Chapter 325: Come Clean
After having lunch, Lin Yuanshan felt his head was heavy, as if his throat was stuffed with a ball of cotton.
Just two sips of tea and Zhao Qiao’er started urging him incessantly from the side.
“Yuanshan, this matter cannot be delayed, quickly go and ask Mr. Tang, it’s important.”
He sighed, forcing down the last sip of tea, which had already gone cold, leaving a bitter taste.
The sun outside was scorching, blinding and hard to keep the eyes open.
Lin Yuanshan rubbed his itchy nose and suddenly sneezed loudly, startling the sparrows on the branches to fly off.
Last night, Mr. Liu from the Chamber of Commerce was quite hospitable. After hearing his intentions, he immediately called a few textile traders to discuss together.
The result of the discussion was: Lin Yuanshan should first go to ask Mr. Tang if Brocade Workshop had any other owners apart from Mr. Wei.
After getting confirmation, they would gather all textile traders in the Capital City to discuss supply channels with Brocade Workshop’s owners.
He stayed at the Chamber of Commerce until late. He left in a hurry and forgot to bring an umbrella, running home through the rain. His thin summer shirt was soaked through, making him feel unwell today.
Weaving through the bustling crowds, as he turned the corner, he could see the gilded sign of Brocade Workshop shining brightly under the sun from afar.
Lin Yuanshan squinted and saw Tang Xiaotong sending a young woman in a light blue skirt out the door.
When the girl turned her head, the silver hairpin in her hair shimmered in a delicate halo, and Mr. Tang’s gaze was complicated, lingering on the woman’s back.
Finally seeing Mr. Tang, Lin Yuanshan quickened his pace. However, he was unlucky, and before he could get closer, he saw Tang Xiaotong already boarding a blue-clothed carriage.
“Mr. Tang! Please wait!” Lin Yuanshan called hoarsely.
But the street vendors selling sugar figurines were shouting, and the staff at the wonton stall loudly bellowed “hot ones——” his voice was instantly drowned out in the market’s hustle and bustle.
The wheels of the blue-clothed carriage rolled over the cobblestone road, rumbling further and further away.
Lin Yuanshan hurriedly chased a few steps, feeling weak from illness, he had to lean on his knees to catch his breath.
Right then, an unusual tremor came from the ground. Several black lacquered carriages raced by, with “Wei” character lanterns on the shafts swinging violently.
The leading driver waved the whip, snapping crisply in the air.
“Move aside! Everyone, move aside!”
Lin Yuanshan stumbled backward with the crowd under the pickle shop’s eaves, watching helplessly as the caravan stirred up a cloud of dust.
The curtain of the last carriage suddenly lifted, revealing half of a woman’s face heavily powdered, before quickly falling down again.
The old woman selling silk flowers on the street muttered, “Why have I been seeing Wei family carriages non-stop these days, this show is grander than the Jingzhao Mansion lords.”
The carriages that just passed belonged to Wei Dabao’s family. After several days of travel, they finally arrived in the Capital City by noon.
Wei Dabao, being from Canzhou, was the furthest from the Capital City. By the time he arrived, other branches of the Wei Family had already reached the Capital City, making them the last to arrive.
“Two days later than scheduled,” Wei Dabao muttered to himself, his stubby fingers unconsciously brushing his thick chin, “I wonder if all the other branches have arrived.”
“Mr. Wei,” a servant in Prime Minister’s attire had been waiting inside the city gate for a long time, “sent by the steward to lead the way.”
In front of the Prime Minister’s mansion’s red lacquered door, Wei Dabao adjusted his clothes. The steward, already waiting at the door, had an expressionless, wrinkled face.
“Mr. Wei, you’ve had a long journey.” The steward bowed with a deep voice, “The other branches arrived three days ago, only your household is missing.”
Wei Dabao’s heart skipped: “What exactly is the situation with the case? Uncle’s letter was vague…”
The steward looked around, lowering his voice, “Fifteen people died overnight at the Champion Marquis Estate, including the Marquis himself. The clues directly point to the Wei Family, and His Majesty is furious, ordering the Ministry of Justice to investigate thoroughly.”
Wei Dabao staggered, and if not for the steward’s quick support, he would have almost fallen.
He steadied himself, unable to conceal the tremor in his voice: “This… This is absolutely impossible! The Wei Family has no enmity with the Champion Marquis Estate…”
“Now it’s necessary to confront and clarify.” The steward sighed, “Mr. Wei, please proceed to the Ministry of Justice promptly, as His Majesty has decreed the entire Wei Family as suspects.”
As they settled the family, Wei Dabao’s wife clung to his sleeve: “Sir, there is something strange about this, we…”
“Don’t panic.” Wei Dabao impatiently patted her hand, only to realize his palm was clammy with sweat, “The innocent will be vindicated, His Majesty sees everything clearly and will not wrong the innocent.”