The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 1544 - 1541: Song Chongjin’s Movements

He and Wang Yongzhu had agreed that upon reaching the Capital City, they would first inform him of their safe arrival. After entering the palace and meeting the Imperial Noble Consort to clarify matters, they would send a letter back to put his mind at ease.

If there were any changes, it would be best to prepare in advance.

But after reporting their safe arrival, there were only a few brief words, passed through the Shadow Guard’s channel.

Song Chongjin’s first reaction was: Did the Emperor take action?

However, he immediately realized that this was unlikely, as even the Emperor might not know about this Shadow Guard under Song Hong’s control.

The only person capable of misleading the Shadow Guard was Song Hong and no one else.

Did Wang Yongzhu go to the Capital City and do something that angered Song Hong?

What would provoke Song Hong? It should be noted that over the years, Song Hong’s attitude had gradually softened. Especially after transferring the Shadow Guard to him, it signified Song Hong’s decision to pass the Duke Weiguo Residence to him.

Especially after the incidents with the Water Bandits and the Horse Farm, Song Hong rarely praised in his letters, saying that Song Chongjin marrying this wife wasn’t a mistake after all.

What could have caused the sudden change in attitude upon returning?

Given Song Hong’s character, praising Wang Yongzhu suggested that he could assist Song Chongjin, thus benefiting the Song Family.

Conversely, for Song Hong to block information, it must be that Yongzhu did something after returning to the Capital City that was detrimental, or very detrimental, to the Song Family, prompting such a reaction from Song Hong!

What could be extremely detrimental to the Song Family—

Song Chongjin, fully aware, feared that the situation with the Imperial Noble Consort in the Capital City was unfavorable.

Then Wang Yongzhu’s situation might be even worse.

With Song Hong reversing his stance, any attempts to glean information from the Song Family channels would be futile.

The only remaining options were the paths through the Gu Family and Ninth Master Lee.

Having made up his mind, Song Chongjin determined that before he took any further steps, he had to send the Shadow Guard away, lest they relay information back to Song Hong.

Fortunately, a few days ago, he acquired some news and had been considering whether he should go personally. Now seemed the perfect opportunity to delegate it to the Shadow Guard.

Having reached a decision, Song Chongjin left a message for the Shadow Guard.

Come evening, Shadow Nine quietly entered the study, where Song Chongjin was waiting for him.

He said nothing unnecessary upon seeing him but tossed over a letter for Shadow Nine to examine.

Shadow Nine took the letter, opened it for a glance, and was immediately stunned. The information contained within was extremely confidential.

It concerned the Qi Family of past times, which was the maternal family of the master before him.

Although the Qi Family’s downfall occurred over twenty years ago and many had since forgotten, for the Shadow Guards, it was not unfamiliar.

For six or seven years, they had maintained secret stakes, continually monitoring the group that had been exiled with the Qi Family, ensuring that updates from the Qi Family’s place of exile would reach the Capital City. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

However, this information was always handled solely by the Sixteen Leaders and never entrusted to others.

Of course, they had heard faint rumors about some things.

Until six or seven years ago, it was heard that all exiled Qi Family members had perished, and since then, the stakes had ceased to transmit any new updates.

Now, seeing information concerning the Qi Family once more, Shadow Nine couldn’t help but feel deeply alarmed, uncertain of whether to continue reading further.

But with Song Chongjin seated above, offering no instructions, he had no choice but to press on, albeit reluctantly.

The more he read, the more anxious he felt.

This letter contained scant information about the Qi Family. Many details seemed to be personal accounts of daily life that were gathered by others.

For example, details about how many survived upon being exiled and settled in a new location, what laborious tasks they were assigned to.

Then, the records of the year when all Qi Family members perished.

In just two simple pages, it recorded a family’s ultimate demise.

Shadow Nine felt a chill up his spine as he read.

Having finished the letter, he hardened his resolve, "Master, you had me read this letter, is there something you want to instruct? Should I investigate the deaths of the Qi Family members or?"

Instead of answering, Song Chongjin asked in return, "Did Lord Duke also instruct your Shadow Guard to investigate information on the Qi Family back then?"

Shadow Nine nodded with difficulty, "Lord Duke did leave secret stakes at the military garrison, suggesting the transmission of updates about the Qi Family to the Capital City. However, this matter was always managed by the Sixteen Leaders, so we were unaware. Until seven years ago, when all Qi Family members... the stakes stopped transmitting updates!"

Song Chongjin nodded, rhythmically tapping his fingers on the table, without a word.

An eerie silence filled the air.

After a while, Shadow Nine, eyes closed and seemingly resolved, knelt down, "Master, because several years ago I was assigned here to handle affairs, I did see that secret stake once. He revealed a piece of information. After the Qi Family was exiled to the garrison, apart from our residence, he discovered two groups secretly paying attention to the Qi Family."

"One of those—if his guess was accurate, they were the Royal Family—"

After speaking, Shadow Nine lowered his head, not daring to meet Song Chongjin’s gaze.

Song Chongjin remained unsurprised. When they relocated Qi Huan’s tomb, didn’t they coincidentally encounter Governor Chen and Lord Zhu, who conducted separate investigations of Qi Huan’s coffin and remains?

Based on the timeline, it should have been after all Qi Family males at the garrison had perished and the Emperor was unable to obtain what he sought, leading them to place their last hope on Qi Huan’s remains.

If nothing unexpected happened, what the Emperor sought was that Small Golden Seal.

What exactly was this Small Golden Seal? What special significance did it hold that the Emperor would persistently pursue it?

If it weren’t for Yongzhu’s cautiousness in intercepting that Golden Seal, the Emperor would likely have succeeded in his quest at Qi Huan’s location. Unfortunately, it ended in failure.

This subsequently led to his appointment to Chicheng County, which was a mere hundred lands away from the garrison location where the Qi Family was initially exiled, the closest point.

The Emperor sought to see if the last of the Qi Family’s bloodline could locate that Golden Seal.

The so-called Horse Farm incident was merely a smokescreen.

Was the Golden Seal really that important? Song Chongjin felt a heavy weight on his heart.

He knew the Emperor always had his eyes on him, so for the first few years, he suppressed his impulse, pretending to be utterly ignorant, and hadn’t visited the garrison despite its proximity.

It wasn’t until last year, when he had established a secure footing, that he began cautiously exploring the Qi Family’s matters.

Years later, the Qi Family had long faded, with little information to discover.

His inquiries likely had already reached the Emperor’s ears.

While Yongzhu and he had prepared a contingency plan, should something unforeseen happen, the Emperor, in his quest to appear benevolent, would most likely keep them safe once they handed over the agricultural yield methods.

But he dared not risk it; the more chips, the better.

He hoped investigating the Qi Family’s matters might draw the attention of Song Hong and the Emperor from the Capital City to Chicheng, easing the pressure on Yongzhu.

Though Song Chongjin, far removed and unable to leave, understood the imprudence of these actions, he had no other choice.

Anything that could alleviate the weight on Yongzhu’s shoulders, he would do!

Steeling himself, Song Chongjin instructed, "From this day forward, excluding the two on the grasslands and Shadow Seven in the Capital City, everyone else must go to the garrison and investigate the causes and locations of death for those Qi Family members years ago. Leave no detail unchecked!"

Although Shadow Nine did not understand why Song Chongjin had chosen now to investigate, as a Shadow Guard, this was his line of work, and he had no reservations.

Thus, he simply nodded decisively, "I shall comply. I will lead the others to the garrison, but the timeline—"

Song Chongjin naturally hoped for a prolongment, so he simply said, "Investigate thoroughly, leave no stone unturned; time is not of the essence!"

Shadow Nine got the hint, took the orders, and departed.