Chapter 348 - 348: Capture

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

During the day, there wasn’t anything unusual with Gardener Jiang. He was diligent in his work. In the few days when he was being watched, there were no abnormal movements. On August 29th, the peddler’s call to sell sounded outside the backyard. When the ginger gardener heard this, he looked around nervously.

At midnight, Gu Yu and Xing Hua turned out the lights in the courtyard, leaving only a lamp in the corner of the eaves. After an hour, only the puppies’ snores could be heard in the courtyard. Even the streets had become deserted.

The garden was dark, and the wind gently stirred the flowers and leaves in the backyard, making them look a little terrifying. Yan Niang stood by the golden bamboo forest beside the servants’ room and quietly looked at the servants’ room with the oil lamp lit. It was as if she had become one with the golden bamboo.

After half an hour, the lights in the house went out. After a dozen breaths, the thin Gardener Jiang appeared at the door. He looked around warily and quickly walked towards the back door of the garden.

Yan Niang followed behind and watched as he opened the small door and walked out, closing it behind him. Yan Niang jumped out of the wall and followed him around to a house in North City’s Lantern Alley. She heard him knock three times. The door opened and Gardener Jiang went in.

Yan Niang waited outside for a while. After hearing footsteps, she jumped into the courtyard and quietly arrived under the lighted window like a ghost. She quietly listened to the voices inside.

A man said in a low voice, “The people from the Imperial Court have been sniffing around like dogs these days. Old Jiang, you’re living in the government office safely and in stability.”

“What stability? Madam is back. I couldn’t find anything useful after searching a few times. I was surprised. I didn’t find anything in his house. Other than Madam’s few pieces of jewelry, I haven’t even seen any valuable treasures,” the gardener said in frustration.

“From your tone, it’s not bad to stay at his house! You weren’t bribed by that wretched official, were you?”

“You.” The gardener stood up angrily. The friendly-looking man sitting beside him pulled Gardener Jiang and advised, “Forget it. He’s been frustrated these days.”

Gardener Jiang looked at the burly man in front of him and said resentfully, “I won’t argue with you on account of Uncle Huang.”

The burly man looked at Gardener Jiang. “The higher-ups ordered you to find the blueprint. You’ve been working in the backyard of the government office for so long, but you haven’t found anything useful. If you really can’t, kidnap that wretched official’s son and force him to hand over the city defense blueprint.”

Gardener Jiang was stunned for a moment before looking at Uncle Huang. “Uncle Huang, are we really going to do this?”

Uncle Huang looked at him and nodded helplessly. “We can only do this as a last resort. I asked you to find out what kind of person your Madam is.

“I’ve asked the few people who followed them to Yunzhou, but I can’t get anything out of them. I only know that Madam’s family came from the countryside of Green Mountain. I can’t get anything else out of them. If I ask again, I’ll be exposed.” After saying that, Gardener Jiang glanced at Uncle Huang and smiled ingratiatingly. “Uncle Huang, is Qiao Xiu alright?”

Uncle Huang smiled and glanced at the gardener. “She’s fine! I’ll get her to look for you tomorrow night. Go back and find out if there’s a secret room in the back office. If you really can’t, abduct that child. Isn’t he the only child in his family?”

When Gardener Jiang heard that he would meet Qiao Xiu in two days, he replied happily, “Alright, if we can’t find it, we can only do this.”

The burly man looked at Gardener Jiang with disdain. Uncle Huang smiled and stood up. “Alright, disperse! I’ll come back next time when there is news.”

Yan Niang was hiding in the dark. She saw Old Huang, Gardener Jiang, and a burly man walk out of the house. Old Huang opened the courtyard door and went out to look around. Then he returned to the house and nodded at the two of them. The two of them quickly walked out. Old Huang returned to the courtyard and closed the door. A gorgeous woman walked out of the room. Old Huang instructed her, “Qiao Xiu, see Old Jiang tomorrow night.”

Qiao Xiu walked over and hugged Old Huang’s arm. “Letting me see him again. It’s disgusting.”

Huang touched her face and smiled wickedly. “I had no choice. He wouldn’t have done his job properly without you seducing him.” The two of them walked in hugging.

When Yan Niang returned to the back garden of the government office, she saw Gardener Jiang looking around nervously before opening the courtyard door and slipping in. Yan Niang waited for a few breaths before entering the back garden. When she returned to the main courtyard, she saw that the door of the main room was ajar. Just as she reached the door, Li Yu opened the door and let her in.

“How is it?” Li Yu looked at her and asked.

“One is the shopkeeper of the large tea shop in North City, and the other is the coachman of the large cart shop. The gardener searched your house for the city defense map, but I don’t think he could find it after searching a few times.” Yan Niang glanced at Li Yu and hesitated for a moment. “The shopkeeper of the large tea shop instructed him to kidnap Young Master and threaten you and Sir if he really couldn’t find it. The shopkeeper of the large tea shop used a woman to seduce the gardener to work for them. The gardener has already agreed. That woman will meet him tomorrow night. I guess they will attack Young Master after tomorrow night.”

Li Yu’s gentle eyes became murderous. “Inform Shopkeeper Chu after dawn that we’ll capture them tomorrow night.”

Yan Niang was stunned by the killing intent emitted by Li Yu. She stood up and bowed respectfully. “I understand.”

The next morning, Yan Niang went to the Four Seas Bank and reported her findings to Chu Feng. Chu Feng immediately got someone to keep an eye on the large tea shop and carriage shop in North City. Yan Niang returned to the back office and continued to keep an eye on the gardener.

At night, Gardener Jiang impatiently went to the courtyard of Lantern Lane in North City. Shopkeeper Huang opened the door again. After a while, no one came. Yun Yi and two people entered the courtyard and grabbed Shopkeeper Huang. In the west wing, they caught Qiao Xiu and Gardener Jiang.

That night, they caught the burly coachman and another person in the large carriage shop. After a series of torture, the shopkeeper of the large tea shop confessed that the higher- ups had asked them to find the city defense map of Yunzhou and prepare to cooperate from the inside and outside to take down Yunzhou City. They would have to wait for notice on when they should take action and how they should cooperate from the inside and outside.

After interrogation, they realized that Gardener Jiang was only a pawn who had been lured by Qiao Xiu to help Shopkeeper Huang steal the city defense map from the back office.

He was captured by the secret guards of the government office and has already been imprisoned. Everyone, you must remember the rules of the residence and not ask about Master’s official business. If anyone deliberately approaches the residence to ask about the news, come back and report.”

Old Madam Liu hurriedly said, “Madam, the gardener asked me a few days ago what you used to do. What does your family do? He said that you seem to have some skills. We refused to say anything.”

Aunt Zhang also said to Li Yu, “That’s right! These days, when you and Master lived in the manor, he even bought things for us to eat. As we ate, he asked all kinds of questions. So he had evil intentions!”

Li Yu smiled at them. “Alright, I know that everyone is quite good. Remember our family rules and don’t gossip about me and your master. You’ll be rewarded with a monthly salary.”

When everyone heard this, they bowed to Li Yu happily. “Thank you, Madam.

Thank you, Master..”