amount of them, it would definitely alert the Imperial Court.
For this reason, the Prince of Wu wouldn’t go through the normal channels. The best method was undoubtedly to let Jianghu forces be proxies. This role was most likely the Grasping Moon Tower.
Thinking of this, Ye Jingtang didn’t stay any longer. He put down his teacup and said, Til go outside to check on the situation. Uncle Guan, please send people to pay more attention to the movements in Jianghu these days. Record any sign of trouble.”
“Young Master, don’t worry about such a small matter…”
A moment later, outside the Guan family’s manor…
After Ye Jingtang bade farewell, he left the Guan residence with Luo Ning. Along the way, he thought about the clues he had just learned.
Luo Ning had been listening in just now. While walking, she helped analyze. “There’s a high chance that the Grasping Moon Tower secretly helped the Prince of Wu hoard medicinal herbs and has a close relationship with him. However, the Prince of Wu has already escaped. The Grasping Moon Tower is a Jianghu sect, so the possibility of them knowing the specific movements is very small…”
The purpose of Ye Jingtang’s trip was not to capture the Prince of Wu but ro find the formula for a substitute Snow Lake Flower for Miss Yuhu to treat her illness.
Even if he didn’t catch Zhang Jinglin, Imperial Physician Wang might be able to figure out the formula if he knew what medicinal herbs the Prince of Wu had mainly bought. He would definitely investigate the Grasping Moon Tower.
However, the Grasping Moon Tower was one of the four major sects of the Wu Province, so it might be a little difficult to visit directly and extract a confession.
Ye Jingtang thought for a moment and asked, “Ning’er, how much do you know about the Grasping Moon Tower?”
Luo Ning thought about it. “The sect master of the Grasping Moon Tower, Huang Yulong, has a high status in the Jianghu. Two years ago, a Jianghu elder in the Heavenly South passed away. I represented the Pacifying Heaven Cult at the funeral and met Huang Yulong. From his words and actions, he’s good at socializing…”
Ye Jingtang was slightly stunned. “You know the sect master of the Grasping Moon Tower?”
I cover my face when I go out, and I rarely speak when 1 participate in Jianghu events. I can’t say 1 know him.”
Luo Ning looked at Ye Jingtang and asked, “You want to pretend to be a member of the Pacifying Heaven Cult and go there to get information?”
Ye Jingtang smiled and raised his hand to pinch Ning er’s big moon. “What do you mean by pretend? I’m a proper protector of the Pacifying Heaven Cult. I’m just representing the Pacifying Heaven Cult to discuss cooperation with the Prince of Wu.”
Luo Ning’s expression turned slightly cold, and she nudged Ye Jingtang gently with her elbow. “You still have the check to call yourself a protector after you’ve insulted the cult mistress? If the cult master finds out, do you know what will happen to you?”
Whatever you do to me, the Pacifying Heaven Cult Master will do to you…
Ye Jingtang felt that this joke was a little too much, and he could easily be beaten to death by the Pacifying Heaven Cult Master, so he didn’t say anything. He just lowered his head and kissed her red lips.
Smooch-
Luo Ning’s eyes were annoyed, but there was nothing she could do about the increasingly unscrupulous little thief.. She could only bury her head and run back to the riverside…