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The Prefectural Governor waited for the two to co out, approaching them with a smile. "Your Highness Prince Jing, Young Master Wei, shall we return to the mansion now?"
Jun Mo said, "No need. This Prince still wants to wander around. This Shu Zhong has many scenic spots. If I don’t walk around, wouldn’t it be a waste of a trip out of the capital?"
Hearing Jun Mo say this, the Prefectural Governor’s smile broadened even more. Indeed, the typical deanor of a noble from the capital, ignorant of suffering. Perhaps Prince Jing dislikes courtesans, but not beauties in general. Thinking of his own several unmarried daughters at ho, a plan ford in his mind.
"Yes, yes, yes. Then this carriage shall be left for Your Highness. Please feel free."
Jun Mo and Su Li boarded the carriage, and Mo Yang drove it towards the outskirts.
When they reached the street, Mo Yang’s voice ca. "Your Highness, soone is following us."
Jun Mo said, "Drive the carriage into the alleyways."
Mo Yang instantly understood his aning, and the carriage turned into a narrow alley. Jun Mo pulled Su Li over and, to Su Li’s surprised gaze, lifted the curtain and leaped out. Mo Yang saw them disappear from sight with a few bounds and drove the carriage out of the alley again. Seeing the people behind them indeed following again, Mo Yang slowly drove the carriage around the city.
Jun Mo, holding Su Li, landed steadily on the ground before releasing her.
"Let’s go see our results," Su Li said. With that, she took out a human-skin mask and put it on, instantly transforming into another person. Jun Mo did the sa, changing his appearance, and followed behind her.
The two arrived outside Wang Wei’s courtyard and knocked on the door. A servant opened it.
"Who are you?"
Su Li produced a plaque. The servant quickly stepped aside and invited them in.
"Miss, you’ve arrived?" As the two walked into the front hall, Wang Wei ca out to greet them.
"Brother Wang, is there enough grain?"
Wang Wei’s face was beaming. "Enough! I’ve already arranged for people to secretly transport a portion of the grain to the disaster-stricken prefectures and counties. Our granaries still have two full warehouses, enough to last until next spring without a problem."
Jun Mo frowned. "You’ve already started transporting it? How did you get it out of the city? Won’t it attract attention?"
Wang Wei smiled. "Rest assured, Your Highness. We used the old thod, directly through the underground tunnels. The exit of the underground passage is ten li outside the city; no one will discover it. The grain was safely moved out of the city long ago."
Jun Mo glanced at Su Li and smiled. "Then everything is ready. We just need to wait for Mo Feng and the others to arrive with the Governor-General of Huizhou, and then we can begin the disaster relief."
Su Li frowned. "The grain for disaster relief is settled. What I’m worried about is another matter. Along the way, most of the refugees we saw were the old, weak, won, and children. I suspect the Jiang family is inextricably linked to those missing n. Where should we start investigating?"
Wang Wei’s eyes suddenly lit up. "Miss, there’s sothing very strange. West of Shu Zhong, there’s a dense forest called Tonggu Zhai (Copper Drum Stronghold). Dozens of mountain peaks are connected, and the trees block out the sun. So old folks say that many people used to enjoy going there for the scenery, but in recent years, incidents have frequently occurred in that dense forest. People who go in basically never return. So speculate there are fierce beasts or spirits inside; the rumors are quite fantastical. Gradually, no one dares to go to Tonggu Zhai anymore. It’s just that this Tonggu Zhai is too large. If we try to search, I’m afraid it will take at least a month or half a month to find anything."
Su Li and Jun Mo exchanged a look.
Jun Mo said, "Then let’s go explore this Tonggu Zhai. Before that, let’s find an opportunity to visit the Qunfang Yuan again."
Su Li glanced at him, puzzled. "We just left this morning. What are we going back there for?"
Jun Mo replied, "Rember I told you Jiang Xiao appears to be a profligate young master on the surface? He’s a frequent visitor to Qunfang Yuan. And every ti he goes, he only requests Chuchu, the top courtesan of Qunfang Yuan, to accompany him. I think that Miss Chuchu might know sothing."
Su Li nodded in agreent. "Since that’s the case, let’s go et this Miss Chuchu again."
For the next two days, Jun Mo and Su Li truly acted like they were there for leisure, idly spending their days either boating on the lake or frequenting the flower houses. The Prefectural Governor observed this and gradually relaxed his vigilance. The Jiang family was being too nervous, even saying Prince Jing was deep and scheming and couldn’t be taken lightly. Now it seems he’s nothing much. Perhaps he could even use his own daughters to pull Prince Jing into their camp. By then, he would have rendered a great ritorious service.
That day, as dusk fell, Jun Mo took Su Li into a carriage and headed towards Qunfang Yuan again. These past few days, the two had beco frequent patrons of Qunfang Yuan. As soon as they entered, the madam ca forward to greet them.
"Esteed guests, please co in. Are you still requesting Miss Chuchu today?"
Jun Mo nodded, tossed the madam a gold ingot, then nonchalantly shielded Su Li by his side. The madam accepted the gold, her face wreathed in smiles. "Gentlen, please go upstairs. I’ll have Chuchu co over to serve you right away."
The two went upstairs and entered a luxurious room.
Su Li glanced at Jun Mo. "I hope today will be successful." She touched the dicine at her waist; it was a hallucinogen. But this dicine would only work when a person was at their most vulnerable and had a certain degree of trust in the other party. These past few days, every ti they ca, they requested Chuchu, but only listened to her music and chatted. She could feel that Chuchu, who had initially treated them like ordinary guests, had gradually co to see them differently after these few days of interaction, and there was more sincerity in her conversation.
Soon, Chuchu gracefully entered the room. "Chuchu greets the two Young Masters."
Su Li smiled. "Miss Chuchu, no need for formalities. Please sit."
Chuchu curtsied and sat down as requested. "What tunes would the two Young Masters like to hear today?"
Su Li smiled faintly. "Whatever Miss Chuchu plays, we will listen."
Chuchu smiled. "Then Chuchu will make a humble attempt." Chuchu walked to the guqin and sat down, her delicate hands raised lightly. The beauty’s appearance was graceful, her figure light and ethereal. Though plainly adorned with light makeup, she was soul-stirringly captivating. It was just that her brow was lightly furrowed, the music of the qin narrating the worries in her heart. The sound of the qin was deep and mournful, like weeping and lanting.
Su Li, seeing a xiao in the room, stood up, picked it up, and brought it to her lips. The sound of the xiao blended with the qin, like a lost person finding their way. Chuchu looked up at Su Li, and Su Li smiled faintly at her. Chuchu returned the smile.
At the end of the song, Chuchu stood up. "I didn’t expect Young Master to also be so well-versed in music."
Su Li smiled. "Miss Chuchu’s qin skills are also very high."
"Does Miss Chuchu have sothing on her mind?"
Chuchu ca over and refilled their tea. "Being in this kind of place, if one were to say they have no worries, how big would one’s heart have to be?"
Su Li also poured her a cup of tea and handed it to her. "I see that Miss Chuchu’s every move has the air of a lady from a prominent family. Why have you fallen into such a profession?"
Seeing her lower her eyes, Su Li imdiately said, "I’m sorry, I didn’t an to look down on the ladies of the brothel. Miss Chuchu erges unstained from the mud; Wei admires you. If Miss is troubled, you can confide in soone; it will ease your heart. If Miss doesn’t mind, Wei is willing to lend an ear."
Chuchu looked at the jade-like young master opposite her. His eyes were sincere and clear, without a trace of impurity, nor could she see any disdain. Chuchu’s heart was moved. This was the first ti soone had spoken to her like this. The people she usually encountered either had fawning or lewd expressions in their eyes.
"Young Master Wei is really different from others."
Su Li handed her a cup of tea. "Miss Chuchu, speak slowly."
Chuchu accepted the tea, took a sip, and slowly began to speak.
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