Chapter 82 The Pact of Life and Death "Where is Xie Qinghe? When will he return?"
As it is said, they grew up together and worked together to achieve great things. If we were to ask who understands Jiang Xu best, Xie Qinghe would be number one, Prince Jing would be number two, and there would be no third.
Upon hearing this, Xie Qinghe immediately understood Jiang Xu's implied meaning and respectfully straightened his leaning body.
"Your Majesty, it is nothing serious. The culprit has already been executed."
Jiang Xu's gaze lingered on Xie Qinghe's brow, trying to see through the undercurrents hidden beneath the thin ice, but ultimately failed.
A smile still lingered on his face, but his voice had turned cold, losing its previous warmth.
"In the past few months, I have heard a lot of rumors."
"Since it is just gossip, it is like a rootless duckweed. Your Majesty need not take it to heart."
Xie Qinghe's fingers, which were gathering purple energy, twitched slightly. He took a half step back, turned his head, and coughed weakly, not wanting to dwell on this matter any longer.
"Don't take it to heart?"
Seeing that he was panting heavily, Jiang Xu frowned slightly and instinctively took half a step forward. Glancing at Xie Qinghe's simultaneous increase in distance, her eyes trembled slightly, and she let out a weak sigh.
He turned around and waved to Wu Quan, signaling him to hand over the letter.
The paper was dry, stiff, and rough, with ink smudges and the writing was not smooth or natural. It didn't resemble the handwriting of a scholar; it was more like the handwriting of a jailer.
Xie Qinghe glanced at the irregular writing, his eyes drawn to a line of small characters.
"I never knew there was such a wolf in sheep's clothing in the world. He failed to assassinate you and even hoped to grant a general amnesty on the day I died."
"Do you know what kind of impact such remarks will have on you if they get out?"
The Emperor discovered details about the night Ning Lu was imprisoned in the dungeon by Pan Xingxue, details that even he was unaware of.
The emperor's oppressive aura spread silently, yet it could not break through Xie Qinghe's indifferent and cold expression.
"You've been investigating cases for three months, and countless people from all walks of life are watching your position."
The fingertips behind her back tightened, and the thin veil of kindness and humility swayed.
Jiang Xu lowered his tone, his face blank, a hint of regret in his voice: "Jiming, when we were young, I stormed into the late emperor's palace to plead for your life. Later, during the struggle for the throne, you shielded me from a runaway horse. Over the years, I have only trusted you and am willing to protect you."
The candlelight crackled as Xie Qinghe took a slow breath, as if it were a strain on his heart and lungs, his brow furrowing silently in pain.
The fleeting ripple in her eyes, like a stone sinking into a pool, vanished in an instant. As she raised her gaze, her eyes bypassed the emperor's face, which held both sorrow and expectation, and looked directly into his eyes.
"Thunder and rain, both are blessings from Heaven."
"That year, His Majesty came of age and went hunting in the Eastern Palace. Traitors were in power. His Majesty once said, 'Those who achieve great things are not troubled by trivial matters.'"
"Now that Your Majesty possesses the entire realm, you should understand even more clearly that trivial words are nothing to fear, but lurking enemies are the real threat."
His voice was slightly hoarse from coughing, but very clear, and as calm and composed as ever.
Jiang Xu looked at Xie Qinghe's increasingly pale face and his breathing became heavier.
He stared intently at Xie Qinghe, trying to glean some clue from his expression.
Even though the person in front of him spoke and acted exactly the same as before, he still felt that he was different today.
This was not the Xie Jiming he used to know.
After a long silence, Xie Qinghe said slowly, "Your Majesty, I can stabilize the court and eliminate the remaining factions."
They both knew that this was the most important thing at the moment, and it was also what Jiang Xu cared about most.
Jiang Xu's eyes flickered, then he looked coldly at the wrinkled letter.
"Jiming, you are making a deal with me."
"Do you know that everything she has done and said, one by one, is enough to implicate nine generations of her family?"
"In this world, the only one implicated by her is your humble servant. If Your Majesty wishes to implicate others..."
"Thank you, Qinghe!"
The gentle expression on his face shattered into pieces. In his anger, Jiang Xu suddenly grabbed a teacup from the table. As he raised his hand, he caught a glimpse of the pattern on the cup out of the corner of his eye.
That was a Ru kiln cup that Xie Qinghe used exclusively in the palace.
He stopped abruptly, breathing heavily.
"Have you gone mad for a woman?"
Xie Qinghe keenly seized this moment of hesitation, dispelling the almost cruel coldness in his eyes, raising a weary, self-deprecating smile, and slowly kneeling down as he lifted his robes.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to use this crippled body to enter the underworld once more and sweep away all the remnants of the past." His voice paused, his thin body swayed, and after a difficult breath, he continued, "I will share Your Majesty's burdens."
Jiang Xu's eyes were bloodshot. He still wanted to say something, but the fine sweat seeping from Jiang Xu's temples stung him, so he turned his head away.
Xie Qinghe's body was already at its limit.
They were well aware of this before he went to Changzhou.
"You insist on doing this..."
"Then you'd better live a long life so you can protect her forever."
"Your subject will certainly do his utmost."
Upon hearing this, the high and mighty monarch slumped down, threw the teacup back onto the table, gritted his teeth, and, feeling lost and exhausted, forced a sarcastic laugh, shaking his head and waving his hand.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."
Xie Qinghe bowed again, his body swaying almost imperceptibly.
His face appeared even paler in the candlelight.
He slowly rose, his steps heavy.
"Jiming, I think you're just delirious from illness."
Jiang Xu braced himself on the table beside him, his mind a jumble of thoughts. Undeterred, he raised his voice and cursed, "Hurry up and get Physician Luo to prescribe some medicine for you!"
Without receiving a reply, before long, they suddenly heard the eunuchs outside shouting shrilly.
"Thank you, sir!"
"Help! Lord Xie has vomited blood and fainted!"
"Thank you, Jiming!"
"Oh my god! Is there really such a good thing?!"
After Xie Qinghe left, Ning Lu took a hot shower, then jumped onto the bed and slept soundly for a long time.
The moment I opened my eyes and got up, a freshly prepared Manchu Han Imperial Feast was placed before me.
Her eyes immediately lit up, and she shamelessly wiped her drool and collapsed in front of the table.
Ning Lu thought she was living the life of a god at the Changzhou Inn, but after eating the dishes prepared by Xie's chef, she exclaimed that it was all worth it. She felt that all the fear and anxiety she had experienced following Xie Qinghe along the way had been completely worth it, and she wished she could call the chef up and become sworn brothers with him on the spot.
"The adults prefer light meals, and the head chef has been unable to showcase his skills for a long time. The arrival of the young lady is truly a great joy."
After Ning Lu finished eating a bowl of rice, she smiled and nodded to Ji Zheng and the head chef, then belatedly looked at Qinghuai and Qingzhi.
"Should I take out my money to tip him/her at a time like this?"
The girls on duty inside chuckled softly, and even the usually composed and dignified Ji Zheng's eyebrows curved into a smile as he waved his hand repeatedly.
“The master instructed that everything in this courtyard should be done according to the young lady’s rules.” He paused, rubbed his hands together, and then asked, “However, does the young lady have time later? There are a few people she needs to meet in person.”
"I?"
"yes."
Although she didn't know what important matter in the mansion required her decision, Ning Lu felt safe and comfortable here and had no defenses, so she simply agreed.
Ji Zheng received a reply and left first. She then tasted a few more bites of her favorite side dishes before reluctantly wiping the soup from the corners of her mouth and getting up to leave.
"Young lady, you may not know this, but the courtyard that the master chose for you comes with a small kitchen, and the cook from earlier has also been given to us. From now on, you can eat whatever you want anytime."
Before she could even raise her hand, Qingzhi had already draped the cloak over her and handed her a hot water bottle.
"A small kitchen? A chef is being delivered too? Is that some kind of special occasion?"
"Of course! This chef has been with our master for many years. In the capital, apart from the imperial kitchen that serves the emperor, the only other chef is the one we just met."
"Having used it for so many years, don't you know Xie Qinghe's taste very well?"
Ning Lu frowned slightly.
Qinghuai immediately guessed what she was thinking, and tugged at her sleeve, pointing to the covered corridor covered with vines, where a moon gate was faintly visible.
"Our courtyard isn't the largest, but it's the closest to the adults' courtyard. We just need to go through that gate to get there."
“Yes, yes, in this way, our courtyard will become our own world, undisturbed by others, making it the safest and most comfortable place.” Qingzhi said in a light tone, “Since you are so considerate of me, I am sure you can do whatever you want in the capital.”
Recalling how overjoyed the two women were when she first arrived at the courtyard, Ning Lu finally understood their simple joy for her.
Just like the ever-filling baggage she carries, her possessions and interpersonal ties in this world are increasing and deepening.
I used to long to go home, feeling that the social obligations here were a burden. Now, I'm starting to feel more at ease and secure.
How fortunate we are.
Upon entering the front hall living room, Ning Lu immediately saw four people standing there.
Besides Ji Zheng, there were two men and one woman.
Two middle-aged men, one honest and simple, the other steady and shrewd.
Standing in front of them, the woman beside Ji Zheng looked to be in her thirties, plump and with a dignified and composed demeanor.
The four bowed in unison, Ning Lu pursed her lips, gritted her teeth, and returned the bow with an elegant posture.
The woman at the head of the table noticed her discomfort, smiled gently, and tilted her head to greet her.
Ning Lu blushed instantly, looked down at her nose, and followed Ji Zheng's guidance to the seat of honor.
What kind of trouble is Xie Qinghe up to now?
“Miss Ning, these three are Wenxi, Guanshi, and Junbo. They have all been reliable stewards in the household for many years. From now on, they will manage the shops and estates for you.”
"Wait! Wait a minute!"
Ning Lu raised her hand, puzzled, to interrupt Ji Zheng's eloquent speech.
"Mr. Ji, are you sure you're not mistaken? I don't own a estate, so why would I need you guys to manage it for me..."
“I have it now, young lady.”
Ji Zheng flicked his finger, and Wen Xi brought up the box behind her, taking out a stack of documents and land deeds from it.
"These are pawnshops, bookstores, pharmacies, carriage and horse shops, as well as several estates with stable incomes. Please take a look, young lady."
Seeing Ning Lu still looking dumbfounded, Ji Zheng immediately realized that Xie Qinghe hadn't had a chance to tell her about this.
"Please don't be offended, young lady. The master instructed that giving you only a fixed monthly salary is not a long-term solution. The above-mentioned industries are stable and easy to manage. We will hand over the people and the shops directly to you, which will save you time and effort and make things easier."
"Is this my salary?"
She picked up a land deed at random, found the corresponding account, and immediately recognized that the accounting records had been deliberately simplified at that time.
The net profit has already been circled in vermilion ink above, and the content is clear and concise, requiring no thought.
Even the bookstores with the thinnest profit margins had monthly revenue of five hundred taels, not to mention the pawnshops' substantial turnover.
"Guan Shi will be in charge of the pawnshop and carriage shop, while Jun Bo will manage the bookstore and pharmacy. Wen Xi is the most composed and reserved, and is extremely good at overall planning. From now on, the two of them will collect the accounts and submit them to Wen Xi for her management and reporting to you. If you have any expenses in the future, you can directly ask Wen Xi for money."
"As the master said, if the young lady is interested and wants to learn how to do business, she can directly seek out Wenxi. There is no better teacher in the entire capital than her."
Ning Lu was driven crazy by being called "Miss" so many times, so she buried herself in the ledger and pretended to study it seriously.
Just as Ji Zheng said, the accounts were clear and easy to understand, obviously arranged with great care to cater to her love of money and laziness.
"You're giving me all of these?"
She confirmed it again.
"Once the young lady signs and stamps it, it will all belong to her."
Having received an affirmative answer, she leaned back into the couch, sighed deeply, and looked up at the people in front of her, her feelings a mix of emotions.
"Shall I introduce you, young lady?"
Wenxi spoke, her voice clear and crisp.
Ning Lu fiddled with the ledger beside her for a couple of moments, then shook her head wearily and pursed her lips in deep thought.
Although it was incredibly pathetic, her mind was in complete chaos at that moment.
I've always dreamed of getting rich overnight, and when it suddenly came true, I didn't feel particularly happy. Instead, I felt a tightness in my chest and couldn't breathe properly.
In the morning, she looked at Xie Qinghe with a shrewd and calculating look, trying to get a few more taels of silver. He obediently and innocently nodded in agreement.
He didn't mention a word about the things he had arranged behind the scenes.
As she rubbed her fingertips against the table, recalling his weak appearance, panting after just a few steps, Ning Lu's nose stung with tears.
They spent every day together on the journey, but now she racked her brains and couldn't figure out when he had arranged all these things.
Furthermore, during those times when he leaned against her and closed his eyes to rest, was he actually getting some rest?
Or, is there even a single second or moment in that guy's life where he truly doesn't want to do anything and just relaxes completely?
Xie Qinghe...
That cunning little man, he's using the same trick again, pretending to be profound and noble, making her feel sorry for him, making her soften her heart...
Ning Lu sniffed twice and asked in a muffled voice, "Where's Xie Qinghe? When is he coming back?"
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