Sandaoyan remained as usual, with teahouses, taverns, and shops operating normally. Yang Jingyuan and Sang Shisi wore veiled hats to conceal their faces, patrolling the main street but finding no trace of any Nanzhao people.
After wandering for too long, they risked drawing attention. The two entered the Ji family’s shop.
Ji Yaoting was taking inventory, and preparing to deliver goods to customers. Seeing two men dressed as merchants enter, he thought they were new customers and smiled in welcome: “Are you gentlemen interested in dyeing cloth or silk?”
Only he and Manager Ji Gui were in the shop. Yang Jingyuan quickly lifted his veil, smiling: “Is there a private place we can talk?”
Seeing Yang Jingyuan’s mysterious appearance, Ji Yaoting’s heart jumped, wondering what trouble had arisen. He hurriedly gave some instructions to Ji Gui and led the two men to a private room, anxiously asking: “Has something happened to Yingying?”
“She’s doing well at the manor. Elder Brother needn’t worry.” Seeing his nervousness, Yang Jingyuan could guess the reason. When Ji Yingying returned home and saw Sheng Fengze, she must have told Ji Yaoting. He got straight to the point, “Elder Brother, have you noticed any Nanzhao people on the streets recently? Perhaps some outsiders. They might be dressed differently, but with non-local accents.”
Ji Yaoting smiled bitterly: “I haven’t noticed anything like that. That person was only seen by my sister at the Zhao family’s Tengyuan. From such a distance, I thought she might have mistaken someone else. But she was certain. I’ve been watchful since then but haven’t seen anyone from Nanzhao or with a Nanzhao accent on the streets. If it was him, with his ability to appear and disappear like a ghost, I wouldn’t be able to detect him anyway.”
Ji Yingying had seen Sheng Fengze two months ago. He had secretly visited the Zhao family, surely completing his business before leaving. What could his purpose have been?
“Elder Brother, since the Ji family is close to the Zhao family, have you noticed anything unusual there lately?”
Following tradition, after the spring silk emerged, households would begin preparing for that year’s brocade competition. Two months ago, when Yizhou Prefecture’s brocade-making families exchanged news, they discovered the Zhao family seemed to have no plans for the competition this year. Just as speculation grew, the Zhao family suddenly began intensive preparations. This timing coincided exactly with Ji Yingying’s sighting of Sheng Fengze at their house. Yang Jingyuan couldn’t help but suspect the Zhao family had reached some agreement with Sheng Fengze, one related to this year’s competition.
“Well…” Ji Yaoting was truly troubled, and decided to be frank, “Mother’s health is poor, and my wife is with child. Managing the dye house and shop alone keeps me too busy to notice other matters. But since my Brother-in-law mentioned it, I’ll have people watch the Zhao family’s movements.”
Disappointed at getting no information from Ji Yaoting, Yang Jingyuan thought of the old steward but dismissed the idea. The steward had even less contact with the Zhao family and would be unlikely to know anything.
Sang Shisi suddenly remembered someone and clapped his hands, smiling: “It’s understandable that Elder Brother Ji is too busy alone. However, we could ask Second Young Master Zhu. He’s most enthusiastic and has a group of idle friends. He’d be best for gathering information.”
Yang Jingyuan cleared his throat, feeling somewhat awkward. He had previously schemed at Qingyang Temple, sabotaging Second Young Master Zhu’s meeting with Ji Yingying. Now that he had won the beauty’s hand, facing Zhu felt somewhat embarrassing.
Local people would be best for gathering information. Reluctantly, he and Sang Shisi bid farewell to Ji Yaoting after getting directions to the Zhu residence. At the alley entrance, Yang Jingyuan stopped: “Shisi, I’ll wait for you in the riverside grove.”
Sang Shisi smiled knowingly: “Alright.”
After waiting about half an hour, Sang Shisi and Second Young Master Zhu walked into the grove together.
Yang Jingyuan removed his veiled hat and bowed with clasped hands: “Second Elder Brother Zhu.”
Upon seeing him, Zhu didn’t return the greeting but threw a punch: “This is for Second Miss!”
Yang Jingyuan could have dodged but, hearing these words lowered his hands and allowed the punch to land on his face.
“Why didn’t you dodge?” Zhu stopped, looking at him with displeasure, “Second Miss married you while in mourning, why didn’t you come to receive her? How could you bully her like this?”
“Third Young Master wasn’t in Yizhou Prefecture then. He didn’t even know about the marriage,” Sang Shisi quickly explained.
Zhu was stunned and bowed deeply: “I wrongly blamed you.”
Yang Jingyuan stepped aside, taking a liking to Zhu’s straightforward nature, and spoke frankly: “Rest assured, Second Elder Brother Zhu, I will treat her well. Now I have a matter needing your help.”
The three found a grassy spot and sat down. Yang Jingyuan dared not speak of Nanzhao’s certain rebellion, only mentioning Sheng Fengze’s scheme for the Ji family’s secret formula and his collusion with the Zhao family.
After hearing Yang Jingyuan’s words, Zhu’s face purpled with anger: “When that Nanzhao White Prince came to Sandaoyan, I knew he was no good. Don’t worry, Second Miss has married into the city, and it’s hard to keep watch over her family from such a distance. The Ji family and I have been friends since childhood. If anything happens, just let me know.”
Sang Shisi smiled: “One can’t guard against thieves forever. Second Brother Zhu has good connections here and wide relationships. Have you noticed anything unusual about the Zhao family?”
Unusual? Zhu thought for a long while and recalled something: “It is strange. The Zhao family is a major brocade producer, and their cocoon households often can’t produce enough silk. In previous years when spring silk came out, boats carrying silk to sell to the Zhao family would fill the dock. This year, the Zhao family claimed cash flow problems, saying last year’s summer silk wasn’t used up, so they’re not buying. I have an aunt who’s worked in their weaving workshop for decades. This year, the Zhao workshop is operating at less than thirty percent capacity, so she had no choice but to return home.”
A major brocade house not buying new silk, workshops operating below capacity – what was happening with the Zhao family? Yang Jingyuan and Sang Shisi exchanged glances, silently forming some suspicions.
“Thank you, Second Brother Zhu. There’s not long until the October competition. Please keep watching the Zhao family these days.”
After entrusting Zhu with monitoring the Zhao family, Yang Jingyuan asked about their largest workshop’s location and went there with Sang Shisi.
After walking for half an hour, they reached the Zhao family workshop outside Sandaoyan. This workshop was built at the foot of Mulberry Hill, its tall walls enclosing the buildings within. The main gate was tightly closed. Looking down from the hillside, the workshop occupied over a hundred mu. Counting the rows of buildings front and back, they estimated the workshop must house several hundred looms.
“Shisi, stay here. If you notice anything unusual, blow the bamboo whistle.” Yang Jingyuan removed his outer robe, tied a cloth to cover his nose and mouth, and darted toward the estate.
He easily scaled the wall at a quiet spot. Crouching behind a workshop building, he felt something strange.
What exactly was wrong? Yang Jingyuan couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He listened to the surroundings, slowly straightening up to peer through the back window.
Inside were five connected, bright-roofed rooms, with about twenty looms arranged neatly. The looms stood empty, no unfinished brocade in sight. Yang Jingyuan followed the back alley to check the whole row of buildings, finally understanding what was strange.
Though not yet noon, no shuttle sounds could be heard from working looms. The entire estate was as quiet as if deserted. This was the Zhao family’s largest workshop. He recalled Zhu’s words about the workshop operating below capacity, workers returning home with no brocade to weave.
Brocade-making takes time. Even if the Zhao family didn’t want to weave new brocade this year, there should be unfinished pieces. Where had all that brocade gone?
As Yang Jingyuan moved through the estate, he suddenly heard dogs barking. Following the sound forward, he passed through a gate into the front courtyard and heard people talking.