Chapter 5: Heading to Jiangnan Wuxi Town
In the Fourth Prince's mansion, inner courtyard, study.
"Your Highness, there's a visitor who brought a gift," a servant said respectfully.
Zhu Youji's expression remained unchanged as he asked, "From whom?"
"Your Highness, there's only one name on it, Shen," the servant replied.
"Very well, I understand. Accept it," Zhu Youji said.
"Yes." The servant withdrew.
After a moment, the servants entered with a gift box. The box was rectangular, about two arms thick, with an ordinary design that gave no indication of its contents.
"Open it," Zhu Youji ordered.
"Yes."
The servants carefully opened the gift box. In the next moment, a flawless white jade figure emerged, crystal clear and radiant. The jade depicted Guanyin, with a kind and peaceful expression, vivid and mysterious.
"A Jade Guanyin?"
Zhu Youji looked at the jade carving and was slightly stunned, contemplating something.
"Alright, put it away. Send it to my treasure vault," Zhu Youji instructed.
"Yes." The servants stored away the Jade Guanyin and left the room.
Soon, Zhu Youji was alone in the room.
"So, Jade Guanyin has been in Shen Fei's hands all along. No wonder I couldn't find it despite searching so many places," Zhu Youji murmured.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the plot item: Jade Guanyin, receiving 9000 plot points.]
Indeed, this Jade Guanyin was a valuable item that propelled the plot forward. Especially since it involved one of the female leads, Zhu Youji had been searching for it.
Cutting off the female lead in advance?
This was undoubtedly the easiest way to change the plot!
"It seems that Judge in the Southern Prison made the right move, and there's an unexpected surprise. Not bad!" Zhu Youji nodded in satisfaction, contemplating his next steps.
Everything was ready!
He was just waiting for tomorrow to set off for Jiangnan and capture Lv Jing and the palace maid.
"Speaking of which, that guy is about to set off too, right?"
"One of the top four experts of Judge in the Northern Prison?"
"To be honest, I'm quite looking forward to it..."
At the same time, at the gate of Judge in the Northern Prison, a figure dressed in a flying fish robe rode out on horseback, heading towards the south gate.
An Imperial Guard spy disguised as a commoner observed this scene, made eye contact with another, and quickly gestured to convey the information.
Inside the Judge in the Southern Prison's side courtyard.
"Mr. Shen, someone from Judge in the Northern Prison just rode out towards the south gate," the spy reported respectfully.
Shen Fei's expression changed slightly. He stood up and asked, "Rode out? Through the main gate?"
"Yes," the spy replied.
"Anyone who can ride out through the main gate must have an official position not lower than mine." Shen Fei's expression turned serious as he asked, "Did you see clearly? Who is it?"
"It's a woman. I couldn't see her appearance clearly," the spy answered respectfully.
"A woman?" Shen Fei suddenly thought of something, his face becoming somewhat gloomy. He waved his hand and said, "I understand; you may leave."
"Yes." The spy withdrew.
Cao Shuang looked at Shen Fei and tentatively asked, "Could it be her?"
"Is there another woman who can ride out through the main gate?" Shen Fei's face turned unfriendly as he asked back.
"True, true!" Cao Shuang's face also became unsightly, murmuring, "I didn't expect Qinglong to dispatch Zhuque for this matter..."
"Yeah, one of the top four guardians and commanders of Judge in the Northern Prison, Zhuque, is taking action herself."
"It seems that the Emperor is quite concerned about this matter!" Shen Fei's face became grave.
Cao Shuang looked at Shen Fei and asked, "My lord, is the Fourth Prince reliable? What if..."
"There's no 'what if.' Since we have chosen the Fourth Prince, we must trust him. We can only wait for now. Otherwise, tearing our faces apart would be embarrassing for us," Shen Fei directly interrupted Cao Shuang.
"Indeed... Let's hope that our Fourth Prince can handle this matter well!" Cao Shuang muttered.
The next morning, the personnel sent by Yu Huatian had already arrived at the Fourth Prince's mansion.
"Your Highness, I am Liu He, greeting to the Fourth Prince," the leading old eunuch, hunched over, bowed respectfully and said with a deep voice.
Behind the old eunuch, two middle-aged eunuchs also bowed respectfully and said in unison, "Greetings to the Fourth Prince."
"Are you Mr. Yu's people?" Zhu Youji spoke softly.
"Yes," Liu He responded.
"In that case, let's set off!" Zhu Youji had no intention of delaying and spoke promptly.
"Please, Your Highness!" Liu He bowed respectfully and made way.
After a moment, the four of them rode horses and headed towards Jiangnan.
The swift horses stirred up dust as they galloped.
Zhu Youji looked at the surroundings and asked, "Where are they?"
"Your Highness, Lv Jing and that palace maid have already arrived in Wuxi Town," Liu He replied.
"Do they intend to take the water route to escape to Japan?" Zhu Youji furrowed his brows slightly.
Liu He praised, "Your Highness is wise. Wuxi Town is the territory of the Huge Whale Gang, and the Huge Whale Gang has many connections with the Yagyu Family from Japan. They engage in smuggling goods regularly, maintaining a constant flow between Great Ming and Japan."
"Wuxi Town is a chaotic place, making it the best destination for smuggling into Japan."
"Smuggling goods? Colluding with Japanese families? Huge Whale Gang? This is truly outrageous!" Zhu Youji's expression turned grim as he muttered.
Hearing this, Liu He remained silent and did not say more.
In reality, in the current state of the world, who wasn't a bit corrupt? Who dared to claim to be pure and untainted?
Collusion? Smuggling?
In fact, as long as it wasn't smuggling military weapons, the Great Ming Dynasty couldn't be bothered. After all, the annual sea trade conducted by the Huge Whale Gang also provided a considerable amount of silver to the Great Ming Dynasty.
Seeing Liu He staying silent, Zhu Youji inwardly chuckled but continued to maintain his composure.
All of this was an act for Liu He.
As a confidant of Yu Huatian, he would surely report all the details of this operation to Yu Huatian.
An imperial prince who understood the affairs of the martial world well would undoubtedly raise suspicions.
Therefore, Zhu Youji pretended not to be worldly-wise, expressing disdain for the actions of the Huge Whale Gang.
In fact, how could he be unaware of the current situation in the Great Ming Dynasty?
Smuggling? Collusion with Japanese families?
What a joke!
He knew for a fact that many ministers in the court were involved in trading with the Tatar people, selling military firearms, divulging national defense distribution maps, and so on.
At this moment, the entire Great Ming Dynasty resembled a large ship about to sink, riddled with holes, ready to sink at any moment in the storms and waves.
Tatar, Annan, Tibet, Japan – which one of them didn't harbor desires for the Great Ming Dynasty?
Although the Huge Whale Gang conducted extensive business, it still showed some restraint. On critical matters of right and wrong, they hadn't overstepped their boundaries.
Otherwise, they would have been reported in the court long ago.
Zhu Youji's eyes flickered as he silently recalled the course of the plot.
Huge Whale Gang? Yagyu Family? Yagyu Shinga Gang?
Imperial Guard? Zhuque? Lv Jing?
I, Zhu Youji, have arrived!
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone