Volume One: The Carefree Journey Amid Indistinguishable Paper Leaves Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Black Hand

As soon as Dou Lianzhong spoke, not only did Gu Qinghan’s expression change, but Yang Ning’s face also darkened.

“Is Young Master Dou jesting?” Gu Qinghan recovered her composure swiftly. “Master Dou is the Minister of Revenue. From what I know, your household is quite affluent and certainly not in need of pawning possessions. Moreover, the pawn ticket clearly states that the pledger is named Zhao Xin. I wonder, what connection does this have with Young Master Dou?”

Dou Lianzhong smiled. “To be honest, Zhao Xin is right here.” He turned and called out, “Brother Zhao, please come over.”

Among those who had accompanied Dou Lianzhong, a man stepped forward. He was dressed plainly, his features unremarkable—someone you’d hardly notice in a crowd.

“Manager Xu, do you still remember me?” Zhao Xin came forward, cupping his hands to Manager Xu. “Thank you for your help last time. I’ve kept it in mind ever since.” His accent was not that of the capital—he seemed to be from out of town.

Manager Xu was an old hand in business, though earlier he’d lost his composure. Now, seeing Zhao Xin arrive with Dou Lianzhong, he instantly realized something, his face changing slightly. Nonetheless, out of habit, he cupped his hands and said, “So it’s Mr. Zhao.”

“Manager Xu’s memory serves him well,” Zhao Xin replied with a smile. “I was warmly received at your establishment half a month ago—it’s still fresh in my mind.”

Dou Lianzhong said, “Madam Third, this is Zhao Xin, the owner of the pawn ticket. He hails from Lanyang, Jingnan, and is a distant relative of the Dou family. Not long ago, he needed some silver urgently, so he pawned some items at your establishment. The pawn tickets are here, and at that time, he received seven thousand taels of silver.”

Gu Qinghan, clever as ice and snow, already sensed something amiss. She asked, “Mr. Zhao, are you here to redeem the pledge?”

Zhao Xin replied with a smile, “It was a live pawn, as I discussed with Manager Xu. I said I’d return within a month at the latest to redeem it. Now that my affairs are settled and the silver remains unused, I plan to return home soon and thought to redeem my belongings before leaving. Young Master Dou hosted a farewell banquet for me tonight, and as we passed by, we heard there’d been a fire, so we came to see.”

Dou Lianzhong sighed, “Madam Third, it appears your establishment cannot produce the pledged items. Zhao Xin’s possessions were family heirlooms—now all destroyed by fire. This will be troublesome.”

“As a pawnshop, redemption is expected,” Gu Qinghan said. “Even if the items are damaged, with the ticket here, compensation will be paid according to the contract.”

“Madam Third, the compensation will not be a small sum,” Dou Lianzhong shook his head, sighing. “According to the agreement, if all is destroyed, the payout is at least fifteen thousand taels of silver. Of course, the Marquis of Brocade’s stipend is three thousand, so this sum is nothing. Since everything is burned and you are busy, we won’t trouble you further. Tomorrow morning, we’ll call on you at your residence!”

The steward Qiu, who had been silent, finally spoke. “Young Master Dou, Mr. Zhao, could you allow us a little more time?”

“A little more time?” Dou Lianzhong frowned. “What do you mean? Is your marquisate planning to delay payment?”

Steward Qiu hastily replied, “Certainly not, it’s just—”

“Just think Mr. Zhao hasn’t had his fill of the capital yet,” Yang Ning suddenly interrupted with a smile. “Steward Qiu means well, but if Mr. Zhao truly wishes to redeem his pledge, then tomorrow, come to the Marquis of Brocade’s residence. The compensation owed will be paid in full.”

At his words, Steward Qiu immediately frowned, and Gu Qinghan looked surprised.

“Good—Young Master is decisive,” Dou Lianzhong said with a half-smile. “In that case, tomorrow we’ll surely call on you.” He bowed to Gu Qinghan. “Madam Third, we’ll see you tomorrow.” Without further words, he led Zhao Xin and the others away.

“Your Highness, this is—” Steward Qiu wanted to speak but, seeing the owners conferring nearby, he held his tongue.

Yang Ning said, “Steward Qiu, tonight you must labor a bit. Have everyone tidy up here, and at dawn, send someone to the capital’s yamen to request an official investigation.”

“An investigation?” Steward Qiu was startled.

Yang Ning sneered. “Do you not realize this was arson? We must have the authorities investigate thoroughly.”

Steward Qiu opened his mouth, but Gu Qinghan said, “Steward Qiu, follow His Highness’s instructions. Send someone at dawn to bring the capital’s officials for an investigation.” She turned to Duan Canghai. “Canghai, assist Steward Qiu in handling the aftermath.”

Duan Canghai agreed. Gu Qinghan, exhausted, boarded the carriage. Before the curtains fell, Yang Ning slipped inside as well, ordering the coachman to return to the residence.

The Marquis’s carriage was spacious enough. The two sat opposite each other in the dim light, though Yang Ning’s sharp gaze could still make out Gu Qinghan’s features. He spoke softly, “Third Aunt, things have come to this, there’s no use worrying. We can only take it one step at a time.”

Gu Qinghan gave a bitter smile. “Since the general passed, nothing has gone smoothly. Trouble comes one after another, and tonight’s fire is the worst yet.” She asked, “Ning’er, you told Dou Lianzhong to visit tomorrow, but we don’t have that much silver at the residence.”

Yang Ning smiled. “Third Aunt, don’t you find this strange?”

“What do you mean?”

“Zhao Xin pawned items worth seven thousand taels—surely a considerable sum?” Yang Ning gazed at her in the gloom, her eyes like flowing water, still luminous.

Gu Qinghan nodded. “Seven thousand taels is no small amount. I remember clearly. At the time, the general’s remains were being secretly transported back to the capital; no one at the residence knew of his passing yet. The pawnshop received this transaction, and three thousand taels were transferred from the residence.”

Yang Ning’s gaze sharpened. “After the deal was done, the general’s remains arrived in the capital?”

Gu Qinghan sighed. “Exactly. I regretted it then—had I known about the funeral, I wouldn’t have made the deal. But once the contract was signed, there was no going back.”

Yang Ning sneered. “Seven thousand taels is no trivial sum. Zhao Xin pawned his items before father’s return, and as soon as the fire broke out, he came to redeem them. Isn’t that suspicious?”

“It is indeed odd,” Gu Qinghan frowned. “And Dou Lianzhong’s sudden appearance is even more unusual.”

Yang Ning pondered briefly. “Third Aunt, you said things have been unlucky since father’s passing—silver from Jiangling delayed, then a mysterious fire, and now Zhao Xin’s redemption?”

“There’s also your stabbing at the villa in Zhongling,” Gu Qinghan said quietly.

Yang Ning spoke softly. “Third Aunt, do you not sense these events are connected—that none happened in isolation?”

“Connected?” Gu Qinghan was startled. “Ning’er, why do you say that?”

Yang Ning said, “I feel there’s a hidden hand behind all this, striking at our Marquis of Brocade.”

“A hidden hand?”

Yang Ning leaned closer, lowering his voice. “After the flames died down, I went in to look. Guess what I found?”

“What did you find?”

“There were traces of oil on the floor of the burned pawn vault,” Yang Ning said quietly.

Gu Qinghan trembled, grasping Yang Ning’s wrist. “Ning’er, are you certain? You found oil traces in the pawn vault?”

Yang Ning nodded. “I checked carefully. There were two or three spots. I sniffed them—the scent was unmistakable, the most flammable black oil. It ignites instantly. According to their account, the fire spread rapidly; in moments, the vault was engulfed. It must have been the black oil.”

Gu Qinghan frowned, but now she grew calm, thinking for a while before replying, “If so, the fire was deliberately set.”

“I’m afraid so,” Yang Ning said. “And it’s likely connected to Dou Lianzhong. Even if he didn’t do it himself, he’s involved.”

“If Dou Lianzhong truly orchestrated this, would they burn the pawnshop just for fifteen thousand taels in compensation?” Gu Qinghan frowned. “I doubt it’s that simple.”

“Third Aunt, Dou Lianzhong’s father, Dou Kui, is Minister of Revenue?” Yang Ning asked. “Does their family bear any grudge against ours?”

Gu Qinghan nodded. “Dou Kui became Minister of Revenue six years ago. When he was just an assistant minister, he had some rapport with the general. The general fought on the front lines, and the Ministry supplied food and funds. Dou Kui personally escorted provisions a few times, so their relationship was good. When he was promoted, the general spoke for him before the emperor.”

“So, father did Dou’s family some favors?”

“Originally, the families got along. But two years ago, the general submitted a memorial to the court, and Dou Kui was publicly reprimanded by the emperor and docked half a year’s salary. I heard it was because the provisions arrived late; the general was upright and impeached Dou Kui. Since then, the families have held a grudge, though Dou Kui remained respectful in public.”

“I see.” Yang Ning nodded thoughtfully. “So, the Dou family is entangled in this, and the fire is no ordinary matter.”

“But without evidence, we can do nothing,” Gu Qinghan frowned. “Tomorrow, Dou Lianzhong will bring Zhao Xin to the residence—not to mention fifteen thousand taels, even five thousand is beyond our means right now.”

Yang Ning chuckled. “No need to worry, Third Aunt. Since Dou Lianzhong is involved, I’ll make him suffer the consequences of his own schemes.” His expression turned cold. “If they want to kick us while we’re down, I’ll see who has the last laugh.”

Gu Qinghan saw Yang Ning’s confidence and felt both hopeful and anxious. She truly did not know how he would deal with Zhao Xin’s claim for the immense compensation.