Back at Xiangyun Tower, Jiang Shuyue had already eaten and was reviewing the county annals and border situation reports brought by Magistrate Hu.
"You're back?"
"I'm sorry, I was in a hurry to get home and didn't wait for Sister Jiang to wake up."
"What are you apologizing for? I know your family is here. You haven't seen each other for a year, you should see each other. Why don't you stay at home for a few days?"
Song Ning smiled and sat down opposite Jiang Shuyue: "I've come back this time to do serious business, so of course I should share the burden with Your Highness." As he spoke, he picked up a memorial and began to read.
These were all documents submitted by local authorities, containing words of condolence and statements that they were ready to welcome His Highness the Third Prince. They said everything, but not a single word about the situation in Beiliang.
Jiang Shuyue noticed it too, and her expression turned sour.
"They're all a bunch of good-for-nothings. They didn't say anything serious, just flattery. Over the years, they haven't learned anything else, but they've mastered the art of bootlicking. Of all the documents they've submitted, only the investigation of the Yuanzhou area is somewhat thorough."
Beyond Yuanzhou to the north, it's no longer Xie Linzhou's territory. Xie Linzhou can't control it, so it naturally becomes lax. It wasn't even as bad as it is now when Beiliang invaded.
"Fortunately, Sister Jiang is here too. Since these people are not doing anything, Sister Jiang can choose some reliable people later."
Jiang Shuyue looked up at Song Ning's composed expression, understood, and smiled as well. She knew that nothing could be hidden from her.
......
The next day, Song Ning and Jiang Shuyue left Tianxiang County with a small group of people. Before leaving Tianxiang County, they also took Song Rui with them.
Song Rui and the others rode in a carriage, feeling nervous and at a loss inside.
Jiang Shuyue smiled and said, "You're Aning's cousin, so you're one of us. Don't be nervous. I'll need your help in the future."
Song Rui broke out in a cold sweat and immediately nodded: "Yes, yes."
“Cousin, when we arrive in Qingyang, you get out of the car first, and His Highness and I will go to Qingyang City.”
I heard that these two cities used to be one place, but after they were separated and managed separately, they were given similar names.
"Qingyang recently got a new prefect, and I heard he's a rather cautious person. Be careful. Take two people with you and let us know if anything happens."
Song Rui nodded earnestly and got off the car before entering Qingyang.
"Cousin, be careful on the road."
Don't worry.
The carriage continued its journey towards Qingyang City. As soon as it reached the city gate, it saw that a checkpoint was being set up there.
As soon as the group passed by, they were stopped: "What are you doing here?"
Song Ning stuck his head out and smiled: "Sir, we're here to do business. We heard this place has been lively lately, so we came to take a look."
The guards guarding the city glanced into the carriage and asked, "What else is inside?"
“My sister is inside. She fell ill on the way and is unable to come out. If you are worried, sir, you can come up and check on her.”
Seeing Song Ning speak so frankly, the soldier opened the portrait in his hand and glanced at it. Although he was very careful, Song Ning still saw it.
The man compared the portrait with Song Ning's, but ultimately let him pass.
Back in the carriage, Song Ning frowned: "The soldiers guarding the city are holding Sister Jiang's portrait. It seems someone has already sent a message into the city."
The prefect of Qingyang City was changed later, but it is unknown whose people this prefect is, yet he has already received the news.
Jiang Shuyue's eyes turned cold: "It's a good thing we arrived early, otherwise, we might have been kept in the dark by these people."
"This mission is of great importance, and everyone wants to get involved. We must be careful once we enter the city."
Not many people in the court knew that Jiang Shuyue had come under the identity of Jiang Yuande. Apart from the Second Prince and Tang Xinghuai, Song Ning could not think of anyone else.
Jiang Shuyue smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'm not completely unprepared. I won't lose to those men. Since I've taken on this task, I'm confident I can do it well."
"Does Sister Jiang have connections in Qingyang City?"
"Of course, don't worry, none of these people will be able to escape."
Song Ning mainly helps with business matters; she really doesn't have the brains for political stuff.
So, upon entering Qingyang City, the two split up. Jiang Shuyue found someone to make contact, while Song Ning wandered around the streets, looking for any business opportunities.
It was only when they looked that they realized the people from Beiliang had already entered the city.
They haven't decided on a location for the negotiations yet, but it will most likely be in Yuezhou on the border. What are these Northern Liang people doing in Qingyang City?
Could it be that they came to find out what's going on?
Song Ning observed for a while and encountered a person in the teahouse who seemed to be their leader. His behavior was no different from others, but his way of drinking tea was unique to the people of Beiliang.
Before Song Ning came, he had specifically studied the customs of the Northern Liang people. Even if they wore Jin Dynasty clothes, their habits could not be changed in a short time.
Song Ning calmly drank her tea, occasionally glancing at the movements around her, and thus remained unnoticed.
They spoke very cautiously, and their words were fragmented and difficult to understand.
A short while later, another person came in from outside, who didn't look like a person from Beiliang.
The man glanced in that direction and went upstairs. A short while later, the people from Beiliang followed him up.
Was there anyone in the Jin Dynasty still colluding with the Northern Liang people, or was it Tang Xinghuai?
But the last incident caused a huge uproar. Is Tang Xinghuai really so fearless?
It was getting late when I came out of the teahouse. When I got back to my place, Jiang Shuyue was already back.
"How is it?" Jiang Shuyue asked hurriedly.
"The Beiliang people have already entered the city, and there are people here to meet them."
Jiang Shuyue frowned: "I asked today, and they said that the prefect of Qingyang City was transferred here the year before last. Since taking office, he has been diligent and conscientious, and has a good reputation among the people."
"Even the best reputation can be faked. Without the prefect's permission, you can't enter Qingyang City."
Jiang Shuyue's face darkened: "Then let's see whose people this prefect is on."
Although I knew that negotiating trade with Beiliang would not be easy, I did not expect it to be so complicated.
"It's also possible that they don't want this deal to go through."
Tang Xinghuai... his reach is far too far.
What deep-seated hatred did he have for the Jiang family?
On the other side, in the southern border.
Xie Linzhou stood on high ground, looking down at the terrain.
Tang Xinghuai stood beside him and laughed, "General Xie is really careful. There's a plain down here, nowhere to hide."
Xie Linzhou glanced at him, said nothing, and continued reading.
Xie Linzhou ignored him, and Tang Xinghuai wasn't angry. He always had a smile on his lips, looking indifferent: "General Xie, you're such a dull person, what exactly does Er Ya see in you?"
These words successfully drew Xie Linzhou's attention. He gave Xie a cold look and said in a deep voice, "Call me Er Ya again, and I'll be very rude."
"General Xie, please don't be angry. Although you are now husband and wife, I knew her first."
Xie Linzhou sneered: "You don't even dare to say how much sincerity you have in your relationship with her, do you?"
Tang Xinghuai's smile vanished as he looked into the distance. His eyes, which had been smiling just moments before, now resembled a winter's snowstorm: "Yes... how much sincerity is there? Xie Linzhou, it's not your place to ask me that, is it?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
