Did you say thank you?
Before Tang Qi could recover from his shock, Ye Qian said, "The cause of the chaos in Hecheng was not an external enemy, but an internal problem. During the defense of the city, someone led troops to attack it. The Hecheng defenders fought fiercely for half a month before the attackers withdrew, thus saving Hecheng."
"Why hide something this big?"
Tang Qi was puzzled and asked Ye Qian directly, "This is a serious matter of treason."
Ye Qian shook his head and frowned, saying, "The troops attacking the city are not from another country, but our own troops from Da Shuo."
Tang Qi was completely stunned. Civil war? Civil war at this critical juncture? He couldn't understand it.
He frowned and thought for a moment before asking Ye Qian again, "Which army?"
Tang Qi never expected that the answer to this question would unexpectedly shatter his composure.
Ye Qian didn't respond directly, but just kept staring at Tang Qi. The latter was taken aback by his gaze and quickly laughed, "Why are you looking at me like that... uh..."
Looking into Ye Qian's eyes, Tang Qi suddenly realized what was happening and froze on the spot. Her pupils widened in disbelief as she stared at Ye Qian and asked, "Is...is it the Wolf Strategy Army?"
Ye Qian nodded: "However, they came suddenly and left suddenly, and there are also strange things in Li Guangjun's army. We haven't figured out their motives yet. Ye An and I don't want to make a big fuss, so we've decided to investigate privately."
Tang Qi stood there stunned for a long time before he came to his senses and then said, "Has this matter been reported to the Emperor? This matter cannot be kept secret."
"I returned to the capital and met with the Emperor, and reported this matter to him. The Emperor granted us permission to investigate privately," Ye Qian said slowly.
Tang Qi finally nodded and said, "The country is currently unstable and war is ongoing. Lang Ce and Li Guang are the two banners of our Great Shuo. If such a scandal were to spread at this time, it would surely disrupt the morale of our army. It is right to investigate in private."
"What brings you to Jingzhou?" Ye Qian suddenly asked.
Tang Qi looked at him and said, "I caught someone who forged the Wolf Strategy military token. I originally came to Jingzhou to investigate this matter, but now it seems that it must be related to the chaos in Hecheng."
"Have you found anything?"
Tang Qi shook his head: "It's hard to say, but I suspect that the forgery of the Wolf Strategy Army's military license plates is related to the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue."
Ye Qian was slightly taken aback and asked, "Vice Minister of Revenue? Is there any concrete evidence?"
He continued shaking his head, saying, "It's just speculation, so I came to Jingzhou to gather evidence."
Ye Qian frowned and said, "If this matter really involves the Vice Minister of Revenue, then it is not a common occurrence. We will have to wait for my father and General Tang to return before discussing it further."
Tang Qi tightened his grip on his sleeve: "I'm afraid it will be too late by then."
"Has the leader of the siege been captured?"
Ye Qian shook his head: "They disappeared. After they withdrew, Ye An continued to defend the city. I went back to the capital to find your elder brother. The Wolf Strategy Army badges on the soldiers who died in the siege were all genuine. Your brother showed me portraits of the various Wolf Strategy Army generals, but the one who attacked the city was not among them."
Tang Qi remained silent; things seemed to be getting increasingly complicated.
"What are your plans now?"
Tang Qi thought for a moment and said, "I plan to go see Zhou Ziye. He should know something."
Ye Qian nodded in agreement.
Tang Qi looked at Ye Qian and suddenly laughed, leaving Ye Qian completely bewildered: "What are you laughing at?"
Tang Qi started being irreverent again, teasingly saying, "It's nothing, I just remembered someone saying that Zhou Ziye returned to the capital to steal a bride, and I couldn't help myself."
After a moment of surprise, Ye Qian replied, "Zhou Ziye isn't that stupid," and after a few seconds of pause, added, "Neither am I."
Tang Qi shrugged: "I hope so. Oh right—Shen Zhiqing said you used General Ye's military achievements to win her hand in marriage, but that's not really the case, is it?"
Tang Qi glanced at him: "Is it about Hecheng this time?"
Ye Qian did not reply to him.
Tang Qi leaned back in his chair and began to mutter to himself, "Let me guess, defending Hecheng, preventing internal strife, finding out the truth, and using these three things to seek the imperial decree for marriage? In the current situation, stabilizing internal troubles is more important than fighting external enemies, so this is quite a feat."
"The first two have been accomplished, but the last one was not accomplished before the imperial edict was issued. So, this imperial edict has additional conditions?"
Tang Qi looked at Ye Qian: "What are the conditions?"
Ye Qian finally sighed and replied, "I really can't talk to you much."
Tang Qi continued to wait for Ye Qian's reply.
"If I fail to uncover the truth, I will have to enter the palace to assist the prince."
After hearing the answer, Tang Qi laughed and tapped his head, saying, "It seems the Emperor really values you. However, once you enter the palace, no matter which prince you choose to assist, you will be drawn into the power struggle. Ye Qian, you're taking too much of a risk."
Ye Qian said, "If this matter can be investigated, I won't need to go to the palace."
Tang Qi shook his head: "Since the Emperor has this intention, he will not let you leave easily."
Ye Qian replied, "That's a matter for the future."
Tang Qi nodded. "That's true."
"I've heard that Young Master Ye is a master of the zither. Your timing is perfect; won't you let me witness your talent?"
Ye Qian followed Tang Qi's gaze to the zither placed to the side. Under Tang Qi's gaze, he sat down in front of the zither with a sense of helplessness, placed his fingers on the strings, and quickly began to pluck. The zither music was melodious, and Tang Qi's heart immediately brightened. He said, "I have also heard such beautiful zither music in Luocheng."
"However, his playing is a bit more piercing than yours."
After the song ended, Ye Qiancai said, "That person must be quite important to you too."
"Huh? Him?" Tang Qi shook his head, his face full of rejection. "His music is just like him, resolute and rigid to the extreme. He and I are natural enemies."
Ye Qian simply smiled and looked at Tang Qi, saying, "Words can deceive, but actions cannot. Zhong Le, when have you ever cared about someone's music?"
Tang Qi was speechless, unsure how to defend himself, but Ye Qian stopped him there and let him go.
After leaving the Ye residence, Tang Qi didn't rush to find Zhou Ziye. He believed half of Ye Qian's words, and Tang Qi still had doubts about his marriage proposal. However, judging from his appearance, he was unwilling to reveal anything more. So, did Ye Qian distrust him, or Lang Cejun? Tang Qi couldn't figure it out.
And what about Crane City? Did someone forge the tokens of an entire team, or... did someone really control the Wolf Army?
Even if Tang Qi is unwilling to think this way, the latter is indeed more likely.
Therefore, the most important thing now is to ascertain the internal situation of the Wolf Army.
"Oh dear, how pitiful. Such a beautiful girl, how could this happen..."
Tang Qi's gaze was drawn to the group of people gathered in front of him. He stopped thinking and followed the crowd.
Kneeling in the middle was a girl, and lying next to her was a slightly older man. The wooden sign hanging on the girl clearly read four words: "Selling herself to bury her father."
There were sighs and lamentations around the girl, but those were all that remained.
After seeing this clearly, Tang Qi withdrew. Everyone has a kind heart and good character, just like the onlookers around, who all felt pity and compassion, but very few actually offered a helping hand.
He walked to the entrance of the alley, squatted down in front of a little beggar, took the money pouch from his waist and weighed it in his hand: "Give her enough money, the rest is yours."
Fortunately, compared to those who stood around, he had the ability to reach out.
Tang Qi didn't pay any more attention to what happened next. After handing the money bag to the little beggar on the roadside, he walked away.
Finally, he stopped in front of a vendor selling candied hawthorns, the rosy color of which made his mouth water.
"Young master, would you like one?"
The vendor looked at Tang Qi with a smile and said...
"Okay, I'll have one!"
Tang Qi habitually reached for the money pouch at his waist, only to find it empty, realizing he had already given away all the silver.
"I should have left some."
Tang Qi shook his head, muttering to himself with a hint of helplessness. He was about to tell the vendor he didn't want it anymore when a hand suddenly reached out from the side, with a few copper coins lying in its palm.
He turned his head and immediately saw the person's face.
It was Cheng Junshi.
Tang Qi's eyes lit up. He saw the vendor take the money from Cheng Junshi's hand, and before he could even say "thank you," Cheng Junshi's hand grabbed the stick before he could reach for the candied hawthorn.
He took a bite first, then looked at Tang Qi with a strange expression before turning and leaving.
"Hey, Cheng Wang, it's just a candied hawthorn, it's not that serious."
Tang Qi caught up with Cheng Junshi in a few steps, stopped him, and quickly snatched Cheng Junshi's money bag. After taking out some silver, she threw the rest back to him and ran back. She bought some candied hawthorns before slowly walking back.
Cheng Junshi still held the half-open money pouch in his hand. He handed it to Tang Qi and waved it: "Theft or robbery, which crime does the young marquis prefer?"
"Tsk, Cheng Wang, you're being too polite. With our relationship, would it be a crime for you to treat me to a candied hawthorn?"
He took the money bag from Cheng Junshi's hand and tied it around his waist, but Cheng Junshi's voice suddenly came from above his head.
"So, what is our relationship?"
Thump, thump.
Perhaps because they were too close, the sound tickled his ears.
Tang Qi froze for a moment, then quickly tied up his money pouch, took a bite of the candied hawthorn with a dazed "ah" sound.
Cheng Junshi's face was expressionless, but his eyes were like those of a venomous snake, staring at him without any attempt to conceal his gaze.
The two stared at each other strangely, and in the ensuing stalemate, Tang Qi inexplicably felt guilty.
"never mind."
Cheng Junshi withdrew his gaze, and seeing his expression, decided not to ask any further questions. He turned and left. Tang Qi followed, and only when they were side by side did Cheng Junshi say, "The benevolent and virtuous young marquis should be careful with his gifts. Even if you give away all your wealth, you still can't save the world."
Tang Qi took another bite of the candied hawthorn and laughed, "Really? It's a pity I don't want to save everyone in the world. If I want to do something, I just do it. Do I need to think so much?"
Cheng Junshi looked at him again, and after a long while said, "She didn't sell herself to bury her father; she just conspired with others to swindle money."
How did you know?
"Because she used the same trick on another street last month."
Tang Qi had already eaten most of his candied hawthorn, and as he continued biting into the bottom one, he nodded and asked, "So, did she manage to fool me last month?"
"We succeeded in fooling them."
Tang Qi, with a candied hawthorn in his mouth, suddenly burst out laughing: "Who is it? There's actually someone who thinks the same way as me?"
Cheng Junshi remained silent and simply walked forward.
Not getting a response, Tang Qi turned to look at him and, seeing Cheng Junshi's expression, couldn't help but laugh and asked, "Pfft...you...you?"
Seeing that Cheng Junshi did not deny it, Tang Qi laughed out loud, finished the last candied hawthorn, and patted Cheng Junshi on the shoulder: "Cheng Wang, Cheng Wang, we are really like the pot calling the kettle black. We are destined to meet."
Seeing him laughing so heartily, Cheng Junshi suddenly asked, "Aren't you angry? She lied to you."
Tang Qi shook his head and said with a smile, "I don't lack this money. This bag of money can at least keep them safe for a month. It's making the best use of it, so it's a satisfactory outcome."
Cheng Junshi continued to gaze at him, as if no matter how much time had passed, no matter when, Tang Qi was always so full of life, pulling everyone around him upwards.
"Why are you still staying in Jingzhou? I thought you had gone back to Luoyang."
Tang Qi glanced at Cheng Junshi, who had only taken one bite of the candied hawthorn in his hand and hadn't touched the whole thing.
Cheng Junshi merely sneered and replied, "Young Marquis, please remember to eat light meals."
Tang Qi didn't understand what he meant, but then he heard him continue, "Otherwise, I'm afraid you'll find it too salty."
"I'm salty... what do you mean, Cheng Wang?"
"This is out of concern."
Having rebuked Tang Qi, Cheng Junshi felt exceptionally pleased.
Unexpectedly, this guy was even more vengeful. Taking advantage of his inattention, he snatched the candied hawthorn from his hand, saying, "Anyway, you don't like it, so I've taken care of it for you. You're welcome."
Watching Tang Qi finish the candied hawthorn in no time, Cheng Junshi was speechless. Just as he was about to say something, Tang Qi spoke first: "Zhang Dong delivered it?"
Cheng Junshi nodded, and Tang Qi asked again, "You personally delivered it to the prison?"
"What do you mean?"
Tang Qi laughed and said to him, "Cheng Wang, let's make a bet. I bet Zhang Dong isn't in jail right now."
Cheng Wang looked at him and quickly replied, "Impossible. I personally sent him in. How could he not be in prison?"
So, shall we bet?
Tang Qi looked at him with her arms around him, her eyes full of smiles.
"Of course, what are we betting on?"
Cheng Junshi was not intimidated by him.
"Let's bet... on this."
After saying that, Tang Qi shook the money pouch in his hand and laughed happily. Cheng Junshi quickly reached for his waist and found it was empty. He almost gritted his teeth and said, "Tang Qi, it's a waste of your talent to be a young marquis. A person like you wouldn't starve to death no matter which street you were thrown on."
He emphasized the last few words, while Tang Qi deliberately raised an eyebrow at Cheng Junshi with a look of enjoyment and said smugly, "You flatter me, Young Supervisor Cheng."
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