Chapter 492 Attire

After Xie Guanzhi left, Wen Zhiming and Meng Lingge sat in the front hall for about fifteen minutes until Lin Suo asked to see them.

Wen Zhiming asked a few simple questions about the recent situation in the military camp, then dismissed Lin Suo. He pretended not to notice Lin Suo's several attempts to speak.

After Lin Suo left, the couple went out hand in hand. The servants of the prefect's mansion secretly followed them. Even after the couple entered the market and wandered around, the people who had been following them were still relentless.

Wen Zhiming wanted to kill the men, but he was worried about alerting them. So, when a carriage passed by, he used his lightness skill to pull Meng Lingge to another street in a short while.

The person following watched the carriage slowly pass by, but the two figures behind it had long since disappeared.

"Did they all shake off their tails?"

Meng Lingge and Wen Zhiming had already sat down in the only private room in the street restaurant. Seeing that Wen Zhiming still looked serious and listened attentively, Meng Lingge couldn't help but ask.

Wen Zhiming nodded and said, "I shook them off. I was just listening to the conversation of the diners outside."

When they came in, they heard many people discussing the news that the King of Northern Frontier wanted to open a trade market with the Blue Feather Kingdom in Northern Frontier. Some were happy and some were worried. The happy ones hoped that the King of Northern Frontier would make their lives better after he succeeded in this matter, while the worried ones were worried that this matter would most likely be difficult to accomplish, and that the King of Northern Frontier, who loved his people like his own children, might also be in danger because of it.

Meng Lingge reassured them, "The fact that the people are worried about you shows that you hold a very high position in their hearts. Once you have handled this matter properly, they will naturally know that you not only love the people like your own children, but also keep your word."

Wen Zhiming said gently, "My wife, just trust me. These people have been talking for so long, but I haven't heard them mention the prefect of the Northern Frontier. It seems he must be the biggest 'insect' in the Northern Frontier."

When the people talk about important matters in northern Xinjiang, they dare not mention the highest-ranking official there. It seems that this person is not only corrupt, but also has many other evil deeds that make the local people dare not speak out against him.

Mentioning Xie Guanzhi, Meng Lingge also felt something was off.

"Xie Guanzhi's residence looks normal, but Yue Jiaoluo's outfit today is not the cheap stuff he mentioned. Just that pair of green jadeite bracelets alone costs ten thousand taels in the best jewelry shops in the capital. The pair of bright moon earrings and the gold hairpins cost at least a thousand taels."

Xie Guanzhi's claim that these were all Yue Jiaoluo's dowry is clearly even more far-fetched. Yue Jiaoluo has always been vain; if she had so many luxury items, it's impossible that she hadn't worn any of them three years ago.

As a member of the martial arts world with no legitimate job, she couldn't have earned so many valuable items in the year before marrying Xie Guanzhi.

The only possibility is that Xie Guanzhi configured it for her.

However, Xie Guanzhi's monthly salary was enough to buy one or two items, but buying so many clearly exceeded his means.

Wen Zhiming was somewhat prepared, but he was still shocked when he heard the amount. He didn't know as much about women's jewelry as Meng Lingge did, and at first glance he thought it was expensive, but he didn't expect that the enchantress's entire outfit was worth tens of thousands of taels.

Most families in the northern border region only spend a dozen or so taels of silver a year. Behind Yue Jiaoluo's luxurious attire lies the life-saving money of countless people...

He knew that the capital was far from the northern frontier, and that the money meant to help the people was often skimmed off at each level, leaving very little for the people. So, he gave more each year, hoping to leave more for the people.

Perhaps a few more taels of silver could save another life.

In the end, they all ended up in Xie Guanzhi's pocket and became an ornament on Yue Jiaoluo's body.

If it weren't for this trip to the northern frontier, he might still be in the dark, and who knows how long he would have been deceived by this treacherous minister.

Thinking of this, Wen Zhiming's eyes turned red with hatred, and he even wanted to return to the mansion immediately and chop Xie Guanzhi into pieces.

Killing Xie Guanzhi is easy, but it will take some effort to root out all the corrupt officials who colluded with him.

Although there were very few honest and upright officials in the Northern Frontier under Xie Guanzhi's leadership, Wen Zhiming was unwilling to harm any innocent people. Moreover, although he had brought many capable and virtuous people with him, a few local officials would still be needed to assist in the initial stages of the trade.

Wen Zhiming took a sip of tea, suppressing his surging anger, and said calmly.

"If our guess is correct, Xie Guanzhi is indeed wicked, and he will definitely take action in the next few days. There are four secret guards with the Empress Dowager and Woyu, so there is no need to worry. Stay by my side and do not leave easily."

Although Xie Guanzhi probably wouldn't dare to harm those around him, we still have to be wary of him resorting to desperate measures.

“Okay,” Meng Lingge said.

The two chatted about the changes in the northern frontier and their views on trade. Half an hour later, Lin Suo was brought in by the guards.

Wen Zhiming said, "It wasn't convenient to speak at the prefect's residence before, but it's safe here, so you can speak your mind."

Upon hearing this, Lin Suo knew that Wen Zhiming already knew that Prefect Xie was in trouble, and he immediately knelt down and said, "Your Highness, this humble general is guilty!"