Chapter 400 It's not hard work when it's your own business.

Huangfu Ruolang happily led a troop of imperial guards and the supplies bestowed upon him by Emperor Xiaowu to the northern lands.

They left openly in broad daylight, through the city gate, and were seen by the people along the way.

Several large truckloads of stuff!

However, no one took it seriously.

The soldiers in the north have worked hard, guarding the borders of Dayu in the harsh and cold lands and protecting the safety of the people of Dayu.

Sending as much as possible from the capital is not excessive.

It would be best to send it once a month!

However, as Huangfu Ruolang led his men out of the city, some people still raised questions.

In the past, didn't they just find any minor commander to escort them?

Why is there such a big commotion this year? Even the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guards has to get involved.

Soon, some people among the common people answered this question.

"Hey! You just don't understand!"

Although Changsheng Gong has returned to the capital for a rest, his eldest son is temporarily in charge in the north.

The Empress must inform her family about the birth of twins!

I reckon there must be quite a few rewards among the supplies the President is escorting!

"Isn't it normal for imperial gifts to be escorted by the Grand Commander?"

Everyone thought it made a lot of sense...

It wasn't until a month later, when Huangfu Ruolang returned with three full cartloads of supplies, that everyone realized something was amiss.

Could it be a congratulatory gift prepared by the eldest son of the Changsheng Duke from the north for the Empress?

That doesn't make sense! Shouldn't the congratulatory gifts be sent to the palace?

Why were the supplies delivered to an abandoned farm on the outskirts of Beijing?

Oh, and the imperial family has also sent a large number of troops to guard it.

That's not all. After some further inquiry, someone found out even more!

Shen Qingrui, the third young master of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, who led the gunpowder research team from the weapons forging workshop to the north, has returned.

I heard they didn't even get inside the gates of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion.

Upon returning, they immediately set up camp in the suburbs and refused to see anyone.

Even the steward of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion was turned away when he went to deliver something!

Everyone was thinking, "Could something serious have happened?"

Could it be that the third young master of the Shen family has done something wrong?

Then he was detained and taken back to Beijing. Because the matter was of great importance, he could only be temporarily settled in the outskirts of Beijing.

Once someone followed this line of thought, everyone immediately felt that they had figured it out.

Escorted by the Imperial Guards and heavily guarded, what else could this be but detention?

Perhaps the third young master of the Shen family has caused a great deal of trouble in the north!

Gradually, more and more people believed this claim, and everyone started to worry.

Something must not happen in the North; if something happens in the North, it will be a major incident.

Also, how could it be the third young master of the Shen family who got into trouble!

What a remarkable figure the old Duke Dingguo was...

Dongmai, who had gone out excitedly to hear what news was coming, returned with a belly full of anger.

"Miss, you have no idea what kind of gossip is circulating about our household outside."

The saying "flowers in full bloom, oil on a raging fire" is bound to cause trouble sooner or later.

And what womanly compassion will ultimately lead to disaster?

Oh, and someone's saying our household is about to be raided.

"If they keep talking, our entire household will be exiled three thousand miles away tomorrow," Dongmai said angrily.

Shangguan Jin...

It seems everyone's doing pretty well; they have so much time for gossip and idle chatter.

Shangguan Jin quickly realized that everyone was lacking effective information guidance!

"Don't worry about it. The more excited everyone is now, the more they'll be proven wrong in the future."

Shangguan Jin waved her hand, indicating that there was no need to take the matter to heart.

Dongmai and Aunt Xin exchanged a glance after hearing this.

They... still can't pretend they didn't hear it.

"Then... is our young master really not coming back to visit? Or... Miss, could you prepare some things for him?"

We'll deliver it to you.

"We're not going in, we're just delivering some things," Dongmai immediately suggested.

Shangguan Jin shook her head.

That's even worse.

Shangguan Jin meant that everyone should think it was nothing serious, just say a few words, and then everyone should wash up and go to bed!

But what if you just send the items over without actually going in...

Haha! Given the imaginations of those ordinary people, they'll probably come up with some new ideas.

Look, this is a prison visit! They can only bring things in, but the people can't get in. What else could this be but a prison visit...?

Shangguan Jin was wondering if she should ask her nephew, the emperor, what the next step should be.

Otherwise, it wouldn't sound good to keep asking others to investigate what the third young master of the Shen family had done in the north.

What if people accuse him of nepotism?

Before Shangguan Jin could even decide when to ask, someone came to her door.

who?

Lian Qianli, who has always been determined to become Shen Qingyue's male favorite!

He came under the pretense of bringing Shen Qingyue a gift.

Furthermore, he demanded to see Shangguan Jin.

This amused Shangguan Jin.

Given Lian Qianli's current approach, shouldn't he go to Shen Qingyue for anything related to the Shen family?

Then Shen Qingyue relayed the message.

Now that they've taken the initiative to contact me, it seems like something serious is going on...

"Is there something important, Young Master Lian?" Shangguan Jin asked with a smile, looking at Lian Qianli, who had an upright expression.

Lian Qianli smiled and, at Shangguan Jin's prompting, sat down in a chair.

He then thanked Dongmai for bringing him a cup of tea.

Only then did they look at Shangguan Jin.

"Madam Shen, there is something I need to discuss."

Yesterday evening, Eunuch Hu from the palace came with His Majesty's edict.

They said they could reveal what things are in the suburbs of Beijing to everyone.

Of course, this was still based on rumors.

In addition, it should be mentioned that there will be a public test of a new type of fire and mine in the suburbs of Beijing in half a month.

"Madam Shen, what do you think we should do to get everyone discussing this matter?" Lian Qianli asked with a smile.

Shangguan Jin understood.

Emperor Xiao Wu is not releasing any information for the time being, but he is afraid that letting everyone speculate will discourage Shen Qingrui.

so......

Since you all love to discuss this, then I'll give you some information so you can discuss it to your heart's content!

But now that the trigger has been thrown out, how things will develop from here depends on what the person who released the information says.

Simply put, it's about which direction public opinion should be guided...

Shangguan Jin thought for a moment and then came up with an idea.

However, before expressing her thoughts, Shangguan Jin wanted to thank Lian Qianli first.

"Thank you so much, Young Master Lian, for making such a trip!"

Upon hearing this, Lian Qianli quickly stood up and bowed.

"It's not hard work at all! It's all our own business, it's what we should do, it's really not hard work!"

Shangguan Jin...

You really don't consider yourself an outsider!