Chapter 35: A Clever Move

Both Concubine Shu and Concubine Xian were very puzzled when they saw Li Yueyao's surprise.

He nodded subconsciously and said, "Yes, that's Jin Mantang."

Li Yueyao was startled and quickly turned around to ask Cuiwei, "Gan Qing arrested everyone in Zhaoqing Mansion today, so where is Jin Mantang?"

Cuiwei shook her head.

Li Yueyao looked at Gan Hong and said, "Quick, make sure Gan Qing captures Jin Mantang."

"Yes." Gan Hong responded and went out.

After seeing Gan Hong leave, Concubine Xian asked, "What happened to Jin Mantang?"

Li Yueyao put down her chopsticks and said, "Jin Mantang is Zhaoqing's money bag."

"Why does this involve Zhaoqing again?" Concubine Shu frowned.

"Zhao Qing had three people under his command. One of them, Ji Cheng, instigated her to use the Zuozang Office and the Changping Warehouse.

Hua Qingfeng was her male favorite, who relied on her power to oppress innocent people and rob people.

The other one is Jin Mantang, who is ostensibly her money bag, but in reality..."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Xian sneered and said, "How foolish!"

"She has been stupid since she was a child. This is the first day you met her." Li Yueyao rolled her eyes at Concubine Xian.

The virtuous concubine said nothing, but picked up a piece of vegetable with chopsticks and ate it.

Concubine Shu looked at Li Yueyao and asked, "What is Jin Mantang's purpose in approaching Princess Zhaoqing?"

The virtuous concubine picked up a piece of lotus root and ate it, then continued, "Jin Mantang is the richest man in the capital, and his business covers all walks of life.

What business can Zhaoqing do that he cannot do? That is his goal."

After hearing what Concubine Xian said, Li Yueyao woke up from her dream.

"Pingchang Warehouse, Ministry of Warehouse Department!"

"Damn it, I finally understand why they planted people in the Ministry of War and Treasury.

I thought it was just someone pressing the plug and not moving quickly enough, so I didn’t pay much attention to it. But now it seems more complicated than it actually is.”

After saying this, he turned to look at Cuiwei and said, "Go and send a message to Gan Qing to arrest all of Zhaoqing's men in the court and interrogate them."

Then he turned to Nanny Qin and said, "Go and report this to His Majesty."

Xian Fei stopped eating and wiped her mouth with her handkerchief, saying, "Are you saying that Jin Mantang and Ji Cheng are in cahoots?

One person instigated Zhaoqing to use the usual granaries and weapons reserves of the Treasury Department, while the other person transported these things back to the Western Regions through his own channels?"

Li Yueyao nodded dully.

Upon seeing this, Concubine Xian put down her handkerchief, leaned back in her chair and said:

"The person behind this is quite good at playing chess. This move on Zhao Qing is truly a masterful one."

The Concubine Shu was overwhelmed by the mess and slammed the table, saying:

"We'll build roads through the mountains and bridges across the rivers, and bring everyone back. We'll know after we try them."

The virtuous concubine smiled and said, "That's right. If we catch him and interrogate him, we can open up the secret. No matter how clever his tricks are, they won't work."

After hearing this, Li Yueyao picked up her chopsticks and started eating again.

"I hope there will be good news from Gansu and Qinghai."

After eating two mouthfuls of dried bamboo shoots, Li Yueyao continued, "I always feel that it is no coincidence that Nanny Zhou appeared when the imperial concubine was nine years old.

We have already sent people to investigate Madam Zhou, hoping to uncover the person behind this."

The virtuous concubine nodded and said, "I have a feeling there will be news from Wanhua Tower tonight."

Li Yueyao said calmly: "That would be the best."

The virtuous concubine took a deep breath, turned her head to look out the window, and suddenly said in surprise: "It's snowing."

Concubine Shu looked out the window, then turned to look at Li Yueyao and said with a smile: "In this situation, we should drink and sing."

Li Yueyao saw this and said happily, "Cui Xin, go get a pot of peach blossom wine."

Cui Xin smiled and responded, then went downstairs to get the wine.

Li Yueyao directed a few people to move the food to the kang by the window, and the three of them ate while enjoying the snow.

When the emperor heard Sun Fu say that it was snowing outside, he came out of Taiji Palace and stood at the door to enjoy the snow.

Suddenly, Nanny Qin came to report.

After listening, he turned around and asked, "Where's my aunt?"

"His Highness has invited Consort Shu and Consort Xian to come eat hotpot."

The emperor became interested when he heard this, and slowly walked down the steps, wanting to take a look.

Shufei drank a small glass of wine, her cheeks flushed and her eyes were drunken.

"It feels like I'm back to before I entered the palace. I haven't felt this happy in a long time..."

The virtuous concubine sighed and said, "Yes, this palace has invisibly put everyone in shackles."

The emperor was standing outside the window and stopped after hearing these two sentences.

Li Yueyao continued, "This is why I like living in Chunshan Palace.

The rules in this palace are too complicated, the conspiracies are too deep, and there are too many secrets..."

After hearing this, Concubine Shu sighed, "Just listening to this makes me tired. I also want to live outside the palace like you..."

Li Yueyao continued, "Well...your body is more suitable for recuperation in the palace.

How about this, when the weather gets better in the spring, I'll ask His Majesty to let you stay there for a while and recuperate."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Shu showed joy and said, "Thank you very much, Aunt."

After drinking, the virtuous concubine became a little naughty and cute.

He glared at them and said, "What should I do? I want to go too..."

"You can't do that. Everyone in the palace is counting on you." Concubine Shu said with a smile.

"Ah... I don't want to stay in the palace, I want to go to Chunshan Palace..." wailed the virtuous concubine.

The snow outside the window fell softly, turning the emperor's hair white and aging Nanny Qin's cheeks.

After listening for a while, the emperor turned around and returned to Taiji Palace.

Nanny Qin escorted the emperor to the side hall door and bowed, saying, "Farewell, Your Majesty."

After seeing the emperor walk away, he immediately turned around and quickly went into the house.

He brushed off the snow on his body and stepped forward, saying, "Your Highness, the Emperor has just arrived."

The three of them were slightly tipsy, and when they heard the emperor coming, they quickly turned to look at the door.

Nanny Qin said, "His Majesty stood by the window for a while, listened to the conversation between the three princes, and then left."

Li Yueyao looked suspicious and asked, "What did we say?"

"He said there were too many rules in the palace and that he wanted to go to Chunshan Palace. His Majesty left after hearing that."

Concubine Xian looked out the window dissatisfied and said, "Huh! Now you've even learned to eavesdrop on other people's conversations."

Concubine Shu laughed when she heard this: "You are the only one in the palace who dares to say that to His Majesty."

The virtuous concubine said nonchalantly, "I'm not wrong. Wasn't he eavesdropping on our conversation?"

Li Yueyao said indifferently: "If you hear it, then you hear it. It's not something you can't hear.

I really don't want to live in the palace.

When the affairs of the former dynasty and the harem are over, I will take you to live in Chunshan for a while."

The virtuous concubine was invigorated after hearing this: “It is said that in spring the mountains are covered with blossoms, in summer the springs and waterfalls roar, in autumn the mountains are covered with red, and in winter the mountains are covered with snow.

I didn't care before, but now I really want to go. The last time I went was seven years ago when I accompanied my mother on a summer vacation.

After hearing this, Li Yueyao gave Concubine Xian a look of disdain.

"Okay, stop pretending to be pitiful. I'll take you there."

"Then it's a deal."

The three of them raised their glasses, talked and laughed, and continued drinking.

…

The next day was a day off and officials did not need to attend court.

Li Yueyao got up at 7 o'clock, had breakfast and packed up.

I went out and looked at the snow outside that was almost above my ankles. I took a deep breath and felt the cool air filling my lungs.

Nanny Qin came up from behind and put a light fox fur cloak on Li Yueyao.

Li Yueyao touched it and thought to herself that the fur was of really good quality.

Not as light as a down jacket, but warmer than a down jacket.

Then she turned to look at Nanny Qin and said, "Aunt, after sending the imperial envoy off, I have something else to do. Please put on a veil for me."

"Yes, Your Highness."

After leaving the palace gate, Li Yueyao lifted the curtain of her carriage and looked at the scattered people on the street: "The air outside the palace smells better than inside."

Nanny Qin smiled from behind Li Yueyao and said, "Your Highness is used to being at ease on Chunshan Mountain."

Li Yueyao's carriage drove along the street, came out from the east gate, and bid farewell to Imperial Envoy Ye.

"Go to Chunshan Teahouse." Li Yueyao ordered in the car.