After Chen Yan announced the decree of the Holy Emperor and returned to the palace, the news spread rapidly, causing a stir in both the court and society.
The Emperor actually dispatched Li Qingmu to Jiangling County, the area around Yicheng and Luanshi Ridge, to suppress bandits?
Normally, people would say "Oh" and go about their business peacefully.
But things are different now; Li Qingmu just saved the Imperial sedan chair, nearly losing his life in the process. Shouldn’t he be rewarded now? Why does it seem like he’s being exiled?
Furthermore, his injuries haven’t healed, venturing out at this ti, dealing with the chaos and hardships, could be fatal!
At the Imperial Censorate, several Imperial Censors gathered together, chatting and socializing.
After generations of emperors, having learned from the unfavorable outcos of harsh officials, the Imperial Censors have beco smarter. They set a baseline for impeachnt, consider the extent of the impeachnt, and carefully weigh the wording to ensure they don’t offend anyone...
It’s not yet the end of the year, there’s no performance review, so everyone’s life is quite enjoyable.
At noon, stomachs rumbling, soone went out to the street to buy so snacks, and everyone gathered together to eat and chat.
"Have you heard? Imperial Censor Li is departing today to that Jiangling County, what’s it called... oh, Luanshi Ridge, to suppress the bandits!"
One Imperial Censor nibbled on a flatbread, wearing a sneaky expression.
"Heh, is there a need to hear it? Everyone knows! He’s fallen out of favor, I heard soone say the Emperor summoned Imperial Censor Li to his study yesterday, but after speaking only a few words, the Emperor got angry and even smashed a cup, that’s a sign of extre anger!"
Another Imperial Censor said, shaking his head repeatedly, "This person, thinking saving the Emperor granted him glory, beca arrogant, little realizing, ’When the ruler wants a minister dead, the minister must die,’ isn’t it right to save the Emperor? Yet, he arrogantly assud his own rits too high, tsk tsk, now he’s unlucky, isn’t he?"
After speaking, they showed a gloating expression.
Why does seeing soone misfortunate make them so happy?
The Imperial Censor nibbling on flatbread nodded repeatedly: "Indeed, I heard that place is very sinister, not only rugged mountains but also a remote area, what’s the saying again? ’Poor mountains and treacherous waters produce cunning people,’ tsk, there are too many mountain bandits there, rchants and citizens passing by suffer greatly, once he goes, it’s truly, ’The wind is devastated at Yi Shui’s cold...’
He recited and continued nodding, soone beside kindly reminded: "Imperial Censor Li is also from that side."
Gah?
The Imperial Censor imdiately stopped nodding, everyone heard the crisp sound of joints cracking from his neck, suspecting he might snap his neck.
Almost forgot he’s also from a county over Luanshi Ridge, truly it’s scoundrels eting scoundrels, tears in each other’s eyes.
"No wonder, before Imperial Censor Huang and Imperial Censor Liu were no match for him, he managed them..."
That Imperial Censor couldn’t help but sigh, only to attract a murderous gaze.
Huang Hua coldly stared at him, snorting: "You fools know nothing! Brother Mu going to suppress bandits seems to to hold deeper aning!"
"What?"
Everyone didn’t mind the term "fools," they curiously looked at him, if unable to explain, he himself would be a fool.
"Hmph, the Emperor acknowledges his rits, intends to give him a higher rank, but he’s young, not yet twenty, a high rank would incur others’ suspicion and jealousy, what should be done now?"
"To gain prestige?"
"Exactly! The Emperor wants him to achieve more, so in the future when promoted, who among you would object?"
"Phew!"
Everyone sighed with sudden understanding, seemingly it made sense?
"Therefore, the Emperor gave him fifty soldiers, what is this? An escort!"
"Oh, so this isn’t losing favor, but the Emperor’s favor is even stronger?"
"Correct!"
"Should we go see him off?"
"Consideration is warranted, shall we?"
Several Imperial Censors murmured while preparing to leave, just as a clerk rushed in from outside, breathlessly saying, "Imperial Censor Li has passed through the city gates, the Emperor assigned him..."
The clerk hesitated, swallowed hard in organizing words, but those Censors grew impatient, commanding: "Speak quickly!"
"Fifty old and frail soldiers!"
"Uh..."
Instantly, the entire Imperial Censorate fell silent...
...
Long Yue looked at those fifty old and frail soldiers, feeling both amused and puzzled.
What’s the Emperor thinking? Really trying to doom their couple? Doesn’t seem right!
Last night, a mysterious person suddenly appeared outside their window, threw in a clinking tal piece, claiming it was from the Emperor, for them to use in case of need.
After saying this, he left, in the pitch-dark room, the couple was sleeping closely, completely unclothed, got startled, even after the person left they didn’t dare rise imdiately.
Mainly, Li Qingmu didn’t let them, worried a villain might glimpse their bodies, that scoundrel! Thinking everyone’s as vile as him.
Thus, they didn’t mind it, slept again, upon waking the next day, they found a tiger-shaped glowing tal object on the ground.
Upon closer examination, it was the Tiger Talisman commanding the Xinan Three Armies!
At the ti, Long Yue was dumbfounded.
She had seen this Tiger Talisman at her grandfather’s, there was a total of two pieces, one maintained by her grandfather, the other by the Emperor, one Tiger Talisman could command partial armies, together they could command three armies, in the end, the Emperor casually handed the power of Xinan Three Armies over to the couple?
Doesn’t he know she and Cao Yin are associated? Isn’t he afraid both Tiger Talismans would fall to the Cao Family, to muster troops weighing power?
This Emperor’s heart is quite broad?
To casually throw the Three Armies Tiger Talisman to them, what does this signify?
It signifies Qi Yun’s absolute trust in Li Qingmu; hence, assigning those old and frail soldiers commits deeper aning.
Alright, like father like son...
Long Yue glanced at the city gate, desolate and deserted, no one ca to bid farewell, this...
She approached Li Qingmu, murmured in his ear: "Hold onto that Tiger Talisman, don’t drop it."
Li Qingmu facepald, feeling his little wife’s attention was a bit off...
"A Mu!" Su Shi and his wife arrived, seeing those old and frail soldiers, feeling slight anger, "How could the Emperor do this? Even if you spoke rashly, he shouldn’t send you to your demise!"
Li Qingmu, after all, saved him, no matter what, the favor should remain, how can it end so absolutely?
Long Yue, puzzled: "Talk back?"
"Yeah, previously, news spread that you talked back to the Emperor, only then did Emperor get furious, dispatching you to Jiangling County, Yicheng for this task..."
Su Shi looked at him sympathetically.
Long Yue found it unlikely to talk back to the Emperor, not knowing whether the Emperor deliberately let people say so or soone with ulterior motives?
But these aren’t important now.
"Imperial Censor Li!"
Soone else approached, it was the personal guard of the Third Prince, Qi Junyi; he drove his horse forward, dismounted, and offered a box with both hands.
"My Prince is entangled in affairs, unable to co, orders to deliver this item!"
In adversity, true sentint is seen, this Third Prince is truly good to his people, but sotis not thorough in thought.
Long Yue accepted it on Li Qingmu’s behalf and said, "Thank the Third Prince for us!"
After speaking, she glanced around, seeing far away in an alley, a masked girl waving at them; Long Yue smiled, knowing it’s Pei Yushu.
Apart from that, there was no one else hazily seen, she smiled and said, "Then we shall depart, farewell!"
"Take care!"
"Sister Yue, be careful on the way."
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