Chapter 504 505 Investigation
The old shopkeeper smiled and said to several people: "There are three main rooms, two side rooms, and one bathroom. We have three meals a day, three meat and three vegetables. Guests who have other needs can order food in the front hall and wash the horses." And the fodder money, the room fee is ten taels of silver a month, the guest officer will see if you are satisfied."
Zhaocai looked at Zhou Jia, "Master, what do you think?"
Zhou Jia nodded cheerfully, "Okay, please ask the old shopkeeper to take better care of the horses and prepare better food."
After hearing this, the old shopkeeper's smile was as bright as a spring flower, "Don't worry, I promise to feed you carefully. Every meal in my house is fresh. To your satisfaction, I will have someone bring you hot water."
"Excuse me, shopkeeper." Ruyi smiled.
"It should be." The old shopkeeper smiled and left the key, turned around and left.
Ruyi and Zhaocai looked around, and when everyone was sitting on the verandah, Hu Cheng took out the paper ball and handed it to Zhou Jia.
I saw it said that the eldest brother lived outside the east city. After leaving the city, he walked for half an hour to Chengjia Village. In a small house at the east end, he was served by caring servants.
Zhou Jia pondered for a moment, looked at a few people and said with a smile: "Everyone has been tired for so many days. Let's take a good rest today. We will start calling the dealers to look at the goods tomorrow."
"Yes, sir." Several people responded with a smile.
After a while, the inn clerk brought hot water. After everyone washed up, the meals were also delivered. The three meat dishes included stir-fried cabbage, shredded radish, bean sprout soup, braised carp, stir-fried pork, and stewed pig trotters with radish. Ordered a few multigrain pancakes.
Zhou Jia smiled and said, "It looks pretty good. You're welcome. Eat quickly, wash up, and go have a rest."
Regardless of whether they were masters or servants, they sat down for a while to eat. The waiter brought hot water, washed and dried their hair, arranged the manpower for the night, and then went to rest.
***
In an inconspicuous small courtyard at the east end of Chengjia Village, the objects inside are all exquisite. There is someone holding a hand in the darkness of the house. Sitting on the couch in the main room is a pale young man. If you look closely, his appearance is similar to that of Chu Yuhao. They are very similar, both have rosy eyes and a straight nose bridge. "
A middle-aged man with a dignified appearance sat on a chair and looked at him, "Your Majesty, it seems that he has already known that you fled to Yuezhou. Since there is a decree saying that you and the princess are infected, when the head of the family arrives in Kyoto, he may announce your death." the late."
The eldest prince looked into the distance with sinister eyes, "That's a jackal, uncle. It seems that Cheng Mansion is not of the same mind. Otherwise, how could that dog get the news so quickly?"
Now that the world belongs to the third prince, the yamen has extended its claws towards the Cheng family. The first and second bedrooms of the Cheng family are still on the same page. The third bedroom has already had his own little thoughts. I wonder if the old man is getting softer as he gets older. Otherwise, why have you been reluctant to start renovating the third bedroom? It was because you stole the prince out without telling him this time, which made him dissatisfied...
The uncle of the Cheng family shook his head and put aside the bad thoughts, "The Cheng family is so big. It is inevitable that everyone in the family has their own little thoughts. Especially after you and the princess were imprisoned, who secretly wanted to take refuge with you?" There are just a few households.”
The eldest prince leaned on the collapse, sat up straight, looked at him and said: "Uncle, I advise you to take action as soon as possible and eradicate those people to avoid future troubles."
Uncle Cheng's uncle looked at him and hesitated, "We have to wait until the old man leaves and hands the stewardship over to me."
The eldest prince nodded, "That's what you said. Who is the imperial minister sent this time? Can you win him over?"
"This person's surname is Zhou. He was adopted from the original Zhou family's engraving workshop. I heard that this person is very trusted by him. It is not easy to win over him."
The eldest prince looked ruthless, "If you can't win over him, find a way to get rid of him. If he discovers... in the mountains, you go back and discuss it with your grandfather and take action as soon as possible."
"Okay, rest a minute, I'll be back." Uncle Cheng's family turned around and left.
The eldest prince watched him step out and sighed in his heart. He had to bow his head under the eaves. Now he was already a useless person. Shen's poisonous woman didn't know what tricks she used to cause him to die several times in recent years. Child, otherwise why would I have to stay alive and suffer.
After Uncle Cheng left, a sweet-looking girl walked into the house and waited for him to rest.
***
Early the next morning, Hu Cheng and Ding Yi went out to find the secret guard hidden in Yuezhou.
Zhaocai wore coarse clothes and was going to Chengjia Village outside Dongcheng City to inquire about news.
Zhou Jia warned, "People in the village are very wary of strangers. If you go to buy a basket and pretend to be an egg collector, be careful and don't let others see your flaws."
"Yes, sir." After Zhaocai agreed, he strode away.
Ruyi said to Zhou Jia: "Sir, for those who came to Yuezhou two times before, why didn't the superiors let Hu Cheng and others come together?"
"According to what the eldest master said, he hadn't gathered the people at that time. One of the people he sent was bribed, and the other was deceived."
Ruyi looked at Zhou Jia in surprise and whispered: "Master, I'm afraid they have already checked you out. They know you are too brave and cannot be bribed. Do you think you will..."
Zhou Jia looked at the blooming spring flowers in the yard and said, "They might kill you."
Zhaocai bought a basket and some chaff at the market, carried it out of the east city gate, and walked for half an hour until he arrived at Chengjia Village. There was a big locust tree at the entrance of the village.
Most of the houses in the village are made of bricks, and some families even have dogs. When strangers come into the village, they grin and bark at the auspicious "woof, woof, woof, woof".
Ji Xiang banged on the pole and shouted at the top of his voice, "Collecting eggs! Collecting eggs..."
Not long after, an old lady stopped Ji Xiang, "Young man, how did you collect the eggs?"
Ji Xiang looked at her with a smile, "The big ones cost one penny each, and the three small ones cost two cents."
The old lady thought for a moment and waved, "Just wait for me to get it for you."
"Hey!" Jixiang responded loudly and pretended to look around casually. After a while, the old lady came out with her handbag, "Look, my eggs are well-proportioned. If you bring two into the city, you can get an extra penny for them." "
Zhaocai said with a smile: "Auntie, you go to the city. It costs money to enter the city, and it also costs money to set up a stall. If you come and go, you will lose less than half of the money you make selling eggs."
The old lady nodded, "That's why I sold it to you."
Zhaocai put the eggs into the basket and paid the money. He shouted and continued to move forward. He collected food from two more families and then walked to the east end of the village. He saw that the walls of several houses at the east end of the village were higher than those of the neighboring houses. .
Zhaocai shouted and walked to the door of the first house, shouted a few times at the top of his lungs, and continued walking forward. When he reached the third house, a woman came out from the back door, waved her hand and said, "Quickly, don't shout here. No one is selling eggs anymore.”
Zhaocai smiled flatteringly at her, and when he left, he felt that someone was watching him secretly. Zhaocai continued to shout and walk forward as if nothing had happened. He did not leave with half a pick of eggs until he had visited the entire Chengjia Village.