He had returned to Bianliang City for over a month, and had spent more than half of that time groveling outside the Ministry of Personnel, yet he had accomplished absolutely nothing.
He had originally thought it would be a blessing to be transferred to a better post as a county magistrate, but with just a small sum of money, he could now even choose between being a Deputy Commissioner of Transport or a Prefect!
"Alright, write down your name, place of origin, and original post here, then take this pawn ticket to Taihe Pawnshop in the East Market and redeem the chest!"
Seeing his trembling excitement, the man at the desk even showed a hint of disdain.
Hesitantly taking the brush offered by the man, Wang Xian quickly wrote his name, place of origin, and original post on the ledger, then cautiously took the pawn ticket.
"When can I receive the imperial decree, your honor?"
Swallowing hard, Wang Xian asked cautiously.
"That depends on when you redeem the chest. Remember, this position is only reserved for you for two days. If you don't claim the chest by then, you needn't bother coming back!"
The man said, waving his hand impatiently.
Even after Wang Xian had left the alley, he still felt as if he were dreaming.
When he passed the small tea stall again, on an impulse, Wang Xian sat down at the stall once more.
"Your Excellency, do you wish to inquire about the identity of the person in that residence?"
Before Wang Xian could speak, the vendor asked with a proud smile.
"You know this too?"
With a wry smile, Wang Xian, being perceptive, took another silver ingot from his pocket.
"This is actually not much of a secret. It's just that you don't come to places like this often. The next time you do, you'll know everything! The person you saw today is precisely the most trusted steward of young Master Cai, Cai Yunzhuo! He should have given you a pawn ticket, just take it to the pawnshop and redeem the item!"
"It's that simple?"
"Isn't it that simple? You probably don't know yet, but that pawnshop is owned by the younger brother of young Master Cai's wife! Listen carefully, when you get there, they don't accept cash. You need to exchange your coins and jewelry for silver beforehand!"
Hearing the vendor say this, Wang Xian finally understood. All this talk, and there were quite a few twists and turns involved!
However, this explanation did dispel most of his doubts. Since this was true, and he had seen so many people queuing today, he naturally had no reason to hesitate.
"I've learned a lot!"
After finishing his tea, he couldn't bother with anything else and quickly got up and returned to his residence.
Among the valuables he had brought, besides some coins, there were also quite a few pieces of jewelry. To sell all these within two days would be quite a tight schedule.
...
"Shopkeeper, that Mr. Wang started selling his jewelry after he returned. It looks like he succeeded!"
As Wang Xian was busy selling his jewelry, the attendant who had been following him rushed back to Zhe Wanchun.
"Find someone to mix this into his chest. Do it subtly. Don't use our own people. After it's done, send him back to Fuzhou!"
Hearing this, Zhe Wanchun coldly smiled and took out a small package from a hidden compartment under his bed.
"Understood!"
The attendant took the package, slung it over his shoulder, and turned to leave again.
It wasn't until dusk that the attendant returned to the Cuju Association. Seeing Zhe Wanchun's questioning gaze, the attendant quickly nodded vigorously.
Upon seeing him nod, Zhe Wanchun then walked towards the back courtyard with a smile. Before long, a flock of carrier pigeons flew up from the backyard of the Cuju Association.
Only after watching the pigeons disappear into the clouds did he contentedly return to his room.
----------------------
"Young Master, what are we doing here? There are so many people coming and going. Is it...?"
Although it was completely dark, seeing the crowds entering and exiting the front of the Baxian Tower, Gao Shun lowered his voice and said to Han Mo.
"The wind is rising. If we don't come and see, how can we justify our hard work over these past few days?"
With a light chuckle, Han Mo walked into a small teahouse by the street as if nothing had happened.
To avoid attracting attention, he was only wearing a simple scholar's robe, and his hair was casually tied with a green jade hairpin.
Gao Shun and Yue Fei, who followed him, were dressed as casual attendants in plain green robes and caps, looking just like wealthy young men from out of town studying in Bianliang.
"Someone! Surround this Baxian Tower! No one is to enter or leave without my command!"
As the three had just sat down, a group of officials from the Kaifeng Prefecture rushed into the Baxian Tower. Seeing this scene, the idlers who were drinking and chatting in the teahouse immediately became interested.
"Has the Baxian Tower committed some offense? And doesn't the leader look like the current Deputy Prefect of Kaifeng?"
"It really is Deputy Prefect Zhang. It looks like there's going to be some excitement today!"
Although the people who patronized this kind of place were generally common folk or poor scholars who couldn't afford to go to Baxian Tower, as a native of Bianliang, it would be a waste of eyes not to recognize the Deputy Prefect of Kaifeng.
Soon, someone in the crowd recognized the leader, Deputy Prefect Zhang Shaoyou.
"Young Master!"
Hearing that officials from Kaifeng Prefecture had arrived, Gao Shun immediately became a little nervous.
"Calm down!"
Compared to his nervousness, Han Mo's smile was much calmer. He poured him a cup of wine and then picked up a piece of tenderly braised fatty lamb from the table, stuffing it into his mouth to chew contentedly.
"This is a bit overcooked..."
After tasting it for a moment, Han Mo said slowly.
Seeing his leisurely expression, Gao Shun couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth, wondering if his master was talking about the braised lamb or the Deputy Prefect Zhang opposite them.
"Why did that person leave again? It's over in such a short time?"
Just as the fatty lamb stew on the table was finished, lamenting voices came from the crowd of onlookers by the entrance.
"Do you know what just happened?"
As everyone was lamenting, a scruffy, dirty beggar walked over mysteriously from the corner. "I say, Old Sun, don't play coy. Spit out everything you know, and I'll cover your drinks today!"