Gu Yuzhi was excited at the thought of going to Quanzhou to find the wheat that Teacher Shu had mentioned, and couldn't wait to set off.

But just as he opened his mouth to give instructions to Chief Secretary Xie, he remembered that Prefect Ke Liangyi of Quanzhou had only just left, and Guard Zhang and his men had only been in Quanzhou for a few days; their trusted confidant hadn't even been brought back yet...

Just as Gu Yuzhi was thinking this, the steward hurriedly came over: "Your Highness."

Chief Secretary Xie turned around and looked over: "What's wrong?"

The steward's face lit up with joy: "I've received word that the person Guard Zhang was looking for has been brought back and is about to enter the city. The guard asked me to inquire whether His Highness intends to send this person directly to the prefect's prison, or bring him back for questioning first?"

Xie Changshi turned to look at Gu Yuzhi, only to see the smile on his face vanish in an instant.

Gu Yuzhi waved his hands repeatedly: "No, no!"

He definitely doesn't want this person to enter the Wen residence.

If this scoundrel were to enter the Wen residence, he would surely filth the entire place!

Just like Teacher Shu said, it's air pollution!

Gu Yuzhi nodded his little head and said with certainty, "Don't bring him back to the manor, just send him to the prefect's jail!"

His eyes lit up: "Have Prefect Qi be locked up in a separate place. We absolutely cannot let him die."

Qi's guard said that the King of Chu had assassins who would hide poison in their teeth, and if they were captured, they would bite through the poison to commit suicide.

This person is very likely the only one in the northern desert who knows about the collusion between the King of Chu and the Li Family Trading Company, so he absolutely cannot die.

The steward nodded repeatedly: "Yes, the guard reported that Guard Zhang severed the man's tendons in his hands and feet, and also checked, but there was no poison or anything like that that could be used for suicide. He was given medicine all the way back, and he was drowsy and very obedient."

Chief Secretary Xie glanced at the steward without leaving a trace, his expression showing a hint of displeasure.

Who exactly does this honest and kind butler usually associate with? Yet, when he talks about such cruel things as severing tendons in his hands and feet, he doesn't show the slightest fear!

Most importantly, are these things something that can be said in front of the young prince?

Aren't you afraid of scaring the young prince!

Just as Xie Changshi was about to glare at him, Gu Yuzhi clapped his hands and said cheerfully, "Guard Zhang is amazing!"

Xie Changshi's brow twitched.

Did Gu Yu know that Xie Changshi's father was heartbroken? He was still clapping his hands and saying, "Guard Zhang is great! That's how it should be, so that this bad guy can't even commit suicide!"

He clapped his little hands vigorously until they were red, then he put them down, his tone even more cheerful: "Send him to the jail, send him to the jail! I want to see it for myself!"

This person went to Quanzhou before Li Yanping abducted and killed him, so he must have known about Li Yanping's plan!

On the day of the ambush, the blizzard was so severe that he didn't really see what Li Yanping looked like. He felt that this was bad, as he didn't even know what his enemy looked like.

Li Yanping's confidant returned just in time.

He looked up at the steward and said, "Tell Prefect Qi that I'll go and check on the interrogation results tomorrow after I'm done with my work."

The steward nodded, turned, and left. Chief Secretary Xie hurriedly followed, carefully instructing him, "Since Your Highness is going to see it tomorrow, you should tell Prefect Qi that today's interrogation should be kept brief and to the point, and not made into a bloody mess."

The steward nodded repeatedly: "I understand. I will definitely explain everything to Prefect Qi. Please rest assured."

Chief Secretary Xie was still a little worried: "After Guard Zhang gave this man the medicine, you should tell Prefect Qi to keep the medicine on. If you make this man bite his tongue and commit suicide without getting anything out of him, His Highness will be in trouble, and none of us will be happy."

The steward shuddered at the thought of the young prince's pitiful appearance, his eyes brimming with tears and his cheeks puffed up with anger: "Don't worry, Chief Secretary Xie, I will definitely make things clear to Prefect Qi. We absolutely cannot let this person die until we have squeezed out the last bit of value from him!"

He left in a hurry after saying that.

As Xie Changshi watched his retreating figure, he couldn't help but want to say something uncivilized.

He's only been away from the Wen residence for a little over a month, how did the steward become like this!

No one answered Xie Changshi's question. Xie Changshi turned around and went back to his room, where he saw Gu Yuzhi looking at him with a smile: "Xie Changshi, come and see this!"

When the prefects left, they all gave him gifts. Since they were all inexpensive little things, Gu Yuzhi accepted them and brought them back with him.

With nothing else to do, Gu Yuzhi happily unwrapped the gifts, only to find a letter hidden at the bottom of each box.

The letter was simple: the officials from several other prefectures had been assigned to build the official road in Xinliang this year.

Gu Yuzhi suddenly jumped up, waving the letters in his hand vigorously: "Officials from several prefectures all at once, so many people..."

He gestured with his hand: "Maybe the official road to Xinliang will be completed this year!"

Then the journey to Xinliang will be a bit slower in the future!

Gu Yuzhi looked up at Xie Changshi with a smile, his eyes crinkling and sparkling.

Xie Changshi's earlier dissatisfaction was instantly cured, and he chuckled, "Your Highness is right. If we add Quanzhou, the official road to Xinliang will definitely be repaired this year."

It includes not only the official road, but also the reservoir and the martyrs' cemetery.

The first discussion about the martyrs' cemetery didn't yield any results, but the young prince provided a solution the very next day.

That is a joint burial.

The soldiers who sacrificed their lives in each battle could be buried together with their identity tags; this was the most perfect solution they could think of at the moment.

As for reservoirs, Xinliang has only built two small reservoirs so far. Considering the entire Xinliang region, a large reservoir is still needed.

The northern desert is a relatively arid region. Last year, the weather was favorable and there were no problems. But who knows when God will get angry and cause a drought in the northern desert for a month or two? Then the people of the northern desert will have a hard time surviving.

Therefore, the reservoir must be built, and as soon as possible!

Chief Secretary Xie's gaze fell on the letters in Gu Yuzhi's hand, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. He smiled and said, "Your Highness, I think we can take half of these people to build a reservoir."

Yes, yes, yes!

Gu Yuzhi then remembered what Teacher Shu had said: the reservoir is very important!

He covered his mouth and chuckled, his cunning little face bearing a resemblance to Xie Changshi.

Gu Yuzhi said in a soft voice, "Chief Secretary Xie, you are so clever!"

The official road may not be finished this year, but it will definitely be finished next year. But the reservoir is different; the reservoir plays a very important role.

What if other prefectures need to build irrigation canals or city walls next year? Wouldn't they be unable to come to Xinliang to help?