Chapter Seventy-Four: Encountering Calamity

That night.

The mosquito incense shop was smashed.

All the items inside were stolen.

The place was left in utter chaos.

The next day, upon receiving the news, Han Qing dismissed all of his staff and sent them home.

An incident of such magnitude had to be reported directly.

“Lord Wen, last night our shop suffered destruction—can this matter be investigated?”

He spoke with calm composure.

“Records have already been taken, and patrols will be increased in the coming days,” Wen Qi replied with a solemn nod.

This was truly excessive!

Just days ago, the Mosquito Incense Hall was the subject of widespread praise—how had it fallen so quickly?

It genuinely astonished them.

“Tell me honestly, did you offend someone?” Wen Qi asked. In the Court of Justice, he’d seen that such cases were almost always the work of competitors.

“No. If you mean competitors, then only the Zhao family comes to mind. But I do not believe they would stoop to such disgraceful acts,” Han Qing replied, shaking his head.

That was clearly impossible. He knew the old master Zhao was ruthless, but such underhanded methods were not something Madam Zhao would ever condone.

“Is there anyone you might suspect?”

“No.”

He shook his head again.

How odd.

Who would commit such a heartless act? It felt like an act of revenge.

“Lord Wen, I trust you will uncover the truth,” Han Qing said slowly.

He deliberately remained unruffled—were there not those who wanted to see him lose his composure? He would not grant them the satisfaction.

The destruction of the Mosquito Incense Hall became a hot topic among the townsfolk.

“Ah, I always thought the Han family was too arrogant. Look at them now—just a few days have passed and they’re already being targeted everywhere.”

“Auntie, that’s unfair. They only meant to benefit us—how can you say they deserved to be ruined?”

There were still some fair-minded souls.

“You’ve misunderstood. I’m merely expressing my frustration; I never meant the Han family’s business was at fault,” the woman replied, quickly changing her tune upon realizing she was in the wrong.

But the crowd paid her no heed. They went about their own business.

A bit of gossip sufficed—there was no need to bite the hand that feeds.

It truly was unkind.

Han Qing, for his part, was almost unnaturally calm.

Even Xiuxiu, who had always kept her distance from his affairs outside the home, realized the situation had grown dire.

“Dear, no matter what happens out there, I will always support you.”

“Yes.”

He nodded, moved by her words.

Such an understanding wife—how foolish he’d been before, even sneaking off to indulge himself. Thankfully, Xiuxiu had forgiven him; otherwise, who knows how long he’d have waited to enjoy her warmth again?

Lord Wen’s subordinates handled matters with commendable efficiency.

Following the clues left behind, they traced their way to a nearby fabric shop.

That shop had closed later than usual on the night in question. Normally, such establishments shut their doors around six in the evening, but this one stayed open two hours later.

Very odd.

When questioned, the fabric shop’s owner denied everything.

“Lord Wen, we closed at six as always and went home. There was no delay.”

He seemed genuinely bewildered.

He hadn’t the faintest idea he’d been involved in anything untoward.

“Are you certain you’re telling the truth?”

“I am. My wife and several neighbors can vouch for me.”

Lord Wen questioned a few others as well, and their statements matched.

“But can you explain why, after you left, the fabric shop’s doors were opened again?”

The owner broke into a cold sweat.

He wanted to explain, but truly didn’t know.

“After I left, I put the shop in the charge of the accountant—perhaps he knows.”

Lord Wen nodded.

Upon questioning, the accountant stammered and dodged, refusing to answer honestly.

Ultimately, he was taken to the Court of Justice, where, under interrogation, he confessed everything.

“Sir, I did not wish to do it, but those men threatened my family. I had no choice but to cover for them.”

“Do you know who they were?”

He shook his head.

“They all wore masks, but if I heard their voices again, I’d recognize them.”

A clue at last, though not an especially useful one.

“One more thing—they said something about avenging someone…”

Wen Qi instantly understood.

Was it not the old Master Bai?

The only person he might have offended was Han Qing.

Wen Qi immediately reported this to Han Qing, warning him to be careful in the coming days.

“At present, only the eldest son remains in the Bai household. The third son was involved in the salt guild affair and likely bears a grudge against you as well.”

But there was no concrete proof against either man.

All they could do was remain vigilant.

“No need. I’ll speak with them myself,” Han Qing replied, shaking his head.

If they were targeting him, it was for more than mere revenge.

They must want something from him—otherwise, why only destroy the mosquito incense shop?

Lord Wen wanted to urge caution, but Han Qing waved him off, unwilling to discuss the matter further.

Since things had been said, there was no need to stir up more trouble.

The next day, Han Qing went straight to the Bai family’s fabric shop, the only business they still held.

There were few customers, but the staff were busy with their tasks.

“Call your shopkeeper here.”

“Sorry, the shopkeeper is away on family business and won’t be in for a few days.”

Oh?

Was he being turned away at the door?

Han Qing didn’t believe it—he’d already investigated. The Bai family’s third son had been living in the shop, likely afraid the Bai residence would be seized by the authorities.

He had nowhere else to go.

“Bai Yujing, I came to tell you something. If you refuse to listen, you won’t get another chance.”

Han Qing called from outside.

It had its effect. The man, perhaps anxious, finally agreed to meet.

They found a teahouse and, without any small talk, spoke frankly.

“My mosquito incense shop—was it your doing?”

“Yes. After what you did to our old master, what’s a little punishment like this?”

Bai Yujing answered bluntly.

At least he had some backbone.

“I only brought the truth to light—is that so wrong?”