Chapter 132 One after another, I miss her so much, but…
As Fu Yun walked, she said, "Help me verify the groom's social connections. See if she has had any contact with Wang Linfang, or with any of Wang Linfang's companions who distribute porridge together?"
He paused, then added, "If she doesn't, then check if the woman who covered her shift yesterday had the situation I mentioned."
Wen Jing looked puzzled: "Why does the young master want to check the groom?"
Fu Yun said, "Wang Linfang came to see me, there must be some reason behind it. I need to find out the real reason."
Wen Jing suddenly realized: "Young Master suspects that someone deliberately leaked information about our manor to Miss Wang?"
Fu Yun nodded, a sharp look appearing between his brows: "His Majesty's identity is special, we must ensure that nothing goes wrong."
Wen Jing's eyes darkened, and she said solemnly, "I'll arrange for someone to inquire about it right away."
Fu Yun advised, "Find out the information privately, but don't let them find out."
Wen Jing replied solemnly, "Understood."
Fu Yun glanced at the sky and saw that the sun had already risen, so it was time to go out. He said, "Please prepare my horse. I'm going out for a bit."
Wen Jing nodded, and was about to arrange for someone to call the coachman over.
Fu Yun reminded, "Traveling by carriage is inconvenient; all we need are horses."
Wen Jing pondered for a moment, then glanced at Xiao Jingzi, who was silently following behind her: "When we're out and about, take good care of the young master."
Xiao Jingzi bowed her head and replied, "Yes."
Fu Yun waved her hand and refused: "No need, I don't need anyone to follow me."
Wen Jing remained unmoved, and said with difficulty, "Young Master, if something happens to you while you are out alone, and His Majesty blames you, how can we servants bear His Majesty's wrath?"
Fu Yun: "..." Aren't there also Guard Fang and Guard Zhang?
Never mind, Xiao Jingzi is someone Zhilan sent from the palace to him, so it's fine to bring her along.
"Then prepare two horses and have him go with me."
Wen Jing breathed a sigh of relief: "Okay, please wait a moment, I'll have someone arrange it."
After Wen Jing left, Fu Yun glanced at Xiao Jingzi and, seeing that he was dressed as a servant, said, "Go change into some casual clothes. I'll wait for you here."
Xiao Jingzi paused for a moment, then glanced down at her drab clothes and quickly replied, "Yes, I'll go right away."
Soon, Wen Jing returned.
"Young master, the horses are ready and waiting outside the gate."
"Okay, thank you for your hard work."
Fu Yun glanced down the corridor and saw Xiao Jingzi rushing towards them with tiny, quick steps.
He changed into a simple blue robe and carried a bundle on his back. He looked handsome with a touch of youthful energy, and had the air of a young boy who would accompany a student.
Fu Yun asked him, "Can you ride a horse?"
Xiao Jingzi said shyly, "I know a little bit."
"Alright." Fu Jun didn't ask any more questions: "Then come with me."
Fu Yun led Xiao Jingzi out of the Su residence and saw a middle-aged woman leading two horses, waiting in the open space in front of the gate.
Upon seeing Fu Yun appear, the middle-aged woman quickly turned around and bowed, saying, "Young Master, I am so sorry for causing you so much trouble yesterday. Please forgive me."
Fu Yun glanced briefly at the middle-aged woman and asked, "Who is the person who covered your shift yesterday?"
The middle-aged woman replied respectfully, "Young master, she is my niece."
Fu Yun nodded, said no more, took the reins from the middle-aged woman, and mounted his horse.
Seeing this, Xiao Jingzi quickly tried to step on the stirrups, but because she was too thin, she failed to step on them properly twice and climb onto the horse.
Seeing that Fu Jun was gripping the horse's belly tightly with his legs, ready to set off immediately.
Xiao Jingzi quickly called out, "Young man, wait for me!"
Fu Yun pulled on the reins, glanced back, and saw that Xiao Jingzi couldn't get on the horse for a long time. He sighed inwardly and decided to dismount and help him.
Seeing this, the middle-aged woman reached out and easily helped Xiao Jingzi onto the horse's back, then handed her the package.
Fu Yun: "..."
Xiao Jingzi visibly blushed and awkwardly accepted the package, saying, "Thank you."
The middle-aged woman waved her hand dismissively, signaling him to follow her mistress.
Fu Yun withdrew his gaze with a complicated expression and gave a soft shout: "Giddy up!"
Xiao Jingzi hurriedly rode her horse to catch up.
After walking a short distance, Fu Yun glanced back and saw Guard Fang and Guard Zhang quietly following about a hundred meters away.
He curled his lips into a smile and cracked his whip to urge the horse to go faster.
After leaving the city gate, he headed towards a hill not far from the city.
As they approached the foot of the mountain, Guard Zhang and Guard Fang glanced around to make sure there were no pedestrians nearby. Then, they rode up to Fu Yun and asked, "Young master, where are you headed?"
Fu Yun gave a faint smile and replied leisurely, "I plan to give His Majesty a surprise. Please keep today's itinerary a secret."
"Oh?" Both Guard Fang and Guard Zhang were somewhat surprised.
Guard Zhang looked curious: "What kind of surprise?"
Fu Yun said mysteriously, "Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed."
Guard Zhang curled his lip and scoffed.
Fu Yun smiled calmly, dismounted, walked to a tree, and tied the horse's reins to it.
Seeing this, the other three also tied their reins to the trees nearby.
Fu Yun walked back and forth along the foot of the mountain, observing the soil and terrain around him.
The previous actions of the spies digging secret passages gave him inspiration.
So he asked Xiao Ba to tell him which mountain was closest to Lingzhou City.
After searching for a while, the minibus found this hill that was much lower than the others. Its shape was the most ordinary, just like those wild hills that no one would even glance at.
If you really want to climb a mountain to enjoy the scenery, no one would choose this mountain that has no highlights and is unremarkable at first glance.
After personally inspecting the mountain, Fu Yun was very satisfied with it, and his plan became even more solid.
Guard Fang watched Fu Jun's figure moving back and forth. He noticed that Fu Jun's cheeks were flushed from the sun, yet he was still observing the mountains and the surrounding rocks with great concentration. He couldn't help but be a little surprised and watched Fu Jun's behavior from a distance, seemingly lost in thought.
Xiao Jingzi looked up at the sky. It was already noon, and the scorching sun was shining down, making it feel like being baked in an oven, which was really unbearable.
He quickly took off the bundle from his shoulder, rummaged through the water bottle, steamed buns, and various pastries, and put them into a smaller cloth bag. He put the large bundle back on the horse's back and hung it up. Then, carrying the bag, he walked behind Fu Jun and whispered, "Young Master, it's past noon. You should eat something."
Fu Yun paused slightly, glanced back at Xiao Jingzi, and was about to say that there was nothing to eat in the mountains and countryside, and that they should talk about it when they returned to the city.
Unexpectedly, he noticed that Xiao Jingzi was looking at him eagerly, holding a bag in her arms, as if she was expecting his response.
Fu Jun shifted her gaze to Xiao Jingzi's arms and asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"
Xiao Jingzi quickly opened the cloth bag and deftly rummaged through it to take out things.
When Fu Yun saw him take out a water bottle, white steamed buns, and several exquisite pastry boxes from his cloth bag, she was surprised and asked in astonishment, "Why did you bring so much food?"
Xiao Jingzi replied somewhat embarrassedly, "You are His Majesty's favorite person, so naturally we can't let you go hungry. When we're out and about, we always have to prepare food for any eventuality."
Fu Yun: "..." There's no need to be so meticulous. Skipping a meal won't hurt you. Why carry so much food when you have to go out? Wouldn't that be tiring and hot?
Fu Yun was speechless for a moment, but also full of admiration: "Thank you for your hard work. Next time you go out unexpectedly, you don't need to bring so much stuff. Just bring some water to quench your thirst."
Xiao Jingzi shook her head repeatedly: "Young Master, what are you saying? Taking care of you is my duty, how can you say it's hard work?"
As he spoke, he handed the kettle to Fu Jun, then opened the pastry box, smiled, and handed it to him, urging softly, "Young Master, please eat quickly!"
Fu Yun had no choice but to take one of the pastry boxes, saying as she opened it, "I only need one box of pastries; the other three of you can take them and divide them among yourselves."
“This…” Xiao Jingzi hesitated, “But these are prepared for you, young master. If the flavors are too monotonous, how can you enjoy your meal?”
He pointed to the white steamed buns next to him and said matter-of-factly, "These steamed buns are enough for me."
Fu Yun was too lazy to waste words with him, so she simply took a box of pastries and stuffed it into Xiao Jingzi's arms.
Xiao Jingzi's eyes widened: "Young Master, you mustn't..."
Fu Yun said in an unquestionable tone, "You brought these with great effort, why can't we eat them? They're just a few boxes of pastries. What kind of behavior is this, passing them around like this? Hurry up and eat them."
Xiao Jingzi's eyes gradually filled with tears, her voice slightly choked: "Thank you... Young Master..."
Fu Yun waved his hand dismissively, then handed two boxes of pastries to Guard Zhang and Guard Fang respectively: "These pastries are quite heavy for him to carry around, so share them! I have something to discuss with you after you finish eating."
Guard Zhang and Guard Fang looked at each other, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes.
Guard Fang politely declined, saying, "Young Master Su, there's no need for that..."
Fu Jun didn't give her a chance to refuse and directly stuffed the box into her hand: "Alright, it's just a box of pastries, not some kind of delicacy, don't be polite with me."
Seeing that he insisted, Guard Fang had no choice but to reach out and take it, saying, "Then thank you very much, Young Master Su."
She glanced at Guard Zhang, signaling to her not to reject Young Master Su's good intentions.
Guard Zhang took the pastry box, a teasing smile flashing in his eyes: "No wonder His Majesty looks at you with such respect. It's rare to see such an approachable and considerate young nobleman like you who cares so much for his servants."
Fu Yun simply smiled and didn't reply.
He brought them here and made them stand in the sun for so long; shouldn't they be more considerate?
After finishing the food Xiao Jingzi brought, Fu Yun told Xiao Jingzi to stay where she was and wait. He then led Guard Fang and Guard Zhang to a cave entrance deep inside the cave. He explained to Guard Fang and Guard Zhang why he had come here and asked them for their help to secretly find more workers to carry out the work. He promised to pay them for their services.
As two of the Empress's most trusted secret guards, Zhang and Fang naturally had a wide network of connections.
Without much thought, Guard Fang and Guard Zhang agreed. His Majesty had instructed them that whatever Young Master Su wanted to do, they had to assist and support him unconditionally.
After settling things over, Fu Jun returned home.
In the days that followed, Fu Yun began to leave early and return late, busy with the tea shop's expansion and preparing a mysterious gift for the Empress.
Under Cheng Jincheng's dedicated management, the fitness training camp has shown remarkable results in just one month. It has now grown to a considerable size, with more and more men signing up. The men who have trained have all undergone significant changes in appearance, attracting many friends and relatives to sign up as well.
He was making steady progress in his career. After Zhilan sent someone to deliver the dividends from the last mining operation, Fu Yun gradually had more funds in his hands.
He not only expanded his business by four branches, but also arranged for workers to develop large tracts of wasteland outside the city and continue building mobile prefabricated houses.
If impoverished families cannot afford to buy or build houses, then rent them houses at the lowest possible price so that they all have a place to stay and do not end up homeless.
As for the homeless and beggars, as long as they are willing to work, they can participate in the construction of the prefabricated houses and use their wages to pay the rent.
Fu Yun's idea received the support of the Empress and also won the gratitude and support of the poor.
After all, no matter how poor they are, they no longer need to fear homelessness.
The Empress has been quite busy lately, and Fu Jun has wanted to take her to experience the surprise in advance several times, but he hasn't been able to find a suitable time.
It's unclear what has been holding the Empress back during this time. Nearly a month has passed, from the cool early autumn weather to the chilly late autumn with its heavy dews. The two have met very few times. Even when she manages to spare half a day to meet, it's always a hurried visit. Usually, they can only have a meal together before the Empress has to return to the palace.
Fu Jun had asked the Empress once or twice, but she hadn't gone into details. She only said that the towns of Qingzhou in the south had recently experienced rainy weather, with continuous heavy rain for about twenty days. The river was rising too fast, and many houses in low-lying areas had already been submerged. She feared that there would be another flood.
In previous years, this weather was also characterized by continuous rain and frequent flooding, which caused a lot of headaches, but we always managed to get through it and the rain would eventually stop and the sun would shine again.
But for some reason this year, the autumn rains seem to last even longer, with no sign of stopping after so many days of continuous rain.
We can only observe for a while longer. If the torrential rain continues, we will have to make the worst-case scenario plan and relocate all the people of Qingzhou to other villages.
Most people are unwilling to leave their hometown where they were born and raised.
In the past few days, I have heard from Guard Fang that enemy soldiers have been appearing on the border of Qingzhou from time to time. They are obviously trying to take advantage of this flood to disrupt the city.
Fu Yun felt sorry for Zhi Lan's hard work, but there was nothing he could do to help. After all, distant water cannot quench a nearby fire. Qingzhou was thousands of miles away from Lingzhou City, and in ancient times with poor transportation, he couldn't extend his reach to such a distant place.
Needless to say, Zhilan, as the ruler of a country, could not possibly leave the capital for so many days to go to Qingzhou to take charge of the overall situation, otherwise the palace would be in chaos.
If the rainy weather in Qingzhou doesn't end, Zhilan will probably have no choice but to send her trusted confidants to salvage the situation.
Although this matter is not a matter that shakes the foundation of the country, it is not insignificant either. In times of severe flooding, if an enemy country were to invade, it would be a very troublesome matter, and the choice of who to send to handle it would be of paramount importance.
Moreover, while Lingzhou City appears calm on the surface, spies are already lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce, not to mention the treacherous undercurrents in the imperial court.
Perhaps not wanting Fu Yun to worry, Zhi Lan didn't tell him about these troublesome things. Instead, it was because she had been so elusive lately that Fu Yun vaguely sensed something was wrong, and eventually got the inside story from Guard Zhang.
Another half month passed, and Zhilan still couldn't find the time to leave the palace to see him.
While missing Zhilan, Fu Yun was also very worried about the predicament she was currently facing, but she was frustrated that she could not see her.
Just as he was pondering whether he should trouble Guard Fang and Guard Zhang to find a way to get him into the palace to see Zhilan, Cheng Jincheng suddenly arrived at the Su residence with Qian Qingling.
Author's note: Enough with the setup, now it's time to move forward at lightning speed!
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