Qining knew that Gray Crow had surrendered. He smiled and said nothing, just looking at the porcelain bottle in Gray Crow's hand.
Gray Crow naturally understood what Qi Ning meant, so he simply opened the porcelain bottle and took out a pill from it. Without looking at it, he threw it into his mouth and swallowed it. Then he reached out and took away the thousand taels of silver that Qi Ning threw over. He put the ticket away, put it in his arms, and then said: "This time I came to Beijing, I thought about dying in the capital. It was just a gamble."
Qi Ning clapped his hands and said with a smile: "Then I can assure you that your choice now is the right one." His face suddenly sank and he said: "Do you know Lu Shanghe?"
"Lu Shanghe?" Gray Crow said with a disdainful smile: "Of course I know. I heard that this man is planning to become the leader of the Beggar Clan, and now he is in the hands of the Beggar Clan." He glanced at Bai Shenghao and said, "This leader Bai should Knows better than I do.”
Bai Shenghao actually didn't know the relationship between Duan Qingchen and Lu Shanghe, but when he heard Qi Ning suddenly mention Lu Shanghe, he suddenly became alert.
Lu Shanghe's conspiracy was exposed at the Qingmu Conference and he was imprisoned by the Beggar Clan. Naturally, many people knew about this. However, he was rescued later, but the Beggar Clan did not publicize it to the outside world. Not many people know about it so far.
Qi Ning said: "Since you have abandoned the dark and turned to the light, I might as well tell you some things directly. Lu Shanghe has escaped, and the Beggar Gang is currently searching secretly."
The gray crow was startled for a moment, and then Qi Ning continued: "As far as I know, Lu Shanghe and Duan Qingchen were having an affair, and the two people should be colluding, so Duan Qingchen recruited you to come to the capital this time, and Lu Shanghe is also likely to be hiding in the capital. "
"I understand." Gray Crow nodded slightly, glanced at Bai Shenghao, and then said: "The Beggar Gang wants to capture Lu Shanghe, but they don't know his whereabouts. Do you want me to still go to the appointment and find Duan Qingchen and Lu Shanghe?" Their whereabouts will be informed to you."
Qi Ning said with a smile: "It's very comfortable to talk to smart people." He added: "Of course, if we can find out who the target of their assassination is, or know what their conspiracy is, I will naturally help There is a big reward.”
Gray Crow raised his hand and said: "It is my rule to keep my word and keep my promise. I have received you a thousand taels of silver. If you die, you should throw this thousand taels of silver into the water. If you are alive, I will naturally Try your best to find out, and then you can hand over the remaining two thousand taels to me as promised."
The smile on Qi Ning's lips grew thicker, and he nodded and said: "Keeping your promise is indeed admirable."
Gray Crow asked: "If I find clues, will I still come here?"
Qi Ning pointed at Bai Shenghao and said: "Master Bai will contact you, and he will help you arrange the following matters."
Gray Crow glanced at Bai Shenghao, and without saying another word, walked straight out the door. When he reached the door, he looked back and said, "I hope you keep your promise." He flew away.
When the gray crow disappeared, Bai Shenghao said softly: "Does the Marquis really trust him?"
"He is a smart man." Qi Ning said with a smile: "Smart people will make practical choices. And he has taken the pill, no one really wants to die."
Bai Shenghao nodded slightly and lowered his voice: "Why don't the Marquis hand this person over to the Shenhou Mansion? The Shenhou Mansion doesn't know anything about this at the moment. If it is handed over to the Shenhou Mansion, with their power in Beijing, they should It’s easier to find out the truth behind it.”
Qi Ning raised his hand and patted Bai Shenghao's arm, and said softly: "Brother Bai, do you know who recruited these shadow rats to come to Beijing?"
Bai Shenghao was startled, knowing that Qining's question was not simple, so he said softly: "Isn't it Duan Qingchen?"
"Duan Qingchen is just a lackey." Qi Ning said: "Even Lu Shanghe is just a lackey who is driven by others. Behind them, there must be a real master."
Bai Shenghao reacted very quickly, understood, and whispered: "Master Hou, could it be that... Duan Qingchen and Lu Shanghe are involved with officials in the court?"
"I can't be sure, and I can't deny it." Qining shook his head and said with a headache: "Just because we can't be sure, we must be careful every step."
Bai Shenghao already understood what Qi Ning meant at this time.
If the Shenhou Mansion is informed of what happened tonight, with the experience and strength of the Shenhou Mansion, it will be twice the result with half the effort to follow the clues to investigate the matter, and the Shenhou Mansion is fully capable of setting up a trap in the capital, waiting for the shadow rats to fall into the trap.
But Qining obviously doesn't trust Shenhou Mansion.
Since the person behind Duan Qingchen might be a member of the court, there is no way to ensure that that person is not involved with the Shenhou Mansion. If that is the case, then telling the Shenhou Mansion about Shadow Mouse's entry into the capital would only serve to alert the enemy. The gang is likely to cancel the plan and plan another action.
Of course, Qi Ning wanted to take this opportunity to find out the real culprit behind this, so he was naturally careful about everything.
Thinking that Qining didn't even trust the Shenhou Mansion, but let himself get involved in this matter, which also showed Qining's trust in him, Bai Shenghao was moved in his heart.
"Gray Crow will leave this to you first. If there is any news, you can inform me personally." Qining stood up and said, "Be careful in everything and don't alert others."
Bai Shenghao cupped his hands and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Hou, I know what to do. If there are any clues, please report to Mr. Hou immediately."
Qining subdued the gray crow, but knew that all this was just the beginning. He left the house and took off his human skin mask before returning to the Hou Mansion. Then he entered the house. It was already dead of night, but he saw the lights in the main hall were on. Looking over, I saw Manager Han sitting on a chair in the corner, holding his hands tightly on his chest, as if he was hiding some treasure in his arms, tilting his head and snoring.
Qi Ning felt funny and coughed twice. Manager Han was immediately awakened. When he saw Qi Ning, he stood up and said: "Hou... Mr. Hou, you are back."
"Why did you fall asleep here?" Qi Ning said warmly: "Are you too tired? Sanniang has been taking care of herself these days. It's hard to take care of things in the house, so she relies on you. It's already very late. Go back to the house first. Just rest."
Manager Han said hurriedly: "Master Hou, I have been waiting for you to come back." He looked around and then took out a thick stack of banknotes from his arms, "Master Hou, after dark, there are people coming to you continuously. The banknotes were delivered to the house. After they entered the house, they didn't say much. They just said that their master had sent them the banknotes." He presented them with both hands: "The old slave clicked them. The total is twenty-two thousand and four thousand. One hundred taels of silver."
A smile appeared on Qi Ning's lips. It seemed that the officials were sensible and worried that he would really come to ask for debts and it would be unpleasant to spread the word, so they took the initiative to send them over.
"Master Marquis, I asked them what kind of silver this was, but they didn't say anything. They turned around and left." Mr. Han said: "Originally, I wanted to report it to the third lady, but the third lady was recuperating and no one saw her. The money was gone. I didn’t know how to enter the account, so I didn’t send it to the accounting room. I could only wait here for the Marquis to come back.”
Qi Ning smiled slightly, sat down on the chair, and asked: "How many years has the boss been in Jinyihou Mansion?"
Manager Han said with emotion: "The old Marquis followed Emperor Taizong to quell the rebellion. My father was the first to follow him. Unfortunately, he died on the battlefield early. The old Marquis was kind-hearted and sent people to send a lot of money to support his family. Later, when I got older, my mother asked me to come to the capital to work as a cow or horse for the old Marquis to repay the kindness of the old Marquis." After thinking about it, he sighed: "It's been more than thirty years."
"So, you have been working in Jinyihou Mansion for more than thirty years?" Qining asked.
Manager Han nodded and said: "The old marquis and the general have been taking care of this old slave. Although the old slave is useless, he still works in the mansion." He sighed: "There are not many old people in the mansion now. Back then, he came from Jiangling." Many of those who came to the capital to work in the Marquis Mansion had gone back to their hometowns to retire in old age many years ago."
Qining thought that General Manager Han had been in the mansion for more than thirty years, so the old man must know a lot about many things that happened in the Jinyi Hou Mansion. Liu Suyi disappeared inexplicably in the Hou Mansion. Manager Han may not know the inside story, but he Knowing that it was inconvenient to ask questions at this time, he smiled and said, "Then where are your family members?"
"Back then, the old Marquis married the old slave and gave birth to two sons. The general took great care of our Han family and let us buy dozens of acres of land in Jiangling. My two sons are now in Jiangling." Han The steward explained: "The child's mother passed away a few years ago. Fortunately, the old slave is still strong and can still serve the Marquis for a few years. After a few years, he can't move anymore. If the Marquis agrees, the old slave will give birth to a son." Come here and continue to serve, and the old slave will return to his hometown to take care of himself."
Qi Ning pondered for a moment, took out five hundred taels of silver notes and handed it over. Manager Han was startled, but Qi Ning stuffed it into his hand and said: "Take this money, do you want to keep it for your own retirement or buy land for your children?" It's up to you to make the decision. You have worked hard in the Marquis Mansion for so many years, and now you have to take care of me, so naturally I can't treat you badly."
"Master Hou, you must not...!" Manager Han hurriedly pushed the banknote back: "The old slave family has been taken care of by the Hou Mansion for decades, and I will never be able to repay it in this lifetime. This money...!"
"What, my words don't work?" Qining frowned: "Take it as long as you want, just don't publicize it, lest everyone say I favor you."
Manager Han's eyes showed gratitude. He hesitated for a moment, then finally put it away and said: "Master Marquis has been so kind and kind, I... I will never be able to repay you in this life."
"It's already very late, you should go and rest first." Qining smiled and said: "You are old, so don't work too hard on weekdays. Even if you can send others to share the work, you should take care of yourself. "
Manager Han's voice was choked with sobs: "Master Marquis... Master Marquis is just like the old Master Marquis back then. He is very caring... to us servants." His eye circles were slightly red, and he suddenly thought of something and said hurriedly: "Master Marquis is so... You're coming back late, haven't you eaten yet? The third lady sent someone to tell you before that if the Marquis comes back too late, I'll make you a bowl of red date porridge. It's easier to fall asleep after eating red date porridge."
Qining's heart was excited, and he immediately remembered that Gu Qinghan had told him before that if someone brought red date porridge, it would be a secret signal, and he would quietly go to Gu Qinghan's house that night. In this way, Gu Qinghan asked him to sneak in tonight In her room.