Meanwhile, inside Xiao Manor.
In the dim main hall of Qingjing Residence, an oil lamp quietly flickered to life.
Amid the swaying candlelight.
Old Master sat reclined in an armchair, wrapped in a thick cotton coat. He rubbed his brow as he listened to Xiao Jing's report from the shadows.
"...The barbarian slave still hasn't been found."
Seeing that the old master said nothing, Xiao Jing continued, "The grain losses in the warehouses of several major grain merchants in East Market were devastating. It is said that a hundred thousand dan of grain had been stored there."
Old Master lowered his hand and looked at him with bloodshot, clouded eyes. "A hundred thousand dan?"
Xiao Jing nodded from the shadows. "No less, perhaps more."
"However, this subordinate has discovered that those grain merchants have other warehouses. There should still be quite a bit of grain inside."
"You suspect that what happened tonight was acting on their part?"
"To be frank, Marquis, that is indeed this subordinate's suspicion."
The old master frowned slightly and pondered for a moment. "That is indeed possible."
"If they were willing to give up a hundred thousand dan, they could raise grain prices again tomorrow. That is the sort of thing those merchants would do."
But after saying that, he shook his head. "Still, the likelihood is low."
"By what you just said, those Barbarian slaves were rescued."
"If it was the work of those grain merchants, wouldn't it be better to leave no witness alive?"
Xiao Jing paused, then lowered his head. "The Marquis is right. This subordinate will continue investigating."
The old master said, "Don't make any moves for now."
"A few merchants are of no consequence. What matters are the people hiding behind them."
"In Shuzhou, if a few merchants dare casually play