Qin Qing closed the door, leaving Shaoyao completely bewildered.
"Is it because of that incident, Mother? But there's no need to close the door! Anyway, no one knows it was you who did it!"
Qin Zifeng, who was standing to the side, was taken aback and asked instinctively.
"What's up?"
After Shaoyao finished explaining to him, Qin Zifeng was shocked.
"The woman who saved the person was actually Grandma?"
Qin Qing nodded, her expression somewhat unpleasant for some reason, and then said...
"No matter what, let's not talk about this. Let the old emperor handle his own affairs. Let's leave it at that for today. Let's go home and rest today. I haven't been feeling well lately, so I won't be coming over. If you're too busy, you can close down. We won't be short of money for a few days! Let's have the goods from the Princess's residence and the orders from Manyuelou shipped directly from home."
Because the rice shop wasn't big enough, she took out all the rice from her space every day after it refreshed. But now she could put it in the courtyard of her space, and the amount was accumulating more and more...
The three of them then quickly closed the shop door and left in a carriage.
Meanwhile, at Minister Chen's residence, the scholar lay on the ground, his face pale, his wounds a shocking sight.
Minister Chen coldly looked at the weak and exhausted man on the ground and spoke.
"Who sent you?! Tell me and I might spare your life!"
That's right, Minister Chen thought that the scholar had been sent to frame him, which is why he tortured the scholar!
Qiu Ze on the ground was unusually stubborn at this moment. Even though he was in excruciating pain all over his body, he still insisted on saying one thing.
"This student doesn't understand what you're talking about, sir! That portrait is indeed of the woman I saw that day! Please, sir, see for yourself!"
These words angered Minister Chen so much that his beard twitched and his brows furrowed!
"Clear-sighted? You think you can fool me?"
As he spoke, he casually threw the portrait on the table in front of Qiu Ze and roared.
"This woman is my wet nurse! She doesn't know martial arts, and she didn't even leave the house that day! I didn't expect you to be so stubborn!? Fine, I..."
Before he could finish speaking, Qiu Ze on the ground suddenly coughed, his eyes wide with shock as he stared at the woman in the portrait.
"No...it wasn't her! Sir, this wasn't drawn by a student!"
Minister Chen sneered!
"Nonsense! Of course you didn't draw it; I had an artist copy it!"
Qiu Ze quickly shook his head, looking flustered.
"No...no! What I mean is that I've never seen the woman in the painting. I painted someone else!"
Minister Chen was stunned for a moment. His brain, which had been navigating the court for many years, finally came to its senses. He rushed to the scholar, picked up the portrait on the ground, grabbed Qiu Ze by the collar, and said excitedly.
"What did you say? Look carefully! Where did this portrait of a woman come from on your desk at home?! How could you not recognize it!"
The sudden movement aggravated Qiu Ze's wound, causing her to gasp in pain and tremble uncontrollably.
Upon seeing this, Minister Chen immediately summoned a doctor…
Not long after, in the study, Minister Chen looked at the portrait in his hand, his brain began to work at high speed, and all the signs that had been ignored before resurfaced in his mind.
"Guards... Where is Commander Gao?! Bring him to see me!"
As the servants' footsteps faded into the distance, Minister Chen's gaze grew increasingly somber. His fingers gripped the portrait tightly, and the more he looked at it, the more familiar the technique seemed…
He had some suspicions in his mind, and his expression became even more unpleasant!
Early the next morning, a fine horse galloped from outside the city towards the capital like a whirlwind. Upon arriving at the palace gate, it immediately showed its waist token and hurriedly went to the Imperial Study.
"Report... Your Majesty! The information is incorrect! There are many bandits in Dingshan City, and they are very disciplined and meticulous in their actions. They are not ordinary bandits or roving brigands. General Wang Yan did not have enough men and was trapped in Luoyan Mountain for six days!"
The old emperor had barely finished his court session and was about to question Minister Chen about the search for the missing person when a loud, excited shout echoed through the hall. Before the ministers could even react, the old emperor's expression changed drastically!
"What...what did you say? What happened? Tell me quickly!"
The disheveled soldier then entered the main hall, his face covered in dirt and his clothes in tatters, a testament to the arduous journey he had undertaken over the past few days!
He suddenly knelt on the ground, his eyes red and swollen, his face covered in dust, and said excitedly.
"Your Majesty! This humble general begs Your Majesty to send troops to support the General. The bandits of Dingshan City are exceptionally skilled, numbering over five thousand, and have already occupied Dingshan City. The General was besieged as soon as he arrived. The bandits and civilians worked together and besieged my army at Luoyan Mountain for several days. Only after the General forcibly sent me out did I come here to ask for help!"
After saying this, the soldier burst into tears, tears of excitement, guilt, anxiety, and unseen worry streaming down his face…
The old emperor sat on the dragon throne, his face cold and silent. The ministers below were in an uproar and discussed among themselves after hearing these words!
"I understand! Guards, take him away to recuperate!"
A burly man emerged from the Ministry of War's First Squad, his gruff voice filled with anxiety.
"Your Majesty, please send me to provide support!"
The old emperor glanced at him, his eyes filled with annoyance.
"I have my reasons! If there is nothing else, let the court adjourn!"
Upon hearing this, the robust man Huang Zhong was about to step out and plead again, but was stopped by his deputy general Zhang, who shook his head with a solemn expression.
Not long after the court session ended, and after everyone else had left, Huang Zhong and his companion lingered at the entrance for a long time!
Huang Zhong looked impatiently at Deputy General Zhang beside him and spoke up in displeasure.
"Why did you stop me just now! The general is currently besieged, and if this continues, he will be in mortal danger without food! You can wait, but I can't!"
Upon hearing this, Deputy General Zhang's previously serious expression turned helpless.
You'll find out soon enough!
Just as Huang Zhong was about to say something, he saw Eunuch Hai hurriedly walk out from the other end.
"Greetings, Generals! His Majesty invites you both to proceed to the Imperial Study!"
Huang Zhong was stunned upon hearing this. He looked at Deputy General Zhang beside him in surprise and asked as he walked away.
"You knew all along that His Majesty would summon us?"
Upon hearing this, Deputy General Zhang glanced at Eunuch Hai in front of him, then gestured for Huang Zhong to lower his voice and whispered.
"Have you forgotten the time the general reprimanded you? You must never be too impulsive in front of His Majesty. You understand the principle that high merit can overshadow the ruler. As generals, we are loyal to His Majesty, not the general. If you act too hastily, how will His Majesty view the general?"
Upon hearing this, Huang Zhong's face stiffened, his eyes dimmed, and he tightly shut his mouth, refusing to speak again.
That's right, his older cousin is...
Soon, the two arrived at the imperial study. Huang Zhong was no longer worried. After the old emperor calmly scrutinized the two for a long time, he finally agreed to let them send 10,000 troops to rescue them.
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