Chapter 315: Burning the Bridge After Crossing the River
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
“Could he have returned to Meijiang Prefecture City?” the pursuer inquired, as it was common for the newly wealthy to return home to bask in their newfound affluence.
Wang Er’s relative shook his head. “I doubt it.”
He then explained that Wang Er was an orphan and had no family to return to. They lived in impoverished conditions without land or fields. The only asset they possessed was a run-down house, mortgaged to someone in order to make money in the capital. In all likelihood, Wang Er, fearing the financial demands of acquaintances or even bandits, would have concealed his identity and sought refuge in an unfamiliar place to start anew.
Facing this information, those who had been tailing Wang Er had no choice but to return to the palace and deliver their report. The decision of whether to continue monitoring Wang Er in Meijiang Prefecture City now rested with the Empress Dowager.
Upon receiving the news, the Empress Dowager chastised her agents for their incompetence. She then instructed them to dispatch individuals throughout the capital to search for any traces of Wang Er. However, lacking concrete evidence against Qin Zhenzhen, the Empress Dowager remained unable to implicate her or recover the missing gold.
While the Empress Dowager’s agents had yet to locate any leads on Wang Er, they received fresh reports from the slums north of the capital. It was revealed that Wang Er had left five to six thousand liang of money distributed among the residents of that area, bringing a festive atmosphere to the impoverished neighborhood. Grinning faces abounded as the inhabitants shared stories of Wang Er and the generous funds he had provided.
Not only did Wang Er distribute money, but he also went a step further by buying all the available steamed buns and buns in the market and handing them out to beggars and the less fortunate. This altruistic act sparked enthusiastic discussions throughout the city.
Widespread praise poured in for Wang Er’s character, with many lauding the commoner for fulfilling a noble deed that should have been the Emperor’s responsibility. His generosity brought warmth and hope to five to six thousand struggling families in the still-chilly spring.
However, when news of these benevolent actions reached the palace, the Emperor wore a furrowed brow. How was this matter connected to him? Wang Er’s actions were utterly despicable in his view.
Not only had he secured a substantial amount of gold, but he had also mimicked charitable acts usually associated with the Emperor’s benevolence. He believed it was an unwarranted intrusion on his turf.
Fueled by anger, the Emperor ordered his officials to find Wang Er, intending to teach him a lesson for his audacity.
Unexpectedly, in the afternoon, rumors spread like wildfire throughout the capital. Word on the street was that the palace had secretly dispatched agents to tail and surveil Wang Er, with the intention of reclaiming the banknotes.
Fortunately, Wang Er had exhibited cunning wit by escaping in the dead of night, eluding the palace’s grasp. Many witnesses confirmed this, noting that Wang Er had been followed because authorities suspected someone else was orchestrating the entire charade. It was widely discussed throughout the capital.
People questioned whether the palace’s motives were to retrieve the money or to investigate whether a hidden figure was manipulating Wang Er. They concluded that the palace was, without a doubt, burning bridges after they had crossed them. They had acquired the life-saving Immortal Pill but seemed reluctant to part with it..