Chapter 581: Chapter 581. Can’t Beat The Snake And Startle The Snake
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
When the patrolling soldiers saw a carriage approaching, they leaned against the battlements and shouted,
“Who’s down there?”
The guard hurriedly jumped off the carriage and raised the token in his hand to shout at the city,
“Imperial guards.”
When the soldiers heard that it was the imperial guards, they placed a small basket down from the city wall.
“Put the token in the basket.”
Su Qing sat in the carriage and observed the reaction of the city guards. She was delighted with their caution.
The guard placed the token into the basket, and the soldiers on the city wall pulled the basket up. After confirming that it was the token of the imperial guard, someone opened the city gate very cautiously.
After the city gate opened, the guards drove the carriage into the city. When they reached the city gate, the guards stopped the carriage again.
“Who’s in the car?”
How dare you stop the imperial guards?
Su Qing admired the leader of the city guards. He had principles and was not afraid of offending influential people. Such a talent was worthy of being put in an important position.
“Empress?”
Guard Xiao Ding was in a difficult position. The Empress was not allowed to leave the palace on her own. Moreover, it was safer to keep the Empress’ whereabouts a secret.
“Show him.”
Su Qing took out a token and handed it to Xiao Ding. It was the Xiao Family Army’s Commander’s Seal that allowed him to mobilize troops.
The guard showed the commander’s seal to the leader of the city guarding army. After the leader saw it, he returned the commander’s seal to the guard and led the soldiers out of the city gate. He respectfully made a gesture of invitation.
“Please come in.”
The person with the commander’s seal must be a big shot. He has an imperial guard and also a commander’s seal. The person in the car must be a big shot who had come to Jincheng to carry out a special mission. His whereabouts needed to be kept secret, so he did not get out of the car.
“Ask him what his name is.”
Su Qing admired this severe and responsible leader who was neither servile nor overbearing. He ordered the guards to ask for the soldier’s name.
“Yes.”
The guard replied. When he pa.s.sed by the leader of the city guards, he stopped the carriage and asked,
“What’s your name?”
“I am Zhang Ye.”
Zhang Ye replied respectfully. He was already beginning to feel uneasy. Was it because he had investigated too strictly and caused the big shots in the car to dislike him? Would they punish him?
“Alright.”
The guard replied indifferently and drove past him.
“Centurion, you’re too serious. Did you offend a big shot?”
Seeing the carriage pa.s.s by, Zhang Ye’s soldiers gathered around and worried for him. Zhang Ye’s position as a centurion had come to an end.
I have a clear conscience. It’s my responsibility to investigate carefully.” Zhang Ye was nervous, but he still kept his mouth shut. He felt that he did not do anything wrong. If the big shot in the car was so petty, then there was nothing he could do.
Su Qing’s hearing was several times better than an ordinary person’s. Although the car had gone some distance away and their voices were not loud, she could hear them. She valued Zhang even more.
“Stop the car and call Zhang over.”
Su Qing suddenly ordered the guard, Xiao Ding, and the guard agreed to stop the carriage.
Zhong Yong woke up after sleeping for the entire journey. He rubbed his eyes sleepily and asked innocently,
“Have we arrived?”
“We’re here. Did you sleep enough?”
Su Qing looked at Zhong Yong in amus.e.m.e.nt. Did this guy come to the carriage to catch up on sleep? Not long after he got into the car, he fell asleep.
“Hehe, Master!”
Zhong Yong scratched the back of his head in embarra.s.sment. The main reason was that those j.a.panese people had drugged him. Although Su Qing had given him the antidote, there was still a little bit of it left, making him sleepy.
Sister Su Qing, should we go and capture them first?”
Jiang Yuyan was energetic along the way and took good care of Su Qing. When she saw Su Qing calling for the city guard, she thought Su Qing would capture someone!
“There’s no hurry.”
Su Qing shook her head. She wanted to confirm if Lanting and the others were there. She couldn’t alert the enemy. She wanted that boat.
“Oh.”
Jiang Yuyan nodded. Sister Su Qing must have thought of what to do. She just had to take good care of her.
Su Qing lifted the curtain and looked out. There was no light on the street in the middle of the night. The limestone road was faintly glowing under the moonlight. Hurried footsteps were coming from behind the carriage. Su Qing lowered the curtain.
“Master, we’ve brought him here.” The guard, Little Ding, reported from outside the carriage.
Zhang also clenched his fists nervously beside him. It was over; it was over.
The big shot was going to deal with him.
“Your name is Zhang Ye.”
Su Qing asked Zhang Ye in a male voice. Zhang Ye took a deep breath and cupped his fists.
“Yes, lam Zhang Ye.”
“Why are you making things difficult for us?”
Su Qing asked slowly. It sounded casual, but her words were solemn. The guard, Little Ding, looked at Zhang Ye sympathetically. It was over. The Empress was angry.
Zhang Ye thought for a moment before answering. The anxiety in his eyes was gone. He cupped his fists at the car with a clear conscience.
“This lowly one’s duty; if Daren blames me, this lowly one is willing to accept responsibility.”
Zhang Ye’s neither servile nor overbearing att.i.tude made Su Qing very satisfied. He was not a coward and could be of great use.
Su Qing said to the outside of the car,
“Help me do something.”
“Yes.”
Zhang Ye was a little stunned when he heard that. Wasn’t Daren going to punish him? This relieved him, and he immediately cupped his fists in agreement.
“Go to the Dongying Trading Company and check if the envoy and princess are there, but don’t alert them.”
Su Qing gave Zhang Ye a problematic task. He had to investigate the person, but he had to be smart enough not to alert the enemy.
She was testing Zhang Ye’s wisdom and ability. If loyal and brainless, he could only be a city guard for the rest of his life.
“Yes, I’ll go and investigate now.”
Zhang Ye immediately received the order without any hesitation or hesitation.
“Tell me your plan. How can you not tell them I’m looking for them?”
I will create a hunt and say that a prisoner has escaped into the trading company.”
Zhang also had a well-thought-out plan and immediately said his thoughts out of thin air.
“Not bad, but let’s change it to catching the rapist.”
Su Qing thought for a moment and changed his words to be cautious. If the person Lanting took away was a prisoner, it would alert the enemy.
Catching a rapist was an emergency, so it was typical for soldiers to check.
“Daren’s idea is even better; this lowly one is ashamed.”
Zhang Ye’s eyes lit up when he heard Su Qing’s excuse. After all, he was an adult. She was more brilliant than him.
Su Qing nodded and asked Zhang Ye to investigate quickly.
“Go and investigate. Keep it a secret. I’ll wait for you in the carriage.”
Sister Su Qing, go wait at the relay station.”
Jiang Yuyan was worried about Su Qing’s health, so she tried to persuade her.
“Let’s wait for him to come back.”
Su Qing had her thoughts. If Lanting and the others were not at the relay station, she would go directly to Haicheng. She would stay at the relay station and mobilize many people. If there were j.a.panese spies, she would make Lanting escape faster.
Zhang Yexian returned to his post with a few city guards and changed into the uniforms of patrolling soldiers. He only told the rapist to his subordinates and did not reveal a word about the rest.
Su Qing asked the bodyguard Ding to drive the carriage into the alley and hide
it, quietly waiting for Zhang Ye to bring back the news.
Seconds and minutes pa.s.sed. Su Qing leaned against the carriage’s wall and closed her eyes to rest. After waiting for about two hours, Zhang Ye finally returned..