Chapter 314: Left Last Night
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The Empress Dowager harbored deep suspicions regarding the young man’s true identity. She believed he might be Qin Zhenzhen’s associate, and together they were orchestrating a scheme to defraud the royal family of their gold.
Secretly, she dispatched agents to tail the young man, who, as it turned out, did return to his family.
His family and friends resided in a destitute area in the northern part of the capital. The alley leading to their abode was narrow and lengthy, bustling with constant activity.
The agents maintained vigilance at one end of the alley, while two others remained focused on the door the young man had entered. Their intent was to covertly follow him once he reemerged, thereby verifying any potential connection to Qin Zhenzhen’s organization.
However, they waited a full day and night without witnessing the young man’s reappearance. By the third morning, their patience was wearing thin when a cacophony of metallic clangs erupted in the alley.
“Attention, everyone! Listen up! The big brother who sold the Immortal Pill the day before yesterday and struck it rich has graciously shared his wealth with us underprivileged folks! ”
Trailing behind this proclaimer were five or six young men.
In response to this news, the inhabitants of the alley rushed out, their faces alight with curiosity.
“Is it true? Can it be?”
“Could there really be such a fortuitous event?”
No one could resist the allure of good fortune, even if it meant obtaining a handful of copper coins, which could still secure two substantial meat buns.
“Let me tell you all, it’s absolutely legitimate!”
“Everyone, please return home and wait. Every household in this large area will receive one liang!”
“Wow! One liang!”
“Use it sparingly. This is enough for a family’s annual expenses!”
“Hahaha! May this brother enjoy a long life, surrounded by lovely concubines, and may he be blessed with countless offspring and wealth!”
“We’ll revere him like an ancestor!”
The crowd erupted in cheers before orderly dispersing to their homes. Occasionally, they would peek out and engage in conversations with neighbors about the imminent arrival.
“It won’t be long now. I heard the distribution began in the first alley.”
“A group of seven or eight individuals is carrying the box. It’s said to contain a tael of silver for each household.’
“This is absolutely thrilling! I’ve never held a whole tael of silver in my hands!”
“You’re right. My fingers have only ever felt coppers.”
“That brother truly possesses the heart of a bodhisattva.”
The team distributing money continued their orderly procession, handing out the funds to eager recipients at each door without delay. There were no obstacles ahead, but behind them, a sizable crowd had gathered to observe the proceedings.
The individual tasked with tailing the young man swiftly visited his relative’s house to gather more information. Their response confirmed that Wang Er, the seller of the Immortal Pills, had indeed arrived from Meijiang Prefecture City seeking refuge with distant relatives.
According to their account, Wang Er had left some money for the family the previous night, expressing his intention to depart. When asked about his destination, he had merely offered a cryptic reply, “I haven’t decided where to go yet.”
Presumably, he harbored concerns about being tracked down by friends and relatives seeking financial assistance, so he chose not to disclose his future whereabouts.
The pursuers were left befuddled, as they hadn’t witnessed his departure the night before.
“Did he exit through the front door or scale the walls?” they inquired.
Wang Er’s relative admitted, “We’re not entirely sure either, as he left during the middle of the night while we were asleep.”
“He didn’t make any noise, so we have no idea how he managed to slip away..”