Transmigrated into the Scumbag Ex-Wife of the Prime Minister - Chapter 84

The next day.

Lu Sheng was startled awake in a dream around midnight yesterday and only fell asleep when the sky was faintly lit. When she woke up again, the sun was high in the sky, and Qi Zhenshu had already gotten up and gone to the academy.

As usual, she had left breakfast warming in the pot for her.

Lu Sheng felt warm inside yet guilty.

Qi Zhenshu clearly saw that she was intentionally hiding something, but did not press her for an answer, instead being understanding and letting her take her time to decide what to say.

This kind of Qi Zhenshu made Lu Sheng unwilling to keep hiding things from her.

Lu Sheng was not a sentimental person to begin with. After organizing all the clues, she decided to tell Qi Zhenshu everything once her exams were over.

Rather than being on tenterhooks every day, it would be better to explain everything clearly. Regardless of whether Qi Zhenshu believed her or not, and what choice she would make after knowing, Lu Sheng would accept it openly.

No matter what the future held, even if things really developed according to the plot in the book, at least Qi Zhenshu’s love and thoughtfulness towards her at this moment were the most genuine feelings from the bottom of her heart.

Cherishing every day in the present was the most important life philosophy Lu Sheng had realized in that chaotic apocalypse.

Having reorganized her feelings, Lu Sheng’s spirits recovered significantly.

She scooped some rice porridge from the pot and had just sat down at the table when she saw Qi Zhenshu walk in from outside. Besides the satchel of books, she was also carrying a paper-wrapped package in her hand.

If not for seeing her return, Lu Sheng would have forgotten that starting this month, the academy only held half-day classes.

“You’re back?” Lu Sheng put down her bowl and walked into the courtyard to take the satchel of books from her hand.

Lu Sheng lowered her eyes slightly, still a little embarrassed about her loss of composure yesterday.

“Did you just wake up?” Qi Zhenshu reached out to wipe a drop of water from her temple and said gently.

“Mm.” Lu Sheng held her hand, looked up at her, and said seriously, “Qi Zhenshu, can I tell you after you finish your exam?”

She did not directly say what she was going to tell Qi Zhenshu, but Lu Sheng knew that Qi Zhenshu would understand her meaning.

“Alright,” Qi Zhenshu responded softly.

Having been together for so long, Qi Zhenshu had long seen the latent strength in Lu Sheng’s character. Except for matters involving her background, Qi Zhenshu had never seen her so flustered.

Qi Zhenshu wanted to know who Lu Sheng really was, not out of curiosity, but because Lu Sheng was her beloved, and she wanted to understand her more.

Judging from Lu Sheng’s resistant attitude, Qi Zhenshu guessed that Lu Sheng’s ‘past’ would certainly not be easy or simple.

In fact, even if Lu Sheng didn’t want to mention it, Qi Zhenshu wouldn’t force her.

Now that Lu Sheng was willing to tell her, Qi Zhenshu was naturally delighted, so she could certainly accept the request to wait a little longer.

“Roast chicken from Yuanhe Eatery.” Qi Zhenshu lifted the paper package in her hand, smiled faintly, and changed the subject, pulling her toward the room.

Lu Sheng followed her across the threshold, casually placing the satchel of books on the small side table, and asked, “Why did you go so far to buy roast chicken?”

The Yuanhe Eatery’s roast chicken was near the Drum Tower in the city, four streets away from Baihe Academy. Walking there and back would take at least three quarters of an hour.

Lu Sheng had eaten there once with Tangtang when the three of them came to Qingzhou, and the taste was quite good.

“I went to buy it because I wanted to eat it.”

Qi Zhenshu’s tone was natural, showing no sign that she had deliberately walked three streets to buy roast chicken to cheer someone up.

Lu Sheng looked at her suspiciously.

Qi Zhenshu was never one to care much about food. She didn’t believe that Qi Zhenshu would walk three streets just because she wanted to eat roast chicken.

Suddenly, Lu Sheng recalled a long time ago, on the way back from the ancestral hall, when Qi Zhenshu noticed her bad mood and stopped her to ask if she wanted to eat chicken.

Lu Sheng realized, looked at Qi Zhenshu, and finally curved her brows into a smile again, “Did you buy it specially for me?”

“Mm.” Qi Zhenshu lightly answered, turned her head slightly and explained, “I saw that you liked it last time.”

“Qi Zhenshu.” Lu Sheng stood in front of her and called out.

Qi Zhenshu stopped and looked at her. Lu Sheng took her hand, her voice soft, “You don’t necessarily have to eat chicken. As long as you are with me, I will be fine.”

“I know.” Qi Zhenshu thought for a moment, raised her right hand and embraced her, “Then, will this make you feel better faster?”

“Mm.” Lu Sheng buried her head in his embrace, her nose feeling a little sore, and muffled, “I need to hug for a while longer for it to be more effective.”

“Okay.”

Grumble~ Grumble-rumble~

Lu Sheng’s stomach rumbled very inappropriately.

“Let’s eat first,” Qi Zhenshu chuckled and patted her back.

“There’s still porridge in the pot. I’ll get some for you.” Lu Sheng came out of Qi Zhenshu’s embrace and left the room without lifting her head.

Lu Sheng stayed in Qingzhou for another seven or eight days, waiting until the wound on Qi Zhenshu’s hand had healed before returning to Binhe County.

This time, before leaving, Lu Sheng specifically instructed Qi Zhenshu to maintain distance from others, especially Princess Changning.

“Why are you so concerned about her?” Qi Zhenshu frowned slightly upon hearing her words.

“I’m afraid you’re too outstanding, and Princess Changning might take a fancy to you and insist on making you a consort,” Lu Sheng said, half-truth and half-joke, looking at her.

“Nonsense.” Qi Zhenshu strongly disagreed.

Although she and Princess Changning shared similar political views and interests, there was no romantic relationship whatsoever, and moreover, she was already married. How could Princess Changning possibly want her to be a consort?

Furthermore, Qi Zhenshu had a feeling that there might be something going on between Princess Changning and Sister Yan.

However, she couldn’t be entirely certain, and since it was someone else’s private matter, Qi Zhenshu hadn’t mentioned it to Lu Sheng.

“Just remember it,” Lu Sheng was very satisfied with her serious reaction, and the knot in her heart loosened slightly.

Although she didn’t know Princess Changning’s view of Qi Zhenshu, at least Qi Zhenshu had no extra feelings for her.

Two more days passed, and Princess Changning specially sent A-Lü to find Qi Zhenshu.

Princess Changning had A-Lü serve Qi Zhenshu tea, first inquired about her injury, and then brought up the case at Linjiang Pavilion last time.

“Old Master Wu’s full name is Wu Shiwei, the Supervisor of Receipts and Disbursements for the Military Grain Granary in Jiangnan Dao,” Princess Changning paused slightly, “Besides that, he is also the brother-in-law of Liu Chaoyun, the head of the Hengchanglong Chamber of Commerce and the owner of Dingnan Grain Store.”

There were a total of eleven circuits (dao) in Xiliang Kingdom, and each circuit established a Military Grain Granary at the circuit capital, responsible for the military grain supply of the garrisons in the prefectures under its jurisdiction.

The Supervisor of Receipts and Disbursements for the Military Grain Granary manages the receipts and disbursements of the granary, and all the allocation and deployment of military grain within the granary are coordinated by the supervisor.

The position was not high in rank, but it was one with real power.

The acquisition or purchase of the grain for the Military Grain Granary, the inventory upon entry, and the overall arrangement were all managed by him.

In addition, which batch was sent to which prefecture’s garrison, and how much needed to be sent each month, was all arranged by him.

“Then, has Your Highness interrogated to find out who instructed Yuedie?” Qi Zhenshu asked.

Princess Changning shook her head.

No matter how much torture was used, Yuedie did not speak, and Princess Changning’s people also failed to find out Yuedie’s true identity.

“Perhaps we can let her lead us to them herself,” Qi Zhenshu suggested after thinking for a moment.

“You couldn’t get a word out of her with torture, and she’ll directly lead us to them?” Qin Feiyan frowned, puzzled.

Princess Changning, however, instantly understood the meaning of Qi Zhenshu’s words.

“Find an opportunity to let her go. Even if she doesn’t go look for the mastermind, someone will come looking for her. We just need to send people to follow her,” Qi Zhenshu explained.

“That’s a good idea,” Qin Feiyan said, applauding with a smile.

Although Yuedie had some martial arts skills, she was not an expert. It wouldn’t be a problem to send one of the princess’s hidden guards to follow her.

After Princess Changning called for someone to arrange the matter, she asked again, “Has Scholar Qi heard about the suicide case of Prefect Mu Xiuyuan of Yunzhou Prefecture?”

“I know a little,” Qi Zhenshu replied.

Mu Xiuyuan, the Prefect of Yunzhou Prefecture, reported that the Prince of Yunzhou was selling grain to the Northland. However, the memorial not only failed to reach the Emperor but also brought about Mu Xiuyuan’s demise. Half a year later, his wife and daughter found him ‘hanged’ at home.

Princess Changning, along with Si Xu, the Prince of Jing, and Liu Han, the Deputy Minister of Dali Temple, went to Yunzhou to thoroughly investigate Mu Xiuyuan’s death and the grain trafficking case. They only found evidence that the Deputy Inspector of the Yunzhou Northern Army garrison had accepted bribes from merchants to privately allow passage, but there was no evidence pointing to the Prince of Yunzhou’s involvement.

Yunzhou City was the fiefdom of the Prince of Yunzhou. Half of the soldiers in the Northern Army garrison were the Prince of Yunzhou’s former subordinates. Without the Prince of Yunzhou’s permission, it was unlikely that even half a grain of rice could be shipped out of Yunzhou City.

“Have you looked into the Hengchanglong Chamber of Commerce?” Princess Changning continued to ask her.

Qi Zhenshu immediately understood, guessing, “Is the Hengchanglong Chamber of Commerce also involved in the Yunzhou grain trafficking case?”

Princess Changning’s words made Qi Zhenshu immediately think of the Wang family, which was originally investigated and had their property confiscated in connection with the grain trafficking case.

Before the Wang family was investigated, Lu Huaying had boasted in front of the Lu family that her maternal uncle, Wang Jiancheng, had a good relationship with Liu Chaoyun, the head of the Hengchanglong Chamber of Commerce.

Thinking about it now, a small grain merchant like the Wang family in Binhe County could do business with Yunzhou City in the Northwest, likely through Liu Chaoyun’s connections.

However, the Wang family was investigated and confiscated, while Liu Chaoyun’s Dingnan Grain Store remained safe and sound.

It was likely that the Wang family was a disposable chess piece, pushed forward by Hengchanglong to take the blame.

But why was the Wang family later vindicated?

“Liu Chaoyun used some means to save the Wang family,” Princess Changning said before Qi Zhenshu could ask.

Originally, the Wang family was found to have purchased grain from Jiangnan Dao and collaborated with a Yunzhou grain merchant to sell it to Beidi. However, just before the New Year, the Yunzhou grain merchant took all the blame, claiming that the Wang family had only sold the grain to him, and the act of selling to Beidi was solely his own doing, with the Wang family not involved.

“The Wang family must have evidence that they can use to control Liu Chaoyun,” Qi Zhenshu affirmed.

Being pushed forward to take the blame and then being saved, Qi Zhenshu guessed that Liu Chaoyun was most likely being blackmailed by the Wang family.

“That is correct,” Princess Changning confirmed.

She had guessed the underlying reason, and thus went along with the flow to overturn the judgment and pronounce the Wang family innocent.

The grain trafficking case had not made much progress since September last year, and Princess Changning also wanted to use the Wang family as a lead to see if they could find a breakthrough.

Qi Zhenshu contemplated for a moment and said, “Perhaps the evidence is in the hands of Wang Haoyong.”

When the Wang family was raided, all thirty-something members of the family were arrested and imprisoned, except for Wang Haoyong, whose whereabouts were unknown. If the Wang family truly had a handle on Liu Chaoyun, it should be in his hands.

“That’s right,” Princess Changning praised.

Just based on her few words, she had almost accurately guessed the details of the Wang family’s situation. This person truly possessed meticulous thinking.

“However, Zhenshu has one thing she doesn’t understand,” Qi Zhenshu thought for a moment and looked at Princess Changning.

“Tell me.”

“What is the connection between Dingnan Grain Store and the Wang family selling grain, and the Supervisor of Receipts and Disbursements for the Military Grain Granary?” Qi Zhenshu was very puzzled, “Could it be that the grain they were selling was the military grain from the granary?”

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