Chapter 401: Everyone Gets a Makeover

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Chu Qingzhi zipped back to her village and snuck into her room through the window. She plopped down in her chair and began scribbling down the method for brewing yellow rice wine.

Back in the cultivation world, she had opened several shops, one of which sold divine brews. To rake in more spirit stones, she spent three years perfecting three types of divine brews, turning her shop into the busiest one in town. Although yellow rice wine wasn’t a divine brew, it shared similarities. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

With every stroke of her brush exuding confidence, she finished writing after an hour and a half. Reviewing her work, she declared, “Done!”

Next, she sketched the design of the brewery…

The next morning, Chu Qingzhi called Shen Ruyue into her room and discussed the matter relating to Hong Yujun, revealing what was necessary and concealing what should remain hidden. For instance, she didn’t mention Hong Yujun’s background in a brothel – some pasts were better left buried. Nor did she mention Hongyu Jun cross-dressing. What started as a secret remained a secret.

Chu Qingzhi told Shen Ruyue that Hong Yujun was a friend of a friend. Shen Ruyue agreed without a second thought. Grateful for Chu Qingzhi’s help in her time of need, she felt it was her duty to help another damsel in distress.

“I’ve written down the method for brewing yellow rice wine and the brewery’s design,” Chu Qingzhi said. “Hong Yujun knows her stuff. Just follow her lead.” Shen Ruyue nodded earnestly.

“Ruyue, I’ll leave the matters at home to you,” Chu Qingzhi added.

“You don’t have to be formal with me. Rest assured, I’ve got it covered,” Shen Ruyue assured her, hugging Chu Qingzhi. “But you better come back before August 25, or else my wedding with Xuhua will have to be postponed!”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back in time for your wedding,” Chu Qingzhi assured her with a laugh.

Shen Ruyue patted Chu Qingzhi’s back sisterly. “I’ll be waiting.”

Chu Qingzhi nodded. “Okay.”

After breakfast, Chu Qingzhi, Shen Ruyue, Chu Xujin, Ge Lihua, and Chu Qingyan set off for the county. Chu Qingzhi, Chu Xujin, Ge Lihua, and Chu Qingyan went to the Tao residence to do makeup for the constables, disguising them as Tao Pengnan’s subordinates.

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Chu Qingyan tagged along to learn and lend a hand. This large-scale operation couldn’t rely on spells, so Chu Qingzhi hired a master proficient in disguising. Chu Qingyan’s understanding of this art would undoubtedly benefit from this experience.

Shen Ruyue, on the other hand, went to fetch Hong Yujun.

At the Tao residence, the group sneaked in through the back door and headed to Tao Pengnan’s study. Everyone was already there, including the thirty-five real subordinates of Tao Pengnan, all tied up and looking utterly bewildered.

They needed thirty-five people in total. The county office had only fifteen constables, and even if they dragged in the county magistrate and the secretary, they still wouldn’t make up the number. So, Chu Qingzhi asked for twenty-five soldiers from the garrison and borrowed five more constables from the other county. With Zhan Hongjun, Baolin Jiang, Chu Xujin, Ge Lihua, and Tang Jinghong joining, they hit the number.

Chu Qingzhi would disguise as Tao Pengnan. Her adaptability made her the perfect candidate for this crucial role. She was strict. Everyone had to wear the subordinates’ clothes. Dressed in the clothes, they already looked the part of a ragtag crew.

The master of disguise Chu Qingzhi had hired was none other than Wang Ximing, the same person who had helped the Lord of the Northern Border change his face.

Wang Ximing was now working under Tang Jinghong. His loyalty wasn’t in question – Tang Jinghong had saved his life twice, and he had no ties with the force in the eastern border, making betrayal unlikely.

“Master Wang, thank you for your help,” Chu Qingzhi said politely.

Wang Ximing, fiercely loyal to Tang Jinghong and compliant with Chu Qingzhi, replied, “No need for politeness. Let’s get started.”

“Okay,” Chu Qingzhi agreed, turning to Chu Qingyan. “Qingyan, Master Wang is an expert in changing appearances. You should watch and learn.”

To Chu Qingzhi’s surprise, Wang Ximing was looking to take in a disciple, and they quickly struck a deal.

Chu Qingyan was very obedient. “Fifth Sister, I’ll learn well.”

“Good girl, go ahead,” Chu Qingzhi encouraged, patting her head.

Chu Qingyan stood by Wang Ximing, watching intently as he transformed one face after another. Noticing her genuine interest, Wang Ximing began to teach her the tricks of the trade and slowly foster a master-disciple bond.

Chu Qingzhi then worked on Ge Lihua’s makeup. As a woman dressing as a man, the challenge was to give her face a more masculine and rugged look – not an easy feat.

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But for Chu Qingzhi, it was manageable. With a combination of technique and magic, another “Zhao Er” was swiftly brought to life.

The real Zhao Er, upon seeing his doppelganger, was stunned. “Are we twins or what?”

Ge Lihua checked her reflection and was amazed. “Qingzhi, it’s uncanny how much we look alike.”

Wang Ximing also came over to admire the work. “Incredible,” he praised.

Chu Qingzhi smiled, then moved on to work on Chu Xujin, transforming him into “Li San”…

By noon, everyone was made up.

Chu Qingzhi asked Wang Ximing to escort Chu Qingyan back and then led the group, carrying ten large boxes, on their journey to the capital.

?? Fengxin County Lin Family.

The young servant asked in a whisper, “Young Master, now that you’re awake, should we tell everyone?”

“No, pretend I’m still unconscious,” Lin Yingmin instructed, remembering Chu Qingzhi’s warning. He couldn’t discern friend from foe, so he chose to trust no one except this servant he had picked up from the streets.

The servant nodded obediently. “Understood, Young Master.”

Lin Yingmin got out of bed and wrote a letter, which he handed to the servant. “Find a way to leave the mansion and deliver this to my mother.”

The servant shivered. “The one in the nunnery?”

Lin Yingmin nodded, instructing him to keep the letter concealed.

The servant vowed, “Don’t worry, Young Master, I’ll handle it.”

No one paid much attention to the servant of an unconscious man, so he easily left the mansion and headed to the nunnery outside the county, delivering the letter to Consort Xin.

Consort Xin, upon reading the letter, flew into a rage. “Someone dared harm my son!” Her imperial demeanor was unmistakable.. “Summon!”

Chapter 402: Mysterious Figure

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

A young nun of about fourteen or fifteen years old entered, addressing respectfully, “Your Highness.”

Originally an assassin, this young nun had been betrayed by her comrades and gravely injured. Consort Xin saved her, and now she was utterly devoted to her.

Consort Xin, still seething with anger, instructed, “Investigate what happened to Yingmin, especially his legs.”

The nun bowed, “Yes, Your Highness,” and promptly left.

Consort Xin’s chest was heaving with anger. ’Whoever harmed my son will pay a hundredfold!’

? ? In the Capital – Prince Rui’s Mansion

A maid escorted an unfamiliar young lad into Madam Xin’s room. “Madam, the person you requested is here.”

Madam Xin was puzzled; she hadn’t requested anyone. Suspicious, she turned to look and was struck as if by lightning, frozen in place.

The lad boldly dismissed the maid, closed the door, and approached Madam Xin.

Madam Xin stared at the boy, joy dawning in her eyes, “Zi, Ziming…”

Lu Ziming approached slowly, stopping beside a soft couch. “It’s been years, Madam. I didn’t expect you to remember me.”

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Madam Xin, slowly regaining her senses, embraced him excitedly. “Ziming, you finally came to see me. You’re back.”

He put on a sincere expression, apologizing, “Sorry to have kept you waiting.”

Overjoyed, Madam Xin clung to him, “It doesn’t matter, as long as you’re back. I could wait forever.”

Lu Ziming chuckled, lifting Madam Xin in his arms and heading to the bed.

“I’ve missed you dearly over these years…”

Soon, sounds emerged from the room that would make anyone blush.

Afterward, Lu Ziming rested in bed, holding Madam Xin…

Madam Xin looked up at him, “I just sent you a letter. How did you arrive so quickly?”

“I was already on the way here. After seeing the letter you sent me, I couldn’t suppress the longing in my heart. I sped up, so I came earlier than expected.” Lu Ziming held Madam Xin’s hand.

Madam Xin smiled shyly, “You’ve been gone for years, and now you suddenly return. Is there something you need?”

Lu Ziming avoided the main point and said, “Of course I have something to do, but the most important thing is to see you.”

Feeling sweet, Madam Xin said, “Lucky you remember me, after all these years I’ve spent missing you.”

Lu Ziming had sweet nothings at the ready. “Of course I remember you. If not for my eagerness to see you, I wouldn’t have hit the road so soon.”

Madam Xin was overjoyed and was willing to give her heart to Lu Ziming.

They chatted for a while until Lu Ziming steered the conversation towards the map. “You mentioned finding a map in your letter. May I see it?”

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Madam Xin, love-struck but not entirely devoid of sense, said, “Let’s not rush. We’ve just met.”

Lu Ziming was not sure what Madam Xin had become, so he planned to take it slow. “Alright, I’ll listen to you. There’s no hurry.” Then, he pounced on her again.

Tang Jinghong received a secret letter.

“The chief butler of the Lord of the eastern border has secretly come to the capital and is currently having a private meeting with Madam Xin at Prince Rui’s Mansion.”

After reading, Tang Jinghong burned the letter. He recalled Chu Qingzhi’s words – Madam Xin sought the map for Lu Ziming.

However, it had only been a few days since Madam Xin found the map. How did Lu Ziming arrive so quickly?

This could only mean that… Lu Ziming was up to something else.

There must be more to this. What matter required the chief butler’s personal attention?

Tang Jinghong was confused.

However, he did not have time to think. Looking at the time, it was time for him to go and receive Qingzhi.

After disguise, he silently left the General’s Mansion through the back door.

Chu Qingzhi, disguised as Tao Pengnan, and the others stopped at a small tea stall for a break. Tang Jinghong took an opportunity to blend in.

Tang Jinghong had already disguised himself as someone else, but Chu Qingzhi still recognized him at a glance.

She poured a cup of tea and placed it on the empty side of the table. “We’ve taken all the seats here. Brother, if you don’t mind, let’s sit together.”

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Tang Jinghong sat opposite Chu Qingzhi and cupped his hands. “Thank you, Brother.”

Chu Qingzhi smiled. “You’re welcome.”

No one recognized Tang Jinghong. They only looked at him in confusion, especially Chu Xujin.

Chu Xujin observed Tang Jinghong carefully, feeling a sense of familiarity. Suddenly, it clicked – it was Jinghong. Disguised as someone else, he was hard to recognize.

Tang Jinghong, noticing Chu Xujin’s frequent glances, smiled at him.

Chu Xujin smiled back. Ever since he found out that Tang Jinghong was a general, he, who originally admired Tang Jinghong very much, admired him even more and set Tang Jinghong as his life goal.

As doctors, Yuan Hongjun and Bao Linjiang were very observant. Soon, they knew that the person who came was Tang Jinghong.

Ge Lihua, however, was clueless. She wondered why they were casually allowing strangers to join them in such a critical mission.

Chu Qingzhi gave Ge Lihua a look and said, “Continue our journey.”

Ge Lihua finally understood.

Later, as they neared the capital, the others finally realized Tang Jinghong had joined them, kicking themselves for not recognizing him sooner.

When they arrived at the capital, the sky was already dark. They did not stop and continued walking in the direction of the black market.

“Jiu” asked Tao Pengnan to transport the salt to the black market. He said that there would be someone to receive them. Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong were in a hurry to solve the case, so they unanimously decided to go over.

When they arrived at the black market, it was not open yet, but there were already four or five people waiting.

Chu Qingzhi surveyed the cloaked figures that resembled specters. “Rich folks seeking thrills,” she mused.

They too donned black cloaks and masks. Had they known about the dress code, they wouldn’t have bothered with the disguises. They would just put on a black cloak and a mask.

The others at the market eyed the ten large boxes curiously, wondering what they were selling. It had been a while since they’d seen such a big group. They decided to check out the goods later. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

After waiting for half an hour, the black market finally opened.

With no specific instructions, Chu Qingzhi and the group chose a prominent spot to wait for their contact.

They hadn’t been inside long when the market began bustling, resembling a central marketplace, crowded with people..

Chapter 403: Uncovering the Deception

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

In a room above the gambling den, “Jiu” approached a middle-aged man, who was deeply engrossed in playing chess with himself. Bowing, he announced, “Master, the goods have been delivered by the other party.”

Dressed in a refined grey and silver robe, the man spoke unhurriedly, “Let’s wait a bit longer. No rush.”

“Jiu” obediently responded, “Yes, Master,” and moved to the window. He stealthily opened a crack to observe Chu Qingzhi and her group.

Chu Qingzhi, upon entering the black market, had released her spiritual consciousness, enveloping the entire place. She was monitoring everyone, and “Jiu’s” every move didn’t escape her notice.

They are here!

She sent a voice transmission to Tang Jinghong.

Tang Jinghong, subtly moving closer to her, advised, “Let’s watch and see how things unfold.”

Chu Qingzhi agreed.

Chu Xujin, experiencing the city for the first time, found everything fascinating. His eyes darted everywhere, taking in all the sights.

The black market was indeed worthy of its reputation.

Ge Lihua, seeing his excitement, whispered, “We can explore after this business is done. The market runs till dawn.”

Chu Xujin looked away in embarrassment and agreed. “Okay.”

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As they waited, Chu Qingzhi, feeling a bit bored, pulled Tang Jinghong to a stone bench at the back, keen on catching up with the latest news from the capital.

The first thing Chu Qingzhi wanted to know was about Prince Rui. “Jinghong, tell me about Prince Rui.”

Tang Jinghong told Chu Qingzhi about Prince Rui…

Prince Rui, the former Emperor’s full brother, was seventh in line and revered. However, being a premature baby, he was frail and passed away at the age of thirty.

He had one main wife and five concubines.

Only his main wife bore him a son, while the others remained childless.

In his final days, Prince Rui, ever kind-hearted, granted generous wealth to his childless concubines and dismissed them from the house.

However, one concubine, Madam Xin, chose to stay.

After Prince Rui died, the main wife had her son to accompany her. She was also in charge of the finances of the residence, so she turned a blind eye to Madam Xin and pretended she didn’t exist.

Prince Rui, in his dying moments, left Madam Xin a considerable fortune to reward her loyalty to him, enough for a lifetime of extravagance.

To Chu Qingzhi, this seemed quite unremarkable.

She pondered, “Where would the assassins working for Madam Xin come from? Even with money, she couldn’t recruit so many high-level assassins.”

Tang Jinghong admitted, “I’ve never paid much attention to Madam Xin, so I’m not sure. I’ll have someone look into it.”

“Ok,” Chu Qingzhi then voiced another concern, “Also, it’s strange that Madam Xin, despite being infatuated with Lu Ziming, still stayed in Prince Rui’s mansion. There must be a reason.”

Speaking of Lu Ziming, Tang Jinghong recalled a secret message, “Chu Qingzhi, Lu Ziming has arrived in the capital.” Nôv(el)B\\jnn

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Chu Qingzhi was surprised. “So soon?”

Tang Jinghong said, “I learned this just before setting off from the capital. He’s already here, and his first stop was Madam Xin’s place. Quite odd.”

Chu Qingzhi said, “The two of them are already ambiguous. Now that Lu Ziming is doing this, it’s obvious that there’s something fishy.”

Tang Jinghong said, “I’ve already sent someone to secretly monitor him. Let’s wait and see.”

Chu Qingzhi said, “Ok.”

Chu Qingzhi asked Tang Jinghong many questions about the capital.

After a while, her attention was caught by a passerby with the character “Yun” embroidered on his cloak.

She tapped Tang Jinghong’s hand, “Jinghong, have you found any leads on ‘Yun’?”

Tang Jinghong furrowed his brows, “I’ve dispatched people to investigate in both the capital and the eastern border. No clues in the capital yet, and no news from the eastern border.”

Chu Qingzhi said, “The clues are delivered to your door now.”

Tang Jinghong asked, “What do you mean?”

Chu Qingzhi said, “I’ll tell you later.”

Chu Qingzhi’s divine sense locked onto the person with the word “Yun” on the cloak. She first observed what the other party was planning to do. At the same time, her divine sense searched all the people with the word “Yun” on the cloak in the black market.

Chu Qingzhi’s divine sense was brought into the human trafficking area.

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In the black market, people of unknown origins were often trafficked. Once inside, their cries for help went unheard. If they died, their bodies were simply discarded, unburied and forgotten – a pitiful fate.

After entering the black market, that person chose a 13 or 14-year-old girl.

The girl was covered in dirt and her face was sallow and thin. However, if one looked carefully, they could tell that she was the daughter of a rich family. She looked good and seemed to have been kidnapped by human traffickers.

The young girl was bought by that person for ten taels of silver. Then, she was brought to a room and asked to take a shower and change her clothes.

The girl did not dare to disobey. She was afraid of being beaten up. She had been beaten up countless times all the way here.

After taking a shower, the man looked at the girl in satisfaction. Then, he carried her to the next room and threw her onto the bed.

Seeing this, Chu Qingzhi could not sit back and do nothing. “Jinghong, I’ll be back soon.”

Before Tang Jinghong could answer, Chu Qingzhi was already gone.

She sneaked into the room through the window and used a bell, empowered with spiritual energy, to emit mesmerizing sound waves, instantly entrancing the man. This bell, which she had conveniently picked up from a stall, helped her avoid causing a commotion.

That person’s eyes widened. He stood rooted to the ground in a daze, looking like he had lost his soul.

The frightened girl ran to Chu Qingzhi, hiding behind her like a deer escaping a hunter.

Chu Qingzhi gently patted her back, comforting, “It’s okay now.”

The girl, trembling and tearful, thanked her, “Thank you, brother, for saving me…”

Chu Qingzhi soothed, “Don’t cry. You’re safe now.”

After calming the girl, Chu Qingzhi knocked her out. She needed to interrogate the man, and it wasn’t suitable for the girl to hear.

She placed the girl on the bed and sat by the bed to ask questions.

Under the bell’s influence, the man revealed he was “Jiu’s” subordinate, here to assist with receiving goods.

However, for some reason, “Jiu” had yet to act.

Growing restless, Qian Junjie decided to vent his frustration by purchasing a girl.

Further questioning revealed the meaning of “Yun” – an underground force in the eastern border, with an unidentified leader, but certainly someone from the eastern border..

Chapter 404: A Step Ahead

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Previously, the “Yun” faction operated solely in the eastern border, but recently, with their leader’s ambitious plans, they expanded into the capital. Over the past year, their influence had solidified, remaining well-concealed. They recruited covertly, rarely allowing anyone to seek them out directly.

In the capital, a man known as “Yuan” managed the faction. Under him were ten key members, numbered “One” to “Ten,” each commanding numerous subordinates, totaling a force of about ten thousand. “Nine” (who is previously referred to as “Jiu”) took charge of receiving the goods in Shuiyun County from Tao Pengnan.

Hearing this, Chu Qingzhi felt a shiver run down her spine.

There were ten lines of operation, and they had intercepted only one involving opium. What about the rest? Had the opium on those lines already been transported to the capital?

As Chu Qingzhi inquired why Tao Pengnan faked his death, Qian Junjie explained it was to cut the leads – dead men tell no tales, and one can’t investigate a corpse.

There was also the matter of the rice grain tattoo. He said that the rice grain tattoo was only carved by those who had truly joined the “Yun” Organization. Some marginal figures were not qualified to be tattooed at all.

Chu Qingzhi chuckled sarcastically, finding the idea of a criminal organization having a hierarchy hilarious.

Regarding the opium, Qian Junjie claimed ignorance. His role was simply to transport goods, not to know their purpose. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

When pressed for more information, he had none to offer.

Chu Qingzhi wanted to pretend to be Qian Junjie and meet “Nine”, but she realized that “Nine” was already walking towards the place where they had placed the goods…

She had to act fast. Using her bell to fully control Qian Junjie, she left a trace of her divine sense in the room and hurried back to the black market.

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Meanwhile, Tang Jinghong, still seated on a stone bench, was waiting for Chu Qingzhi’s return. Instead of her, he saw “Nine” approaching.

“Nine” stood before them, silently producing a circular token from his robe.

Tang Jinghong understood the gesture but lacked the token – Chu Qingzhi had it. He said, “Please wait a moment. Young Master went to relieve himself.”

“Nine” waited patiently but grew suspicious as Chu Qingzhi didn’t return. Just as he decided to leave, she arrived.

Chu Qingzhi took out the token and threw it to “Nine”.

Chu Qingzhi tossed the token to “Nine.” The two tokens clicked together, emitting a faint ‘click’ sound.

Chu Qingzhi pondered, suspecting the tokens were used for identification, but why would they make a sound upon contact? What was the mechanism behind it?

“Nine” caught the token and threw it back to her. Just when everyone thought it was over, “Nine” suddenly demanded, “Hand over the key and the medicine.” Everyone stiffened, clueless about any key or medicine.

Chu Qingzhi, unsure what he meant, decided to catch “Nine” straight away if things went south.

As she prepared to make a move, she remembered the key and small knife she had found on a merchant previously. Unsure which item “Nine” referred to, she produced both.

To everyone’s surprise, “Nine” took both items. He fiddled with the small knife, transforming it into a dice-shaped iron box through some kind of mechanism.

The crowd watched in awe…

“Nine” opened the box, retrieving a pill, and handed it to Chu Qingzhi, instructing, “Swallow it.”

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Without hesitation, Chu Qingzhi did. Tang Jinghong watched anxiously, fists clenched.

“Nine” took a key from his robe, combining it with the other key to form a wider one, and proceeded to unlock a box. Everyone’s clothes were soaked with cold sweat.

They had opened those boxes before. They could have opened them with one key, but “Nine” put the two keys together to open the boxes. Why did he do this?

Just as everyone was filled with doubts, “Nine” opened the lock.

Everyone was stunned – how could two vastly different keys open the same lock?

Even Chu Qingzhi couldn’t fathom this.

“Nine” opened the box that was filled with salt. He reached inside, pulled out an opium poppy, inspected it, then locked the box again.

Approaching Chu Qingzhi, he politely said, “Young Master Tao, thank you for your efforts. I’ve prepared some drinks. Let’s have a toast.”

Chu Qingzhi nodded, “Please lead the way.”

“Nine” led them to a house with several tables set up for a feast. “Please take a seat, everyone.”

Chu Qingzhi led the way and sat on the stool. “Brother is treating us. Everyone, sit down and eat.” As she spoke, she made a subtle hand gesture, indicating to them to fake it.

Everyone followed suit, sitting down and starting to drink and eat.

When drinking and eating, one had to unbutton their cloaks. There was nothing to be afraid of. Everyone unbuttoned their cloaks and faced Nine’s gaze calmly.

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“Nine” stood at the door for a moment, then walked out, full of doubts. When he left, he closed the door.

As soon as he left, everyone immediately stopped and discussed the next step.

“Nine” returned to the gambling den’s second floor. “Master, Tao Pengnan has betrayed us,” he reported.

The middle-aged man paused his game, “Explain.”

“Nine” said, “The box has been opened once.” Only boxes that had been previously tampered with could be opened using “Nine’s” method.

The middle-aged man pondered and asked, “How’s the goods inside?”

“Nine” said affirmatively, “I’ve checked the goods. There’s nothing wrong.”

The man coldly ordered, “Kill them all. Eliminate any future problems.”

“Nine” bowed, “As you command, Master.”

He returned with his men to the room where everyone lay scattered, foaming black blood – clearly poisoned.

“Nine” waved his hand. “Go and check. Don’t leave anyone alive.”

“Yes, Master.”

The group of subordinates checked them one by one and returned to “Nine.” “Master, they’re all dead.”

“Nine” glanced indifferently and ordered, “Let’s go.”

They left, closing the door. The black market had its own cleanup crew for such cases.

As “Nine” walked the streets, a subordinate suddenly reported, “Master, Qian Junjie hasn’t returned.”

“Nine” paused, frowning, “He’s too lecherous. Sooner or later, he’s bound to cause trouble. Deal with him when he comes back.”

The subordinate cupped his hands. “Yes, Master.”

“Nine” continued to walk..

Chapter 405: Unraveling the Enigma

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

After a brief wait to ensure their adversaries would not return, Chu Qingzhi, who had been crouching beside a table, straightened up. A slight smirk crossed her face as she mused internally, “So easily fooled by a simple illusion.”

The others in the room looked baffled as to why their enemy couldn’t tell they were feigning death.

Chu Qingzhi instructed, “There’s water at the back. Go wash your faces. No need to keep up the act any longer.”

“Acknowledged,” came the collective response.

According to the plan, Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong set out alone to track down “Nine” and investigate the “Yun” faction, while the rest of the group would return to the capital and seek lodging in an inn.

Chu Qingzhi carefully explained the plan and then departed with Tang Jinghong.

Before embarking on their pursuit of “Nine,” they visited the room where Qian Junjie and a young girl lay unconscious.

Chu Qingzhi briefed Tang Jinghong about Qian Junjie and the girl. Deeming Qian Junjie worthless and wicked beyond redemption, Tang Jinghong stepped forward, drew a dagger from his boot, and swiftly ended Junjie’s life. The girl was entrusted to Ge Lihua for temporary care, with hopes of eventually sending her back home.

Tang Jinghong, grasping Chu Qingzhi’s hand, asked worriedly, “Qingzhi, what did ‘Nine’ give you to eat earlier?”

Chu Qingzhi replied with a smile, “Just an antidote to a poison. I’m fine.”

Tang Jinghong relaxed, “That’s good to hear.”

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“Nine” returned to his master and reported, “Master, the deed is done.”

The middle-aged man nodded, “Well done. Have all the buyers arrived?”

“Nine” responded respectfully, “They are all here, waiting in the room.”

The middle-aged man instructed, “Take all the goods except that specific item to them.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Nine” led his men to carry five boxes to a room on the second floor of the gambling den, where thirty-four people in black cloaks and unidentifiable identities sat waiting.

As the boxes were brought in, the buyers craned their necks in anticipation.

“I wonder what treasures Master Yuan has brought this time,” one mused.

“I’ll buy a couple of items, no matter what. Master Yuan’s goods are always rare and valuable,” another declared.

The room buzzed with eager conversations, reflecting the buyers’ interest. It was clear this wasn’t their first such business dealing.

Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong sat in an adjacent room, keeping a close eye on “Nine.”

Chu Qingzhi listened to the buyers’ excited chatter with a roll of her eyes. What value did these burial items hold for them? Tainted with the aura of death and malice, these items would send their buyers to an early demise. To her, their excitement in purchasing what were essentially harbingers of death was absurd.

Taking advantage of the moment, Tang Jinghong asked Chu Qingzhi, “Have you seen the Mid-Autumn Festival gifts I prepared for you?”

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Her expression softened, “Yes, I loved them.”

Tang Jinghong had sent her unique pastries and mooncakes from the capital, a unity knot he had crafted himself, and a jade comb he had meticulously carved. Despite being new to carving, he had practiced on wood before finally crafting the comb out of jade, pouring immense thought and effort into it.

The unity knot symbolized his heart residing in Chu Village, despite being physically in the capital. The comb represented his deep longing for Chu Qingzhi. In return, she had also gifted him a comb, extending her feelings towards him.

Tang Jinghong gazed at Chu Qingzhi, captivated by her beauty, which shone like the moon, her wrists as delicate as frost. He could never tire of looking at her.

Feeling somewhat embarrassed under his intense gaze, Chu Qingzhi used her palm to block his view, “That’s enough.”

Tang Jinghong smiled lightly, “Alright, I’ll stop looking.” He then asked with concern, “Would you like something to eat? I can go and buy it for you.”

“Please, I’m hungry,” she replied, appreciating his kindness.

”1’11 be back soon,” Tang Jinghong said, stepping out of the window to buy various delicacies from the black market.

Left alone, Chu Qingzhi found herself slightly bored. She listened to the ongoing transactions in the neighboring room but found nothing noteworthy. They were all vying for the burial items, with “Nine” standing by and watching.

Chu Qingzhi pondered over the situation. Was the Feng Shui in the eastern border so exceptional that it was home to such richly furnished tombs? Why would the “Yun” faction, a powerful force, resort to grave robbing? There were many ways for such an organization to make money, so why choose such a despicable and universally condemned method?

In this era, digging someone’s tomb was unacceptable. To risk the world’s condemnation just to earn money? It didn’t make sense.

Lost in thought but unable to make sense of it, she decided to put it aside for the time being. Just then, Tang Jinghong returned.

He brought four different types of food – date cake, meat pie, bean roll, and sour plum soup.

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Looking at the spread on the table, Chu Qingzhi couldn’t help but laugh, “Jinghong, do you really think I can eat all of this?” Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Tang Jinghong replied hastily, “No, I just wanted to give you a variety to choose from. If you can’t finish, I’ll eat the rest.”

Chu Qingzhi smiled, “Let’s eat together. I’m sure I won’t be able to finish everything.”

Tang Jinghong said, “Okay.”

Their timing was perfect. As they finished their meal, they noticed movement in the next room.

Chu Qingzhi focused her divine sense on “Nine.” He couldn’t escape her watchful eye. Leading his men, he headed towards the entrance of the black market.

“Jinghong, ‘Nine’ is leaving…”

Tang Jinghong, holding Chu Qingzhi’s hand, spoke seriously, “Qingzhi, always protect yourself first and avoid taking risks.”

Chu Qingzhi, not one to act rashly, assured him that everything she did was within her capabilities, “Okay, I promise.”

Tang Jinghong stretched out his long arm and hugged Chu Qingzhi before chasing after “Nine.”

Chu Qingzhi kept pace with him.

“Nine” led his men to where the boxes were stored, guarded by a few of his people. He ordered, “Pick up the boxes and follow me.”

“Yes, Master.”

The men quickly secured the boxes and carried them away with haste, leaving the black market.

Tang Jinghong and Chu Qingzhi exchanged a glance and followed at a safe distance.

Leaving the black market, “Nine’s” group immediately entered a dense forest, avoiding the main path and moving with extreme caution.

The forest was thick with towering trees, with only slivers of moonlight filtering through the branches. The group moved quickly, familiar with the route as if they had traveled it countless times.

If not for Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong’s exceptional martial skills, they might have quickly lost their target.

Navigating the forest was like traversing a labyrinth, with “Nine’s” group turning this way and that, and then, strangely, they vanished completely..

Chapter 406: The Peach Incident

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong emerged from the shadows, immediately aware of the presence of hidden mechanisms in their surroundings.

These mechanisms were impressively sophisticated, activating silently and eluding even their sharp eyes.

“This faction must be backed by a mastermind,” Chu Qingzhi commented as they headed towards the spot where their targets had disappeared. The people they were tracking had turned a corner and vanished without a trace.

Tang Jinghong agreed, “And the effort put into setting up these mechanisms suggests they’ve done this before.”

The two of them reached the turn, finding themselves in a rockery, an unusual thing for a regular forest, typically seen in the back gardens of affluent households for aesthetic purposes.

Standing at the edge of this rockery, Chu Qingzhi checked the location of “Nine.” He was moving swiftly through an underground passage. Time was of the essence; beyond a certain distance, her divine sense would lose track of him.

Focusing on the rockery before them, Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong began their search. The area was extensive and seemingly without order, making it challenging to discern any patterns.

They found several potential mechanisms within the rockery, but all turned out to be wrong.

Chu Qingzhi then moved to the center of the rockery and released her divine sense, covering every inch in search of the mechanism. This wide-ranging use of her divine sense was taxing, something she normally avoided unless necessary.

Despite her efforts, the mechanism eluded her, and “Nine” reached the limit of her divine sense range, almost slipping away from her watch.

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Just then, a bird flew by, prompting Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong to realize their oversight – who said the mechanism had to be within the rockery?

Quickly, they retraced their steps, searching along their original path. Their new approach soon bore fruit. Near a pine tree, they spotted an unusually conspicuous stone that seemed ordinary at first glance.

Chu Qingzhi stepped lightly on the stone, hearing no sound, but saw another stone shift its position.

“Jinghong, let’s go,” she called out.

Together, they approached the site. At the same time, “Nine” completely moved beyond the maximum range of Chu Qingzhi’s divine sense, evading her watch.

Damn it!

A large hole appeared in the ground, and Chu Qingzhi quickly dove in, with Tang Jinghong following close behind.

Once inside, the rock silently shifted back, plunging the tunnel into darkness. Unaffected by the lack of light, Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong, using his keen senses, pursued swiftly. Fortunately, the tunnel had only one path.

As they chased, Chu Qingzhi extended her spiritual sense again, trying to relocate “Nine.”

Meanwhile, “Nine” and his group were already exiting the tunnel. They moved swiftly and in sync, quickly vacating the passage.

Chu Qingzhi was unable to re-establish her lock on “Nine.”

Soon, Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong reached the exit, finding themselves in a barren area with no visible mechanism to open the way.

Having expended her divine sense twice in quick succession, Chu Qingzhi felt weary…

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Tang Jinghong, noticing her state, suggested a brief rest while he searched for the mechanism. Fortunately, this time, they found a keyhole, “Qingzhi, there’s a keyhole here.”

The keyhole, located on the exit door, was easy to miss but also noticeable upon closer inspection.

Chu Qingzhi looked up, noticing the keyhole resembled the shape of the key “Nine” had assembled previously. Concentrating, she used her spiritual energy to form a key.

Tang Jinghong took the key, inserted it, and to their surprise, it worked. The exit door slowly moved aside, revealing the way out.

“Let’s go,” Chu Qingzhi said with a smile, leading the way.

Tang Jinghong followed, observing the surroundings. They discovered the exit was actually a dry well in a deserted courtyard, which had a peach tree laden with luscious fruits.

Seeing Chu Qingzhi eyeing the peaches, Tang Jinghong swiftly climbed the tree, picked the largest peach, washed it, and handed it to her, “Here, eat this.”

Chu Qingzhi accepted the peach with a smile, then climbed to the rooftop to resume her search for “Nine.” Nôv(el)B\\jnn

From the rooftop, her gaze swept across the distance, and she spotted “Nine” again. “Jinghong, follow me.”

Tang Jinghong, unable to see as far as Chu Qingzhi, took her word for it and followed without question.

Her divine sense once again locked onto “Nine,” which put her somewhat at ease. She took a big bite of the peach.

Tang Jinghong, now able to see “Nine” and his group, silently admired Chu Qingzhi’s abilities. How had she spotted them from so far away?

Chu Qingzhi offered the peach to Tang Jinghong, “Try it, it’s sweet.”

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Tang Jinghong, captivated by her bright eyes, found it impossible to refuse. He took a small bite, “It is sweet.”

Chu Qingzhi smiled and continued the pursuit.

In the Imperial Study at the palace, the young emperor sat at his desk, deeply engrossed in state documents. The night had deepened, but the study remained brightly lit.

Suddenly, the emperor called out, “Li Fei, brew me a strong tea.”

Li Fei, the personal eunuch, entered and bowed, “Your Majesty, the Internal Affairs Department has procured a new type of incense said to be revitalizing. Would you like to try it?”

Without looking up, the emperor responded, “Light it.”

Li Fei set up the incense in a burner and lit it. Initially, the scent seemed unpleasant, but once lit, it transformed into an invigorating aroma that also lifted the mood – a truly remarkable incense.

Thin wisps of blue smoke filled the study…

Taking a deep breath, the emperor felt revitalized, “This incense is excellent, reward them,” he instructed.

Li Fei, smiling, replied, “As you command, Your Majesty.”

At the Prime Minister’s residence, the butler entered the study, “My lord, it’s getting late.”

The Prime Minister was also dealing with government affairs. His ideals were different from the Emperor’s, but he was not a treacherous minister who would bring disaster to his country and the people. He would still do his job well.

He looked up, took a deep breath of the newly acquired incense, and felt his spirits lifted, “Let’s wait a bit longer.”

The butler quietly withdrew.

Several other ministers had also experienced a boost in their spirits after switching to this new incense.

“Nine” led his group through twisting alleyways and finally pushed open the rear door of a large mansion, entering it.

Tang Jinghong’s gaze sharpened, “Qingzhi, this is the home of the Minister of War.”

Chu Qingzhi was taken aback, “Could it be that the ‘Yun’ faction is indeed colluding with the Minister of War?”

Chapter 407: The Undercover Mission

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Without concrete evidence, Tang Jinghong wouldn’t jump to conclusions. “It’s unclear if there’s collusion, but there’s definitely a connection,” he stated cautiously.

Chu Qingzhi whispered, “Hl go and inquire with the Minister of War about the exact situation.”

Tang Jinghong grasped Chu Qingzhi’s hand, his grip tightening gently, “Qingzhi, thank you.”

Chu Qingzhi touched his face and smiled, “No need to thank me, let’s go.”

Tang Jinghong followed Chu Qingzhi’s lead to the residence of the Minister of War, which had been sealed off, hiding a secret nobody expected.

In a moderately sized courtyard by the lake, a lamp shone on a table where two people sat, surrounded by a dozen others, seemingly awaiting something.

Suddenly, footsteps approached. The group in the courtyard tensed, their eyes fixed on the entrance. Recognizing who it was, they hurried forward to greet them.

“One” looked at “Nine” and asked, “Did everything go smoothly?”

“Nine” nodded, “All went well.”

“Two” gestured and ordered, “Sieve out the contents inside.”

The subordinates responded in unison and began sifting poppies from salt.

Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong watched from the shadows. Chu Qingzhi had already briefed Tang Jinghong about the poppies.

Chu Qingzhi said, “Jinghong, I had planned to use ‘Nine’ to trace back to the source. But now, with there being nine other lines of poppy goods, we can’t show ourselves.”

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If the “Yun” faction realized their operations were exposed, they would certainly retreat or flee. Given their ability to hide themselves, finding them again would be challenging.

A thought struck Tang Jinghong, “Qingzhi, are you thinking of…”

“I’m thinking of going undercover,” Chu Qingzhi said. “Jinghong, you’ll need to support me from the outside. We’ll aim to uproot the ‘Yun’ faction in the capital completely.”

Tang Jinghong was adamantly against it, “It’s too dangerous.”

Chu Qingzhi reassured him lightly, “Trust me, no one in this world can harm me.”

If Chu Qingzhi didn’t undertake this mission, it would fall on Tang Jinghong, a general duty-bound to protect his country. She couldn’t bear the thought of him risking his life, especially since this task was well within her capabilities.

Tang Jinghong pulled Chu Qingzhi into his arms, his voice tinged with unspoken emotion, “I’ll do it with you.”

Chu Qingzhi said, “Who will support me from the outside then?”

Tang Jinghong remained silent, feeling guilty for not being able to provide a stable life for Chu Qingzhi. Since being with him, she had been constantly on the move, facing danger. “Qingzhi, I still can’t agree to let you risk your life alone.”

Chu Qingzhi asked calmly, “Then how do we resolve this?”

Tang Jinghong, with a hint of obstinacy, suggested, “I’ll send someone else to do it.”

Chu Qingzhi insisted, “Jinghong, no one is more suitable than me. You know what failure would mean.”

Tang Jinghong didn’t respond.

Chu Qingzhi continued, “Jinghong, I promise I’ll be safe. Moreover, I’ll try to resolve everything within five days.” She needed to return for her brother’s wedding and couldn’t afford a long delay.

Tang Jinghong finally resigned himself to her decision.

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“Can it be resolved in five days?”

Chu Qingzhi nodded firmly.

The situation was more perilous than any they had previously faced, and with Tang Jinghong unable to accompany her, he was reluctant to agree, “Qingzhi…”

Chu Qingzhi stepped back slightly and looked into Tang Jinghong’s eyes, “My brother’s wedding is on the 25th of August. Do you want to go back with me to attend?”

Without hesitation, Tang Jinghong nodded, “Yes.”

Chu Qingzhi asserted, “Then let’s not argue anymore. Follow my lead.”

She knew Tang Jinghong was worried about her, but she wanted to resolve the situation quickly so they could return to Chu Village and live a peaceful life.

Tang Jinghong finally resigned himself to her decision.

They continued to secretly observe “Nine” and his group.

Half an hour later, the poppies were completely sifted from the salt, packed into three boxes, and carried into a room.

Chu Qingzhi’s divine sense followed them into the room, which, to her surprise, turned out to be an incense workshop.

Inside, ten people worked in tandem, using poppies as a key ingredient to produce incense.

Five large boxes were positioned against the wall, and the workers stacked the three boxes on top of them.

“One” entered the room and said, “You may rest for today. Continue tomorrow, and remember, we need to ship out fifteen kilos of product. Everyone, please work hard.”

The ten workers respectfully stood up and replied, “Yes.”

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They left the room and headed to their quarters in the adjacent courtyard, each entering their own room.

“One,” “Two,” and “Nine” arranged for ten subordinates to guard the place, then left with the rest of the group.

Chu Qingzhi observed that among the three, “Nine” spoke the least, making him the ideal candidate for her to impersonate.

The two followed them…

After leaving through the back door, “One” and “Two” took some subordinates and went one way, while “Nine” headed in a different direction alone.

“Nine” traversed several alleys and entered a wealthy household, moving with familiarity. He entered a courtyard and then a room.

Chu Qingzhi asked Tang Jinghong, “Whose house is this?”

Tang Jinghong surveyed the surroundings, “This is Prince Rui’s Mansion.” n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Chu Qingzhi pointed to the room that “Nine” had just entered. “Is that the room where the servants live?”

Tang Jinghong nodded.

Chu Qingzhi observed the area. The defense was tight, but “Nine” had entered unobstructed, suggesting the place might have become a stronghold for the “Yun” faction.

“Jinghong, let’s enter the room.”

“Okay.”

The defense was tight, but it could not stop Chu Qingzhi, this female lead with cheats. She casually raised a strong wind to distract the others while sneaking into “Nine’s” room with Tang Jinghong.

She held a bell in her hand and gently shook it beside “Nine’s” ear.

Before “Nine” could react, the sound flooded his mind, leaving him dazed and standing there, unfocused.

Tang Jinghong watched “Nine” in amazement.

Chu Qingzhi waved her hand, covering the room with spiritual energy to prevent their voices from leaking out. She then sat down and began questioning “Nine.”

“Nine,” whose real name was Qu Xinwei, came from a humble background in the eastern border. He had been a street urchin, skilled in gathering information, and had joined the “Yun” faction seven years ago.

Qu Xinwei was ambitious and gradually caught the attention of the higher-ups as his abilities became apparent..

Chapter 408: The Minister’s Secret

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

A year ago, the leader of “Yun” dispatched over a hundred people to expand their influence in the capital. The leader of this group was “Yuan”, known in the underworld as “Master Yuan”.

The middle-aged man in the gambling den’s upstairs room was “Yuan”, directly commanding ten subordinates numbered “One” to “Ten”.

Each of these ten had ten direct subordinates, creating a well-structured organization of over ten thousand members.

Tao Pengnan was a direct subordinate of “Nine”.

The three merchants were underlings of one of “Nine’s” subordinates.

All were true members of the “Yun” faction, identifiable by the grain tattoo on their bodies.

The deaths of the three merchants were the work of a traitor within the “Yun” faction, though the merchants mistakenly believed they were killed by their own. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

This was evident from the dying words of a merchant in the brothel: “You will pay for this”.

However, who the traitor was remained unknown.

With Tao Pengnan and Qian Junjie dead, only eight of “Nine’s” ten direct subordinates remained, now operating in various corners of the capital.

Everyone had a dual identity. By day, they led the lives of ordinary people, and by night, they transformed into members of the faction, assisting with various tasks.

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Even “Nine” led such a life, serving as a guard in Prince Rui’s mansion by day and transforming into “Nine” by night.

The ten direct subordinates of “Yuan” never contacted each other and were unaware of each other’s identities, interacting only when cloaked and hooded. Revealing any information to each other meant certain death.

Everyone was cautious, never knowing if “Yuan” had sent someone to secretly watch them.

Most faction members had families, making them easier to control, as no one wanted to risk their family’s destruction.

However, the faction didn’t just randomly recruit; its members often came from life’s hard-luck stories – like stepchildren abused by stepmothers, children neglected by parents, men betrayed by women, and so on.

The final question was about the incense. Qu Xinwei said that the incense, made from opium poppies, had been produced in large quantities and distributed to various ministers and the royal palace half a month ago.

In this era, opium poppies were called “Afu Rong”, originating from an ancient family in the neighboring Ningyuan country. This family cultivated Afu Rong for medicinal purposes without malicious intent.

However, “Master Yun” discovered them during his travels, brought the plants to the eastern border, and secretly cultivated them on a large scale. The shipment of the opium poppies to the capital was part of a sinister plot.

Upon hearing this, Tang Jinghong’s expression darkened. Setting aside the ministers, the incense had already entered the royal palace, and it was uncertain if the emperor had used it.

“Qingzhi, is there a way to identify Afu Rong?” he asked.

Chu Qingzhi replied, “I need to see the incense to be sure.” She paused, then added, “Go to the inn and find Hongjun and Linjiang. Bring them to me. I’ll head to the incense workshop first.”

Tang Jinghong watched Chu Qingzhi for a moment before nodding, “I’ll go as soon as we leave here later.”

Chu Qingzhi rang a bell in front of Qu Xinwei’s ear, knocking him out. “Jinghong, check if he has a grain tattoo,” she said, then walked towards the window to avoid looking.

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Tang Jinghong undressed Qu Xinwei, “Qingzhi, he has the tattoo.”

Chu Qingzhi nodded, “Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

They left Prince Rui’s Mansion and split up. Chu Qingzhi headed to the incense workshop, while Tang Jinghong went to the inn.

Chu Qingzhi arrived at the Minister of War’s residence, flew to the roof of the central building, and rang her bell. The sound, like ripples, entered the ears of everyone inside, putting them to sleep.

She landed in the courtyard, entered the incense workshop, and headed straight for the finished incense wooden tray.

The incense was block-shaped, light brown, and slightly pungent, each piece the size of a thumb.

Chu Qingzhi took a piece, crushed it in her palm, and mixed the powder with water in a nearby teacup. She activated her spiritual power to heat the mixture, turning the water in the cup purple.

“Identifying it is easy,” she noted.

She opened the five large boxes, unsurprised to find them filled with poppies.

There were more opium poppies still en route.

Chu Qingzhi’s fingers gently brushed against the boxes. Immediately, all the poppies changed their quality, but they looked and smelled the same.

She closed the boxes and examined the incense production process. Midway through, Tang Jinghong arrived with Yuan Hongjun and Bao Linjiang.

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“Master,” the two greeted her.

Chu Qingzhi asked, “Did Jinghong tell you what happened?”

The two of them nodded. “Yes.”

No further explanation was needed. She handed them the cup, “This is incense made from Afu Rong. When the powder is dissolved in water and heated, it turns purple. Investigate discreetly.”

“Master, we understand.”

Chu Qingzhi advised, “Remember, don’t startle them, or we won’t be able to catch them all at once.”

The two of them replied with solemn expressions.

Chu Qingzhi said, “This is the workshop where they make incense. Take a look.

If there are no problems, you can leave.”

Yuan Hongjun asked with concern, “Master, what about you?”

“I have other plans. Don’t look for me unless I contact you. Be careful during this time,” she responded.

Yuan Hongjun assured her, “We understand, Master.”

Chu Qingzhi turned to Tang Jinghong, “Can we still go to the Ministry of Justice’s dungeon at this time?”

Tang Jinghong nodded. “Sure.”

Chu Qingzhi’s eyes sparkled with interest, “Then let’s go right away. I’m curious about the big secret the Minister of War is hiding.”

A short while later, Chu Qingzhi stood before the Minister of War.

Even as a prisoner, the Minister maintained his dignity, dressed neatly in his prison uniform, his hair impeccably groomed…

Chu Qingzhi observed him silently.

The Minister of War, not asleep, opened his eyes upon hearing the noise. As his gaze met Chu Qingzhi’s clear, spring-like eyes, a sense of foreboding washed over him, feeling as if his secret could no longer be concealed..

Chapter 409:I Just Want to Spoil You

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

His gaze swept past Chu Qingzhi and settled on Tang Jinghong. “Bringing a young woman to the dungeon at midnight, what are you doing, General Tang?”

Standing upright behind Chu Qingzhi, with a hand behind his back, Tang Jinghong exuded an air of dignity and authority. He spoke calmly, “There’s no need to be surprised, sir. She is simply curious about the secret you’re hiding and came specifically to inquire.”

The Minister of War was bewildered.

Why would Tang Jinghong let an unfamiliar woman inquire about his secrets?

Chu Qingzhi, with arms crossed and a smile as elegant as a blooming flower, straightforwardly asked, “Sir, what is the secret you are so reluctant to reveal?”

The Minister, naturally unwilling to divulge, uncontrollably blurted out, “Cao Changsheng gambled away the national treasury. I agreed to help Master Ye, and in turn, he will refill the treasury.”

Empting the national treasury was a grave crime, akin to treason, punishable by the extermination of three family generations.

Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong exchanged a shocked look. No wonder he was reluctant to speak – admitting this was tantamount to admitting a capital offense, requiring a sea of blood to atone for such errors.

Tang Jinghong inquired, “What conditions did you agree to with Master Ye?”

Realizing what he had just confessed, the Minister appeared dumbstruck and helpless, “I agreed to replace the military commanders in the eastern border with his people.”

Military officers, appointed directly by the Ministry of War and differing from civil officers, held significant power. Replacing the eastern border’s military commanders with Master Ye’s men meant he would effectively control the army and, indirectly, the eastern border itself.

Master Ye was cunning, but his plot was thwarted by a traitor. Without the traitor’s intervention, his scheme might have succeeded already.

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Chu Qingzhi bluntly asked, “Who is Master Ye?”

The Minister, with a despondent shake of his head, replied, “I don’t know.”

Chu Qingzhi felt pity for the once powerful official, whose lifetime achievements were ruined by his son. This underscored the importance of proper child-rearing, as one never knows when a child might bring ruin to the family.

She reached for Tang Jinghong’s hand, “Let’s go.”

Leaving the Minister behind, they departed from the dungeon.

Exiting the Ministry of Justice, Tang Jinghong turned to Chu Qingzhi with a hint of expectation, “Qingzhi, would you accompany me to the General’s Mansion?”

Chu Qingzhi paused, “Your home in the capital?”

Tang Jinghong, holding her hand, walked forward, “It’s your home too. From now on, you’ll be the sole mistress of the General’s Mansion.”

Chu Qingzhi smiled, “Do you have maids there?”

Tang Jinghong replied, “No, but we can hire some to serve you if you wish.”

Chu Qingzhi shook her head, “No need, I can take care of myself.” She was wary of maids due to their potential to overstep boundaries, especially with a man as devoted and desirable as Tang Jinghong.

Tang Jinghong suggested, “If you don’t want maids, we can hire some matrons. They’re very capable and often more reliable.”

Chu Qingzhi agreed, “That’s a good idea.” Matrons, being older, would be less likely to have ulterior motives.

Tang Jinghong mentally noted this, planning to recruit some matrons who retire from the palace. They had no children and would be ideal to assist Chu Qingzhi.

The General’s Mansion, vast and grand, was formerly owned by the capital’s richest family. After their downfall, the emperor had gifted it to Tang Jinghong.

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Chu Qingzhi admired, “Jinghong, the mansion is beautiful.”

As they walked through the corridor, Tang Jinghong said, “You can redecorate it however you like. You’re in charge.”

Chu Qingzhi laughed softly, “Aren’t you spoiling me too much?”

Tang Jinghong earnestly replied, “I just want to treat you better. I’m afraid of letting you down or causing you any discomfort.”

“Jinghong!” Chu Qingzhi called out. As he turned, she walked up to him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him as a reward for his good behavior.

Tang Jinghong’s heart skipped a beat. He wrapped his arms around her waist, taking the initiative.

Under the moonlight, in the corridor, the two tall figures clung to each other like intertwined swans.

Their kiss lingered… n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Tang Jinghong embraced Chu Qingzhi, calming his heated, chaotic breath, “Qingzhi…”

His voice, now tinged with deep affection and a hint of huskiness, was irresistibly seductive. Chu Qingzhi felt a tingling sensation upon hearing it.

She whispered, “Jinghong, I’ll marry you when I turn eighteen.”

Tang Jinghong softly hummed in agreement, then asked, “When do you turn sixteen?”

Chu Qingzhi thought for a moment, “The first day of October.”

Tang Jinghong gently said, “I’ll celebrate your birthday then. Is there any gift you’d like?”

Chu Qingzhi hadn’t thought about it, “I’ll tell you when the time comes. It’s still a while away.”

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“Alright,” Tang Jinghong responded, then offered, “Let me take you to rest.”

“Ok.”

Tang Jinghong led Chu Qingzhi to the main house. He had been staying in the study, leaving the main house vacant.

The next day, after the morning court session, Tang Jinghong stayed behind for a private audience with the Emperor.

The Emperor, looking up at Tang Jinghong, had a stern expression on his face. “What has happened?”

Tang Jinghong bowed respectfully. “Your Majesty, may I request that the attendants leave us?”

Sensing the gravity of the situation from Tang Jinghong’s demeanor, the Emperor’s heart tightened. Tang Jinghong, a general who commanded the entire army and was known for his stoicism even on the battlefield, had never looked so troubled. Something significant must have occurred.

He waved his hand, signaling, “Everyone, leave us.”

The maids and eunuchs hurriedly exited the Imperial Study.

The Emperor focused on Tang Jinghong. “What exactly has happened, Minister Tang?”

Tang Jinghong informed the Emperor about the incidents involving Afu Rong and the depletion of the national treasury.

These were matters that shook the foundations of the nation, potentially disastrous for the country. Upon hearing this, the Emperor was furious. “Minister Tang, thoroughly investigate this matter. You have my full authorization to act as necessary.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Tang Jinghong replied. “Your Majesty, the incense made from Afu Rong has been distributed within the palace. Hongjun and Linjiang have already returned to the capital. Please allow them to enter the palace secretly to investigate this matter.”

The Emperor’s face turned extremely grave, realizing he might have already used the poisoned incense. “I will arrange this matter myself.”

“Your Majesty, the issue with the treasury needs to be confirmed,” Tang Jinghong reminded him, as he had no authority to inspect the treasury himself.

The Emperor declared in anger, “I will personally inspect it.”

At the inn.

The young girl woke up, feeling uneasy in the unfamiliar surroundings. “Where am I?”

Just then, Ge Lihua entered the room, smiling upon seeing the girl awake. “You’re up?”

The girl looked at her warily, but upon seeing Ge Lihua carrying food, she relaxed.. “Sister, where is this? Where is my brother?”

Chapter 410: Two Young Ladies

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Ge Lihua said, “This is an inn. The brother who saved you asked me to take care of you. If you remember the way back home, I can also send you there.”

The young girl, overwhelmed with emotion, rushed over and clutched Ge Lihua’s hand, asking cautiously, “Sister, can you really take me home?”

Ge Lihua nodded affirmatively, “Yes, I can.”

Overjoyed to the point of tears, the girl hurriedly said, “My home is in Fengxin County, at the Lin family residence. My father is Second Master Ye, and my mother is Second Madam Lin. Can you take me back?”

Ge Lihua reassured the girl, “Don’t worry, we’ll take you home soon.”

The girl knelt before Ge Lihua, gratefully saying, “Thank you, sister, thank you.”

Ge Lihua helped her up, “No need to be so polite.”

The girl, filled with hope, asked Ge Lihua, “Can you tell me where the brother who saved me last night is? I want to thank him personally.”

Remembering Chu Qingzhi’s instructions, Ge Lihua declined, “The brother who saved you is very busy and can’t meet you now, but I’ll convey your thanks to him.”

The girl felt disappointed, but then she thought, surely a man involved in significant matters must be busy. Her mood lifted again.

“Sister, please tell him where my home is. If he ever passes by, I’ll invite him for a meal and treat him well.”

Ge Lihua smiled and nodded, “Alright.”

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In the afternoon, Ge Lihua personally took the girl back to the Lin family residence. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

? ? At Prince Rui’s mansion.

Before dawn, Chu Qingzhi arrived at Prince Rui’s Mansion. She was in Qu Xinwei’s room, where she had hidden him. From now on, for the next five days, she would assume Qu Xinwei’s identity.

Qu Xinwei’s daily duty at the mansion was to serve as a guard and accompany the young prince to the horse farm for horse training.

Prince Rui’s mansion had a horse farm where, three days prior, someone sold a fierce horse that no one had tamed yet. The young prince, intrigued upon hearing this, wanted to see it.

The butler arranged for four guards, including Qu Xinwei, to accompany him.

After getting ready, Qu Xinwei stepped out of his room just as the guards, identified as Jia, Yi, and Bing, came to find him. Together, they headed towards the main gate.

Standing at the gate, Qu Xinwei, somewhat bored, glanced at the ground, wondering whether “Yuan” would assign him any tasks today.

What if “Yuan” didn’t contact him? Where would he find “Yuan”?

Lost in thought, he heard rapid footsteps. Turning his head, he saw a lively young boy, about fourteen or fifteen, emerging from the mansion. The boy, dressed casually, had a handsome face, rosy lips, and white teeth, exuding a natural nobility.

The butler followed, saying, “Young Prince, please slow down. My old bones can hardly keep up.”

The young prince stopped, somewhat disdainfully saying, “If you can’t keep up, then don’t.” Despite his words, he waited for the butler to catch up before proceeding.

But as soon as he stepped out, he grew irritated, “I want to ride a horse, not sit in a carriage!”

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The butler hurriedly replied, “Your Highness, the horse farm is outside the city. It’s not suitable to ride there.”

The prince threatened, “Quickly rearrange it for me. Arrange a thoroughbred horse for me, or else I’ll walk!”

Qu Xinwei couldn’t help but smile at the prince’s adorable stubbornness.

The butler, at a loss, suggested, “Your Highness, the horses in the mansion are still hungry. They won’t run fast. How about taking the carriage?”

The prince stubbornly insisted, “Hurry up and arrange it.”

The butler reluctantly signaled a guard.

The guard quickly brought a small pony, “Your Highness, please.”

The young prince was speechless.

Then, his gaze shifted to a few thoroughbred horses nearby. He quickly untied one, mounted it, and galloped away.

This frightened the butler, “Quick, follow him!”

With one horse taken, Jia, Yi, and Bing fought over the remaining horses, leaving Qu Xinwei without one. He wondered if he still needed to go.

The butler urged him, “Guard Qu, quickly take the carriage and follow. His Highness might need it to rest after getting tired from riding.”

“Yes,” Qu Xinwei reluctantly climbed into the carriage and followed.

The young prince, well-protected but inexperienced in riding, soon encountered trouble.

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The horse dashed towards the street at high speed. The prince, unable to control it, caused panic among the people. With adults and children everywhere, the horse was about to trample someone…

“Make way, make way…” the prince shouted in desperation.

In the middle of the street, two young girls watched the approaching horse, frozen in fear.

Just then, someone flew from behind, kicking the prince into the carriage, then mounted the horse, reined it to leap over two people, and stopped it.

The horse calmed down, and applause erupted, “Well done, well done…”

The prince, dazed, took a while to realize he had been kicked into the carriage. He quickly lifted the curtain, poking his head out, “You…”

He couldn’t voice the humiliating “How dare you kick me!” but seeing the situation resolved and the man saving others, he decided not to pursue the matter.

“Didn’t expect someone in the mansion to be so skilled in horse riding!”

The prince stroked his chin, pondering, then asked loudly, “What’s your name?”

Qu Xinwei dismounted and bowed to the prince, “I am Qu Xinwei, at your service.”

The prince scrutinized Qu Xinwei, who was dressed in a black, lightweight guard uniform, tall and slightly lean with handsome features. “You’re impressive. If you help me tame the fierce horse later, I’ll reward you handsomely.”

Qu Xinwei replied, “I will do my best, Your Highness.”

The prince gestured to Qu Xinwei, “Come up to the carriage and tell me about taming horses.”

Qu Xinwei thought to herself, now she not only had to be a guard but also entertain a child, “Yes, Your Highness.”

At that moment, the two girls who had been saved approached. One, dressed in blue, shyly said, “Thank you, sir, for saving our lives. If you don’t mind, we both would like to marry you.”

Qu Xinwei didn’t know what to say.

Both girls, around fifteen or sixteen, were pretty and looked like delicate young ladies.

Qu Xinwei politely declined, “Thank you for your kind offer, ladies, but I am already married.”

Understanding the refusal, the girls reluctantly left..