With the matter of the delegation settled, Qin Yan could finally let his anxious heart rest.
His whole body relaxed. His back softened, the tea began to taste good, and even the creases on his face smoothed out considerably.
"Zi'an." Qin Yan set down his cup and asked with a sigh,
"When I arrived, you weren't home. Where had you gone so early in the morning?"
"Since you ask, Qin Gong..." Wei Nisheng smiled.
"I won't keep it from you. It was another matter concerning the Li Family."
"The Li Family?" Qin Yan asked curiously.
"Yes." Wei Nisheng made no attempt to beat around the bush and immediately recounted the entire affair concerning Zhang Zai's Wife's Family.
"My fellow examination graduate Zhang Zihou's in-laws have been merchants for generations and hold Salt Licenses registered with the Ministry of Revenue.
"A few days ago, the Li Family's caravan went to Taiyuan to trade tea and silk.
"But they had barely arrived in Taiyuan, before they had even unloaded their goods, when Taiyuan Prefecture accused them of smuggling illicit salt and detained the caravan. The Li Family's elder brother and uncle are both in prison now.
"Qin Gong, just listen to that. A family of licensed salt merchants for generations, saddled with a charge of 'illicit salt.' Truly... ah!"
Qin Yan's face darkened at once.
He believed Wei Nisheng.
He had, after all, watched the young man grow up.
Lord Feng's disciple, a son of the Wei Family, would never slander anyone without grounds.
If Wei Nisheng said the Li Family had Salt Licenses, then they certainly had Salt Licenses.
And if he said who this trap was aimed at, he was almost certainly right.
Then came a bang.
Qin Yan slapped the table, the old scholar whom even the eight winds