Chapter 53: Missing Him

Chapter 53: Missing Him

She missed this man.

Once the Lantern Festival passed, the New Year celebrations were over. Cheng Yian had some free time and began visiting Princess Minglan's residence every day. Lately, she had been helping Chief Secretary Chen prepare for Princess Minglan's journey. In contrast to Lu Xusheng's two bundles, Princess Minglan's departure was a grand affair. Even before departure, over a dozen carriages lined up in front of the residence and the nearby alleys. To ensure Princess Minglan's comfort, they even loaded a daybed onto one of the carriages. Except for one female official and half the stewards, most of the entourage, from Chief Secretary Chen to the head guard, accompanied the princess south.

On the day of departure, Cheng Yian looked at the endless line of carriages and felt her nose tingle.

"Your Highness, once you leave, will you stay in the south for good?"

They said the south had beautiful scenery and was a paradise on earth. She worried that Princess Minglan might not want to come back after experiencing it.

Princess Minglan pulled her onto the phoenix carriage and ordered the guards to move out. She turned to Cheng Yian and said,

"If the south is as wonderful as they say, I might just stay there. I'll get a courtyard for you, and you can come keep me company."

Tears Cheng Yian had held back for days suddenly streamed down her face. She hugged Princess Minglan tightly around her waist.

"Then I'll go to Xiangshan Temple every day to pray that Your Highness meets a charming man who will stay by your side forever."

Since Princess Minglan decided to let go, she had visibly lost weight. The capital was a place of sadness for her. As long as her father stayed in the capital, Princess Minglan couldn't find peace. Leaving might not be such a bad idea.

Princess Minglan laughed heartily, "Then I'll take your kind words to heart."

The phoenix carriage made its way to the Zhengyang Gate, where officials had gathered to bid farewell. Cheng Yian quietly lifted the curtain and peeked out. She didn't see her father but spotted her second brother.

Princess Minglan understood the situation from Cheng Yian's expression, though her own remained calm.

Officials from the Ministry of Rites and the imperial guards escorted Princess Minglan out of the southern city gate. Once outside the city, the view opened up to endless rolling hills and forests, still barren since spring hadn't arrived yet.

At that moment, a flock of sparrows suddenly circled overhead and flew south.

A Ministry of Rites official noticed this and clapped his hands, smiling.

"Your Highness, the sparrows are seeing you off. It's a good omen. Your journey will surely be successful."

Princess Minglan was also pleased. She then gently said to Cheng Yian,

"Child, go back now. The wind outside the city is strong, don't catch a cold."

Cheng Yian sniffled hard, her longing for Lu Xusheng pouring out as she cried and held Princess Minglan's wrist.

"Your Highness, please remember to write to me when you have time. And please look after Lu Xusheng for me. Don't let him take unnecessary risks."

Princess Minglan only needed to oversee matters in Jinling, but Lu Xusheng had to travel extensively. Even her father, a man of great capability, had been worn out in his previous life, showing that dealing with powerful local factions was no easy task.

Princess Minglan knew she was worried about her husband.

"Don't worry, I'll bring him back to you safe and sound."

Though she said this, Princess Minglan had no real confidence.

Cheng Yian was still young and unaware of the dangers of court politics or the complexities of the south, which might be even harder to handle than the Northern Qi cavalry.

But she couldn't bear to see Cheng Yian worried. Unseen and unfelt anxieties were the most draining.

Princess Minglan, Lu Xusheng, and Cheng Mingyu had all silently agreed to tell her a white lie.

Cheng Yian always trusted Princess Minglan's abilities. As long as she was willing to take care of things, Lu Xusheng would have nothing to worry about.

"That puts my mind at ease." She smiled through her tears.

Princess Minglan reached out to wipe the tears from her cheeks and instructed, "Eat well, enjoy yourself, and put on some weight, so Lu Xusheng knows you’re doing just fine without him, and he won’t get too arrogant."

Cheng Yian laughed heartily, "Will do."

Ru Lan and the female official stepped forward to assist Cheng Yian out of the carriage. Cheng Yian waited by the nearby hut, watched as Princess Minglan’s carriage rolled away, until the last carriage vanished into the forest before she returned to the city.

That night, sleep eluded her. Without the warmth of the person beside her, Cheng Yian slept alone, feeling the emptiness, staring at the curtains, wondering where Lu Xusheng might have reached by now. She only managed to doze off briefly as dawn approached.

The Cheng family was naturally concerned about Cheng Yian. Cheng Yiyan personally came to pick her up, inviting her to stay with the Cheng family for a while. Cheng Yian entertained him in the front hall and shook her head,

"Grandmother is worrying too much. I’m perfectly fine. Now that he’s gone, I can’t just leave the Lu family, to prevent anyone from stirring up trouble in the absence of the master and mistress. Second brother, you needn’t worry. Without Lu Xusheng, I’m living quite comfortably."

Cheng Yiyan glanced at her slightly darkened under-eye area but didn’t call her out.

The days that followed were uneventful.

On the twentieth day of the first lunar month, Cheng Yixin and He Qingyun took the opportunity to visit their ancestral home to pay respects to their late mother and left the city for the Taihang Mountains. They left their child in the care of the Cheng family matriarch. Cheng Yiqiao was busy caring for her nephew and had no time for outings.

On the second day of the second lunar month, known as the Dragon Raising its Head, it was the wedding day of Prince Ning and Zheng Ying.

The emperor deliberately chose this day for Prince Ning's wedding, signaling his intentions clearly.

The Crown Prince’s advisors were seething, but the Crown Prince remained calm, reassuring everyone,

"Gentlemen, don’t be angry. It’s just a folk saying, nothing serious."

One of the advisors angrily said,

"How can you say it’s nothing serious? The common people believe in this the most. Over time, they will think he is the true dragon’s descendant. Soon, people will only know Prince Ning and not Your Highness."

The Crown Prince was naturally upset, but he didn’t show it. A ruler must avoid being impulsive and letting subordinates look down on him. He calmly adjusted his thumb ring and smiled from his seat,

"Don’t worry, I have a plan."

Throughout history, the victors write the history. When he wins, these things won’t matter.

The officials felt reassured by the Crown Prince’s composure, and their anxious hearts settled slightly.

Cheng Yian was invited to the wedding banquet at the prince’s residence as a matchmaker. If it weren’t for her and Lu Xusheng, Zheng Ying might not have won the competition. Thus, both families regarded her as the matchmaker, and Lady Zheng even personally visited to deliver a thank-you gift.

The Crown Prince excused himself due to discomfort and didn’t attend in person. The East Palace sent the Crown Princess to offer congratulations. Prince Ning was nominally the son of Empress Chen, who was magnanimous and let bygones be bygones. She personally attended to support her adopted son.

The wedding banquet was grand.

For Prince Ning, the only regret was that Lu Xusheng couldn’t attend. He buried a jar of fine wine under the osmanthus tree in front of his study and drunkenly instructed his secretary,

"When Shen Zhi returns, I will toast him with this wine to celebrate his return. This way, it’s as if he drank at my wedding."

Prince Ning and Lu Xusheng grew up together. Lu Xusheng was three years older than Prince Ning. When Prince Ning was five, the emperor handed him over to Lu Chang to teach him martial arts, while Lu Chang sent his eldest son, Lu Xusheng, to the imperial study to be educated by the emperor.

As a child, Prince Ning followed his older brother everywhere. When he got into trouble, his brother took the blame. When he sneaked out of the palace to play, it was Lu Xusheng who covered for him. The two were as close as brothers.

Court officials often joked that Lu Xusheng was the emperor’s biological son. In Prince Ning’s heart, Lu Xusheng was even more like a real brother.

While Prince Ning was feeling down in his study, Cheng Yian accompanied Zheng Ying in the bridal chamber. The maids left by Empress Chen stepped outside, allowing the two to have a private conversation.

Zheng Ying’s body was still tense, and through the red veil, she asked Cheng Yian,

"I'm freaking out, what do I do?"

"There you go again, you were all jittery when you first met His Highness, but later, you boldly went along with him to the Moon Pavilion for barbecue."

"Now you're all nervous again, just give it a few days, you'll get the hang of it."

"You, always talking yourself down, but when it comes to action, you're more on the ball than anyone."

Zheng Ying let out a soft chuckle.

Cheng Yian sat for a bit before deciding it was time to head out as it was getting late.

Zheng Ying insisted on holding her back, "Hang on a sec."

Cheng Yian quickly pried her hand off, "You silly thing, if I stick around, are you gonna let Prince Ning in or what?"

Zheng Ying went quiet.

No sooner had Cheng Yian left than Prince Ning stepped into the bridal chamber.

At the sound of footsteps, Zheng Ying's back went rigid.

A pair of black boots, adorned with golden dragon embroidery, slowly came into view, the red hem of his robe draped before her, the dragon motifs seeming to leap out at her, causing Zheng Ying to shut her eyes in fear.

In the next instant, the bed beside her dipped, and the aroma of ambergris from him instantly enveloped her senses.

Their garments intertwined, their arms brushing close, Zheng Ying held her breath, too scared to utter a sound.

Prince Ning noticed her hands clasped tightly, her slender fingers quivering slightly, a clear sign of her nerves.

He let out a sudden chuckle.

At the sound of his laughter, Zheng Ying, as if under a spell, lifted her red veil to meet his gaze, "What's so funny, Your Highness?"

Their eyes locked, Zheng Ying gazed into his bright black eyes before shrinking back in fear.

Amused by her, Prince Ning this time took it upon himself to lift the red veil and gently inquired, "Thirsty? Want me to pour you some tea?"

"Oh no, I couldn't possibly bother Your Highness..." Zheng Ying hurriedly got up, went to the table to pour herself a cup of tea. After drinking it, her heart felt relieved. Seeing Prince Ning watching her motionless, she immediately poured another cup, "Would Your Highness like some tea?"

Prince Ning shook his head, "I just had some sobering soup, it's not suitable to drink tea."

Zheng Ying looked at the poured tea, then drank it herself. This time drinking too quickly, her stomach made a gurgling sound, making Zheng Ying blush deeply.

Prince Ning laughed heartily, beckoning to the clumsy girl, "Come here."

What was to come next was self-evident. Zheng Ying's day-long anxiety finally reached its peak at this moment. She closed her eyes and walked towards him as if facing death.

Prince Ning looked at her heroic demeanor, both amused and exasperated, "Can I eat you?"

"Ah?" Zheng Ying opened her eyes, seeing the pool of gentle laughter in his eyes, as if bewitched, she placed her hand in his palm, "No..." she shyly lowered her gaze.

Prince Ning pulled her onto the bed, his gaze sweeping over her.

He wondered where to begin.

Despite being a prince, Prince Ning had never had a consort or intimate companion.

The emperor had set his sights on several noble families, knowing that these families were extremely picky when choosing sons-in-law. If Prince Ning had a consort, he might be excluded from their considerations, so the emperor was strict with his son.

Zheng Ying followed his gaze, her heart racing. She was wearing an elaborate wedding dress and a heavy phoenix crown on her head. She couldn’t possibly expect Prince Ning to do it himself. Zheng Ying had always been dexterous, so she quickly undressed herself until she was left in only a pink undergarment. Seeing Prince Ning still seated and unmoving, Zheng Ying’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson. Remembering the instructions from the elderly maid, she thought that the prince was not like an ordinary husband. She had to treat him not just as a husband but also as her sovereign. Her gaze dropped to his collar, and with trembling hands, she reached out to help him undress.

Prince Ning was taken aback for a moment. This girl appeared shy, but she was surprisingly bold.

He smiled and said, "No need. You lie down first. I’ll handle it myself."

Zheng Ying exhaled in relief and quickly slid under the covers, lying down obediently.

Moments later, the palace lanterns outside were dimmed, leaving only the two pairs of red candles by the bed. The light within the curtains was soft and hazy, and Zheng Ying let out a quiet breath.

The curtains parted, and Prince Ning entered, settling beside her under the covers.

As he lay down, Zheng Ying suddenly sat up.

Prince Ning had been about to pull her close when she abruptly sat up, leaving his arm suspended mid-air.

"What’s the matter?" he asked.

Zheng Ying, her face red, stammered, "Please, Your Highness, lie down properly."

The elderly maid had instructed her on how to serve the prince.

The emperor had sent a eunuch to teach Prince Ning about marital affairs, but Prince Ning had refused. At eighteen, he was well aware of the ways of men and women. Not to mention, he had read those risqué little books from the market.

Not only had he read them, but he had even kindly sent a copy to Lu Xusheng.

Unfortunately, Lu Xusheng had thrown it back at him.

Uncertain of her intentions, he nonetheless complied and lay down.

Seeing this, Zheng Ying drew a deep breath, clenched her fists, and steeled herself. Slowly, she lay down beside him, then wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him into an embrace.

Zheng Ying felt Prince Ning’s breath catch.

Prince Ning thought that Zheng Ying just wanted to hug him. That was fine; they couldn’t jump straight into the main event. It was necessary to ease into it.

So, Prince Ning started chatting with Zheng Ying to calm her nerves.

He talked about the horses in her stable, asking if her little red rabbit still liked to fight with the other horses.

In the past, Zheng Ying would have been animated when talking about horses, but today, she didn’t hear a single word. Her mind was elsewhere, and her little hands were already figuring out where to start. It seemed like his belt had been loosened, making it easier for her to proceed. So, Zheng Ying's cold fingers slipped under his waistband.

When they touched his burning skin, both of them were startled.

Zheng Ying hesitated about what to do next, while Prince Ning was genuinely shocked.

What on earth was she trying to do?

From what he knew of Zheng Ying, she must have done it unintentionally. Look, she was frozen, unsure whether to move forward or retreat.

Zheng Ying was still weighing whether to go up or down, either option requiring immense courage.

Cheng Yian was right; Zheng Ying was a thinker of little depth but a doer of great deeds. She decided to go all out, waiting until her palm warmed from his skin before beginning to explore step by step.

However, being inexperienced, the girl clumsily bumped into something and instantly realized her mistake.

Great, so she wouldn't need to assist further.

Prince Ning had no concubines, and the Empress was not fully informed about his personal affairs. Since he wasn't her biological son, she couldn't probe too deeply, hence she meticulously instructed Zheng Ying. The nanny anticipated various scenarios and repeatedly reminded Zheng Ying of her duty to serve the prince well. A smooth wedding night would ensure the couple's harmonious life thereafter.

Zheng Ying, ever meticulous, committed every word to memory.

Assured that Prince Ning was fine, Zheng Ying felt more at ease. Shyly, the girl climbed onto him, sitting atop, and gazed down at him with a delicate, vulnerable look.

"Your Highness, I am not yet skilled; please bear with me..."

Prince Ning: "....."

As soon as her little hand began to cause trouble, Prince Ning fell silent, doubting whether he had married the wrong woman. Had the bridal procession been mistaken, bringing the wrong bride? Was this still the Zheng Ying who would blush and avert her gaze?

In his confusion, the girl had already mounted him.

Upon hearing this, Prince Ning suddenly understood the situation.

The girl had been misled by those nannies.

If such matters required Zheng Ying's effort, his dignity as a prince would be utterly compromised.

Prince Ning's broad hand grasped her waist, and without hesitation, he drew her beneath him.

After the banquet, the ministers escorted the Empress and the Crown Princess back to the palace. In the crowd, Cheng Yian also spotted her elder sister, Cheng Yixin.

Cheng Yixin, Zheng Ying's cousin, had been invited by the Zheng family to bid farewell to the bride. As the guests began to disperse, Cheng Yian made her way to Cheng Yixin.

"Elder sister."

Three days prior, she had learned that Cheng Yixin and her husband had returned from the Taihang Mountains.

Presumably, they had reached some conclusion.

Upon seeing her sister, Cheng Yixin shed her formal demeanor, and the two sisters exited together to board the carriage. Once inside the carriage, Cheng Yixin's expression darkened completely.

"What's wrong?" Cheng Yian asked, turning to her.

Cheng Yixin covered her face, looking at her sister with evident distress.

"We met that doctor, stayed there for seven days, had acupuncture for the first three days, then every other day. After returning, the effect wasn't obvious..."

Cheng Yian comforted her,

"Don't worry, elder sister. Even if the body recovers, the heart needs time to transition. What did the doctor say when you left?"

Cheng Yixin looked exhausted, "The doctor said it should be fine."

Cheng Yian smiled, "Then it's okay. You, elder sister, just act as if nothing happened, do what you usually do, and when the time comes, it will naturally work out."

Cheng Yixin, comforted by her sister, realized she might be overreacting, too eager,

"I was too hasty. The doctor also said that once pressure is created, men can have psychological barriers. I need to give him some time."

"Besides," Cheng Yian recalled Lu Xusheng practicing martial arts every morning, and couldn't help but suggest,

"Elder sister's husband spends all year at his desk, so he's definitely not as fit as our general. Elder sister, you may not know, but our general, unless there's an urgent matter at court, always practices his horse stance and a martial arts routine every day before dawn. Although elder sister's husband is not a military officer, he should also keep fit in his daily life and not let his physique go to waste. That's the real way to fix the problem."

"That sounds reasonable," Cheng Yixin also calmed her anxiety. "The doctor also prescribed a three-month medication. Let's try it first and see how it goes."

"Mm, remember not to rush him. Let things take their natural course."

Cheng Yixin looked at her sister's calm expression and hugged her. "Thanks, An An."

Lu Xusheng arrived in Jinling on the 18th of January. Before Princess Minglan arrived, he did not show up, instead sneaking into the southern magnates' stronghold to gather information.

Princess Minglan did not arrive in Jinling until the beginning of February. As soon as she arrived, she called the capital's officials to a meeting, announced the national policy on land surveying, and set deadlines for every county to complete the land measurement. Those who could not complete the measurement on time would be dismissed from their positions and punished according to the severity of the situation.

However, just as Cheng Mingyu and the emperor had expected, the results were negligible.

The southern magnates were as stubborn as mules. No matter how stern Princess Minglan and Lu Xusheng were, they just shrugged and refused to cooperate. Even with the governor of the two rivers bringing in troops to help, they could not be moved.

When accused of land encroachment, they denied it, producing land and fish registries, claiming that due to years of famine, the taxes from the south were less each year, and much land had been abandoned. Not only did they not encroach, but they actually lost a lot of land. Isn't that maddening?

Then, they held their income ledgers in one hand and their tax receipts to the court in the other, comparing the two, showing huge losses. They claimed to have made many sacrifices for the prosperity of the Great Jin Dynasty, almost selling their children to subsidize the court.

One of the magnates threw last year's tax receipt in Lu Xusheng's face.

"General Lu, if it weren't for us tightening our belts and saving food to send to the border, where would your soldiers get their winter rations?"

"Exactly, they say to remember the source of the water you drink. General Lu not only does not appreciate us but even leads the charge to investigate our lands? Fine, General Lu, take our lands back. From now on, the tenants will depend on you for their sustenance. We won't manage anymore, no need to pay taxes. I might live a few more years and save up more family wealth."

"Right!"

"General Lu, you are the commander of the border army. Your spear should be aimed at the iron cavalry of Northern Qi. Why are you turning it on your own people today? A wise man would not do this!"

After taunting Lu Xusheng, they turned to Princess Minglan with a different face.

"Princess Minglan, as a princess, you should enjoy life. Why are you mixing with Lu Xusheng?"

"It's not easy for you to come here. My family has many entertainers. We will invite you to our mansion soon to perform for you. How about that?"

"Princess, my family has built a villa in Changzhou, with beautiful scenery, and inside we have many charming young men and women. The leader looks very much like Cheng Mingyu. Would you grace us with your presence?"

When Princess Minglan refused, they immediately had nothing good to say.

Words like a mere woman, a hen crowing at dawn, all came out.

Their words were sharper than the court's censors, greatly angering Princess Minglan and Lu Xusheng.

"Go away, bring Cheng Mingyu here!"

"Let the head of the Cheng family show up, then we'll talk about land measurement."

They couldn't really kill them all. After all, these people held the lifeline of the entire south. The treasury of the Great Jin Dynasty relied on them.

Not only that, each of these wealthy families had powerful backers. As soon as Princess Minglan arrived in the south, her study was filled with petitions for leniency.

A month passed, with no progress.

Not only was there no progress, but the tax revenue from the southern branch in January and February was also halved.

Those powerful local factions are indeed cunning, using this tactic to force the court to change its personnel.

"If you want to take silver from us, you'd better have the means!"

Memorials flooded the emperor's desk. Seeing that the tax revenue from Jiangnan had halved this month, the officials were as frantic as ants on a hot pan, and they all submitted petitions urging the emperor to replace the current officials.

At this critical moment, the emperor showed his decisiveness.

"If you doubt someone, don't use them; if you use someone, don't doubt them."

He trusted Lu Xusheng.

Summoning Cheng Mingyu to the palace overnight to strategize, Cheng Mingyu stated decisively,

"Your Majesty, please strike the phrase 'led by this minister' from the edict and fully authorize Lu Xusheng to handle the matter. Moreover, those who defy the law shall be executed without leniency."

"Additionally, I request Your Majesty to issue an edict explicitly stating that those willing to break away from the powerful local factions and submit to the court will be exempt from taxes in the first year, and from the population tax for the next three years, with the population tax being incorporated into the land tax."

Upon hearing of the population tax exemption, the emperor was greatly alarmed, "Cheng Mingyu, the population tax has been in place for two thousand years. I fear that setting this precedent might provoke other regions to follow suit."

Cheng Mingyu bowed deeply, "Your Majesty, I have long contemplated this plan. Once the population tax is abolished, the people of the Great Jin Dynasty will be free to move about, leading to the flourishing of commerce and trade, and thus enriching the national treasury."

This was a challenge faced by the Cheng family's silk business. For example, the silk business employed many laborers, but they still had to perform corvée labor and farm the land, only able to work during the agricultural off-season, which significantly impacted the silk business's efficiency. In reality, in recent years, merchants from the South Seas had been increasingly interacting with the Great Jin Dynasty, demanding ever more silk. Often, the Cheng family's workshops struggled to meet the demand.

Cheng Mingyu, a high-ranking court official known for his foresight, quickly sensed the opportunity and the root of the conflict. He had covertly instructed the Cheng family's managers to reduce investment in land, aligning with the court's land measurement policy and instead investing in maritime trade. Population and land were ultimately the most valued assets by the emperor. By adapting to the changes, the Cheng family could ensure lasting prosperity without becoming a thorn in the emperor's side due to their prominence.

Cheng Mingyu further explained to the emperor the connection between commerce and population in Jiangnan, and the emperor suddenly saw the light.

"That's a brilliant plan. I'm just worried that the officials and gentry won't cooperate and that it might cause instability."

Cheng Mingyu smiled, "Therefore, I am only taking this opportunity to first try it out in Jiangnan. If it works, it can be implemented across the entire country. If not, everything in Jiangnan will return to normal after four years, and no one will have anything to say."

In name, it was about pacifying the powerful local factions and recruiting tenant farmers, but in reality, it was a new round of tax reform.

The emperor couldn't help but admire Cheng Mingyu's cunning, always thinking three steps ahead, truly the most capable minister of the Great Jin Dynasty.

The emperor once again demonstrated his greatest strength: daring to use and trust people.

"Agreed!"

Cheng Mingyu drafted the edict that night and had the emperor affix the imperial seal to issue it across the realm.

After the edict was issued, the emperor gazed at the dark sky and sighed deeply,

"Can Xusheng handle it?"

Cheng Mingyu pondered, "I'm afraid he's been waiting for this spark."

On the late night of the third day of the third month, Lu Xusheng arrived at Princess Minglan's study, slowly picking up and flipping through the petitions of intercession.

Princess Minglan was practicing calligraphy and didn't look up as she asked him,

"Is the time ripe?"

Lu Xusheng nodded expressionlessly, "It is." He then noted down the names of those who had written the petitions of intercession.

Princess Minglan didn't pay attention to his small actions, only sighing deeply,

"Come back alive, otherwise..."

Lu Xusheng had thought she would say, "I'm afraid I can't explain it to Cheng Yian," but to his surprise, Princess Minglan stopped writing and smiled,

"Otherwise, I will definitely find An An ten or so male companions."

Lu Xusheng's face darkened, and he tossed the memorials into the corner basket,

"With that, I must return in one piece."

Three days later, Lu Xusheng disappeared without a trace. Not only could the court officials not find him, but even Princess Minglan had no idea of his whereabouts. Jiang Chengbin, the Governor-General of Liangjiang, was furious and led his troops to surround the mansions of several powerful local factions in Jinling.

"I am tasked with ensuring the safety of Princess Minglan and General Lu. Now that he has disappeared, I order you to release him immediately."

This was the head of the Shen family, a powerful local faction entrenched in Jinling for years. He had visited the Jiang residence countless times and immediately rushed out to greet Jiang Chengbin, bowing respectfully at his horse,

"Governor, please calm down. I swear on my life that we did not kidnap Lu Xusheng."

Jiang Chengbin also bent down, his face full of difficulty,

"Family Head Shen, let's not mince words. With so many years of friendship, you can't make things difficult for me. Lu Xusheng is not only an imperial envoy but also my brother-in-law's son-in-law. If something happens to him on my watch, how am I supposed to explain it to Cheng Mingyu?"

"Here's the deal: release him, and I'll try to persuade my brother-in-law to come south personally to take Lu Xusheng back."

The Shen family head protested bitterly,

"Governor Jiang, I truly did not kidnap Lu Xusheng."

Seeing that he refused to admit it, Jiang Chengbin straightened up and looked at him leisurely,

"You didn't, but what about your people?"

The Shen family head fell silent.

Since Lu Xusheng went south, countless assassins had been sent to kill him.

Could it be that this time, they actually succeeded?

Seeing his expression, Jiang Chengbin knew he had guessed correctly,

"Family Head Shen, I'll give you three days at most. Three days should be enough for you to vent your frustrations. Once you've vented enough, hand him over, and I can report back to the court."

Seeing Jiang Chengbin's sincerity, the Shen family head found it hard to refuse,

"Governor, don't worry. I'll go out of the city to look around and help you find General Lu."

He wondered to himself, who could have hidden Lu Xusheng?