C57

Chapter 57 - Action in Departure from the Capital

"You didn't see her like that, like a defeated rooster." Qiu Yue chanted excitedly, the embroidery needles danced back and forth in her hands, not landing on the plain brocade cloth. She was so excited that she started dancing with joy, as if she was a storyteller in a restaurant.

Yun Qianliang leaned on the side of the bed, her hand holding a stack of information related to the Tan Yue City, and focused on reading.

The Tan Yue City was only a day's journey away from the capital, and was the only way to enter the capital from the east.

In the past, the Tan Yue City took up a lot of land, but its population was smaller compared to other cities. It had been used as a military base, and even now, the Tan Yue City was still slightly different from other cities. Because they were closer to the capital, in order to prevent any unexpected situations, there had always been an army stationed in the city.

Due to all of these reasons, the imperial government specially sent out officials to administer the army, just in case that the local officials of the Tan Yue City had more authority than the ordinary officials of the Prefecture, so that the two sides could balance each other out and prevent the army from losing too much power.

Yun Qianliang noted down the situation, and finally picked out a letter that contained Tan Yue City's recent situation.

Yun Qianliang stared at the two words on the letter like a tornado. She chuckled and placed a stack of information on the bedside table.

"Madam, you must be very happy as well." When Qiu Yue heard this, she became even more pleased.

"Not bad." Yun Qianliang replied softly. She lifted the quilt, put on her shoes and got off the bed.

Yesterday, she had put on a good show, and even faked it, when she was rescued from under Wen Meng's body, she suddenly fainted, and really brought the victim back to life. The rest of the things were all done by Qiu Yue when he woke up and heard him chattering.

She suddenly fainted, probably because of the poison in her body, but it just happened that at that moment, Wen Meng had decided to take the blame.

It was said that Gu Yicheng, who had caused a huge ruckus last night and knew that she had a chronic poison in her body, suddenly went into a rage in the middle of the night and sent someone to the palace to get his imperial physician. The news that she was sick had spread this morning.

Yun Qianliang fell into a deep slumber and only woke up today at noon.

When he woke up, Wen Meng's position in Gu Xiangfu plummeted. He had already sent over the Tan Yue City's information, and even Yun Xiang Mansion's people had faked to come visit him.

"You can't get out of bed yet. You need a good rest." Qiu Yue put down the embroidery in her hands and stepped forward to stop her.

"It's not that delicate." Yun Qianliang brushed away her hands and instructed: "Help me pack my clothes, I'm going on a long journey."

"If the prime minister finds out about this, this servant will definitely be scolded to death." Qiu Yue recalled the people who were so angry last night and couldn't help but shiver, even though she was still afraid, "This servant doesn't even know if the Lord Prime Minister likes the Madam, or is he just putting on an act?"

"You're not afraid of me because you're afraid of him?" Yun Qianliang made fun of his own servant.

Gu Yicheng told her that she was sick because he knew more or less about the Tan Yue City.

"My Miss isn't scary." Qiu Yue stuck out his tongue mischievously, turned around, and went to pack up his clothes.

"That was before." Yun Qianliang walked to the screen with the outer garment and tore it off before dressing it up, "My situation is different now. Have you never thought that one day, I would become ruthless in order to protect myself?

Qiu Yue tilted her head to look at the beautiful woman. She stood there facing the light, her straight and straight back like a mountain that couldn't be bent.

Qiu Yue raised her smiling face, she then said resolutely, "This servant knows, Miss does not."

Chun Hua, who had stopped in front of the door, heaved a sigh of relief with a gentle smile on her face.

"Miss is a woman of character and lives as she pleases. However, she is not a person who does not distinguish between right and wrong. She is a person who does not understand black and white." Chun Hua walked in and placed the gift she brought in on the table, then walked over to the screen to help her master change.

Yun Qianliang's hand that was tied to her belt slightly paused. Thoughts churned in her eyes like a tide, but they were quickly suppressed.

"What's that?" Yun Qianliang looked away and handed the task of changing clothes to Chun Hua.

"Thirteen said that he is a tonic sent by the House of the Marquis of An. He must be handed over to Madam." Chun Hua bent down to tie up the Purple Iris flowers on her waist, and then smoothed out the wrinkles on her dress. "I heard that the Marquis of Anguo is a secluded place, and even the royal family doesn't like to join in the liveliness.

"Marquis of Anguo and the Gu family elders have some friendship." Yun Qianliang was not in a position to talk about this secret relationship.

"Speaking of which, Madam also gave the peony painting to Marquis of Anguo." Chun Hua recalled the location of the peony painting and remembered that they had met each other before.

Once he was dressed, Yun Qianliang walked towards the dressing table. Chun Hua picked up a black sandalwood comb to comb her hair.

"The bun from before I left the pavilion." Yun Qianliang explained.

Moreover, her goal was for her to be involved with Song Shujin, so she decided to tie up with the married woman, and accidentally bumped into her when people saw her, causing them to be unable to say anything.

When he walked out of Cloud Water Pavilion, Gu Shisan had already gathered all the guards in the courtyard and was ready to go at any time.

"You have to bring that many people with you?" Yun Qianliang counted the number of guards, and it was like a small patrol team in the city. This way of leaving the city, it was no different from showing off, she loved to keep a low profile and act the best, the kind that did not reveal their wealth.

"It's not a good time right now, go out and ask for a doctor." It's not a good time right now, go out and ask for a doctor. Gu Yicheng leisurely walked over with his hands behind his back.

"Bring four guards and one servant is enough." Yun Qianliang argued, "It's not like there are no hidden guards."

Her chess piece's death was the most valuable thing to the Gu Xiangfu, but this time, the departure from the capital was actually very safe.

"The situation in the Tan Yue City is much worse than what you have seen. Although the Jin Wang was ordered to quietly submit to the private search tax, on the surface, many things have already been forbidden, and your movements and authority have been restricted. Once you enter the city, you will be targeted, and once you come into contact with the Jin Wang, you will definitely be mistaken as an accomplice. Gu Yicheng explained the situation to her seriously, treating it as if he had given her a warning in advance, so that he wouldn't realize the worst situation for himself when he arrived at Tan Yue City.

Yun Qianliang was a sensible person, at least she thought so.

"I see." Yun Qianliang replied.

The necessary items for the carriage to travel had already been prepared outside the Gu Xiangfu, and the butler and servant were waiting for a long time at the door.

When Yun Qianliang saw the commotion outside, shshewas stunned. She did not know which royal relative was planning to go out for a stroll, but after knowing the situation in Tan Yue City, he remained silent and accepted their good intentions.

"Madam, please take me with you." Qiu Yue reluctantly supported Yun Qianliang with one hand, while holding Chun Hua's hand with the other.

"I'll be back in a few days. Take care of the house for me." Yun Qianliang comforted her and patted the back of his hand.

Yun Qianliang withdrew her hand, walked to Gu Yicheng's side and asked: "Does Master still have anything else to say to me?"

Gu Yicheng looked at the slim and graceful woman in front of him. Her black hair was half-rolled, and a few wisps of cold wind brushed past her hair, causing her white and tender cheeks to flutter playfully. He did not have a deep impression of Yun Qianliang, who had yet to leave the pavilion.

Gu Yicheng held her hand, and placed one hand on her hair. He fiddled with the hairpin with tassels, and helped her straighten her messy hair, and said gently: "Be a smart person."

Yun Qianliang's fingers stiffened, and slowly tightened as she held onto the object in her hand.

"Alright." It was just one word, gentle and soft.

"Be careful on your way." Gu Yicheng pinched her soft and tender hands, and let go of his fingers to allow her to leave.

With the help of a servant, Yun Qianliang got onto the carriage, the guards mounted their horses and galloped away to protect the carriage.

Only after the carriage had disappeared around the corner did Gu Yicheng withdraw his gaze and return to the manor.

Returning to the Green Pine Academy, the tenderness in Gu Yicheng's eyes completely disappeared as he solemnly ordered, "Have Zhong Tai and the others follow along."

"Lord Prime Minister, are you really worried that the officials of the Tan Yue City will do something so disrespectful?" Gu San was shocked.

For the past few years, the capital had been at peace, there were open rivalries and covert struggles between the officials, and the factional battles had intensified, but very few incidents had happened that allowed the Gu family to mobilize. As a result, the remnants of the Gu family army had been hiding in the shadows for many years, sharpening their abilities.

"Qin Yue is the closest to the capital, and she caught people darkening the sky under the lanterns. This goes to show how bold she is." Gu Yicheng paused for a while at the side of the road in the courtyard, and in the end, walked back to the Qing Hu Tong, "Why would you be willing to be forced to retreat into the mountains as a rascal when you're used to being an Overlord?"

"But the Jin Wang is after all a royal relative. If the Jin Wang loses his life, the officials of the Tan Yue City will also be held responsible." Gu San really could not believe that a mere magistrate would have the guts to do so.

Gu Yicheng's eyes were as cold as ice, "This is Tianhui Emperor's good plan, to let the people of Jin Wang fight against the people of Tan Yue City, no matter which side loses, he will always win."

In the imperial court, some methods were clumsy, but in terms of ruthlessness, there was always someone who surpassed him.

Song Shujin might not be a good person, the Tianhui Emperor might not be.

From catching enemy spies to proposing to raise taxes, everything was progressing step by step.

The Tan Yue City's private tax was something that would affect the entire body.

This was just the beginning. After this, the world would be thrown into turmoil, and those hidden evils would be revealed. The real method and cruelty were yet to come. It all depended on who could stabilize this situation.

"In that case, isn't the prime minister afraid that the madame will get involved in this matter?" The Gu San was worried.

Gu Yicheng lowered his eyes and stared at the hand he had raised, and thought back to the feeling and smiled.

This woman was really good.

Like a cat, his heart began to itch even before she meowed.

"With the army in Tan Yue City, it would be easy for Song Shujin to arouse suspicion in Tan Yue City by going there privately. This time, the Tianhui Emperor cupped his hands and delivered the opportunity to him, he will definitely seize it." Gu Yicheng put down her hands behind his back, "Right now, I can't leave, and she insists on going. With her intelligence, she wouldn't be unaware, she knows that he can't retreat just like that, and he's still determined to go. I might as well bring her into the trap."