Qin Yining was nearly stunned by Manager Da Hu’s shameless audacity. To curry favor, he actually lied about being Qiao Shang Fei? Qiao Shang Fei was a jinshi of Great Yan, sixth in the second class of that year’s examinations, a man of exceptional learning with scholarly bearing throughout—he really had some nerve putting gold on his own face!
“So it’s Hall Master Qiao! I was rude earlier.” Qin Yining hurriedly smiled and apologized.
Manager Da Hu waved his hand: “From now on we’re all brothers and sisters of one family, so why stand on such ceremony? Boss Qiu is truly a heroine among women—I, Qiao, deeply admire you.”
“Hall Master Qiao flatters me. This little woman merely inherits her ancestors’ aspirations, seeking not achievement but merely to avoid fault.”
The two of them thus exchanged mutual flattery, both putting on the appearance of heartfelt sentiment after opening their hearts to each other.
Liu Ban and the others, seeing the other party completely fooled by their big brother, couldn’t help but feel deep admiration.
Finally, Qin Yining asked intimately: “Hall Master Qiao, where is this treasure you mentioned? How should we transport it?”
Manager Da Hu perked up and said mysteriously: “I won’t hide it from you—that batch of treasure is right there in the stone quarry for building the imperial mausoleum. When they transported the treasure, they were afraid of being discovered, so they hollowed out the stones. I don’t know all the specific details, but some of the stones currently piled in the stone quarry are indeed hollow inside, filled with gold, silver, and precious jewels!”
Qin Yining immediately stood up, her eyes shining as she said: “Wouldn’t this mean striking it rich!”
“What?”
“Ah? Oh, I mean, wouldn’t this mean the common people will have good days ahead?”
“Yes, exactly so.” Manager Da Hu nodded and smiled, not missing the greedy look in her eyes.
Qin Yining rubbed her fists together and paced around the room.
“This matter… this affair won’t be easy. Those are stones for His Majesty’s imperial mausoleum—there’s only reason for things to go in, not come out. Moreover, with so many stones, how can you be sure where exactly all the hollow stones are placed? What if we manage to get there but can’t find them quickly, or we bring out the wrong things?”
“I can be certain of this. Don’t worry—as long as we have manpower, if not every single piece, I at least know the general location.” Manager Da Hu was quite confident.
Qin Yining frowned suspiciously: “Really? Hall Master Qiao, if you can’t be certain, my upcoming plan will be hard to implement. Then we’d both be drawing water with a bamboo basket.”
Hearing this, Manager Da Hu, to prove his truthfulness and to quickly get the treasure, hurriedly said: “It’s no problem to tell you—those things are in the stone quarry’s northwest direction, near the middle area. Everything that came in during that time period is piled there.”
Finally found out!
Qin Yining’s heartbeat quickened, but her face showed nothing as she said thoughtfully: “Since we know the location, we have a way to get the things out.”
Looking around the dark, messy room, Qin Yining had an idea: “Hall Master Qiao, brothers, if you don’t mind, our Sitong Trading House has quite a few properties in the city, with servants all ready. During these days while we work together to find a solution, it’s not good for Hall Master Qiao and the brothers to live so harshly. Why not all come to my place? It would also give me a chance to properly host you. What do you say?”
This meant even their meals would be taken care of?
Liu Ban was overjoyed inside, looking at Manager Da Hu with expectation.
Manager Da Hu also breathed a huge sigh of relief. They had been too carried away recently, spending all their earned silver recklessly on eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling. When Black Wind Stronghold had trouble, all their hopes were dashed.
Fortunately heaven helped them—this difficulty hadn’t lasted two days before being easily resolved.
Manager Da Hu pretended to hesitate: “This wouldn’t be quite right…”
“Ai, what’s wrong with it?” Qin Yining smiled warmly: “Since I’m already a person of the Azure Sky Alliance, we’re brothers and sisters of one family. Moreover, friends share their wealth, and we’re working toward the same goal. If Hall Master Qiao won’t agree, you’d be refusing to give your little sister face.”
Hearing this, Manager Da Hu thought briefly, then sighed: “Alright then, since it’s so, I’ll respectfully accept rather than decline.”
Qin Yining nodded happily and turned to instruct: “Zi Yuan, go tell Manager Yin to clean up our mansion on South Street and arrange more servants. I want to invite the three brothers to stay for some days.”
Zi Yuan nodded: “Yes.” She quickly withdrew, holding an umbrella as she stood under the corridor thinking briefly, then went straight out.
Not to mention how Tang Xiu secretly coordinated with Zi Yuan, avoiding people to arrange the mansion.
Qin Yining brought Han Xiao and stayed here chatting and laughing with Manager Da Hu and the others for a while. They waited until Zi Yuan returned, then the group took carriages through the rain to South Street.
This mansion indeed belonged to Sitong Trading House. Qin Yining had learned of it from Manager Yin earlier, who had specially arranged it when he knew Qin Yining and Pang Xiao needed to find a residence, though Qin Yining had already made preparations and politely declined.
Now using it to arrange surveillance of these six Azure Sky Alliance people was perfect.
Qin Yining personally escorted them there and instructed the maids and servants to serve them well, only then leaving the mansion.
After Qin Yining left, Manager Da Hu, Liu Ban and the others gathered in the flower hall, sending all the maids and servants away.
Liu Ban stood by the curio shelf touching a Ru kiln vase, then bent over to look at the coral tree placed on the lower level.
“Tsk tsk, Sitong Trading House really has deep pockets. It’s lucky that woman knows how to handle things, or us brothers would really want to rob her blind.”
Manager Da Hu said in a low voice: “You need to take a longer view. If we move against her now, can we still accomplish our great deed?”
Liu Ban chuckled: “I’m just saying. Big brother, don’t worry—I won’t act now.”
Manager Da Hu was very satisfied with the current situation and smiled: “That woman has some capability, and probably some connections too. Let’s have her bustle about first while we wait for news.”
“Understood. Though I’m afraid one misstep and she’ll turn us in.”
“What’s to fear? We now have Sitong Trading House backing us, and that Qiu woman still wants to find treasure through us. Would she just watch us get arrested?”
“True enough!”
The brothers all became cheerful.
Soon servants brought up wine and dishes.
Manager Da Hu and the others exchanged glances, sat around the eight immortals table, and looking at the eight cold and eight hot sumptuous dishes on the table, became even more satisfied.
By this time, Qin Yining had washed off her disguise, changed into everyday clothes, and was sitting at a table discussing treasure matters with Xie Yue.
“Now that we truly know the general location, it’ll be easier for us to take action. At least we have a direction.” Xie Yue sighed: “Moreover, Princess, keeping those few to stay here also makes it convenient for us to monitor them, preventing them from stirring up trouble somewhere we don’t know about.”
Xie Yue had long been convinced by Qin Yining’s abilities. The longer they spent together, the more he marveled. The Prince was truly fortunate to have such a woman as his wife. Having her was more useful than having a great general by his side.
“I plan to visit frequently these days to appear more attentive. We can’t let them think we already have the upper hand.”
“What Princess says is right. Also, Princess should be careful—we don’t know how many people they have in total.”
Qin Yining nodded: “This is exactly what I’m worried about. I’m afraid they’re keeping something back and still have people outside for support. So these days when moving about, we must be extra careful and watch for any tails following us.”
“Actually, roughly knowing the treasure’s location doesn’t make the situation much clearer than before. The stone quarry allows things in but not out—wanting to transport things out is harder than ascending to heaven. Moreover, with the Prince and Loyalty Earl soon coming to take office, before assuming their posts, those guarding the stones will certainly tighten defenses to properly hand over this hot potato to their superiors.” Xie Yue sighed: “So right now is when the stone quarry’s defenses are most strict.”
“Yes.” Qin Yining was also quite troubled: “This time His Majesty appointing Loyalty Earl as Huichuan County Magistrate was completely unexpected. If it were someone else, we’d still have ways to make some moves under the Prince’s protection, but Loyalty Earl isn’t a foolish person. He’ll certainly keep a close eye on us, waiting to catch us making mistakes. Trying to transport things out from under his nose is harder than ascending to heaven.”
Having said this, both fell into wordless sighs.
For a moment they stared at each other, neither having thought of a proper solution.
This feeling of knowing exactly where the treasure was but being unable to act was truly more headache-inducing than not knowing the treasure’s whereabouts.
Over the next few days, whenever Qin Yining had free time, she would disguise herself and go oversee Sitong Trading House.
She knew Manager Da Hu was bold but careful, and might wander over to check Sitong Trading House’s reality at any time. If she weren’t there, it might arouse suspicion.
“Princess was indeed cautious—he really came today.” Ji Yun and Bingtang came out of the side room, craning their necks to look toward the entrance. Only after confirming Manager Da Hu and the others had left did they heave a sigh of relief.
Bingtang pouted: “Whenever he comes, we have to hide, afraid of being recognized by him. It’s like we’re the ones who did something wrong, preventing us from serving by your side.”
Qin Yining chuckled and tapped Bingtang’s forehead: “You girl, putting Zi Yuan and Han Xiao sisters to extra trouble—are you feeling sorry for them?”
“She’s clearly just jealous,” Ji Yun teased.
Zi Yuan and Han Xiao nearby had also become familiar with Qin Yining and now joined in the laughter.
Just as the main room was filled with cheerful laughter, Manager Yin hurried over from the front.
“Princess, there seems to be some trouble at your residence.”
“What?” Qin Yining’s smile froze: “What happened?”
“Just now one of our shop assistants passed by your mansion and saw quite a few people gathered in front of the gate, apparently having some dispute. Knowing your status and not daring to make a commotion, he quickly ran back to report.”
“What kind of people were they?”
“He said they were big and tall, all looking like they had martial arts skills.” Manager Yin wiped the sweat from his forehead: “Should we report to the authorities?”
Qin Yining shook her head: “No need. I’ll go back and see.”
Qin Yining stood up and headed out with her maids. Tang Xiu and more than ten Elite Tiger Guards disguised as ordinary attendants had already prepared the carriages.