Chapter 82 082 The Girl He Raised in His Palm
The atmosphere suddenly became tense. The swords in their hands made a low hum. Meng Qingshan looked at the three carriages below. The axles and hubs of the carriages were all made of cast iron. They were carrying boxes down. Four sturdy guards caught the boxes. Their feet suddenly sank a little, and their bodies swayed a couple of times before they could barely maintain their balance.
The leader yelled, "Useless trash, watch out!"
The Fourth Prince's expression was extremely grim. Who would have thought that military equipment could be bought and sold so openly right under the emperor's nose? The facts were right in front of him, and he gasped twice. He said in a low voice, "This is their hideout."
Meng Qingshan had seen this kind of scene many times. Not to mention in the capital, even during border wars, his soldiers lacked armor and weapons, and people in the rear still sold them to foreign tribes.
Some time ago, those people escaped from the bandits, managing to hide silently, either in the army or in the black market. He spread the bait, and within half a month, people took the bait.
Meng Qingshan gave the order: "Leave no survivors, kill them without mercy."
A moment of silence fell behind them, and then everyone bowed their heads in unison.
Whether it was the deep voice or Meng Qingshan's ruthless methods, a cold sweat broke out on the back of the Fourth Prince's neck. After the Imperial Guards left, he asked, "Not leaving a single survivor?"
Meng Qingshan glanced coldly at him, the last rays of the setting sun falling from his eyes, leaving only unfathomable depths, cold as ice. Outside, swords clashed, and the streets were deserted, doors and windows closed, no one caring about anything else.
This is the black market; it's all about shady dealings.
Those people, whom I've fought with, are all desperate criminals.
Since that's the case, we might as well go along with their wishes.
Meng Qingshan's cold voice, accompanied by the chilling light outside, sent a chill down everyone's spines, "They have guns in their teeth and know the seriousness of this matter. They won't utter a single word. If they sense even a glimmer of hope, they will fight to the death."
That would harm his brothers behind him.
"Then why not stay here and fish for a bite?"
The fourth prince voiced the question that had been on his mind.
Seeing that the Imperial Guards below had already surrounded those people, Meng Qingshan slammed his hand on the window frame and said heavily, "I don't have the patience to deal with them. I'm using this incident to warn them that fear will follow them like a shadow. I am the blade on their necks."
He could easily instill fear in the enemy and win their hearts.
The Fourth Prince felt an indescribable tremor in his heart, and his hands began to shake slightly.
The fighting below has ceased, and the difference between life and death is clear.
Meng Qingshan strode down, looked at the ironware in the box, picked it up and examined it closely. The blade gleamed coldly in the moonlight, and the blade pattern was unique, indicating that it was not made by the Military Equipment Bureau.
The situation of privately manufactured weapons is more serious than imagined.
It was clearer than I had imagined; in the entire Great Jin Dynasty, only a handful of people were capable of privately manufacturing weapons.
"Take these weapons back!" We need to consider which school of craftsmanship they came from.
Meng Qingshan first went back to his residence to wash off the bloodstains, then changed into a bamboo-green brocade robe, tied his hair with a jade hairpin, and looked like a refined gentleman.
Butler Chen Kangda watched as the servants tidied up, glanced at his master's face, which remained indifferent, and then looked at the jewelry box on the table, which was prepared for Miss Qingli. Butler Chen rolled his eyes and guessed that now was a good time to talk to her.
"General, there's been some movement from the old lady's side."
Meng Qingshan frowned slightly and asked calmly, "What is it?"
"The old lady has left the mansion twice these days. Each time she went to the rouge shop and stayed for half an hour. When she came back, she gave the rouge to the servants. She also sent Jiang An here to inquire when you would return to the mansion, but he was turned away by Granny Hua Ying."
When Qingli was recognized and returned to the Huang family, Meng Qingshan sent Granny Qiu to her side. Granny Qiu was straightforward and thorough in her work, and with Granny Qiu around, he could feel more at ease. Granny Huaying was cautious and serious, making her the most suitable person to be placed in the Meng family to maintain order and discipline. Moreover, Granny Huaying came from the palace, so there were some things she could know.
"Please invite Granny Huaying here."
A moment later, Granny Hua Ying entered the room dressed in a dark blue dress. Ever since Granny Hua Ying took over the responsibility of managing the inner quarters, she had decreed that all the servants in the Meng household should wear dark blue clothing, which was serious and formal.
Jiang An secretly tried to cross the pretty dress several times, but was caught by Granny Hua Ying and severely punished. Jiang An complained to Mother Meng, and Granny Hua Ying's words on managing the household gave Mother Meng a headache. In the end, she could only go along with Granny Hua Ying's method.
Meng Qingshan treated Hua Ying with respect, and seeing her decline to sit, he also stood up. "Granny, have you noticed anything unusual?"
After carefully considering her words, Hua Ying, the old lady, said, "The old lady may have had contact with the palace."
It was common for spies to infiltrate the palace from the private quarters of high-ranking officials, but it was surprising that the matriarch of the family could be so easily persuaded.
Meng Qingshan's heart sank. He pushed open the window, and the damp air from the heavy night dew rushed in. His face was icy cold as he ordered, "Keep a close eye on them. Don't let it get out of hand."
This meant it had to be handled privately. Granny Hua Ying fell silent. What did this private handling mean? Was it to save face for the mother, or to protect the safety of the new bride?
This... Granny Hua Ying was momentarily at a loss for words.
Meng Qingshan instructed Chen Kangda, "The Taoist temple we found last time wasn't good, so find another one."
Now it's clear.
Hua Ying and Chen Kangda exchanged a glance, realizing who the real mistress of the Meng family was.
In the Liuli Garden, Qingli lay on the bed, staring at the top of the canopy, lost in thought. Her heart was empty, devoid of any feeling. Layer upon layer of curtains fell, confining her to a small corner of the world. In the corner, a floor candlestick burned steadily, its glow tracing a perfectly round, orderly pattern that was rather uninteresting.
She was taken aback. Without rules, there can be no order. When did she become so impatient with rules?
Unable to find an answer, she got up and walked outside. She lifted the curtain and saw a tall, dark figure sitting at the table. His sharp eyes looked at her, which startled her so much that she screamed.
A sliver of light peeked out, and a dark figure slowly stepped forward. His tall and imposing figure forced the light to retreat behind her, and only then could she see that it was him.
Anger, questioning, and confusion welled up inside her, causing her to ask, "Why are you here!"
Her aggrieved expression held a hint of coquettishness.
The intense sense of dependence inside made Qingli tremble, and she subconsciously let go of his hand.
The curtains traced a falling arc, about to merge into one, obscuring the gaze of the two locked in a tug-of-war. The next instant, a broad, thick hand lifted up, his arm outstretched, easily hanging the curtains back up.
Her skin was fair, and her blush was bright and striking. His gaze was naked, relentlessly pursuing her.
Their relationship was open and aboveboard, announced to the world.
Our first meeting in the darkness was shy and veiled.
Qingli lowered her head first, her gaze sliding over his broad chest, slender waist, and long legs, finally landing on the large hole in the hem of his robe.
Meng Qingshan also saw it, but offered no explanation, appearing slightly uncomfortable.
Qingli suddenly thought of something and chuckled softly. He hadn't come for the past few days; could it be that he couldn't get in?
Approaching with imposing force, "Is it funny?"
The threat carried a hint of gritted teeth.
Qingli shook her head, but her eyes shone brightly, setting his heart ablaze. She wore a jade-white inner robe, her black hair flowing down her back. Though she wore no rouge, she was stunningly beautiful, and her slightly parted lips exuded a captivating fragrance.
The intense gaze consumed everything. Qingli's smile vanished instantly, her eyes flickered, and she took a step back. A dark shadow loomed before her eyes, and a heat touched her lips, but it vanished in an instant. Before Qingli could react, she saw him sitting at the table, his back to her, his body rising and falling.
Qingli's cheeks burned completely, and a sweet feeling spread from the bottom of her heart, bubbling away.
Qingli watched as he still had his back to her, and couldn't help but smile. She didn't have the manners of a typical Kyoto woman. After years of suppression, she wanted to be herself. Since the marriage was a gift from heaven, what was wrong with this kind of fun between the two of them?
However, unexpectedly, he also had a moment of weakness.
I thought we could hold out for a few more days.
Although she was intrigued, she dared not provoke him. She waited until he had drunk three cups of cold tea before approaching him, only to hear him threaten in a low voice, "You just wait!"
She'd heard many threats, but none had made her panic. Thinking she was already home, she retorted, "Fine, just wait!"
Meng Qingshan suddenly turned around, his brown eyes gleaming with an unusual light that captivated the soul. He then chuckled twice, his joy and delight evident. Indeed, the girl he had raised with such tenderness deserved to be so bright and radiant.
Qingli also wanted a cup of tea, but he stopped her, saying, "This tea is cold."
"It's fine."
“No.” Meng Qingshan said, leaving no room for argument. “In a little while, have the maid bring back warm water.”
Jiang Zhao was on night duty and was fast asleep. He hadn't heard any of the commotion. Qing Li knew he was slightly dissatisfied with her maid, so she nodded and let the matter drop.
"Just came to see you."
Qingli was taken aback, only then realizing that he was answering her question.
"Let me tell you about what happened before and after."
When it came to business, Qingli listened attentively. After he finished speaking, she could only sigh at his boldness and meticulousness. He understood everyone's thoughts perfectly and seized the right opportunity. He naturally seized the result he wanted in the whirlpool. Little did he know that the whirlpool had already stopped turning and had calmed down in accordance with his direction.
Qingli's expression tightened. "Is this arranged marriage merely a result of going with the flow?"
A sharp pain shot through her forehead, and Qingli cried out in pain. Seeing his solemn expression, she said, "A marriage decree is so difficult to obtain, yet you speak of it so lightly."
"I'm telling you all this so you'll know that your grandfather was incredibly insightful and could see through any scheme at a glance. His opposition was exactly what His Majesty wanted."
She values her family so much; if she doesn't make things clear, how could he bear to be caught in the middle because of Huang Pu's opposition? Huang Pu is intelligent; at this point, he should know what the best response is. So, regardless of whether Huang Pu's opposition is feigned or genuine, the matter is settled, and Huang Pu has no choice but to accept it.
Furthermore, he will fully assist the Fourth Prince, which will be enough to make up for the misdeeds.
"That's good." Qingli was indeed worried that her grandfather might have some reservations. Seeing that her grandfather was not feeling well, the joy in her heart always faded.
In the alley, the third watch of the night began.
Meng Qingshan glanced at it a few more times, reluctant to get up. He had been blocked outside by the Huang family's traps two days ago, but he had managed to sneak in today. He would just have to keep trying to overcome the obstacles from now on.
Qingli turned around, took a piece of paper from the table, handed it to him, and instructed, "Take a good look at it."
Meng Qingshan unfolded the diagram of the Huang family's layout, his eyebrows raised and a smile on his face.
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