If it were not for Mu Changxi, Song Chaoyu would likely not have been so "patient" with Pingjiang and the others' gossip.
However, there were still many days ahead. She stood up and patted Qiu Qing's shoulder, "When you see Pingjiang again, if you feel unhappy, just ignore him. Let's be magnanimous. If he's truly a man, he should know in his heart."
Qiu Qing had been very angry with Pingjiang initially, but after hearing Song Chaoyu's words, she felt much less annoyed.
She nodded, "Your Highness, please don't worry. I won't let this matter cause any further thoughts for you and His Highness. If I can't deal with him, I'll just avoid him. It'll be interesting to see what good fortune such a petty man like him will find in the future!"
It was rare to see Qiu Qing like this, which made Song Chaoyu unable to help but laugh.
But it wasn't a time for jokes. Song Chaoyu looked at the raging wind and thunder outside, "What's going on today? Is it going to rain? The floodwaters have just receded, it won't happen again, will it?"
Qiu Qing shook her head and explained to Tiao Hong, "With such strong winds, even if it rains, it will only be for a short while, not much. However, the weather today is indeed strange. To be safe, His Highness personally went to inspect the refugee camps. Our location is elevated, so even if there's another flood, it shouldn't affect us."
Even though she said that, everyone's brows were slightly furrowed, indicating their worry.
After finishing her meal, Song Chaoyu also put on her clothes and went out.
They had established three refugee camps around Haizhou City.
The largest one was within Haizhou City itself, situated at the highest elevation, so there was naturally no need to worry.
Outside Haizhou City, there were two more. One was being managed by Xu Yuan, and the other by Qiao Feipeng.
With Mu Changxi going to these two locations, Song Chaoyu felt reassured.
However, when Song Chaoyu arrived at the main hall, she discovered that Mu Changxi had left Xiao Ruizhi behind.
Xiao Ruizhi said that Mu Changxi might not return until evening.
And outside the city gate, in half an hour, it would be Gu Xuezhuo's execution time.
Song Chaoyu had no "interest" in watching executions, but Xiao Ruizhi mentioned that Madam Gu wished to see Song Chaoyu again.
Initially, Song Chaoyu had no intention of meeting this Madam Gu. Her thoughts and actions would undoubtedly be to beg for clemency for Gu Xuezhuo.
However, Xiao Ruizhi said that Madam Gu had brought along that Grand Master Taiyi, which piqued Song Chaoyu's interest. "If that's the case, then let's meet and see what kind of monstrous being this so-called divine Grand Master Taiyi really is!"
Tiao Hong exchanged glances with Qiu Qing, both showing curiosity.
Song Chaoyu asked Xiao Ruizhi to have Madam Gu and Grand Master Taiyi wait in the main hall, and she would follow shortly.
However, she deliberately delayed for a bit. When she arrived at the main hall, she indeed saw Madam Gu already sweating profusely from anxiety.
At the same time, another clap of thunder sounded outside, followed by rain.
Standing beside Madam Gu was a man in a Taoist robe, but he was very fat, with an oily complexion. He was likely the so-called Grand Master Taiyi.
The Grand Master Taiyi currently had his eyes closed, as if holding some "secret," muttering incantations, appearing to be "playing the mystic."
However, Song Chaoyu noticed that he would occasionally squint his eyes and glance in her direction. It seemed he was indeed a charlatan who only knew how to deceive people.
Seeing Song Chaoyu emerge, Madam Gu hurried forward and knelt before Song Chaoyu, "Your Highness, I've brought this Grand Master Taiyi! He did everything, he instigated my master to capture those women and children! I beg you, please stop the execution of my master! It's all Grand Master Taiyi's fault!"
The Grand Master Taiyi beside them didn't seem angry at this. Instead, he muttered more, "Heaven and Earth return to one, acting against the natural order. Let the heavy rain come—wash away these ignorant and fearless people—"
"Boom—"
As soon as he finished chanting, another clap of thunder sounded outside.
The Grand Master Taiyi then opened his eyes triumphantly and looked at Song Chaoyu, "The heavy rain outside is to punish these greedy and ignorant people. Only I can make this heavy rain stop!"
Song Chaoyu looked out the door—
There was rain, but... it didn't seem like heavy rain, did it?
Song Chaoyu suddenly felt that this person was quite interesting.
He couldn't even play the mystic convincingly, and after disappearing for so long, he actually came with Madam Gu.
What secrets were hidden between the two of them?
Song Chaoyu simply sat down in her seat, looked at Madam Gu, and rubbed her forehead, "Madam Gu, did you bring Grand Master Taiyi here just to say these things? But I see that Grand Master Taiyi doesn't seem convinced! The execution is in half an hour. Madam Gu, perhaps you can explain to me properly what is going on in this situation. Where did this Grand Master Taiyi, who disappeared for so long, come from?"
Madam Gu glanced at the maids serving Song Chaoyu, seemingly signaling Song Chaoyu to dismiss them.
But Song Chaoyu didn't yield. She simply said, "I'm not in a hurry anyway. Who knows what else Madam Gu brought besides this mystic-playing Taoist today? These maids are my close confidantes, there's no need to be secretive. I have plenty of time to waste here with Madam Gu!"
Song Chaoyu put on a relaxed demeanor, which made Madam Gu even more anxious.
In the end, she couldn't hold back any longer and explained how she found Grand Master Taiyi.
Grand Master Taiyi's "disappearance," according to him, was because he had calculated that a flood would occur in Haizhou, so he wanted to stay away from this place.
But in reality, it was because Gu Xuezhuo had begun to suspect Grand Master Taiyi.
He had kept Grand Master Taiyi for many years and had been instigated by him to do many absurd things. Gu Xuezhuo had actually started to feel that Grand Master Taiyi was a con man who cheated for money and women.
He began to investigate Grand Master Taiyi, and this matter was discovered by Grand Master Taiyi.
Even though Grand Master Taiyi was reluctant to part with his "achievements" in the Gu family's cellar, he had to consider his future.
So, a few months ago, Grand Master Taiyi decided to leave Haizhou City and go to a place where Gu Xuezhuo could not find him.
No one expected that so many things would happen in just a few months.
When Madam Gu learned that Mu Changxi had started investigating the Gu family, she sent people to search for Grand Master Taiyi.
Actually, it wasn't difficult to find Grand Master Taiyi, but no one else had Madam Gu's leisure to spend so much manpower searching for him during these days.