Things Happening Right Under Their Noses

The paper page was covered in crooked writing.

—Geng He's wife passed away from illness in the eleventh year of Longzheng. Geng He's daughter, Geng Rong, married Wu Peng in the fifth year of Longzheng and gave birth to a son in the sixth year of Longzheng. Wu Peng is a patrol officer for the Five Cities Garrison, and their family currently resides in the sixth courtyard from the east on the back street of Qingping Street.

"Wu Peng? Qingping Street?"

Chen Mu's eyes flashed with surprise after reading it.

The reason for his surprise was simple. Not only did he have an impression of Wu Peng, but he was also familiar with Qingping Street, as it was the area near the Xuanguo Estate.

And Wu Peng, the patrol officer, was responsible for patrolling that area. Every night, he would lead a team to patrol the large area outside the Xuanguo Estate on time. He also had connections with the Xuanguo Estate itself.

Chen Mu shook his head.

He had gone through such a large circle and even entrusted the matter to the Heaven's Secret Pavilion, only to find that the person was right under his nose. However, without the investigation by the Heaven's Secret Pavilion, even if Geng Rong was a servant of the Xuanguo Estate, he wouldn't have been able to find her.

After all, it involved events from so many years ago, and there had been a change in imperial power during that time.

Without saying much more, Chen Mu crumpled the yellow paper into a ball, ground it into powder between his fingers, and then walked out of the Heaven's Secret Pavilion.

After about a few breaths, a white-robed figure walked out, gently waved his sleeve, sweeping all the powder out of the room, leaving the wooden table clean and tidy once more.

Qingping Street.

Back Street.

A patrol officer for the Five Cities Garrison was a position that was neither high nor low, second only to the Deputy Commander, and was of the Eighth Rank. In the provinces, this rank would be considered quite high and could oversee many people, but here in Kyoto, especially in the eyes of the noble families, it was just a patrol officer.

The courtyard where Wu Peng, the patrol officer, lived was a two-section courtyard, but among two-section courtyards, it was relatively large and well-maintained. There were also a few maids and servants, making him barely qualify as a 'master'.

Chen Mu quickly found the place.

He didn't pay much attention. After activating his Spirit Sight and scanning the area, everything in Wu Peng's courtyard came into view. There were three servants and two maids busy with chores.

Then there was a woman living in the main house and a child of about ten years old.

Wu Peng, the patrol officer himself, didn't seem to be home.

However, Chen Mu didn't care. He wasn't interested in Wu Peng, nor was he interested in Wu Peng's child. He was only here to find Wu Peng's wife.

Walking forward, Chen Mu raised his hand and knocked on the door.

The door was quickly opened by a servant. He was slightly surprised by Chen Mu's appearance, then bowed respectfully without daring to be negligent, saying, "Sir, may I help you?"

"I was entrusted by someone to come and ask your mistress something," Chen Mu said calmly.

The servant was stunned for a moment.

He had thought that Chen Mu was looking for Wu Peng, the patrol officer, which would be normal since Wu Peng was a patrol officer. But asking for Geng Rong directly without even asking about Wu Peng seemed a bit strange.

However, seeing Chen Mu's extraordinary demeanor, he still didn't dare to be negligent. After a slight hesitation, he bowed and then quickly ran into the courtyard to report.

Meanwhile, Geng Rong was in the backyard teaching her son, Wu Ming, how to write.

When she was eight, she was left adrift after Geng He gambled away their family fortune. Before that, she was considered a young lady from a good family and had learned to write. She hadn't let it go since and occasionally practiced.

Hearing the servant's announcement, Geng Rong was a bit surprised. Why was someone looking for her instead of Wu Peng, and who was this old acquaintance who entrusted this matter?

She couldn't figure it out for a moment.

But in broad daylight, a young master visiting shouldn't be a problem.

After a brief thought, Geng Rong followed the servant out and went to the entrance.

She pushed open the door.

Upon seeing him, she found the young master outside the door was even younger than the servant had described, at most sixteen or seventeen years old, and indeed possessed an extraordinary demeanor.

She didn't dare to be negligent and invited Chen Mu into the courtyard, leading him to the side room for guests. She ordered a servant to serve tea, and then asked with confusion:

"Young Master, may I ask what matter brings you here, and who entrusted you to find me?"

Chen Mu carefully examined Geng Rong.

Spirit Sight could see blood and qi, and Spirit Veins, but not facial details. Examining her closely now, he could see that Geng Rong had a rosy complexion, no signs of worry, and a plump figure. Clearly, as Wu Peng's legal wife, her life had been quite good.

However, his scrutinizing gaze made Geng Rong feel a bit uneasy. After all, she had been adrift in her youth and had seen much darkness, knowing that some gentlemen disliked young girls and only favored married women. But the Chen Mu before her was only sixteen or seventeen, surely he wouldn't be like that?

Chen Mu, of course, didn't know Geng Rong's chaotic thoughts for a moment. After carefully examining and confirming Geng Rong's situation, he said calmly:

"The person who entrusted me to come should be an old acquaintance of yours. He said he failed you in this life, causing you hardship, and doesn't know how to make amends. So he doesn't ask for your forgiveness, only for me to inquire about your recent situation. But it seems you are free from illness and disaster, and living well."

As he spoke.

Chen Mu took out two pages of gold notes from his sleeve.

Yesterday, the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion sent twenty pages of gold notes. Each was fifty gold, saying that the first glass item made according to the glass manufacturing method was auctioned for two thousand gold, so they sent half.

Two thousand gold was an unimaginable sum for ordinary families, but for truly wealthy families, it was just money they casually spent.

Things like the glass manufacturing method were indeed eye-catching in the early stages. They were more exquisite and transparent than jade. As long as the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion was patient and only released a very small quantity each month, although the price would slowly drop, it could still maintain a very high price.

Chen Mu handed the gold notes to Geng Rong.

"This is what he entrusted me to give you, for your daily expenses. Don't be harsh on yourself."

"This..."

Geng Rong was immediately startled when she saw the denomination of the gold notes.

Although she wasn't in an ordinary family now, one hundred gold was not a small sum even for Wu Peng, a patrol officer. If he never took bribes or stole, relying only on the meager salary from the Imperial Court, he wouldn't be able to save that much in ten years.

Moreover.

Geng Rong couldn't remember having any old acquaintance who could give her one hundred gold at once. It seemed even more incredible, more like Chen Mu had taken it out himself.

Although Chen Mu gave a bit too much, her child was already ten years old!

"This is a bit too much, Young Master. I really cannot accept it. And as for that old acquaintance, since he is already an old acquaintance, why bother looking for me again?"

Geng Rong refused.

Chen Mu didn't withdraw it, nor did he care about Geng Rong's thoughts. He said directly, "Just accept this karma with peace of mind. Also, that old friend asked about your mother and asked me to pay respects on his behalf."

Hearing Chen Mu mention her mother, Geng Rong was startled, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes. Could it be that some old friend had really entrusted Chen Mu to come?

After a moment of confusion, Geng Rong answered Chen Mu's question and also told Chen Mu where her mother was buried. She then had a servant lead the way for Chen Mu.

Chen Mu immediately took his leave.

Led by the servant, he quickly arrived at the burial place of Geng He's wife. This was also where Wu Peng's family's ancestral graves were located. The fact that Geng Rong's mother could be buried here clearly showed that Wu Peng treated Geng Rong extremely well.