Chapter 180: Traces - Rebirth of the Noble Daughter

 Chapter 180: Traces

“Prince Kang has arrived. I will certainly welcome him with the utmost respect.”

After a lengthy exchange of compliments, the guests dispersed and returned to their respective homes, as the Ninth Prince grew somewhat impatient.

General Su’s residence and Prince Kang’s were in the same direction, so they traveled together.

Inside the carriage, Xiao Mu Qian looked troubled. “The military situation is urgent, yet we can only depart in three days. I’m worried that Uncle might not hold out.”

“Don’t worry. General Xiao Ji has been stationed in Liangzhou for twenty years and can handle the northern Di soldiers with ease. This time, His Majesty is paving the way for the Ninth Prince. With such a significant contribution, it would be surprising if he doesn’t get a princely title upon his return.” General Su analyzed.

Prince Kang nodded in agreement and added, “Mu Qian, remember not to be greedy for achievements or act recklessly when assisting your uncle. If the Ninth Prince finds fault with you, your uncle will be in real danger. Do you understand?”

“Grandfather, rest assured. I know the importance of urgency, but I’m still worried about my uncle.”

His anxious expression was genuine. After all, he had been raised by his side from a young age, so his concern was understandable.

Seeing him this way, Prince Kang felt reassured.

General Su couldn’t help but lament, “Indeed, Prince Kang’s descendants are exceptionally capable. Thinking about my own troublesome offspring, it’s quite disheartening.”

Seeing General Su’s frustration, Xiao Mu Qian felt sorry for Su Cheng. If Su Cheng’s current actions were made public, General Su would likely be proud of him. Unfortunately, some people and actions are destined to remain in the shadows.

This was true for Su Cheng, and also for Xu Lin.

The dark guards of the Ding Wang Mansion all knew that once they entered this realm, they couldn’t expect to live in the light.

They might leave behind a trail of curses or remain unknown even in death, but no one regretted their choices or shrank back. Everything was a matter of personal choice.

At this moment, Xu Lin was outside gathering information, while Feng Jinxu rested in an inconspicuous inn in Xuzhou.

Feng Jinxu had just cleaned up. After traveling and resting either in the wilderness or inside the carriage, he had hoped to reach Jinling City quickly for a brief rest. Instead, they had encountered an unexpected discovery in Xuzhou.

Xu Lin and his men were out investigating leads, so they were taking a break in this modest inn.

A knock sounded at the door. “Young Master, it’s me.”

“Come in.” As soon as the words were spoken, Fu Yi entered with delicious food. “Young Master, I had the innkeeper prepare some meals. Eat while it’s hot. The other brothers are also settled here and they’ll have hot food as well when they return. Xu Lin and his men will also be able to eat when they come back.”

After eating only dried beef and flatbread on the journey, Fu Yi knew how much everyone longed for a hot meal. He made sure everyone was taken care of.

Feng Jinxu showed a look of appreciation. Fu Yi had been by his side for many years, not only skilled in martial arts but also meticulous, making him an invaluable helper.

In his previous position at the Dali Temple, Fu Yi had also developed skills while investigating cases. Unfortunately, these skills were not enough in front of Xu Lin and his subordinates.

Initially, Fu Yi was somewhat unyielding, but after traveling here, he had seen what true expertise was and admired Xu Lin’s abilities immensely.

Thus, they truly treated each other as brothers, sharing all good things.

Duke Wei’s official ship had been burned in Xuzhou. This event was not known in the Eastern Capital, likely due to some unspeakable secret. If it weren’t for this, the ship would have been burned earlier or later, but it happened after the death of Cao Sidu.

So Xu Lin was sent to investigate.

While enjoying a meal with a few dishes, Feng Jinxi reviewed the list given to him by Ah Yao before his departure.

“Elder Brother, these names are of people we heard about in Jiangnan, either notorious or involved in wrongdoing. Although you’re investigating the Cangyun Bureau, I suspect that if the pond is foul, the fish and shrimp won’t be good. You might find connections between these people and the Cangyun Bureau.”

Ah Yao’s words were still fresh in his mind. The list included officials and merchants, and collusion between officials and merchants was not uncommon. To avoid alerting the culprits, it was better to start the investigation with the Chi family.

The name 'Chi Zimo' was written in delicate characters. He was the current head of the Chi family, said to be under thirty yet effectively controlling the large Chi family, showing early success.

Feng Jinxi was contemplating this when he was interrupted by Xu Lin and his men, who entered with serious expressions.

“What’s the news?”

“Young Master, you were right. The news of the Duke Wei’s ship being burned was intentionally kept from the capital. My men found traces of fire oil, indicating the fire was deliberately set.”

Feng Jinxu frowned. Burning Duke Wei’s official ship was a bold act. Among those in the court who could be behind this, the faction opposing Duke Wei most strongly was the Crown Prince’s, but it seemed unlikely they were involved since the Crown Prince was still in Xuzhou.

“Is there anything else?”

“Yes, though it was cleaned up, I detected a scent of blood and found an inconspicuous cloth strip near the ship. It seems someone must have brushed against it while fleeing.”

He handed the cloth strip to Feng Jinxu. It had no bloodstains, suggesting the fugitive might not have been injured.

The dark blue cloud-patterned fabric indicated that the person was an official, as such materials were not used by ordinary people.

From this, it could be inferred that an official had been on Duke Wei’s ship. Although the purpose was unknown, it seemed that the official was targeted and their escort killed while they managed to escape. The most likely destination for this official was the Eastern Capital.

“Xu Lin, send word back to the capital to find this person as soon as possible. It would be best to start with officials from the Two Zhe and Thirteen Cities, especially those who have mysteriously disappeared or have been ill for a long time. This route might help us find out who escaped!”

“Yes!”

Xu Lin, who followed Feng Jinxu south, was also greatly impressed by his ability to discern details. Within a few days, he had identified a military connection from a small piece of cloth and gathered so many clues. It seemed the Prince had indeed chosen the right person to assist him.

With Feng Jinxu around, it was likely that the filthy dealings of the Cangyun Bureau would be uncovered!

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