The Prodigal Son

Yunhuai.

Since Ruan Zhi arrived here, Qin Yu has dumped all the trivial matters on her and even assigned her two assistants.

With Ruan Zhi handling those messy, trivial matters, Qin Yu felt much more relaxed.

Over this period of time, the chaos in Ningzhou and other places has gradually subsided.

After new salt merchants were introduced to Ningzhou, the salt route gradually returned to normal under Qin Yu's strong intervention.

As it turns out, even the wealthiest merchants find it difficult to stir up trouble in the face of the state apparatus.

Frankly speaking, it's right for historians to have a sense of crisis.

But they misplaced their sense of crisis.

However, historians are also fortunate.

Many people lived eight years longer and enjoyed eight more years.

All things considered, it's a case of killing someone and making a killing!

That day, Qin Yu was pondering how to improve the salt transport system here when Nan Que'er led Jiang Ci in.

The maid behind them was also holding a gift.

Again?

Qin Yu was slightly surprised, then greeted her with a smile, "I heard magpies chirping early this morning, so it's Miss Jiang!"

"Please don't embarrass me, Lord Qin."

Jiang Ci stepped forward with a smile, bowed slightly, and said, "Congratulations, Lord Qin, on your great achievement once again!"

"Shouldn't we thank Miss Jiang for this?"

Qin Yu laughed heartily, inviting Jiang Ci to sit down while saying with a smile, "If it weren't for Miss Jiang helping me pinpoint those three locations, I wouldn't have been able to trace it back to the Shi family so quickly! The matter was of great importance before, so I concealed some details. Please don't curse me in your heart!"

"How could that be? Such a big thing, anyone would keep it a secret!"

Jiang Ci smiled and took the gift from the maid and gave it to Qin Yu, saying, "It's just a small token of my appreciation, please don't refuse, Lord Qin."

Qin Yu accepted the gift with a smile, teasingly saying, "I told you not to be so polite before, why are you being so polite now?"

Jiang Ci slowly sat down, her face full of smiles, and said, "This isn't me being polite. Sister Xuan asked me to bring this to you! She said that you've taken such good care of her, and she didn't know how to thank you properly, so she asked me to bring you some of the finest new tea as a token of her gratitude."

Hearing Jiang Ci's words, Qin Yu opened the gift box.

Inside the box were two exquisite porcelain jars.

It's obvious at a glance that this is a high-end product exclusively for high-ranking officials and dignitaries.

It's like another kind of premium new tea that only the wealthy can afford to taste.

"This looks like good tea. Please thank her for me when you have the chance."

As Qin Yu spoke, he closed the gift box and set it aside. Turning to Jiang Ci, he said, "You've been a great help in investigating the Crown Prince's assassination attempt. I'll definitely thank you properly when we return to the capital! Furthermore, I will report your contributions truthfully!"

"Didn't you tell me not to be polite? Why are you being so polite now?" Jiang Ci smiled and said, "I didn't expect that my meager skills could actually help you! There's no merit or anything like that. I'm just happy to be able to do my part in the case of the assassination of the late Crown Prince..."

Jiang Ci is very talkative.

Thanks to what Qin Yu had said to Jiang Ci in Bailu County, Jiang Ci was no longer so distant.

During their conversation, they learned that Xuan was going back to the capital.

She happened to be passing through Yunhuai and heard that Qin Yu was still there, so she came to pay him a visit.

"You're going back already? Aren't you going to stay here a little longer?"

Nan Que'er's face was full of sincerity.

Jiang Ci pursed her thin lips, revealing a helpless smile. "Sister Xuan has completely straightened out the salt route in Fangzhou, so I should go back to the capital! I'm just born to be a busybody; there are still many things waiting for me in the capital!"

"You can never earn all the money in the world, so don't overwork yourself."

Qin Yu looked at her with concern, then said with a sigh, "Look at the Shi family. They're already incredibly wealthy, yet they still do foolish things for money. In the end, they've all lost everything."

Speaking of historians, Jiang Ci was also filled with emotion.

Who would have thought that the historians were actually the real culprits in the murder of the crown prince?

The crown prince of a nation ultimately died at the hands of a merchant family.

Even now, she still finds it somewhat unbelievable when she talks about it.

"Those are truly invaluable words of advice!"

Jiang Ci smiled at Qin Yu, then asked with some concern, "By the way, Lord Qin, I wanted to ask, will the matter of the Shi family plotting to murder the Crown Prince change the court's attitude towards merchants?"

The status of merchants in Daning was elevated by the late emperor.

The late emperor granted merchants a position of power, but his son died at the hands of a merchant.

It's hard to say whether the imperial court will crack down on merchants or lower their status because of this.

Qin Yu thought for a moment and said ambiguously, "It's really hard to say right now! However, I personally think it shouldn't have too much of an impact! The imperial court can't possibly condemn all merchants just because of one historian."

"I hope so!"

Jiang Ci sighed worriedly, "By the way, when are you going back to the capital?"

Upon hearing Jiang Ci's question, Nan Que'er immediately became wary.

Qin Yu rubbed his head and said with a wry smile, "I would like to go back, but there's so much chaos here right now, I can't go back even if I wanted to! Besides, if I want to return to the capital, I'll definitely have to wait for His Majesty's decree."

"That's true."

A hint of regret flashed across Jiang Ci's face. "I thought you'd be heading back to the capital after you solved the case of the Crown Prince's assassination. I was even thinking we might be going the same way!"

Qin Yu's lips curled into a smile. "You can wait here! Maybe His Majesty's decree will arrive in a few days?"

"yes!"

Nan Que'er smiled and took Jiang Ci's hand, saying, "Qin Yu is always so busy that he doesn't have time to travel with me. We can have a good time in Yunhuai together."

"Since you've said that, I have to take you sightseeing no matter how busy I am!" Qin Yu smiled at Nan Que'er. "Spring is in full bloom now, so let's go boating on Zhiyu Lake tomorrow! Jiang Ci, if you're not in a hurry to return to the capital, you can come with us too!"

"Oh! You don't have time to spend with me, but you suddenly have time as soon as Jiang Ci arrives?"

Nan Que'er looked jealous, which made Jiang Ci a little embarrassed.

But she was secretly delighted.

Qin Yu took the initiative to invite her to go sightseeing, and the meaning behind this seems quite clear.

"Cough cough..."

Qin Yu coughed twice, seemingly embarrassed. "Didn't you say I haven't really taken you on a proper trip?"

"I mentioned it before! I never heard you say you'd take me sightseeing!"

Nan Que'er continued to add fuel to the fire.

Weren't you busy before?

Qin Yu was even more embarrassed, and then asked Jiang Ci, "Is it convenient for you here?"

Jiang Ci glanced at Nan Que'er shyly, hesitated for a moment, and then said with a blush, "I'm not in a hurry. It shouldn't be a problem if it's delayed for two or three days."

"Then it's settled!"

Qin Yu made the decision on the spot, which earned him a reproachful look from Nan Que'er...