Chapter 304: Fend for Yourself (Part 2)
Chapter 304 -174: Fend for Yourself (Part 2)
Just as he was overwhelmed with work, the steward hurried over, “Master, County Magistrate Luo Hai is here for a visit, saying he has urgent business to discuss.”
Wei Dabao frowned, “What is he here for? Let him in.”
Soon, Luo Hai, dressed in official attire, swiftly walked into the courtyard, wearing an unusually serious expression.
“Mr. Wei, I just received the court’s report regarding the marquee’s case, instructing all provinces and counties to…”
“I already know.” Wei Dabao interrupted him, “My uncle wrote to me about it. So, Mr. Luo, are you here to watch a joke?”
Luo Hai shook his head, “Mr. Wei, you’ve misunderstood. We’ve known each other for many years; I am not that kind of person. It’s just that this matter is not trivial. The marquee is a royal relative, and this case has shaken the entire court. Mr. Wei, you must be cautious on your journey to the Capital City.”
Wei Dabao snorted, “I have a clear conscience. What is there to fear?”
Luo Hai hesitated to speak, then finally sighed, “In any case… take care, Mr. Wei. If you need any help, feel free to write.”
Wei Dabao finally relaxed a bit, “Now that’s more like it. By the way, is there any news about that girl Han Lei?”
Luo Hai smiled wryly, “No news yet. However, since you’re heading to the Capital City, you might visit the Brocade Workshop to inquire.”
“Of course,” Wei Dabao patted his belly, “On this trip to the capital, I must take care of both matters properly!”
After sending off Luo Hai, the Wei Family mansion became extremely busy. Servants hurried back and forth, packing luggage and preparing carriages and horses.
Wei Dabao sat in the main hall on the Taishi Chair, drinking ginseng tea while overseeing everyone’s work.
“Be careful with my blue and white porcelain vase! If you break it, I’ll have your hide!”
“Put that box of silver at the very back, and cover it with satin!”
“Fool! Who told you to bring winter fur coats? It’s June now!”
By nightfall, all the preparations were finally complete.
Five carriages stopped at the main entrance of the Wei Family, with over twenty fine horses and a dozen protectors in short attire standing guard.
Wei Dabao, satisfied, took a look around and said to the steward, “We will set off at dawn, take the official road, travel day and night, and strive to reach the Capital City within seven days.”
“Master, isn’t it a bit rushed…”
“What do you know?” Wei Dabao glared, “Arriving a day earlier means arranging connections a day earlier. Besides, I’m in a hurry to inquire about that million-dollar business!”
Returning to the bedroom, the third concubine was already asleep. Wei Dabao sat alone by the window, gazing at the bright moon in the sky, his usual arrogance gradually replaced by a hint of unease.
“The marquee’s residence… who exactly did it?” he muttered to himself, “I hope it has nothing to do with the Wei Family…”
But soon, he straightened up, reassuring himself, “What is there to fear? With my uncle around, the sky won’t fall! But that million-dollar business… Han Lei better not disappoint me…”
The night breeze blew, bringing a slight chill.
Wei Dabao closed the window and dragged his bulky frame towards the bed.
Tomorrow, he would embark on a journey to the Capital City, and what awaited him, whether fortune or misfortune, was beyond anyone’s guess at this moment.
Early the next morning, a thin mist lingered in the air.
Wei Dabao and his party set off for the Capital City, their carriages rolling out of the city gates just as a team of galloping horses rushed past them.
The leading black-clad rider cracked his whip loudly, startling Wei Dabao’s coachman into hurried evasive action.
“Are you looking for death?”
The coachman was about to curse when Wei Dabao held him down by the shoulder.
Through the fluttering curtain, Wei Dabao caught a glimpse of those figures disappearing into the dust, and urged, “Don’t meddle, just keep going!”
At this moment, in the backyard of the Qingshui County government office, Luo Hai was pacing anxiously.
The bluestone slabs had been treaded into two shiny tracks, the tea on the desk long since gone cold, but he had no mood to savor it.
A few days ago, Xiao Zhengfei, along with several trusted aides, passed through Qingshui County, saying the marquee had sent twelve death warriors to ambush Zhao Zun, and five had already been captured.
But the whereabouts of the remaining seven death warriors were unknown, and Han Lei had gone to the Capital City to check on business. Zhao Zun was worried that the remaining seven were after Han Lei.
Therefore, Zhao Zun sent Xiao Zhengfei with several trusted aides to the Capital City to rescue and protect Han Lei.
But just after Han Lei went to the capital to inspect business, a major incident occurred at the marquee’s residence.
The tragic case at the marquee’s mansion, though there were no concrete suspects yet, the court’s report merely instructed all provinces and counties to monitor suspicious individuals, which effectively amounted to the court issuing a sea arrest warrant.
If they found anyone suspicious, the government officials in each province and county had the right to arrest them first.
For some reason, he couldn’t help but feel the case was somehow related to Han Lei’s journey to the capital.