75: Chapter 75 News about 'Qianjinfang'!

"A gambling den?" Xia Jin glanced at Qian Fu and couldn't help but frown.

After all, places like gambling dens were filled with all sorts of people, and the information there was difficult to verify.

At this moment, Qian Fu patted his chest and said, "Boss, you might not know this, but while it is indeed a gambling den on the surface, the people behind this 'Qianjin Workshop'... are rumored to be from the palace."

"As long as you can afford the price, I've heard you can even get a glimpse of certain movements within the palace."

Xia Jin's eyes lit up instantly.

If he could really find the information he wanted, money was completely irrelevant.

"Boss, if you are truly determined to inquire about important matters," Qian Fu looked at Xia Jin and said earnestly, "I will take you there."

Xia Jin smiled, then flipped his wrist, and a bright yellow gold ingot weighing a full ten taels landed in Qian Fu's arms.

"Take it. Go get settled first. You are familiar with the shop's affairs, so manage it as usual and just keep the accounts clear." Xia Jin's voice was steady. "Tonight, we shall go to 'Qianjin Workshop'."

Qian Fu caught the gold ingot in a fluster. The heavy sensation made the wrinkles on his face instantly smooth out, and he said repeatedly, "Thank you, Boss! Rest assured, Boss! I will definitely handle both the shop and this matter properly!"

As night fell, Qian Fu drove the carriage and eventually stopped beside a rather imposing street.

Across the street, a three-story pavilion was brightly lit, its vermilion gates wide open, and the three large characters 'Qianjin Workshop' hung above the doorframe.

"Boss, we've arrived; this is the place." Qian Fu stopped the carriage and pointed across the way.

Xia Jin pushed open the carriage door, preparing to walk toward the main entrance.

"Boss! Wait!" Qian Fu hurriedly called out to him, stepped forward quickly, and tugged at Xia Jin's sleeve, signaling him to look toward a dark, narrow alley nearby. "Not there, it's this way. We have to enter through the 'back door'."

Xia Jin glanced at Qian Fu, said nothing, and turned to follow him into the dim alley.

After winding through several turns, the two finally arrived in front of an inconspicuous small door. If one weren't deliberately searching for it, no one would know about this place.

"Not bad, Old Qian," Xia Jin stopped and looked around at the surroundings, his expression somewhat strange. "You were actually able to find this place?"

Qian Fu's face showed a hint of pride: "Boss, you flatter me. I have been delivering rice and cargo in this Tianyu City for many years, and I have come into contact with people from all walks of life. Sometimes, when I see people in distress, I give them a bowl of rice or a place to shelter from the wind as a way to accumulate some virtue. This place... is where a worker I helped in the past later found employment."

Having said that, Qian Fu stepped forward and knocked on the wooden door rhythmically several times.

After a while, the door opened a crack, revealing a vigilant face. When the person saw Qian Fu, his tense expression relaxed slightly, but his gaze immediately swept toward Xia Jin behind him.

"Old Qian? Why have you come at this hour? The workshop didn't ask you to deliver any rice or grain today." The person opening the door looked at Qian Fu, a flicker of suspicion in his eyes.

Qian Fu waved his hands hurriedly, stepped aside to reveal Xia Jin, and put on a smile: "Brother Wang, I'm not here to deliver anything today. It's my boss," he pointed at Xia Jin, "who has some matters he wants to inquire about."

The man referred to as "Brother Wang" looked Xia Jin up and down carefully, seemingly hesitating. He looked at Qian Fu again, and finally pulled the door open a little wider: "Come in. Keep your voices down."

Brother Wang led them across the courtyard and into a dimly lit side room.

A middle-aged man with thin cheeks was leaning back in a chair, crossing his legs, holding a copper pipe, and puffing on dry tobacco slowly.

As soon as Qian Fu entered the room, he hurriedly bowed and stepped forward, his tone respectful: "Second Master, sorry to disturb you. This is my boss, who would like to come to you to inquire about some information."

The middle-aged man known as "Second Master" didn't even fully lift his eyelids; he just glanced at Xia Jin, then used his pipe to point casually at a row of wooden plaques hanging on the wall.

Xia Jin followed the direction he pointed. Five plaques were hung neatly on the wall, ranging in color from light to dark. Below each plaque, prices were engraved in small characters.

"The information here is clearly priced," the man called Second Master finally spoke. "You can inquire about the amount of information corresponding to how much money you have. We are fair to all, but once you ask and pay, we won't recognize it after you step out the door."

Xia Jin's gaze swept across the row of plaques, and he raised his hand to point at the golden plaque. "I want the most expensive one."

"Hm?" The action of Second Master smoking paused. He slowly sat up straight, took the pipe from his mouth, and looked at this "boss" brought by Old Qian with slightly narrowed eyes.

A few seconds later, Second Master gave a wink to Brother Wang on the side. Brother Wang understood, immediately turned to take Qian Fu out, gently closed the door, and stood guard outside.

Only Xia Jin and Second Master remained in the room.

"The most expensive... what would the guest like to ask?" Second Master's gaze became sharp in an instant.

"The Sixth Prince." Xia Jin met his gaze and said calmly, "I want all information regarding The Sixth Prince. As long as you have it here, I want it all."

Second Master stared fixedly at Xia Jin. After a long while, he suddenly twitched the corner of his mouth, revealing a meaningful smile.

"Guest... it seems you are not from the Great Qian Dynasty, are you?"

Xia Jin raised his eyebrows slightly and then laughed as well: "Does it matter whether I am or not? If I were not from the Great Qian Dynasty, would Your Excellency not sell me the information?"

"Hahahaha!" Second Master suddenly burst into laughter. While laughing, he stood up and bowed earnestly to Xia Jin: "Let's reintroduce ourselves. I am Liu Tongtian. Everyone who makes a living in this Great Qian Dynasty's Tianyu City calls me Second Master."

"I have the information about The Sixth Prince that Your Excellency wants. However... it is very expensive! I do not know if Your Excellency can afford this price!"

"Name your price." Xia Jin nodded at him.

Liu Tongtian slowly raised his right hand, spread his five fingers, and held them up under the oil lamp.

Xia Jin glanced at him, flipped his left hand casually, and tossed a black cloth bag into his hand.

"The contents inside are only more, not less, than the price you asked for."

Liu Tongtian's eyes flickered. He reached out to take the bag, untied the string, and glanced inside.

The wrinkles on his face instantly smoothed out. He carefully put the bag away, and when he looked up, he had replaced his expression with a sincere smile: "You are indeed a big client."

Liu Tongtian said no more, stood up, walked to a cabinet in the corner of the room, pulled open a drawer, and took out a book with a blue cover.

He gently pushed the book in front of Xia Jin.

"What is inside is all the information regarding The Sixth Prince that can be found and confirmed." Liu Tongtian's expression was very solemn. "The rule is, you can only read it here. Once finished, I will take it back. The content must not be copied or spread. Once you walk out this door, you and I have never met."

"Understood!"

Xia Jin took the book and, after reading it carefully, suddenly frowned.

"Ten days ago, The Sixth Prince went missing. His mother, Consort Hua, and her entourage died in a fire at Zhaojue Temple?"

He slowly lifted his head and looked at Liu Tongtian: "Is this information confirmed to be accurate?"

Liu Tongtian's face was clearly displeased: "Information from 'Qianjin Workshop' has never been wrong!"

"Is that so?" Xia Jin's gaze suddenly fell outside the window, and a flash of killing intent crossed his eyes.

"Second Master Liu, what is the meaning of this!?"