Realizing she had seen something she shouldn't have!
Qin Yun hurriedly shifted her gaze, looking elsewhere!
"Young Master Qin, Zheng understands what you've said!"
Xie Qianmo didn't want to pressure Qin Yun!
His heart was also in turmoil!
"It's good that you understand! You cannot be so disrespectful as you were today in the future!"
"But you must continue the deal you promised Zheng!" If it really went as this brat said, he wouldn't get any benefits in the future!
He would not give up this hard-earned perk!
"You...?" She thought this matter was over! She didn't expect this man to still be thinking about the deal!
"If you want to discuss matters, discuss them properly! Don't do things that are out of line!" Qin Yun furrowed her brow!
She didn't want to get entangled with this person any further!
This man was a "duanxiu" (man who likes men)!
Her identity could not be exposed!
It was best not to meet alone in private!
"Alright, I'll listen to Young Master Qin!"
For the rest of the journey, Xie Qianmo was much more well-behaved!
Seeing that the other party had become honest, Qin Yun finally relaxed!
Two hours later!
As the carriage was nearing the capital!
Xie Qianmo took the initiative to suggest getting off the carriage!
Qin Yun was eager for the man to leave quickly!
Hearing that Xie Qianmo had other matters to attend to and needed to part ways, Qin Yun nodded hurriedly, showing no intention of keeping him!
As soon as Xie Qianmo alighted the carriage!
Qin Yun urgently urged the attendant to drive the horses forward!
Seeing Qin Yun's ruthlessness!
Xie Qianmo, standing on the spot, shook his head helplessly!
This brat actually dared to dislike him!
...
The Zhuangyuan Residence!
As soon as Qin Yun arrived at the residence, before she could even have a sip of hot tea!
Fang Jing arrived!
"Eunuch Fang! What wind blew you here?" Qin Yun asked with outward respect, but inwardly cursed Xie Qianmo a hundred times!
What was going on with this scoundrel!
Was he sending people to track her?
Before she had even sat down after returning home, Fang Jing had arrived!
He had come too promptly!
"Zhuangyuan Qin, it's been a while! Why have you become so thin! And you're injured!"
She was indeed injured!
Thin?
Was she?
Why didn't she feel it?
"Eunuch Fang, are you here to care for me?"
Fang Jing smiled. "The Emperor wishes to see you at the palace!"
Upon hearing this, Qin Yun's heart skipped a beat!
Her guess was indeed correct!
"Alright, alright! I'll go change my robes!"
Fang Jing nodded. "Very well, this servant will wait here for you. Zhuangyuan Qin, please be quick!"
Qin Yun smiled politely, then instructed Xiao Ju to serve tea!
In the main chamber!
Qin Yun patted her chest, feeling a pang of distress!
She hadn't yet recovered from the shadow of that Young Master Zheng!
She had wanted to return home to rest!
Unexpectedly, that scoundrel wanted to see her again!
That scoundrel was the Emperor, so she had no choice but to comply!
She quickly went to the wardrobe, found her official attire, and changed into it!
She looked in the bronze mirror, her brow furrowed slightly at the redness and swelling on her forehead!
It was all that Young Master Zheng's fault, he was too detestable!
It was one thing that he was a "duanxiu"!
He even wanted to drag her down with him!
She opened a drawer, chose a tube of swelling-reducing ointment, and gently applied it!
Although the medicine was good!
It would take at least two more days to heal!
With everything ready!
Qin Yun strode out of the main chamber!
In the front hall!
"Eunuch Fang, let's go!"
Fang Jing nodded!
The two of them left the Zhuangyuan Residence, one after the other!
This time, as usual!
The palace had sent a carriage to pick her up!
Qin Yun took a deep breath!
Urged by Fang Jing, she quickly boarded the carriage!
In the palace!
The Imperial Study!
"Your Majesty, your minister has returned!" Qin Yun stood before Xie Qianmo with utmost respect!
At this moment, Xie Qianmo had shed his disguise as Young Master Zheng, transforming into the high and mighty Emperor!
"En!"
Xie Qianmo responded with a cold "en" and said nothing further!
Qin Yun stood in place, feeling puzzled!
Was that all?
Then why had he summoned her to the palace?
"Your Majesty, a few days ago, your minister privately visited three small towns!"
Since Xie Qianmo remained silent, Qin Yun had to find something to talk about!
After all, she had to report the matters she had investigated to Xie Qianmo sooner or later!
It was fine to report them now!
"Your minister visited Clearwater Town, Hibiscus Town, and Su Yun Town respectively!"
Qin Yun glanced at the indifferent Xie Qianmo and continued, "The disaster victims north of the city came from these three small towns. Your minister felt there was something fishy about this matter, so your minister secretly went to these three towns and indeed found some information!"
Qin Yun paused!
But Xie Qianmo kept his head down, reading a book!
She didn't know if this scoundrel was listening!
Since she had already said so much!
She had to continue!
"The annual tax for these three small towns is one hundred taels of silver. If they couldn't pay the silver, they would use the people's grain as collateral!"
"And the disaster victims north of the city were driven away precisely because this year's drought made it impossible to grow crops and produce grain!"
Qin Yun raised her eyes! And glanced at Xie Qianmo again!
She saw that the man was now closing his eyes, licking his lips!
Qin Yun was speechless!
She had said so much, and this scoundrel had only responded with "en"!
After that, there was nothing more!
Now he was closing his eyes to rest, what was the point of calling her here?
Seeing Xie Qianmo resting with his eyes closed, Qin Yun decided to shut her mouth and say nothing!
"Continue!"
Qin Yun froze for a second!
He wanted her to continue?
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Qin Yun took a deep breath and continued, "Upon arriving at Clearwater Town, your minister secretly had his subordinates abduct the town chiefs of the three small towns! Your minister believed that these town chiefs were undeniably involved in this matter, so he started investigating from them!"
"Fortunately, heaven rewards the persistent! Those three town chiefs, under your minister's intimidation, honestly confessed the truth!"
"Intimidation?" Xie Qianmo opened his eyes, staring directly at Qin Yun! "You intimidated the people?"
What?
Qin Yun was bewildered!
She had said so much, and the point this man latched onto was... she intimidated someone?
"Your Majesty, your minister apprehended the local town chiefs! In order to obtain results quickly, your minister used some extreme measures!"
"So, you mean to say... those town chiefs are not considered people?"
Qin Yun was astonished again!
Was this scoundrel doing this on purpose?
Shouldn't he be asking what she found out? What she had investigated?
"Your Majesty, those three town chiefs were corrupt and oppressed the people! Your minister was merely giving them a taste of their own medicine!"
"So you chose intimidation?" Xie Qianmo's expression was blank, as if he was determined to oppose Qin Yun today!
Who told this brat to call him disgusting!
She had made him unhappy!
So he wouldn't let her have an easy time either!
"Your Majesty, your minister was also forced into it! If he hadn't done so, those three would not have confessed honestly! If we had continued to reason with them, we might not have gotten the true answer!"
"Is that so? I never expected the delicate Zhuangyuan Qin to have such a vicious side!"
Hearing this, Qin Yun's face turned black!
Where had she learned about this scoundrel?
Hadn't they met a long time ago?
The last time she saw him was in the imperial court!
At that time, she hadn't sensed anything amiss!
Why was he now speaking with such venom in every word?