Chapter 72 - 72 Chapter 72. Procurement
72 Chapter 72. Procurement
Old Qin looked at Su Qing with regret. Lady Su was just a little girl. She was brave and astute and would not panic in danger. Otherwise, she would be a talented general.
However, it was fortunate that she was not a man. The current Emperor did not have a good ending. The old man thought of his goddaughter and godson-in-law again. They had died too miserably.
The old man’s heart felt like bleeding when he thought of the tragic death of his loyal and righteous general Xiao.
“You’re welcome, old man. They probably won’t dare to return, so we’ll leave first. Come to Su province to find me after you find Lingzhi. I’ll be waiting for you there.”
Su Qing felt that this was not a good place to be. Furthermore, Ji Shuisheng had just shot two conscripts and feared the Imperial court would settle the score later. It was wise to leave early. For the safety of herself and the villagers of Peach Blossom Cove, Su Qing specially instructed old Qin,
“Elder Qin, please bear the responsibility of repelling the city guards. Don’t mention us.”
“That’s good. I must stay in Jin City for a few days to deal with official affairs. I can’t leave until the Imperial court sends a new county magistrate. It’s not good to let you delay here. Don’t worry; I know what to do.”
Elder Qin understood Su Qing’s concerns. She had thought it through. Even if the city guards rebelled, they were not people that could be killed as they pleased.
After Su Qing finished speaking to old Qin, he looked at Ji Shuisheng,
“Let’s go!”
After speaking, she took the lead and walked toward the backyard. The carriage was still in the backyard. If they lost the item because they couldn’t work, it would be valuable for their escape team. Su Qing would not do business that would make her lose money.
More than 20 bailiffs were waiting in the back hall. When they saw that Su Qing was about to leave, they surrounded her and bowed to her, begging,
“Please give me the antidote.”
Su Qing coldly replied,
“I gave you guys a health pill. If you’re sick, it’ll cure you. If you’re not sick, it won’t harm you.”
The bailiffs looked at each other. Wasn’t it poison? This girl had played them so hard that they were on tenterhooks. They had even thought of their funeral plans. When the rebellion of the city guards was over, they would go home and do everything they wanted to do and die without any regrets.
They didn’t expect it to be a false alarm.
The Yamen runners looked at each other. Previously, they had been beaten black and blue by old Qin guard, and now they didn’t feel any pain. Should they thank this girl who made them feel fear?
Old Qin personally went to the backyard to send Su Qing off, thanking her for all the help she had given him. The old man ordered Li Wu to take out a thousand taels of silver and hand it over.
“Five hundred taels is the follow-up consultation fee, the other five hundred taels is to thank you for your great help, and these ten taels are for this old man’s wicker basket. I hope that Miss Su will accept it.”
Su Qing looked at old Qin. Just as old Qin thought Su Qing would refuse his thanks, he saw her take the silver notes. Her expression was as calm as ever. There was no excitement in her eyes, nor was there any greed in them. Her eyes were calm.
Elder Qin laughed. This girl didn’t want him to owe her a favor. They would be even once she took the money. He liked Su Qing’s character. She was bold than men.
Ji Shuisheng had been by Su Qing’s side the whole time. When he saw that old Qin had given her a silver note of one thousand taels, he was happy for Su Qing but not jealous or greedy.
Old Qin glanced at Ji Shuisheng. He liked this young man very much. He was courageous and loyal. He was calm in the face of danger and decisive in killing. His heroic spirit was very similar to General Xiao’s.
Moreover, his eyes made old Qin feel he was looking at General Xiao, especially when killing people. The sharpness and decisiveness in his eyes were the same as General Xiao’s.
“Little hero, how old are you this year?”
Old Qin asked Ji Shuisheng with a glimmer of hope. Ji Shuisheng cupped his fists, “I’m twenty-eight years old this year.”
All of Elder Qin’s hopes were dashed. It was not him. He was nine years younger than his god-grandson.
Elder Qin suppressed the sadness in his heart and invited, with a forced smile,
“Don’t be in such a hurry to leave. I’ll treat you all to a meal at the full moon restaurant to celebrate us joining hands to capture the corrupt officials of the great Xia Kingdom.”
“No, we need to leave as soon as possible.”
Su Qing rejected Elder Qin’s kind offer. Jin City was dangerous, and they had to leave as soon as possible.
Moreover, they couldn’t take the same route this time. They had to change to another path, even if it was a little further.
Seeing they were insistent on leaving, Elder Qin could not force them and only sent them off.
Before she left, Su Qing reminded him again,
“Elder Qin, please handle today’s matter properly.”
“Don’t worry, Miss. I’ll tell them that Li Wu was the one who killed the conscripts. He’s a rank-three armed guard. Killing the conscripts is within his authority.”
Old Qin gave Su Qing a calming pill. Su Qing nodded, believing that old Qin could protect their information.
Ji Xiaoying ran over and pouted regretfully.
“Sister Su Qing, if I knew martial arts, I could fight with you guys.”
“Is fighting a good thing?”
Su Qing furrowed her brows at Ji Xiaoying. Would she still be so excited when she saw the blood on the ground?
“No.”
Ji Xiaoying stuck out her pink tongue and shook her head playfully.
“Su Qing, Shuisheng.”
Qiu Yongkang and Li Daniu came over with their carriage. When Qiu Yongkang saw the stern-looking Elder Qin, he bowed and greeted,
“My Lord,”
“Alright, you’re all my benefactors. If you have any difficulties, tell me. I’ll help you if I can.”
Elder Qin liked Qiu Yongkang as well. This young man looked like a talented person. He had an outstanding temperament and was very experienced. He didn’t look like a country bumpkin at all.
Old Qin was a civil official, so he naturally liked knowledgeable people.
“Thank you, my Lord.”
Qiu Yongkang’s reply was neither haughty nor humble, and he didn’t take the opportunity to ask for anything, which pleased Elder Qin even more.
“Young man, if you’re interested in participating in the Imperial examinations, I can help to recommend you.”
Elder Qin was a genius, so he spoke to Qiu Yongkang.
“Alright. When I’ve settled down, I’ll ask old Qin for help introducing me.”
Qiu Yongkang bowed deeply to thank old Qin for his help. He was indeed ambitious. His master had told him to participate in the Imperial examination after he arrived at Jingshi Dao. He had to get a good reputation before he could help Shuisheng.
With someone’s help, he could get twice the result with half the effort. He could complete his master’s last wish earlier and give the people he wanted to protect a stable and happy life by taking an official career. It could be considered a shortcut.
After old man Qin and Qiu Yongkang finished speaking, he took a waist token and handed it to Ji Shuisheng. He said to him and Su Qing,
“Let’s meet in Su province. This old man will rush over without stopping after I’ve dealt with the matters here. I believe that I won’t be much later than you. If you arrive in Su province, accept the invitation and go to the Qin Manor to find this old man. If this old man hasn’t returned, I’ll have to trouble you to wait for me for two to three days. Here is a waist token. The servants will treat you well.”
“Alright,” she said.
Su Qing nodded. She had already accepted the old man’s full payment, so she naturally had to be responsible for his treatment.
She took out the one thousand taels of silver that old Qin had just given her.
“Old Qin, help me buy a thousand-year Lingzhi too.”
Su Qing knew it would not be easy to buy the Lingzhi independently, but Elder Qin could. Thus, she handed the silver notes over without even blinking.
“Young lady, why do you want the thousand-year Lingzhi?”