Chapter 134 Wu Cunli "Big Brother." Yinzhen bowed and saluted,...
"Brother." Yinzhen bowed. "I heard that you destroyed a White Lotus sect hideout this time. Congratulations, brother."
There was no joy on Yinzhen's face: "Well, how is your injury?" He only destroyed a hideout and did not completely eradicate the White Lotus Sect. He did not complete his mission in the eyes of the Emperor.
Yinzhen's face was expressionless. "Much better. Thank you for your concern, big brother."
This is how they have always been with the brothers.
"That's good." Yinzhen asked casually. "We've captured quite a few people this time. Their identities are complex, and we'll need time to carefully interrogate and identify them. I still have to go out and track down the remaining criminals, so I don't have time. I'll leave this matter to you. Can you do it?"
Yinzhen's spirits lifted. He had been thinking about how to intervene in this matter on the way here. Unexpectedly, he was given a pillow just as he was dozing off. "Don't worry, big brother. I will do my best."
Yinzhen nodded, stood up and said, "I will leave now. I am with the prefect. You can go by yourself."
"Take care, big brother."
After seeing Yinzhi off, Yinzhen sent someone back to tell Qi Buchen something, and then took his men straight to the Yangzhou prefectural government office.
Yangzhou Prefect Wu Cunli was waiting at the door early. When he saw Yinzhen, he bowed and said, "I greet the Fourth Prince."
"Master Wu, there's no need to be so polite." Yinzhen nodded and got straight to the point. "Where is the person?"
Wu Cunli smiled and said, "Why worry, Fourth Prince? I've already had the man sent by Prince Zhi imprisoned. I've instructed the officers below to interrogate him first. You don't need to ask about the basics. Your Excellency has been in Yangzhou for so long, and I haven't entertained him yet. I've prepared a table of wine and food, and I'd like you to take a seat."
Yinzhen frowned slightly. He had never liked these social interactions, preferring to get straight to the point. However, this wasn't the capital, and he held no real power. The Yangzhou prefect was only a fourth-rank official, but because of Yangzhou's special status, the emperor often summoned him to the capital for an audience, treating him better than even provincial governors.
Even Yinzhen couldn't show his disapproval to such an important official.
Of course, he wouldn't be so humble as to say, "Master Wu, you're too polite. I'm injured, so forget about the drink."
"Look at me, how could I forget such an important thing!" Wu Cunli looked annoyed. "Fourth Prince, please don't mind. Although I can't drink wine, our Yangzhou cuisine is different from the flavors in the capital. Fourth Prince, please try it today."
"It's okay." Yinzhen has always been taciturn to outsiders.
Yangzhou has a prosperous business, and the prefectural government office is not old and dilapidated like other places. It is very magnificent.
Wu Cunli noticed Yinzhen's gaze and smiled, "Fourth Prince, you may not know this, but this government office was only recently renovated. There's a story behind this. The original government office was truly dilapidated. One year, Yangzhou was hit by relentless rain, and a section of the outer wall collapsed. I was just wondering what to do, when wealthy families in Yangzhou suddenly approached me, offering to donate to help with the reconstruction. Touched by their kindness, I reported this to the Emperor, who issued an edict praising these wealthy families. There's even a monument on the side of the government office, commemorating the original donors. This has become a legendary story in this area."
Yinzhen had never heard of this matter. Although he started his work early, he only had some knowledge of the things happening in the capital. He basically didn't hear any news about the things happening in other places unless it was a major disaster.
Yinzhen glanced at Wu Cunli meaningfully: "It seems that Lord Wu loves the people like his own children."
"No, no, I am only serving the emperor with loyalty." Wu Cunli smiled very reservedly.
As they were talking, the two of them had already walked to the banquet place, where there were several people waiting who were obviously accompanying the guests.
After Wu Cunli introduced them one by one, Yinzhen had his thoughts in mind. If they were not selected based on official positions, then these people must be close to Wu Cunli, and perhaps even his confidants.
Because Yinzhen couldn't drink, Wu Cunli had no choice but to call up the dance and music troupe he had prepared early. "This is the Zhu family's own troupe of actresses. They are quite famous in Yangzhou. Their dancing is amazing. Literary and elegant people like to invite them to their gatherings and conversations."
Yinzhen glanced at them and asked in disbelief, "Where are these women from?"
Wu Cunli glanced at him and sighed, "What the Fourth Prince doesn't know is that the people have always been ignorant. It's not so bad in Yangzhou City, but in those villages farther away, when girls are born, the villagers either drown them or throw them into the wilderness. The old lady of the Zhu family is kind-hearted and can't stand such evil, so she spread the word that any girls who are no longer wanted can be sent to her family and raised. The Zhu family teaches these adopted girls the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, which gives them a way to make a living."
Yinzhen lowered his eyelashes, already understanding what was going on, and stopped talking.
After the dance was over, Wu Cunli asked with a smile, "What do you think of the Fourth Prince? How does it compare to the dancers in the capital?"
Yinzhen's expression remained stern, no different from when he first entered. He said simply, "Not bad." Without waiting, Wu Cunli asked, "How is the interrogation going?"
Wu Cunli smiled and said, "I'll have someone go ask right away."
The singing and dancing continued. Yinzhen held his chopsticks and ate bit by bit, but he was wondering in his heart whether Fu Jin could eat these dishes.
Fu Jin didn't have any symptoms like a bad mouth or loss of appetite now, but because she had to protect the fetus, the food she ate was basically tasteless medicinal food. Although Fu Jin didn't say it, he could see that Fu Jin wanted to eat something else.
When I get back, I'll ask the imperial physician to discuss it and see if I can add some other food to your wife's meal.
While thinking in his mind, Yinzhen didn't notice that some dancers below were secretly throwing him flirtatious glances, nor did he notice the whispers of the guests beside him.
Wu Cunli glanced at Yinzhen from time to time, but always kept smiling and did not force Yinzhen to start a conversation.
Not long after, the person who went to question them returned: "Sir, the prison said that they have almost finished questioning everyone."
Before Wu Cunli could reply, Yinzhen had already put down his chopsticks and stood up: "Let's go, the Prince of Zhi is still waiting for news, we can't delay."
Upon hearing about the Prince of Zhi, Wu Cunli no longer delayed and accompanied Yinzhen to the prison cell.
Someone was already waiting there. As soon as Wu Cunli arrived, he handed over a stack of confessions. He didn't read them himself, but handed them directly to Yinzhen. Yinzhen didn't hesitate and quickly flipped through them.
Wu Cunli watched Yinzhen fall into deep thought after reading the confession, and asked, "Which one does Fourth Prince want to try first?"
Yinzhen shook the confessions in his hand and pulled out one: "He."
After a busy whole day, Yinzhen returned to the courtyard of the palace until dusk. He first changed his clothes and warmed himself in his sleeping room before going to find his wife.
I missed you so much after not seeing you for a day.
Qi Buchen was pushed back to bed early. When he saw Yinzhen, he was very happy: "You are back." He was about to get up.
Yinzhen took two steps forward and held her down: "Don't get up." Ignoring Fu Jin's slight dissatisfaction, he asked, "How do you feel today?"
Qi Buchen muttered, "It's still not like that."
Yinzhen tested the temperature of his hand on his neck before reaching under the quilt and placing his hand on Qi Buchen's stomach: "Does your stomach feel uncomfortable?"
"What's uncomfortable about it? This is the most comfortable thing." Qi Buchen felt a little resentful. She felt that she was being ignored. Yinzhen seemed to value the child more?
Yinzhen didn't notice that his wife had put the pot on him, and he continued to ask her a series of questions in detail, such as what she had eaten today, how her appetite was, how her pulse was, etc.
Qi Buchen was getting impatient and squeezed the hand that was covering his stomach. "It's the same every day. What's there to ask? Aren't you going to interrogate the White Lotus Sect members? Tell me how it goes."
Now, she and the Seventh Concubine are the only two people of similar status in this palace. The Seventh Concubine has to guard Yinyou all day long, and she is almost suffocating.
Lan Hui and others only cared about persuading her to rest and not to waste her energy every day, and never played with her at all.
Yinzhen noticed her mood this time and said with a good-tempered smile, "Okay, I'll tell you."
Then he briefly talked about the results of his interrogation that day.
Qi Buchen was quite satisfied after hearing this: "Those who were definitely abducted by the White Lotus Sect, aren't they very unlucky? These people are not considered traitors, right? Will they be treated leniently when the time comes?"
"Although they were forced, it is also a fact that they worked for the White Lotus Sect. The specific situation depends on the emperor's intention," Yinzhen explained.
"Alas." Qi Buchen sighed, "Actually, from what you said, there are quite a few talented people here. Even though the White Lotus Sect is short of everything, they can still produce so many things. If they were recruited into the Ministry of Industry, wouldn't they be able to play a greater role?"
Yinzhen seemed to have something on his mind, but he didn't want Qi Buchen to worry about it. "Okay, you don't need to worry about these things. Just take good care of the baby." He pulled his hand away and tucked the quilt into the concubine's bed. "You go to sleep. I'm going back. I have to go to the government office early tomorrow morning. When you wake up, you can eat by yourself. You don't have to wait for me."
Qi Buchen curled his lips: "Okay." He closed his eyes and pouted slightly, "Good night."
Yinzhen felt as sweet as if it were wrapped in honey. Ever since the pregnancy was confirmed, Fu Jin had become even more clingy to him. Every night when he was about to leave, Fu Jin would ask for a kiss like this. Her coquettish look made him unable to move his feet for a while.
Yinzhen felt sweet and troubled at the same time, but that didn't stop him from bending down and rubbing those lips.
"Good night." The voice sounded sticky as if it was poured with glutinous rice juice.
Leaving without looking back, it was another sweet dream.
Yinzhen acted quickly and finished interrogating this group of people in just two or three days. The latest intelligence was also sent to Yinzhi as soon as possible.
After that, there was no major progress for Yinzhen. He could only recuperate while accompanying his wife and occasionally visit his seventh brother.
Wu Cunli had sent several invitations during this period, but Yinzhen had always declined, citing his injuries as an excuse. He hadn't dared to mention the incident with the dancer. Concubine Fu Jin still believed he was merely interrogating her at the yamen. If Concubine Fu Jin knew that she lay immobilized while he was out enjoying himself, he had a premonition that he would be in trouble.
…
"The Emperor will be back in a few days." Yinzhen came in from outside and told Qi Buchen, who was leaning on the couch in the outer room, the news.
It is now mid-April. Qi Buchen has been lying in bed for a month and a half. The imperial physician finally told her today that she could walk around the house a little.
It’s still not possible to go out.
Qi Buchen sat up in surprise: "So should we go back to Beijing?" She could finally go out.
Yinzhen was almost frightened to death by her movements. He hurried forward to hold her waist and frowned, saying, "Can't you move slower?"
Qi Buchen pouted. The imperial physician had clearly said the pregnancy was almost stable, but Yinzhen still acted like she had a bomb in her arms. He even nagged her if she had to get up faster. "I know."
Yinzhen wanted to say something to her, but he was afraid that she would be upset. The imperial physician had told them that pregnant women are prone to excessive worry, so they should be careful with their words.
He could only change the subject. "About the same. After the Emperor returns, he should stop for a few days to deal with the White Lotus Sect and Prince Zhu San's gang. He'll leave for Beijing by early May at the latest." He stroked Qi Buchen's belly. "By then, you'll be three months pregnant, and I'll be more at ease."
At this point, he remembered the incident when his wife got seasick when she came here, and his brows knitted together. "What if you get seasick again when you go back this time? No, I'll go ask the imperial physician."
He said nothing and quickly got up and left, leaving Qi Buchen with no time to grab the corner of his clothes.
Qi Buchen put his hand down in dismay and muttered, "Really, you're ignoring me more and more, hum."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
