Chapter 1651: Chapter 1658: Mo Zili Saves Soone (3)
Cai Wei’s words made Nangong Yi’s face turn cold. He said sternly, “If it turns out that he murdered the Imperial Mother, I will have him torn apart by five horses as a warning to others!”
Investigating Li Kaifeng is not difficult, for he is currently in the prison of the Departnt of Penalty. As long as we keep an eye on him without alerting his accomplices, they will eventually be caught in one swoop!
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Bianzhou, Qing County
County Magistrate Shen had started his career through the imperial examination and has been serving as an official in Qing County for over a decade. From county magistrate to county prefect, his career path has been smooth. This ti, upon his transfer to the Capital, the higher-ups promoted him to a Sixth Rank Advising Officer. After receiving the transfer order, County Magistrate Shen hurriedly completed the handover with his successor, setting the departure date for September 24th, wishing to vacate the residence early for the new magistrate.
Madam Cui had long since packed the baggage with the maids. For this journey to the capital, a large number of servants were dismissed, and so unwieldy items were sold off at cheap prices. For a ti, the entire mansion seed much emptier.
Juhua, feeling her courtyard too quiet, insisted on squeezing into Dad and Mom’s courtyard to live, staying in the Eastern Chamber. Every day when Dad went out to handle affairs, she would accompany her Mother Cui, either tidying up luggage or bidding farewell to relatives and friends, and had no ti to visit the Back Garden anymore, so she hadn’t seen Mo Zili since then.
On the 24th, early in the morning before daylight, Juhua was awakened by Xiao Kui, dressed and grood. After having so light cakes, she was helped into the horse carriage while it was still dark.
This ti she was accompanied only by her nanny Zhou Mother, and two second-class maids, Xiao Kui and Xiao Bai, as well as two lower-class maids, Chun Li and Chun Qiu, and two roughservant maids.
This long journey would take more than a month, a period to be spent entirely in the carriage. Lord Shen, accustod to comfort, feared the fatigue of travel, so he specially ordered three large carriages equipped with sleeping couches. Each of the three family mbers had one, allowing them to lie down and rest when tired of sitting.
The servants collectively rode in the servants’ carriage at the back, with several people in one carriage. Although they didn’t have to walk on foot, sleeping on the road was out of the question.
It is unlikely that they will return after this journey to the capital. Madam Shen, Lady Cui, took everything that could be carried, totaling thirty horse carriages. This does not include the ten carts of valuables, antiques, and other fine things escorted by security guards.
On the day of departure, Juhua again saw Mo Zili. He was still the sa as before, calmly and uncommunicative, standing alone with a horse outside the second gate, barely responding when others spoke to him, living aloof and solitary.
Juhua glanced at him twice, then lowered the carriage curtain, paying no further attention. Mother Cui bid farewell to uncles and aunts, and not long after they boarded the carriage, Lord Shen also left the mansion on horseback, the carriages rumbling and slowly heading out of the city.
After exiting the city, the caravan stopped, and County Magistrate Shen exchanged a few words with friends who ca to see them off before they proceeded anew. The tiline for reaching the capital was tight; the higher-ups required Lord Shen to report within a month and a half. He had already spent over ten days managing houseworks, so to arrive on ti in the Capital, they needed to travel day and night and take shortcuts when necessary.
Three days later, Juhua and her company reached the southernmost point of Bianzhou Prefecture, Yushu County. Beyond Yushu County, they would leave Bianzhou’s jurisdiction.
At night, Juhua lay on a small bed in an inn, spreading her limbs as Xiao Kui knelt beside her, massaging her sore legs. Nanny Zhou Mother sat nearby, smiling and said, “Girl, relax and loosen up your bones, then go to sleep early. Tomorrow we will take a shortcut through Huizhou, traveling on mountain roads. The journey will be very bumpy, and it won’t be possible to sleep in the carriage tomorrow.”
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