socalfunplaces Page 197
Page 197
Fan Xian thought for a moment and said, "There's no need for pointless arguments. Princess Yichen has never been to any of the three major districts."
"I guess they're just using the firefighting as an excuse. They just brought three workshops under control, and the fire is out, so there's no reason for us to force our way in."
Not long after, Fan Xian did not see Lin Wan'er, but instead saw Xue Qing, the governor of Jiangnan Province.
(The background information about Xue Qing in the previous chapter was incorrect; this is a correction.)
The seven governors-general of the Qing Kingdom were the most powerful regional officials, with the governor-general of Jiangnan ranking first among them.
This Lord Xue also holds the title of Grand Secretary of the Imperial Academy, a high-ranking official of the first rank, and is a true important figure in the Qing Kingdom.
Chen Pingping also told Fan Xian that His Majesty trusted Xue Qing very much, otherwise he would not have entrusted the wealthiest region in the world, Jiangnan, to this person.
Xue Qing, dressed in armor, had also brought soldiers with him; after all, a fire in the inner treasury was no small matter.
"Greetings, His Excellency the Imperial Envoy!"
The two had already met formally, and Xue Qing simply cupped his hands in greeting to Fan Xian.
Upon hearing the approaching of Xue Qing's troops, Fan Xian temporarily dismissed the Black Riders, as such a secretive force was not suitable to appear before a local official.
Fan Xian also politely said, "Governor Xue is too late; the fire has already been extinguished."
Xue Qing sighed, "The Imperial Treasury is the mainstay of our Great Qing's finances. If it were really burned down, I don't know how I would explain it to His Majesty!"
Whether the Ming family was involved in smuggling or greed, it was not Xue Qing's responsibility.
However, if the three major wards near Hangzhou in the Jiangnan region were burned down, Xue Qing would not be able to escape responsibility for the territory.
Fan Xian asked with a smile, "Governor Xue, you've seen the marks left on Xia Qifei by Ming Qingda, who is arrogant and domineering. Why is there still no progress in that case?"
In the past few days, Xue Qing has received Emperor Qing's decree to fully assist Fan Xian in the matter of the Ming family.
"Lord Fan, please don't worry. The case has made progress. The will in Xia Qifei's possession is genuine, and the verdict will be announced tomorrow morning."
Fan Xian understood without saying a word that this matter must have been approved by the old man in the capital.
As the two were talking, Fan Xian suddenly sensed a powerful aura of true energy approaching.
By the moonlight, he saw a figure flying over the trees in the distance.
As they flew closer, he saw that they were two women in tight-fitting clothes rushing towards him on the treetops.
Behind them, four men were carrying a sedan chair!
Zong Zhui was shocked and exclaimed, "My lord, they are at the mid-ninth rank! The two women are at the mid-ninth rank! And the ones carrying the sedan chair are at the peak of the eighth rank!"
Xi Ren and Qing Wen's cultivation levels have been revealed, but the other four should keep a low profile, otherwise it would be too frightening for Lin Wan'er to have six ninth-rank cultivators by her side.
Even Xue Qing, the governor of Jiangnan Circuit, who was well-traveled and knowledgeable, had never seen anything like this before!
He had met Lin Wan'er once or twice, and naturally he had also met the two stunningly beautiful maids.
But little did he know that these two women were actually ninth-rank experts!
In the blink of an eye, the Six Sword Slaves arrived in front of Fan Xian with lightning speed.
The sedan chair landed lightly on the ground, and Lin Wan'er, dressed in black, gracefully stepped out of it.
Although Lin Wan'er's title was Princess, she was Emperor Qing's adopted daughter, so Xue Qing dared not neglect her.
"Greetings, Princess Yichen!"
Fan Xian is an imperial envoy, but his official rank is only fourth grade, and his imperial mission does not extend to Lin Wan'er.
"This humble official, Fan Xian, greets Princess Yichen!"
Lin Wan'er said generously, "My lords, please don't stand on ceremony. Since you're here, please accompany me inside for a look."
Lin Wan'er has a royal villa bestowed by the emperor, a proper palace bestowed by the emperor, and is the emperor's adopted daughter, so it is perfectly reasonable for her to address him as "this palace".
Xue Qing said with difficulty, "Your Highness, the inner treasury is a very important place, and it seems inappropriate for me to enter."
Lin Wan'er's voice was cold and stern, with a hint of royal authority, "Governor Xue, I am now in charge of the Imperial Treasury and can make this decision."
“You are a close advisor to His Majesty. If even Governor Xue cannot be trusted, then there are few loyal ministers left in the Great Qing Kingdom.”
After she finished speaking, she led the six sword slaves into the gates of the three major workshops on their own.
Xue Qing didn't say anything more, after all, given his status, there was nothing wrong with him going in to take a look.
Lin Wan'er asked Xue Qing to watch it together, which actually served as multiple witnesses.
After all, she and Fan Xian are rivals, and Lin Wan'er's term as acting governor is about to expire, so it's hard to say who will take over next.
The three quickly checked most of the equipment, and even Xue Qing, a high-ranking local official, couldn't help but slam his fist on the table in anger.
"What is the Ming family trying to do?!"
"These workshop equipment are all just for show; they can't function at all!"
"This is the lifeblood of my Great Qing Kingdom! The Ming family deserves to be executed along with their entire clan!"
Lin Wan'er kicked a glass molding machine, scattering it in her hand, looking even angrier than Xue Qing.
"Governor Xue, Lord Fan, you have both seen it. The real three major workshops must have been moved by the Ming family!"
"If the fire tonight burns down the three major workshops, the Ming family will be able to get away with it!"
"No wonder the Ming family repeatedly obstructed my entry into the three major districts for investigation; it turns out there's a huge secret hidden here!"
The three had just stepped out of the gates of the three major workshops when Ming Qingda arrived with the Ming family.
"Your Highness! Lord Xue! Lord Fan!"
"For so many years, I've just been a puppet; my mother has handled all the affairs, big and small!"
"The same goes for the Three Great Workshops; I haven't been able to get into them for many years!"
"My mother hanged herself tonight for some unknown reason. I was terrified, so I arrived late."
"Thank God, the three workshops were not burned down, otherwise my Ming family would be sinners for all time!"
Just as Fan Xian was about to lose his temper, Lin Wan'er spoke up first, "Zhen Gang, Duan Shui, take down Ming Qingda!"
"We must find out tonight where they moved the three major workshops!"
Ming Qingda asked in horror, "Your Highness, what relocation? Why are you arresting commoners? What exactly is going on?"
Fan Xian didn't compete with Lin Wan'er for Ming Qingda's position because he knew that Ming Qingda would never give it up.
Because Ming Qingda wanted to pin the fire on Old Madam Ming, and regardless of whether the fire burned down the three workshops or not, he would insist that he knew nothing about it.
Ming Qingda was also ruthless. In order to save his own life, he sent his mother away to her death.
However, their mother-son relationship was a sham. Ming Qingda had been suppressing his anger for many years, and he had personally strangled the old lady Ming.
late at night.
Fan Xian met Deng Ziyue at his residence.
Deng Ziyue has successfully infiltrated the three major districts and has ascertained their true locations.
He escaped in the dead of night to report the news to Fan Xian.
"My lord, the location of the new three major workshops is at the foot of Wushan Mountain outside Hangzhou City, in a small water village."
"The equipment, the craftsmen, and the inventory are all hidden inside!"
"The accountant you asked me to keep a close eye on, he's quite skilled, and he suddenly escaped tonight."
“His cultivation level is higher than mine, so I can’t get too close, but I know he has also entered the city.”
"If he wants to escape, he should wait until dawn for the ship to set sail from the dock."
Fan Xian banged on the table and said, "He must have heard something. The Ming family's accountant must not escape!"
"Old Deng, leave behind a portrait of the accountant, then return to Wushan overnight, and do not reveal your whereabouts."
An hour later, at the foot of Wushan Mountain, the new three major water fortresses.
Xia Qifei was drinking with Teng Zijing. In fact, Teng Zijing had informed Xia Qifei as soon as he left the Ming family. After the two met up, they had just secretly taken over the three new major workshops.
The craftsmen in the village were still asleep and had no idea what was going on.
Xia Qifei's Jiangnan Water Village has a total of 50,000 people, and this time he brought 5,000 skilled fighters. Taking this place will be no problem at all.
“Commander Jing, I’ve already sent people to keep an eye on that craftsman who just sneaked back. Why don’t you just take him down?”
Teng Zijing replied, "I don't know whose people they are. Maybe they are the Princess's people, then they are one of us."
"His Highness instructed that finding the accountant is the priority, and the others need not be of great concern."
When the two took control of the three new workshops, the Ming family's accountant had already secretly fled.
Xia Qifei said, "I just inquired carefully, and that person went into the city before we arrived."
"I have already sent the man's appearance to the brothers in the Net in the city. We can start searching after dawn."
Just then, the candlelight inside the room flickered, and two women appeared in the room.
Teng Zijing immediately stood up, cupped her hands, and said, "Greetings, Your Highness! Greetings, Lady Jingni!"
Jing Ni quickly ordered, "Teng Zijing, have someone open Workshop C and wake up all the ironworkers, but don't make a sound."
Before Xia Qifei could even speak, Jing Ni and the other two had vanished in an instant.
"Ninth Rank, Upper Level! Even stronger!"