Chapter 344: Counterattack

When Chu Chuyan and her group approached, Xie Yi’s face immediately broke into a smile. “My dear niece, I just heard you were looking for me after I returned, and I was regretting that I might have missed you.”

Zu An thought to himself, *These people are each more devious than the last. They were home all along, deliberately avoiding us, and now they’re acting as if nothing happened.*

Chu Chuyan was clearly accustomed to such tactics. Showing no sign of emotion, she smiled faintly and greeted, “Chu Chuyan greets Uncle Xie.”

“Oh, this uncle role isn’t an easy one to play,” Xie Yi sighed. She hadn’t addressed him as City Lord, but as Uncle, clearly intending to leverage the relationship between their two families. “Niece, I can roughly guess the purpose of your visit today, but what your Chu family did this time was truly too grave a mistake.”

“I remember you’ve always been very level-headed. Zhongtian made a foolish mistake this time; why are you following suit?”

Chu Chuyan said wistfully, “Many things are easier said than done. Over the years, with the rampant private salt trade and other expenses, the Chu family has long been unable to make ends meet. On top of that, the salt permits were stolen, leaving us helpless. Moreover, this has been the practice for various families for so many years; it has become an unwritten, unspoken rule. Who knew Governor Sang would suddenly become so… scrupulous?”

Anyone in the salt business inevitably encountered situations where salt permits were insufficient. If they followed the imperial tax laws, firstly, the salt merchants’ costs would double, and secondly, the common people wouldn’t be able to afford salt.

So, the families gradually reached an understanding: if permits were insufficient, they would pay a small advance as a gesture, but most of the money wasn’t actually paid.

Because the Salt Transport Commissioner’s office and the Chu family always had a good relationship, and with Chu Zhongtian in charge, things had always been peaceful. They never expected Sang Hong to pull such a move.

“Although this is an unwritten rule, it conflicts with imperial law, and there’s nothing one can do if someone holds onto that point,” Xie Yi sighed.

Chu Chuyan said solemnly, “We know this matter is troublesome, which is why we’ve come to ask Uncle Xie for help.”

Xie Yi gave a wry smile. “My niece should know I’m just a mere City Lord. Governor Sang is my direct superior and arrived with an imperial mandate. I don’t have the power to help, even if I wanted to.”

Chu Chuyan’s face grew cold, and she fell silent.

Xie Yi continued, “Although I lack the ability, someone else should be able to help the Chu family.”

Chu Chuyan remained silent. Xie Yi smiled, and the atmosphere in the room became somewhat strange.

Zu An was puzzled. *What riddle are they speaking?* He asked, “Who?”

Xie Yi didn’t explain. “My niece should know.”

Chu Chuyan finally spoke. “Uncle, you should know the Chu family’s long-standing principles.”

Xie Yi gave her a meaningful look. “It’s often not easy to remain neutral, and it frequently comes at a great cost.”

Chu Chuyan stood up. “Thank you for the intrusion today. I hope Uncle will not take offense.”

Xie Yi quickly stood to stop her. “My child, why are you leaving just as we were talking?”

“Alright, since we’re not strangers, I’ll be direct,” Xie Yi paused, seemingly choosing his words. “I won’t persuade you to fully align with that person anymore. However, if you are willing to hand over a certain item, someone will naturally help you settle all of this.”

Chu Chuyan’s expression flickered between conflicted emotions. After a long moment, she said, “I need to go back and think this over carefully.”

“Of course, you should. You can also discuss it with your family; after all, it’s not a small matter.” Seeing that she hadn’t refused immediately, Xie Yi’s eyes lit up.

After the two left Xie’s residence, Zu An couldn’t suppress his curiosity. “What exactly was City Lord Xie referring to?”

From their conversation, he had understood that Xie Yi was initially trying to persuade the Chu family to align with Prince Qi. After Chu Chuyan refused, he then proposed another condition.

He couldn't figure out what that was.

Chu Chuyan looked hesitant, but still said, “Zu An, you’re no longer an outsider; it’s time you knew some things. City Lord Xie was referring to an account book…”

She then briefly explained the origins and details of the account book.

Zu An was furious when he heard. “Isn’t Xie Yi just taking advantage of their misfortune?!”

He suddenly remembered the account book Pei Mianman had asked him to find earlier. At the time, she told him it contained information about the Chu family’s transactions with various factions in the weapons, salt, and iron trades. Now, he suspected she hadn’t been truthful with him.

*Sigh*, this world is truly terrifying. On the surface, she’s Chu Chuyan’s best friend, yet secretly she’s after something that could destroy her.

The thought made him uncomfortable, but then he reconsidered: although Pei Mianman was somewhat duplicitous toward the Chu family, she had been genuinely good to him.

For a moment, he didn’t know what to do.

At that moment, Chu Chuyan sighed. “Right now, they hold the blade and we are the fish on the chopping block. What can we do when they’re taking advantage of our misfortune?”

Zu An snapped back to reality. “You’re not really planning to give him the account book, are you?”

“Of course not,” Chu Chuyan replied. “It’s just to save face for everyone.”

Zu An couldn’t help but say, “Honestly, I don’t quite understand. You have such a powerful weapon in your hands, why don’t you utilize it properly?”

“Utilize?” Chu Chuyan was startled. “How?”

Zu An said, “This thing is like a nuclear weapon… Er, never mind what a nuclear weapon is. My point is, you have leverage over so many important officials in your hands; you can absolutely use it to threaten them.”

“But if we do that, we’ll completely fall out with them,” Chu Chuyan frowned.

“The Chu family is on the verge of ruin, and you’re still worried about that?” Zu An said.

“But our relationship with them was originally quite good. Perhaps they might secretly help us out of old friendship. What if we completely provoke them and they just stand by?” Chu Chuyan said worriedly.

“You’re too concerned, which is clouding your judgment,” Zu An said. “Let me ask you: the Chu family has been in trouble for so long, has anyone among them helped?”

Chu Chuyan parted her lips but ultimately said nothing.

Zu An sighed. “If I were those people, I’d wish for the Chu family to fall as soon as possible, so no one would have leverage over them. How could you expect them to step in and help?”

“No wonder…” Chu Chuyan wasn’t foolish, but being caught in the situation had previously clouded her judgment. Now enlightened, she immediately reacted, “Then what should we do?”

“Go directly to those people and threaten them: if they don’t help, everyone goes down together!” Zu An said. “According to you, those people are now scattered across various government departments, which means they are an incredibly formidable force.”

“The reason the Chu family has been encountering problems lately is ultimately because Sang Qian has been secretly targeting you.”

“Even if you resolve this advance salt permit issue, Sang Hong will find another way to target the Chu family next time. Eventually, there will be a time when you can’t defend against him.”

“Therefore, you need to solve the problem fundamentally. Not only must you resolve the Chu family’s current crisis, but you must also get rid of Sang Hong completely. If your description is accurate, the people listed in that account book absolutely have the power to help you eliminate Sang Hong as a threat. But the premise is, you have to force them!”

Chu Chuyan pondered for a long time. Finally, her eyes became resolute. “Alright, I’m going to the capital. Those people were so corrupt back then, and the Chu family has been covering for them all these years. It’s time they did something for the Chu family!”