Chapter 290.2: Ambushed?

Unless someone promises them to separately arrange a place for them, including a household register, land, and so on, ensuring that all of them in the future can all live worry-free. Jing Wan followed up.

Theres benefit as a lure, and also as a threat. However, in Li Hong Yuans eyes, its also possible for there to be a third party involved, creating a situation outside of the circ.u.mstances.

Thats right, one word out of line, and I will exterminate you. In any case, officials sending forces to destroy bandits, that is only natural and expected.

Then, Ah Yuan wants to put out news that we got murdered?

Such an ominous matter, how can one put out? Just let nature take its course. Whatever news those people receive will be whatever it is. Once we reach Chongzhou Fu, that will be when its over with. Towards other peoples impatience, Li Hong Yuan has always been very willing to laugh at. Especially since among these people, there were those scheming to kill him.

The previous matter can just let it pa.s.s, but this time, its truly life or death unknown. Should we pa.s.s on a message to his Majesty and my grandparents?

On your grandparents side, prior to leaving the capital, already let someone inform them, if they hear any bad news, no need to pay attention, just wait another three to five days, then see.

In other words, a certain someone really did make preparations long ago.

However, Li Hong Yuan just mentioned the Luo family, and not Le Cheng Emperor. Jing Wan also didnt mention either. Although he was her father-in-law, towards that kind of sc.u.mbag, letting him worry and be anxious was also not bad.

Thus, Jing Wan also tossed aside all her misgivings, continuing to advance according to the scheduled itinerary, having this treated as a relatively fast paced trip.

Although because the things they brought along werent considered much, and even if it was complete in all aspects, the servants also not lacking, it still wont be too comfortable. Jing Wan pretended to angrily grumble that it was Li Hong Yuans fault for having her raised increasingly delicate. Li Hong Yuan shamelessly expressed, even if a tigress of a military family, after marrying, would still become increasingly delicate in certain areas, else it certainly must be that her husband wasnt good enough. Since he himself was sufficiently good, then for his wife to become delicate, that is only normal.

Wheres your face?

Already got eaten up by him eight hundred years ago.

Speaking of which, the number of people in their party also wasnt few. This grandiose procession, aside from the clothes somewhat changing, and the number of times Li Hong Yuan and Jing Wan showed their faces few, along the way, they just did whatever they should be doing, not even remotely close with the word low-key, yet they didnt attract any attention. Of course, this wasnt unrelated to the fact that along the way, they didnt pa.s.s through large cities.

On the night of the seventh, the sound asleep Li Hong Yuan got quietly woken up. Jing Wan was currently fast asleep in his arms. He didnt move, just letting someone have the message sent onto the horse carriage.

Gong mama had the message handed to him, lighting a small lantern, only capable of illuminating a square cun

[1]

of area. Li Hong Yuan borrowed the light and quickly skimmed over the contents of the letter.

Li Hong Yuans expression didnt change. So a third party really did appear. The people on their boat didnt get ambushed, but rather on a relatively wide river surface, got openly and brazenly surrounded by the other party. The other partys goal clearly wasnt to kill, but rather capture alive, or can even say invite. Moreover, judging from that stance, theyve seemingly been waiting for a long time already.

The letter was brief, and didnt contain any details, just roughly explaining that, after considering, they didnt take action, and instead followed them.

The other party in fact didnt even touch the things on the boat, instead directly sinking the boat. After getting taken away, they didnt get treated crudely either. Even for the sake of preventing them from learning the destination, they also just got locked in the hold of the s.h.i.+p. They didnt get their eyes covered, and further didnt get tied up. Lastly, they entered a hidden water fort, but from the looks of it, they dont seem to be water bandits.

At present, they still havent met with the main boss. As such, the other partys aim is still unclear.

The previous message had been immediately pa.s.sed on as soon as they discovered something wrong, but to avoid inadvertently alerting the enemy, this second letter was pa.s.sed on after entering the night.

Li Hong Yuan burned the letter without saying a single word, waving his hand to send away Gong mama before leaning back down and continuing to sleep, like as if nothing happened at all.

And on the morning of the eighth, Li Hong Yuan once again received news.

Jing Wan was currently using the morning meal. Seeing An Yi have the letter sent over, she casually asked, and Li Hong Yuan just handed the letter over to her.

And precisely because of this, Li Hong Yuan drank a jar of aged vinegar again. Just because, this letter didnt come from the water fort, but rather Chongzhou Fu, regarding Shannan Prefectures regional inspectorSun Yi Lin.

Because Jing Wans face revealed a surprised expression, Li Hong Yuan took it in, reaching out and taking back the letter. After reading it, his complexion darkened into the bottom of the pot, his eyes raging with storm, just hating that he cant kill the person. Never mind not knowing anything at all and just doing something stupid on that side, he even let others think how deeply sentimental he was, but more importantly, he didnt get stopped, even letting Wan Wan see. As expected, should have thoroughly disappeared. That way, he wont have the opportunity to promote his existence.

Sun Yi Lin in the beginning was already an inner court scribe, and afterwards, traveled west, making quite the contribution. Afterwards, someone wanted him to leave the capital, and he himself was also willing, so left rather carefreely. Towards him, Le Cheng Emperor indeed had a bit of fondness, regarding him like a descendant. Seeing that he has the heart to contribute towards Qi Yuan, yet also unable to bear seeing him suffer hards.h.i.+ps, he thus appointed him as Shannan Prefectures regional inspector, high sixth rank, responsible for carrying out inspections.

Shannan Prefecture was one of Jiangnans four prefectures, rich and flouris.h.i.+ng. At least materialistically, dont need to worry about him suffering.

The regional inspector although cant interfere in the regional military and politics, but because carried out the duties of supervision, can directly report to the imperial court. As such, the position wasnt high, yet enough important. In addition to his Ding Duke Manor backing, even people such as the Shannans Governor-General, Inspector General, and so on were all polite towards him.

Sun Yi Lin was raised cupped in the palm since childhood. Although not the kind that was arrogant and lawless, and have also come in contact with quite a few dirty and despicable things in the Ding Duke Manor before, but inherently, he was still someone that cant tolerate a single grain of sand in his eyes. And moreover, his life was enough superior, not lacking in terms of money, and on women, Jing Wan was that hard to erase cinnabar in his heart. No matter how beautiful of a beauty, in his eyes, that was no different from dried bones

[2]

. As such, he just appeared somewhat unable to take in salt and grease, difficult to curry favor with, and cant be bribed. On this bit, he was exactly the same as Li Hong Yuan.

Because of this, Sun Yi Lins job has continuously been not too smooth. He has taken post for more than half a year already, yet still hasnt finished visiting Shannan Prefectures various fu, let alone the county towns below. However, after the initial impatience, he also gradually settled down, not rus.h.i.+ng to make big progress either, adapting to officialdom step by step. Under the premise of not changing his original aspirations, feigning civility with people, adapting to the ways of the official circles, on one hand coldly watching from the side, and on the other hand, gradually turning from the pa.s.sive one to the active one. His entire self was all rapidly maturing, and aside from his feelings towards Jing Wan, he seemingly was no longer that pure anymore.

When the matter of the courtyard exam got exposed, because the initial source wasnt in Shannan Prefecture, and Sun Yi Lins position still wasnt sufficient enough to come in contact with those things, he could only forcibly suppress the fretfulness in his heart. Afterwards, learning from the letters from the capital that this matter even involved the salt administration, involving an enormous amount of money, and knowing just how th.o.r.n.y this problem was, he once again contemplated inside who would be appointed the imperial envoy. Afterwards, learning that it was Jin Qinw.a.n.g thoroughly investigating this matter, he instead felt much more relieved. After all, he can be considered to know the true face of Jin Qinw.a.n.g, and after carefully pondering inside, there seemingly was no candidate more suitable than Jin Qinw.a.n.g. Because even if he needed even more money than the other princes in secret, he still didnt lack it. As such, he didnt need to extend his hand towards the salt administration.

[1] Chinese unit of area, 1 cun x 1 cun, or 3.5 cm x 3.5 cm

[2] The original line is (beauty and dried bones), its a buddhist saying referring to how beauty is short-lived and will eventually turn into dried bones.