CHAPTER 4

"Cao Ge and that fortune teller are already dead, we just need to go investigate. Why you go early?!"

Inside the Yamen side hall, Jin Xia was skewed in Limu's round backrest chair, looking at a paper with dissatisfaction: "People are dead, but the silver isn't found yet. One hundred and two thousand silver money still missing."

Yang Yue took the paper document in her hands, a little bit angry: "Zhou Xian is just an official of the Ministry of Industry, how could he have the courage to swallow 102,000 silver money! He died, then how could we find that money! "

Zhou Xianyi, 21 years old took 102,000 silver money and was ordered to repair the Yangzhou river embankment. After arriving in Yangzhou, he has not yet started construction. Later, he was found to have swallowed the repair money for the river and Zhou Xianyi commited suicide.

"Actually, we only need to look for Yan Shifan, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, is there any project money that does not go through his own hands?"

"Xia'er!" Yang Chengwan stopped her.

Yan Shifan was the son of Emperor Yan Song who was the first assistant of the dynasty. Yan Shifan's Ministry of Labor Zuo Lang and Shang Bao Si Shaoqing are the fattest errands in the court.

Jin Xia sighed.

In today's world, whoever brave enough to uphold justice, will be starve to death. Yan Shifan, he was as greedy as he wanted, he could do anything that he want to.

"Daddy ..." Yang Yue shook his head. "This case cannot be solved. We can't find it not because we are incompetent, but its because if we do find that money then we will become their target, I just realize that I can't even save my life later."

Yang Chengwan opened the tea lid, gently blow the floating foam, watching the tea needles float in the rising heat, and said lightly: "No way, Lord Liu Xiang, the prince of Dali Temple, personally called and asked me to go. Hurry go back home and pack up, and follow me to Jiangnan City."

"Boss, I can go with Dayang, you dont need to go with us, just rest here in the capital." Jin Xia said, "Jiangnan is very humid, it'll be inconvenience when you get there." She understand this trip gonna be a difficult task. Yang Chengwan is getting older, and he has leg problems.

Yang Chengwan shook his head: "This case is also co-organized by Jin Yiwei. How can I leave you two to keep an eye on it?"

Jin Yiwei!

Jin Xia glance at Yang Yue.

As the highest commander of Jin Yiwei, since Lu Bing made good friends with Yan Song, it seems that, Jin Yiwei's trip in this case will not for demolish Yan Song. This time the Jin Yiwei co-sponsored this case, the biggest possibility is to eliminate all unfavorable evidence for Yan Song.

"Which Jin Yiwei?" Jin Xia asked silently.

"Lu Yi." Yang Chengwan said faintly.

Jin Xia and Yang Yue were surprised at the same time: Just for 102,000 silver money? it is indeed not small, but can be said not too big actually, then why it is Lu Yi? To do some great work, you have to impress the emperor. Lu Yi already have that intimidating aura, the emperor must have a good impression on him. If he can make some achievements, he may be able to directly rise from the seven-pin experience to the fourth-pin command. Thats why he wants to join in this case?

"Boss, how can we investigate this case with Jin Yewei around?" Jin Xia looked at Yang Chengwan dizzily.

"We only do internal tasks, we don't have to worry about anything else." Yang Chengwan said lightly.

Jin Xia and Yang Yue were both feel helpless, so they stopped talking and went back to pack.

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Yuan Chen, Jin Xia's mother, originally arranged Jin Xia to meet Yi parents two days later, she already prepared a decent Begonia red large-sleeve shirt, which will make Jin Xia look a bit quiet and elegant when she wears it. Unexpectedly, Jin Xia about to leave to Jiangnan City and that trip will take a month or two.

"How could you go? Let me and your dad talk to Mr.Yang, let him not take you this time." Yuan Chen said anxiously.

Jin Xia waved her hands again: "Mother, this is not a trivial matter. The whereabouts of the 102,000 silver money is unknown. Its wrong if I do not go. Besides, if I can find the money, there will be a reward."

Knowing nothing about the public affairs, Yuan Chen could not refute her, so she had to yell, "Have you ever seen the third son of Yi family?"

"I don't remember," Jin Xia said busyly.

"Why don't you remember? You sent the charcoal to his home last month."

"The only thing that I remember is how expensive that basket of charcoal was."

Yuan Chen stared helplessly for a while, she could see that in Jin Xia's mind just full of money: "Dont you realize you are getting older, not a child anymore, are you going to life forever with me?"

"Mother ..." Jin Xia was busy talking to her, "I really don't remember what he was like."

"Even if you don't remember, I'll take care of it for you anyway." Yuan Chen muttered, "Yi's family is a scholar, they are gentle people, you won't be wronged if you marry ..."

"Ma'am, ma'am! This matter is not urgent, let's talk about it when I come back! Don't rush!" Jin Xia said quickly, at the same time, cleanly packed her bags, took out four silvers from her arms and handed them to Yuan Chen.

"This trip will take quite a long time, this is few silvers, in case something urgent happen, you can use them." Yuan Chen collected the silver and sent Jin Xia to the gate, explaining: "Be careful on the road, do not be stubborn in everything."

"Relax, I am fine." Jin Xia carrying her bag and walking to the dock.

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From Beijing to Yangzhou, there are the North and South Grand Canals. It is naturally the most convenient to take a boat, which can save the bumps along the way. The official ship of the government is called the station ship, which means the station in the post. Yang Chengwan and others boarded to the station boat with Liu Xiang, Jin Yiwei already boarded the boat, Lu Yi had waited for them for half an hour.

"Lord Lu has rested in the cabin, can't be disturbed." The boatman asked Liu Xiang tentatively, "Would you like me to called Lord Lu?"

Liu Xiang's official grade is fifth, it is higher than Jin Yiwei's grade, but Liu Xiang, he dare not let Lu Yi come to see him. He laughed and said, "No need to be hurry, let's talk later then."

People on official ships deal with officials at all levels all year round. Yang Chengwan and others are nothing but just low rank official, no one will take them seriously. The current boatmen just told them the location of their cabins, they were busy leading Liu Xiang to his cabin.

Official ships have some rules. The cabins of the official residences with good grades are on the upper floor, which are spacious, bright, and clean. However, low rank officials like Jin Xia can only live in the lower cabins, which are small and dark and humid. As for the boatman's place of residence, it was even worse, only a few people squeezed into a narrow boat cabin.

Yang Yue first accompanied Yang Chengwan into the cabin, cooked tea foam he brought out from home for him, and waited for the tea to drive away the musty smell from the room before asking his father to rest. Jin Xia not used to the small cabin, the moldy smell that lasts for a long time makes people feel very suffocated, so she go to the deck alone to get some fresh air.

On the river, there were a steady stream of transporting ships, wild ducks swarmed in waves. Jin Xia leaning on the boat rail, staring at the wild duck, her eyes were focused.

Yang Yue came to find her on the deck, followed her gaze, and couldn't help but admire, "The ducks are so fat!"

"Yeah," she agreed with him, lamenting her fists with both hands, "I will catch some wild ducks later if nothing happen and I would definitely sell them for a good price."

"It 's a pity if you sold them. Just cook it, it 's delicious. The wild duck has tight meat, which is different from domestic ducks. It will be even better if you cut a thick slice with a knife and slide it in warm oil, then sliced them again, sandwiched with one piece of duck meat. They are fried in oil repeatedly, until the duck meat is rancid. That taste ..."

"Stop talking, you make me feel hungry!"

"....." He stop talking.

She was short of money. She thought of having a meal at home before get in the ship but she was too late and didn't even eat to catch the boat. Right now, there was nothing to eat on the boat, she was so hungry.

As if he had known that she would be hungry, Yang Yue took some food out of his hands and passed it.

At first glance, it was onion cakes wrapped in layers of oiled paper. Jin Xia was grateful and said, "You know me so well!" She said that and untied the oiled paper first, took a bite, and chewed.

"Do you want some?" Jin Xia glancing at him.

He replied, "No need... no need..."

"You can't eat anything if you dont have money! I heard that you already took all of your two month's salary." Yang Yue frowned and looked at her.

The scallion cakes are not big, Jin Xia take a bite and eat them up.

"Don't mention that, this time it's not just about money. It's more trouble than that." Jin Xia wiped her mouth with her sleeves and hesitated for a while before telling him, "... Looking at my mother's posture, this time she is determined to win."

As soon as the words fell, Yang Yue laughed and said, "This is a good thing. Which unlucky child has been looked after by your mother?"

Jin Xia stared at him angrily: "What did you said?!"

Yang Yue tried to hold back his smile as much as possible, and said gently, "Xia Ye is angry, I am not laugh. Just tell me, which one is unlucky ... No, no, which one has such a great blessing?"

She gave him a severe glance before said, "Yi's third son."

"Yi's ... Oh, I remember, it's your brother's Teacher." Yang Yue nodded and sighed, "Seems like your mother wants you to marry him, so your young brother expenses will be saved in the future."

"What's more, there are summer and winter private lesson." Jin Xia added, "Indeed we can save a lot of money through this marriage."

"Such a good thing! You need to get married quickly then." Yang Yue laughed straight away.

"My dear, I'm a little bit poor now, but I feel very comfortable. The sons of the Yi family are all scholars, even their bodies are so weak that the wind could blows them down. Why should I marry them? to become their armour?" Jin Xia is very unlucky. "My marriage in the past must not have condemned me to death!"

"What's the use of yelling at me? Tell your mother." Yang Yue still laughed.

"My mother likes money. How can I tell her if I don't even have money... Hey don't ever mention these bad things to others!" Looking at Yang Yue, she suddenly thought of something, "Otherwise, I told my mother, I'm already yours ... "

Yang Yue almost chocked: "I'm just wronged, so I'll make up with you?"

She looked at him thoughtfully.

Yang Yue was shaking his head and his neck was almost cramping: "Don't, I can't afford to climb high, I can't be wronged like this! Really!"

Jin Xia stared at him intently.

Yang Yue's face was sombre, so as to make himself look as sincere as possible.

After a long while, Jin Xia sighed: "No, you are snoring while you sleep, who can bear it?"

She turned around and suddenly found that there was a person standing not far behind her, a striking red flying fish python robe, a waist belt, and an embroidered spring knife...

Lu Yi!