Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

Zhu Han nodded: "Yes, Your Highness. Now we just need to wait, seize a trace of evidence, and proceed quietly. Let time do its work."

Zhu Biao's gaze deepened: "Uncle, I will listen to you. But I still have a lingering unease. Gu Qingping is, after all, my wife. If this matter truly affects her, the court will surely be shaken."

A complex emotion flashed in Zhu Han's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure: "Your Highness, this concerns the survival of the nation, and you must take responsibility. At this moment, our mission is to protect the Crown Prince's position and safeguard the future of the Ming Dynasty. As for Gu Qingping, if she is truly innocent, we will naturally not harm her in the slightest."

Zhu Biao sighed, his eyes dimming slightly: "I understand, I will remember your words."

Zhu Han nodded: "Your Highness, earlier today I received some news. The trading chain between 'Wan Yao Tang' and 'Zhi Xing' has begun to falter, possibly due to our investigation causing some disruptions to the trade routes. I will be closely monitoring their movements going forward."

“Alright,” Zhu Biao said in a deep voice, “If you need any help, just let me know.”

Zhu Han cupped his hands again and said, "Your Highness, rest assured, I will act with caution."

Several days later, Zhu Han continued his investigation in a low-key manner.

Using the clues he had, he gradually approached the dark corners behind the Gu family business.

At the same time, Gu Qingping seemed to have sensed something was amiss and began to frequently ask Zhu Biao about the business and medicinal herbs. Her attitude gradually became cautious, as if some things were no longer as calm as they appeared on the surface.

One evening, Zhu Han secretly followed a merchant who was leaving the Gu family business.

This merchant, named Li He, was one of the intermediaries between the Gu family's trading company and the outside world, responsible for transporting some important medicinal materials to various parts of the southeast.

Zhu Han secretly followed and discovered that Li He entered an abandoned warehouse in the East Market.

A thought struck him: there might be more evidence hidden here. Without hesitation, he went with the boy.

The two quietly approached the warehouse, and by the moonlight, Zhu Han peered through the dilapidated windows to observe the situation inside.

The warehouse was filled with various sacks and wooden crates, and the air was filled with a damp smell and the aroma of medicinal herbs.

Li He was talking to several unfamiliar men, and Zhu Han could clearly hear their conversation.

“These medicinal herbs aren’t just for the market,” Li He said in a low voice, sounding somewhat impatient. “Can you guarantee this transaction will go smoothly?”

One of the men sneered, "Don't worry, the money exchange has already made all the arrangements. You just need to deliver your medicinal herbs to the designated location on time. As for your goods, they have already been transferred to 'Juyi Warehouse'."

Zhu Han was slightly taken aback, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. It seemed that 'Juyi Warehouse' had reappeared in these transactions, and this time, it was closely linked to the movements of the money houses.

"Keep an eye on them," Zhu Han whispered to the boy. "Don't let them notice."

Zhu Han stood by the window of the East Palace, gazing at the darkening sky outside, his doubts growing ever deeper.

In the past few days, as he delved deeper into the investigation of Gu's Trading Company, he gradually unveiled the seemingly calm veil. However, the complexity of the matter far exceeded his expectations.

The transaction between "Juyi Warehouse" and "Yinfang" involves more than just the smuggling of medicinal herbs; it may also involve a deeper power struggle.

All of this is probably closely related to the fate of the Crown Prince, and even the entire Ming Dynasty.

"Your Highness, His Highness the Crown Prince requests your presence in the palace." The guard's voice broke Zhu Han's reverie.

Zhu Han snapped out of his daze and nodded slightly: "Understood, lead the way."

Upon entering the palace, Zhu Han met Zhu Biao. The Crown Prince was sitting at his desk as always, with memorials and official documents piled up in front of him.

Upon seeing Zhu Han enter, Zhu Biao gently put down his pen, looking somewhat tired.

"Uncle, I've heard about the recent events. Is the connection between the smuggling of medicinal herbs and the 'Juyi Granary' as you say?" Zhu Biao went straight to the point.

Zhu Han slowly walked to the desk, glanced at the official documents on the table, and then sat down: "Your Highness, things are gradually becoming clear. 'Juyi Granary' is not only part of the Gu family business, but the money shops, printing houses and even some local forces behind it are almost all related to some big figures in the court."

Zhu Biao raised an eyebrow, clearly not fully understanding: "You mean, this involves not only business ethics, but also politics?"

“Exactly,” Zhu Han said in a deep voice. “These medicinal herbs are smuggled, seemingly for profit, but behind the scenes they may be for a larger power struggle. What we are seeing now is just the tip of the iceberg. The real mastermind may have already set up this chain perfectly.”

Zhu Biao frowned: "In that case, this matter is clearly no longer just a simple smuggling operation. What exactly is hidden behind the Gu Family Trading Company?"

Zhu Han paused for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Gu Qingping's family did not come from the imperial examination system in their early years, but rather accumulated a vast fortune and network of connections through business."

Their family not only wielded considerable influence in the Jiangnan region but also maintained intricate connections with powerful figures in the imperial court. As part of their organization, the 'Juyi Granary' clearly did not align entirely with His Highness the Crown Prince's stance.

Zhu Biao's gaze sharpened slightly: "Could it be that Gu Qingping also played some kind of role in this?"

"If she really knew, she would have already been a pawn in this game."

Zhu Han's voice was low, "But I'm not in a hurry to expose her. The most important thing now is to confirm her position with more evidence before we can draw a conclusion."

Zhu Biao took a deep breath: "This matter is probably not just about the Gu family business. Some power struggles in the court have long been beyond our control."

A cold glint flashed in Zhu Han's eyes: "I understand, Your Highness. If we simply rely on Gu Qingping, we probably won't be able to completely unravel this mystery. In the coming days, we must be even more careful and investigate the deeper, more hidden forces behind it all."

"So, what's the next step?" Zhu Biao asked.

“I have found out that ‘Wan Yao Tang’ and ‘Zhi Xing’ are more closely connected, possibly involving the sale of counterfeit and substandard goods, and even some business and political forces have begun to get involved in secret. If we don’t thoroughly investigate, I’m afraid more people will get caught up in this mess.”

Zhu Biao frowned: "What are your plans?"

Zhu Han paused for a moment, then looked up: "I plan to go to the 'Paper Shop' to see if I can find more clues. At the same time, I also need to contact some business and political figures to further understand the true purpose behind this power struggle."

Zhu Biao looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes: "I know you're prepared, but I can't interfere too much in this matter. Gu Qingping is, after all, my wife, and the delicate relationship between us doesn't allow me to make a decision lightly."

Zhu Han nodded: "Your Highness need not worry. The Imperial Uncle will try his best to avoid harming the innocent. We can only investigate step by step and cannot rush to a decision."

Zhu Biao remained silent for a moment, then finally said softly, "Alright, since that's the case, Imperial Uncle, go ahead and do it. As long as you can thoroughly investigate the matter, the Crown Prince's Palace will fully support you."

Zhu Han slowly stood up: "Thank you, Your Highness."

Night fell once again, and Zhu Han quietly led the boy to a secluded alley in the East Market.

This is where the "Paper Shop" is located. The storefront is simple and the exterior is dilapidated, but it is one of the important backers of the Gu family business.

Zhu Han stood at the door, took a deep breath, and signaled the boy to be careful.

"Your Highness, shall we go in?" the boy asked in a low voice.

Zhu Han nodded: "No rush, let's observe for a while. This place may seem inconspicuous, but it's an important hub. If we want to uncover the secrets behind it, we must first understand how the 'paper shop' operates."

The two stood quietly in the shadows, watching every move inside the "Paper Shop".

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from inside the door, and a man dressed in black rushed out. He seemed to be in a hurry, but he kept his head down and did not notice the commotion outside.

Zhu Han's eyes lit up, and he said softly, "Let's go, follow him."

They quietly followed him, passing through several alleys, and finally stopped in front of an abandoned warehouse. Zhu Han looked down at the man in black talking to several strangers, silently analyzing the situation.

Based on their behavior and expressions, Zhu Han deduced that these people were not ordinary merchants, but rather intermediaries with direct connections to the Gu family business.

He whispered to the boy, "Get ready. If we spot anything unusual, we'll act immediately."

However, things took an unexpected turn for the better.

Just as they were about to approach further, a piercing whistle suddenly rang out, and the surrounding shadows quickly gathered. Zhu Han frowned, knowing that he had been exposed.

"Withdraw!" he whispered the order.

The two quickly turned around, jumped into the dark alley, and fled rapidly along the previous route.

A breeze blew in from the end of the alley, carrying a damp and chilly feeling.

That seemingly ordinary "paper shop," a mediocre business during the day, transforms at night with dim lighting and shadowy figures behind the windows.

Zhu Han stood in the shadows, his fingers stroking the bronze button.

The copper button is engraved with the words "Gathering Righteousness," and it is one of the sealing seals seized from the bridge a few days ago.

This item should have come from the warehouse seal, but it just so happens to appear among the paper goods circulated by the Gu family business.

The boy whispered, "Your Highness, the front gate is heavily guarded. If we force our way in, we might alert the people inside."

Zhu Han squinted: "We're not going to cause trouble."

He pointed – there was a dark ditch next to the paper shop, leading to the backyard.

That was the underground channel for discharging pulp from the paper mill; it was always slippery, but it was the best place to hide.

The two bypassed several houses and crept into the canal. The water murmured, carrying the smell of ink.

Zhu Han bent down first, his boots barely touching a crack in the stone, and his figure darted into the shadows like a swallow.

The canal mouth was slightly wider, with a sliver of light shining at its end. The two walked forward, holding their breath, and soon heard the muffled sound of a wooden mallet striking a table, along with faint voices.

"The seals need to be engraved quickly tonight," one of them said. "The boss is pressing us hard; they need to be transported to Juyi Granary before dawn tomorrow."

Another person chuckled in a low voice, "The warehouse is in a hurry. I heard that the matter of testing medicine at the drill ground has blown up again. If we don't send out another batch of 'pure seals,' we're afraid we won't be able to pass the prince's eye."

Zhu Han's eyes sharpened when he heard the words "Jing Zhang". That was a code word for counterfeit seals - to re-polish the fine lines of the fake seal in order to blend it into the genuine seal.

He gently pushed the fence by the canal, revealing a small gap.

Under the lamplight, three craftsmen were busy working on the printing plate, while another person wearing a blue robe stood behind them with his hands behind his back.

The man wore a black veil and had a composed demeanor, quite unlike ordinary craftsmen.

“That’s the person in charge,” Zhu Han whispered.

A moment later, the man in the black veil turned around, revealing half of his face.

Zhu Han's heart skipped a beat—that was Gu Qingping's cousin, Gu Yin.

Gu Yinsu was nominally a paper merchant, but in reality, he was the Gu family's eyes and ears in the capital.

“Boy,” Zhu Han said in a deep voice, “if this man escapes, he will be difficult to catch. Go to the back door and block his way.”

"Hush." ​​The boy darted into the shadows.

After Zhu Han had walked away, he pushed open the wooden door and slowly entered.

The water at his feet reflected the lamplight, revealing his cold, iron-like eyes.

The craftsmen inside turned around and saw that it was a prince in official robes. They were all terrified and turned ashen-faced.

Gu Yin remained unmoved, and slightly cupped his hands: "So it is Prince Jing'an. What brings you here so late at night?"

“Gu Yin,” Zhu Han said calmly, “I have already seen the seals on your merchant guild. The accounts of Juyi Granary are also in my hands. Tell me, how should I ‘instruct’ you?”

Gu Yin smiled slightly: "Your Highness, please don't misunderstand. We are just printing some labels. Business dealings are all within our bounds."

"Goods label?" Zhu Han picked up a newly carved seal on the table and examined it closely under the lamp—the seal face had the seal character '仓' (cang) in seal script, with a thin slit hidden between the strokes.

Without a magnifying glass, it's impossible to tell the difference between real and fake.

He slammed the printing plate back onto the table and said coldly, "This is your 'goods label'? You've been passing off fakes as genuine, deceiving officials and merchants, and misusing official seals—you deserve to be executed according to the law!"

The craftsmen all knelt down, but Gu Yin still smiled: "Your Highness, this is the Gu family's own paper mill, and the printing plates used are merely samples. If you take them as official seals, wouldn't that be a joke?"

Zhu Han's gaze was like a knife, slowly approaching: "A joke? Then let me ask you—why are these imprints exactly the same as those on the Juyi Granary's account books? Why does your paper mill seal the books at night, while the Gu family's accounts are consistent day and night? If you can't answer these questions, I will immediately send people to raid your mill."

Gu Yin's expression changed, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

He forced himself to remain calm: "Since Your Highness has doubts, you might as well ask the Crown Princess. She personally reviewed and approved half of the shares in this business."

Zhu Han paused.

The room fell silent. Only the oil lamp flickered slightly in the wind.

“Gu Yin,” Zhu Han said in a low voice, “do you know the weight of these words?”

Gu Yin sneered: "I am merely stating the facts. If Your Highness wishes to investigate the Gu family, you should first find out who is in charge of the accounts in the Eastern Palace. Although our Gu family is engaged in commerce, we never tamper with imperial funds."

Zhu Han's gaze darkened as he slowly spoke, "You think you can stop me by bringing up the Crown Prince's position?"

Before Gu Yin could answer, a muffled thud suddenly rang out—the hidden door at the back of the house was violently kicked open, and a thick cloud of smoke poured in.

The boy's cry followed: "Your Highness, be careful! Someone is setting a fire!"

The flames spread rapidly, sending ash flying everywhere.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Gu Yin retreated, lifted the window panel, and tried to escape. Zhu Han quickly caught up and slapped him on the shoulder.

The two men staggered, knocking over the table and causing the printing plates to fall to the ground.

Gu Yin coughed up blood, but still forced a smile: "Your Highness... the Gu family is not something you can touch..." (End of this chapter)