Chapter 49

Chapter 49

Time passed quickly, and before one knew it, the day had arrived that Shen Yuan had set for displaying the character portraits and scene paintings of "Love Between Human and Ghost."

Before the hour of Chen (7 a.m.), many people had already gathered at the entrance of the Ji Family Teahouse.

Since the paintings were to be displayed in the morning, the morning's storytelling session was canceled. Everyone who had come was there specifically to see the artwork.

The crowd, in fact, was several times larger than the one that usually came to listen to the storytelling.

Whether they had painting collections at home or had never seen a professional painting before, everyone who could make it did.

As time passed, Duofu Street was packed with people from one end to the other.

Because the street was narrow, carriages couldn't get through at all in the end and had to be parked outside the street, with the passengers walking in.

Shen Yuan hadn't anticipated so many people. Fortunately, Ji Ping'an had brought many yamen runners to maintain order.

Inside the Ji Family Teahouse, the tables, chairs, and benches in the main hall had all been cleared away and temporarily stored in the backyard.

Eighteen silk cloth paintings were hung on wooden frames, each over two chi (approx. 66 cm) long and over one chi wide.

The character paintings were all single portraits arranged vertically, while the scene paintings were a mix of horizontal and vertical orientations.

For the character portraits, Shen Yuan had painted Liu Mingqing, Chu Qi, Grandpa Liu, Liu Mingqing's parents, Chu Qi's parents, and the old Taoist priest's fellow disciples.

The scene paintings depicted the cliff from which Chu Qi fell with the tree extending out to catch him, the thatched cottage, the Chu family home on Chu Qi's wedding day, the pit into which Grandpa Liu pushed Chu Qi, and the scenery of gathering herbs in the mountains...

Ji Ping'an admired the paintings for a while, pleasantly surprised, and praised them without restraint. "Xiao Yuan, your paintings are truly beautiful. Every character looks like a real person, and the scenes are incredibly vivid and lifelike—truly extraordinary. They surpass even the Ji family's collection. Within Qingyun County, I'm afraid even the Wang and Liu families, known for their painting skill, cannot match your technique."

Shen Yuan rubbed the tip of his nose and chuckled, "If skilled painters were to learn from and exchange ideas with each other, they could also improve quickly. My painting skill is actually nothing to boast about; I've just mastered the basics."

Ji Ping'an said, "Techniques passed down through generations—how could they possibly be shared for mutual learning? Xiao Yuan, your idea is something I've never heard before."

*Without communication, without learning, and without looking at others' work, working behind closed doors will naturally lead to stagnation.*

Ji Ping'an suddenly thought of something and said with concern, "Xiao Yuan, you wouldn't be thinking of teaching people how to paint, would you? Listen to your brother's advice, absolutely not!"

Shen Yuan hadn't given it much thought yet; he was too busy and simply didn't have the time.

Teaching people to paint was much more difficult than teaching them storytelling.

"If you teach people who can't paint how to paint, those families who depend on painting as their hereditary craft will band together to harm you and force you to stop," Ji Ping'an said, his tone becoming much more serious as he genuinely worried for Shen Yuan. "This is no joking matter. Don't risk your life, understand?"

Shen Yuan nodded, "Don't worry, brother. I'm not thinking about teaching painting right now."

Ji Ping'an understood the implication: what might happen in the future was pointless to worry about now. At least for the present, there was no danger. Ji Ping'an breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. Oh, right, Fifth Granduncle will also come to see the paintings today. But he'll go directly upstairs. Isn't there another set for him? Xiao Yuan, you should take it upstairs to show him. You painted them, so you know how to introduce them."

Shen Yuan agreed but was also puzzled. "Doesn't Fifth Granduncle dislike crowds? Why would he come? There are so many people today. Even on the second floor, with the private rooms now opened up, the noise from downstairs will still carry up, right?"

"I don't know. A Xie family servant found me at the yamen yesterday and told me to bring more manpower today, saying Fifth Granduncle would come."

Seeing it was almost time to open the doors, Ji Ping'an said quickly, "Who knows what Fifth Granduncle is thinking? It's better for you to be on the second floor anyway; it'll be quieter, and you won't be jostled around in the main hall. I'll go give the men another reminder. Xiao Yuan, go get the paintings and wait on the second floor. Don't keep Fifth Granduncle waiting."

The two brothers went their separate ways.

Shen Yuan retrieved the other well-preserved set of paintings from the backyard storeroom and carried them upstairs.

The second floor of the teahouse was now completely renovated. The edges were lined with railings, and tables and chairs were set out. Between each set, wooden screens with simple openwork carvings served as partitions.

The renovation aimed to let second-floor patrons hear the storytelling from the main hall as clearly as possible.

Consequently, if the main hall was noisy, it could be heard distinctly on the second floor.

Shen Yuan arranged the paintings, hoping Xie Yulin wouldn't be displeased by the noise from downstairs.

At the hour of Chen and three quarters (7:45 a.m.), the teahouse doors opened.

Under the watchful eyes of the constables, the large crowd entered the teahouse in a relatively orderly manner.

The patrons who entered first, upon seeing the hanging paintings, couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "So this is what Liu the healer looks like! No wonder everyone likes her. She looks so beautiful when she smiles."

"Young Master Chu actually has a mole under his eye. It looks very handsome."

"Grandpa Liu looks so kind. His back really does seem bad; he's even supporting it with his hand."

The patrons were initially drawn to the character portraits, examining them carefully and not missing a single detail.

Looking at the portraits felt as if the characters from the story had appeared before their eyes—a particularly magical feeling.

Because Shen Yuan’s skill was so great, they looked remarkably like real people.

Based on the story, the characters' pleasing appearances, actions, and attire all reflected their specific personality traits.

The already likable characters became even more beloved by the patrons, while the unlikable ones were viewed with even more disdain.

"That evil Taoist's eyes look terrifying. I feel like he's staring straight at me through the painting, trying to snatch my soul."

"Chu's father and mother too. Although they are dressed luxuriously and look noble, somehow their expressions give off an uncomfortable feeling. It's like they're looking down on everyone, despising them, not treating them as human."

The area with the character portraits was packed, and the scene paintings also drew many viewers.

Each scene corresponded to the most impactful moments of the story.

Seeing the tree on the cliff reminded them of the nail-biting suspense at the beginning, wondering if Chu Qi would survive.

Seeing the thatched cottage immediately brought to mind the warm and heart-wrenching events that happened there.

Some patrons, recalling the plot as they looked, became deeply immersed and began to shed tears.

Such a good story truly had a powerful lasting impact.

"Hey? These paintings are so well done. Could they have been painted by the Wang family or the Liu family?"

Someone who owned Wang family paintings said, "It's not the Wang family. They don't paint with colors."

Someone with Liu family paintings added, "It's not the Liu family. They don't paint people."

The people in the crowd glanced at each other. Then who painted them?

Could the Ji Family Teahouse have invited a master from another county?

Just as everyone was marveling at the skill and wondering about the artist, a commotion arose at the entrance.

Those inside didn't understand what was happening, only that a path was quickly cleared and the room fell silent.

Before the crowd could react, they saw a man in an embroidered silk brocade robe, protected by guards, go up to the second floor.

In Qingyun County, there was only one person who could wear silk nowadays.

That person was Xie Yulin, who had returned to the Youyang Xie family to bury his uncle.

After guessing the visitor's identity, the crowd fell even quieter, hardly daring to breathe.

This lofty figure hadn't left the ancestral estate since he arrived in Qingyun County, had he?

Why would he suddenly come here?

Soon, everyone remembered that the top name on the leaderboard was Xie Yulin.

Was he here to collect the reward?

The crowd was baffled. From the start, no one had thought Xie Yulin would care about this, and no one had expected him to come today.

But he had indeed come.

It seemed the paintings this time must be truly exceptional, to have even the eldest grandson of the Xie family, the foremost aristocratic family, come in person to see them.

The quiet tea guests downstairs were filled with envy for the top three on the leaderboard who would receive the paintings.

Following Ji Pingan's instructions, Ji Xingwang brought people to manage and reassure the guests in the main hall, telling them that as long as they didn't make loud noises, they were free to converse softly and move around.

At this, the tea guests resumed their activities.

On the second floor of the teahouse, Shen Yuan sat in a chair waiting for Xie Yulin.

When he saw him approaching, he first stood up. As Xie Yulin reached the top of the stairs, Shen Yuan gave a slight nod and said, "Greetings, Fifth Granduncle."

Xie Yulin acknowledged him with a grunt. The attendant beside him quickly stepped forward, wiped the chair clean and placed a clean cushion on it.

"Come over and introduce the paintings," Xie Yulin said to Shen Yuan, who was standing not far away, after taking his seat.

Shen Yuan approached but kept a distance of at least five steps between them.

He began with the portraits, introducing them one by one.

Just as he was introducing the Taoist priest, a commotion arose from downstairs.

Xie Yulin raised his hand, and Shen Yuan fell silent.

Following Xie Yulin's gaze downward, Shen Yuan saw a middle-aged man dressed in expensive-looking clothing at the entrance, pleading with Ji Pingan to let him in.

Then he watched as Xie Yulin's attendant went downstairs. Soon, the man was brought up to the second floor.

The gazes of the tea guests in the main hall also drifted up to the second floor. No one felt envy; instead, they were all filled with fear and worry.

To cause such a disturbance knowing Young Master Lin was here—wasn't that asking for trouble!

But then again, perhaps he had come specifically because he knew Young Master Lin was here. Otherwise, how could an ordinary person get an audience with this lord?

They simply couldn't see him.

Seeing someone coming up, Shen Yuan prepared to take his leave, but he was a step too slow.

The newcomer seemed in a great hurry to see Xie Yulin, practically running up the stairs.

Before Shen Yuan could even open his mouth to excuse himself, the man had already dropped to his knees before Xie Yulin, kowtowing heavily, his head hitting the floor. "Young Master Lin, I am Patriarch Chen of the Chen tea merchant family. Our previous actions were the Chen family's fault. I beg for your forgiveness, please spare me this once."

Xie Yulin's expression remained unchanged, his slightly cold gaze falling on the man at his feet. "Oh? What wrong have you done that requires forgiveness?"

Sweat beaded on Patriarch Chen's graying temples. Not daring to lift his head, he remained kneeling with his head bowed. "This lowly one was coerced into joining a scheme, helping members of the Xie Clan Second Branch to make things difficult for the Ji Family Teahouse."

"Wrong," Xie Yulin said.

Sweat poured more profusely from Patriarch Chen's face. He truly couldn't think of what else he had done wrong. If he gave the wrong answer now, it would be disastrous.

After much thought, Patriarch Chen tentatively ventured, "This lowly one also allowed those under me to say that the story *The Obsessive Love Between Human and Ghost* was adapted from *Love Between Human and Ghost*, ruining Young Master Lin's enjoyment."

Xie Yulin let out a light laugh, his tone indifferent. "Wrong."

At this, Patriarch Chen grew even more terrified, his speech becoming fragmented as he visibly began to tremble. "This lowly one... is foolish. I... I beg Young Master Lin... to enlighten me."

Xie Yulin's gloved fingertips tapped on the table, producing a dull, rhythmic thud.

Thump, thump—it was like the strike of a blunt instrument.

Patriarch Chen swallowed hard. Sweat dripped into his eyes, stinging painfully, but he didn't dare raise a hand to wipe it away. He could only shut his eyes tightly.

After a silence so deep it felt deadly, the attendant at his side finally spoke. "Young Master Lin is in Qingyun, while the Second Branch is in Youyang. Yet you dared to accept work from the Second Branch. Did you have no regard for the Young Master at all? Since that's the case, why come here today to beg for mercy?"

Patriarch Chen froze. He wanted to defend himself further, but when he opened his mouth, he couldn't utter a sound.

Indeed, Young Master Lin was right here in Qingyun.

Regardless of the reasons the Chen family had for choosing the Xie Family Second Branch, in essence, it meant they had not treated Young Master Lin with due respect.

But the Chen family had dozens of members and generations of business—it couldn't be destroyed in his hands!

Patriarch Chen kowtowed repeatedly, his head thumping loudly against the floor as he wept and pleaded. "It was this lowly one's stupidity. I beg Young Master Lin to spare us this once, I beg you, I beg you, Young Master Lin..."

The attendant barked, "Silence! Patriarch Chen, when you agreed back then, you must have harbored some misplaced optimism. You thought Young Master Lin had no capable people in Qingyun County and couldn't bring much influence to bear. You were hoping that if you could truly cause trouble for Young Master Lin, you might thereby forge a connection with the Xie Clan Second Branch. Now that the situation has changed, you put on this pitiful show to beg for mercy. Who are you trying to fool?"

Patriarch Chen didn't dare utter another word. Every word had struck true.

Shen Yuan, having found no chance to excuse himself, was lost in thought. Suddenly being addressed, he felt the embarrassment of a student caught daydreaming in class.

He dutifully stepped forward, stopping at a distance of three paces. Then he heard Xie Yulin ask, "Do you think I enjoy punishing people by making them kneel?"

Shen Yuan's head snapped up. "How did Fifth Granduncle know?"

That was something he had said to the shopkeeper after his first meeting with Xie Yulin.

He had been eating in the kitchen at the time.

Could someone have been listening in from the roof?

"A shadow guard reported it," Xie Yulin said without hiding it, since Shen Yuan knew shadow guards were following him.

His tone was calm. "He knelt of his own accord; I did not punish him. Everyone who kneels before me does so because they want something from me. Shen Yuan, from now on, do not harbor any prejudice against me."

Shen Yuan considered this and saw the truth in it—he had indeed misunderstood due to his own prejudice.

Feeling rather embarrassed, he scratched his head and gave an earnest nod. "I understand, Fifth Granduncle. I won't think that way anymore. I misunderstood before, and I apologize."

Xie Yulin's eyebrow twitched slightly. He hadn't expected Shen Yuan to apologize—it was an unexpected bonus.

"Song Zijuan was right, he really is an honest kid."

Shen Yuan wanted to say he was twenty-two, but then remembered that in the state of Wu he was sixteen, and wouldn't turn seventeen for another three months.

Xie Yulin was twenty-eight. By Wu's standards, there were men in Dashu Village who became fathers at thirteen or fourteen.

From Xie Yulin's perspective, if he had married early, he might indeed have a son nearly seventeen years old.

Thinking this, Shen Yuan didn't say anything.

He didn't know what nonsense Song Zijuan might have said in front of Xie Yulin, but he felt both of them were acting a bit strange.

Patriarch Chen was forcibly dragged away by the guards.

Xie Yulin uttered only one sentence: "Since you chose the Second Branch back then, don't regret it midway."

The man, crying with snot and tears streaming down his face, was dragged away as everyone in the teahouse looked on.

They didn't know what had happened upstairs, but seeing Patriarch Chen's state, he truly looked pitiful.

With this in mind, the crowd became even more cautious when discussing the paintings, afraid that speaking too loudly might offend the one upstairs.

Shen Yuan was called over by Xie Yulin to continue explaining the paintings, and soon finished them all.

There wasn't much to say—just explaining the characters' backgrounds, describing what happened in each scene, and briefly introducing the plot context.

After finishing, Xie Yulin asked Shen Yuan, "When is the next story?"

Shen Yuan thought for a moment. "At least a month. I don't know what to write about yet."

Xie Yulin said, "Song Zijuan has gone to Youyang and won't be back for some time. If anything happens during this period, you can come to the Xie Family Ancestral Residence to find me."

Shen Yuan understood upon hearing this. No wonder he hadn't seen Song Zijuan today.

It seemed the man had left in quite a hurry; otherwise, given Song Zijuan's nature, he would have surely come to the teahouse to bid him farewell.

"Alright, thank you, Fifth Granduncle."

Xie Yulin stood up, his gaze lingering on Shen Yuan for a moment before shifting away, then led his entourage out of the teahouse.

The attendant rolled up all the paintings and carried them away.

Only after Xie Yulin left did the teahouse patrons, including Ji Xingwang and the others, dare to relax.

Ji Pingan hurried upstairs and, seeing Shen Yuan unharmed, breathed a sigh of relief.

He hadn't expected Patriarch Chen to barge in demanding to see Xie Yulin. He thought Shen Yuan would come down, but the boy never appeared.

He had wanted to go up and check, but two hidden guards were stationed at the staircase.

He had been so anxious he kept pacing in circles.

Now, seeing him completely unscathed, Ji Pingan exhaled. "You scared me to death. I thought Fifth Granduncle was displeased and even you got punished."

"Fifth Granduncle didn't seem angry today." Shen Yuan carefully recalled the interaction and said to Ji Pingan, "Brother, don't you think Song Zijuan and Fifth Granduncle are acting a bit strange?"

Ji Pingan said, "No, but I rarely interact with Song Zijuan, and I've only seen Fifth Granduncle a few times. What's wrong with them?"

Shen Yuan shook his head. "Nothing much. I just feel they're both acting a bit strange."

Then, Shen Yuan mysteriously glanced around, confirming no one could be hiding, before pulling Ji Pingan closer. "Fifth Granduncle was unusually good to me today. He actually told me to go find him if I had any issues. Song Zijuan once told me that Fifth Granduncle hates people getting close. I also don't think Fifth Granduncle is the warm-hearted type. Even if Song Zijuan left, he could have easily assigned another subordinate to temporarily take over the liaison with me."

Ji Pingan thought Shen Yuan made sense. He had just nodded when Shen Yuan continued, "What's strange about Song Zijuan is that he seems overly eager to befriend me, yet he doesn't hide it—it's as if he wants me to notice."

Ji Pingan frowned deeply. "What do Fifth Granduncle and Advisor Song want?"

Shen Yuan wanted to know too, but he had no answer.

"Let's wait and see. We'll figure out the reason eventually."

Ji Pingan was somewhat worried. "Could they be setting another trap to harm you?"

"Definitely not," Shen Yuan said with certainty. "Someone like Fifth Granduncle—if he wanted to harm me, he could just do it with a snap of his fingers. Why would he go through such elaborate circles?"

But it was undeniable that they wanted to obtain something from him. He just wasn't clear yet what that was.

For things he couldn't figure out, he could only set them aside for now.

The two went downstairs. Following what he had told Xie Yulin, Shen Yuan also introduced the paintings to the teahouse patrons.

One patron asked Shen Yuan which painter the works were from. Shen Yuan didn't want to attract too much attention—at least while his footing was still unstable, it was better to keep a low profile.

So he kept it secret, not saying he had painted them himself, only that they were by someone he knew who wished to remain anonymous.

The patrons knew Xie Yulin liked the story "Love Between Human and Ghost," and since Shen Yuan had been upstairs with him, he clearly had the man's ear. Even if they were curious about the painter, since Shen Yuan wouldn't reveal it, they didn't dare press further.

Amidst the envious gazes of the crowd, the second and third top patrons took the paintings away.

The other patrons were green with envy, eagerly asking Shen Yuan if future stories would have these too.

Shen Yuan smiled and nodded. "Naturally, they will."

If the printing technology here were better, or if there were more skilled painters, he would really love to publish artbooks and sell merchandise directly.

Unfortunately, limited by technological constraints, he could only dream for now.

...

Night had fallen. The residents of Qingyun County were already asleep. A plain carriage quietly made its way through the streets and finally stopped at the entrance of the Xie Family Ancestral Residence.

In the study, Xie Yulin was looking at the paintings Shen Yuan had drawn.

An attendant entered to report. "Young Master, Patriarch Chen has brought his daughter."

Bringing his daughter to seek an audience at the Xie residence at this hour—the purpose was obvious.

This was an attempt to sell his daughter for glory.

Xie Yulin sneered coldly. "Send them back. Bring Chen Yuye."

The attendant immediately complied.

At the gate, the attendant who received the order said with a cold face to Patriarch Chen, "The Young Master wants Chen Yuye."

Patriarch Chen was stunned, thinking he had misheard. He asked, puzzled, "Yuye is my legitimate second son, and he got married the year before last. Might you have heard wrong, young man?"

The attendant only repeated, "The Young Master wants Chen Yuye."

Patriarch Chen stiffly climbed back into the carriage. The young woman inside asked nervously yet expectantly, "Father, did it work?"

Family Head Chen didn't look at his daughter; his heart was in turmoil. It seemed he had been let in on a major secret—one he couldn't breathe a word about, or the Chen family's days of peace would be over.

"Do not speak of today's events to anyone. Don't let anyone know you came to the Xie ancestral residence tonight. Do you understand?" Family Head Chen warned his daughter. The frightened young woman nodded repeatedly.

The carriage soon returned to the Chen residence. Family Head Chen stood in his son's courtyard for a long while before finally gritting his teeth and knocking on the door.

Chen Yuye was awakened, and his wife woke as well. "What's wrong?"

Chen Yuye reassured her, "Father says he has something to discuss. Go back to sleep."

"Alright."

Once he was dressed, Chen Yuye stepped outside. Family Head Chen's expression was dark and inscrutable, his face obscured by the dim, yellowish light.

"Come out with me for a while."

Chen Yuye wanted to ask where, but sensing his father's unusual mood, he held back.

It wasn't until they were in the carriage that Chen Yuye learned his father had handed him over to Xie Yulin for the sake of the Chen family.

"Father, what are you saying? You want me to become a male concubine for a man!"

Chen Yuye was burning with shame and indignation. Family Head Chen had anticipated this and held him down preemptively to prevent him from jumping out of the carriage.

"What are you shouting for? Do you want to wake everyone up and let the whole world know?"

Chen Yuye gritted his teeth. "Could there be a mistake? How could Young Master Lin possibly be interested in men? And how would he even know about me? I've never even met him!"

Family Head Chen was also puzzled. It was common for nobles to keep male consorts, but his son, at his age and with his physique—aside from having a somewhat handsome face—really had nothing particularly remarkable to pick out.

"I asked, and there's no mistake. Think carefully. If you don't go today, the Chen family is finished."

Family Head Chen didn't appeal to sentiment, only to gain. "Never mind the reason. If Young Master Lin has his eye on you, that's your good fortune. Even the Ji family's daughter, who merely became a concubine for a second branch's concubine-born son, can throw her weight around Qingyun County as she pleases. If you win Young Master Lin's favor, what prospects wouldn't open up for our family? He's a brother acknowledged by the Emperor, my son. Just agree to it."

Chen Yuye remained frowning, wrestling with his thoughts for a long time before realizing his father was right. Reluctantly, he gritted his teeth and nodded.

Upon arriving at the Xie ancestral residence, Family Head Chen led the silent Chen Yuye out of the carriage and knocked on the gate once more.

The attendant inside opened the door, confirmed it was Chen Yuye, then allowed him to enter and told Family Head Chen to leave.

He didn't forget to remind him, "Young Master Lin doesn't want any word of tonight's events to get out."

The future head of the Chen family becoming a male concubine—if this got out, the Chen family's face would be completely lost.

"Absolutely, absolutely. I would never breathe a single word," Family Head Chen hastily assured.

The attendant closed the gate and led Chen Yuye deeper into the estate.

The tranquil courtyard was lush with flowers and plants, lined with stone pillars holding oil lamps.

Though Chen Yuye had prepared himself, he was still filled with trepidation. The closer he got, the more restless he became.

"Young Master, the person is here."

Chen Yuye stood uncomfortably on the clean wooden floor. Every ornament in the room was arranged in pairs, identical in color, shape, and orientation. The excessive tidiness and symmetry created a strangely oppressive atmosphere.

Xie Yulin emerged from the inner room, taking his time putting on his gloves. He tilted his head and asked, "Chen Yuye?"

Chen Yuye looked up at Xie Yulin and was stunned by his appearance. He hadn't expected Young Master Lin to be so... beautiful.

Much of the unease in Chen Yuye's heart instantly vanished. He bowed and said, "This humble one, Chen Yuye, pays his respects to Young Master Lin."

Xie Yulin casually took a seat, his gaze fixed on Chen Yuye.

When Chen Yuye heard no response for a while, he remembered why he was there. Not caring whether there were others present, he simply started to take off his clothes.

After all, these were all Xie family servants. The attendant's words at the gate had made it clear: they didn't want outsiders to know Xie Yulin favored men. Whatever he did in this room, no matter how much he undressed, no one would spread it outside.

In matters like this, it was better to take the initiative. He couldn't wait for Xie Yulin to instruct him.

Only by serving Xie Yulin well could the Chen family enjoy prosperity and honor.

Just as Chen Yuye was untying his belt, Xie Yulin said coldly, "Where is the salt mine?"

Chen Yuye, who had been prepared to offer himself, froze instantly.

The salt mine... How did Xie Yulin know about the salt mine?

No! Xie Yulin didn't want him as a male concubine—he had lured him here to interrogate him!

Holding onto a sliver of hope, Chen Yuye prevaricated. "What is Young Master Lin referring to? This humble one truly doesn't know."

Xie Yulin lightly tapped the table. "Chen Yuye, think before you speak. If your next sentence isn't spoken properly, you won't need your tongue anymore."

Chen Yuye fell to his knees with a thud. He knew there was no escape, and he couldn't even send a message for help.

With his father covering for him at home, the people behind this wouldn't notice his disappearance for a while.

Fear gripped Chen Yuye, and the oppressive feeling intensified. Sweat broke out on his back. "This humble one didn't mean to deceive. It's just that I was only responsible for finding people to mine and process the salt, and selling it through the tea routes. We would meet at different locations along the tea roads, with the specific spots chosen by the other party. They would wait in advance and hide the salt in tea packages. I truly don't know where the salt mine is."

Xie Yulin asked, "Does the salt mine belong to Xie Shaoqing?"

Chen Yuye shook his head. "I don't know who is truly behind the salt mine. I only know that three years ago, someone suddenly approached me, proposing a business partnership. I went along with it and gradually tasted the benefits. The business grew better and better."

"So, you poisoned your elder brother, hid it from your father, and have been smuggling private salt through the tea routes," Xie Yulin stated bluntly.

Chen Yuye gritted his teeth but ultimately didn't dare lie. "Yes."

He never imagined that even his brother's death had been uncovered.

"Are the Xu and Liu families involved in this?"

At this point, Chen Yuye could only tell the truth. "No. I received orders to deliberately mix that batch of private salt into their tea shipment. Our Chen family controls the entire tea business in Qingyun County. No matter whose tea it is, as long as the goods haven't reached their respective hands, I can tamper with them."

Xie Yulin let out a light chuckle. If not for this, he wouldn't have tracked this man down so quickly.

Having obtained the information he wanted, Xie Yulin ordered, "Lock him up. Have a shadow guard disguise himself and take his place at the Chen residence."

When the time came to transport salt along the tea routes, they could quietly follow the carriers and locate the salt mine.

Chen Yuye's heart sank into despair. Disheveled and gagged, he was dragged away by the shadow guards.