News About the Cui Family

"Sit down. Let's talk."

Su Guang waited for Chen Ye to sit, then came straight to the point. "The Cui Family really is recruiting retainers. An old steward surnamed Cheng, who serves Third Miss Cui, is handling it. The bar isn't high—Mortal Shedding strength is enough. But there's one condition..."

Chen Ye looked at Su Guang. "What is it?"

"They have to be of the scholar class," Su Guang said helplessly. "A Cui Family guard told me privately that people in the family were unhappy because Third Miss Cui had recruited people without asking about their backgrounds. So they added this rule."

Chen Ye pondered this, his brow furrowing.

The Jing Kingdom had its own ways.

To hold office, a person's family standing mattered. Only those born into families of rank were called members of the scholar class.

Children of second-rank great houses, lesser houses, and even humble gentry families all counted.

People from the streets like them were mere commoners. Unless someone powerful recommended them, they had no chance of holding office.

By the look of it, joining the Cui Family as one of Third Miss Cui's retainers was all but impossible.

His birth alone barred the door against him.

Sure enough, a second-rank great house was no easy place to enter.

Unwilling to give up, Chen Ye asked, "Is your information reliable?"

Su Guang took a sip of wine. "I've known the Cui Family guard I spoke to since the young master was alive. These matters are private, but they're not shameful secrets. It should all be true."

Zuo Dongxi cut in from the side. "Then there's nothing we can do. That road's closed. What about another family? The Cui Family isn't the only Aristocratic Clan in the Imperial Region."

Chen Ye did not answer.

He carried True Yang within him, and his ultimate target was the Xie Family.

In the Jing Kingdom, only the Cui Family could stand against the Xie Family—and would be willing to confront them head-on.

"I still want to try joining the Cui Family," Chen Ye said.

Seeing that, Zuo Dongxi stopped trying to persuade him. "Let's drink first. We can talk while we eat. The food's getting cold."

Chen Ye and Su Guang let the matter rest. They picked up their chopsticks and drained their first bowls of wine.

Seven days had passed, and Su Guang had taken the bandages off his fingers. Only some bruising remained, and he could use chopsticks much more easily now.

He picked up a peanut, tossed it into his mouth, and chewed.

Zuo Dongxi spoke up. "I still haven't heard anything about the person you asked me to investigate. Our people don't have many dealings with the Aristocratic Clans, so it isn't easy to ask around."

"There's no rush. Just keep an ear out," Chen Ye said.

He had let too much slip while drinking before.

But it was not a serious problem.

People would risk their heads for a profitable venture, but no one would take a losing deal.

Because of the Feng Family affair, these men were now in the same boat as him. They would not do anything foolish yet.

As for what might happen later, that was another matter.

There was no point bringing it up now.

After a few cups of strong wine, the atmosphere gradually warmed.

The three began chatting about what had been happening around them lately.

Su Guang suddenly remembered something. "While I was asking about the Cui Family recruiting retainers, I heard two other things related to them."

"What things?" Chen Ye and Zuo Dongxi turned to Su Guang at the same time.

Su Guang set down his cup. "Third Miss Cui is going to Xiangguo Temple outside the city to offer incense in about half a month. It's a Cui Family tradition; they go every year. But Liu Zhao, the Liu Family's Eldest Young Master, is going there too, for the first time anyone can remember. He says he's 'offering incense on behalf of the Liu Family.' He's going on the same day as Third Miss Cui."

He took a drink and continued, "The Cui Family guards privately think it's funny that this wastrel has suddenly become devout."

"The Liu Family's Eldest Young Master?" Chen Ye recalled something. "I heard someone from the Liu Family once went to the Cui Family to propose marriage. Was it Liu Zhao?"

"That's him." Su Guang nodded repeatedly. "The Liu Family's descendants haven't amounted to much lately, and their influence at court keeps declining. They desperately need a marriage alliance with another Aristocratic Clan to shore up their standing. The Cui Family is their best choice."

"They wouldn't dare approach the other Cui daughters. But Third Miss Cui was born to a concubine, so they're eager to try."

Chen Ye raised his cup and took a sip. "If I can't get in through the retainer recruitment, do you think I could join the Cui Family by meeting Third Miss Cui directly?"

"Still difficult." Zuo Dongxi shook his head. "Third Miss Cui won't be going to pray just for herself. She represents the entire Cui Family. They bring nearly a thousand taels in incense money every year. The temple makes special arrangements that day, too. Outsiders can hardly get close."

"We don't stand much of a chance," Zuo Dongxi said firmly.

Chen Ye fell silent for a moment. "The retainer route is blocked. This is the only other path worth trying. Let's keep an eye on it. We have no other option."

Zuo Dongxi and Su Guang said nothing more. Both nodded in agreement.

They hoped it would work, too.

If Chen Ye truly made a connection with the Cui Family, everyone would benefit.

The three clinked bowls and drank again, settling their task for the next few days.

Outside the window, the night market gradually quieted.

They parted ways, agreeing to meet again in seven days.

But seven days had not passed.

On the fifth day, Zuo Dongxi and Su Qing arranged to meet Chen Ye early at Fengqing Restaurant.

This time, they did not choose the private room by the window. Instead, they picked a more secluded room.

Once Chen Ye arrived and the door was shut, he asked directly, "Something new?"

Zuo Dongxi and Su Qing nodded together.

"You go first," Su Qing offered.

Zuo Dongxi did not stand on ceremony. "Just as you expected, there's something strange about the Liu Family's trip to Xiangguo Temple."

Chen Ye sat down and leaned forward slightly. "Tell me."

"A few brothers from my gang ran into some unfamiliar faces at a gambling house a few days ago. They had accents from out of town and paid with whole ingots of official silver, not loose pieces. They spent freely."

"The day before yesterday, one of them lost so much he used a gold cake to settle his debt. I looked at it. It bore the stamp of a Liu Family trading house."

Chen Ye caught his meaning. "You're saying the Liu Family hired them?"

"Exactly," Zuo Dongxi continued. "After that, I told the brothers to keep watch on those outsiders. There weren't just three or five of them—there were more than a dozen. They were staying in the best rooms at inns, one room each. Brothers from the Patrol Horse Gang went into one of the inns and caught a glimpse into their rooms. They saw long sabers propped in the corners. Those men have definitely spilled blood. They're desperate men who know how to fight."

"The Liu Family is clearly planning something big!"