The Prodigal Son

"No way?"

Qin Yu chuckled, "Lord Shangguan, please don't be so modest."

"I'm not being sarcastic at all."

Shangguan Youyi smiled. "Hurry up and get in the carriage with me to the palace! His Majesty is still waiting!"

So urgent?

Is this female demon thinking of herself?

Or do you want to tidy yourself up?

I came back with merits, why should this female devil punish me?

Qin Yu was secretly suspicious, but he couldn't refuse.

"Please wait a moment, Lord Shangguan, I'll make the arrangements."

As Qin Yu spoke, he called Qi Dachui over, "His Majesty urgently summoned me to the palace, so you don't need to go with me! First, take Nan Que'er's clansmen to the Wan Family Restaurant and settle them in..."

After giving Qi Dachui some instructions, Qin Yu boarded the carriage prepared by Shangguan Youyi.

"Why is Your Majesty in such a hurry to summon me to the palace?"

Inside the carriage, Qin Yu asked Shangguan Youyi with some confusion.

At least let me go home first!

Shangguan Youyi chuckled, "I suppose His Majesty would like to hear Lord Qin give her a detailed account of this battle?"

"What's there to say?"

Qin Yu asked suspiciously, "Didn't Lin Gong already send a battle report to the imperial court?"

"This battle wasn't a major one, but it wasn't minor either. How could a single battle report possibly explain it all?"

Shangguan Youyi said with a smile, "The battle report only described the general process. No one knows the specific details of this battle better than Lord Qin."

detail?

What details?

Once the water attack succeeds, it's a complete stomp on the weak!

What other details could there be?

Should we tell the female demon about their eating, drinking, and bodily functions?

"This is just my guess. Perhaps His Majesty has other matters to discuss with Lord Qin!"

Shangguan Youyi smiled, "Lord Qin, there's no need to worry. You have rendered a great service this time, and His Majesty will not make things difficult for you no matter what."

That Qin Yu is really something!

Is he afraid His Majesty will eat him?

If you say he's brave, he's made such a great contribution, yet he seems worried that His Majesty will punish him?

If you call him a coward, then there's nothing he's done that a coward would do!

Seeing Qin Yu like this, she even suspected that Qin Yu had done something wrong.

Qin Yu thought about it and realized that it made sense.

No matter how vengeful a female demon is, she can't punish someone for their good deeds, can she?

If this is really the case, who the hell would still be willing to work for the imperial court?

Thinking this through, Qin Yu stopped worrying and instead inquired of Shangguan Youyi: "Yao Jin must have told His Majesty about Nan Que'er, right?"

"I did say that."

Shangguan Youyi guessed what Qin Yu was going to ask and said seriously, "Although she has made contributions, it is also a fact that she helped Zhao Yi and others control Shen Jue, causing considerable losses to Qingxi Academy!"

Qin Yu's eyelids twitched, and he tentatively asked, "Can't merits and demerits be offset against each other?"

"That depends on His Majesty's decision."

Shangguan Youyi's face showed a hint of gossip, "Lord Qin seems to care a lot about this Nan Que'er?"

Qin Yu, of course, wouldn't reveal his affair with Nan Que'er. He smiled and said, "She not only helped treat the wounded in the army, but she also saved my and Da Chui's lives! Our battle against the Nuoli tribe wouldn't have gone so smoothly without her and her people's help! Of course, I had to put in a good word for her!"

"Is that so?"

A playful look appeared on Shangguan Youyi's pretty face. "I've heard Yao Jin say that this Nan Que'er is a stunningly beautiful woman! Doesn't Lord Qin have any interest in her?"

Qin Yu chuckled, "There are plenty of beauties in the world, isn't Lord Shangguan a great beauty too?"

As he spoke, Qin Yu deliberately glanced at Shangguan Youyi a couple more times.

They left the capital during a cold snap in early spring, which was when the rumors were circulating widely.

The weather is already quite warm now, and everyone is feeling cool.

This immediately revealed Shangguan Youyi's figure.

Don't say that, a young woman is a young woman!

The mature charm she exuded was truly incomparable to that of Luo Qingluan or Nan Que'er.

Shangguan Youyi, as expected of someone with experience, met Qin Yu's gaze with an open and confident demeanor.

"Lord Qin, those eyes of yours will probably get you into trouble sooner or later!"

Shangguan Youyi was neither ashamed nor angry, but had a strange smile on his face.

Qin Yu dared to steal glances at even His Majesty, let alone himself?

"Lord Shangguan, please don't misunderstand, I'm just admiring you!"

Qin Yu composed himself and asked with a smile, "Have you ever heard a saying?"

"What did you say?"

Shangguan Youyi was quite interested.

Qin Yu smiled, "Actually, I'm not a womanizer! It's just that the flowers are in full bloom, and if I don't appreciate them, I'd seem unromantic."

Shangguan Youyi carefully considered Qin Yu's words, then chuckled.

Her smile added even more charm.

"Lord Qin truly deserves to be called a great talent of our dynasty; even his fondness for women can be described in such a refined and elegant way."

Shangguan Youyi's smile was so radiant that Qin Yu couldn't help but glance at her a few more times.

Ugh!

Putting aside the fact that she's a female demon who's always trying to get rid of her, the Imperial City is actually quite nice!

It's bustling and vibrant, with beautiful women everywhere.

This is absolutely a place of extravagance and debauchery!

This wretched body of mine!

What a waste of such a great place!

Qin Yu smiled modestly, "I'm not some great talent, so please don't belittle me!"

"No, no!"

Shangguan Youyi waved his hand, "Lord Qin has just returned to the capital and there are some things he doesn't know yet! Nowadays in the capital, if you mention Lord Qin's name, everyone will praise you as a man of both literary and military talent..."

She didn't lie to Qin Yu.

With the encouragement of those people in the Faculty of Arts, Qin Yu is almost becoming the greatest scholar in the world!

Now, Qin Yu has quelled the rebellion and expanded Luzhou, making his reputation even more renowned.

A saying has recently been circulating in the capital: "A son should be like Qin Shisan!"

Qin Yu's past shortcomings were also described as him hiding his true abilities.

Hearing Shangguan Youyi's praise, Qin Yu couldn't help but blush secretly, and quickly changed the subject, "By the way, has there been any unusual activity in Bei Qi?"

"There have been some moves, but nothing major."

Shangguan Youyi suppressed her smile, "The Duke of Wei has finished inspecting the northern defenses and should be back soon. You can ask him then! He should know more about it."

"Alright!"

Qin Yu didn't ask any more questions, secretly thinking that he would have to have a good talk with the old man later.

If things continue like this, won't the Qin family be suspected by the female demon?

"Oh, and I have some more good news for you."

Shangguan Youyi smiled and, under Qin Yu's expectant gaze, spoke, "Luo Yushu was arrested in Fangzhou. In a few days, he should be escorted to the capital!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Yu secretly curled his lip.

He thought it was some good news!

That's it?

What a waste of my time!

If Shangguan Youyi hadn't mentioned it, he would have completely forgotten about Luo Yushu!

Catching a scumbag is nothing special!

Qin Yu inwardly complained, then casually asked, "What about Luo Qingyuan?"

"This woman has far more courage and decisiveness than Luo Yushu..."

Shangguan Youyi smiled and then told him about the capture of the Luo siblings.

After the Luo family sought help everywhere without success, they decided to flee Daning.

Thanks to Luo Jianshan's arrangements, the Luo siblings escaped to the banks of the Qujiang River during the mourning period. They boarded a boat that Luo Jianshan had arranged in advance, traveled along the Qujiang River to the Grand Canal that connects the Qujiang and Pingjiang Rivers, and then entered the Pingjiang River via the Grand Canal.

They were questioned at Qingzhudu in Fangzhou and dragged out of the cargo hold by soldiers.

Luo Yushu was terrified and kept kneeling down begging for mercy, while Luo Qingyuan took advantage of the moment and jumped into the Pingjiang River...

After listening to Shangguan Youyi talk about the Luo siblings along the way, they finally arrived at the palace...