Chapter 351: Chapter 235: Unexpected Visitor

Meanwhile, within the Xiao Mansion.

In the main hall of the otherwise dim Qingjing Residence, an oil lamp quietly flickered to life.

The candlelight wavered.

Elder Master Xiao, draped in a thick, padded robe, leaned back in a Grandmaster’s Chair. He rubbed the bridge of his nose while listening to Xiao Jing’s report from the shadows.

"...The barbarian slaves have not yet been found."

Seeing that the Elder Master remained silent, Xiao Jing continued, "The major grain merchants in the East Market have suffered heavy losses. It’s said their warehouses contained a hundred thousand bushels of grain."

The Elder Master lowered his hand, his cloudy, bloodshot eyes turning to him. "A hundred thousand bushels?"

Xiao Jing nodded from the shadows. "At least that much, if not more."

"However, your subordinate has ascertained that those merchants have other storehouses, which should still contain a considerable amount of grain."

"You suspect tonight’s events were just an act put on by those merchants?"

"To be honest, Marquis, that is precisely my suspicion."

The Elder Master frowned slightly, pondering for a moment before saying, "That is indeed a possibility."

"Willing to sacrifice a hundred thousand bushels so they can raise the price of grain again tomorrow... That is something those merchants are capable of doing."

But after saying that, he shook his head. "However, the probability is low."

"According to what you just said, those few barbarian slaves were rescued."

"If the grain merchants were behind this, wouldn’t it have been better to just kill them and leave no witnesses?"

Xiao Jing paused, then lowered his head. "You are right, Marquis. I will investigate further."

The Elder Master said, "Don’t make any moves for now."

"A few merchants are irrelevant. What’s important is the person pulling the strings behind them."

"In the territory of Shu State, if a few mere merchants dare to play such tricks against our Xiao Family,"

As he spoke, a cold, self-deprecating look crossed his face. "then it seems it’s time for this old, sick tiger to die."

Hearing this, Xiao Jing stepped out of the shadows and knelt on one knee, his face full of shame. "Forgive me, Marquis. It is my incompetence."

The Elder Master waved his hand. "It has nothing to do with you."

"In the end, it all goes back to that great battle. Fengchun and Wanqing died, and more than half of the Hidden Guard and the Punishment Hall were lost..."

He recalled those past events, a desolate look appearing on his face as he sighed softly.

"The Xiao Family suffered devastating losses, which has led to our current predicament."

Despite these words, Xiao Jing remained motionless on the ground, his heart still filled with self-blame.

The Elder Master glanced at him, saw through his thoughts, and a smile returned to his face.

"Fortunately, I can still hold on for a while longer. A few old friends will still help me out for old times’ sake."

"Let’s see... It’ll take that old codger Zhang Xuan two or three days to receive the letter, and another two or three days to reply. That gives me just enough time to see who is standing behind those grain merchants."

Xiao Jing understood his meaning and lowered his head. "Rest assured, Marquis. I will do everything in my power to uncover them!"

"Just do your best."

The Elder Master added with a chuckle, "I have been thinking a lot these past few days."

"Sometimes, it is the will of heaven, which cannot be changed by human effort."

"Just like when the summer grain from the Three Towns was burned. It was a perilous situation, but in the end, it was our Xiao Family that benefited."

The smile on his aged face widened. "From this, you can see that Heaven has not abandoned the Xiao Family."

Hearing this, Xiao Jing’s expression relaxed slightly. He replied, "As long as you take care of your health, Marquis, the family will not fall."

"You kid, you really know how to comfort an old man. I already have one foot in the grave, how am I supposed to ’take care’ of myself?"

"Forgive me, Marquis..."

The Elder Master smiled, knowing he didn’t mean anything by it, and changed the subject. "What about the other matter I had you look into?"

"Has that boss from Hundred Herbs Hall shown his face yet?"

Xiao Jing replied with some exasperation, "Ever since that night he spent with the Second Son-in-law on the Painted Boat, that Boss Chen Yu seems to have vanished into thin air. We still haven’t found any trace of his whereabouts."

"I considered asking at Hundred Herbs Hall or questioning the Second Son-in-law, but I was worried it might be counterproductive."

The Elder Master grunted in acknowledgment and thought for a moment before waving his hand. "Forget it, forget it."

"The situation is complicated right now, and you don’t have many men to begin with. Focus on our primary targets for now."

After giving the order, he continued, "After Hundred Herbs Hall expands, I’ll have Wan’er invite that Boss Chen."

Xiao Jing replied, "Yes, sir," bowed, and stood to leave, but then he heard the Elder Master ask another question.

"Has there been any word from Jinghong?"

"Reporting to the Marquis, all is normal on the General’s end. The Wu Mountain Mutual Market will be completed in a month at most."

The Elder Master smiled and nodded. "Send a message for me. Tell her not to skimp on silver; she should spend what needs to be spent."

"Since I’m already borrowing grain from Zhang Xuan, I might as well borrow some silver coins too. It will stop those blind fools from trying to make an issue of it."

Originally, he hadn’t planned on asking, but the current situation had forced him to take this undesirable course of action.

But once he had actually swallowed his pride, he realized: borrowing grain is still borrowing, and borrowing silver is also borrowing.

Why not solve some troubles once and for all?

Hearing this, however, left a bitter taste in Xiao Jing’s mouth.

He knew very well that the Elder Master had spent his life on horseback and was an immensely proud man.

Forget borrowing money or grain from others; even in the Xiao Family’s most difficult times, the Elder Master still provided for his old soldiers.

"Take care, Marquis. I will write to the General at once."

"Go on, go on."

After the man left, Elder Master Xiao sat alone for a moment before blowing out the oil lamp. His tall frame seemed to stoop a little as he walked slowly back to his chambers.

Only when he lay down on the bed did he let out a long breath, clutching his chest as he let out a few suppressed coughs.

’Oh, dear heavens, just let this old man hold on for a few more years.’

’Once I’ve crossed over to the other side, you can do with me what you will...’

...

Before dawn, the sky was dim and overcast. A cool autumn breeze blew, causing the lanterns hanging under the eaves of Spring Lotus Garden and Jiaxing Garden to spin gently, illuminating several busy figures.

Because Xiao Wan’er, Chen Yi, and the others were going out today, Xiaodie, Juan’er, and Cui’er had started their work early.

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