Chapter 180

Chapter 180

Recently, the city guards have been strictly checking the identities of people entering and leaving the city, fearing that there might still be remnants of the late Duke Dou's faction or others who might harm the new emperor.

When it was the sisters' turn, Zhou Gui smiled and extended the golden waist token she had prepared out of the mule carriage window.

It was the "Lady Anguo" token belonging to Tong Sui. Anyone holding this token would have the imperial guards at the palace gate announce them.

The city guards at this time were selected from Han Zongping's southern expedition army. They all knew that the newly appointed Lady Anguo was the former deputy commander of the Right Route Army, a well-known female general in the army.

The gate guards respectfully let the mule carriage pass.

Zhou Gui retracted her hand, raised the gold token, and kissed it, then leaned towards Tong Sui and said with a smile, "The feeling of using the tiger's authority is really good. I don't want to give this token back to you, Sister."

Tong Sui said, "This kind of borrowed authority is fine, but if you dare to cause trouble outside the city by flaunting your status, I won't help you."

Zhou Gui hummed and said, "You're talking nonsense! Do you think I'm that kind of person? At most, if someone bullies me, I'll bring up you and my brother-in-law to back me up."

Tong Sui smiled, "There's no need for us to back you up. Wen Gong is now a legitimate third-rank commander of the guard. Who would dare to bully the wife of an official?"

Blushing with embarrassment, Zhou Gui moved to the side seat, peeked through a gap in the curtain, and looked outside.

This main street was the grandest and widest street in Luoyang, stretching six miles from the southern Dingding Gate to the northern Luo River. Crossing the bridge, one would reach the imperial city, so the citizens of Luoyang called it "the Heavenly Street."

Tong Sui took out the map of Luoyang's wards she had received from Xiao Zhen and found Shangshan Ward on the eastern side of the Heavenly Street. Then she pointed to the adjacent JingShan Ward just east of Shangshan Ward and said, "Third Younger Brother's wife's ancestral home is right here."

Zhou Gui leaned over again, looked at the spot her sister was pointing to, and took a breath. "This place is directly opposite the imperial city, so the price of the house must be astronomical. Even the houses around the county government in Wei County are incredibly expensive. Ordinary people can't afford them."

Tong Sui said, "The Lin family was originally one of the most prestigious families in Luoyang. Third Younger Brother's wife's grandfather was once the Prime Minister. The location of their house is not hard to imagine."

Zhou Gui said, "Speaking of which, I've always been quite curious. Why did the Lin family leave Luoyang? If they hadn't moved away, perhaps they wouldn't have encountered those troubles."

Tong Sui shook her head. Lin Ningfang had only talked about how she "married" Xiao Yan. At that time, Lin Ningfang seemed to want someone to listen to her long-suppressed sorrow and grievances and did not mention why the Lin family moved away. Later, as their relationship became closer, for Lin Ningfang, who lived in the Xiao family, everything in Luoyang had almost become a dream. Lin Ningfang never brought up the past on her own, and Tong Sui couldn't recklessly bring up her painful memories.

Including when Lin Ningfang asked her to visit her old home, it was merely a way for Lin Ningfang to wish the Xiao family peace.

The carriage moved steadily forward.

Tong Sui pointed to Anye Ward as they passed by and said, "Uncle Xiao and his family live here."

Uncle Xiao and Sun Wei had been responsible for preparing and distributing army rations and salaries for the Right Route Army. Now that the imperial court is in need of personnel, Uncle Xiao and Sun Wei, along with other military scribes, have been called to the Ministry of Revenue. Although they were not selected through the imperial examinations, if they perform well, they might be exceptionally appointed, starting from minor official positions and gradually promoted based on their evaluations.

Zhou Gui said, "It's also a five-courtyard mansion, but it's quite far from your Qinghua Ward."

Tong Sui said, "The wards in northern Luoyang are only so big. We can't all be accommodated there. Families like ours, the Zhangs, and the Suns are scattered throughout southern Luoyang."

Second Brother Tong Gui was granted a five-courtyard mansion. The imperial edict clearly stated that this was to account for both his and Father Tong Youyu's merits in defending Wei County.

The Sun family was also granted a five-courtyard mansion because both Sun Dian and Sun Wei had military merits and would live together.

Zhang Wengong, being single, received a three-courtyard mansion like other commanders.

Tong Sui was talking about the people from Wei County. Zhou Gui thought of familiar faces and remembered someone. "Where does Uncle Pan live?"

Tong Sui pointed to Sishun Ward west of the South Market and said, "Here. Uncle Pan and Pan Dai's combined military achievements earned them a five-courtyard mansion."

Zhou Gui sighed, "Who would have imagined that so many officers would emerge from Wei County? Although they are capable, their status today is largely due to the Elder Master's mentorship and backing."

Tong Sui said, "We all support each other. The Elder Master wouldn't say such things, and neither should we be arrogant."

Zhou Gui nodded in approval.

Before they knew it, the carriage pulled up outside the Lin family’s residence in JingShan Ward.

Each ward was enclosed by walls, with gates on the north, south, east, and west sides. It was said that when Luoyang first became the capital, the opening and closing times of the ward gates were strictly enforced along with the three main markets. However, this practice was later abolished because it inconvenienced the livelihood of the people. Now, residents could come and go freely, as long as they observed the city’s curfew.

The carriage passed through the ward gate, and Tong Sui, peering through a slit in the curtain, finally caught a glimpse of the ward’s interior.

JingShan Ward was said to house high-ranking officials and nobles, or at least wealthy families. The streets were paved with tidily laid bluestones. Some houses had their gates tightly closed, others had seals affixed to their doors, and still others were guarded by soldiers, with servants and craftsmen bustling about inside. These residences were likely bestowed by the Emperor upon meritorious officials.

After passing through two streets, they arrived at the Lin residence.

The sisters stepped out of the carriage.

Tong Sui glanced at the wall of the Lin residence. It was clean, free of overgrown weeds, which slightly reassured her. However, her attention then shifted to the crimson doors, which appeared to have been repainted in the last two years. She frowned. The Lin family had moved away two and a half years ago, leaving only a loyal servant to watch over the house. Would the servant have repainted the door?

At that moment, a young man dressed as a servant approached with nervousness from the neighboring house.

Tong Sui waved at him.

Although the sisters were dressed in simple cloth garments, they were accompanied by eight armed guards. The young servant approached cautiously. "Is there anything I can help you with, madam?" he asked.

Tong Sui asked, looking at the Lin residence, "May I ask whose residence this is?"

The servant promptly replied, "It belongs to the Lin family."

Tong Sui asked, "The Lin family of the former Prime Minister Lin Yuanhong?"

The servant nodded.

Tong Sui said, "But I heard that the Lin family had moved away a long time ago."

The servant explained, "It was the second branch of the Lin family who moved away. The main residence now belongs to the eldest branch of the Lin family. Oh, let me explain from the beginning, Madam. Prime Minister Lin had two sons. The eldest master was banished from the family for colluding with Lord Dou. After Prime Minister Lin fell ill and passed away, the eldest master wanted to move back, but the second master disagreed. The eldest master then did everything he could to make things difficult for the second master. The second master, who had long since left his official post, couldn’t compete with his elder brother and was so upset that he fell ill. To escape the turmoil, he decided to leave. Once they were gone, the eldest master naturally returned and replaced all the servants."

Zhou Gui was so angry that she could barely contain herself. "Since the eldest master colluded with Lord Dou, why wasn’t he arrested and executed?"

The servant replied, "Only those who committed the most heinous crimes were executed. The eldest master lacked the integrity of Prime Minister Lin, and he was also a bit greedy. As soon as the new Emperor issued the decree, the eldest master promptly handed over the silver he had embezzled. His official rank was reduced by one grade, but he still holds a position in the Ministry of Personnel. Many officials in this ward did the same."

Still fuming, Zhou Gui was about to ask more questions, but Tong Sui gave her a subtle glance and took out a small silver coin from her purse to reward the servant.

The servant thanked her repeatedly and went back to his duties.

Tong Sui gripped her sister’s wrist and said, "Let’s go."

Zhou Gui found it hard to accept. "Are we just leaving like this? Although the second master has passed away, the fact that the eldest master was banished is well known in the neighborhood. This house should still belong to the second branch of the Lin family. It belongs to—"

Tong Sui interrupted, "It belongs to her, but we have to wait until she arrives to settle this. Without evidence, why would the eldest branch of the Lin family hand over the house to us?"

Zhou Gui deflated instantly.

The sisters climbed into the mule carriage and left JingShan Ward. They traveled north, crossing the bridge to the wards in northern Luoyang, and first went to identify the new residence of the Xiao family in Qinghua Fang.

Craftsmen were repainting the main gate, and some covered furniture and tables were placed in front of the entrance. Tong Sui took a distant look and signaled for the carriage to turn around.

To the east of Qinghua Fang was Sigong Fang, where the Zhou family’s new residence was located. The three-courtyard house was also under renovation.

Further east was the North Market. Since Zhou Jingchun didn’t want to become an imperial physician, Han Zongping had selected a shop front in the North Market for the Zhou family to open a medical clinic. However, the Zhou family would need to handle the conversion of the shop into a clinic themselves.

When the sisters arrived, Zhou Jingchun and Zhou Yuanbai were selecting apprentices. Zhou Xian, the only young man without an official post, had departed for Wei County two days earlier. His task was to deliver news to the families there and to oversee the relocation of several households.

"Grandfather, you and Father continue with your work. Sister and I are going shopping at the market."

"Go ahead, come over for lunch?"

"No way, Sister and I are going to dine out."

Among the three markets in Luoyang, the Southern Market is the largest, and the Northern Market comes second. However, because the northern part of Luoyang is home to many high-ranking officials and distinguished families, the Northern Market is also quite prosperous.

At the moment, however, many shops have been confiscated and sealed due to the owners being implicated in crimes.

Zhou Gui: "What does the Emperor plan to do with these shops? Surely he won’t reward all these shops to officials?"

Tong Sui: "Being rewarded with gold, silver, jewels, mansions, and family estates is already an immense imperial favor. How can one further ask for shops? Second Master speculates that most of them will be put up for sale, awarded to the highest bidder, whether it's merchants or officials."

Zhou Gui: "I hope they sell quickly. The New Year is approaching, and with so many shops vacant, it’s not fun to stroll around."

——

In the evening, Xiao Mu and Xiao Zhen returned from the imperial palace.

Recently, there have been new edicts every day, and today's decree was about selling the vacant shops in the three markets. Only when the shops are sold and reopened will the city’s residents regain their convenience.

Xiao Yan: "We have a lot of silver; should we buy a few shops? Even if we don’t know how to run a business, we can still earn rent by leasing them."

Xiao Ye: "Uncle is experienced in this. What does Uncle think?"

Xiao Gufu looked at Old Master Xiao, who in turn looked back at him, clearly wanting to hear his son-in-law's opinion.

After a moment of thought, Xiao Gufu said, "There are many merchants in Luoyang. By allowing them to bid on the shops, the market can be revitalized quickly. If officials bid on the shops, they’ll still need to sell or rent them to merchants. Whether selling or renting, they can make a huge profit due to their status. If we were pure businessmen, we could engage in this business. But since we hold official positions, we shouldn’t give the Emperor the impression of pursuing profit, should we?"

Xiao Yan felt aggrieved: "I didn’t mean that. It’s just that, after all these confiscations, I've noticed that the large wealthy families have both land and shops. I thought we should perhaps learn from them. After all, the reward silver will eventually be spent. Only by making money from money can it last long-term. Uncle, tell me, is there anything wrong with what I said?"

Xiao Gufu: "...There’s nothing wrong with it, but there’s no need to rush. In a few years or a decade, many large families will sell their shops due to poor management. That’s when we can make a proper business move, and it won’t matter who hears about it."

Xiao Yan: "Yes, yes, you and Grandfather see clearly. I almost made a mistake again."

Xiao Mu snorted and glared at everyone: "Anyone who thinks they have too much silver can give it to me. I’ll hold onto it. No one should try to scheme for these shops or land. Our family’s assets are already substantial. Being able to maintain them is a skill. If you try to make more money without having stabilized your position, you’re showing signs of becoming a corrupt official!"