“What my friend didn’t know was that his wife had a lover. Keeping this from her husband, she confided in her lover about the treasure. The two conspired to poison my friend and claim the treasure for themselves. By chance, on the very day they planned to act, a business associate of my friend came to discuss a trade deal. This associate had spent years traveling through Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan, regions known for venomous snakes and insects. He immediately noticed something suspicious in the food and drink, saving my friend’s life.
“My friend, unwilling to air his family’s disgrace but also unwilling to let his wife and her lover go free, killed them both in a fit of rage. His business associate helped him dispose of the bodies. After this ordeal, they became the closest of friends.”
Xia Xia understood—this ‘friend’ of his was none other than Wan San.
Five years ago, Wan San’s first wife had reportedly died of illness, leaving behind two sons without a mother to care for them. Wan San had approached Wang Cang Hai, requesting Xia Xia’s hand in marriage to become his new wife. At the time, Wang Cang Hai had asked for Xia Xia’s opinion, but she had been reluctant to step into the role of stepmother to two young boys and had declined. Now, she realized—Wan San’s first wife had not died of illness after all.
Wang Cang Hai finished writing his memorandum, set his brush aside, and began reviewing the document from the beginning to ensure nothing was missing. He continued his story:
“My friend’s business associate was surnamed Zhang, the patriarch of a large and powerful family in the southwest. This Mr. Zhang helped my friend expand his carriage business and escort agency [a security and logistics service]. However, the Zhang family also dealt in illicit trades that violated the laws of the Da Yong Empire. Out of loyalty to their friendship, my friend occasionally assisted them in transporting goods and fencing stolen property…”
Here, Wang Cang Hai took a deep breath and said, “I blame myself for neglecting my friend for so long, allowing him to stray further and further down the wrong path without even realizing it. Their collaboration lasted for over two years. Then, one day, my friend discovered that the Zhang family patriarch personally escorted a shipment of goods that bore an astonishing connection to the secret treasure he possessed.
“To uncover the origins of his treasure, my friend considered revealing its background to the Zhang family patriarch. But he was hesitant—so he planned to seek my advice.”
Xia Xia immediately grasped the timeline. “That was five years ago. Two years later, which means three years ago… It was exactly when you resigned from your post and went into seclusion for mourning.”
“Yes.” Wang Cang Hai closed the memorandum, his expression heavy. “No one knew where I went after resigning, except for myself. So my friend never found me. He didn’t even know how to contact me for guidance on the decision that weighed so heavily on him.”
“Then… your friend,” Xia Xia hesitated before asking, “did he ultimately tell the Zhang family patriarch about the treasure’s secret?”
“I haven’t found definitive proof yet,” Wang Cang Hai answered. “But I will soon.
“According to his family’s old steward and several of his business managers, my friend became closely involved with the Zhang family over the past three years, almost completely neglecting his own business affairs. Every day, he traveled across the country alongside the Zhang family patriarch—the one who always wore a cast-iron mask.
“Then, six months ago, my friend suddenly vanished. Even the Zhang family patriarch disappeared without a trace.”
Xia Xia pressed her lips together in thought before asking, “My lord, what about the treasure your friend guarded so closely? Has it gone missing as well?”
Wang Cang Hai shook his head. “That treasure was always kept solely by my friend. No one else knew where it was hidden.”
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