Zhang Shen had not been back in Yangzhou for long before he had to embark on another distant journey.
Zhu Qingyu helped him pack his luggage, feeling quite puzzled.
"You just visited the salt fields in Huaibei before the New Year. Why must you go again? All this constant travel is exhausting—can your health withstand it? I've noticed you've been frowning these past few days. Has something happened?"
Zhang Shen never kept business matters from her, good or bad. He pulled her to sit down and sighed repeatedly.
"You don't know. Vice Minister Gu has been cracking down on illegal salt recently. He's sealed many shops, impounded many boats, and arrested many people. Our Salt Commissioner Dai, new to his post and eager to make a mark, is taking advantage of the current ban on illegal salt to push through a salt tax reform. In previous years, the salt tax was paid based on how much was sold. This year's tax requires purchasing and prepaying the quota a full year in advance. Everyone's capital is tied up in their businesses; how can they produce so much ready cash all at once? The official salt trade is declining day by day. Even in Huainan, there's a significant backlog of processed salt. The situation in Huaibei can only be worse. I need to see for myself exactly how much salt from last year is stockpiled in the Huaibei salt fields and get a realistic estimate of this year's sales."
Having observed the business with Zhang Shen for several years, Zhu Qingyu had some understanding of its intricacies. She did not have high hopes for Commissioner Dai's new policy and advised,
"Jingyan, Commissioner Dai is killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. As long as illegal salt sells for twenty wen per catty and official salt for sixty wen, the illegal trade can never be fully suppressed, and the official salt business won't improve. Living off next year's harvest is not sustainable in the long run. Please think this through carefully. Don't be greedy."
Zhang Shen patted her hand, his gaze gentle.
"I know. I've always said you have a head for business, seeing things clearer than even my senior shop managers. Don't worry, I won't act rashly. It's just that while we see things clearly, others may not. A few days ago, I heard from the Zhou family that, lacking sufficient operating funds, they plan to borrow official silver from Commissioner Dai to purchase their quota, daring to take a loan with eight percent monthly interest. They think they're getting something for nothing, but they don't realize they're courting death. Mark my words, throughout history, how many reformers have met a good end? Within three years, eighty percent of the salt merchants in the Yangzhou salt administration will be ruined by this new policy."
It was common for Zhang Shen to travel for business. After he left, Zhu Qingyu continued her daily routine of going to the medical clinic.
One afternoon, thunder rumbled and lightning flashed, continuing unabated until evening. Zhu Qingyu was organizing recent medical records and continuing her work on the "Treatise on a Hundred Diseases."
The Zhang family's chief steward braved the storm, rushing in hurriedly. Half his robe was soaked through, his face etched with anxiety.
"Madam, something terrible has happened! Third Miss has been arrested by the constables. The master isn't home—what are we to do?"
Zhu Qingyu was utterly shocked. She stood up so abruptly she nearly knocked over the inkstone. She quickly asked,
"How could Third Sister be arrested? When did this happen? Did they come to the house to arrest her? Which constables—from the prefectural office or the county? Did they give any reason?"
Accompanying the chief steward were two of Zhang Ruohua's personal maids. Young girls about the same age as their mistress, they were terrified, speaking incoherently and weeping bitterly. Between their fragmented accounts, a story emerged.
One said, "I was accompanying Third Miss to buy rouge. It started pouring rain when we left the shop, so I went to fetch an umbrella from the carriage. When I came back with the umbrella, the young lady was gone."
The other said, "I was inside the shop waiting for the shopkeeper to wrap the rouge. The young lady was waiting by the entrance. Suddenly there was a commotion outside. By the time I got the rouge and went out, the young lady had disappeared."
Having lost their mistress, the two maids panicked. Asking around, they learned that the neighboring shop had been sealed by the authorities and many people arrested—Third Miss had been taken along with them. They hurried home to seek the chief steward's counsel.
Before coming to Zhu Qingyu, the chief steward had already taken silver to the prefectural office once. He reported,
"I've made inquiries. The arrest was made by prefectural constables. Third Miss was most likely caught up by mistake due to her proximity. I delivered silver to the Prefect, asking him to release her. Prefect Liu accepted the money. He said he also believes Third Miss was likely mistakenly arrested, but the arrest order came from Imperial Commissioner Vice Minister Gu himself. Furthermore, the prefectural jail is now guarded by Vice Minister Gu's soldiers, so he dares not release anyone. Prefect Liu has already had Third Miss moved to a separate cell for now. He advised us to seek connections and go through the Imperial Commissioner's channels. Madam, do we have any connections who can speak to Vice Minister Gu?"
For Zhu Qingyu, the only connection who could speak to Gu Zhao was Xie Ze.
Xie Ze had also said she could seek him out if in difficulty. With Xie Ze as an intermediary, persuading Gu Zhao to release a mistakenly arrested young lady likely wouldn't be difficult for him. She just didn't know if Xie Ze was still in Yangzhou.
Zhu Qingyu took an umbrella and stepped out.
"Chief Steward, prepare more silver. Come with me to the prefectural office again."
By the time Zhu Qingyu reached the prefectural office, it was already time for households to have their evening meal. Prefect Liu, burdened with myriad duties, was still in his study attending to official business.
Inside the study, a woman was weeping plaintively, saying something, though the words were indistinct.
Prefect Liu's voice, however, was quite gentle.
"Vice Minister Gu refused your service and sent you away? How did he send you away? What exactly did he say to you? Tell me properly."
The woman spoke again. The attendant who had led Zhu Qingyu stepped forward and knocked on the door. After a moment, they heard Prefect Liu say,
"Vice Minister Gu comes from the capital, a scion of a noble family. It's only natural his standards are high. Don't take it to heart. You may go now."
The door opened, and a woman walked out, head bowed, wiping her tears.
She was clearly a stranger, yet for some reason, as Zhu Qingyu watched her retreating figure, she felt a vague sense of familiarity.
The attendant was already urging her to enter. Zhu Qingyu withdrew her gaze and entered the study with the chief steward.
The chief steward presented a box containing silver notes. Zhu Qingyu stated her purpose to Prefect Liu.
"Our Third Sister truly was only there to buy rouge. We beg Your Honor's help and leniency."
Prefect Liu, his meal delayed, showed no annoyance and was very amiable.
"Madam Zhang, to be frank, it's truly not a matter of silver. If I had the authority, I would have released Third Miss long ago. A young girl—what serious trouble could she possibly cause, right?"
Hearing that Zhu Qingyu wished to see Xie Ze, Prefect Liu seemed surprised.
I had no idea the Zhang family had previously been acquainted with the Young Marquis of Anyuan. Ah, but unfortunately, Young Master Xie returned to the capital some time ago. However, Madam Zhang, please don't fret. Vice Minister Gu is closely overseeing the illegal salt case. The interrogations will begin in the next few days. Once Third Miss explains and clarifies the situation, she will be released.
Zhang Ruohua was ordinarily a young lady who loved food, drink, and pretty things. Zhu Qingyu dreaded to think how terrified the girl must be, suddenly thrown into a jail cell and facing interrogation. She could not leave Zhang Ruohua in the prefectural jail.
With Xie Ze absent, she would have to approach Gu Zhao directly. Truly, plans could not keep up with changes. Just the other day, she had resolved to have nothing more to do with this Vice Minister Gu. Yet, not even a few days later, here she was, seeking him out.
Given that she had just rejected Gu Zhao the other day, she had likely offended him. He might not be willing to see her.
But she had to try.
Zhu Qingyu said,
"Is the Imperial Commissioner also staying at the prefectural office? Could Your Honor help by sending word? I wish to request an audience with Vice Minister Gu."
