Chapter 119 - Boredom
Zuo Shaoqing found it hard to believe Luo Xiaoliu's account. He couldn't fathom Yinyi causing such minor mischief, especially when he had deliberately salted Luo Xiaoliu's tea. It seemed too petty.
“Did you witness it?” Zuo Shaoqing couldn't help but be skeptical.
Luo Xiaoliu's face reddened as he stiffened his posture and retorted, “It's just him and me in this room. Who else could it be if not him?”
Suddenly, a chilly gust of wind swept through the room, making Luo Xiaoliu shiver. He clutched his arm and rubbed it anxiously, murmuring, “Could there really be a ghost?”
Zuo Shaoqing detected some unusual sounds and surmised that Yinyi had returned. Seeing Luo Xiaoliu's fright-stricken demeanor, Zuo Shaoqing finally accepted his account.
He gestured for Luo Xiaoliu to step back and then called Yinyi forward. He fixed his gaze on Luo Xiaoliu's composed expression and inquired, “Have you been mistreating my attendant?”
Yinyi stood at a distance of ten paces from Zuo Shaoqing, his face partly obscured by the flickering candlelight. He responded, “It's just for fun.”
Fun? Zuo Shaoqing felt like he'd been hit by a bolt of lightning. He realized that the most significant change in this examination wasn't Luo Xiaoliu or Zuo Shuhui, but rather the seemingly unyielding man before him.
He let out a dry chuckle and sidestepped the topic, asking the question that concerned him most, “How has Master Lu been faring lately?”
“This old man is on his way down.”
Zuo Shaoqing wasn't taken aback, but he did feel a hint of disappointment. He continued to inquire, “Do you have plans for what comes next?”
Yinyi shot Zuo Shaoqing a look as if the question were absurd. With his master having left the capital, how could he not know what lay ahead?
As he listened to Yinyi recount the origins of the situation, Zuo Shaoqing finally grasped that within half a month, several coastal villages near Crane City County had fallen victim to the Sea Ravens. These raiders had engaged in acts of arson, murder, and looting, sparing only the young men and women in the villages while slaughtering everyone else.
When the initial village was attacked, the county authorities not only failed to report it but also concealed the incident from the public. No one could have foreseen that, within a mere half-month, the Sea Ravens would commit a series of atrocities with unparalleled brutality.
When news reached the Prefect of Crane City, he promptly dispatched personnel to search for the sea bandits along the coastline, but they remained elusive.
It was common knowledge that most sea bandits' hideouts were located on remote islands overseas. Even when they raided coastal areas, they would swiftly vanish into thin air. Not even seasoned maritime experts utilizing the full extent of their expertise could track down their secret lairs.
Realizing that he could no longer keep silent, the Prefect of Crane City had no alternative but to submit his report to the imperial authorities. The lengthy report contained a thorough self-critique and an urgent plea for assistance.
Presently, the naval forces of Great Yang were virtually incapacitated. Their dispatched troops couldn't even catch a glimpse of Hai Que's presence. Crane City's Prefect was deeply concerned that Hai Que would persist in his criminal activities.
If such incidents occurred repeatedly, his position as Prefect would be jeopardized.
Zuo Shaoqing was well aware that the county's martial artists were ill-equipped to confront this threat. As for Crane City's Prefect, he would likely face legal repercussions for not maintaining strict control.
“Has the Emperor dispatched Master Lu?” Despite the gravity of the situation, Zuo Shaoqing doubted whether Lu Zheng was capable of handling the eradication of these bandits.
Yinyi, observing Zuo Shaoqing's despondent demeanor, explained with a hint of optimism, “The Emperor has entrusted me with the task of reorganizing the national navy. My journey south serves a dual purpose: to investigate the sea bandits' whereabouts and assess the water masters' capabilities. I won't be away for long.”
Zuo Shaoqing harbored doubts, “If the bandits remain at sea due to hearing rumors and avoid coming ashore, how will Master Lu locate them?”
Yinyi stood tall, his tone dismissive, “They're just a bunch of amateurs; it shouldn't be so challenging to locate them. The issue isn't their strength but the lack of competence among the southern provincial soldiers.”
Zuo Shaoqing pondered this and found it logical. The city guards accustomed to a comfortable life couldn't compare to seasoned battlefield soldiers.
Yet, he wasn't certain if sending these land soldiers to combat the sea bandits would be effective.
He muttered to himself, “I didn't expect the Emperor to place such great trust in Master Lu.” Otherwise, he wouldn't have entrusted him with such a crucial mission.
Lu Zheng already wielded substantial military authority within Great Yang, commanding battle-hardened veterans. The fact that Zhan Yuanfeng had entrusted the naval division to him indicated that their relationship was less strained than external rumors suggested.
Yinyi held little regard for Ji Jiu, privately musing that a resourceful talent like his master was underutilized by the oblivious lord.
Zhan Yuanfeng might fear Lu Zheng, but he certainly had his reasons. He grasped the art of utilizing others to his advantage.
Zuo Shaoqing secretly sighed. Master Lu seemed to be tirelessly occupied, taking rest only when wounded. Since then, he had never ceased working.
In the foreseeable future, if he remained in the capital and held a position, Master Lu would be occupied with his duties and away from home most of the time. Just the thought of it filled him with melancholy.
Zuo Shaoqing had a vague plan forming in his mind. He intended to devise a solid strategy upon Lu Zheng's return.
After learning about Lu Zheng's activities, Zuo Shaoqing inquired about the affairs of the Zuo Family.
What Luo Xiaoliu had shared with him was merely hearsay circulating among others. It paled in comparison to the information Yinyi had discreetly picked up.
Zuo Shaoqing finally grasped the connection between Zuo Shaoyan and Jiang Che.
“So, you're saying that my elder brother suggested that if something were to happen to my elder sister, it would jeopardize Lord Jiang's plans as well?”
“Exactly.” Frankly, Yinyi harbored suspicions about the two of them conspiring for ulterior motives.
Due to not remaining by Lu Zheng's side, Yinyi remained unaware that Jiang Che had considered replacing the two servants with Lu Zheng. Had he known, he could have easily deduced their intentions.
Zuo Shaoqing could piece together a fragment of their plan, but he smirked and thought, “Zuo Shaoyan's intentions are quite transparent. It's not difficult to discern, but he will never gain anything from me in his lifetime!”
His eyes gleamed with calculation as he contemplated how to solidify and make their collaboration more intriguing.
“Yinyi, I need all available information on Vice Minister Jiang!”
Yinyi paused briefly, then replied with respect, “Certainly, it will be provided by tomorrow.”
Zuo Shaoqing was aware that Wu Steel Manor possessed a wealth of information about court officials. As the trusted aide of the new emperor, Jiang Che was undoubtedly a subject of great interest.
He yawned and climbed into bed. “I'm feeling tired,” he announced.
In Ting Lan Yuan, Mrs. Xue personally brought a dish to her daughter's room. Observing her daughter struggling with a handkerchief while holding scissors, she chuckled and asked, “How did you manage to cut that handkerchief?”
“Humph!” Zuo Shuhui discarded the torn handkerchief. “It was originally embroidered for Father. But now that I think about it, he won't even care about it anymore.”
“Why are you so upset with your father? You're well aware of his character. For all these years, your father's greatest desire has been the restoration of the Zuo Family's status. It's only natural for him to treat that wicked individual well.”
“Mother, do you then condone his arrogance within the Zuo Family? If we go out in the future, and people claim that our daughter is a direct descendant of the family, where will our daughter's dignity be?”
“I've underestimated that vile offspring all along. I never suspected that his usual timidity and cowardice were just a fa?ade. Look at his current audacious behavior; does he have any hint of respect left?”
“Indeed, if this continues, our family's standing will diminish sooner or later.”
Mrs. Xue ladled a bowl of soup and handed it to Zuo Shuhui. She gazed at her daughter's teary eyes and sighed, “If you manage to marry into Duke Zhen's household, would you even need to worry about him? Even if he were the top scholar in the district, he still wouldn't measure up.”
Zuo Shuhui's shoulders drooped once more. “Mother, the lady of the house hasn't taken any action. I fear there's little hope.”
“Why are you so anxious?” Mother has been keeping a close watch on this matter. While she hasn't made any overt moves towards our family, she hasn't shown a particular interest in any other family's young ladies either.”
“Then tell me, what is she waiting for?” Zuo Shuhui no longer possessed the same confidence she had upon arriving in the capital, particularly after the kidnapping incident. She felt as though her life had been tainted.
Mrs. Xue furrowed her brow and remarked, “That's what puzzles me. From a logical standpoint, Master Lu isn't young anymore. Young heirs from prominent families his age are already married with children. The old lady shouldn't be in such a hurry.”
In the blink of an eye, Lu Zheng was nearly 20 years old. Zuo Shaoyan was the same age and had been married for several years. If Mrs. Hoe had the inclination, her children would already be running around.
No parent would want their son to remain unmarried, particularly within Duke Zhen Manor, which had a history of five generations of descendants.
However, according to what I heard when the Zuo Family first entered the capital, the lady of the house supposedly started looking for her daughter-in-law a few years ago, yet there have been no developments during these years. It's as though she's indifferent to Master Lu's marriage.
“Mother…” My daughter heard a piece of gossip from our uncle's household,” Zuo Shuhui whispered.
“Yes?”
Zuo Shuhui's face flushed crimson. Her eyes darted as she stammered, “Daughter overheard some chatter from Uncle's relatives. They said… They said Master Lu might be afraid…”
Mrs. Xue interrupted, “Afraid of what?”
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