The Prodigal Son

In the days that followed, Qin Yu and his group traveled slowly towards Jiuyi Prefecture, stopping and starting along the way.

Although their main purpose was to investigate the assassination of the crown prince, since they had come to these places, Qin Yu took the opportunity to rectify the administration of officials.

I'm wearing top-of-the-line gear right now!

If we don't take advantage of these gadgets while we still have them, when will we ever get another chance to show off?

On March 12th, Qin Yu and his group finally arrived at Jiuyi Prefecture.

Having gone through so much, Qin Yu had become completely numb to the punishment of corrupt officials.

In every county they passed through, there were corrupt officials.

The only saving grace was that they still managed to find a few honest and capable officials.

While punishing corrupt officials, he also promoted honest and capable officials.

Wherever they went, their people would first go to investigate the private kilns and pottery shops.

Along the way, they found no similar earthenware bowls or pots, and not even wall lamps of the same style.

Qin Yu initially judged that when Sun Min and his group were illegally mining gold, they were probably afraid of being caught and investigated after being exposed, so they purchased many things separately.

It's also possible that some items were transported from Ningzhou, and upon arrival, it was discovered that some items were missing, so they purchased them locally.

However, as long as they don't find any similar earthenware pots or bowls along the way, it's a good thing for them.

The smaller the circulation range of these items, the easier it is for them to pinpoint the mastermind behind them.

Outside Jiuyi Prefecture.

Xu Zuo, the governor of Taozhou, led all the officials of the prefecture to wait for Qin Yu outside the city.

Hearing that Xuan Cailing and Jiang Ci had some connection with Qin Yu, Xu Zuo even had someone call the Xuan family members and Jiang Ci to welcome Qin Yu together.

It's already warm enough to dress warmly, but Xu Zuo still felt a chill.

He already knew about Qin Yu's journey of punishing corrupt officials.

With so many corrupt officials, plus the mess that bastard Ge Songtao made, he didn't know if he could keep his position as governor.

Moreover, his own buttocks weren't very clean either.

Although he didn't take too much, the person who came was, after all, Qin Yu!

Today, Qin Yu is already well-known.

Domineering, tyrannical, bloodthirsty, and intolerant of any wrongdoing...

The key point is that he also commands a large army!

He has large armies that he can mobilize at any time in places like Shangzhou, Fangzhou, Haizhou, and Yinzhou.

Under such circumstances, if Qin Yu wanted to take action against officials in any region, almost no one would dare to resist.

Unless you're willing to gamble with the lives of your entire family!

On the other side, Xuan Guangyuan had a big smile on his face, and said to his daughter with a smile, "Cailing, you must invite Lord Qin to visit our Xuan family!"

"I'm afraid I don't have that much influence," Xuan Cailing replied indifferently.

She knew, of course, her father's intentions.

The idea was that even if Qin Yu only visited the Xuan family, the Xuan family would still feel proud.

Even if Qin Yu had no connection with her, many people would still assume that the Xuan family had climbed up to Qin Yu.

At that time, the Xuan family's status in Taozhou will naturally rise rapidly.

He might even be hoping the governor of Taozhou will come to curry favor with the Xuan family!

"Look at what you're saying!"

Xuan Guangyuan chuckled, "Lord Qin has helped us so much, it's only right that we invite him to our residence and treat him with the utmost hospitality."

You're overthinking it.

Xuan Cailing replied calmly, "To us, Lord Qin has done us a tremendous favor, but to him, it's nothing! He helped us, and he also had to eat and drink with us, so he's done a favor for both of us..."

"you……"

Xuan Guangyuan looked displeased and was about to speak again when a fast horse galloped up to report to Xu Zuo: "Reporting to Your Excellency, Lord Qin will arrive in about half an hour!"

"knew!"

Xu Zuo waved for the newcomer to step back, then turned to the crowd behind him: "Quickly stand at attention! Prepare to welcome Lord Qin!"

At Xu Zuo's command, everyone quickly lined up and tried their best to calm themselves down.

Before long, Qin Yu and his group came into their sight.

Xu Zuo quickly called for everyone to come forward and greet them.

"Welcome, Lord Qin!"

Everyone bowed in unison; those with official positions and titles bowed deeply, while those with neither knelt in deep worship.

The Xuan family members and Jiang Ci were among those who had neither. Even though Jiang Ci was very familiar with Qin Yu, they still had to perform the full kneeling ceremony in front of everyone.

Just as the group was about to kneel, Qin Yu swiftly stepped forward and helped Jiang Ci and Xuan Cailing up, saying with a smile, "You two don't need to perform such a grand ceremony!"

"This...isn't that inappropriate?"

The two women were somewhat flattered.

"What's wrong with that?"

Qin Yu smiled dismissively, "We're friends, no need for such formalities!"

"Thank you, Lord Qin!"

The two women bowed immediately.

This put Xuan Guangyuan and his son in a difficult position.

Qin Yu didn't mean Xuan Cailing and Jiang Ci shouldn't perform the grand ceremony, but he didn't mean they shouldn't perform it at all.

Xuan Cailing bowed deeply, but the father and son knelt and bowed. Wasn't that making Xuan Cailing look inferior?

The father and son remained kneeling, and seeing that Qin Yu showed no intention of asking them to dispense with the formalities, they finally knelt down.

Qin Yu didn't even glance at the Xuan family father and son, and said with a smile to the two women, "How about it? I didn't break my promise, did I?"

No, no.

The two women smiled sweetly, but they already knew in their hearts that Qin Yu was putting on a show for them!

Qin Yu acted so familiar with them in front of so many officials from Jiuyi Prefecture. In the future, any official who wants to make things difficult for them will have to think twice about their own status.

Qin Yu smiled at the two women, then waved to everyone, "Alright, everyone, no need for formalities!"

"Thank you, Lord Qin."

Only then did everyone stop bowing, and the Xuan family father and son slowly got up.

Xuan Guangyuan quickly put on a smile and said to Qin Yu, "I am Xuan Guangyuan, Cai Ling's father, and this gentleman next to me is my son, Xuan..."

"Uh-huh……"

Qin Yu gave a perfunctory reply, not giving Xuan Guangyuan a chance to finish speaking, and walked straight towards the group of officials.

Xuan Guangyuan's next words caught in his throat, and his face showed embarrassment.

Xuan Cailing glanced at her father silently, already understanding everything in her heart.

Qin Yu's attitude was already very clear.

He wasn't bolstering the Xuan family's power; he was just bolstering his own and Jiang Ci's!

To put it bluntly, it was a silent warning to his father and brothers: don't get involved in the government salt business!

Qin Yu stopped in front of the officials, raised his eyes and scanned them: "You've probably all heard about my style of doing things!"

"I won't say anything more!"

"I am residing in the governor's mansion. Those who wish to submit a letter of apology should hurry, or they will be late!"

Hearing Qin Yu's words, many officials looked bitter.

They had certainly heard of Qin Yu's style of doing things.

If you proactively confess your problems, as long as they aren't too serious, you'll definitely be able to save your life.

But if you refuse to confess honestly and he finds out, your crime will be compounded!

And don't even think about committing suicide out of guilt!