Magistrate Chen was angered by Jiang Yimian and left, but he did not leave the yamen. Instead, he went to the study of the yamen.
Zhou Shiwen was sitting at his desk looking at the letter in his hand. The more he looked, the more headache he got. The white hair at his temples, which had been dyed black not long ago, was now showing a few more silvery whites.
This time, the people from the Inspectorate actually came together with the Ministry of Works.
Those people in the Censorate are not easy to deal with; he needs to prepare early.
Especially the heir of the Marquis of Anding. I heard that he investigated the Ministry of Works once when he entered the Censorate a few days ago, and he came along this time. It's obvious that he didn't come with good intentions.
Just then, there was a knock on the door, which was hard to hear clearly amidst the sound of the pouring rain.
"My lord, it is your humble servant."
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Zhou Shiwen quickly stuffed the letter into the drawer under his desk before saying, "Come in."
As soon as Chen Tongzhi entered the study, he quickly bowed to the other party and said respectfully, "Sir, those people have been settled. They are indeed just as you said, insignificant people."
The people who came were just a ninth-rank clerk and that newly promoted imperial merchant; there was nothing to worry about.
They don't seem to be very smart, so there's no need to worry about them.
only……"
Zhou Shiwen looked up at him and asked, "Just what?"
Chen Tongzhi hesitated for a moment before saying, "There are two women accompanying them, one of whom is a bit strange. She doesn't hold any official position, but she seems to be in charge of the transport."
If he hadn't witnessed the woman's arrogance with his own eyes, he would have thought he was dreaming.
A person without any official position was actually the de facto leader among those people.
Although Zhang, the transport commissioner, was only a ninth-rank official, he was still a minor official and would never allow a woman to ride on his head.
And those people responsible for escorting the supplies were also listening to that woman; it all seemed very strange.
Zhou Shiwen's expression was strange. "What do you mean by that?"
Chen Tongzhi continued, "I originally intended to inventory the supplies they brought and put them into the yamen's storeroom, but the woman wouldn't allow it, saying that we should wait until tomorrow. She also had her guards watch over the items to prevent any unscrupulous people from tampering with them."
"Sir, do you think she discovered something?"
After saying that, he glanced nervously at the person in front of the table.
The woman's meaning was so obvious that he couldn't ignore it even if he wanted to.
Although I was quite angry at what the other person said just now, I realized something was strange after calming down.
The man seemed to suspect people in the city and the government offices.
This suspicion came out of nowhere.
In the past, officials from the capital who came to Yuncheng Prefecture every year would not have had such suspicions.
Zhou Shiwen just scoffed, completely unconcerned, and didn't take his words to heart. "She's just a woman who warms the bed, what could she possibly discover?"
She's just using her looks to bully others; I've seen plenty of people who use their beauty to please others.
Since she insists on waiting until tomorrow, then let's talk about it tomorrow. However, a woman who warms the bed should do what warms the bed.
Zhou Shiwen's dog is not one to be easily insulted.
Chen Tongzhi was immediately delighted and said with a smile, "This humble official understands."
If that bitch dares to go against him, she'll probably be too scared to go out tomorrow.
After saying that, he suddenly remembered something and quickly added, "I heard from the soldiers guarding the city that as soon as those people entered the city, they inquired about the situation inside and even mentioned the Princess."
Zhou Shiwen paused, "What did you say?"
After thinking for a while, Chen Tongzhi said, "I heard from that soldier that they asked when the Princess came to Yuncheng, but the soldier said he hadn't heard anything about it, so those people didn't ask any further."
He seemed to have heard rumors a few days ago that the eldest princess was coming, but for some reason there had been no news of her recently.
If he hadn't listened to the city guard, he would have almost forgotten about it.
After thinking for a while, he tentatively asked, "My lord, I heard that the eldest princess is coming to Qingnan to provide disaster relief. Why hasn't she arrived in Yuncheng Prefecture yet? Did something happen on the way? Should I send someone to meet her?"
Zhou Shiwen glanced at him and said expressionlessly, "What should and shouldn't be done? Prefect Chen has been with me for so many years, surely you know?"
When Chen Tongzhi met those dim, yellow eyes, he was startled and shrank back. He quickly said, "It was I who overstepped my bounds."
Zhou Shiwen didn't say anything more, but simply gestured for the other person to leave.
As soon as Chen Tongzhi reached the door, he heard someone behind him say, "Keep an eye on the people inside the yamen."
*
After letting Liu'er leave, Jiang Yimian washed up. After several days of living outdoors, she was quite tired. She took a hot bath and changed her clothes.
Liu'er finally returned from outside, her expression somewhat grave.
“Girl, there are people watching us outside the courtyard, and there are also people watching Wang San’s side.”
Jiang Yimian nodded, not surprised at all.
But the uncertain doubts in my heart became even more certain.
I initially thought I was overthinking things, but now it seems there's definitely something fishy about Yuncheng Mansion.
I just don't know what that prefect is hiding.
Seeing that she didn't speak, Liu'er lowered her voice and said, "Miss, would you like me to scout out the situation in the city?"
Jiang Yimian shook her head, "No need. Those people must have made preparations long ago. Even if we search the city, we won't find anything."
Take that city guard for example, he knew nothing when asked, and she guessed that the others were probably the same.
Thinking about it, she decided not to dwell on those things anymore and would deal with them tomorrow.
He simply looked at Liu'er and asked, "How have you been feeling lately?"
Ever since Liu'er asked her for help to detoxify that night, she had taken Liu'er's pulse, prescribed several formulas, and used silver needles for treatment.
The birthmark on my face has visibly faded, and the toxins in my body are slowly disappearing.
Liu'er was taken aback, and it took her a while to realize that Jiang Yimian was asking about the poison in her body.
She hesitated for a moment before saying, "It's much better. The birthmark on my face has faded a bit. I think the toxins will be completely removed in a few more days."
She was also somewhat surprised. She had only asked Jiang Yimian to detoxify her, not expecting much, but it actually worked.
Jiang Yimian breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and smiled, "That's good. I'll change your medicine in a few days. It's getting late, you should go back and rest now."
Liu'er then withdrew.
The rain outside poured down until late at night before finally stopping.
That night, Yuncheng Prefecture was completely silent.
Several hundred miles away from Yuncheng Prefecture, a large number of people were standing densely packed in the mountains and forests.
Those people, each carrying a silver knife and a torch, moved through the woods, seemingly searching for someone.
Despite such intensive searching, nothing was found.
The leader sneered, "Keep searching. I don't believe these two can grow wings and fly away."
The others responded and resumed their search in the woods.
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