Chapter 255: Chapter 204: Anti-Xiao Alliance

It wasn’t long before news arrived.

To be precise, the news was brought back by Xiaodie from outside the Spring Lotus Garden.

"Master Chen, I heard that Master Dongchen committed suicide. He even wrote a confession."

"It says he was possessed and goaded by the Liu Family’s second young master into making a terrible mistake. It also says he used a veteran of the Dingyuan Army, Ge the Third, to order the criminals in the Three Towns to burn the summer grain."

Xiaodie patted her chest, which was already filling out, and said with lingering fear, "Ge the Third, of all people."

"Master Chen, not long ago, Ge the Third was driving me and Miss Guanli around the Prefecture City. I never thought he’d be that kind of person!"

Chen Yi sat by the pond, staring at his empty hook. "You can know a person’s face, but not their heart," he replied listlessly.

It had been so long since he’d last fished, he’d forgotten he shouldn’t have done it with Xiao Wuge.

It was another day with no catch.

Xiao Wuge, however, felt differently. As he tossed a Golden Carp he’d just caught back into the water, he said, "The bad guys are hidden so deep. They’re just terrible."

Xiaodie nodded at his words. "The Young Master is right."

"It’s such a shame, though. Ge the Third has disappeared. But the Second Miss has already sent people to track him down."

"Also, also! The news about the summer grain being burned in Iron Wall Town has spread all over the city, but the stories are all over the place."

"Some say it was an enemy invasion, people from the Barbarian Race or Poshisu Country. Others say it was mountain bandits from the border between Shu and Jing State."

"The most outrageous one is a rumor that the Second Miss staged the whole thing, wanting to exchange the summer grain for silver to build the Mutual Market."

Hm?

Chen Yi raised an eyebrow slightly and turned his head to ask, "Is that last rumor widespread?"

Xiaodie nodded gravely. "Quite a few. I heard from one of the boys in the front courtyard that it’s being spread in the taverns and marketplaces."

Chen Yi frowned to himself, a chill creeping into his heart.

It was actually quite normal for rumors to spread whenever something big happened, but most of them were just wild tales meant for bragging.

Things like, "My neighbor is in Iron Wall Town. It was pouring rain last night when the enemy nation attacked!" were all just to attract attention, to prove one’s own importance by bragging about knowing things others didn’t.

These kinds of rumors were rarely meant to be malicious slander.

This last rumor, on the other hand, was far too pointed and purposeful. It was even logically self-contained. Clearly, someone had deliberately started it.

’The only ones who could come up with such a scheme and act on it so quickly must have known about the arson in advance.’

’The Bright Moon Building, the Liu Family, the Hidden Guard, myself, and... that Financier pulling the strings from behind the scenes?’

Black Tooth of the Bright Moon Building had died at the hands of Xiao Jinghong. Lou Yuxue was busy erasing any trace of the Hidden Guard, and her other people were all worried about the Xiao Family finding them. They wouldn’t dare to surface for a short while.

The same went for the Hidden Guard. In just half a day, orchestrating Xiao Dongchen’s removal was the absolute limit of what they could accomplish.

Even if they wanted to release rumors to sabotage the Mutual Market, they wouldn’t do it now.

And then there was the Liu Family...

They were likely still completely confused. They probably didn’t even know that the Xiao Family had Liu Wen’s body.

Eliminate the other possibilities, and what’s left, however unlikely, is the only solution.

—The one who acted was the Financier hiding in the shadows!

After a moment of thought, Chen Yi let out a soft breath. ’Thank goodness,’ he thought.

He had pieced most of it together.

’The Financier must have prepared these rumors in advance.’

’Fortunately, the summer grain losses in the Three Towns weren’t severe. Otherwise, the Xiao Family would be in serious trouble.’

If the Bright Moon Building and the Hidden Guard had succeeded in burning the summer grain, the impact of that rumor would have been devastating.

At that point, the Xiao Family would have had to investigate the fire in the Three Towns and solve the Dingyuan Army’s grain shortage. They would also have had to face potential investigations and punishments from the Imperial Court and other government offices, all triggered by the rumors.

Most importantly, if the Xiao Family got bogged down in these troubles, it would inevitably impact the construction of the Mutual Market.

At that point, the Xiao Family—short on people, grain, and money—would be facing threats from all sides. The pressure from an Imperial Court investigation, spurred by the rumors, would be immense. Other than leading the Dingyuan Army in rebellion or becoming bandits, their only option would be to wait for death.

Even if the Old Patriarch and Xiao Jinghong responded perfectly, exhausting their connections to secure aid, they would still have paid a heavy price.

Vicious. Truly vicious!

This scheme to kill three birds with one stone was truly venomous!

Having pieced most of it together, Chen Yi couldn’t help but twist his lips into a smirk. "I suppose I’ve underestimated the people of this world."

He had originally believed his own plans accounted for everyone, but he had never expected that low-key Financier to be so ruthless.

They bided their time, but when they finally struck, it was to drive the Xiao Family to their doom.

Far more vicious and clever than the likes of Xiao Dongchen and Liu Wen.

With this in mind, Chen Yi gave an order, his expression unreadable:

"Xiaodie, go out and look around again. See if there’s any other news."

"Oh, and focus on the reactions of the various government offices—the Governor’s Office, the Inspectorate Office, the Prefectural Magistrate’s Office, and so on."

"Also, ask about the price of grain and medicinal herbs."

"You got it."

Without a second thought, Xiaodie left the Spring Lotus Garden.

Xiao Wuge slowly caught on and asked, "Brother-in-law, is there a problem with those rumors? It’s all just street gossip."

Chen Yi shook his head slightly. "It’s nothing if only a few people believe it. But if enough people believe it, a rumor becomes reality."

"Then... then will it affect our family?"

"A little, but not much."

"That’s good..."

About two hours later, Xiaodie returned.

But the gossipy expression from before was gone, replaced by a strange look.

"Master Chen, it’s so strange."

Chen Yi put away his fishing rod and looked at her seriously. "What’s strange?"

"It’s as if those rumors vanished into thin air. Now, everyone in the city is praising the Second Miss for her incredible valor, for eliminating an Elder from some ’Building,’ and for her cultivation reaching the Upper Three Grades."

"They’re also saying she patrolled all Three Towns in a single night, thwarting the villains’ plot and saving the Dingyuan Army’s grain supply."

Chen Yi was stunned for a moment, then broke into a wry laugh. "What else?"

’They sure react quickly.’

’The Financier must have learned the truth of last night’s events and immediately rearranged their plans.’

"And about the government offices... The Prefectural Yamen and the Governor’s Office haven’t done much. I heard they just sent people to ask the Master for confirmation."

"But at the Inspectorate Office, someone had apparently already written up a memorial to the throne. If Lord Tang hadn’t discovered it in time, it would have been sent to the Capital Prefecture."

’Just as I thought,’ Chen Yi said to himself. ’One link after another. That Financier really did account for all the follow-up actions.’

’No doubt the prices of grain and medicinal herbs fluctuated today, too. Or perhaps some grain stores are reporting shortages.’

Just then, Xiaodie continued, "What’s even stranger is that the second steward, who’s in charge of procurement for the estate, said that this morning, several of the larger grain stores in the city raised their prices. They’re claiming this summer’s harvest was poor and grain is scarce..."

Chen Yi cut in, "They all raised their prices?"

Xiaodie nodded. "Yes, all of them did."

’Well, it seems the Financier isn’t a single person, but a group.’

’No wonder they move so fast, their reach is so wide, and they get information so quickly...’

’But what is this supposed to be?’

’An Anti-Xiao Alliance?’

"Oh, right, Master Chen! Before I came back, I saw the Second Miss leaving with some Armored Warriors. I heard they found some ’Building’."

’Bright Moon Building?’

’No, it’s the Spring Rain Building.’

Chen Yi realized what was happening. Their opponent was trying to use Xiao Jinghong’s hand to eliminate the Spring Rain Building, that den of vice, to keep the Xiao Family from investigating them.

Tsk, tsk, tsk. Lou Yuxue really was in a miserable spot.

’She’s probably going crazy with anger right now, huh?’