CHAPTER 122: CHAPTER 120 SUSPICION

Song Xian returned to the small courtyard and was about to go to the study when Cheng Yanzhao poked his head out from the kitchen.

"A Xian, you’re back?" Cheng Yanzhao spoke to Song Xian while looking behind him, showing disappointment when not finding the person he wished to see.

Song Xian did not speak and went straight into the study to look at official documents.

Cheng Yanzhao looked at Chang An: "No food box?"

Chang An shook his head.

Cheng Yanzhao sighed in disappointment; the taste of steamed meat from last time still lingered in his mind. Even if there was no steamed meat, chicken would do, and if no chicken, at least some soup to have the chef make some noodles could do.

Unfortunately, there was nothing.

"A Xian," Cheng Yanzhao walked into the study and said, "Miss Xie hasn’t been here for a while, right? The stove’s cold. In such cold weather, there’s no warmth in the kitchen at all. Aren’t you bothered by that?"

Song Xian said indifferently, "The Cheng Family has a house in Zhenzhou."

The implication being he didn’t need to come here.

Cheng Yanzhao looked at the unswayable face before him: "You and I are like real brothers, so I have to advise you not to treat people like this all the time, lest you scare everyone away and end up all alone and lonely."

Song Xian’s hand paused slightly, and he frowned at Cheng Yanzhao.

Cheng Yanzhao knew when to stop, so he said, "I came to discuss an important matter with you. The nephew of the Henghai Jiedu Envoy, Qin Maoxing, has come to Zhenjiang, and along with him to Zhenzhou is Su Huaiqing, the head of the Su Family’s Pharmacy."

Song Xian lifted his eyes; there were still some people in this case he had not touched, intentionally leaving them to draw out the people behind them, one of whom was the Qi Prefecture Magistrate, Lin Xu.

Lin Xu, styled Shouye, is the newly appointed county magistrate of Qi State.

When Song Min was arrested, Lin Xu did not confess to plotting with him, only saying that Song Min suddenly came to Qi State wanting to buy medicine, without knowing where the herbs would be used. Coincidentally, his sister was in Qi State, and all purchases of medicine were made in consultation with her.

Solely based on this evidence, Lin Xu could not be connected to colluding with the enemy, at most a demotion and investigation.

But the herbs and the goods bound for Liao were key to the whole matter. Song Xian felt there was more to Lin Xu.

Thinking about Qin Maoxing, Song Xian naturally thought of Su Huaiqing.

Seeing Song Xian silent, Cheng Yanzhao continued, "The Su Family has a pharmacy, Madam Su is in Qi State, Su Huaiqing and Qin Maoxing have dealings, which raises suspicion. Now with trouble afoot, Qin Maoxing secretly came to Zhenzhou to probe, what is he plotting?

Could it be that Lin Xu and the Su Family are both the Henghai Jiedu Envoy’s people? If so, the people truly causing trouble from behind the scenes are Xiao Xingzong and the Henghai Jiedu Envoy? If indeed, then the Su Family is more than just merchants."

Song Xian said, "Have someone keep an eye on Qin Maoxing. If he is here on official business, he should openly send me a greeting card."

Cheng Yanzhao nodded, "Besides Qin Maoxing, there’s also Su Huaiqing. Don’t worry, leave this matter to me. None of their actions will escape our notice. If anything suspicious is found, I’ll immediately take them to the government office prison for questioning."

After saying this, Song Xian called Chang An forward: "Go to the restaurant and get some food, let Mr. Cheng eat before he goes about his tasks."

Cheng Yanzhao felt a warmth in his heart, his eyes nearly welling up with tears: "A Xian, I wronged you before. You still think about your brother."

Song Xian didn’t speak again, fixing his gaze back on the documents before him.

After Cheng Yanzhao had eaten, he worked with more energy, soon setting everything in order, and informants quickly relayed the news back.

Qin Maoxing had stayed in the inn without leaving, while Su Huaiqing was at his pharmacy.

The Su Family’s Pharmacy closed early, while Su Huaiqing was checking the accounts inside.

Cheng Yanzhao instructed others to keep watching.

Another night passed, and when the morning light broke, Song Xian put down his brush, washed, and changed into official robes to head to the government office.

Cheng Yanzhao, still drowsy, vaguely heard movements in the courtyard and stepped out of the guest room, catching a glimpse of Song Xian’s clothing edge.

"Didn’t sleep again?" Cheng Yanzhao asked the steward in the courtyard.

The steward sighed, "No."

Cheng Yanzhao questioned, "Didn’t you say he slept well these past two days?"

The steward shook his head, he felt the same, but... they never quite understood the master’s affairs.

Cheng Yanzhao couldn’t help a shiver and cautioned the steward, "Speak less and do more."

The steward responded, watched as Cheng Yanzhao also went to the government office, thinking how those words were most fitting for Mr. Cheng?

After all, it was not them but Mr. Cheng who spoke most before the master.

...

At the Su Family’s Pharmacy.

After a whole night, the steward and shopkeeper looked exhausted, eyes bloodshot.

Su Huaiqing was still questioning the accounts: "Scutellaria, Aconitum, Northern Shashen, Radish Seed..."

With each herb that Su Huaiqing listed, the steward’s expression grew more worried.

Su Huaiqing continued, "Gotu Kola, Eclipta, Polygala..."

After rattling off seven or eight herb names, Su Huaiqing looked at the steward: "The quantities of these herbs don’t match up. According to you, these northern herbs haven’t been collected much, yet more than these are sold daily. Where did the herbs come from? Purchased from elsewhere? How much was bought? Where are the leftovers?"

Su Huaiqing interrogated, causing the steward to subconsciously tighten his grip, "Maybe... maybe I remembered wrong. I’m getting old, can’t keep track of all the herbs accurately. Master should check the accounts first."

Su Huaiqing said, "I was asking about common northern herbs. Surely you remember them, unless these herbs were secretly sold by you?"

The steward, frightened, waved his hand: "No... no... Master shouldn’t say such things. The Su Family’s Pharmacy’s major shipments must have the family head’s seal as proof. It’s not just us old hands who wouldn’t dare harm the owner, even if we wanted to, it couldn’t be done."

The shopkeeper quickly added: "Yes, yes, the herbs are watched. They can’t leave without a seal."

Su Huaiqing quietly observed the steward and shopkeeper: "So you mean that all those herbs in and out had my mother’s approval? You’re afraid of the truth because you fear her reprimand?"

The steward and shopkeeper lowered their heads.

Su Huaiqing stood up: "Even if you don’t say, I can find out myself. However, if there’s any wrongdoing that breaches Daqi law, waiting another day to report to the court could worsen the Su Family’s punishment. You’re old companions, the Su Family hasn’t treated you poorly. You can’t, when it matters most, harm the Su Family."

The steward and shopkeeper fell into deeper silence.

Su Huaiqing looked outside: "Don’t go out. Reflect on my words. I’ll go to the Chen Family Village and the Official Medicine Bureau. Upon my return, I’ll submit this to the Zhenzhou Prefecture and take you along there; what you decide to say at the government office will be up to you."

The steward wanted to say something, but Su Huaiqing had already left the pharmacy, and it took a while before he and the shopkeeper collapsed into chairs, drained.

The task assigned by Madam Su—they couldn’t evade it now.

...

Su Huaiqing freshened up, collected gifts, and rode to Chen Family Village. Upon entering the village, Chang Yue sent a message to the master.

The person has arrived; as for what to do, and how long to stay, that’ll be seen in due time.