Chapter 241 - 239: Can That Fox Spirit Really Cause Such a Fuss?
"Indeed!" Qian Duobao’s face was ridden with worry. "A carrier pigeon from Jiangnan delivered news that several ten thousand jin of freshly picked tea—worth forty to fifty thousand liang of snowflake-patterned silver—was robbed before it even left the southern borders! Even the few jin of top-grade Longjing tea that I wanted to present to His Highness was stolen! The merchants and guards responsible for escorting the tea were all severely injured, and the medical expenses alone have already cost me three thousand liang! You tell me, this is my first year serving as the Imperial Merchant, and why am I met with such ill fortune?!"
Lu Ying set down his vermillion pen.
Qian Duobao hadn’t turned to the local officials in Jiangnan but came straight to him to pour out his grievances. This could only mean one thing—
The local officials in Jiangnan were colluding with the bandits.
However, for anyone in an official post, wouldn’t they have sharp ears and perceptive minds? With just a little inquiry, they’d know Qian Duobao was one of Lu Ying’s people.
To dare openly plunder the Crown Prince’s tea convoy...
Lu Ying’s gaze bore a suppressed chill.
Was this Shen Zhaozhao’s doing?
Was she retaliating against him?
He glanced at Qian Duobao.
Qian Duobao seemed to have also considered this possibility. Meeting his gaze, he hurriedly bowed his head respectfully: "Though I may be wealthy, forty to fifty thousand liang of snowflake-patterned silver is no small sum to me either. I planned to sell the tea to border tribes and exchange it for fine steeds, all to serve His Highness in the future. But now..."
"This matter stems from me, and I will provide you with an explanation."