Jiugao City is shrouded in rain and mist for nearly half the year. In the early hours of the morning, near the water, the fog becomes exceptionally thick.
Baosu Wharf, true to its name, was crowded with boats like golden grains. However, without the daylight to illuminate them, and dressed instead in the colors of night and mist, the wharf at the start of the Yin hour resembled a lurking monster crouched by the water's edge. The uneven, interconnected masts and canopies formed the monster’s spine, rising and falling slowly with the waves as if it were breathing.
Qin Jiuye peered through the gap in the carriage window, her expression complex. "Did your friends from the streets truly see clearly?"
Du Laogou nodded fervently. "Of course they did. Baldy Wang from the north side told me himself. He said the Su family mobilized seven or eight carriages loaded with medicinal herbs. They were waiting in the back alley as soon as dusk fell and didn't set out until about half-past the second hour of the Chou watch. Taking advantage of the heavy fog, they headed straight for Baosu Wharf."
"And then?"
Du Laogou looked blank. "What do you mean, 'and then'?"
Qin Jiuye felt her throat go dry, her mind a mess of irritation. "And then which boat did they board? Has the boat left the wharf?"
Du Laogou blinked. "You only said to watch where they went after leaving the manor; you never said I had to track a specific boat. Besides, if I waited until they boarded a boat to send word to Tingfeng Hall, wouldn't it be too late for everything? You really aren't very bright..."
Qin Jiuye was momentarily choked by his retort. She felt a surge of anger but realized it was pointless to argue with someone who truly lacked wit. After a long moment, she turned back to look out the window.
The sky remained pitch black. The vast wharf seemed endless due to the dense fog. She didn't know if anyone was hiding in the shadows, nor did she know which boats were manned.
Normally at this hour, fishing boats would have already set out, and the porters and peddlers preparing to load cargo or trade fresh fish would be squatting by the wharf with their carrying poles. But the curfew had only just ended, some businesses had yet to recover, and tonight’s heavy fog had delayed the usual bustle of the wharf significantly.
Furthermore, good news stays indoors while bad news travels a thousand miles. Most people in the city had heard about the theft at the Su Manor in the north, and no one wanted to stick their neck out at a time like this. Consequently, no one dared to hang lanterns on their prows to solicit business, and no one dared to wander about. Any sound in this silent night would be glaringly obvious...
*Clatter.*
As soon as the carriage came to a steady halt, the young master in his fine silk robes jumped down. His feet stepped onto the creaking wooden boardwalk of the wharf as he walked into the depths of the mist.
Qin Jiuye cursed under her breath and quickly pulled Li Qiao and Du Laogou along to follow. Jiang Xin’er also leaped from the carriage, lighting an oil lamp in her hand as she kept pace with Xu Qiuchi.
The surroundings were a chaotic blur. The moon was hidden in the fog, leaving only a faint smudge of light on the horizon. After walking a few paces, one became completely lost in the dense white shroud, knowing neither their location nor their direction. The oil lamp could only illuminate a small patch of ground; anything further was obscured. It was impossible to tell if a pair of eyes was watching them from those dark corners...
Qin Jiuye walked a few more steps, her unease growing. She felt tonight's operation was slipping out of her control. After some deliberation, she offered a tactful reminder. "Miss Jiang, the enemy is in the dark while we are in the light. Is it wise for us to be walking around so conspicuously?"
"There are at least a hundred boats at this wharf, and countless more on the river. Are we supposed to search them one by one in the dark until dawn?" Jiang Xin’er said, unceremoniously swinging her oil lamp. "Only by stirring the pond will the fish start to move. Since we’re bound to make some noise anyway, the initiative should remain in our hands."
As expected, staying in a certain environment for too long affects one's style of conduct.
Jiang Xin’er was confident in her high-level martial arts and had spent years by the side of someone as flamboyant as Xu Qiuchi; how could she possibly act with restraint toward the Su family? Qin Jiuye, on the other hand, had always lived in precarious circumstances where a single misstep could cost her everything. Thus, she was always cautious, making every step with great difficulty.
Qin Jiuye sighed and murmured to herself, "If the fish escapes, even the strongest net is useless."
"Does Shopkeeper Qin have so little confidence in herself?" Xu Qiuchi turned around ahead of them, his expression blurred by the mist. "From what I know, Shopkeeper Qin should be the most adept at catching fish."
The oil lamp in Jiang Xin’er’s hand flickered, causing the shadows of the five people to tremble. Qin Jiuye looked around nervously. "If you know something, you’d best say it now. Don't speak in riddles."
Xu Qiuchi waved his fan, taking his time before finally speaking. "When wealthy merchants in the city transport valuable goods, they hide their family crests and avoid placing special markings on their vessels to evade river pirates. This is especially true for the Su family when they transport medicinal herbs. However, herbs are particularly sensitive to water. All of the Su family's boats are coated in tung oil, making their color darker than ordinary cargo ships. Furthermore, Su Rin is superstitious; when his boats dock, the prow must face east. With these two points, we should be able to find them faster."
This was indeed useful information, but if the Su family were truly moving something overnight, they would hide their tracks carefully. They might not follow their usual habits.
Qin Jiuye continued forward as she thought. Behind her, Du Laogou opened his mouth and whispered, "But what if that boat has already left the wharf and is currently drifting on the river?"
*Then we can only accept our bad luck,* Qin Jiuye thought. She wanted to say it, but the words died in her throat.
She couldn't just give up. This was her life-or-death crisis. If even she wasn't willing to give her all, who else would be?
Taking a deep breath, she analyzed the situation as calmly as possible. "That possibility isn't high. Although the waterway leading out of the city from Baosu Wharf is wide, it passes through at least two ferry crossings before reaching the city gates. Those crossings are patrolled by soldiers day and night. If they find a boat wandering in the middle of the night, they will likely board it for questioning. Su Rin shouldn't take that risk."
"Shopkeeper Qin makes a fair point," Xu Qiuchi’s voice drifted through the mist, devoid of any worry or tension. "However, the Su family’s situation is a bit different. Su Rin has connections in the capital, and his family is the most prompt and generous with their taxes on this route. I’ve heard that he can enter and exit any wharf in Jiugao privately without even needing to show his travel permits. He practically owns the place."
Qin Jiuye said nothing, but her heart began to flutter with anxiety.
While she was well-versed in the ways of earning silver, she truly didn't understand the intricate maneuverings of wealthy merchant families. Hearing Xu Qiuchi put it that way made her lose some of her confidence.
When she fell silent, the others stopped talking as well, and the surroundings instantly became quiet.
The group continued to grope through the fog for a while longer. Aside from a few startled waterbirds, they found nothing.
Jiang Xin’er leaned down to examine the wooden boardwalk, which was covered in a layer of moisture, but she still found no carriage tracks. Her brow furrowed involuntarily. She stood up and walked toward Xu Qiuchi, lowering her voice. "Young Master, did the Su family truly come to this wharf? Could there have been a mistake? Earlier, the heart—"
She was cut off mid-sentence by a sharp look from Xu Qiuchi.
Realizing something, Jiang Xin’er glanced at the black-clad youth a few paces away, then turned back to Qin Jiuye. "Is Shopkeeper Qin’s information truly reliable? If we’ve been heading in the wrong direction, we’ll have wasted our time even if we search until dawn."
Qin Jiuye didn't seem to notice the skepticism in the other woman's tone. She simply looked back at the boardwalk stretching into the mist and spoke thoughtfully after a long pause. "Have you noticed? We’ve seen almost every other family’s boats, but we haven't seen a single one belonging to the Su family. Baosu Wharf is the one they use most frequently; how could there not be a single boat? This proves there was indeed movement here tonight. I just don't know if we’ve missed the spot or if we’re truly a step too late..."
Du Laogou was so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open. Hearing this, he immediately began to retreat. "If they’ve already left the wharf and are on the river, let's not waste our breath. We might as well go back and sleep..."
Just then, the youth who had been silent all along suddenly looked up. He turned and gazed toward the reed beds on the eastern side of the wharf.
"Over there."
Jiang Xin’er frowned. "What 'over there'?"
Li Qiao looked at her and said, word for word, "I said, there is movement over there."
The group squinted in unison toward the pitch-black marsh in the distance. When they withdrew their gazes a moment later, it was clear none of them had seen anything.
Jiang Xin’er was no exception, and the skepticism she had previously shown became even more apparent. "You were silent before, and now you’re being cryptic. Do you have some other motive?"
The corners of Li Qiao’s mouth curled slightly, his tone carrying a hint of unpleasant amusement. "Why must you be like this, Miss Jiang? You and your young master clearly came prepared; how could you be easily swayed by an outsider like me? Besides... just because you can't hear it doesn't mean others can't."
"You...!"
Jiang Xin’er’s face instantly soured. Seeing this, Xu Qiuchi finally stepped in, shamelessly playing the peacemaker. "We are out here working together; let's not ruin the harmony. Since Young Master Li is so certain, why don't we go take a look? We’ll know the truth once we get there..."
Before he could finish, Qin Jiuye interrupted him unceremoniously. "Do you think we’re out on a spring outing? We can't be sure the Su family isn't lying in wait somewhere else on this wharf. If we leave now and the Su family takes the opportunity to set sail, won't all our efforts be in vain?"
As soon as she spoke, the air went still.
After a moment, the youth’s voice rose again. "Sister, do you not trust me?"
Having spent this time together, Qin Jiuye could now distinguish the subtle emotions in his tone. She glanced at the people around her and sighed softly. "It’s not that I don't trust you. It’s just that in this situation, the safest plan is to leave someone at the wharf just in case. But who is willing to stay?"
Silence fell again.
She and Li Qiao were currently on the same side—one planning, one acting. The best choice was naturally to move together. The same applied to Xu Qiuchi and Jiang Xin’er; if they were separated, the remaining one
