Chapter 85085 Secret Fortress
Chapter 85
Mu Yun responded and stepped forward, pushing the wheelchair and walking slowly out.
It was still before the usual class time, but Meng Yuning took Yi'er by the hand and said softly, "Your Highness, I'll take Yi'er out to play for a while. I'll send him over when you're done."
County Magistrate Chen came to report the case, and there must be some content that should not be heard by children, so it would be better for Yier not to go over for the time being.
Qi Jingyan nodded slightly, responded gently, and then was pushed away by Mu Yun.
Yi'er raised her little face, gently shook Meng Yuning's hand, and said in a clear voice: "A Ning, can we go to our secret nest?"
Meng Yuning smiled and agreed, then took Yi'er back to the west wing. Mu Ying and Mu Li followed quietly behind.
The morning light was just right, shining into the house through the carved wooden windows, illuminating the entire room.
The bunk bed had been assembled and arranged long ago, but Meng Yuning had only slept on it a few times. A few days ago, when Qi Jingyan was busy with official business and didn't come back at noon, she took Yi'er with her to stay here for a nap for some fun.
A light green gauze curtain hung from the top of the bed, and the bed was covered with a quilt of the same color, fresh as spring.
A plain white gauze curtain was hung in front of the window, which was now pulled up with a silver hook, forming two soft arcs, blocking some of the slightly dazzling sunlight and filtering out some of the dryness.
In the ceramic pot in the corner of the house, there is a dragon-scale spring rain plant that is as tall as a person. It was dug up from the fields outside the mansion a few days ago.
At that time, everyone dug up a lot of trees together and planted most of them in various places in the yard. Only this one smaller one was moved into a pot by her and placed by the window of the west wing.
She placed another pot of similar size in the east room of the main house, hoping that Yier could also see the green when he was tired of writing.
A white porcelain vase stood quietly on the wooden table next to Chunyu. She had bought it a few days ago at the market with Mu Ying and others for eight cents. In the vase was a bunch of colorful wild flowers, which Mu Li had picked from somewhere this morning.
There were always fresh flowers in the room. Sometimes Qi Jingyan picked them for her while strolling in the courtyard, and sometimes Mu Ying and the others ran out to pick them when they saw that His Highness had not sent any.
The couch by the window was covered with a cool grass-green rattan mat, and on both sides were scattered several green pillows of different sizes embroidered with various floral patterns, which were comfortable to hug and hold.
In the middle stood a low wooden table, with a chessboard on one side, dotted with small shells. On the other side stood a covered snack box, compartments filled with small snacks like melon seeds and candied fruit.
The whole room is elegant and pleasant. As soon as you push the door open, you will feel relaxed and at ease.
The main room was decorated by Mu Yun and his friends according to Qi Jingyan's preferences. Compared with this side, it is more solemn and orderly, and also a little old-fashioned.
Yi'er particularly liked this west wing. Every time he came here, he would use his hands and feet to climb onto the couch by the window, snuggle into the pile of soft pillows and refuse to move.
Sometimes he would pile up all the pillows together to build a small "secret fortress", hide himself in it tightly, and wait for Aning to come and find it.
Meng Yuning always played along, deliberately pacing around the room, muttering "Where's Yi'er?" and not looking back. But when she finally "found" him, the little kid couldn't hold it in any longer and rolled out giggling, throwing himself into her arms and making a mess.
Seeing that he liked it, Meng Yuning smiled and said, "Yier, from now on, this will be our secret nest."
Yi'er nodded happily, and that day he ran several times on his short legs to move all his treasures here. Meng Yuning even specially cleared out a low cabinet for him to store his things.
However, Yier's current treasures are not valuable things. They are just his small bows and arrows, small wooden swords, small wooden swords and the like, but they are arranged neatly by him and occupy a full grid.
As for his few taels of silver, he still gave them to Meng Yuning to keep carefully.
Meng Yuning specially set up a small account book for Yier. The first monthly salary was paid last month, and the little guy's "family assets" finally became a little richer. Every income and expenditure were recorded clearly in the book. Meng Yuning asked the little guy to check the account from time to time.
As soon as he entered the room, Yi'er ran to the couch, took off his shoes neatly, and climbed up with his hands and feet. He waved his little hand towards Meng Yuning and said in a clear voice, "A Ning, let's play Go!"
Meng Yuning smiled and said "Okay," then took off her shoes and got on the bed. They sorted the shells into two piles, one for Meng Yuning and the other for Yi'er, each taking one.
Mu Ying and Mu Li each held a palm-leaf fan and stood on either side, fanning themselves gently and watching with a smile.
Meng Yuning raised her eyes and called out to them: "Please move a stool and sit down. Don't stand all the time." The two of them responded and each brought an embroidered cushion to sit down.
Yi'er waved her hand and said with great momentum, "A Ning, go first!"
Meng Yuning didn't refuse, picking up a small scallop and gently placing it on the intersection of the chessboard's lines. Yi'er, without hesitation, placed a snail shell next to it. And so, you with a scallop, he with a snail shell, the two of them began to play chess with great enthusiasm.
When she first taught Yi'er to play, Meng Yuning often deliberately let him play so as not to discourage the little kid's enthusiasm.
Who would have thought that after he became familiar with the rules, he would often win. Meng Yuning stopped giving in, but she still lost more than she won.
She felt that Yi'er was too smart and it was definitely not her who was stupid, so she dragged Qi Jingyan to play. However, she didn't expect that Qi Jingyan also won every time. She was so angry that she drove him away and never played with him again.
Later, she competed with Mu Ying, Mu Li, Meng Jin and others one by one. She won most of the time, and only then did she regain her confidence.
At this moment, facing the little doll, she didn't dare to relax at all, but she still lost the first round.
Meng Yuning cried out in pain and fell backwards, refusing to get up from the couch. She kicked her legs and pounded the couch with her pillow, pretending to cry, "Why did I lose again... I don't want to play anymore!"
Yi'er giggled happily. He knew that Aning was acting, but he still got up, squatted beside her, and leaned forward to give her a kiss on the forehead. Then he stretched out his little hands to hold her face and coaxed her in a baby voice: "Aning, don't cry, Yi'er will let you next time!"
Meng Yuning turned her head away, feigning disbelief: "Really? Don't lie to me like your brother did."
When he and Qi Jing were at the banquet before, he always promised to let her go, but when he made a move, he refused to give in, pressing her step by step, killing her without leaving a single piece of armor. Every time she was so angry that she jumped up and down, he just sat aside, laughing so hard that his shoulders shook.
Yi'er immediately extended his little finger and said seriously: "A real man should keep his word!"
Meng Yuning finally broke through her tears and smiled. She hooked a finger with him, letting him push her to sit up. The two men sorted out their chess pieces and started the game anew.
Mu Ying and Mu Li, who were standing by, were already laughing so hard that they fell backwards. They couldn't hold the palm-leaf fans in their hands steadily, and they fell to the ground with a "plop", "plop".
When they laughed, Meng Yuning and Yi'er couldn't help laughing as well.
For a moment, the house was filled with laughter.
---
The atmosphere in the Qingke Hall was solemn.
County Magistrate Chen knelt on the ground, holding several thick volumes of files high above his head with both hands. His voice trembled slightly, "Your Highness, this case has only been concluded today because the Julongfang and Zuixianglou cases are so intricate and involved so many people. The more I investigate, the more complex the situation becomes. I dare not make a hasty conclusion, which is why it has been delayed for so many days. I have recorded all the details of the case here, and I respectfully invite your review."
Qi Jingyan took a sip of tea from the teacup and glanced at Mu Yun. Mu Yun understood and took the file, gently placing it on the table beside Qi Jingyan.
Qi Jingyan did not call Chen Junshou to stand up. He took two more sips of tea before putting down the teacup.
He took the files one by one, flipped through them slowly, and then put them back. His face remained calm as he spoke calmly, "Chief Chen has conducted such a thorough and detailed investigation. Aren't you afraid of offending the Zhang family and His Highness the Third Prince?"
As soon as these words came out, cold sweat immediately broke out on the forehead of County Magistrate Chen. He crouched even lower and said urgently, "I was foolish and stupid in the past. I beg Your Highness to punish me! From now on, I will follow Your Highness with all my heart and soul and obey your orders. If I have any second thoughts, heaven and earth will punish me!"
Qi Jingyan's tone remained calm: "Master Chen, you are too kind. Mu Yun, why don't you help Master Chen to his feet?"
Mu Yun quickly responded and took two steps forward to help County Magistrate Chen.
"Thank you, Your Highness." County Magistrate Chen thanked him and stood up with Mu Yun's help. He raised his sleeve to wipe the sweat from his forehead and did not dare to speak.
Qi Jingyan tapped the file lightly with his fingers, speaking in a steady tone, "The Zui Xiang Lou case is now considered clear. However, many women involved in the case were secretly transferred to Nanpu County. After all, they are citizens of Canghai County. I will need to trouble Lord Chen to bring these people back safely."
County Magistrate Chen quickly bowed and replied, "Yes, yes, I sent someone to Nanpu County yesterday to negotiate. If nothing unexpected happens, we should have a response tomorrow."
Qi Jingyan nodded slightly and said, "If you encounter any difficulties, please report to me and I will send someone to help you."
County Magistrate Chen said, "Your Highness has acted decisively, clearing out the gambling dens and brothels in Canghai County overnight. The people in Nanpu must have heard the news and are afraid. They will not dare to refuse to release the prisoners."
Qi Jingyan said calmly, "Then I will wait patiently for good news."
Then he continued, "There's another matter. Julongfang is trying to collect gambling debts, forcing a woman to go to Zuixianglou to pay them off. Their actions are despicable, but their whereabouts are clear."
"However, many men were also forcibly taken away, such as Lü Qiulian's husband, Boss Guo, whose whereabouts are still unknown. Has Lord Chen found out where he is?"
County Magistrate Chen bowed even lower, his voice filled with fear. "Your Highness, I have indeed tried my best to investigate, but the men taken away by Julongfang have disappeared without a trace. There is no trace left."
He hesitated for a moment, then added, "The people in the gambling house only explained that they were ordered to escort people to the thatched cottage at the entrance of Zhuwei Village, ten miles west of the city, and then leave quietly. As for where those people were taken after that, or whether they were alive or dead, no one knows."
"Originally, the young master of the Zhang family might have known the inside story, but he was killed that night. Now, there is no evidence to prove his mistake."
Qi Jingyan nodded slightly: "In that case, I'll trouble you, Master Chen, to continue your investigation."
County Magistrate Chen repeatedly responded with "yes," his manner respectful, and then asked cautiously, "Your Highness, now that this case has been concluded, how should I report this to the capital?"
Qi Jingyan said calmly, "Just report it truthfully. There's just one thing: those missing persons don't need to be entered into the files until their whereabouts are known."
County Magistrate Chen immediately bowed and said, "As you command."
Qi Jingyan added in a deep voice, "Also, all the criminals who disregarded the laws of the country and brought disaster to the people must be severely punished to serve as a warning to others."
County Magistrate Chen agreed to all the requests and respectfully bowed before taking his leave.
It was not until I walked out of the door that I felt my legs go weak and I could hardly keep my balance on the steps.
After getting on the carriage, he collapsed on Mrs. Bai as soon as he entered the door.
Seeing his pale face and his official uniform soaked with sweat, Mrs. Bai hurriedly picked up the teapot beside her and fed him two sips of warm tea before asking softly, "What's wrong?"
After Chen Junshou recovered his breath, he finally smiled and whispered, "Don't worry, my husband will not die."
---
As the night deepened, Meng Yuning coaxed Yi'er to sleep, while Qi Jingyan leaned against the bed, fanning them both with a palm-leaf fan.
After Yi'er fell asleep, Qi Jingyan lowered his voice and said, "An Ning, there is something I want to ask you."
Meng Yuning rarely heard him speak to her in such a serious tone. She couldn't help but be curious and replied softly, "What's the matter?"
Qi Jingyan then told her about the disappearance of some men, including Boss Guo, who were forcibly taken away by Julongfang. Finally, he asked, "Can Aning guess where they went?"
Meng Yuning suddenly became alert, like a cat whose tail was stepped on. She immediately sat up, put her hands on her hips, and blurted out: "I didn't do it, how would I know?"
Seeing the girl's thorns suddenly stand up, Qi Jingyan couldn't help but laugh, and his tone became even more relaxed: "A Ning misunderstood, that's not what I meant. I just remembered that you used to have some bizarre dreams, didn't you?"
Meng Yuning blinked and asked in confusion, "Yeah, what's wrong?"
Qi Jingyan smiled, his eyes filled with curiosity. "Have you ever seen any clues related to this matter in your dreams?"
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