"You can also go scour the markets for books," Zhou Chunfeng said.
"I’ll try that when I have some free time."
"Also, in the next few days, Disciplinary Officer Liu from the Ministry of Works’ Civilian Equipment Department, along with the Eunuchs from the Inner Transport Bureau, will come to verify your spirit distillation method. They’re very busy, so the time isn’t set, but it will likely be after work hours. You should be prepared," Zhou Chunfeng said.
"Okay."
Li Qingxian stole a glance at Zhou Chunfeng and said, "Uncle Zhou, you know I’m a simple, honest man. Wei Yong definitely won’t let me off the hook, but I have to protect myself. Do you think... you could let me look through some of the Night Guard’s case files? For example, the ones on Wei Yong and Tao Zhi."
"Do you think a man of the Finance Department Disciplinary Officer’s stature is blind to what goes on in the Night Guard? If I were to actually pull his file, he’d know by the next day. Just ask what you want to know. I’ll tell you."
Li Qingxian was overjoyed. "That’s even better! I mainly want to know about Wei Yong’s background, connections, resources, family, and his personal habits."
Zhou Chunfeng thought for a moment, then said, "Wei Yong is a Martial Cultivator from a humble background. He was extremely hardworking when he was young. Later, for some unknown reason, he caught Madam Wei’s eye, and they were wed. Madam Wei’s father was a Junior Sixth-Grade Martial Cultivator who served in the Capital Camp, and her brothers are also successful and quite well-connected. Wei Yong’s smooth career progression in the early and middle stages was almost entirely thanks to his father-in-law. As a result, Madam Wei holds a very high position in the Wei Family, and he has privately complained that his brothers-in-law don’t respect him. Oh, right. I heard from a colleague today that it’s Madam Wei’s birthday tomorrow..."
Li Qingxian noted everything down, then asked about Tao Zhi.
Zhou Chunfeng snorted softly. "Tao Zhi is a scoundrel, plain and simple. Relying on his decent looks and natural talent, he deceived many courtesans in his youth. From what I know personally, at least four women were driven to drown themselves because of him. The man has an uncanny knack for sweet-talking women. Even when some of them reported him, nothing ever came of it. As for his methods for getting promoted..." His already hoarse voice grew even deeper.
Zhou Chunfeng frowned, paused for a moment, and then continued, "It’s mainly through his wives and concubines."
"Are his wives and concubines also from prominent families?" Li Qingxian asked.
Zhou Chunfeng said with a sense of resignation, "You’ve Entered Grade, after all, so you’re considered an adult. There’s no harm in you hearing certain things. In the Night Guard, Tao Zhi has a nickname: the ’Wife-Gifter.’ Behind his back, everyone calls him Tao Qi."
Li Qingxian was stunned for a long moment before saying, "It’s that blatant, huh... For Wei Yong to promote him, then... I get it now."
Zhou Chunfeng took a sip of tea to wet his throat. "Are you planning to use a Fate Skill on them?"
"Nothing escapes your keen eyes, Uncle Zhou!" Li Qingxian said.
"One is Fifth Grade, the other is Seventh Grade. You’re only Junior Tenth Grade," Zhou Chunfeng said.
Li Qingxian smiled. "Don’t worry, I’ll test the waters first. I won’t get myself hurt."
"Shouldn’t you wait a little longer?" Zhou Chunfeng asked.
"You still won’t tell me who the true culprit is, so I can only start dealing with it myself, bit by bit," Li Qingxian said with a sigh.
"I’m not telling you because I’m worried you’ll be reckless. That person is like a mad dog right now, and I’m afraid he’ll do something desperate. With me keeping him in check, even if he makes a move on you, he can only use his overt power, which is actually less of a threat," Zhou Chunfeng said.
Li Qingxian was silent for a long while before saying, "Alright."
"I know you’re not satisfied with this. If he makes another move, I’ll inform you immediately. I won’t keep you in the dark," Zhou Chunfeng said.
"Thank you, Uncle Zhou!"
Li Qingxian glanced at the table again. He’d come at a bad time—there were no pastries. And so, he bid farewell to Zhou Chunfeng and left, carrying the Five Thunders True Method Collection and Annotation and Chronicles of the Fate Master.
Zhou Chunfeng gazed at the lotus buds in the pond outside his door, shaking his head in resignation. "You’re even more of a handful than your father was. I just hope you don’t end up like him, with half the court as your political enemies."
Not far away, at the office of Wei Yong, Disciplinary Officer of the Finance Department, a sign with the words "Golden Toad" hung by the entrance.
Inside the building, wealth-attracting objects like a Jade Carved Cabbage, a Money Tree, and a Three-Legged Golden Toad were placed everywhere, filling the room with a golden gleam.
"Lord Wei, we have to save Hong Cheng!" Tao Zhi said, his expression anxious. His otherwise handsome face was twisted into a slight snarl.
Wei Yong, a man of about fifty with plain features but a composed air, leisurely lit some incense. He kept his eyes narrowed for a good while before finally speaking, "Do you really think the Beautiful Scholar is just a pretty face? If I were to go over there, he’d have ten thousand excuses to fob me off, and he might even turn the tables and blame me."
"So we’re just going to stand by and watch Hong Cheng suffer in the Divine Prison?"
"He’s just a grain of sand, and a disappointing one at that. But then again, that Li Qingxian certainly takes after his father. Ruthless and vicious." Wei Yong took a sip of his tea.
"You have another plan, don’t you?" Tao Zhi smiled.
Wei Yong glanced at Tao Zhi. "Not so anxious anymore?"
"I was anxious because I botched the job. I’m not anxious now because I know you must have a foolproof plan," Tao Zhi said with a grin.
"Going to them now would be a complete waste of the leverage Hong Cheng’s situation gives us. But if we choose another time—for example, when the people from the Ministry of Works and the Inner Treasury are meeting with Zhou Chunfeng—and we step in then, the effect will be completely different."
"How so?"
"I found out yesterday that the Divine Capital Bureau is planning to partner with the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works, and the Inner Treasury on a business deal. As for what kind of deal it is, everyone’s lips are sealed, so I couldn’t dig up any details. But there’s no way they can bypass our Finance Department. So, I’ve had someone keep an eye on the Divine Capital Bureau. As soon as they begin formal talks, I’ll find an excuse to join in," Wei Yong said.
"So you mean, we use the excuse that Zhou Chunfeng allowed his subordinate to secretly harm a member of the Night Guard, and use that to sabotage their partnership? I think that’ll work," Tao Zhi said with a smile.
Wei Yong sighed and silently drained his teacup.
Tao Zhi observed him furtively and asked in a low voice, "Why the sigh, my lord?"
"You are far too shortsighted. No wonder so many of our colleagues objected when I promoted you. If I sabotage their partnership, I’ll be offending the Ministry of Works, the Inner Treasury, and the Ministry of Revenue all at the same time. And what’s the benefit? To prove a point? I intend to hold on to the ’Hong Cheng’ card and not play it. This will make Zhou Chunfeng worry that I’ll obstruct things, forcing him to compromise. That way, I get a piece of the pie from the business deal, I can use the opportunity to network with colleagues from the various departments, and I get to leave a bad taste in Zhou Chunfeng’s mouth. Three birds with one stone."
"Your Lordship is truly farsighted. This humble subordinate only understands petty gains and is not even one ten-thousandth of your equal. I am ashamed." Tao Zhi raised a hand and wiped his forehead with his sleeve.
"It’s fine. I was young once, too," Wei Yong said with a small smile.
Tao Zhi took half a step forward and whispered, "My lord, Xiaocui at home is still talking about you. Why don’t we bring her to the banquet tonight?"
Wei Yong cleared his throat, glanced around the room and out the door, then lowered his voice. "Absolutely not. My wife is quite sharp. I can’t let the two of them meet. You will only bring your primary wife."
"Yes, my lord." Tao Zhi took half a step back, his expression unchanged.
「Street Patrol Room.」
Li Qingxian returned to Room A9 and opened the Five Thunders True Method Collection and Annotation. After studying for a quarter hour, his head was spinning.
’This stuff... I really need to find a master to teach me. Learning on my own is too slow...’
As he thought this, Li Qingxian closed the Five Thunders True Method Collection and Annotation and opened Chronicles of the Fate Master. He was soon engrossed for a full hour.
As dusk approached, with the sun yet to set, Han Anbo and Weiping hurried into the room.
Li Qingxian put down his book and looked at the two men, who both wore delighted expressions.
"Captain Li, a perfect opportunity has presented itself for tonight. We were wondering if you’d be interested?"
Li Qingxian said, "Tell me about it first."
Han Anbo said, "We’ve discovered that tomorrow is Madam Wei’s birthday. Tonight, Wei Yong and his wife have booked the Jiangnuan Room at the Xiujiang Building to host a thank-you banquet for some of his colleagues from the Finance Department. The Xiujiang Building is on the South Shore of the Grand Canal, and the windows of the Jiangnuan Pavilion face the river. If we get a boat on the north side of the river, you’ll be able to see them and perform a fate-reading."