*

"We still have some things to investigate on this trip, so it will be more convenient for you to wear men's clothing, Qingqing."

Nan Qing nodded and replied, "Sure, dresses are indeed quite troublesome."

"Then you go out first and call Lan You in to help me change my clothes."

Nanqing didn't like wearing those cumbersome palace dresses when she was in the palace.

It sounds like it would be a lot of fun to try on men's clothing now!

So Nanqing was about to run out of the carriage to call Lan You in.

Qin Mobei pulled Nan Qing back from his embrace, made her sit on his lap, and put his right hand around her waist to keep her from moving around.

He leaned close to Nanqing's neck, speaking softly to her as he reached for the belt of her dress.

"Lan You didn't come along this time. We're traveling incognito, so it's not appropriate for too many people."

"Don't worry, my dear, your husband will take good care of you..."

Even within the palace, Qin Mobei almost never allowed anyone else to handle Nanqing's daily clothing and accessories, or her washing and bathing.

His beloved should belong entirely to him!

Two weeks later.

Suzhou City.

"Gentlemen, would you prefer the main hall or a private room upstairs?"

A handsome man in black led a young man dressed in the same style of clothing but a different color into a restaurant.

These are Qin Mobei and Nan Qing, who have just arrived in Suzhou.

Nan Qing was naturally taller than the average woman.

So when she wore white men's clothing, her hair tied up, held a bamboo folding fan, and wore a white jade ring pendant at her waist, her red lips and white teeth made her look exactly like a well-bred young nobleman from a wealthy family.

Let's go to the lobby.

"Waiter, bring us all your signature dishes."

Wang Fu said that the most famous place in Suzhou is Jinyulou.

So, Nanqing, who wanted to eat everything, generously ordered all the signature dishes from the waiter who was serving her.

"Okay~"

"Please, gentlemen, have a seat here."

"Please wait a moment, your food will be here shortly."

I must say, Jin Yu Lou truly lives up to its reputation as the most famous restaurant in Suzhou.

The hall was bustling with noise, and guests were coming and going in an endless stream.

Moreover, the Golden Jade Pavilion is decorated in a magnificent and dazzling manner, truly deserving of its name. It gives one the feeling of being surrounded by gold and jade, and although it is splendid and luxurious, it does not appear vulgar at all.

Nan Qing chattered away to Qin Mobei about where they were going to go for a visit, and Qin Mobei, who seemed aloof and solemn, responded to almost every word Nan Qing said.

After lunch.

Qin Mobei accompanied Nan Qing into the most bustling downtown area of ​​Suzhou.

He also accompanied Nanqing to drink the most famous "Suzhou Sanbaijiu".

Xu Nanqing then ate another strange dish that they had encountered by chance.

He even took Nanqing onto the Suzhou River pleasure boat that she was so curious about, and watched her flirt with the pleasure boat's geisha with a dark face the whole time.

The two also released a Kongming lantern together, which is said to be able to reach the heavens.

Nanqing wrote on it: May every day be as joyful as today.

But she didn't know.

Qin Mobei wrote: "I would exchange my fortune through countless lifetimes for the chance to meet you."

late at night.

Shadow threw the writhing, struggling figure he had been carrying on his shoulder to the ground, then kicked it in the back of the knee, forcing it to kneel facing the person at the head of the table.

"Let me go! Who are you? Murdering an official of the imperial court is a capital offense!"

"Wait until I leave now, and I'll forgive and forget what happened."

Finally put down, Wang Li spat out the handkerchief that had been stuffed in her mouth.

I was kidnapped by this thief shortly after I went to bed.

For some unknown reason, I could only secretly ponder who I might have offended.

Could it be that Zhou Hongshan knows I've been secretly gathering evidence and is trying to kill me to silence me?!

The black cloth covering his eyes was suddenly removed, and the sudden light made Wang Li raise his hand to shield his eyes, so he did not see the figure sitting in the head seat.

Suddenly, a cold and authoritative voice rang in Wang Li's ears.

"Wang Li, do you know your crime?"

Wang Li felt the voice sounded familiar, so she looked up and gazed in the direction from which it came.

Sitting at the head of the table was Qin Mobei, whose imperial majesty was still undeniable even in casual clothes.

He was looking at Wang Li, who was kneeling on the ground, with a calm expression.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty?!"

Wang Li was stunned for a moment. After regaining his senses, he quickly knelt up and respectfully kowtowed to the emperor at the head of the table.

Your subject, King Le, pays his respects to Your Majesty.

Wang Li touched the ground with his forehead, his heart pounding with fear. He had never expected His Majesty to suddenly arrive in Suzhou.

Moreover, they secretly brought him in for questioning in the middle of the night, but Wang Li was completely baffled and didn't understand why.

"Your humble servant... Your humble servant is guilty!"

Although he did not know what His Majesty meant, he dared to say that in the two years he had served as the magistrate of Kunshan County, he had been conscientious in his duties and devoted himself entirely to the people.

But.

If the ruler accuses his subject of a crime, then that is a crime!

If the ruler commands the subject to die, then the subject has no choice but to die!

Therefore, although Wang Li did not know what crime His Majesty was referring to, he immediately accepted His Majesty's words.

However, Qin Mobei, who was at the head of the table, suddenly changed the subject.

"Wang Li, do you know why I appointed you as the top scholar in the imperial examination, and then sent you to serve as an official in this small county in Jiangnan, far from the capital?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. This humble subject is foolish and dares not presume to understand Your Majesty's intentions."

Wang Li couldn't understand how he, a poor scholar from a humble background with no powerful family, could be chosen as the top scholar in the imperial examination that year, enjoying unparalleled fame.

However, he was later sent to a small county as an official. Many of his fellow test takers ridiculed him, saying that what good was being the top scholar if he didn't win the emperor's favor? He would never have a chance to rise in the future.

Wang Li paused for a moment, then said:

"Your humble servant dares to ask, is it because of the Zhou family lurking in Suzhou?"

Upon hearing this, a hint of satisfaction appeared in Qin Mobei's eyes, and he spoke:

"The Zhou family of Suzhou, a century-old clan, has a deeply entrenched and powerful presence in the Jiangnan region."

"Now that you know why I sent you here as an official, do you know why I summoned you here today?"

Wang Li kept his head down, but he already understood. So without any further hesitation, he spoke directly:

"Is Your Majesty here because of the rampant smuggling of salt?"

Qin Mobei, seated at the head of the table, lightly tapped his fingertips on the table, looking at him with a deep gaze, without replying with a yes or no.

Wang Li felt a little uneasy as she listened to the steady "knock, knock, knock" sound coming from above.

The sound, though quiet in the hall, carried an immense pressure. He swallowed hard and continued:

"Although smuggled salt has always circulated in the black market, it has been extremely secretive and produced in small quantities."

"However, I have discovered that the amount of smuggled salt has increased dramatically in the past year, even affecting the circulation of official salt. Moreover, I have secretly investigated and found that this is not only the case in Kunshan County, but also in almost the entire Jiangnan region."

"Moreover...and the situation is most severe in Suzhou."

"So I secretly investigated for a long time before I finally made some progress. Much of the evidence pointed to Zhou Hongshan, the current prefect of Suzhou."