Chapter 62 Come out, true form!

Zhao Youchen quickly sent people to locate Jinxiufang, while Liu Yi took the shoes to the Shangyi Bureau.

Xiao Qing pondered for a while, her mind seemingly a jumble of threads.

The Grand Tutor always has a profound purpose in doing things.

Liu Yixian is back.

Products made by the Imperial Clothing Bureau must have batch registration. Ordinary people can't tell the difference, but the master craftsmen of the Imperial Clothing Bureau know it like the back of their hand.

The situation at Nanhua Palace is even more unique.

"Your Majesty, these are the Imperial Wardrobe's stock from previous years. Many of them have already left the palace, so it's not difficult to buy them."

Where can I buy it?

"This..." Liu Yi hesitated.

But he quickly remembered what Ma Hong had said.

His Majesty has not yet bestowed medicine upon them; His Majesty needs to see their sincerity.

Liu Yi steeled himself and decided to show his sincerity.

“Your Majesty, this matter is not in accordance with the rules. However, the late Emperor left Nanhua Palace idle, and many palace servants lived in hardship. This…that…” Liu Yi was not good with words and was sweating profusely as he explained. He wished Ma Hong were here.

"Alright, go ahead and tell me. I won't pursue the matter."

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty. Because they are sent out of the palace privately, they cannot be sold in large clothing stores, so they are usually entrusted to reliable small shops for sale. There should be two or three such places, but I need to inquire about the specifics."

Xiao Qing's head was throbbing.

Look at how convoluted this search for someone has been.

"Go and find out. There will be a reward for the complete information. If you need any money, just ask Mingxiu for it."

"This servant thanks Your Majesty." Liu Yi left happily.

Zhao Youchen's men reported that there was no one with such physical characteristics.

Liu Yi was quite efficient; he returned in about half an hour, having mentioned three small workshops in Nanhua City.

Dan Ying had been standing silently to the side without saying a word, but when she heard the names of the three small workshops, she suddenly spoke up.

“Ping An Fang not only sells cloth, clothing, and shoes, but also spices and face powder.”

Xiao Qing's eyes lit up. "The boss is from Haizhou?"

Dan Ying shook her head. "This servant has never heard of it. Only some of the sisters in the palace have bought perfume powder here before, so this servant knows a little about it."

Zhao Youchen was about to send someone to investigate, but Xiao Qing shook his head, "I will go and meet with them myself."

I refuse to believe this evil, Li Qinghe, just you wait!

Xiao Qing looked at the people in front of her, especially Liu Yi and Dan Ying.

"If anyone asks about these events today, how will you answer?"

The two men, being sensible, both indicated that they had nothing to do that day, so Xiao Qing let them go.

Mingxiu was somewhat uneasy, and it took her a long time to ask, "Your Majesty, has something terrible happened?"

Xiao Qing pouted, "Then we'll see what our Grand Tutor thinks."

When the Grand Tutor was mentioned, Mingxiu fell silent.

With Ping'anfang as their target, Xiao Qing led Zhao Youchen there.

They were prepared that they still wouldn't be able to find anyone, but God took pity on them and showed them a way out.

Ping An Fang is not in the bustling city center, but in a secluded alley.

As the two walked inside, before they even reached the door, they saw a person leaning against a narrow wall in the shadows, arms crossed, his straw hat pulled low so that his face was obscured.

Xiao Qing stopped in her tracks, her eyes involuntarily glancing at his shoes.

Before she could figure it out, the man pulled down the edge of his straw hat, straightened up, and walked towards them.

Xiao Qing suddenly felt a little nervous, and her hand quietly clenched into a fist.

The person walks with one foot heavier than the other, and seems to have difficulty walking on their left foot.

The man was dressed in drab gray clothes, and as he walked past them, there was a faint... metallic smell about him.

As Xiao Qing was looking at his hand, a whisper came to her ear: "Would the guest like a cup of sweet tea?"

Xiao Qing's mind went blank for a moment, as if the clouds had parted and the sun was shining.

How long ago did Grand Tutor Nima plan all of this? Even inviting her for tea was a secret signal!

In the blink of an eye, the person had already walked past.

Without saying a word, Xiao Qing turned around and followed.

The aroma of tea wafts from the deep alley; it's an unassuming little teahouse.

This was definitely not Li Qinghe's first time here, because when they went in, the old shop assistant sitting at the counter didn't even look at them, giving off a "do whatever you want" vibe.

This teahouse doesn't seem to care much about its business. It doesn't even have a proper name; there's just a crooked sign next to the door with a barely legible "tea" character. And it's weathered and worn, exposed to the elements.

Upon entering, go up to the second floor, where you'll find a series of independent tea rooms.

Xiao Qing followed him inside, and the two sat down, with Zhao Youchen standing to the side.

No one spoke, and time began to drag on.

"Wait for me outside for a while." Xiao Qing suddenly understood when she saw that the other person hadn't even taken off their straw hat.

Sure enough, after Zhao Youchen went out, the man took off his straw hat, revealing a square and handsome face with a short beard that circled his mouth. His back was straight, and his posture was upright; he certainly possessed the tough, soldierly air of a soldier.

"Are you Li Qinghe?"

"I am not Li Qinghe."

Xiao Qing stared, almost about to explode in anger.

"Li Qinghe is a code name."

Xiao Qing was quite dumbfounded.

"Are you one of the Grand Tutor's men?"

"I am not one of the Grand Tutor's men."

Xiao Qing crossed her arms, her lips twitching.

"It's just that the Grand Tutor and Li Qinghe did a business deal."

Xiao Qing gave a half-smile, "What kind of business?"

"Ask the guest a question."

"What are you saying?" Xiao Qing felt that her temper had been worn down by this "Li Qinghe".

"Does the guest want to leave or stay?"

Xiao Qing felt that the surroundings were extremely quiet for a moment.

She was so quiet that you could hear her own heartbeat.

She had thought about these words more than a hundred times before the Grand Tutor left.

Now, the Grand Tutor has not yet returned, yet it is being asked by unrelated people.

Something feels off.

"What should we do if we leave, or stay?"

"If the guests want to leave, Qinghe can make arrangements." He didn't mention staying.

Xiao Qing smiled enigmatically, "How should we arrange it?"

"I can only speak if the guest clearly indicates that they want to leave."

"No need to consult the Grand Tutor?"

"The Grand Tutor will naturally know once the guest has left."

"Is it unnecessary to see the Grand Tutor again?"

"If the guest is leaving, there's no need to see him."

A fire suddenly ignited in Xiao Qing's heart.

"Oh? How can anyone believe that?"

The other person glanced at Xiao Qing and silently placed something on the table.

Xiao Qing felt as if she had been stabbed in the heart, and the hairs on her back stood up involuntarily, feeling a chill.

It was a knife, polished to a gleaming shine.

The moment she had just woken up in this world flashed through her mind in a daze.

"What does this mean? Are you going to kill me to silence me?"

"It is merely a parting gift, or rather, a token to convey your trust."

Xiao Qing seemed to remain silent for a long time, inwardly sneering repeatedly.

You, Fu Mingyi, you were kneeling on the ground begging me to take this wretched position back then, and now you're sending some nobody you don't even know, with a knife, to threaten me and send me away, without even showing your face!

She felt cold, but at the same time, the fire in her heart burned even brighter.