The Prodigal Son

Two days later, Qin Yu set off to leave the capital.

Before they set off, Pei Du had already received orders to lead one hundred Baojing Division soldiers ahead of them to Hai and Yuan prefectures.

On this trip, he only brought Nan Que, Qi Da Chui, and ten guards.

Before leaving, Qin Yu repeatedly instructed Lao Tu to make sure to send someone to protect Luo Qingyi.

However, even though he was ready to rush to the city gate to meet up with the Golden Armored Imperial Guards and Yang Jichun, he still didn't receive Zhao Luan's surprise.

That unreliable woman!

Qin Yu silently complained to himself and quickly led his men to the south gate of the imperial city.

When they arrived at the South Gate, Yang Jichun and the others had already arrived.

Five hundred imperial guards in golden armor rode majestically on their horses, looking like men of a biting foe.

Upon seeing Qin Yu, Yang Jichun and Ruan Zhi led the junior commander of the Golden Armored Imperial Guard forward.

"This humble general, Di Rong, greets Physician Qin."

"Your humble servant Yang Jichun (Ruan Zhi) greets Physician Qin."

The three of them bowed to Qin Yu in unison.

"Um."

Qin Yu nodded slightly, then his gaze fell on Ruan Zhi. "Did His Majesty ask you to bring me a surprise?"

They've already set off!

If Ruan Zhi were to bring me surprises again, then I probably wouldn't be able to count on any surprises at all.

Ruan Zhi nodded, suppressing a smile, and pointed to the carriage beside him, "That's the surprise His Majesty prepared for Physician Qin!"

You actually brought it?

Qin Yu, out of curiosity, immediately rushed toward the carriage.

The moment Qin Yu lifted the carriage curtain, an extremely irritating face suddenly came into his view.

"Lü...Lü Si?"

Qin Yu's face suddenly froze, staring blankly at Lü Si, who was grinning lewdly at him.

Is this the surprise the female devil was talking about?

Depend on!

Was this a fright?

"Surprised? Unexpected?"

Lu Si was very satisfied with Qin Yu's shocked state, and his smile was exceptionally bright.

Or rather, exceptionally indebted!

"I'm so surprised and delighted with your grandma!"

Qin Yu snapped out of his daze and asked irritably, "What the hell were you doing going along to join in the fun?"

What does "joining in the fun" mean?

Lu Si glared at Qin Yu with displeasure, hands on his hips, and said, "I'm acting under imperial orders; I'm now a fifth-rank Deputy Salt Commissioner!"

"..."

Qin Yu's face darkened. "You? You can barely even manage to inspect the kang (heated brick bed), and you're supposed to be inspecting the salt!"

"I……"

Lu Si's face stiffened, his mouth opened and closed as he spoke, but no sound came out.

But it's obvious at a glance that he's definitely cursing Qin Yu.

Qin Yu abruptly pulled down the curtain and turned to look at Ruan Zhi: "Why did Your Majesty allow him to come along?"

Ruan Zhi smiled and said, "Let's head to the riverside dock first! We can talk more on the way."

"Alright!"

Qin Yu rubbed his head, feeling a headache coming on. He took Nan Que'er and got into the carriage with Ruan Zhi. He then ordered everyone to head to the dock on the Qujiang River to catch a boat.

On this journey, they will travel by water to Fengzhou, and then transfer to the Grand Canal.

As their group began to move, Ghost Three and Ghost Four, who were hanging far away, exchanged a silent glance and quickly followed.

Their mission was to protect Qin Yu in secret.

If you can avoid showing your face, then do so.

Inside the carriage, Qin Yu once again asked Ruan Zhi why Zhao Luan had sent Lü Si along.

Through Ruan Zhi's account, Qin Yu learned that it was Lü Chunqiu who had repeatedly pleaded with Zhao Luan to allow Lü Si to accompany him on his mission.

Lü Chunqiu's meaning was simple: it didn't matter whether Lü Si held an official position or not; he just wanted Lü Si to go and train with him.

It is said that the Empress Dowager originally disagreed with Lü Si's going.

It seems that it was Lü Chunqiu who persuaded the Empress Dowager.

After appointing Yang Jichun as the Salt Commissioner, Zhao Luan also gave Lü Si the official position of Deputy Salt Commissioner.

Lu Si didn't have any specific tasks; he was just like Yang Jichun and the others, cooperating with Qin Yu and following his orders.

After figuring out the reason, Qin Yu couldn't help but feel depressed.

Is Lü Chunqiu asking him to help take care of his child?

So he stayed home to take care of the young child, and you're the one who took care of the older one for him?

Qin Yu nudged Lü Si beside him, "Hey, you bastard, you weren't really adopted, were you?"

"You're the one who was adopted!"

Lu Si looked at Qin Yu with resentment.

That bastard can't utter a single good word!

Qin Yu pursed his lips and asked again, "Do you know how dangerous this trip is?"

"Isn't that obvious?"

Lu Si scoffed, "If I were a salt merchant, whoever wanted my life, I would take theirs too!"

"Then that settles it?"

Qin Yu shifted his position slightly, moving closer to Lü Si, and began to "seriously" analyze the situation for Lü Si: "Look, your mother just gave birth to a younger brother, and your father is pushing you into a fire pit. Doesn't that prove you were adopted?"

"fart!"

Lu Si snorted unhappily, "My father sent me to train! Let me tell you, don't think you're so great. When we get to the countryside, you might still need my help!"

Son of a bitch!

Who do you think you are!

No matter how powerful the Qin family is, they are only powerful in the military!

In terms of local connections, the Qin family is no match for the Lü family!

His father served as Minister of Justice for so many years, and he had quite a few protégés!

"Okay!"

Qin Yu stopped Lü Si, "As long as you don't cause me any trouble, anything is fine!"

Lu Si scoffed, "If it weren't for investigating the Shi family, do you think I'd want to go with you?"

"Just for this?"

Qin Yu was speechless. "You're the one who beat Shi Lian'er into a pulp, but you make it sound like you were the one who was bullied by the Shi family."

"fart!"

Lu Si retorted indignantly, "If it weren't for that shit, would I have been beaten with a cane?"

When the topic of Lü Si being flogged came up, Qin Yu's gaze immediately swept to Lü Si's buttocks. "Speaking of which, weren't you like a pig being slaughtered just a few days ago? How come your buttocks are healed so quickly?"

"You're the one who slaughters pigs!"

Lu Si replied with dissatisfaction, "It's almost healed, but it still hurts a little when I touch it..."

His buttocks were indeed swollen from being hit, but thankfully they didn't bleed.

After a few days of rest, I feel much better.

Actually, there was another reason he didn't tell Qin Yu.

His younger brother was so noisy, he kept whimpering and crying all day long.

He stayed home recovering from his injury for a few days, and the sound of that little brat crying made him feel terrible.

It would be better to follow Qin Yu to reorganize the salt administration.

That bastard always manages to get credit. If I follow him, I might be able to get some credit and rewards too.

Having confirmed that the boy hadn't secretly followed them, Qin Yu couldn't chase him away. He could only instruct him, "When we get to the dock and board the ship, make sure you cover yourself up well so no one recognizes you, lest word gets back to the Shi family and it's all over!"

There might be historians' spies along the way!

Lu Si's buttocks were beaten so badly that they were "skin torn and bleeding," yet he was already jumping around everywhere so quickly. Even a fool would know that the beating was fake.

"nonsense!"

Lu Si chuckled, "His Majesty already sent someone to give instructions, otherwise why do you think I've been in the carriage the whole time?"

They chatted idly along the way.

Around noon, they arrived at the dock located on the banks of the Qujiang River.

All the ships arranged by the imperial court are in place.

Although they were few in number, they arranged a full ten boats.

"Young Master Qin! Sister Que'er..."

Just as their men were preparing to board the ship, Qin Yu heard a joyful shout...