Qingyu Case: Female Minister of Dali Temple

Chen Shao was silent for a long time before she couldn't help laughing. Facing Zhao Liangzhu's puzzled look, she forced herself to smile and asked, "Where did Uncle Liangzhu hear this news?"

Zhao Liangzhu didn't know what she was laughing at, so he answered politely, "I heard it from a clerk named Zhang An in Anrentang. He also heard it from someone outside, and he didn't know whether it was true or not, so he told other people in the pharmacy. When the Seventh Master heard it, he sent me over to tell the adults."

"Anrentang, Zhang An." Chen Shao slowly read out the name and then asked, "Uncle Liangzhu, do you know who is the boss behind Anrentang?"

Zhao Liangzhu bowed and said, "Please give me your instructions, sir."

Chen Shao didn't keep the secret and said directly: "It's the Gu family and the Zhu family."

Zhao Liangzhu's face suddenly darkened. Without Chen Shao's explanation, he knew that he and Qi Ye were being used.

Without waiting for him to apologize, Chen Shao spoke first: "Uncle Liang Zhu, please don't give birth to Zhang yet. Just let me handle this matter."

After Zhao Liangzhu nodded in agreement, he recalled her smile and couldn't help asking, "Did your Excellency know from the beginning that Zhang An had bad intentions?"

"No." Chen Shao explained slowly, "I laughed just now because, early yesterday morning, Liu Deming's father also heard someone say that the people who blocked the road to appeal for justice that day were instigated by the Gu and Zhu families. Isn't that a coincidence?"

Zhao Liangzhu said: "It is indeed a coincidence."

"It's a coincidence, but I'm very happy." Chen Shao said excitedly, "I didn't get this kind of treatment when I first came to Hongyuan County."

Zhao Liangzhu thought for a moment and understood why she was happy. With her status, the nobles of Hongyuan County should have come to see her the day after she came, but no one came. However, today, although these people still did not come, they used various methods to send her messages, just to put others to death. On the surface, they were using her, but behind the scenes, weren't they recognizing her strength?

"Uncle Liang Zhu has made this trip, please don't make it public for the time being after you go back." Seeing that he had figured it out, Chen Shao didn't say anything else, just reminded, "Those students have only studied for a few years and haven't experienced much yet. Sometimes their ideas are inevitably naive. Under the premise that it doesn't hurt anyone, please let them do it. Taking more detours may waste time, but it's okay as long as they can walk solidly. If they encounter something that hurts anyone, please take the time to guide them. Of course, if they take a detour but are still not solid, and they still don't correct their mistakes after being guided, there's no need to waste your breath on them."

Zhao Liangzhu agreed.

After sending Zhao Liangzhu away, when Quan Shuyu returned to the main hall, Chan Yi also woke up. She came out of the inner room, pounding her waist, and stood under the eaves of the main hall. Looking at the sunset that dyed half the sky red, she said in surprise: "I slept for so long!"

Quan Shuyu laughed twice.

Chan Yi turned around and was about to ask Chen Shao when he woke up, but when she saw Quan Shuyu's blue eyes, she raised her eyebrows and asked, "Did you stay up late again last night?"

Chen Shao said calmly: "She didn't stay up late, she didn't sleep all night."

"You haven't slept yet?" Chan Yi came back quickly and held her pulse. Quan Shuyu wanted to say that she had dozed off for an hour or two, but when he saw her movements, he knew he couldn't hide it and shut up.

"You didn't sleep all night," Chan Yi's hand was still on her pulse, but her voice was getting louder and louder, "You haven't closed your eyes until now!"

Quan Shuyu smiled and said, "Don't be angry, I'll go rest now."

Chan Yi no longer trusted her, so he stopped feeling her pulse and held her hand, then walked towards the east wing, saying, "I'll take you back!"

Quan Shuyu said helplessly: "The east wing is only a few steps away. If you are worried, you can watch me go back from under the eaves."

Chan Yi snorted, obviously too lazy to argue with her.

"Zheng Hua, Erya, Aunt Wang, Aunt Li, I have a task for you." Pulling Quan Shuyu into the east wing, Chan Yi began to make arrangements, "After dinner, make sure she goes to bed. She is not allowed to get out of bed before noon tomorrow!"

Cheng Erya tilted her head and asked, "What if she hasn't woken up by Chenshi?"

Chan Yi said without hesitation: "Then let her continue to sleep as long as she can."

Zheng Hua came over with three silk bouquets of peonies, crabapples and black chrysanthemums and handed them to her, saying, "These are for adults. Since you are here, please help me take them back. Make these three first and use them as they are. I will make the rest later. As for Sister Shuyu, don't worry, we will definitely take good care of her."

Chan Yi took the bouquet, praised her, and warned Quan Shu Yu a few words before leaving.

Zheng Hua watched her leave and called Cheng Erya to hold Quan Shuyu's arm together: "Let's go, we will supervise you to eat."

"Let's go, let's go." Quan Shuyu sighed, but there was a warm smile in the corners of his eyes and eyebrows.

Xu Chengmei looked at the laughing figures of the two adults and one child, curled her lips, and said with half envy and half jealousy: "She can laugh now, and pleases the adults. She will have no worries about where to go in the future."

"She's the only one who knows how to flatter!" Wang Su cursed, not forgetting to mention Song Lingyi, "What's so great about silk flowers? Lingyi can also embroider. Let me tell you, don't be so depressed. Go to Quan Shuyu tomorrow and sell yourself well. Who knows, she might say a few words to the adults, and you can be as famous as her."

Song Lingyi was embroidering quietly and didn't respond to her.

Wang Su snorted coldly, snatched the handkerchief she was embroidering and threw it aside, saying, "Embroider early or late, what's the point of embroidering here by yourself if you don't go to please Quan Shuyu! The adults can't see your embroidery, so no matter how much you embroider, it's all in vain!"

Song Lingyi picked up the handkerchief with a good temper, straightened the needle and thread, and said as she embroidered: "Didn't Sister Shuyu say that the adults would arrange a place for us? Just wait."

Wang Su said angrily, "No matter how good the place is, it can't be as good as staying with you, sir? Don't you see that when Lord Ding and Lord Lei see Quan Yushu now, they have to respectfully call her Miss Quan?"

Song Lingyi smiled: "Even if I can stay with you, I can't take you with me."

Wang Su was choked with anger.

Xu Chengmei pulled her sleeve, smiled and walked over to sit next to Song Lingyi. Looking at the handkerchief she had embroidered with patterns, she said softly, "In my opinion, your embroidery is much more exquisite than her silk flowers."

Song Lingyi didn't even raise her head: "Sister Xu, you don't have to compliment me. I know very well how good my embroidery skills are."

"Just be modest." Xu Chengmei gently poked her head. "We all come from the same place, and no one is more innocent than the other. Why can she impress the adults with her silk flowers, but you can't impress the adults with your embroidery skills?"

"Even if I..."

"I know that even if you win the respect of the adults, you can't take us with you." Xu Chengmei interrupted her, "But even though you can't take us with you, you can say a few good words for us in front of the adults, right?"

"That's right. Think about it. We are not innocent now. Even if the master arranges a place for us, what does it matter? Who would dare to marry us?" Wang Su took her handkerchief and threw it aside again. He also sat over and forcefully held her hand. "But it's the same if we stay with the master. Who in Hongyuan County doesn't want to get close to the master? Even if we are not innocent, as long as the master values ​​us, they have to value us as well."

Seeing that she was about to say that again, Xu Chengmei quickly said, "Although the two of us don't have the ability to stay with the adults, as long as you can stay with the adults, you can tell others that we are your sisters, the adults value you, and you value us, then others will naturally value us as well."

Song Lingyi glanced at her hands being pinched by them from both sides, knowing that if she didn't agree to their request, they would not give up, so she had no choice but to say, "Then I'll give it a try."

"That's right." Wang Su let go of her hand, picked up the handkerchief and put it in her hand, "I think your handkerchief is good. Since you have decided to please the master, there is no time to lose. When Quan Shuyu wakes up tomorrow, you go find her and find a way to ask her to deliver this handkerchief to the master."

Song Lingyi agreed.

Main hall.

After dinner, we took a short rest and then it was dark.

Chen Shao was not in a hurry to go to Gu's house.

She handed the 17 pieces of evidence that Fenglong Company had business dealings with people from other countries to Li Tianliu. While he was reading them one by one, she wrote a letter to Chen Zhao. It was mainly to ask him how to deal with the grain and money he had found. After writing the letter and sealing it with wax, Li Tianliu also read it. After handing him the letter and taking back the evidence, Chen Shao asked, "How are the people you sent out investigating?"

"We did find some clues, but they are vague and not very clear." Li Tianliu called someone over, sent the letter, and said with a frown, "With these dozen clear clues, we should be able to find the answer soon."

"Then check it according to what's written here." Chen Shao handed the paper to him again.

Haishi is right.

Gu family, Guangrenyuan.

The steward hurried to the main hall and said respectfully but with a hint of impatience, "Sir, Mr. Chen Liu is here."

Gu Yingzhao and Master Gu sat in their chairs, feeling as if the scorching sun at noon was falling into an ice cave. While the chill was curling around them, they both couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Finally came.

The anxiety of the whole day finally came to an end at this moment.

Gu Yingzhao looked at her coldly and ordered, "Go and ask her to come in."

Master Gu stood up and took two steps outside. He couldn't help but ask, "Should we send someone to tell the Zhu family?"

"No need!" Gu Yingzhao said resolutely, "Since they don't trust us, why bother asking for trouble!"

Master Gu recalled that the servant who had delivered ginseng to Ding Lisheng in the afternoon had told him that the Zhu family had also sent someone to tell him about the ginseng, so he could not help but let go of his thoughts. He led the steward out of the door quickly, and looking at the handsome Chen Shao under the moonlight, Master Gu quietly exhaled two long breaths, put on a smile, and hurriedly greeted him: "Young Master."

Chen Shao turned around and said, "Sorry to bother you again."

"It would be nice if you come here every day." Second Master Gu flattered her and welcomed her to Guangren Courtyard. Gu Yingzhao was already waiting outside Guangren Courtyard. Seeing her coming, he also took a few steps to greet her and said, "It's rare to meet a worthy opponent. I was just wondering with Wanli when I could play a few more games with you, but you're here now."

Chen Shao smiled and said, "In that case, you came at the right time."

Gu Yingzhao echoed: "What a coincidence."

After asking the steward to make tea, Master Gu took Chan Yi to set up the chess set.

It’s still the same couch as yesterday.

After two rounds of draws, Mr. Gu asked casually, "It's almost the end of July. I wonder if the candidates for the official pharmacy have been announced?"

Chen Shao leaned against the pillow, took two sips of hot tea and said, "I heard that Anrentang is owned by the Gu and Zhu families?"

She had known it long ago.

Master Gu smiled and said, "Since you already know, we won't hide it. Anrentang is indeed the property of our Gu and Zhu families."

"Let's wait until the end of the month." Chen Shao said calmly, "I have entrusted the management of Huimin Pharmacy to Master Qi. I haven't asked him which pharmacy will be selected in the end, and he hasn't told me yet. I guess there is no result so far."

Master Gu Er asked tentatively, "Young Master, are you planning to hand over the official pharmacy to Master Qi to manage as well?"

"To be precise, it is jointly managed by Master Qi and Uncle Liang Zhu." Chen Shao took two more sips of tea and said lazily, "To be honest, if we had known that Anrentang was the property of your Gu and Zhu families, it would not even be qualified to compete for the official pharmacy. In other words, you don't have to wait any longer. No matter how Anrentang performs, it will not become an official pharmacy."

Master Gu asked anxiously, "I wonder if you can tell me the reason?"

Chen Shao laughed twice: "Let's not talk about the distant things, let's talk about the recent things. I just want to ask you one question, have the farms of the Gu family and the Zhu family ever occupied the fields of the people?"

Master Gu said anxiously, "There are some such cases. I think it is not only in Hongyuan County, but also in other counties. But you can ask someone to check it out. We definitely don't kill everyone like the Wen family did."

"I know." Chen Shao said with a smile, "Otherwise, how could I come to Gu's house to play chess?"

"Then, sir, can you please let me know..."

Chen Shao interrupted him, "No. The original intention of opening Huimin Medicine Store is to serve the people. No matter what the reason is for you to occupy the people's land, it is no longer suitable to take over this matter. In other words, I can't hand over Huimin Medicine Store to a family that has occupied the people's land. This is one of the reasons why I let Master Qi and Uncle Liangzhu manage the medicine store."

Master Gu looked at Gu Yingzhao.

Gu Yingzhao said calmly: "When you and Mr. Zhu asked Anrentang to compete for Huimin Pharmacy, I said it was inappropriate."

Master Gu said discouragedly: "I thought of giving it a try, just in case..."

"What if you are chosen?" Gu Yingzhao shook his head. "First of all, there are not so many what-ifs in the world. Secondly, even if you are chosen, they will still replace you after knowing about the occupation of the farmland. Since you will be replaced sooner or later, why bother with it. Okay, don't argue. When Huimin Pharmacy doesn't need them anymore, let them go back honestly."

Knowing that they were trying to save face, Chen Shao did not expose them. Only after they finished speaking did he slowly say, "In fact, there is no need for Anrentang to be in trouble not only because of the Gu and Zhu families' occupation of the land, but also because of the disagreement between your two families."

Master Gu was startled and asked hurriedly, "Where did you get this from, young master?"

Chen Shao smiled and said, "This afternoon, I heard from a clerk at Anrentang that when I asked the students to investigate Shi Xing's records of doing odd jobs at the goods store, the reason why the goods store stopped them from getting close was because they were instructed by Master Gu."