Knowing that Gu Shaoyu was willing to recommend Ling Xun as the imperial envoy, Xie Zhaozhao asked Guanyan to call Ling Xun and Zhang Xiangsheng to the teahouse.

Xie Zhaozhao was at home keeping track of the water clock, guessing that the flood season should have arrived. So she put on a fox fur coat, got into a carriage, and asked Mo Yan to drive. Yuan Yuan and Man Man followed, and they went to Qingyuan Teahouse.

Bei Chen sat in the shadows, watching the group leave, a hint of envy showing on his cold face.

When Xie Zhaozhao arrived at the teahouse, Guanyan immediately set up a stool for her to dismount and said softly, "Miss, Lord Ling and Lord Zhang have arrived."

Xie Zhaozhao got off the carriage, and Ling Xun and Zhang Xiangsheng came out to greet her. The three of them didn't stand on ceremony in the freezing cold and went into the tea room.

Xie Zhaozhao cut to the chase: "Do you two know about the uprising of the people in Zhongzhou?"

Ling Xun and Zhang Xiangsheng nodded: "His Majesty was furious today and has issued an edict summoning the Crown Prince back to court. The people of Zhongzhou have risen up in rebellion and have already occupied Zhongzhou Prefecture and several surrounding cities."

"Ling Xun, Zhang Xiangsheng, Grand Secretary Gu has decided to recommend you two to the court for disaster relief in Zhongzhou," Xie Zhaozhao said. "This was also my idea."

It is a heavy responsibility, but also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Ling Xun and Zhang Xiangsheng were taken aback for a moment, then replied, "We are willing to go."

“I knew you would definitely go,” Xie Zhaozhao said. “You need to find a way to appease the people of Zhongzhou and persuade them to give up the uprising. It’s a difficult task, but it’s also an opportunity.”

"Go back immediately and consider how to persuade the enemy, repel them, and appease the people to ensure long-term stability. Think of a comprehensive strategy. His Majesty has already made plans regarding the food supply; when the time comes, people will voluntarily cooperate with you."

“Ling Xun, you are an imperial envoy, but you cannot just think of yourself as an imperial envoy. You must truly help the local people and let them see the sincerity of the court.”

Only a few people knew about her, Yin Jin'an, and Li Yunmu's flight route, and Ling Xun wouldn't tell them either.

"Yes, we will not fail in our mission." Ling Xun and Zhang Xiangsheng knew that Xie Zhaozhao and Grand Secretary Gu had already made arrangements for them; this was a special path to success that had been specially prepared for them.

The two knelt down to express their gratitude.

The three didn't say much, and Ling Xun and Zhang Xiangsheng left in a hurry.

Xie Zhaozhao waited until they were far away and drank another pot of tea before leaving.

Not long after returning to Qingpu Courtyard, Xu Li came back from outside and asked to see Xie Zhaozhao.

Xie Zhaozhao assumed that Yin Jin'an and Li Yunmu had urgent business to discuss with her, so she didn't take off her fox fur coat and stood in the corridor.

"Madam, Second Master Yin sent someone to deliver a letter."

Xu Li gave Xie Zhaozhao a secret letter sealed with sealing wax.

Xie Zhaozhao received the letter before entering the inner room and taking off her fox fur coat.

Yin Jin'an's handwriting wasn't very good, but it was still clear and legible.

Two days before the earthquake, the people of Shian City also saw strange phenomena in the sky, and some even saw a large fireball in the northwest.

Following your suggestion, we sent people to spread rumors in Shian City that the city was about to be overturned by an earth dragon.

It is said that a wise man predicted that in the next three days, not only will the earth in Shi'an City be struck by a dragon, but there will also be torrential rain and severe cold, and the people of this city will be ruined.

On September 16th, a major earthquake struck Zhongzhou. Shi'an City, being only 300 li away from Zhongzhou Prefecture, was also severely affected.

The house shook several times a day for several days in a row, and many houses collapsed.

The city lord of Shian City was terrified.

On the fourth day, torrential rain and strong winds began to fall, coupled with continuous aftershocks. The city lord, thinking about the rumors spread by Yin Jin'an and Li Yunmu, suddenly believed them all.

On the tenth day, the people from the city lord's mansion led the escape from Shian City, taking gold, silver and valuables with them. They also transferred the people from the salt well to Yongzhou City, which was not far from Citong Port.

Yin Jin'an had been keeping an eye on the city lord's mansion. Once they were out of control, Fu Yingde and Liang Jianguo led the navy, Dong Qin led a group of new recruits, Xie Jiuliang led fifty Xuanyi Guards, and Yun Yang led four hundred soldiers. They occupied Shi'an City in just half a day.

They captured Shian City without shedding a drop of blood.

In addition, with the several boatloads of grain they brought from Johor, and the people all listening to them, Shian City is now completely under their control.

Upon seeing this, Xie Zhaozhao smiled and said, "Okay!"

Yuanyuan asked, "What did Second Master Yin say?"

"He has already taken over Shian City, and now he is the lord of the city!"

"Haha, Second Master Yin must be extremely pleased with himself."

Indeed, there was another thing he was proud of in the letter: he had met a wandering swordsman named Ren Jialin in his early years, and that man had been entrusted by him to kidnap Guan Yingying!

"Just as you said, there is food, medicine, candles, and the panacea you mentioned. But the panacea is not a pill, but a medicinal paste."

"One type is black paste, which has a urine-like smell; the other type is yellow paste, which has a slightly sweet smell."

“Ren Jialin is very knowledgeable. He said that the herbal paste is a kind of slow-acting poison that is specially given to the rich in the martial arts world. It is addictive and will eventually cause people to go crazy, become emaciated, and die. It is extremely insidious.”

Guan Yingying was not the only one dealing with supplies; she and Gu Jiaojiao were also among dozens of people from the Nanzhao Kingdom.

Ren Jialin drugged them with sleeping pills, took their belongings, and emptied their pockets.

Xie Zhaozhao read it twice, breathed a sigh of relief, and burned the letter in the brazier.

When the letter is exposed to fire, the seemingly ferocious flames instantly turn into black fragments and return to dust.

Gu Chengyan and Guan Yingying, in this life, you can forget about building a business empire. Your plans to harm others will not succeed.

**

At 1-3 PM, Gu Shaoyu returned home promptly after court.

A pleasant fragrance permeated the entire Qingpu Courtyard.

Aunt Cui and Yuan Yuanman were simmering earthworm pills in the small kitchen.

Tu Zhi Dan is a larger taro. Smaller taro is called Tu Li, which is taro root.

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