Chapter 476: Wait until we find it first (1/2)
Chapter 476: Wait until we find it first
They had arrived at the black market!
The three of them entered the market and paused to talk at Wu Shu’s grain shop. All of the workers crowded around them once they saw Han Yunxi come in. After their mistress had bought the imperial uncle’s grain here last time, all of them held her in reverence and admiration. They dearly hoped that she could help them out in the black markets again one day and do big business. Here was a woman who could really make others pay! If she was around, they were sure to turn into a big power in the black markets within a year and a half. Of course, all of the workers held back once the trio reached the entrance to the back courtyard. That was a place where none dared to follow besides Wu Shu himself.
Long Feiye had just sat down when Wu Shu handed him a thick stack of materials with detailed records of Zhangsun Zelin’s assets in the black market, such as his various shops, warehouses, and properties. Han Yunxi was startled. She never thought that Long Feiye’s men could find out so much just from a single tipoff via Ouyang Ningnuo. It was likely Long Feiye knew more about the black markets than either of them.
Long Feiye carefully perused the materials while Gu Qi Sha grew restless. “Long Feiye, do you have any plans or not? Share them with this old fellow!”
Long Feiye ignored him. Han Yunxi wanted to ask the same question, since she’d hardly found out anything during their carriage ride, much less what Long Feiye was planning to do against Zhangsun Zelin. Although Ouyang Ningnuo had gave them a clue, it was still a difficult case to untangle. If news of the collaboration between Medicine City and Zhangsun Zelin leaked out, it would ruin Medicine City’s reputation as well as Zhangsun Zelin’s prestige. His business would be over once the information became public! Any dealer that exposed the identity of his clients and allies would never find a willing customer again! Thus, the only way to make Zhangsun Zelin obediently hand over his list of contacts was to threaten him with knowledge of the secret, smuggled stash of gunpowder.
This was the crucial point. The gunpowder was a far more serious affair than some medicinal ingredient trade. It concerned Tianning’s royal family and its enemies! Zhangsun Zelin wasn’t likely to leave any hints lying around, so he might even deny everything after they found the gunpowder themselves. Since this was the black market, they couldn’t very well send in a bunch of imperial guards to search the premises. Moreover, if Long Feiye wanted to use this as an excuse to eliminate Chu Qingge, a potential candidate for empress, then he couldn’t startle the snake in the grass. He had to get his hands on conclusive evidence before forwarding it to Emperor Tianhui. Han Yunxi carefully considered all points and began to wonder whether they should have come to the black market so soon. Perhaps it might have been easier to start with Chu Qingge’s side instead.
Long Feiye finished reading the documents and tossed them over to Gu Qi Sha. “Take a look at these places, see which ones are likely to hide gunpowder.”
“What are you planning?” Gu Qi Sha asked, rather perplexed.
“To find the gunpowder” Long Feiye replied coldly.
Han Yunxi and Gu Qi Sha were both caught by surprise, and blurted out simultaneously, “And then?”
“Wait until we find it first!” Long Feiye intoned.
“That’s the stupidest method of them all. Even if you find it, Zhangsun Zelin won’t admit that it has anything to do with him!” Gu Qi Sha said, before reminding helpfully, “Furthermore, you’ll lose a perfect chance to move against the Chu Clan!”
“Shall we make a bet?” Long Feiye asked with amusement.
“What kind of bet?” Gu Qi Sha grew interested.
“A bet on Zhangsun Zelin,” Long Feiye replied.
“And the terms?” Gu Qi Sha asked.
“If your lordship wins, all of the plants in your courtyard will belong to Han Yunxi as well. If your lordship loses, choose as you like.”
Han Yunxi couldn’t help but to grin at his words, but Gu Qi Sha simply laughed out loud. “I’m not betting!” He wasn’t as easy to trick as Mu Linger, nor was he half as dull. He didn’t understand a bit about these black markets, so he wouldn’t take the risk and bet with Long Feiye. Who would ever bother to bet with that man unless he or she were absolutely certain of the odds?
Han Yunxi chuckled, while Long Feiye’s lips rose in scorn. But Gu Qi Sha simply reverted to his eccentric ways and hummed a random tune as he read through the materials. He looked absent-minded and casual, but still was astute enough to pick out a few likely locations for gunpowder storage. He asked in a doubtful tone, “Long Feiye, are you planning to investigate the places one by one?”
“Do you have any better ideas?” Long Feiye countered.
Gu Qi Sha didn’t have to think twice, because he had none. He rose to his feet with a lazy stretch. “Then you take your time searching. This old fellow’s off to catch up on some sleep. Where’s your best room?”
“Half of Pill Fiend Pharmacy belongs to you. If you don’t want to get involved, go out and turn right. I won’t see you off!” Long Feiye said coldly.
Making a right turn at the door would lead one straight to the exit of the black market. Gu Qi Sha resentfully shrugged his shoulders. “Then I’ll search. You and I will scour through them both one by one, how’s that?”
Han Yunxi couldn’t figure it out. Long Feiye had always been quick and decisive in his actions and liked to work alone, but he had insisted on bringing along Pill Fiend this time. Does he have other goals in mind? But we’ve already settled things with Pill Fiend Pharmacy, so what other motives does he have? Because she didn’t know, she kept quiet and prepared to follow them when Long Feiye commanded her to stay behind.
“Your Highness!” Han Yunxi called out anxiously.
“You can’t help out with these kind of covert investigations,” Long Feiye replied.
“Lass, he’s saying you’ll only be a liability if you come along. You don’t even know how to flip over a wall, right?” Gu Qi Sha said with a grin.