Clouds and Moon Shadow

Chapter 247 Smuggled Salt Exposed, The Show Begins

Gu Qingyue had never had this experience before.

Whenever I have a spare moment, I think of Mu Yun Chu's face.

His features were cold and handsome, like a painting, as if he had stepped out of a painting. At first glance, he seemed aloof and cold, and rarely spoke.

But after getting to know him, I discovered that even his cold, deep eyes could reveal a touch of tenderness and affection when he liked someone.

Beneath that cold, hard exterior lies an unknown kindness, gentleness, and the occasional glimpse of youthful innocence.

Gu Qingyue blinked, suddenly feeling a strong urge to miss his aloof and refined demeanor.

He was dressed in black, tall and upright, with a gaze that was sometimes aloof, sometimes gentle, and sometimes doting when he looked at me.

And the warmth of her hand, always so comforting, when she held it...

After a moment, Gu Qingyue pursed her lips, and then felt a little sour and empty inside.

So this is what it's like to fall in love with someone?

At this moment, at the main camp outside Nanchong Pass.

"Send this message to General Gu and tell him to keep an eye on those men under Yue Zhiqi and make sure they don't cause any trouble."

Mu Yun Chu had just finished negotiations with the Nanzhao delegation and returned to her tent when she immediately received a message from her secret guards saying that Yue Zhi Qi's men were making strange moves.

"Yes," Mu Nan replied, picking up the scroll and immediately turning to leave the tent.

Mu Yun Chu knelt beside the low table, poured a cup of tea, and watched the steam rise. Suddenly, he felt a little tired!

Yesterday, he and the Vice Minister of Rites began drafting the itinerary and negotiation framework for the Nanzhao delegation. On the second day, he suddenly felt tired.

He misses his little girl.

He looked up at the cool moonlight outside, and couldn't help but see Gu Qingyue's fair and lovely face in his eyes.

At this moment, does she miss herself?

He couldn't help but take out the small crossbow and stroke it, as if he could feel the little girl's deep affection in doing so.

Tonight is Lunar New Year's Eve, and the new year has arrived.

He hoped they would be together forever. Thinking of this, he looked out the window again, a gentle smile unconsciously spreading across his lips.

The prefectural government office of Lizhou.

The advisor, Wang Minqing, finally finished writing his statement.

He opened the door and was startled by the cold wind outside.

My mind, which had been foggy from writing my speech, immediately cleared up.

He asked the guard outside the door, "Has the fire at the Qin family's place been extinguished? Has the cause been found out?"

The guard nodded. "Don't worry, sir, the fire has been extinguished and we are investigating."

"What did Lord Li say?"

Wang Minqing pinched the bridge of her nose. It was already very late. As long as the Qin family's private salt depot hadn't been discovered, there wouldn't be a big problem.

"Lord Li... I don't know," the guard said hesitantly.

Wang Minqing frowned.

Well, he was just about to report the murder case to Lord Li anyway.

Fifteen minutes later, Wang Minqing arrived at Prefect Li's main room.

Two old women were guarding the door, glaring angrily at Li San, the prefect's personal attendant. The tension was palpable, and they were almost about to fight.

"what happened?"

Wang Minqing was curious; this was the main courtyard.

But these two old women seem to be Wen's people. Could it be that Wen is among them?

That's against the rules!

Prefect Li also had a concubine, which was a gift from Qian Zhengdao.

After dealing with Qian Zhengdao last time, naturally, we also dealt with that shameless concubine who had an affair with him.

So now only Aunt Wen is left in the courtyard.

Oh right, and what was the name of that aunt who died in Tiger Peak Village?

She is the birth mother of the third daughter, who was born out of wedlock. Oh, her surname is Hu.

He also forgot that, in any case, Prefect Li's fondness for beautiful women had never changed.

New people replace the old, and they come and go in waves.

Sure enough, Aunt Wen is practically riding roughshod over the Prefect's wife, and Prefect Li is turning a blind eye to it.

Then there's even less to say about him, a mere advisor.

Strictly speaking, only the principal wife could stay overnight in the main courtyard; concubines were not allowed to stay overnight there.

However, men could spend the night in their concubines' courtyards.

This concubine, Wen, was taken in by Lord Li after Concubine Hu died; she was as beautiful as a viper.

Her waist and figure—even as a man, Wang Minqing found it hard to resist her charms.

"Li San, what are you doing standing here? Where is the magistrate?" Wang Minqing looked at the group with a headache. He didn't have time to worry about the petty squabbles in Magistrate Li's backyard; he had important matters to attend to.

Upon hearing this, Li San turned around and saw Wang Minqing as if he had seen a savior.

"Lord Wang!"

Although Wang Minqing was just a clerk, everyone in the prefectural government knew that he was Lord Li's most trusted confidant, and no one dared to neglect him.

"The master is inside, and I have important matters to report, but these two bold old women say that Aunt Wen just went in and has something even more important to do," Li San said with a mournful face.

Wang Minqing frowned. "What is it? Is something wrong with Madam?"

Wang Minqing knew that Li San's mother was Madam Li's wet nurse, and he had always been close to Madam Li. Could it be that Madam Li had sent him to ruin Aunt Wen's plans?

Li San is truly innocent; he had an urgent matter to attend to today!

But the two old women wouldn't let him in, and Master Wang didn't seem to believe him either; his bitter face became even more bitter.

"No, no, it's about the Qin family—" Li San was interrupted by Wang Minqing before he could finish speaking. Could such a thing be said loudly in front of the servants outside the courtyard?

That idiot!

He gestured for Li San to follow, and stepped into the courtyard.

Upon seeing this, the two old women who had just been aggressively blocking the road immediately shrank back and hid behind the wall.

Wang Minqing hurriedly approached the main house.

As expected, I overheard Lord Li and Aunt Wen 'doing serious business'.

Aunt Wen's voice was soft and delicate as she sobbed and begged for mercy, while Lord Li roared and panted, the battle raging fiercely.

Wang Minqing couldn't help but rub her forehead.

What time is it?!

Moreover, it's Lunar New Year's Eve today. Instead of spending time with Madam Li and Miss Li, he's fooling around with his concubine here. No wonder Madam Li has been bedridden and can't get better. How can she possibly get better?

Wang Minqing gritted her teeth, preparing to knock on the door, but after thinking for a moment, she asked Li San in a low voice, "What happened to the Qin family you mentioned?"

"The smuggled salt has been discovered!" Li San's head was almost touching his chest.

"What?" Wang Minqing's voice rose eight octaves involuntarily.

Turning around, Wang Minqing immediately knocked on the door—this was an extremely important matter!

Half an hour later, Lord Li, barefoot and wearing a loose-fitting undergarment, looked satiated and languid. "What happened?"

"Sir, the smuggled salt has been discovered!" Wang Minqing said in a low voice.

"What?" Lord Li staggered. "What happened?"

"The Qin family's house is on fire. It was discovered by the neighbors who were putting out the fire," Li San reported urgently in a low voice.

"Fool!" Lord Li kicked Li San, sending him staggering.

"Then, where is the letter? Has it been found?" Lord Li saw the two people in front of him and remembered that he had sent someone to the Qin family to look for the letter.

If they can find the letter and retrieve it, then even if the smuggled salt is exposed, it won't implicate him.

"They haven't...they haven't come back yet," Li San replied, forcing a smile.

"Quickly, send someone to check. We must suppress the smuggling of salt," Lord Li seemed to have finally come to his senses.

He hissed in a low voice.

His eyes blazed with an unprecedented bloodthirsty light.

Seeing his expression, Wang Minqing silently prayed for the Qin family patriarch, knowing he was surely doomed.

How could Gu Qingyue allow Prefect Li to so easily downplay such a serious matter as smuggled salt?

She sent men to burn down the rear building, which was located beneath a warehouse where smuggled salt was stored.

It has to be discovered in public!

The law does not punish the masses, so we must spread the word and let as many people as possible know about this.

The real show is just beginning, isn't it?

The next day was the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Gu Qingyue generously gave out red envelopes to everyone.

This includes Yue Ling and the boys who returned home in the early hours of yesterday morning after dealing with matters at the Qin residence.

Watching everyone happily counting their money, the scene was truly spectacular.