mtl008 Chapter 172: She Gave Him Hope
Chapter 172: She Gave Him Hope
He got up and came out of the house; Jiu Er had been waiting for him in the study for a long time.
"How's the matter I asked you to investigate going?"
Jiu Er bowed and began to report, "Tan the Blind's ancestors for three generations were all bricklayers."
"Later, due to an illness, I mistakenly believed in a folk remedy and was blinded by poison. That's why I had no choice but to come here twenty years ago to seek refuge with my cousin who was in the pottery business, and learn the craft of pottery from him."
"Ten years ago, the pottery business was getting worse and worse, so Blind Tan tried making some small ceramic figurines to attract some young men and women to play ring toss."
“Apart from the ones that the lady used these few times, the rings, models and even the dyes he used before were all made by himself, without using any special materials.”
“During this period, he recycled all the ceramic sculptures that his wife made that could be recycled, and threw the ones that couldn’t be recycled down a slope behind the house.”
“His neighbors are all very familiar with him.”
"He has seven relatives and friends still alive, all of whom are ordinary peddlers and laborers, and none of them are literate."
"Their family can save fifteen to twenty taels of silver every year."
"Moreover, their eating habits, age, clothing, and daily social interactions all align with this income level."
"However, because his wife visited more often during this period, he used the money he earned to buy meat several times, and their lives have indeed improved a lot."
"So, he really has no problem?"
Jiu Er immediately lowered his head, saying, "The head of the family will make the decision, and I dare not speak presumptuously."
Whether Blind Tan has a problem or not is not something he can say.
Wang Qingyan sat down, lifting his robe, quite satisfied with the answer. "Who did Lu Jian send this time?"
Jiu Er knelt down swiftly, "Master, please forgive me, I have not yet found out about this matter."
This means that all of their informants in the capital have been cut off.
But since the eyeliner has been completely removed, why didn't Yun Su mention it before?
Wang Qingyan glanced at Jiu Er casually, and immediately knew who was right and who was wrong: "Our emperor is really quick to act."
Not only did they destroy his decades of hard work in such a short time, but they also tried to kill him and drive a wedge between him and his wife.
So why should he let them go?
"The Gu Guards have intercepted many caravans. Take your men and keep a close watch on the grain supplies. Don't let a single grain of food reach the capital or the border."
"Once the new manager has matured, I will have them cooperate with you to purchase large quantities of salt, iron, and medicinal herbs."
Public opinion, you say?
After everyone has become a ghost, he wants to see how many people will still be on Lu Jian's side.
"...Yes." Although it wasn't the first time he had done this, Jiu Er still couldn't help but feel a sense of sorrow.
"Uh!"
But that one moment of hesitation led to Wang Qingyan grabbing him and lifting him up.
"..." His five fingers sank into his flesh in an instant. Looking at the sinister look in his eyes, Jiu Er couldn't even put up a fight.
Fortunately, Wang Qingyan did not want to kill anyone today.
He threw it on the ground a moment later.
"Cough... Thank you, Patriarch Xie." Curled up on the ground with tears streaming down his face, Jiu Er hadn't even recovered yet when he struggled to get up and bowed to thank him for sparing his life.
Looking down at Jiu Er, who was now as insignificant as an ant, Wang Qingyan smiled contemptuously.
"Remember, I'm keeping you alive because you still have value."
“But if you want to be a good person, your fate will be even worse than Manager Li’s.”
"There will be a next time"
Jiu Er hurriedly kowtowed, "Your subordinate guarantees that there will never be a next time!"
"Get up"
At least Jiu Er didn't betray him in the face of life and death, so Wang Qingyan naturally didn't want to kill him casually.
"There is one more matter that requires the head of the family to decide."
"Say"
"Our informant in Qucheng has sent word that He Yao's condition has improved."
He only found out later that He Yao looked dazed.
After she entered Qucheng, she gradually returned to normal.
This means that, "It seems that Lu Jian has really found something to restrain Chao Sheng."
"Was He Yao really poisoned before?"
Wang Qingyan shook his head. "If He Yao had been poisoned a year ago, they would have had no chance to escape Lincheng."
Within a year, given the current transformation speed of the new Gu, He Yao had already become one of the Gu Guards.
How could they not obey his orders and flee into Qucheng?
"Then...what does the patriarch think?"
Wang Qingyan immediately thought of the man in black from three years ago; the aura emanating from that man was so similar to his own.
He felt at the time that he might not be the only one in the world who had mastered the art of revival.
Perhaps it's because the abilities derived from the morning cycle are different, but the fact that He Yao's condition has improved proves that the "antidote" that Lu Jian found is likely applicable to all types of Gu.
"You don't need to concern yourself with this matter."
"Yes, should we continue to keep an eye on Blind Tan?"
"continue"
"But Madam... doesn't seem very happy."
What Jiu Er wants to say is, everyone in Lincheng knows Baili Ce, is it really necessary to keep such a close watch on him?
Wang Qingyan explained in a good mood, "Things that slip through your fingers are not because you're holding on too tightly."
"It's precisely because we haven't exerted enough strength."
"If you put in more effort, even sand will have nowhere to escape."
In his world, nothing ever changes for anyone else.
Why change?
Shouldn't lovers love each other for who they truly are?
She was the one who entered his world.
She gave me hope.
She also chose herself.
Then she should stay by his side through thick and thin, accept everything without hesitation.
......
Qucheng is 390 li from Lincheng and 430 li from Shacheng. It is the place that, apart from the border and the capital, shows the least respect to Wang Qingyan.
Therefore, on the day she fully regained her senses, He Yao sensed not malice or a test, but bowls of hot egg drop soup.
"The food is still being prepared, please make do with this for now."
"Thank you," He Yao said, indeed feeling very hungry. She picked up the bowl and drank.
Li Yuanzheng, who had just entered from outside, quickly stepped forward to stop her, saying, "Wait."
Then, she told Aunt Ma, who was serving the soup, to go downstairs, and added a piece of sugar to the soup like a precious treasure, stirred it a couple of times, and said, "Drink up."
"this?"
"Let's drink, let's drink!"
Li Yuanzheng watched with a smile as He Yao finished her drink before feeling relieved and discussing with her, "I wonder if Your Highness would be willing to accompany me to meet the people of the city later?"
"Can"
Li Yuanzheng was slightly taken aback. "Your Majesty, aren't you going to ask why?"
"The plague is rampant in the world today. It cannot be completely eradicated in the capital and the border areas. Qu City has always been peaceful. Commander Li’s rash decision to let He Yao into the city must have caused quite a stir."
"Now that He Yao has recovered, he is on patrol and pacification tours of the city."
Li Yuanzheng immediately stood up, leaning on his cane, and bowed deeply, saying, "Your Majesty is wise and righteous; this is truly a blessing for the people."
He Yao bowed slightly in return, noticing that Li Yuanzheng not only had a limp in his right leg, but also that his left sleeve was empty.
Noticing He Yao's gaze, Li Yuanzheng explained without any hesitation, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, this injury was caused by defending the city years ago and has nothing to do with the people in the city."
"The people here are simple and honest. As long as you explain things to them, they will never make things difficult for you."
He Yao shook her head; that wasn't what she was worried about.
It was the first time I had ever seen an official dressed in patched clothes possess such an imposing and majestic presence.
"Are you fifty years old, sir?"
"I am unworthy of the title 'Your Excellency.' According to my original official rank, I was merely a minor official under the prefect."
"As for my age... if I can get through this year, I'll be exactly sixty."
Doesn't it look like it?
"In my opinion, he's only in his forties."
"Hahaha..." Li Yuanzheng laughed heartily, and the atmosphere immediately became much more relaxed.
"When ordinary people look at us officials, they just look at our spirit and energy."
"If they are all greasy-haired, fat-bellied, what confidence do they have in the government?"
"That's true."
"But judging from Your Majesty's physique, you must actually know martial arts, right?" He was not afraid of any powerful or noble emperor, and addressing He Yao as Your Majesty was merely a matter of courtesy.
She seems approachable, with clear eyes and a straightforward manner, so she simply says what she thinks.
"Please forgive me, sir. A delicate and frail girl is bound to evoke pity."
Upon hearing this, Li Yuanzheng understood. "No wonder Commander Li opened the door for you that day. If it had been any later, you would have had to force your way in."
"Your Excellency is wise."
In other words, He Yao had already regained consciousness on the way to Qucheng.
However, the ancestral Gu was indeed very powerful, "torturing" her to the point that she was unable to control herself, which is why she kept pretending to be sick and not seeing anyone.
"Hey?"
"what?"
"Your Majesty, please don't call me 'Your Majesty' for a while."
"Then you shouldn't call me Your Majesty."
"This..." The two people who were walking out stopped in front of the government office gate.
He Yao admitted helplessly, "It sounds awful."
"Hahahaha... Alright! We'll listen to... Mrs. He!"
The moment the door opened, the last bit of doubt in He Yao's heart vanished.
A group of simply dressed but spirited people crowded outside the door, curiously and nervously watching them emerge from inside.
With the strongest conviction of her life, He Yao stood with Li Yuanzheng in the afterglow of the setting sun, her smile as if she had been given a second life. "He Yao greets everyone."
......