Qingyu Case: Female Minister of Dali Temple

Chen Shao was originally checking the prescription that Chan Yi had written. When he heard what he said, he slowly raised his head and looked at him, "Do you think that the money has been distributed and I have already returned to the county town, so I won't bother with you?"

Ding Lisheng quickly got off his horse and replied in panic, "I dare not. I went to the Wen family with a document written by Wen Zhongtian to get the money. The Wen family not only refused to acknowledge the document, but also falsely accused me of forging it. I dared not waste time, so I went to their treasury to take the money. But don't worry, sir, I only took the money I brought with me, and I never took a single copper coin more."

"If that's the case," Chen Shao asked, "why didn't you say so earlier?"

"Young Master has been busy on that farm for several days without sleep. If I had told you earlier, I don't know how long it would take for you to be so particular." Ding Lisheng said sincerely, "Young Master has just recovered from a long illness. He has been working hard since he came to Hongyuan County. He has never been idle for more than two days. Anyway, I stole the money, so it doesn't affect your reputation. If you really want to punish me, I will not say a word."

"You've said three or four things in total, and you still don't have anything else to say?" Chen Shao sneered, "If you have anything else, tell me all at once."

Ding Lisheng quickly said, "No more."

"Then get out." Chen Shao said.

Ding Lisheng responded and swiftly led the horse aside.

The news that the Wen family was surrounded by yamen runners and that Wen Shengwu, Wen Ting and others were killed had spread so widely that when Chen Shao's carriage passed through the city gate and entered the county city, it immediately attracted everyone's attention.

Half-day leisure teahouse.

The third floor is facing the street.

Master Gu, Master Zhu, Master Qi and Master Fan Zhirong sat around a table.

The tea on the table was freshly brewed, with a faint fragrance. It was obvious that the few people had just sat down.

Chen Shao's motorcade passed by downstairs, and the four of them looked out at the same time. Seeing Wen Zhongtian's hands and feet were tied tightly, with a smelly sock stuffed in his mouth, and squeezed in the cart with several stewards without any cover, Master Gu said with a sigh, "When I saw Master Wen the other day, he was still quite high-spirited. I didn't expect him to be so embarrassed after just two days of not seeing him."

Master Qi San said disdainfully: "No wonder there is no successor to Duke Chen's Mansion. We sent people to her, but she didn't dare to kill him!"

Master Zhu took a sip of tea slowly and did not respond to him.

Fan Zhirong said: "Letting him live is not because Young Master Chen Liu is cowardly and dares not kill him, but because he wants to completely eradicate the Wen family."

Master Qi San said disapprovingly: "Even if we kill the Wen family's bunch of idiots, we can still wipe out the Wen family!"

"That's different." Master Gu said slowly, "Young Master Chen Liu is more ambitious than you think. He wants to eliminate more than just the Wen family. Killing him can indeed eliminate the Wen family, but if we want to eliminate other families, we have to start all over again. Don't forget, no matter how much we look down on the Wen family, we are still connected to them."

"Since it's a matter of breaking bones, why didn't you go when Wen Zhongtian asked us to send people to support him the day before yesterday?" Mr. Qi asked nonchalantly. Like Wen Zhongtian, Wen Shengwu and Wen Ting, he didn't take Chen Shao seriously. Even though Wen Shengwu and Wen Ting lost their lives, he didn't change his mind. In his opinion, they were stupid to die at the hands of Chen Shao. He didn't underestimate Chen Shao, but a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake. Moreover, Hongyuan County is thousands of miles away from the capital. No matter how powerful the Chen Guogong Mansion is, it can't reach it. What's more, the Chen Guogong Mansion is no longer the Chen Guogong Mansion of the past.

"The fat meat is right in front of your mouth," Mr. Gu asked with a smile, "are you willing to push it away?"

Master Qi San asked, "Are you still going to attack the Ren family?"

"Why do you think so?" Master Gu said with a smile, "Even rabbits will bite when they are angry."

Master Qi San asked, "What do you mean?"

Master Gu looked at the convoy that had gone far away and said slowly, "Isn't the meaning simple? Originally there were two pieces of fat meat, one for four families and one for two families. Now that one of the two families is gone, can the remaining family enjoy the piece of fat meat alone? Even if we don't fight with them, what about the Wen family? Will the Wen family be willing for them to enjoy it alone?"

"So this is what you were planning!" said Master Qi San.

"It's not us who want to come up with this idea," Fan Zhirong corrected, "It was the Ren family who came up with this idea first. Although we are connected to the Wen and Ren families, they are also connected to us. If the Ren family doesn't send anyone over, wouldn't it be overstepping their authority if we send someone over?"

Master Qi snorted disdainfully: "It's a pity that the Ren family is destined to be wishful thinking!"

Master Gu glanced at Master Zhu, who had been silent, and changed the subject, "Let's not talk about their two families. What's going on here? Are they willing to go to the prefectural governor's mansion to sue Ding Lisheng?"

"I was reluctant at first, but after I gave them twenty taels of silver and promised to protect their safety, I finally agreed." Master Qi said, "Now I'm just waiting for your order."

"Don't move yet," Master Zhu finally spoke, "wait until they confiscate the Wen family before taking action."

Master Gu nodded in agreement. "Searching the Wen family is a big deal. If we sue Ding Lisheng now, Master Chen Liu will most likely ignore it."

Master Qi San said, "Then let's wait a little longer. Without our intervention, the remaining people in the Wen family won't be able to cause any trouble."

"I'm not worried about the remaining members of the Wen family," Fan Zhirong said, tapping the teacup with his fingertips and frowning slightly, "I'm more worried that Mr. Chen Liu will target one of our four families next."

Master Qi sneered and said, "Then let her come!"

Fan Zhirong glanced at Master Gu and Master Zhu. They were drinking tea contentedly, and obviously had no intention of continuing the topic. Fan Zhirong's expression remained unchanged, but his heart could not help but sink again and again.

The lingchi outside the prefectural government's residence had ended and the ground had been washed clean. Not only had the street vendors not been affected at all, but more and more people came to do business.

The carriage passed through the vendors' constant greetings, and after finally entering the prefectural government, Chen Shao immediately said, "Let's go back to Chengfeng Courtyard first."

She didn't close her eyes the night before, she just closed her eyes for a while during the day, and she didn't close her eyes last night either. She needed to rest, and the Yulin Guards also needed to rest. If she endured any longer, she would really collapse.

After returning to Chengfeng Courtyard, Chen Shao simply washed and ate, then lay down on the bed and fell asleep as soon as he closed his eyes.

She slept quite recklessly this time, and when she woke up, it was already the end of the morning. Because she slept recklessly and soundly, the fatigue of the past few days was mostly eliminated. After taking a refreshing bath and sitting down to have a good meal, Chen Shao stood under the eaves, breathing the fresh morning air, and felt relaxed physically and mentally.

"Sir." Quan Shuyu walked over lightly and handed the account book in his hand to Chan Yi, saying, "This is the roster of the thirty new people, as well as the kitchen's expenses in the past few days. Please take a look."

Chen Shao took the account book and flipped through two pages. He was quite surprised and asked, "Did you do this?"

Quan Shuyu nodded in agreement.

Chen Shao asked: "Since you can do accounts, you should be able to read accounts, right?"

Quan Shuyu said modestly, "I will read some."

After letting her follow him into the study, Chen Shao walked over to the piles of account books and said, "These are the account books of Fenglong Commercial Bank, these are the account books of Tongchuntang, Shiweizhai and Changshun Shoe Store, and these are the account books of Wen's farm. Come and take a look. If you can understand them, I will give them all to you."

Quan Shuyu stepped forward, took two account books and looked through them, then said, "I can understand them all, but it will probably take some time to read them all."

"It's okay, just take your time to look at it first," Chen Shao said cheerfully, finally getting rid of a burden, "I'll look for others who can read the account books later."

Quan Shuyu also readily agreed, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She gave her the account book, of course not to show off her ability to keep accounts, but to test her attitude. She already knew that Quan Li'an came to the prefect's mansion to find her, and she didn't want to go back, she wanted to stay.

"Oh, right," Chen Shaosi just remembered, "Wen Ting has been executed by me."

"Miss Chan Yi told me earlier." Quan Shuyu looked at Chan Yi, and they smiled at each other.

Chen Shao nodded and said, "Also, your grandfather seems to be looking for you. What do you think?"

Quan Shuyu knelt on the ground with a plop, "If you don't mind, I am willing to follow you for the rest of my life."

Afraid that she would refuse, Quan Shuyu tightly grasped the account book in her hand and said, "I can wash clothes and cook, and I can do needlework and keep accounts. I will never follow you for nothing."

Chen Shao was amused by her. After letting her get up, he asked, "If that's the case, will you handle this matter yourself or leave it to me?"

Quan Shuyu said without hesitation: "Let the young master handle it."

"Okay." Chen Shao clapped the account book beside him, "Then I'll leave these to you."

Quan Shuyu couldn't hide his joy and answered, "Yes."

Coming out of Chengfeng Courtyard and on the way to the Second Hall, Chan Yi asked, "Sir, are you going to keep the Complete Book Jade?"

Chen Shao looked at her with a half-smile: "Didn't you want her to stay?"

Chan Yi smiled and asked, "How did you know that, young master?"

Chen Shao snorted, "She has only been in charge of those people for a few days, and she showed me the account books for no reason. Wasn't it just for the piles of account books in the study? Who else but you would know that I am worried about those account books? Besides, you and her were flirting so obviously, if I didn't see it, wouldn't I be blind?"

Chan Yi smiled and admitted, "I gave her a good idea, but she has to have the ability to do it."

Chen Shao nodded: "Then I'll see if she has that ability."

Arrived at the second hall.

Chen Shao sat down and took a break before instructing Fu Jiu, "Go and invite the shopkeepers of Anrentang, Sizhentang, Wanhetang, and Kangletang over."

Anrentang, Sizhentang, Wanhetang and Kangletang were the four pharmacies she had picked out to compete with the official pharmacies. Anrentang belonged to the Gu and Zhu families, Sizhentang belonged to the Fan and Qi families, and Wanhetang and Kangletang belonged to the Zhou and Hu families.

After Fu Jiu left, Chen Shao ordered Ding Lisheng who had followed him, "Go and bring Quan Li'an up."

Quan Li'an was inexplicably imprisoned for two days, but not only was there no trace of anger on his face, but he smiled all the way to the second hall. When he saw Chen Shao, he immediately knelt down and said, "Your humble servant greets you. I have heard that you are talented and extraordinary, and today I see that you are indeed so!"

After taking a quick look at him, Chen Shao didn't ask him to get up, nor did he respond to his flattery: "I heard from Lord Ding that you are looking for your granddaughter?"

Quan Li'an said earnestly, "Originally I wanted to find my granddaughter, but if the young master takes a fancy to her, I dare not snatch her away."

"Then tell me first," Chen Shao said calmly, "What is your granddaughter's name?"

Quan Li'an immediately replied, "My granddaughter is Quan Shuyu."

Chen Shao said: "What does he look like, how old is he, and how did he get lost?"

How did she get lost? Quan Li'an quickly looked up at her, and seeing that she didn't seem to be joking, he quickly collected his thoughts and answered, "What does she look like? I haven't seen her for many years, so I can't remember clearly. As for her age, if I remember correctly, she should be twenty-four this year. How did she get lost... She was originally the concubine of the fourth son of the Wen family, and for some reason, she ran away secretly."

Chen Shao said slowly: "Where did you go?"

Quan Li'an shook his head: "I don't know."

Chen Shao asked: "Where is she now?"

"Now..." Quan Li'an looked up at her again and finally found something wrong. He had been locked up in the prison of the prefectural governor's mansion for the past two days and didn't know about the Wen family. He just thought that Quan Shuyu had said something unfavorable to him in front of her. He kowtowed and explained, "Sir, you are wise. She married the fourth son of the Wen family as a concubine out of her own will. I didn't force her. She ran away all these years, and I have been looking for her, but I can't find her anywhere."

Chen Shao said calmly: "Let me ask you again, where is she now?"

Quan Li'an said anxiously, "I heard she is in the governor's mansion."

Chen Shao asked: "Where is the prefectural government?"

Quan Li'an said in fear: "Sir..."

Chen Shao slammed the gavel: "Answer me!"

Quan Li'an was so frightened that he fell to the ground, and said tremblingly: "Cheng, Chengfengyuan."

Chen Shao pressed, "Who told you that she was in Chengfeng Courtyard?"

Hearing her increasingly cold tone, Quan Li'an didn't dare to hide anything anymore: "I heard it from the people sent by the Fourth Master Wen."

Chen Shao interrogated: "What did Mr. Wen's people tell you?"

Quan Li'an said anxiously, "Master Wen Si's people said that Quan Shuyu has been found. It was found by the master. Because she is no longer innocent, he asked me to come and take her home."

Chen Shao looked at Ding Lisheng.

Ding Lisheng's hair stood on end in an instant: "My Lord, I have never told anyone about Miss Quan San's stay in the prefect's mansion!"

Chen Shao smiled slowly, but the smile did not reach his eyes: "Rather than whether you have told anyone whether Third Miss Quan is in the prefect's mansion, I want to know more about how you knew that Third Miss Quan was living in the east wing?"