"The Censor's surname was Lin?"
The salt merchant Sun Heting thought for a long while. "Yes, Lin. Lin something-hai."
The murderous intent in Jia Huan's eyes deepened.
Lin Daiyu's father had died of illness in Yangzhou, and Dai Chaozong had been Jiangsu's Provincial Administration Commissioner at the time. Dai Chaozong might well have been the killer.
Good. All the more reason for him to die!
"There's no conclusive evidence for any of these three secrets," Sun Heting said.
Jia Huan barked:
"Sign and put your fingerprint on the confession! Bring the accounts and take him into custody in Jinling first!"
Then he ordered:
"On to the next salt merchant!"
Once the chain of evidence was nailed down, even a great provincial official would get a blade through his guts!
That dog! If he really poisoned Uncle Lin, even death by a thousand cuts wouldn't quench my hatred!
Meanwhile, at the Governor-General of Grain Transport Office.
Inside the study.
Canal Transport Governor Zhao Hong wore a vacant expression, his hair disheveled and a bright red bellyband draped over his face.
His adviser pushed the door open and entered.
"Heh heh heh, is that Zhen'er? Zhen'er is so pretty."
Dazed and witless, Zhao Hong frantically grabbed the adviser's wrist, babbling incessantly. His official sleeves were stuffed with undergarments.
"Lord Zhao, stop pretending to be mad!" Beside himself with frustration, the adviser pleaded:
"Assistant Regional Commander Cen and his son have disappeared. Word is that the Guarding Eunuch's troops have gone to Swallow Dock to wipe out the bandits, and the water fort where the silk was hidden has been surrounded by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The sky is about to fall! What good does playing the fool do now?"
Zhao Hong turned a deaf ear and kept giggling stupidly.
The adviser