Chapter 381: Full of Anger n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Jiang Zhaoyong saw Chu Qingzhi and instinctively took a step back. It wasn’t that he was afraid, but standing together with Chu Qingzhi felt too much pressure.

Hearing footsteps, Ji Hongshan turned to look and couldn’t help but be stunned. He was amazed. Chu Qingning was already considered beautiful, but he didn’t expect to see an even more beautiful girl. Who was she?

Jiang Zhaoyong quickly pulled Ji Hongshan aside, realizing that if he angered this girl, she might slam him against the wall.

Ji Hongshan, looking at Jiang Zhaoyong, wondered why he was being pulled.

Smelling the blood, Chu Qingzhi wrinkled her brows almost imperceptibly. She walked to the bedside and asked, “What happened to him?”

Jiang Zhaoyong, as if facing a superior, tensed his body and replied, “He accidentally fell from the stairs. We initially intended to take him to the school’s doctor, but he insisted on coming to find Chu Qingning.”

Chu Qingning looked at the two of them, puzzled. Too shy to look at Jiang Zhaoyong, her gaze finally fell on Ji Hongshan. “What does this have to do with me?”

Ji Hongshan couldn’t help but feel sympathy for Xu Jizhou. He fell from the stairs due to depression from being rejected by Chu Qingning. However, the girl didn’t even know him. “He is Xu Jizhou.”

“???” Chu Qingning looked confused. She didn’t know him at all!

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Jiang Zhaoyong started to be narcissistic again. Look, Qingning only had him in her heart. She didn’t care about Xu Jizhou. She didn’t even ask for his name.

With this thought, he felt even more delighted. His gaze towards Chu Qingning became even more fervent.

Chu Qingning felt as if a beam of light was shining on her. Initially, she could maintain her composure, but later on, her movements became stiff.

After checking Xu Jizhou’s pulse, Chu Qingzhi said, “He fell quite severely, internal bleeding, a slight fracture in the left forearm. However, it’s not life-threatening.”

It sounded painful, and Ji Hongshan quickly said, “Miss, please treat Brother Xu. We won’t be stingy with the consultation fee.”

Chu Qingzhi nodded. Rumors and gossip about Chu Qingning had nothing to do with Xu Jizhou. “Wait a moment, let me prepare the herbs.”

Chu Qingning didn’t want to stay in the same room with Jiang Zhaoyong. She was nervous, so she quickly said, “Fifth Sister, 1’11 go with you.”

Ji Hongshan hurriedly said, “Miss Qingning, please help Brother Xu clean the blood off his face. He looks pitiful like this.”

Most girls were soft-hearted. Brother Xu was injured because of this woman. Why not take this opportunity to let them spend more time with each other? What if they fell in love with each other over time? Anyway, Miss Qingning was a doctor. No one would gossip.

Jiang Zhaoyong was the first to disagree. “Men and women should not get too close. Qingning can’t clean him up.”

Naturally, Ji Hongshan sided with his close friend. “Miss Qingning is a doctor, and doctors treat illnesses and save lives. Why should gender matter here?”

Jiang Zhaoyong, unable to come up with a counterargument, opened his mouth, then closed it again, holding in his frustration.

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Chu Qingning, after hearing Ji Hongshan’s words, couldn’t refute it. “Wait a moment; 1’11 go prepare the necessary items.”

Disinfectant alcohol, cotton soaked in lightly salted water, bandages, and even cotton swabs—anything that could be used in medicine was prepared and stored in a cabinet in the next room.

After Chu Qingning left to get the items, Jiang Zhaoyong glared at Ji Hongshan. “What do you mean by this?”

Ji Hongshan suddenly reacted and looked Jiang Zhaoyong up and down. “Who is Miss Qingning to you? Why are you so agitated?”

Jiang Zhaoyong didn’t know how to reply. Saying that Chu Qingning had him in her heart or that he liked Chu Qingning would affect her reputation.

He looked displeased. “It has nothing to do with you.”

“It has nothing to do with me, but it has to do with my brother.” Ji Hongshan pointed at Xu Jizhou. “She’s the girl my brother likes. You can’t interfere.”

Jiang Zhaoyong was really unhappy. “What does it matter to me if your brother likes her? Even if 1 interfere, what can you do to me?”

Ji Hongshan was speechless. “You…”

Jiang Zhaoyong’s face turned cold, his tone carrying a hint of chill. “Let me tell you, I brought you here. Don’t repay kindness with enmity.”

Ji Hongshan softened his tone a bit. “We appreciate you taking us here, but this is a different matter.”

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Jiang Zhaoyong ignored Ji Hongshan’s words. “After dealing with the injury, quickly take him back. Don’t linger here, bothering everyone. Qingning doesn’t have time to attend to so many people.”

Ji Hongshan didn’t want to argue with Jiang Zhaoyong, considering that he had helped them. So, he took a step back. “If the doctor says it’s okay to leave, we’ll leave.”

Jiang Zhaoyong snorted and sat down on a nearby chair.

Chu Qingning, carrying the medical tools, overheard their conversation while standing at the door. However, she pretended not to hear and walked into the room as if nothing had happened, helping Xu Jizhou clean up the blood.

She was a bit puzzled. She was sure she had never met Xu Jizhou. How could his friend claim that he was interested in her?

Jiang Zhaoyong found the scene of Chu Qingning helping Xu Jizhou with the bloodstains annoying, so he turned his face away, refusing to look.

Ji Hongshan glanced at Jiang Zhaoyong and felt a bit worried. Jiang Zhaoyong was the Martial Top Scorer, while Xu Jizhou was just a student. The competition wasn’t in Xu Jizhou’s favor.

After worrying for a while, he gave up. Let’s leave it to fate.

Carrying a tray, Chu Qingzhi entered the room. The tray contained crushed herbs and four wooden boards over half a meter long.

She placed the tray on the table next to the bed and said, “Qingning, this is the first time you’re dealing with a fracture patient. Watch how I handle it.”

“Okay.” Chu Qingning quickly arranged the medical tools and approached to observe how Chu Qingzhi bandaged Xu Jizhou.

Chu Qingzhi moved Xu Jizhou’s left arm to the bedside. They could clearly see a slight distortion in his small forearm, where a part protruded irregularly, forming an irregular shape on the skin.

“The raised position is the location of the fracture. Gently pinch it with your hands.”

Chu Qingning was a bit scared, but she gathered her courage and touched it. “Sister Five, I can feel it…”

“Yes.” Chu Qingzhi explained seriously, “Based on the severity of bone injury, it can be divided into complete fractures and incomplete fractures… Incomplete fractures are generally less severe, such as hairline fractures or greenstick fractures.”

“This one is a greenstick fracture. The local bone skin is torn but not completely broken.”

Chu Qingning nodded. “Fifth Sister, 1 understand..”

Chapter 382: Disservice

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Then, Chu Qingzhi applied medicine to Xu Jizhou’s fracture and then fixed it with wooden boards. At the same time, she explained to Chu Qingning, “In the future, if you encounter such a situation, handle it this way.”

Chu Qingning remembered everything and nodded seriously. “Fifth Sister, I understand.”

Not only her but also Jiang Zhaoyong and Ji Hongshan were enlightened.

Taking the opportunity, Ji Hongshan asked, “Miss, can Brother Xu move?”

Chu Qingzhi replied, “He can’t move for now. He has internal bleeding, and any movement will increase blood flow. Let him lie down for a day before walking.”

After saying that, she turned to Chu Qingning. “There are some herbs in the basket. Go and brew the medicine for him to take.”

All the herbs were nourished with spiritual energy by Chu Qingzhi. Each one carried spiritual energy, which could accelerate the recovery of injuries.

Normally, Xu Jizhou’s injury would take at least a month to heal. But with Chu Qingzhi’s medicine, he could recover in three days, and with a few more days to restore his vitality, he would be back to normal.

Chu Qingning replied, “I’ll go immediately.”

Jiang Zhaoyong, hearing that Xu Jizhou had to lie down for a day, became even more upset. Now, as Chu Qingning was going to brew medicine, he immediately followed, saying, “I’ll help.”

Chu Qingning didn’t want Jiang Zhaoyong to follow her. She was nervous just thinking about it. “Why are you following?!”

Jiang Zhaoyong said righteously, “Xu Jizhou is also my classmate. Helping him is the right thing to do.”

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His wife was about to be taken away by someone else. How could he sit still?!

Ji Hongshan’s mouth twitched. Jiang Zhaoyong was shameless. He took advantage of the situation.

Chu Qingning thought to herself, Forget it, if he wants to follow, so be it. Although she was nervous, she also wanted to be with Jiang Zhaoyong. “Let’s go-”

“Alright.” Jiang Zhaoyong replied in a clear voice.

Ji Hongshan was speechless.

He felt that this guy was doing it on purpose!

Jiang Zhaoyong followed Chu Qingning and left happily.

Chu Qingzhi said to Ji Hongshan, “Go to his house and get a set of clothes for him to change into. Tell his family too.”

Ji Hongshan bowed to Chu Qingzhi. “Yes, Miss.”

Chu Qingzhi also left.

Ji Hongshan adjusted the bedding for Xu Jizhou and couldn’t help feeling sorry for him. “Brother Xu, you better wake up soon. Otherwise, Jiang Zhaoyong will snatch Qingning away, and your fall would be in vain.”

Chu Qingning and Jiang Zhaoyong went to the kitchen to brew the medicine.

In the kitchen, Li Qingyu and several aunts were busy. When they saw Jiang Zhaoyong, except for Li Qingyu, the others all wore a gossipy expression.

Who is this young man?

How handsome!

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Tall too, almost as tall as Jinghong. Quite imposing, not ordinary.

The black robe on him looks smooth and even reflects light. It must be very precious. Rich young man.

1 wonder if this young man is engaged. There are still some older girls in the village. I don’t know if he’d be interested?

Jiang Zhaoyong, being born in the village, was well aware of the spreading and rumor-making abilities of the aunts in the village. He quickly explained, “Aunties, my classmate broke his hand. 1 brought him here for treatment, and since Qingning might be too busy, I came to help.”

Li Qingyu originally wanted to pull his daughter to the side to ask, but when she heard this, she dismissed the idea.

Chu Qingning, feeling nervous from being scrutinized, quickly greeted everyone. Fortunately, the aunts focused their attention on Jiang Zhaoyong, and no one noticed her abnormality.

Jiang Zhaoyong originally wanted to say something to Chu Qingning, but with so many people in the kitchen, he didn’t get a chance. He decided to help with brewing the medicine quietly.

After the medicine was ready, Chu Qingning brought it over for Xu Jizhou to drink.

Coincidentally, Xu Jizhou woke up at that moment.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw a girl walking in. Backlit by the door, the girl seemed like a fairy descending to the world, and he was stunned.

Jiang Zhaoyong suddenly took the medicine from Chu Qingning and said, “Qingning, you must be tired. I’ll feed him the medicine.”

He brought the bowl to his mouth and said stiffly, “Drink the medicine.”

Xu Jizhou, feeling a headache and annoyance upon seeing Jiang Zhaoyong, asked, “What are you doing here?”

Jiang Zhaoyong put the medicine bowl aside, “1 brought you here. Not only do you not thank me, but you also act like this. If 1 had known, 1 wouldn’t have bothered to help.”

Xu Jizhou looked around the room. Except for Chu Qingning and Jiang Zhaoyong, there was no one else. So, he shifted his gaze to Chu Qingning. “Miss, where is my classmate?”

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Chu Qingning replied gently, “He went back to get your change of clothes. He’ll be back soon. Can you move? Drink the medicine quickly.”

Xu Jizhou tried to move a bit, but his whole body ached. Feeling a bit embarrassed, he said, “I…”

Chu Qingning reassured him, “It’s okay. Let me support you.”

Jiang Zhaoyong quickly stepped in front of Chu Qingning. “Qingning, you’re not strong enough. Let me do it.”

Qingning? Chu Qingning? Xu Jizhou immediately looked at Chu Qingning. “Are you… Miss Qingning?”

His eyes were glued to Chu Qingning, who looked completely different from what he had imagined. Wearing a lemon-colored dress, adorned with a lan flower hairpin, she exuded a pure and elegant aura.

Chu Qingning blinked. “Do you know me?”

She suddenly remembered Ji Hongshan’s words about Xu Jizhou being interested in her. Even though she didn’t recognize him, could it be that this man had seen her during a time she wasn’t aware of?

Xu Jizhou wanted to say it was the first time he saw her, but he lied, “I’ve seen you a few times. I’ve always wanted to get to know you, but considering you’re a young lady, I didn’t dare to approach.”

Jiang Zhaoyong felt sour in his heart. It was all because he lacked education; otherwise, he could have said something more charming. Looking at the situation, it seemed like Qingning wasn’t averse to it. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

A sense of crisis was slowly rising in his heart.

Chu Qingning treated Xu Jizhou merely as a patient and felt nothing. “Drink the medicine.”

Jiang Zhaoyong took the initiative to support Xu Jizhou and feed him the medicine first. Otherwise, this cunning guy might make Qingning support him.

Xu Jizhou was currently fragile, and Jiang Zhaoyong didn’t control the force well. As soon as he supported Xu Jizhou, Xu Jizhou coughed up blood.

Chu Qingning was startled and hurried over to help. “Young Master Xu, are you okay?”

Seeing this scene, Jiang Zhaoyong felt like he had caused trouble and obediently stood aside, not daring to make any moves.

Fortunately, Xu Jizhou only coughed up a mouthful of blood and then stopped. Chu Qingning quickly gave him the medicine and had him lie flat on the bed.

Chu Qingning said, “My sister said you need to lie in bed for a day. Don’t move during this day, or your injury won’t heal.”

“I will be careful,” Xu Jizhou said, his gaze following Chu Qingning. He thought, Qingning is patient and kind, not like someone who favors the rich over the poor. Before, he misunderstood her.

Jiang Zhaoyong, seeing Xu Jizhou like this, felt an anxious lump in his heart..

Chapter 383: Poaching

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Chu Qingning still had to go pick mulberry leaves. “Young Master Xu, 1 still have some tasks to complete. You rest well. 1’11 ask two kids from the village to look after you. If you need anything, just let them find me.”

Xu Jizhou wanted to ask Chu Qingning to stay, but he didn’t have the authority to say such things. “Thank you for your help earlier.”

Chu Qingning smiled, “No need to be polite. These are things I should do.” After saying that, Chu Qingning left the room.

Xu Jizhou’s gaze followed her closely…

Jiang Zhaoyong moved over to block Xu Jizhou’s gaze. Now that Chu Qingning wasn’t here, he didn’t need to hold back any longer.

“Xu Jizhou, don’t have any ideas about Qingning.”

Xu Jizhou’s expression turned cold as he met Jiang Zhaoyong’s gaze. “What’s your relationship with her? In what capacity do you have the right to say such things to me?”

Jiang Zhaoyong was caught off guard by the question, but he wouldn’t willingly lose to Xu Jizhou. “It’s none of your business what my relationship with her is. In any case, you won’t have any relationship with her.” With that, he turned around and went after Chu Qingning.

Xu Jizhou gritted his teeth. It was just Jiang Zhaoyong’s wishful thinking, and he wouldn’t give up easily.

The capital, Ning Mansion.

Ning Yuting brought Grandpa Ning to the main hall and asked with great importance, “Grandfather, this is the Mid-Autumn Festival gift I prepared for the Qingyue’s family. See if there’s any problem?”

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In the room, there was a large box containing a rich Mid-Autumn Festival gift.

Grandpa Ning carefully inspected it and smiled, “Very thorough preparations, no issues.”

Ning Yuting felt relieved, “Grandfather, I’ll immediately have someone deliver it.”

He really wanted to personally deliver the Mid-Autumn Festival gift, but these days Grandfather’s health was not good, and he didn’t dare to leave.

Grandpa Ning smiled and nodded. “Send it.”

Ning Yuting immediately summoned two servants to carry the box. The carriage was already prepared at the front gate, ready to transport the box right away.

A carriage approached the Ning Mansion, with Tang Jinghong sitting on the horse.

“Yuting.”

Ning Yuting looked toward the voice and quickly bowed, “General Tang.”

Tang Jinghong got off the carriage and helped Ning Yuting up, “No need for so many formalities.” He glanced at the carriage, “Are you planning to send a Mid-Autumn Festival gift to Qingyue? ”

Ning Yuting nodded, then asked, “General Tang, do you want me to help deliver your gift?”

Tang Jinghong said, “There’s no need. I’ve already prepared. But my men don’t know the way. I will ask them to come here to join your people so that they can travel together.”

Ning Yuting said, “No problem. I’ll instruct my servants.”

Tang Jinghong went back to the carriage and brought out a delicate box, “This is entrusted to me by Qingyue. There’s also a letter inside.”

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Ning Yuting received the box with great surprise, “General Tang, please wait a moment. I’ll go write a reply.”

Tang Jinghong nodded. “Go ahead. There’s no hurry.”

Ning Yuting quickly returned, handing the letter to the leading servant, and gave detailed instructions. Only then did he feel at ease letting the convoy depart.

Watching the convoy go into the distance, Tang Jinghong bid farewell to Ning Yuting and went to the Ministry of Justice.

Previously, Chu Qingzhi had given him some hints. These three days of investigation should have yielded some results.

When Tang Jinghong arrived at the Ministry of Justice, he happened to meet Ren Buqing coming out. “General, 1 was just about to find you. We’ve found a very useful clue.”

Tang Jinghong stopped. “Speak.”

Ren Buqing had been investigating the family members of the Minister of War these days. Surprisingly, he found that the son of the Minister of War, Cao Changsheng, was addicted to gambling and had a significant involvement with illegal things. This immediately caught his attention.

“Cao Changsheng is addicted to gambling, and he bets big.”

Tang Jinghong frowned. “Why haven’t 1 heard of it before?”

Ren Buqing shook his head, “He doesn’t gamble in ordinary gambling dens but in the black market. The black market only opens every three days, and he goes every time. Although the Minister of War has restricted him numerous times, as soon as he’s released, he goes to gamble.”

Tang Jinghong unraveled a doubt in his mind, “No wonder the Minister of War’s family should be wealthy, but during the house search, there were only a few thousand taels of silver. Turns out, it was all used up by his son for gambling.”

Ren Buqing added, “By the way, General, how about we investigate the black market tonight? Maybe we can catch Cao Changsheng, who has disappeared without a trace?”

The Minister of War had a premonition that something might happen to him and sent away some people from his family in advance, including Cao Changsheng.

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Now that they knew Cao Changsheng liked to gamble in the black market, they were likely to catch him. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Tang Jinghong naturally agreed and whispered, “I’ll talk to Third Master Lu and ask him to cooperate.”

“I’ll make some arrangements as well.” Ren Buqing said with excitement, “Capturing Cao Changsheng might bring a significant breakthrough to the case.”

Tang Jinghong nodded. “Yes.”

At this moment, an unfriendly voice interrupted, “You guys are really idle, standing at the gate, chatting away instead of investigating the case. Aren’t you afraid of His Majesty blaming you?”

It was Rong Dayuan, the eldest son of the Prime Minister, in his forties, tall with a square face, exuding an imposing official aura. He and Tang Jinghong were arch-enemies, diametrically opposed but mutually restrained in the imperial court.

Tang Jinghong held a higher rank than Rong Dayuan, and Rong should bow to him, but their relationship made such gestures impossible.

Ren Buqing wasn’t as arrogant as Rong Dayuan; he gave Rong a courteous official salute.

Rong Dayuan cast a disdainful glance at Ren Buqing, “If you find Tang Jinghong unpleasant to work with, you can consider joining my side. I also appreciate talent.”

Openly poaching under Tang Jinghong’s nose, is this really okay?

Ren Buqing politely replied, “Thank you for your appreciation, Lord Rong. Currently, my abilities are limited, and I’m afraid I can’t be of assistance to you.”

Rong Dayuan snorted and ignored Ren Buqing, glancing at Tang Jinghong, “I came over to tell you that I’m taking the Minister of War away. If you can’t find anything, it will be up to us to interrogate.”

“Lord Rong, you can’t take him away!” How could Tang Jinghong let Rong Dayuan take someone away? The case was difficult enough to investigate, and taking him away would make things even more challenging.

Rong Dayuan said with a stern face, “General Tang, as a military officer, you should stick to your role. Investigating the case should be left to specialists.”

The atmosphere became tense…

Tang Jinghong calmly said, “The Emperor gave me a month. Only ten days have passed. How do you know I won’t find anything in the remaining twenty days? Does Lord Rong know something I don’t?”

Rong Dayuan’s face darkened, “What do 1 know? If I knew, I would have reported to the Emperor long ago. Why would 1 waste time talking to you here?”

Tang Jinghong, neither fast nor slow, said, “Lord Rong, the Emperor assigned me to lead this investigation, and you and Ren Buqing are supposed to assist.

In theory, you should be helping me.. Taking him away doesn’t seem like helping me, does it?”

Chapter 384: Five Copper Coins

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Rong Dayuan inwardly sighed that Tang Jinghong was difficult to deal with, “General Tang, saying it like this isn’t fun. We are both serving the Emperor. No matter how we do it, as long as the case is solved, it’s fine.”

Tang Jinghong spoke slowly, a sense of oppression gradually spreading, “From the tone of Lord Rong, it seems like as long as you take him away, the case will definitely be solved. I really want to know, Lord Rong, what exactly do you know?”

Rong Dayuan cursed Tang Jinghong in his heart as sly, continually leading him into a trap. However, he maintained a calm tone on the surface, “I don’t know anything. Taking him away is just to prevent you from doing something harmful.”

“Us doing something harmful?” Tang Jinghong hinted, “Lord Rong seems a bit impatient.”

Rong Dayuan felt a chill, like a bucket of cold water poured over him.

He softened his attitude and was a little embarrassed. “General Tang, you’ve misunderstood me.”

Tang Jinghong’s eyes flashed with a hint of coldness. He didn’t know what Lord Rong was scheming, but it was definitely not good, “Lord Rong, if you want to take him away, come back in twenty days.”

Unable to gain an advantage, Rong Dayuan could only step back. Although he felt annoyed, his expression softened, “General Tang, I hope everything goes smoothly for you.”

Tang Jinghong smiled, “As long as Lord Rong doesn’t cause trouble, everything will go smoothly on my side.”

His implication was clear: as long as Lord Rong didn’t secretly interfere, he would definitely solve the case.

Rong Dayuan didn’t want to waste breath on Tang Jinghong, “Farewell.”

After Lord Rong left, Ren Buqing asked, “General Tang, what play was Lord Rong performing?”

Tang Jinghong withdrew his gaze, looking at Ren Buqing, “He probably learned about the clue we found from somewhere and deliberately came to test us.”

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Ren Buqing frowned, “Only people from our Ministry of Justice know about this clue. How did he find out?”

“You are still too young.” Tang Jinghong patted Ren Buqing’s shoulder meaningfully. He then walked away.

Ren Buqing shouted, “General Tang, where are you going?”

Tang Jinghong replied, “To find someone!”

In the Chu Village.

At the entrance of the brewery, Yuan Hongjun handed a box to Chu Qingzhi, his expression bright, “Master, I’ve found the Mangnolia officinalis, Salvia miltiorrhiza, and Fritillaria cirrhosa.”

Chu Qingzhi wiped her hands and took the box, opening it to reveal the medicinal herbs she needed. The quality was excellent, and after nurturing them with spiritual energy, they could be used.

Chu Qingzhi closed the box and praised, “The medicinal herbs are excellent. You’ve worked hard.”

Yuan Hongjun and Bao Linjiang didn’t mind. Helping their Master was the main thing, and they didn’t care if it was hard or not.

Yuan Hongjun pointed to the brewery and asked with concern, “Master, is the beer ready?”

“It has entered the next step.” Chu Qingzhi led the two towards the village; there was nothing more to do here.

On the way back, they met Chu Qingning, “Fifth sister, Are these mulberry leaves enough?”

Chu Qingzhi took the basket from Chu Qingning, examined it, and said, “It’s almost enough. Let’s go.”

Chu Qingning turned her head and glanced at Jiang Zhaoyong, who was helping with the work in the field. Helplessly, she followed them home.

Passing by the old house, they encountered Mrs. Xu, who specifically came out to wait for Chu Qingning, “Miss Qingning, how much is the consultation fee?”

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Because of the marriage proposal incident caused by Matchmaker Xu, when Mrs. Xu saw Chu Qingning, she couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

Chu Qingning looked at Chu Qingzhi.

The people in Xu Village were not wealthy. Chu Qingzhi said, “Five copper coins.”

Five copper coins were affordable, and Mrs. Xu immediately took out the money, “Thank you for saving my son, I’m very grateful.”

Chu Qingning said, “Aunt Xu, go back and take care of Xu Jizhou.”

Mrs. Xu repeatedly thanked them, “Alright, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Chu Qingzhi and the others continued towards home.

Grandpa Chu and the others were currently harvesting peanuts in the fields…

The peanuts were dry, and many of them were empty shells. They were poorly developed. Grandpa Chu and Grandma Chu sighed repeatedly

They had planted peanuts in an acre of land. In previous years, they could harvest two hundred kilos, but this year, even twenty kilos were unlikely.

Jiang Zhaoyong rolled up his sleeves and helped with the peanut harvest. With his help, they would probably finish today.

Elders always liked industrious youngsters. Seeing Jiang Zhaoyong so diligent, the elders liked him very much.

Grandma Chu, sitting on a stool, deshelling peanuts, saw Jiang Zhaoyong walking over with peanut seedlings. She asked, “Zhaoyong, where is your family from?”

Jiang Zhaoyong secretly thought that it would be good for the Chu family members to understand him earlier, making it easier for him to integrate into the family later, “Grandma, my family is from Jiang Village in Yugan County.”

Yugan County was also under the jurisdiction of the capital, just like Shuiyun County.

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However, Yugan County was to the east of the capital, while Shuiyun County was to the south. It took three hours to travel from Shuiyun County to Yugan County.

Grandma Chu tossed two peanuts into the basket and asked, “And who is in your family?”

“I have an elder brother, a sister-in-law, a nephew, a niece, and my parents and grandparents are no longer around.” n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Jiang Zhaoyong said these words with a hint of sadness as he recalled the hardships he had endured.

“When I was three years old, my parents passed away, and my elder brother raised me.”

Oh, this background is too pitiful. Grandma Chu couldn’t help feeling sorry. “In the future, you can come here whenever you want. Grandma will cook delicious food for you.”

Grandma Chu, he’s plotting for your granddaughter!

Jiang Zhaoyong smiled sincerely. The Chu family was truly his ideal home warm, harmonious, industrious, and joyful. “Thank you, Grandma.”

Could this be considered gaining the approval of the family’s elders?

He secretly rejoiced.

“You’re welcome, you’re welcome…”

Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, the sky had completely darkened, and one by one, everyone returned home. Soon, there was no one outside.

Tonight’s night sky was very dark and quiet. Only a few scattered stars adorned the black canvas, emitting a suppressed atmosphere. Even the insects seemed to have stopped chirping.

Chu Qingzhi and his group of six, cloaked in the night, arrived at the county city, splitting into two groups…

Chu Qingzhi, Chu Qingning, Yuan Hongjun, and Bao Linjiang went to replicate poppies.

Chu Xujin and Ge Lihua, along with a group of constables, went to the Tao mansion to set the trap. After planning for so many days, the success or failure depended on tonight.

The sky was oppressively dark, and the air grew heavy. Even the sparse stars retreated into the black curtain, making the surroundings even darker and more unsettling.

Yuan Hongjun pushed open the door of the small house and entered the room. “Master, all the medicinal herbs have been processed as you instructed.”

Chu Qingzhi swept her eyes across the room, very satisfied. “After the matter, everyone will be rewarded.”

“Master, what kind of reward?” Bao Linjiang asked excitedly.

“You’ll know when the time comes.” Chu Qingzhi teased..

Chapter 385: Change in Situation

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Chu Qingzhi took a bit of each medicinal herb, wrapped it in mulberry leaves, and then performed some complex procedures. The final product looked almost identical to poppy, even the smell was similar.

Chu Qingning, repelled by the stench, took a step back, covering her nose. She asked, “Fifth Sister, what is this?”

Yuan Hongjun and Bao Linjiang waved their hands to clear the air. The smell was indeed unpleasant.

Chu Qingzhi explained, “This is a kind of medicine that, when burned, can refresh the mind and invigorate the body, similar to the tobacco my grandfather smokes.”

The fake poppies had completely different effects. Smelling the aroma produced by burning these herbs would be beneficial to the body.

Chu Qingning trusted Chu Qingzhi and didn’t press the issue further. “Fifth Sister, did you bring us here just to make this tobacco?”

Chu Qingzhi nodded, “All the herbs here need to be turned into the tobacco 1 have in my hands. Thank you all for your hard work tonight.”

Chu Qingning patted her chest, “Leave it to us.”

Under Chu Qingzhi’s guidance, everyone started working.

On the other side, the surroundings of the Tao Mansion were already tightly monitored. The night was quiet and tense, making people uneasy.

Disguised as an old man guarding the Tao Mansion, carrying a red lantern, someone slowly ascended the tall building in the Tao Mansion to hang the lantern.

At the top of the tall building that resembled a pavilion, with no obstructions around, the lantern could be seen from far away.

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Chu Xujin and Ge Lihua had already investigated. Tao Pengnan’s men numbered a total of thirty-five. Tonight’s goal was to capture all of them. If successful, Chu Qingzhi’s plan to impersonate Tao Pengnan and enter the capital could proceed smoothly.

The red lantern was hung on the tall building.

The old man looked at the dark night over Shuiyun County, then walked down from the tall building, heading to the back kitchen.

According to the information provided by the old janitor, Tao Pengnan’s men usually went to his study first after arriving at the Tao Mansion to discuss matters. Afterward, they would enjoy feasting and revelry in the mansion.

They could take the opportunities to take these 35 people down while they were having fun. If successful, this operation could be carried out without needing a fight.

In a certain house.

A woman rushed into the house anxiously, “Second Brother, the lantern is lit at the Tao Mansion.”

The man referred to as Second Brother paused for a moment, then became excited. He slammed the table, “Finally, the lantern is lit. I’ve been waiting for so many days.”

Tao Pengnan had told them that this time, they would do something big. It seemed like the moment had finally come.

The man became excited and said to the woman, “I might be away for several days. Don’t tell anyone about my whereabouts.”

Every time the man went out, he brought back a lot of silver. The woman was happier than the man, “Sure, I’ll wait for you to come back.”

The man picked up his belongings and left happily.

In the city, similar scenes unfolded one after another.

The Tao Mansion’s door was knocked. “Uncle Tao, open the door, Zhao Er is here.”

Uncle Tao deliberately delayed before opening the door, fitting the characteristics of a slow-moving elderly person. “Zhao Er is here; come in, Young Master is already waiting for you.”

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Zhao Er tossed a jar of wine to Uncle Tao, “A gift for you. Enjoy it.”

Uncle Tao held the jar happily, saying, “Thank you.”

Zhao Er gestured, showing no suspicion, and went straight into the mansion.

In the study, Tao Pengnan was flirting with a girl, creating an atmosphere that suggested it wasn’t a study but rather a place for amusement.

When Tao Pengnan was waiting for his subordinates, he would usually call a girl in to play with. In the entire county office, only Ge Lihua was most suitable for this job.

The study echoed with the girl’s giggles.

“Young Master…” The girl gently pushed Tao Pengnan, making sweet and cloying sounds.

Zhao Er approached the study and heard the spine-tingling sounds. He was immediately aroused, a lascivious smile appearing on his lips. He had always fancied the girl called Yun Er in the mansion, wondering if Young Master Tao would let him have some fun with her this time.

With delightful fantasies, he knocked on the study door, “Young Master, Zhao Er is here.” n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Tao Pengnan slightly turned his face towards the door, glanced at it, and said, “Come in.”

Zhao Er entered, surveyed the scene in the study, then quickly lowered his head. Tao Pengnan had a bad temper and disliked people under him looking directly at him. “Young Master.”

Tao Pengnan’s tone was slightly cold, “Stand aside and wait. They haven’t arrived yet.”

He secretly observed Zhao Er, noting his sturdy and compact physique, and his light and agile footsteps. He was a martial artist of considerable skill, not easily subdued with a single move.

Zhao Er quickly complied, “Yes.”

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The success of the plan depended on the young master, and he behaved even more respectfully than usual.

Tao Pengnan continued to play with the girl.

As time passed, more and more people arrived at the study, all with the hope of becoming rich overnight. After arriving, they didn’t dare to provoke Tao Pengnan and stood aside respectfully.

Things progressed to this point relatively smoothly, and Tao Pengnan felt a slight relief.

The girl hooked her hands around Tao Pengnan’s neck and asked in a sweet and coquettish voice, “Young Master, how much longer?”

Tao Pengnan gently tapped the girl’s forehead, smiling, “Very soon.” He then turned and asked, “Why haven’t they come yet?”

Zhao Er, somewhat puzzled, said, “Young Master, aren’t they in another place?”

Another place? What did that mean? Tao Pengnan looked at Zhao Er, realizing that things might not be going as expected.

Seeing Tao Pengnan frowning, Zhao Er quickly added, “Young Master, they should already be waiting in another location.”

Tao Pengnan slowly clenched his fist, feeling a bit nervous. “This matter is secretive. It’s not safe to gather in another place. Who among you will go and bring them here?”

“That place is known only to you, Young Master…” Zhao Er became even more puzzled, and the others also looked at Tao Pengnan, gradually showing suspicious gazes.

At this moment, Zhao Er took out a token from his pocket, with his name, Zhao Er, written on it. “Young Master, it’s time to verify identities!”

Was Tao Pengnan really this cautious?

Ge Lihua’s palms began to sweat, but she remained composed on the surface. “Sure.”

Unable to confirm if he was real or fake, everyone took out their tokens…

All the tokens were taken out, forming a circle, missing only the central piece to complete the circular plate shape.

Ge Lihua felt uneasy; she didn’t know about the identity verification step.

Where could she find her token? “I rushed over just now, and I forgot the token in another piece of clothing. I’ll go get it.”

People had some suspicions, but seeing Tao Pengnan remain calm, unruffled, they couldn’t be sure if Tao Pengnan’s identity was true or false.

Zhao Er clasped his hands and said, “Young Master, we’ll wait for you..”

Chapter 386: A Token

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Ge Lihua opened the door and gestured to the shadow waiting nearby, signaling that the situation had changed. She then quickly went to Tao Pengnan’s room to find the token.

The shadow was Chu Xujin. Seeing the gesture, he felt a sense of urgency and immediately left Tao Mansion to find Chu Qingzhi. Only Fifth Sister could handle this situation.

Zhao Er’s face was full of doubt. “Did you guys notice that Young Master is acting strange today?”

Li San immediately responded, “Yes, in the past, Young Master would never forget something like taking the token. And Young Master values the token more than his own life, so how could he leave it behind?”

Zhou Si looked at everyone and speculated, “Could Young Master be impersonated by someone?”

Zhao Er became concerned, “If he can’t retrieve the token, then he must be fake. Let’s wait a bit. What if Young Master really forgot?”

Li San furrowed his brows, “If Young Master is fake, what should we do?”

Zhou Si made a throat-slashing gesture, “Kill him. If he doesn’t die, we’ll die.” n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Zhao Er agreed, “Let’s do as Zhou Si says. Everyone needs to act quickly.”

Everyone nodded in unison.

On the other side, everything was going smoothly for Chu Qingzhi. However, the sudden sound of footsteps made everyone uneasy.

The only person who would come here now was Chu Xujin, and his hurried footsteps did not sound like good news.

Chu Qingzhi said, “You guys continue, I’ll go check.”

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Everyone nodded, but this time they couldn’t focus anymore.

Chu Qingzhi walked out of the room and opened the courtyard door. As soon as she did, she saw Chu Xujin rushing towards her. Sensing something was wrong, she asked, “Third Brother, why are you so anxious?”

“Fifth Sister, let’s talk while we walk.” Chu Xujin grabbed Chu Qingzhi and hurried back…

When the two returned to Tao Mansion, Chu Qingzhi learned the reason for the urgency. She thought the matter was simple and didn’t intervene, not expecting it to take a different turn.

“Third Brother, don’t worry, I’ll go in and take a look.”

Chu Xujin reminded her, “Fifth Sister, if you can’t do it, just give up. Your safety and Lihua’s are more important.”

Chu Qingzhi nodded and entered Tao Mansion.

When she entered, Ge Lihua happened to come out of Tao Pengnan’s room. Not finding the token there, she planned to search other rooms.

Chu Qingzhi flew directly in front of Ge Lihua, “Lihua, what happened?”

Ge Lihua saw Chu Qingzhi, and her tense heart relaxed. She quickly explained what had happened in the study.

It wasn’t a big deal. Chu Qingzhi breathed a sigh of relief. “You go out first; I’ll handle things here.”

Ge Lihua didn’t want to put Qingzhi in danger, “I’ll stay and help you.”

Chu Qingzhi accepted Ge Lihua’s good intention, “Find a place to hide, and be ready to assist me.”

Ge Lihua quickly replied, “Okay.”

Chu Qingzhi quickly walked to the study, passing by a pillar. She used her transformation technique, changing her appearance and face to resemble Tao Pengnan perfectly, without leaving any trace that would betray her.

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She entered the study, surveyed the room, and said, “I brought the token. Show me your tokens.”

Zhao Er and the others exchanged glances and took out their tokens, forming a circular plate with a missing center.

Chu Qingzhi extended her hand, placing the missing center into the slot, seamlessly completing the circle.

In reality, it was just an illusion. Chu Qingzhi hadn’t put anything in the missing center.

Everyone saw Tao Pengnan taking out the token and immediately dispelled their doubts.

Meanwhile, Chu Qingzhi raised her hand, releasing a fragrance. The next moment, everyone fainted.

Chu Qingzhi collected all the tokens and stored them. She then called Ge Lihua, instructing her to tie up everyone.

Having finished her instructions, Chu Qingzhi immediately left the study.

A total of thirty-five people had entered Tao Mansion just now. They split into two groups and gathered in two separate locations. Another group should still be inside the mansion.

As long as they were inside the mansion, it would be easy.

Chu Qingzhi released her divine sense and covered the entire Tao Mansion…

There were no people in the rooms of the mansion, so they must be in one place—Tao Pengnan’s secret chamber.

Not the secret chamber for hiding gold, but another one located in his room, specifically used for torturing girls.

Chu Qingzhi hurriedly made her way there.

Entering the room, she faintly heard the painful cries of a woman, “No, please, help, help!”

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Chu Qingzhi’s face turned cold. This beast!

She quickly found the mechanism, entered the secret chamber, and witnessed a horrifying scene.

A girl was tied to a specially made chair, with over a dozen naked men standing nearby. One of them was inflicting torture, and the scene was nauseating; she almost vomited.

Anger erupted within Chu Qingzhi. She lifted her finger, and a beam of light flew out, slicing all the men in the room into eunuchs.

The room echoed with screams, and everyone curled up, too pained to move on the ground. Blood quickly stained the small secret chamber, turning it into a hellish scene.

Chu Qingzhi released the girl, picked up some clothes, and gently said, “You are safe now.”

The girl, whose eyes were totally unfocused, was brought back from the brink of madness by Chu Qingzhi.

Chu Qingzhi was still disguised as Tao Pengnan. She used a female voice when she spoke, and the girl understood that she was impersonating Tao Pengnan. Despite the relief, the harsh reality made her feel despair. She asked lifelessly, “Miss, can 1 still survive?”

“As long as you want to, you can.” Chu Qingzhi’s voice was firm. “It’s not your fault; it’s theirs. No one can take away your life. Tonight, everything will come to an end, and they will all die.”

The girl looked at Chu Qingzhi with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. “Miss, thank you. 1 will do my best to start anew.”

Chu Qingzhi helped the girl out, saying, “I’ll keep your secret. Life is precious; take care.”

The girl nodded tearfully. “I will.”

After seeing off the girl, Chu Qingzhi returned to the secret chamber. She scattered sleeping powder, causing everyone to lose consciousness, and then took away all their tokens before quickly leaving.

This filthy place was unbearable to look at for even a moment.

Chu Qingzhi found Ge Lihua, instructing her to inform the constables to capture the people. Meanwhile, she went to search for Tao Pengnan’s token.

She had a hunch that the purpose of that token was more than just to verify his identity.

The token was not in the room; Ge Lihua had checked it. Chu Qingzhi decided to search the study.

The group led by Zhao Er was now securely tied up, still unconscious.

Chu Qingzhi walked to the center of the study, released her divine sense, covering the entire room, meticulously searching.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t there!!

Chapter 387: Past Memories

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Chu Qingzhi furrowed her brows, sinking into her thoughts. If she were Tao Pengnan, where would she hide important things before faking her death? Where would she feel the safest?

After pondering for a moment, her gaze suddenly sharpened. She knew where.

Chu Qingzhi flew to the rooftop. With a few swift movements, she arrived at the room where Tao Pengnan stored the coffin.

When Tao Pengnan planned to fake his death, he intended to sleep in the coffin. However, the old man disrupted his plan, and the coffin remained untouched in this room.

For someone with a massive secret, the safest place to keep things would be by his side.

Chu Qingzhi raised her palm, and the coffin lid flew aside, revealing what was inside.

She stepped forward. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

The coffin was empty.

Chu Qingzhi observed for a moment, then gently tapped the interior of the coffin. A hollow sound echoed when she reached the bottom.

She raised her lips in a faint smile and lightly tapped the bottom of the coffin with her palm, sending out a burst of light that shattered the bottom, revealing a hidden compartment.

“So thoughtful!”

The hidden compartment held plenty of dried food and water. On the side, there was a small brown box.

The box was delicate, appearing suitable for storing important items.

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Chu Qingzhi opened the box to find a circular token inside.

Found it!

Chu Qingzhi took the token and examined it closely. Besides identity verification, this token likely had other uses. She decided to keep it for now and study it further when everyone gathered.

Chu Qingzhi left the house.

Secret chamber.

“Ugh!” The first constable who rushed into the secret chamber was almost nauseated by the smell of blood and hastily retreated.

The others were curious and went to take a look. After witnessing the scene, they wore expressions of despair. The inside was too disgusting, making them want to vomit even their overnight meal.

The head constable frowned deeply. “Are they crazy? Stripping off their clothes and self-castrating with knives?

Chu Xujin looked extremely grim, suppressing his nausea. “Probably gone mad. Don’t bother; quickly handle the situation.”

The constables covered their faces to block the smell and brought all of them back to the county office.

It was almost midnight at this point. The previously dark sky revealed a faint outline of the moon, adding a bit of brightness to the land.

Back at the county office, Chu Qingzhi called Chu Xujin and Ge Lihua over, informing them of her plan to disguise herself as Tao Pengnan to deliver goods. The two immediately agreed to her plan.

Delivering goods wasn’t as simple as it seemed; it meant facing the mastermind directly, dealing with danger, and, in the worst case, risking her life.

“Third Brother, I plan to go to the capital on the sixteenth of August. From now on, hurry up and figure out the identity of these people. It’ll be convenient for us to impersonate them when the time comes.”

Chu Xujin said, “Fifth Sister, rest assured. I’ll take care of this matter.”

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Chu Qingzhi handed a box to Chu Xujin. “These are their tokens. Keep them safe; we’ll need them later.”

Chu Xujin didn’t take it, feeling that he didn’t have the capability to safeguard it. “Fifth Sister, it’s better to leave such an important thing with you. If it’s lost, the plan will fail.”

After hesitating for a moment, Chu Qingzhi didn’t refuse. “Don’t mention this matter to anyone until the last moment.”

Chu Xujin and Ge Lihua nodded solemnly. “We understand.”

Chu Qingzhi said, “You go handle things; 1’11 check on Hongjun and the others.”

“Let me escort you out, Fifth Sister.” Chu Xujin walked with Chu Qingzhi toward the main gate of the county office.

Small house.

Chu Qingning kept glancing toward the direction of the door, feeling worried. “Why hasn’t Fifth Sister returned yet?”

“Master won’t have any problems.” Yuan Hongjun said confidently. He had a deep understanding of his master’s martial prowess; she was unparalleled in the current world.

Chu Qingning felt slightly relieved. “Tell me, how strong is my Fifth Sister?”

“Well,” Yuan Hongjun pondered for a moment and then came up with an adjective, “Peerless.”

“That amazing?” Chu Qingning felt proud. Although she hadn’t seen her sister fight, she had constructed an image of an extraordinary master in her mind. “Is she formidable like Tong Yujie? How does she fare against him?”

“Let me put it this way,” Yuan Hongjun blinked his clear eyes. “All of us together are not her match.”

Chu Qingning marveled, then changed the subject. “My Fifth Sister is so powerful. Then her master must be even more powerful, right? Have you guys met him?”

The Chu family members didn’t inquire, but they had already constructed an imaginary master for Chu Qingzhi in their hearts. After all, how else could they explain her exceptional skills?

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Yuan Hongjun said with a sigh, “Master said that her master is currently not in the Dating Dynasty. He’s traveling around the world.”

Chu Qingning found it reasonable. A master would naturally not be like normal people. Nevertheless, she continued to praise, “Fifth Sister’s master must be an unparalleled expert.”

Bao Linjiang agreed, saying, “Seconded.”

Yuan Hongjun added, “I second that too.”

Chu Qingzhi pushed the door open and walked in. “What are you seconding?”

Chu Qingning saw Chu Qingzhi, and her face immediately lit up. “Fifth Sister, we were talking about your master.”

Chu Qingzhi walked over to the medicine-making area, curious. “Talking about my master? What about him?”

Chu Qingning, with an animated expression, said, “We were discussing how he taught you and made you so capable!”

Chu Qingzhi recalled those distant memories…

She was an orphan, and her master was also an orphan. The difference was that she was abandoned at birth, while her master carried deep-seated hatred as an orphan.

In the first few years after being picked up by her master, they were either fighting for revenge or on the road to revenge. As a result, they often ended up with injuries and frequently had to escape for their lives.

Due to these experiences, she developed excellent survival skills. No one at the same cultivation level could outrun her, and sometimes even those with higher cultivation might not be able to outrun her.

It was these experiences that allowed her to escape from numerous life-threatening situations and preserve her life.

She was fortunate enough to cultivate to the end.

However, her master wasn’t as fortunate. After avenging a great enmity, her master, exhausted, reached the end of his lifespan. In his final moments, he transferred all his cultivation to her, acting as both a master and a father. It was a debt of gratitude difficult to express.

“When I was in the county city, my master would secretly come to teach me at night. After I completed my training, my master left.”

Chu Qingning respectfully asked, “Will he come back?”

Chu Qingzhi shook her head. “1 don’t know. Master told me not to look for him. If he comes back, he will come to see me.”

Chu Qingning nodded. “If he comes back to visit you, we’ll definitely be filial to him.”

Chu Qingzhi smiled and said, “Okay..”

Chapter 388: Suspected Target

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Capital, Black Market.

The mountains stood silent, shrouded in a cold mist, and the chilly moon hung in the sky. Cold stars floated above, resembling scattered chess pieces on a board.

Under the night sky, the valley was desolate and cold, with a faint breeze gently rustling the black veil of the night. The gentle moonlight flowed quietly, sprinkling sporadically on the leaves, casting a light green hue.

A bowl-shaped valley nestled among the mountains, with the entrance being a naturally carved grand canyon. The entrance of the canyon was equipped with mechanisms, and a massive stone door blocked the way.

The Black Market only opened at 10 in the evening, but there was still about fifteen minutes until then, and many people were already waiting in front of the huge stone door at the canyon.

Everyone was dressed in black cloaks, wearing hats and covering their faces with veils. Only their eyes were visible.

Guided by Third Master Lu, Tang Jinghong crossed a mountain, passed through a cave, crossed a floating bridge, and finally arrived at the entrance of the grand canyon.

Third Master Lu, dressed in deep blue silk clothes and wearing a tiger-shaped mask that covered his entire face, looked mysterious. His gaze was calm and indifferent, showing no fluctuations or emotions, appearing cold and detached.

With a figure similar to Tang Jinghong’s, he was a slim and handsome young man. His gait indicated his youthfulness.

“How did you find such a place?” Tang Jinghong looked at the imposing stone door with a hint of admiration in his tone.

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‘Til tell you in the future. Let’s go in first.” Third Master Lu didn’t want to say much. His whole demeanor was cold, not just towards Tang Jinghong, but towards everyone. In fact, he was already quite warm towards Tang Jinghong; he was icy towards everyone else.

Tang Jinghong and Third Master Lu had known each other for seven or eight years and understood each other, so there was no need for further questions.

Third Master Lu gestured to the person behind him. The young man with the long sword approached and placed a specially shaped hexagonal wooden card into the groove next to the stone door, turning it gently. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

With the activation of the mechanism, a series of loud noises sounded. The massive stone door began to move upward, causing the ground to vibrate and small stones to fall as if there was an earthquake.

The stone door stopped when it reached a height of two meters.

The young man with the sword announced, “Black Market rules: Enter at 10 in the evening, leave at 5 in the morning. Violators will have both legs broken and will not be allowed in again.”

Third Master Lu San was ruthless and decisive; his words were always followed by actions, and no one dared to violate the rules of the Black Market.

One by one, people entered the grand canyon.

Tang Jinghong walked alongside Third Master Lu. He also wore a black cloak, a hat, and a face veil, concealing his identity.

When he walked, he silently observed his surroundings, searching for the figure of Cao Changsheng.

Ren Buqing also followed. Curious about the Black Market, he begged Tang Jinghong to take him here. He wore the same attire, serving as Tang Jinghong’s personal guard.

Tang Jinghong brought two people in total, the other being a real bodyguard.

Third Master Lu also brought two people, one was the young man with the long sword, and the other followed him respectfully.

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Ren Buqing was also secretly looking for Cao Changsheng, but everyone was dressed similarly, so it was challenging to find him.

After passing through the grand canyon, they finally entered the Black Market.

The houses in the Black Market were built along the mountains, extending for about three hundred meters. Here, you could rent a house to sell things, or set up a stall; either way, a certain rent had to be paid.

Red lanterns hung under the eaves, emitting a red glow. Under the night sky, it looked like a ghost town.

Everything imaginable was sold in the Black Market; anything that couldn’t see the light of day could be brought here for sale.

In short, the Black Market was a place where all sorts of people gathered.

The Black Market had not been open for long, but people were already filling up the area. However, aside from the sounds of bargaining and negotiation, there were no other noises, creating a slightly eerie atmosphere.

Third Master Lu led Tang Jinghong straight to the gambling den…

The gambling den was in a building with an intimidating roof that looked like a monster brandishing its claws. When looked at from below, under the hazy moonlight, it resembled a haunted house.

The ceiling had four corners with red lanterns hanging, illuminating the entire room. At the moment, there weren’t many people, but a table had already started a game.

The gambling method was simple, betting on the size of the dice. The winner had to give one-tenth of the winnings to the gambling den.

Around a dozen people crowded around the table, with one person working for the gambling den to keep the situation under control.

This person was a girl who dressed differently from everyone else. She wore a seductive red dress, with a graceful figure and a red veil covering half of her face. Her eyes carried a tempting smile, captivating the souls of many.

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Third Master Lu spoke in a calm and flat tone, “This is the gambling den, and it’s the only place for gambling in the Black Market.”

“Thank you for personally bringing me here,” Tang Jinghong said politely.

“Just a small favor.” Third Master Lu led Tang Jinghong to the second floor where there was a room for him to rest. “You can see the entire hall from here. Stay and watch.”

Tang Jinghong looked down at the hall through the window. “Brother Lu, many thanks.”

Third Master Lu considered Tang Jinghong as one of his own, or he wouldn’t have brought him here. “Take your time to watch. I’ll take a short nap.”

Tang Jinghong smiled and nodded, “Feel free.”

In the room was a luxurious bed. As someone who never compromised, everything belonging to Third Master Lu was of the highest quality.

He walked over and lay down on the bed, peacefully drifting off to sleep.

With Tang Jinghong as his guard, there was no safer place in the world.

Tang Jinghong focused on observing the hall, searching for the figure of Cao Changsheng.

As time passed, the noise in the hall increased, and more people gathered, making it increasingly difficult to find someone.

Suddenly, the gazes of the two men landed on the same person…

Ren Buqing gestured to Tang Jinghong, who nodded.

Ren Buqing whispered, “General Tang, may I go and probe?”

Tang Jinghong instructed, “Go ahead, be careful. Once confirmed, knock him out and take him away.”

He had already discussed this with Third Master Lu, who wouldn’t interfere with this matter.

If not mentioned beforehand, Third Master Lu would obstruct them, as it was a violation of the rules of the Black Market.

Ren Buqing and Tang Jinghong whispered to each other for a while. Then Ren Buqing went downstairs..

Chapter 389: A Visit to the Black Market

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Pushing through the crowd, Ren Buqing made his way to the man in question. As he approached, he sneezed violently several times, attracting everyone’s attention towards him

He was somewhat allergic to the scent of orchids; a whiff of it and he couldn’t help but sneeze. As he approached, a strong fragrance of orchids hit him, and he couldn’t resist sneezing…

However, this also presented an opportunity. The man they were watching turned his head to look at him.

At a glance, Ren Buqing was disappointed. This man wasn’t the Cao Changsheng they were looking for. Cao Changsheng had double eyelids, whereas this man had single eyelids; they simply didn’t match.

Helpless, he had no choice but to return. “General Tang, it’s not him.”

Tang Jinghong poured a cup of tea for Ren Buqing. “What happened to you just now?”

Ren Buqing sighed, “I can’t stop sneezing whenever I smell orchids. Just now, I didn’t know who was wearing such a strong orchid fragrance. I almost suffocated.”

Tang Jinghong kindly suggested, “I’ll introduce you to a divine doctor someday.” His voice softened involuntarily, and even his eyes seemed to light up gently.

Ren Buqing, being an investigator and very observant, immediately noticed Tang Jinghong’s change in demeanor.

He thought to himself, at the mention of this divine doctor, General Tang becomes all gentle. Could this person be his fiancee?

“Thank you, General.”

“We are colleagues, no need to be so polite.” Tang Jinghong continued to scan the hall, searching for their target.

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Time slowly passed…

Both Tang Jinghong and Ren Buqing’s eyes grew tired from searching, but they still hadn’t spotted their target.

Ren Buqing hesitantly said, “General Tang, is it possible that he didn’t come today?”

Tang Jinghong also harbored such doubts. He looked at the hall, thinking that their method of searching for people was too difficult. They needed a way to make the target show himself.

He shared his thoughts with Ren Buqing.

Ren Buqing agreed and began to think of a plan too. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea later, Tang Jinghong had a not-so-great idea. He gestured to his personal guard, then whispered a few words in his ear.

The personal guard bowed and quickly headed downstairs, leaving the gambling den.

Ren Buqing was puzzled, “General Tang, what did you think of?”

Tang Jinghong tapped his fingers lightly on the table. He wasn’t entirely confident in his plan, so he didn’t elaborate, “You’ll know in a moment.”

Ren Buqing looked in the direction where the personal guard had left, curious about what General Tang had thought of.

Awhile later, a large group of people entered the gambling den, dispersed, and started looking for someone.

Tang Jinghong planned to startle his target. As long as Cao Changsheng was scared, he would surely run. All they had to do was keep an eye on the main entrance.

Ren Buqing watched carefully for a while and understood Tang Jinghong’s intention, “General Tang, if Cao Changsheng is here, he should start getting restless soon.”

Tang Jinghong replied, “Let’s wait and see.”

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Just as he finished speaking, they saw someone hurriedly walking towards the main entrance…

Tang Jinghong immediately gave chase.

Before Ren Buqing could even stand up, Tang Jinghong was already out of sight…

He continued to watch the main door.

Tang Jinghong pursued the man using Qing Gong. He didn’t immediately confront him but followed him, feeling something was off about the man.

The man ran towards a less crowded area, constantly looking back while running, a classic sign of guilt.

Tang Jinghong followed until he saw the man run behind a large rock and hide.

He approached cautiously, drawing his sword silently, then suddenly spun around to face the other side of the rock, sword at the ready. However, there was no one there.

Tang Jinghong was stunned. Where did he go? He had clearly seen him run behind this rock.

He stepped out from behind the rock and looked up, just in time to see the man blend into the crowd and disappear.

He glanced back at the rock, noting something strange about it, but he had no time to investigate. He hurried back to the gambling den. The man he chased after was not Cao Changsheng.

By the time he returned to the gambling den, Ren Buqing was gone.

He quickly left the den, leapt onto the rooftop, and looked around. Soon, he saw Ren Buqing chasing someone.

He flew across the rooftops to join the chase…

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Ren Buqing’s martial arts skills were limited to self-defense, and he was unarmed, so he could only follow.

Such chases were common in the market. People glanced but didn’t pay much attention. No one interfered, not knowing the identity of those involved.

Suddenly, the man in front stopped and turned to face Ren Buqing, offering a tempting deal, “Let me go, and I’ll give you a hundred thousand taels of gold. How about it?”

This man was none other than Cao Changsheng!

Ren Buqing smiled. “1 am indeed quite poor, but are you sure I can live to spend that gold after I let you go?”

Cao Changsheng continued to tempt. “Of course, I’ll leave it in a secret place for you to retrieve. No one will know.”

Ren Buqing was curious, “Your family only has a few thousand taels of silver left. Where will you get a hundred thousand taels of gold?”

Cao Changsheng hinted, “Why must money be kept at home?” Just as he finished speaking, he saw someone flying over from the rooftop and immediately ran.

Ren Buqing sighed in relief seeing Tang Jinghong arrive.

Tang Jinghong landed in front of Cao Changsheng, without a word, knocked him unconscious.

Ren Buqing caught up, and after a while, the personal guard also arrived…

Tang Jinghong ordered his personal guard to carry the man away. Then, he glanced at the gambling den and left.

He was old friends with Third Master Lu, so there was no need to specially tell him that he was leaving.

When Third Master Lu woke up and found out that Tang Jinghong had caught the person he wanted to catch, he smiled. This guy really never failed.

Ministry of Justice.

Tang Jinghong brought the captured man back to the Ministry of Justice for interrogation.

Cao Changsheng, a man who still gambled when his father was in prison, couldn’t be expected to have much integrity. He confessed quite a bit after being interrogated.

The Minister of War was indeed forced to cooperate due to the other party having something on him, but Cao Changsheng adamantly refused to reveal what that thing was.

He had a lot of silver in his house, which was all moved to a cellar in another courtyard before the incident. Tang Jinghong sent people to check, and they indeed found the silver, totaling five million taels.

Now, only one question remained: What exactly did the other part have on the Minister of War?

Chapter 390: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

August 15th, Mid-Autumn Festival.

Bright sunlight streamed in through the window, filling the air with the scent of sunshine. Birds chirped incessantly outside, where wild chrysanthemums bloomed in full glory, displaying the unique maturity of autumn.

As Chu Qingzhi opened her eyes, she heard Tang Jinghong’s blessing, “Qingzhi, happy Mid-Autumn Festival.”

His voice, low and slightly hoarse, was sexy. Hearing it, Chu Qingzhi felt a tingling sensation

She exposed her arm, revealing a lifelike golden feathered phoenix tattoo. This way, she and Tang Jinghong could receive each other’s messages in time. Whenever the phoenix warmed up, it meant a message had arrived.

Touching the golden phoenix on her arm, Chu Qingzhi sweetly replied, “Jinghong, happy Mid-Autumn Festival to you too.”

Tang Jinghong’s smile slowly spread across his face, his tone gentle, “Qingzhi, I’ve brought you a festival gift. It should arrive by noon. Enjoy the holiday today.”

A gift for her? The idea of receiving a present specially prepared for her on a festival filled Chu Qingzhi with joy. “Jinghong, thank you.”

Tang Jinghong replied, “No need to thank me.”

After an intimate chat, Chu Qingzhi got out of bed.

She woke up late today. By the time she got up, every household in the village was already busy preparing the midday feast, slaughtering chickens and ducks.

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However, there was no rush in her family. With many hands to share the work, it would be done in no time.

Chu Qingzhi stretched lazily at the door.

Chu Qingyue was feeding chickens near the chicken coop, clucking along with them.

On such major festivals, unless necessary, everyone was supposed to rest, including the staff working at the family workshops. Naturally, Chu Qingyue was at home too.

Chu Qingzhi looked towards her sister, thinking how hardworking her sister was, always bustling around the house like a spinning top.

She walked towards the courtyard…

The three wolf cubs saw her and rushed over, howling excitedly.

When she first brought them home, they were thin and low-spirited. Now, under Xu Songnian’s careful care, the three cubs had grown chubbier and lively. If it weren’t for a large space in the village for them to run around, Chu Qingzhi had no doubt they would tear the house apart.

Chu Qingzhi crouched down and gently touched the wolf cubs, infusing a bit of spiritual energy into their foreheads.

“Aw, aw, aw…” The cubs sat in front of her, looking up at her like she was their mother.

Chu Qingzhi smiled, “Go play. I’ll give you some milk when it arrives.”

Ever since they started getting milk at home, the wolf cubs had been drinking it.

“Aw, aw, aw…” The cubs ran off happily.

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Chu Qingzhi watched them go and chuckled, “You guys are quite adorable!”

Wu Yaqing heard Chu Qingzhi’s laughter and came out of the house, “Qingzhi, why are you so happy.”

Chu Qingzhi pointed towards the swing, “Look over there…”

Wu Yaqing looked and couldn’t help but laugh too. The three wolf cubs were sitting on the swing, swinging back and forth in a cute, clumsy manner.

Hearing their laughter, other family members came over to see…

“Third Sister, Third Sister…” Li Qingyin came carrying a heavy basket, struggling a bit with the weight.

Li Qingyu quickly took the basket from her. It was covered with a cloth, hiding its contents. “Qingyin, what have you brought?”

Li Qingyin’s face beamed with a smile, “Third Sister, take a look and you’ll see.”

Li Qingyu brought the basket inside and uncovered it to reveal a basket full of duck eggs. “Are these fresh duck eggs? Or salted duck eggs?”

“Salted duck eggs,” Li Qingyin said happily. “Third Sister, these salted duck eggs are so fragrant and delicate, and they even ooze oil. They’re delicious.”

“You’ve helped me so much. These salted duck eggs are specially for you, as my festival gift. I won’t give you mooncakes, as you make plenty of it on your own, and the ones I buy outside aren’t as tasty as yours.”

Li Qingyu smiled and said, “Then I won’t stand on ceremony.”

Li Qingyin said, “Third Sister, I’ll head back now. Today, I also plan to make some delicious food for the kids.”

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Li Qingyu stopped her, “Take some mooncakes for the kids. I was planning to bring some to you, but since you’re here, it saves me a trip.”

Exchanging gifts was customary. Li Qingyin accepted, “Thank you so much, Third Sister.”

Li Qingyu packed thirty mooncakes for her sister.

Li Qingyin thanked her with a smile, “Third Sister, thank you.”

Li Qingyu replied, “No need to be so formal with your sister.”

After Li Qingyin left, Li Qingyu urged everyone to eat quickly. They too had to visit relatives and friends to give gifts. There was much to do.

Shortly after the meal, villagers began arriving with gifts, expressing their gratitude to the Chu family for helping them prosper. Li Qingyu accepted them all, planning to return the favor to each family when time permitted.

After some tidying up, Li Qingyu and Chu Rong first took Chu Qingyue and Chu Qingyan to present gifts to their masters, a duty they could not neglect. The gifts were generously prepared.

For other relatives, Grandpa Chu and Granny Chu assigned each person one or two families to visit. Even Chu Qingzhi was tasked with delivering gifts, a novel experience for her, as she was usually the one receiving gifts.

Apart from these, business partners also sent gifts to Chu Qingzhi’s family, so the Chu family naturally had to return the favor. The day had just begun, yet it already felt incredibly busy.

Grandpa Chu and Granny Chu stayed at home to look after the house.

Jiang Zhaoyong went to the county town to buy generous gifts for the Chu family. “Grandpa, Grandma.”

Granny Chu was very fond of Jiang Zhaoyong. “If you’re coming, just come. Why bring something? Just come directly next time, no need for gifts.”

“It’s the festival, I can’t come empty-handed.” Jiang Zhaoyong had no relatives here, and everyone at the school had gone home for the festival. Being a sociable person, he thought of joining the Chu family to enjoy the festivities and, incidentally, to ingratiate himself with the elders, laying a solid foundation for his future marriage to Chu Qingning.

Soon, everyone returned from sending the gifts. The elders went to the kitchen to prepare the midday meal, while the younger members gathered in the yard to make lanterns. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

In this era, it was customary to “light lanterns” to enhance the moon’s beauty.

That day, under the guidance of the elders, the younger family members made lanterns from bamboo strips, creating shapes like fruits, animals, and the words “Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.” They covered them with paper, painted them in various colors, and at night, candles were lit inside and hung high in the house.

Chu Rong had prepared the materials and started making lanterns right away.

Chu Qingzhi watched Chu Rong make one and quickly learned how to do it herself, then made a cute red apple lantern..