lcionline Chapter 169 Obtaining the Account Book by Coincidence
Chapter 169 Obtaining the Account Book by Coincidence
However, Huang Wei did not go to Juhonglou very often, basically once every ten days, and he would definitely stay at Juhonglou on the first of every month.
Uncle Zhong heard this from a nearby beggar, who had been begging near the brothel for a long time, so he knew a lot about what was going on there.
Lin Jingyou asked again, "Does anyone from the brothel occasionally go to the governor's mansion?"
Uncle Zhong looked at Lin Jingyou in surprise and nodded, "That's true, but the rumors out there are that Miss Hongxiu misses the governor, or that she's seriously ill and wants the governor to see her."
Lin Jingyou asked again, "Apart from the brothel, has Uncle Zhong found out about the relationship between the gambling house and the governor?"
Combining the matters of the brothel and the gambling house, he is now basically certain that the brothel and the gambling house are most likely Huang Wei's industries.
Uncle Zhong looked at Lin Jingyou in admiration and said, "It's true! It was that little beggar who said that he saw the governor's steward coming out of the gambling house several times, and each time he was personally escorted out by the gambling house owner."
"That makes sense. If my guess is correct, the gambling house and brothel should both be the governor's businesses. However, our dynasty has a clear regulation that officials are not allowed to engage in business. I wonder where these two businesses are located." Lin Jingyou tapped the table with his index finger, thinking.
"I guess it is most likely registered under his wife's name. His wife is not the daughter of an official, but the daughter of a wealthy businessman, and the only child of the wealthy businessman." Uncle Zhong told the news he had heard.
"In that case, it is very likely to be the case. Since we can't control him in this regard, we can only think of other ways." Lin Jingyou frowned and kept thinking about solutions in his mind.
Uncle Zhong smiled and said, "I also discovered something interesting. This Miss Hongxiu is a Buddhist and often goes to Putuo Temple on the outskirts of the city to burn incense. She goes there once a month. And there is a young monk in Putuo Temple who looks exactly like Miss Hongxiu."
Yan Hui asked hurriedly, "So, isn't that little novice monk Miss Hongxiu's child?"
Uncle Zhong didn't shake his head, nor did he nod. "I can't be sure, but I think it's pretty close."
Lin Jingyou asked doubtfully, "If Uncle Zhong could find out about this, then doesn't that mean everyone knows about it?"
"No. It was a coincidence, a truly extraordinary one. Yesterday, as we were coming here, we heard a child crying for help. We went over to see that it was several men in black chasing a young monk. That young monk was the one who had escaped from Putuo Temple, the young novice monk who looked so much like Miss Hongxiu."
"What? How could such a coincidence happen?" Yan Hui asked in surprise.
Then, Uncle Zhong smiled mysteriously again, "Next is some great news. We rescued that young monk, and he was holding an account book in his arms. I didn't know what it was before, but today I know it must be the account book of Huang Wei's bribes."
"Where is the little monk now?" Lin Jingyou asked immediately.
"Yesterday I had planned to send him back to Putuo Temple, but he refused to go back and said he wanted to go to Juhonglou to look for Aunt Hongxiu. I went to Juhonglou this morning, but the madam said Hongxiu didn't see guests, so I left the little monk in the inn." Uncle Zhong replied.
Yan Hui clapped his hands. "This is truly great news! Huang Wei, this old scoundrel, most people keep their account books in their study. But he actually left his account books in a Buddhist temple, and it even fell into the hands of a little kid."
Lin Jingyou shook his head. "No, I guess it was left in the brothel, but Miss Hongxiu was worried about being discovered in the brothel, so she left the account book in the most unlikely place, which is the Buddhist temple."
Uncle Zhong nodded in agreement. "I agree with Master Lin. The question now is, what should we do with this account book? With it, we have the governor's weak spot."
Lin Jingyou looked at Yan Hui, but still respected Yan Hui's opinion.
Yan Hui clapped his hands and said, "This is easy. Just go tell Huang Wei that we have the account books. If you dare to touch us, just try!"
Uncle Zhong choked. This kid is too honest! But now that I put it that way, the solution is feasible.
Lin Jingyou thought for a moment and replied, "No rush. We are on his territory now. If we threaten him now, we may not be able to leave Fuzhou alive."
"Yes, this old man is very insidious. If he sends someone to assassinate us on the way, I won't be able to return to the capital, and you will never see Sister Wan Ning again." Yan Hui said, stroking his chin with his fingers.
After a while, he tapped his hands with his fan and said, "Got it. Uncle Zhong and I will take the account book and ride back to Beijing as fast as we can. When we get back, I'll write a letter to the old man and tell him that the account book is in my hands and that he can't touch us."
"But what if he gets angry and arrests Master Lin, and threatens the prince to hand over the account book? What will the prince do?" Uncle Zhong asked.
Lin Jingyou analyzed, "He probably wouldn't act rashly. The fact that he was willing to lower his status to marry a merchant woman, and to marry only one wife, shows that he's patient enough. He's been running gambling houses and brothels in Fuzhou for so many years, and it's definitely not for the sake of making money."
Yan Hui continued, "Brothels are the best places to get information, and gambling houses are the most profitable places. So he most likely earned so much money to support Dai Yongcheng, that is, to support the Eighth Prince!"
"But the emperor has already appointed a crown prince. Are they trying to rebel? Besides, the eighth prince is only three years old. Are they trying to establish a puppet emperor?" Uncle Zhong said in shock.
"Whether he wants to establish himself as king or establish a puppet emperor, Huang Wei's motives are impure. We'd better leave Fuzhou now. Huang Wei should be busy looking for the account books during this period and will not cause us any trouble." Lin Jingyou analyzed.
"Okay, but what about the little monk?"
"Then send it to the door of Juhonglou, and someone will naturally come to look for Miss Hongxiu. By the way, as for the account book, just make a fake one for him so that the child can't tell it." Yan Hui waved his hand.
"Okay, I'll go find someone to copy the account book now." After saying that, Uncle Zhong went to the bookstore to get someone.
Not long after, Uncle Zhong returned with a copy of the account book. He had only copied the cover and the first few pages, leaving the rest blank.
"Sir, the Juhonglou will be open to welcome guests tonight. I will have someone send the little monk to the door, and then we will leave the city early tomorrow morning."
Lin Jingyou took the account book and flipped through it casually, then bowed to Uncle Zhong and said, "Thank you, Uncle Zhong. I'm sorry to bother you."
Uncle Zhong quickly helped Lin Jingyou up, "Mr. Lin, please stand up quickly. Mr. Lin is a good friend of my family's eldest son, so there's no need to be so formal."