The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Shang Meiniang said she knew very little, which wasn’t a lie. As for Emperor Chu’s questioning, she shook her head, as she was unlikely to come into contact with someone as important as Mr. Ning.

”Before I was sent to the lord’s side, apart from receiving training within the organization, I organized channel information and some accounts. It was extremely difficult to meet someone like Mr. Ning. Even Master Xia rarely saw him, only knowing that he had a stubborn disposition and disliked being contradicted. He met with the lord a few times, and the lord was always the one being coerced.”

Emperor Chu showed some interest: ”What channels do you use to transmit messages?”

Shang Meiniang opened her mouth, hesitated, and stopped.

”What’s the matter? Since you’ve chosen to betray and sided with Chu Ze, you wouldn’t still be reminiscing about your old patron’s friendship, would you?” Emperor Chu remarked with sarcasm.

Shang Meiniang shook her head and tentatively spoke: ”Regarding the lord, this humble woman dares to ask the Emperor for grace.”

Emperor Chu’s eyes darkened as he spoke: ”I didn’t expect you to have such deep feelings for him.”

Shang Meiniang’s cheeks turned slightly red.

”Speak first.”

Shang Meiniang dared not refuse and continued: ”Even though Baolong has not reached the entire Great Qing, there are branches in every provincial city, and information will be passed to each branch before being relayed upwards layer by layer. There’s also the Shuntu Carriage Inn, another line for transmitting messages...”

She mentioned several key lines, what codes there were, what markers were used for information, and the like, which Song Zhiyuan secretly noted down.

The two of them interrogated her repeatedly, like a trial, exhausting her until she had nothing else to say, before stopping.

”Your Majesty, may this humble woman be allowed to serve by the lord’s side? He is so weak that he cannot be without someone. It truly pains this woman.” Shang Meiniang bowed down.

Emperor Chu gazed at her.

Shang Meiniang added: ”By the way, I once heard from the old division that Mr. Ning goes to Hong Lake in Huai’an every other year to escape the summer heat.”

Emperor Chu and Song Zhiyuan exchanged a glance.

Having said all she could, Emperor Chu did not ask further but had her taken away.

”How credible do you think this woman’s statements are?” Emperor Chu asked Song Zhiyuan.

Song Zhiyuan replied: ”Whether credible or not, they are leads. Sending people to thoroughly investigate is necessary. But in my opinion, they should be credible. She wishes to protect the Commandery Prince and has already betrayed Xia’s old division. Regardless of whether it’s for herself or otherwise, she can only hope that the strength of Xia’s old division is weakened as much as possible. In doing so, she will be safer.”

After pausing for a moment, he continued: ”However, to say she has entirely spoken the truth is implausible. Concerning the Commandery Prince, she only speaks positively. Whether the Commandery Prince has made any preparations behind the scenes is vague.”

”Old Seven does have some skill, managing to enlist so many people, it shows deep affection.” Emperor Chu snorted.

Song Zhiyuan bowed: ”Please, Your Majesty, issue a decree to send people over as soon as possible. Especially in the Hong Lake area, it must be thoroughly checked for any suspicious dealings.”

Emperor Chu knew well that an opportunity must be seized while it’s hot; they must act before everything shifts and disappears, lest their efforts go to waste.

In Yangxin Hall, several orders flew out like snowflakes, and from this day forth, many people fell from power. A string of people involved were swept away on the same line, and many industry leaders had to reshuffle their influence, marking a significant upheaval in the commercial sea of Great Qing in the twenty-third year of Shengping. But that is another story.

Emperor Chu only issued orders and cared only about the outcomes, uninterested in the processes. Once the directives were dispatched, he took Song Zhiyuan to the Heavenly Prison.

”Let’s go, meet my old seventh brother.”