At this moment, Sixth Master Gu clearly regarded Qin Yuan as the mainstay.

Qin Yuan smiled and said, "Did you forget? The fact that General Jin could bring his men so quickly is because he was informed by a storyteller. I heard that nowadays storytellers have a job called ’telling the news.’ They talk about the latest occurrences in the Capital City, and the stranger, the more interesting, and the faster, the more likely they are to receive tips from the guests."

Mr. Songshan laughed and said, "There are such things in the theater, and there are some who specifically go door to door saying these things, making considerable earnings while saving the theater’s cut. Many women in the back courtyards who seldom show themselves are also very eager to know the latest happenings outside."

Sixth Master Gu asked, "Then where do they get their information?"

Qin Yuan replied, "It’s like each immortal crossing the sea, each showing their divine abilities. Those who can do these things all have their sources of information. Some buy it from beggars, and as long as they have news that’s true, they can go there to claim money."

Gu Jinghui interjected, "After Xu Zhen and Mrs. Zhao went missing, Shi Ba and others also searched around for beggars and vendors but found nothing. Treasure Bead even mentioned that before Xu Zhen left the mansion, she often sought out a vendor at the side gate to buy small accessories, but that vendor could no longer be found."

Qin Yuan said, "I have also thought about this. Beggars and porters are inconspicuous, yet they can know a lot. If they are connected, much information could be gathered. What is not seen at the mansion gates might still reveal a flaw elsewhere."

Mr. Songshan glanced at Marquis Gu.

Marquis Gu sighed, "Returning to the Capital City for over half a year, Shi Ba and others have found it far less convenient to gather information here compared to the Northern Border. Despite deploying most of the mansion’s guards, nothing about Xu Zhen has been uncovered. Ultimately, the Marquis Mansion’s connections in the Capital City are insufficient. It would be good to obtain information from beggars, porters, or storytellers."

Mr. Songshan slowly said, "Back when the Marquis was at the Northern Border, he was naturally in his element. The customs and people in the Capital City are quite different from the Northern Border, and here the imperial family and nobility are numerous, gathered in power, and mixed like fish and dragons; the inconspicuous figures might have entangled backgrounds. The Marquis returned and got trapped in it, losing his own information channels, akin to a tiger losing its eyes, unable to unleash its full power."

Sixth Master Gu said, "Third Brother, I think, just as Young Master Nantang suggested, Shi Ba and others should develop some people to help search for information. Beggars, porters, and street cleaners have low status and don’t attract attention, so having more eyes and ears is beneficial."

Qin Yuan said with depth, "If the Marquis had done this right after returning, it would’ve been criticized. But now is the best time; even if done, it’s for a good reason."

"Exactly, when the Capital Governor Mansion found nothing, Sixth Master Gu filed a lawsuit against the Xu family, and the Marquis Mansion is seeking its means to investigate. Saying this is justified anywhere."

Mr. Songshan clapped in agreement.

Marquis Gu nodded, pleased, "Alright, it’s settled then. Tomorrow, I will let the people from the Drainage Bureau..."

Before he finished speaking, Qin Yuan said, "How about letting Brother Cheng help us."

Marquis Gu thought for a moment and said, "Fine, I will talk it over with him tomorrow."

Qin Yuan quickly added, "There’s another matter related to the Xu family and Sixth Master."

Sixth Master Gu frowned, "Please speak."

Marquis Gu also looked over.

Qin Yuan said, "Sixth Brother intends to sue the Xu family, and surely the Magistrate has already approached them. Yet the Xu folks, still bringing their children to pay respects, seem reconciliatory. But what are Sixth Brother’s plans afterward?"

Marquis Gu frowned.

Sixth Master Gu said, "I naturally plan to proceed as stated before and sue to the end. The Xu family acts shamelessly; if I don’t sue today, they’ll return tomorrow."

Hearing this, Qin Yuan nodded, "It’s good that Sixth Brother has a plan. Personally, I feel Mr. Xu wishes to make friends with the Marquis Mansion. I heard they initially planned to make a scene recently but ended up not coming."

"Where did this information come from?" Gu Jinghui asked.

Qin Yuan recounted what Shen Changle had mentioned, and Gu Jinghui nodded, "I didn’t expect Shen Changle to be such a capable information gatherer."

Qin Yuan smiled, "What he knows doesn’t differ much from what Gu Shiliu said before, which truly surprised me. This person is indeed worth employing." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Sixth Master Gu asked, "What did Xu Tang mean by saying he was ditched by Mr. Xu?"

Marquis Gu replied, "Naturally, it’s about wanting to ally with the Xu family on King Jin’s side. King Jin is closely linked with Yelv Guza, secretly scheming while working leisurely at Prince Qi Mansion."

Sixth Master Gu pondered for a while, surprised, "I understand, our Dingbei Marquis Mansion is their pledge."

Qin Yuan was somewhat astonished.

Sixth Master Gu even knew about pledges.

Gu Jinghui chuckled coldly, "I didn’t expect you to know this. Indeed, there’s something you also know; Doctor Liu was bribed by Yelv Guza to harm our whole family and has ties with both King Jin and the Crown Prince."

Sixth Master Gu trembled and said, "Then, then..."

Mr. Songshan shook his head, "I said not to let him be present. Look, he cannot handle anything. Just stick to writing poems and painting."

What was initially a tense atmosphere was suddenly stirred into a bit of humor.

Sixth Master Gu also steadied himself, annoyed, "It’s just that I haven’t experienced it before. Having gone through it once, it won’t happen next time."

"What can I say about you? Courage is innate. Could the Marquis, when first on the battlefield, stand there trembling, thinking he’ll know better the second time? He’d lose his life on the first turn."

Mr. Songshan candidly said, "I have traveled the world for many years, met countless people, and everyone has their own talents and gifts. Being naturally timid and inexperienced won’t help. But if courage is deep within, it can be induced."

Sixth Master Gu was defiant, "I am also a child of the Gu Family; I have the ancestral blood and courage."

Qin Yuan said, "It seems the Xu family already harbors major internal conflicts. King Jin fears the Marquis Mansion knowing about Doctor Liu’s exposure, coinciding with the Holy Emperor appointing the Marquis for the Capital Inspection, keeping submitted memorials confidential, arousing suspicion about the Holy Emperor’s intention. Therefore, King Jin started by winning over the Xu family, relatives by marriage to the Marquis. Xu Tang’s sister is likely sent into the King Jin Mansion."

Seeing the discussion shifted to serious matters, Mr. Songshan and Sixth Master Gu fell silent, listening quietly.

Marquis Gu continued, "Currently rumors are spreading about my ailments, and Mr. Xu might have developed ulterior motives, seeking to win over Sixth Brother. Xu Tang, having grown up in his uncle’s home, enduring warmth and coldness, is now, due to the Xu family sending his sister to the King Jin Mansion, bound by life and fate with King Jin, naturally displeased with Mr. Xu’s indecisive stance. Xu family not causing the planned uproar already has Xu Tang quite discontented."

"Yes," Sixth Master Gu recalled and exclaimed, "that day, Brother-in-law grabbed me, saying everywhere people talk about Third Brother having no heirs in the future; I chastised him. If not for being unable to beat him, I would’ve hit him."