Return of the Pearl

Qianlong had already calmly given orders to the secret guards, asking them to follow quietly. His eyes were as deep as a deep pool, and there seemed to be turbulent waves inside, churning with endless anxiety and impatience. His heart was like a huge wave stirred up by a strong wind, and it was difficult to calm down. He was eager to uncover the black hand hidden behind the scenes and find out who dared to be so audacious as to hurt Yun'er, whom he regarded as a treasure.

He understood deeply that the people he encountered today were by no means ordinary refugees, but assassins who were deliberately and meticulously planned. In his mind, the real target of these killers was not him, but the delicate woman in his arms who he loved and cherished with all his tenderness. She was the soft spot in his heart and the one he had to protect at all costs.

Qianlong frowned, his thick black eyebrows knitted together, lost in deep thought. His eyes narrowed slightly, filled with confusion and bewilderment. He couldn't figure out who this innocent and kind-hearted girl had offended. He pondered carefully, his mind racing through all sorts of possible people. If she truly hadn't offended anyone, then the person who wanted to harm her must have come from the heavily guarded inner court of the imperial palace.

The news of his leaving the palace was originally kept secret, but it was still discovered by someone, which surprised him very much. Those people seemed to have a keen sense of smell and chased him all the way to Shandong.

It seems that the epidemic in Shandong is probably much more serious than he imagined. The situation is really not optimistic! Qianlong's face showed deep worry, and his heart was heavy, as if a huge rock was pressing on him.

Thinking of this, Qianlong's expression became more solemn. His originally handsome face was now filled with worry and uneasiness. His eyes were full of anxiety and uneasiness, as if there were dark clouds and a haze that was difficult to dissipate. There was a deep sorrow condensed between his brows, as if there was an unsolvable sorrow entangled in them.

His heart was filled with fear of unknown dangers, and every thought made him feel flustered. He didn't know what kind of difficulties and obstacles would be lurking in the dark like wild beasts in the days to come, waiting for an opportunity to strike. He unconsciously hugged Yun'er in his arms tightly, holding her tightly with his arms, as if this could give her more sense of security and allow himself to find a little comfort from the endless worries.

Deep in his heart, he silently cried out: Yun'er, no matter what dangers we encounter, I will do my best to protect you! Even if it means making the whole world my enemy, I will not hesitate!

The next day, the morning light gently opened like a veil. After a hurried breakfast, Qianlong and his companions galloped onto a new journey. Along the way, they experienced many hardships and difficulties. Finally, with their unremitting efforts, they arrived in Jinan Prefecture, Shandong.

When Qianlong's gaze fell on Yan Xishen, the prefect of Jinan Prefecture, his heart tightened. He saw that Yan Xishen looked haggard, with deep fatigue and endless worries written all over his face. His originally bright eyes were now sunken, covered with spider-web-like bloodshot, which were the vivid marks of countless days and nights of toil and worry. His skin was as dry and rough as cracked land that had lost its moisture, and his cracked lips trembled slightly, as if silently telling the deep suffering he had endured.

His clothes were covered in dust and wrinkled, as if he had been running on this dry land for a long time. His hair was disheveled with dust mixed in, as if silently telling of the pressure and pain he was enduring. His figure was slightly hunched, as if he had been tortured by the drought and had lost his vitality. Every movement he made seemed so difficult, as if every step required a huge amount of effort.

All around him was a desolate scene. Deep cracks appeared on the dry earth, as if the earth was groaning in pain. The trees were withered and yellow, and the branches and leaves drooped weakly, as if showing people the dryness and despair of the land.

The mountains in the distance have lost their former green color and have taken on a withered yellow hue, which is the trace of the raging drought. The entire Jinan Prefecture is shrouded in a dull and depressing atmosphere, as if the drought has strangled its throat and it is unable to breathe.

After a long and arduous journey, they finally arrived in Shandong Province. Fu Heng frowned slightly, his handsome face filled with confusion and concern. He slowly turned around and asked in a slightly worried voice, "Master, are we looking for the Governor of Shandong?"

Qianlong shook his head slightly. A glimmer of determination and wisdom flashed in his eyes, deep as the stars in the night sky. He slowly raised his right hand, his slender, white fingers gently waving as he spoke in a steady and resolute tone, "No, let's go directly to Jinan Prefecture in Shandong and find the prefect who submitted the memorial to me. Let's not go anywhere else for now. Let's go straight to Jinan Prefecture. I believe that since he can present a memorial to me, he must be someone who cares about the people. As for the others, I can't tell whether they are loyal or treacherous now."

While saying these words, Qianlong was actually thinking secretly in his heart. He knew that this matter was of no trivial importance and he had to find a reliable person to understand the real situation.

The prefect who submitted the memorial was undoubtedly the person he placed the most hope on. His eyes revealed a complex emotion of worry and expectation, as if he was thinking about the challenges he was about to face.

After listening to Qianlong's words, Fuheng nodded slightly. The doubts on his face gradually dissipated, and were replaced by a trace of determination. He knew that Qianlong must have his reasons for his decision, so he said no more, but just followed Qianlong silently and continued to head towards Jinan Prefecture.

After saying these words, Qianlong slowly turned his gaze into the distance. His gaze seemed to have magical penetrating power, able to penetrate through layers of clouds and mist and look straight at the distant Jinan Prefecture.

An indescribable expression of worry and expectation intertwined with each other inadvertently appeared on his face. His brows were slightly furrowed, and his eyes were full of deep thoughts about the unknown and eager expectations for the future.

During this long and tiring half day of hard work and running around, they dragged their heavy and tired bodies and moved forward step by step in the afterglow of the setting sun. Each step seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, and each step seemed to be a tenacious struggle against the difficult road. They finally arrived at the majestic prefectural government office in Jinan Prefecture.

Along the way, the scorching sun mercilessly burned the earth. The cracked land seemed to be groaning in pain, telling of the endless torture brought by the drought. The trees drooped their branches listlessly, as if lamenting and sighing with this suffering land. Their clothes had long been soaked with sweat and stuck tightly to their bodies, and their faces were full of fatigue and determination.

When they finally arrived at the prefectural government office, Qianlong raised his head slightly and stared at the old yet solemn gate of the government office, with a hint of worry and concern in his eyes.