Flirting is not allowed here.
Perhaps because he had been drinking, Qin Jianzhi became more talkative.
She looked at Tang Qi: "At that time, everyone was shouting that the northern frontier was at peace, and the music in the palace played for three days."
Tang Qi calmed herself down and looked at Qin Jianzhi, her eyes filled with a heart-wrenching redness: "Only the Tang family was eerily quiet. Your father was lying on the bed, and bloody water was endlessly being poured out of the basin."
"He had three broken swords stuck in his body, and he was covered in blood; I almost didn't recognize him..."
Even after so long, Qin Jianzhi's voice still trembled: "I stayed by your father's side for two days and two nights. The imperial physicians sent by the palace were telling us to prepare a coffin and make arrangements for his funeral."
“But how could we accept that? Your father was lying there, still breathing, I could still hear it. How could we accept such an ending? It was your grandmother who managed to prolong the time by four more days, giving your father a chance to pull through.”
At this point, Qin Jianzhi let out a long sigh of relief, as if he were a drowning person who had just been saved: "Do you know what the first thing the Emperor did after he found out your father had survived?"
Tang Qi paused for a long time before answering, "To be granted a title and a fief."
"Yes, he was granted a title and a residence, and moved to Luoyang. Everyone thought it was a reward, but your father knew in his heart that he would never be able to return to the capital again."
Qin Jianzhi suddenly laughed: "Your father almost died in the northern frontier, but in return, he was permanently removed from Jingzhou. Zhong Le, do you know why?"
"The officials are wary."
Tang Qi replied in silence.
“Yes, the Emperor is afraid,” Qin Jianzhi shook his head, then chuckled softly, “The people he guards don’t trust him.”
"So, that's why he doesn't want me to join the army?"
Qin Jianzhi looked at Tang Qi: "But in the end, he couldn't stop you."
—Just like I couldn't stop him.
"Mother, what I want to protect are the people of Da Shuo, not those people sitting high in the court."
"And wasn't your father the same?"
Qin Jianzhi stroked Tang Qi's head: "I encouraged you to join the army back then, and I won't stop you now. Whether you want to make a name for yourself or retire to your hometown, I will support you as long as you are willing. But you must promise me one thing: no matter what happens in the future, you must not have any evil thoughts. Zhong Le, the Tang family belongs to the Shuo Dynasty. What you must protect is the people and the country of the Great Shuo."
Tang Qi looked at Qin Jianzhi, a feeling he couldn't quite describe welling up inside him. He asked, "Mother, did my father send you a letter? Is he alright?"
Qin Jianzhi was taken aback for a moment, then said with a soft smile, "Your father... is doing very well."
After Qin Jianzhi went to sleep, Tang Qi took the letter she had brought back from Jingzhou from her room. Qin Jianzhi's behavior tonight was too abnormal, and coupled with the events that had happened before, Tang Qi couldn't help but have bad suspicions.
The letter was extremely brief, containing only a few sentences:
The southern wilderness is cold and desolate, but the army is fortunate to have enough food and clothing, and they will be able to return home soon.
Los Angeles is far away now, but I only wish my wife well, and that Qi and Yan are always happy.
That concludes my explanation. Do not forget.
Tang Qi put away the letter; it contained very ordinary words, and he couldn't discern anything from it. Tang Qi pondered for a moment, quickly made up his mind, went back to his room and lay down for the night, and went to the Ministry of Justice early the next morning.
The gate of the Ministry of Justice was very imposing, with guards carrying broadswords at the entrance. As soon as Tang Qi stepped onto the last step, two swords were thrust at him. He was not there to cause trouble, so he showed his badge and said, "I am looking for Supervisor Cheng. Please inform him."
Just then, a man came out from inside, recognized Tang Qi, and said, "Young Marquis?"
Tang Qi's eyes lit up, and she quickly asked him, "Zhuifeng, where are your parents?"
Zhui Feng walked up to Tang Qi and said, "My master is not on duty today and should be at home. I've come to retrieve some files for him. Would you like to come along, young marquis?"
Tang Qi glanced at the several volumes of literature in Zhui Feng's hand and nodded: "Alright, let's go together then. By the way, do you have a rotation system in your Criminal Law Department?"
Zhui Feng shook his head: "No, it's just that you don't like the environment of the Criminal Law Department, so the Chief Justice has given you special permission to handle official business at home when there are no special cases."
Tang Qi chuckled: "He really does get special treatment wherever he goes."
The two walked for a while before finally seeing the mansion. From inside came the sounds of music, the sound of a zither extremely calm yet surprisingly powerful.
"We've arrived, young lord. I'll take the case file to the magistrate first."
Zhui Feng entered the mansion first, and Tang Qi did not follow immediately; to be precise, he was stopped outside the mansion.
"I'm looking for Cheng Wang."
"Young Marquis, please wait here for a while. Our young master did not say he wanted to see you."
Tang Qi was stunned for a moment, then said, "Okay, then you can go and report to him."
The servant shook his head again: "No, our young master doesn't like to be disturbed while playing the zither. Young Marquis, you might as well wait a little longer."
"Then why was Zhui Feng able to go in just now?"
"Lord Zhuifeng was granted special permission by our young master."
Tang Qi was so angry she laughed. She squatted down at the door and waved her hand at the servant: "Fine, fine, I'll wait here then. When will your young master finish playing the zither?"
"About an hour."
Tang Qi immediately stood up. He almost thought that the servant was deliberately making things difficult for him, but he saw that the servant was serious. He could only suffer in silence and got up to walk around the gate and look up at the wall of the Cheng residence.
He was still weighing whether he could successfully cross that height, unaware that the music in the mansion had stopped.
Tang Qi watched for a while before finally moving his neck and shaking his hands, intending to flip over directly. Just as he was about to jump, a voice suddenly came from behind him:
"If you climb over this wall today, you'll end up in the Ministry of Justice's prison."
Cheng Junshi stood behind him, arms crossed, watching him.
"I... I'm just looking around. Your walls are pretty high, huh?"
Tang Qi nervously patted the brick-red wall, having almost tripped from Cheng Junshi's voice.
Cheng Junshi didn't say anything more, but simply put his hands behind his back, turned around and left.
Tang Qi followed him, swaggering behind Cheng Junshi as they entered the gate. The servant was still on guard at the gate. As Tang Qi passed by, he deliberately put his arm around Cheng Junshi's shoulder and said in a serious tone, "See? Be smarter. Don't be so rigid like your young master."
Cheng Junshi walked ahead without turning around. Hearing Tang Qi's words, he said, "If I were rigid, the young marquis would probably be in prison by now."
Cheng Junshi sat down first, and Tang Qi picked up the teapot on the table with practiced ease and poured himself a cup. As soon as he brought it to his lips, the aroma of tea filled his mouth.
Tang Qi frowned and moved the teacup further away: "Thousand-leaf tea?"
Cheng Junshi took a sip, nodded, and seemed not to think there was anything worth asking.
"No, so you actually like it?"
Cheng Junshi frowned, looked up at him with a puzzled expression: "Otherwise what? Why wouldn't you like drinking it?"
Cheng Junshi's self-righteousness made Tang Qi's previous guess seem somewhat petty. He choked up again and quickly changed the subject, saying, "Don't you have any other tea at home?"
"there is none left."
"Change the pot, change the pot! Cheng Wang, I rarely come here, and you, as the host, treat your guest like this?"
"Drink it or don't, it's up to you."
Cheng Junshi rolled his eyes at him, but still got up and brought Tang Qi a fresh pot of tea.
"Where's Chasing the Wind?"
"Organizing case files. What exactly are you here for?"
Cheng Junshi frowned slightly.
Tang Qi took a sip of tea and looked at him with a smile: "Would you believe me if I said I came to visit you?"
Cheng Junshi remained silent, simply watching Tang Qi, his face clearly displaying four words—
What do you think?
"I want to see Zhang Dong."
Tang Qi was too lazy to continue beating around the bush with Cheng Junshi, so he simply got straight to the point.
"Young Marquis, do you really think the Ministry of Justice is your personal residence?"
Cheng Junshi gave a cold laugh, his reply quite straightforward.
Tang Qi's smile widened, and she leaned forward, raising an eyebrow at Cheng Junshi: "That's why I came to find you."
"The Criminal Law Department isn't surnamed Cheng, Tang Qi. Have you lost your mind? What makes you think I'd take this risk for you?"
Cheng Junshi moved back and once again crossed his arms and stared at him.
“After you left Baibulou, Wang Shili came and caused trouble. He also went to Lin Jiacuo’s house and his words were directed at my father. I always felt that Wang Shili knew something. This incident is very likely related to my father’s southern expedition. So I have to see Zhang Dong and ask him about it.”
Tang Qi stopped laughing and spoke very seriously.
Cheng Junshi frowned. "Southern Expedition?" He thought for a moment and said, "The fake military tag that Zhang Dong has is made of copper and iron, which is indeed not something an ordinary person can forge. Wang Shili gave it to him. Since he said that, then he may really know something."
"So I have to see Zhang Dong."
"The criminal justice system is strict. Interrogating prisoners requires imperial decree and cannot be done privately. I cannot take you to see him."
Cheng Junshi looked at him, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Tang Qi stared at him for a while before finally letting out a long breath, pulling himself back and standing up with his hands supporting him, saying, "Alright, then I'll check from somewhere else."
He knew Cheng Junshi wouldn't lie; once he said it, there was truly no room for negotiation. From his school days, Cheng Junshi had always been an extremely disciplined person. This was also the reason why he and Cheng Junshi had become mortal enemies back then.
After all, he was a troublemaker back in the day, always trying to go against his father. There's no way they could become friends.
Tang Qi pursed her lips, finished the water in her cup, and then virtually clinked the cup against Cheng Jun's in the air: "Thank you for the tea, I'll be going now."
He had just turned around and taken two steps when Cheng Junshi called him back. Tang Qi turned around and met Cheng Junshi's eyes.
"Zhang Dong forged military license plates and will be sent to Jingzhou for trial in two days."
Tang Qi looked at Cheng Junshi in confusion, but then heard him continue:
"I will personally escort them."
Tang Qi was stunned for a moment, then smiled and nodded, saying to him, "Thanks, from now on when you go to Baibulou, I'll treat you to Qianye Tea."
Cheng Junshi scoffed, "Why would I need your few pots of tea?" He turned to Tang Qi and said, "I'm only helping you out of respect for General Tang."
Tang Qi nodded, also pleased, glanced at him and replied with a smile, "I'm only thanking you for the tea."
He quickly prepared several sets of night clothes and two days later had people ambush Zhang Dong on the road to Jingzhou.
As he had said, Cheng Junshi rode at the front, followed by Zhui Feng and the rest of the Ministry of Justice. Zhang Dong was imprisoned in the carriage cell behind them, which was covered with a black cloth.
"Zhong Le, when should we make our move?"
Lin Jiacuo, his face covered with a black cloth, spoke in a low voice.
"No rush. Remember, just knock them unconscious, but whatever you do, don't hurt them."
"Brother Qi, this is so exciting! This is my first time robbing the Ministry of Justice." Lin Zhengye behind him couldn't contain his excitement, and his voice was full of joy.
Tang Qi originally only wanted to find Lin Jiacuo, but the kid overheard him and insisted on coming along. Tang Qi thought that having more people wouldn't hurt, and since Lin Zhengye was quite skilled, he allowed him to come along.
Tang Qi stared intently until Cheng Junshi and the others slowly drew closer before leaping out. He attacked Zhui Feng first, and with a fierce chop, he controlled Zhui Feng's body and made him fall backward.
Cheng Junshi, sitting on horseback, turned around and met his gaze.
Tang Qi's hand was still in mid-air as he watched Cheng Junshi hesitate about which way to start to knock him unconscious without making a sound. Cheng Junshi rolled his eyes at him and fell straight off the horse, the whole movement flowing smoothly.
Tang Qi's hand, which had been suspended in mid-air, instantly transformed into a thumbs-up. Shaking his head, he exclaimed in admiration, "What a wonderful performance, Junior Supervisor!"
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