After the rain, the sky cleared up, the sky turned pale, and the first ray of sunlight rose from the distant mountains, splitting the sky that had been heavy for three days.

Gu Qing looked at the mountains in the distance.

The rolling green hills are shrouded in mist that has not yet completely dissipated, creating a fairyland-like scene that has never been seen in the capital.

After the heavy rain, the leaves and branches were lush and green, and the flood receded, revealing the dilapidated appearance of Huaishui City after the disaster.

But amidst the ruins, Gu Qing was calm.

The third prince came with the emperor's handwritten order to provide disaster relief, and the people's losses were compensated. The repair of Huaishui City was only a matter of time.

"Madam, the master is currently helping the Third Prince resettle the victims. I will escort you back to the capital first."

Gu Qing turned around and looked at the person who came.

Half of the man's face was hidden by the iron mask, and his eyes were as cold as a knife.

She felt a little dazed, and a look of vigilance appeared in her eyes.

"Who are you?"

Gu Qing was puzzled and thought about it carefully.

This person seemed to have called Chen Zhizhou "Master" just now?

"My name is Feng. I am Master Chen's secret guard. I and Xuanfeng are guarding the master's side, one in the open and the other in the dark."

Gu Qing suddenly realized and let down his guard. He raised his hand to signal him to stand up. "No need to be so polite. Did Chen Zhizhou ask you to take me back to Beijing?"

Le Feng's voice was just like his eyes, without any extra emotion. He just lowered his tone a little: "The master said it in front of others just now."

"As for where Madam wants to go, Le Feng will be with you to protect you."

Gu Qing's lips curled slightly, and he immediately put on his outer cloak: "In that case, let's first reunite with the other female members of the Chen family, and then it won't be too late to return to the capital."

"yes."

Marquis Liao Feng waited respectfully by the side, waiting for Gu Qing to leave.

Yinshan City, located on Yinshan Mountain and in the lower reaches of the Huai River, is the only city in the Huai River basin that has not suffered from floods.

Liao Feng escorted Gu Qing all the way eastward along the Huai River and arrived at Yinshan City at noon.

Unlike the beautiful and graceful Huaishui City, Yinshan City was developed later due to its high terrain and difficult business travel. The people there were more rough and simple than those in Huaishui City.

Gu Qing's carriage was a government-owned carriage, and as soon as it entered the city, it was surrounded by local people. Many beggars on the street saw it and rushed up to block her way.

"Madam, please give me some food!"

"Master and Madam! Please give us some food!"

Gu Qing was thinking all the way. Cuiping had not sent anyone to deliver a single letter in the past two days.

The noisy begging interrupted her thoughts.

Liao Feng, dressed as a rickshaw driver, leaned slightly aside and reported, "Madam, they are a group of beggars."

"Do you want me to drive them away?"

Gu Qing was silent for a moment, but soon a delicate hand stretched out from the car, holding a purse: "Le Feng, give it to them."

"Yes, ma'am."

Le Feng took the purse and threw all the copper coins into it. The beggars crawled on the ground in a group and scrambled for the coins, finally making way for the carriage.

Gu Qing's voice came from inside the car: "Lefeng, can you help me ask which inn the Chen family is staying in?"

Beggars are the most well-informed. They are very happy to get the silver and will tell everyone everything they know.

"Are you talking about a carriage similar to the one you have? They are at the Tianfu Inn in front!" One of the beggars came up with silver in his hands, with a flattering look in his eyes.

"Liao Feng."

As soon as Gu Qing opened her mouth, Le Feng immediately understood what the lady meant and took out a silver ingot and threw it to the beggar.

"Thank you so much, sir! Thank you so much, sir!" The beggar kowtowed repeatedly.

When the other beggars saw this, they all understood what was happening.

It seems that this is a wealthy man. As long as she is satisfied, he will never have to worry about money.

"drive!"

Liao Feng growled.

As the whip fell, the horse raised its hooves and headed towards the Tianfu Inn in the east of the city.

The horse ran fast, and Gu Qing arrived at the place where the women of the Chen family were staying in just an incense stick of time.

Although Yinshan City is desolate, Tianfu Inn is beautifully renovated and decorated with fine vermilion lacquer, which makes it stand out against the simple surroundings.

As soon as Gu Qing got off the carriage, a servant came up to greet him with a smile: "Is Madam Chen here?"

"Please come in, Madam Chen! Your family is waiting for you upstairs."

The servant smiled in a rather flattering manner, and was so attentive that he almost touched Gu Qing's arm.

Liao Feng stood beside Gu Qing, holding his arm around him and saying, "Back off."

The servant took one look at the stern-faced man and was too frightened to dare to approach. He bowed his head repeatedly to apologize, "I am sorry for being rude. Madam Chen, please come in quickly!"

When something is abnormal, there must be something wrong.

Gu Qing's expression was calm, but he was extremely cautious in his heart.

Before she came, she did not inform her mother and the aunts from the second and third wives of her itinerary. It seemed as if the servant was waiting for her to come.

The more Gu Qing thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong. Once he stepped into the inn, the strange feeling became even stronger.

It's more like, waiting for something to happen?

"Lefeng, be careful."

Gu Qing lowered his voice and spoke in a volume that only the two of them could hear.

Liao Feng nodded: "Yes, ma'am."

There was a constant stream of diners in the hall on the first floor, and many of them passed by Gu Qing and Liao Feng.

The servant led the two of them through the crowd and up to the rightmost wing on the second floor.

"There are two rooms available. Madam, would you like to stay here again?"

Gu Qing looked around.

The decoration inside the inn is even more refined and elegant than it looks from the outside. The overall decoration has a Jiangnan flavor. There are four floors in total. The first floor is the hall for diners to order food and fill their stomachs.

The second, third and fourth floors are side rooms for rest.

His eagle-like eyes scanned everyone in the hall to prevent any sudden danger.

This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!