Feng Jinlin was speechless. This temper was exactly like his master's.
The reasoning was sound, but their time was short. If the Duke of Wei's men discovered that Liang Quanbin was not dead, they would likely sweep in again.
At this point, he couldn't afford to be stabbed again; he would surely be reporting to the King of Hell.
"Let's just transfer him. We'll say he disappeared to the outside world. The Duke of Wei will assume I'm withholding information because I'm afraid of repercussions from the imperial envoy, and that's why I'm saying this."
Su Cheng and Lin Huaijin exchanged glances. This plan could work.
Thus, the two, dressed in black, were perfectly suited to be "kidnappers" and immediately took the severely wounded Liang Quanbin away.
The housekeeper brewed medicine and brought it over, only to find that the master, who had been resting in bed, had vanished.
Could he have been taken by that person?
But where would he take his master, who had difficulty moving?
He was anxious but dared not make a sound.
After all, in Jinling City, there were few people they could trust, and that secret contact was one of them.
When he waited and waited and did not see his master returned, the housekeeper finally panicked.
Coincidentally, Feng Jinlin came looking for Liang Quanbin at this time, saying he had important matters to discuss. He then "accidentally" learned of Liang Quanbin's disappearance, his brows furrowed even deeper than the housekeeper's.
"Lord Feng, please find a way to look for my master. Where do you think he would go with his injuries not healed?"
His tone was anxious, his expression flustered.
If he had sent people to search from the beginning, would there have been a chance to find his master?
Unfortunately, he didn't know where the secret contact was located, otherwise, he might have gone to their door to demand his master back.
"Disappeared? How could Lord Liang, a living person, disappear? Who did he see before?"
When the housekeeper heard this, his eyes darted away.
Feng Jinlin knew this and applied pressure.
"If you refuse to speak frankly, then I can't help you."
Saying this, he was about to leave. The anxious housekeeper could only blurt out.
"It was the Duke's men. My master was able to come to Jinling City as the Supervisor of Military Affairs because of the Duke's recommendation, so he sent people to help him."
Although the words were vague, Feng Jinlin was not foolish.
He pretended not to press further, and the housekeeper breathed a sigh of relief. After all, it was a secret contact, and it was inappropriate for outsiders to know too much.
"I understand. Then I'll find a way to search. For the next few days, tell everyone outside that Lord Liang's condition has worsened and he is not seeing visitors. We'll discuss everything after I find him!"
"Yes, yes! I'll do as Lord Feng arranges."
The secret contact on the Duke of Wei's side thought Liang Quanbin was completely dead, so their attention was focused on how to destroy the evidence of embezzlement over the years. They never expected Liang Quanbin to still be alive.
On the third day after being assassinated, as Liang Quanbin gradually regained consciousness, everything in the room had changed.
This was not the Supervisor of Military Affairs' residence. Where could it be?
Countless memories flooded back: the Duke of Wei's secret order, Feng Jinlin he saw before losing consciousness, and this unfamiliar place.
He struggled to sit up, but accidentally pulled at his wound, causing him to grimace in pain, and his chest wound began to ooze blood faintly.
At this moment, a maid entered with medicine, saw this scene, and immediately stepped forward to stop him.
"Lord Liang, please don't move. You were barely saved."
"Who are you?"
"I am a maid bought by Lord Feng and assigned to serve you."
The maid clearly looked like she was from Jiangnan. Although her features were plain, her demeanor was very gentle, and her speech was soft and pleasant to hear.
"Lord Feng? Feng Jinlin?"
The maid nodded. Hearing this, Liang Quanbin's guard finally relaxed.
The maid gently wiped the fine sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, stirred the medicine bowl, and said softly.
"This medicine is gentle on the stomach. The doctor said it can be taken directly. You've lost a lot of blood, so we must replenish your qi and blood first."
She cooled the medicine in the spoon and then fed it to Liang Quanbin.
Whether it was Feng Jinlin's influence or the gentle Jiangnan woman before him, the usually suspicious Liang Quanbin drank the medicine without hesitation, as if he would willingly drink poison at this moment.
Soon, the bowl of medicine was finished with the maid's assistance.
Perhaps it was the effect of the medicine, or some other reason, but Liang Quanbin's spirits improved considerably.
He asked the maid.
"What is your name?"
"Your servant is Cai Ju, and I am a local."
Cai Ju. The name was a bit common and didn't quite match her demeanor.
However, as a servant, her family background was likely not well-off, so a common name was understandable.
Using their names as a starting point, they began to chat about everyday matters.
As they talked, Liang Quanbin developed a good impression of Cai Ju.
Feng Jinlin, Su Cheng, and others listened from the next room, their eyes filled with disdain.
"He's not young, but he's bold."
Lin Huaijin's words were frank. The three men were not fools; they understood Liang Quanbin's intentions.
"This is perfect. With Cai Ju here, we don't have to worry about getting his secrets out."
Cai Ju was one of the secret guards arranged by the Prince of Ding's mansion in Jinling City, and she was most skilled at extracting information.
In just a few words, she had made Liang Quanbin lower his guard. When Feng Jinlin appeared, Liang Quanbin would likely spill everything, like beans from a bamboo tube, and hand over all the evidence of the Duke of Wei's corruption in the thirteen漕运司.
While they were devising a plan to deal with Liang Quanbin, the Wei family in Dongdu City was not idle.
Ten days after the Ninth Prince's wedding, according to custom, Consort Liang Luo could enter the manor. However, due to her illness, it was postponed, and another consort was welcomed instead.
This time, Consort Wei spared no expense, arranging a main consort, three secondary consorts, and several concubines for the Ninth Prince.
She refused to believe that with so many women, they still wouldn't be able to bear children.
Although an heir was important, any child was better than none.
How could the Empress in Chang Le Palace not know her intentions? Every time, she happily bestowed gifts.
She even said, "Yun Li married late, so he should have more people to serve him, so he can procreate for the royal family."
She acted like a benevolent mother, earning praise from the court and the harem.
Consort Wei was displeased with her pretense, so she feigned illness and stopped paying her respects.
The Empress did not blame her and even sent people with excellent medicinal herbs. In this exchange, Consort Wei appeared rather stingy.
No matter how high Consort Wei's status, she was, after all, just the Emperor's concubine, incomparable to the Empress who ruled the harem.
Soon, rumors spread throughout the palace, truly angering Consort Wei into illness.
Princess Huaran, now the Princess Consort of Li, came to visit and happened to walk into the storm.