Qingyu Case: Female Minister of Dali Temple

Chen Shao brought a bowl of wontons over, picked up the spoon, and took a sip of the soup first.

The soup was very hot, rolling down the throat, quickly dispelling the fatigue of a busy day and night, warming the heart. After taking another sip of the soup, Chen Shao scooped up a wonton and ate it. It was a wonton stuffed with fresh meat. Probably to take care of them, the meat stuffing was very large, and the mouth was full of fresh fragrance when he took a bite. He picked up another steamed bun and took a bite slowly. The fresh and thick soup wrapped with fresh meat rolled into his mouth, which was so delicious that Chen Shao couldn't help but eat another one.

After eating xiaolongbao, I ate soup noodles.

They ate like this all the way, treating everyone equally without favoritism.

However, even though they had good appetites, they could not resist the mountain of food. They ate two servings of each dish, and even though their bodies and minds were full, there was still a lot left.

"We can't waste food." Chen Shao looked at the two tables of Yulin guards next to him, "Do you mind if you don't mind? If you don't, take it and eat it. If you do, I'll take it home and heat it up tonight and continue eating it."

The Yulin Guards naturally did not despise them, and came forward in twos and threes, and quickly took away the food on the table. After telling them to eat slowly and not to rush, Chen Shao came out of the noodle stall of Wang Zheng's grandparents and wandered to the other breakfast stalls.

When the stall owners saw her, they all greeted her enthusiastically, and Chen Shao would stop to ask about their health or business. Soon, the sun began to heat up, and more and more people came to the street, which was about to cause congestion. Coincidentally, Wang Cong sent someone to report that the second and third branches of the Fan and Qi families had been brought back to the prefectural governor's mansion. Chen Shao stopped at the right time, chatted with the two stall owners nearby, and then took a carriage back to the prefectural governor's mansion.

People of all ages from the Fan and Qi families filled the empty space in front of the lobby, and even carriages could not pass through.

The carriage stopped near the gate and Chen Shao got out. Ding Lisheng, Ren Shoukang, Ren Zhongxing, Wang Cong, Liu Zizhuang and others who had been waiting for a long time immediately came to greet him.

After taking a look at the people from the Fan family and the second and third branches of the Qi family, and then looking outside the gate, Chen Shao asked Ding Lisheng, "Have you dealt with everyone from the two families?"

"We have only dealt with a small number of them," Ding Lisheng considered. "I have seen so many people brought back, and I don't know how you will deal with them. I am afraid that continuing the execution will scare them, so I stopped to let them clean up the bloodstains while waiting for you to come back and make the decision."

Chen Shao answered the question irrelevantly: "The prefectural government can't accommodate so many people, right?"

"We do have a few courtyards," Ding Lisheng answered truthfully, "but they definitely can't accommodate so many people. But if you're confident, the Ding family can vacate a few courtyards for them to stay in temporarily."

Ren Shoukang took two steps forward nervously: "My family can also free up a few yards to accommodate them."

Wang Cong and Liu Zizhuang said nothing and watched them "compete for favor" silently.

Chen Shao thought for a moment and told Ding Lisheng: "Leave the heads of the second and third houses here, and please ask the Ding family to move a few yards to temporarily accommodate the rest."

Ding Lisheng responded loudly and was about to leave when Chen Shao called him back, "Also, the second and third branches of the Gu and Zhu families should be settled as well."

After Ding Lisheng went to where the people from the Fan family, the second branch of the Qi family, and the third branch were gathered, Chen Shao looked at Ren Shoukang and asked, "How many courtyards can you spare for people to live in, Ren family?"

Ren Shoukang's dull eyes suddenly lit up, "We can still free up more than ten yards."

"Then I'll trouble you, the Ren family..." Chen Shao was halfway through his words when he suddenly turned his head to look at Wang Cong. Wang Cong immediately straightened up, looking like he was waiting to be sent out. Chen Shao couldn't help but laugh twice, "You should have an assistant too, right?"

"Yes!" Wang Cong turned around and shouted, "Shen Kuan, come here!"

Shen Kuan was guarding the people from the Fan family and the second and third branches of the Qi family. When he heard his voice, he quickly came over and asked, "Brother, what's wrong?"

"Stand still, the master has something to tell you!" said Wang Cong.

Shen Kuan immediately stood facing Chen Shao.

"Don't be nervous," Chen Shao asked him a few questions calmly, and after easing the atmosphere, he explained, "In the near future, I will need you to bring the people from the Ren and Ding families, follow Master Ren and the Third Master Ren to bring back the people from the manor that the students have dealt with. Afterwards, I will have to trouble you to bring those people to help look after them."

Shen Kuan agreed without thinking.

"Thank you for your hard work." Chen Shao smiled and told Li Tianliu, "Go pick thirty people for him."

After Li Tianliu picked up the people and left, Chen Shao looked back at Ren Shoukang and Ren Zhongxing, father and son: "Thank you for your hard work."

Ren Shoukang and his son Ren Zhongxing both said they dared not do it, and after Li Tianliu had selected the people, they took Shen Kuan away.

Chen Shao watched them go away before he retracted his gaze to Wang Cong and Liu Zizhuang, "There are two extremely important tasks left for you two. As I don't know you well, you have to make your own choices as to who will be responsible for which. The first is to follow those students to deal with each farm. After all the farms are dealt with, count the amount of surplus grain. The second is to follow Miss Quan to count the money vaults, shops, etc. of each family. After the count is finished, count the number of each one."

Liu Zizhuang was stunned. He had never taken her promise seriously, and only thought that her offer of amnesty was a strategy to resolve the Gu, Fan, and Qi families. When he suddenly heard that she had arranged such an important matter for them, he was only brought back to his senses by Wang Cong's help, "Since you trust me, I will not let you down!"

Chen Shao said gently: "Choose first."

Liu Zizhuang said quickly: "I will go with those students to deal with the affairs of the farm. Brother Wang is careful and meticulous, so he is more suitable than me to check the treasury and so on."

Chen Shao looked at Wang Cong.

Wang Cong said, "Then I will follow Miss Quan to check the treasury and shops."

As he said this, he bowed to Quan Shuyu and said, "I hope Miss Quan will take care of me in the future."

Quan Shuyu returned his greeting, "Master Wang, you are too modest."

"We've been busy all day and all night, and we're all tired. Go back and rest today. When you're done, come to the second hall at noon tomorrow, and I'll make specific arrangements." Chen Shao instructed Li Tianliu again, "See if there's any empty yard, and settle down Liu Dangjia and his brothers there."

Li Tianliu glanced at Wang Cong lazily and said, "There are two empty courtyards next to the ones they live in. If they don't mind, they can squeeze in there."

Liu Zizhuang said quickly: "I don't mind, I don't mind!"

Chen Shao said: "Thank you for your hard work."

Liu Zizhuang replied several times, "It's not hard," and followed Wang Cong. When he got to the group of people from the Fan family and the second and third branches of the Qi family, he called his brothers and went to the back.

Looking at their receding backs, Li Tianliu clicked his tongue twice and said sarcastically, "You actually trust them!"

Chen Shao glanced at him nonchalantly and said calmly, "The grain in the warehouse and the money in the treasury will all need to be sent to the border in the future. Instead of worrying about what tricks they might play on the road, it's better to see now whether they are human or ghost."

Chan Yi muttered, "So this is the reason why the young master recruited them."

Chen Shao laughed: "What do you think the purpose is?"

Chan Yi shook her head.

"Let's go." Looking at the leaders of the second and third branches of the Fan and Qi families, Chen Shao said, "Hurry up and settle them down, and go back to rest."

Chan Yi asked, "Are we going to settle them in the prefectural governor's mansion?"

Then he asked Li Tianliu: "Is there any place to stay in the prefectural government?"

Li Tianliu simply said: "No!"

"I have an idea," Chan Yi blinked twice and said with ill intent, "I just don't know if you agree or not."

Chen Shao gestured to her: "Tell me about it."

Chan Yi glanced at the leaders of the second and third branches of the Fan and Qi families, and said in a low voice, "Although they are not as bad as the first branch, they are definitely not good people. Why not send them to those gardens to fight with Xu Guang, which can be regarded as a way to atone for their sins."

Li Tianliu raised his eyebrows: "Good idea."

Chen Shao nodded: "That's right, I'll leave this matter to you."

Li Tianliu arranged it without saying a word.