The Concubine's Daughter Travels Through Time and Space and Takes the Road of Confrontation

Having put a worry to rest, Lu Yun told him on the way back that she was going to set off for Beijing the next day. She had all the carriages and horses in the yard, and it would just cost her some money to buy some dry food.

If she didn't go back soon, Lu Yun was worried that she would not be able to spend the New Year with Dashou. Besides, there were potatoes planted in the hot spring cabin, which was also very important.

Zhou Boli was surrounded by a low pressure and said nothing.

Liuzi felt sorry for his master, who had been busy running around but was forgotten about after his master was done with his work. He gave Ambassador A a look.

Ah Da laughed and said, "What a coincidence, the lady also sent a letter, urging the young master to return to Shu to celebrate the New Year." "Someone also cares about their young master."

This idiot, Liuzi almost fell off his horse when he heard this. Now he has to go back even if his master doesn't want to.

Zhou Boli glared at the two of them coldly and said, "Stop talking!"

Ah Da: "Brother, you cheated me."

Liuzi racked his brains and tried hard to build a ladder for his master. "But the master said that the matter has not been thoroughly investigated, and the young master is not allowed to return. Lord Zhao has been very busy these days. I am afraid he is investigating this case. Once the investigation is clear, he will return to the capital to hand it over to the Dali Temple for trial." Liuzi looked at the princess very tactfully. "By then, I am afraid my son will have to go to Kyoto again."

"It takes a month to travel from Luzhou to Shu. Young Master Zhou, if you want to go home, you'd better hurry." Lu Yun looked at Zhou Boli with concern. "However, it's less than a month away from the Chinese New Year. I'm afraid you won't be able to make it before the New Year. Young Master Zhou, why don't you come with me to Kyoto to celebrate the New Year? You'll have company on the road."

Liuzi breathed a sigh of relief, fortunately the princess knew how to care for others.

Zhou Boli's lips curled slightly. "That's fine."

After Lu Yun returned, she delivered a message to Lord Zhao, telling him about her plan to return to Beijing.

In the evening, Lord Zhao came to visit.

"I haven't seen you for a few days. You look much more haggard, sir." Lu Yun greeted him.

Upon hearing this, Lord Zhao bowed and said, "Thank you for your concern, Princess. It's almost New Year and I should go home. But could you please wait for me for another three days? I still have a few things to finish."

Lu Yun smiled and replied, "Master Zhao, please go and do your work. We still have time to wait for another seven days."

"I wonder if there is any news about the official salt that was lost in my family? My father sent another letter to ask about the progress." Zhou Boli looked very concerned.

Zhao Qingyu sighed. The officialdom in Luzhou was indeed more complicated than he had imagined. He had been staying here for nearly a month, with his every move being monitored, and the information he obtained was very little.

"Mr. Zhou, only one-third of the official salt shipped to Luzhou can be shipped out again. I'm afraid your father will be disappointed."

Zhao Qingyu knew the trick very well, but he had no evidence.

Zhou Boli looked regretful upon hearing this. "I'm not boasting, but the well salt from our Shu land is extremely famous for its low impurities, small particles, pure white texture and pure taste. To find the whereabouts of this batch of salt, my father sent a letter with an old salt worker. He can tell the official salt from our Shu land at a glance."

"I wonder where this old salt worker is?" Zhao Qingyu thought of a way that could at least prove his guess.

"It just so happens that the mansion is out of salt. The old salt worker took a few people out to buy salt and should be back soon." Just as Zhou Boli finished speaking, he saw an old man in a cotton robe walk in from outside. "Greetings, young master."

"Uncle Zhou, have you bought the salt? In your opinion, how does the salt used in the Central Plains compare to the salt we have here?" Zhou Boli smiled, as if he simply wanted to show off.

The old man was very excited and picked up a salt jar and shouted, "Sir, this is the well salt from our Shu land."

Zhao Qingyu's face changed slightly, and he stepped forward quickly. "Old man, do you have any proof?"

Black earthenware jars were lined up on the table. The old man took a little from each and placed it on the table. "Look, sir. This is Huai salt, which is white, large, and dry to the touch. This is sea salt, which is gray, has many impurities, tastes bitter, and is the cheapest. The last one is our Shu well salt, which has small grains, feels wet, has a pure taste, and is the most expensive."

Zhao Qingyu observed carefully and found that, just as the old man said, the salt produced in different regions was obviously different. It was just that the official salt itself was more expensive, and ordinary people could only afford sea salt and did not care about the difference.

At this moment, the old housekeeper ran in in a panic, "Sir, there are officials outside the yard, saying that someone in our house is buying illegal salt, and they want to come in to search."

Zhou Boli frowned. "Uncle Zhou, you didn't buy illegal salt. That's against the law. Even Lord Zhao can't protect you."

"Sir, I'm innocent. I bought the salt from Changji Commercial Bank in the city." The old man was so frightened that his legs were shaking.

A man in a green official robe walked in with a group of soldiers.

"So Lord Zhao is here too, what a coincidence." The young man in the green official robe was very polite and bowed to Zhao Qingyu.

Zhao Qingyu bowed in return. "It's just a small smuggled salt business, but you've troubled County Magistrate Chang to lead the team in person."

"Alas, family and country are no trivial matters. I always keep the teachings of the saints in mind and never dare to slack off." County Magistrate Chang smiled, but when he saw the black clay pots on the table, his face darkened. "Could someone really dare to buy private salt? Come, confiscate the stolen goods."

"Hey, sir, wait a minute. I'm new here and don't know the difference between official salt and private salt. Could you please help me clear it up?" Zhao Qingyu stopped him with a calm expression.

Magistrate Chang was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "There is no difference, it's all salt. Salt purchased from private individuals without government permission is called private salt, while salt purchased from private individuals without government permission is called official salt."

"Then how did you know that this was private salt and not official salt?" Zhao Qingyu remained calm.

Magistrate Chang looked at Lord Zhao and said sternly, "To be honest, illegal salt has been rampant in Luzhou for a long time. The government has planted many informants to crack down on illegal salt trading. I came here this time because I received a report that someone saw someone buying illegal salt in this city."

"Could you please allow me to meet this informant?"

"You are joking, sir. Since I am an informant, my identity is naturally hidden. How could I let anyone know? Besides, you are here to investigate the disappearance of the wife of the Minister of Public Administration. This illegal salt business is an internal matter of our county, so please do not bother with me."

County Magistrate Chang snorted coldly, motioning for the men behind him to come forward and fetch the stolen goods. He sneered and reached in with two fingers to feel around, then exclaimed in astonishment, "This, is this snow?"

"Haha, I guess it was a false report from the informant. My lord, my little sister was too playful and asked the servants to pack a few jars of snow to make tea next year."

Zhao Qingyu said calmly, "If the county magistrate still doesn't believe me, you can send someone to search the courtyard. I will tell my uncle and Lord Lu the truth about this matter."

County Magistrate Chang naturally heard the threat in Lord Zhao's words. His expression shifted from gloomy to bright. Finally, he bowed and smiled. "As Lord Zhao said, the informant must have made a mistake. I will leave now. Please don't see me off, please don't see me off."