Who among the gangsters wants to fall in love?

Chapter 129 Marry First, Fall in Love Later

The Detective Department Prison, also known as Zhaoyu, has the second-toughest security after Tianlao. Zhaoyu is divided into two underground floors.

The division is also very simple. The first level of crimes are not punishable by death, while the second level of crimes are all punishable by death.

Li Zhengkong was imprisoned on the second underground floor.

The second underground floor was dark and damp. There were less than twenty cells on the second underground floor of the entire Zhaoyu Prison... Li Zhengkong was locked in one of them, his face ashen.

He never expected last night that Zhao Wumian would cause such a big incident just after he was brought into the palace. At that time, he was still in Tianlu Palace checking the identities of Li Xuan and Lin Miao before they entered the palace for Zhao Wumian. As a result, he heard the sound of fireworks outside, and he was caught on the spot by the detective officers hiding in the dark.

Thinking of this, Li Zhengkong wiped the corners of his eyes with his dirty sleeve. It was obvious that he had been discovered while sneaking into the palace with a thief. Now he was caught by the Detective Department and sent to the second level of Zhaoyu. He would be severely punished if he didn't die. He had already heard the jailer mention the "big thing" that Zhao Wumian had done last night.

Intent to assassinate the Queen... Whoever was convicted of this crime would be put to death, and as an 'accomplice', it would be impossible for him to leave Zhaoyu alive.

The more he thought about Li Zhengkong, the more uncomfortable he felt. Who had he offended? He just wanted to use Qingying Yuyi to be an upright man.

As a result, this piece of black material was caught by Lao Li more than ten years ago and used for several years. Now, after waiting for Lao Li to retire, he became the chief of the left department of the Imperial City Bureau, but Zhao Wumian dug out this black material again and forced him to do things.

Now, regardless of whether he was forced or not, it is a fact that he helped Zhao Wumian. After the Detective Department finishes the interrogation, he will be dragged to the vegetable market and beheaded on the spot to show that the court is not a waste of money that has gained nothing.

And it was even more impossible to expect Zhao Wumian to save him... Zhao Wumian must have hoped that he would die to prevent him from being interrogated and revealing any information... For example, there was a beautiful woman with her face covered following Zhao Wumian, who, judging from her voice, was about twenty years old and only slightly shorter than Zhao Wumian.

This is all important information

Thinking about this, Li Zhengkong became more desperate. If he could survive, there was only one possibility... someone happened to break into the prison and he took advantage of the chaos to escape.

But the probability of this is very small.

Thinking of this, Li Zhengkong, a eunuch in his forties, actually had red eyes.

Li Zhengkong was just an ordinary eunuch who had no idea about the political struggle between the legitimate princess and Dong Yan... He was just an ordinary person who was implicated in it.

He was born in a humble family. When his parents sent the five-year-old Li Zhengkong to the palace, they said that if there was even a bowl of porridge left at home for him to drink, they would not send him to the palace to be a dead eunuch who was not a man.

At that time, Li Zhengkong was too young and didn't know what a "man" meant. He just thought that his mother was crying when she said this, which left him with the obsession of "must be a man".

But now, he has lived for more than 40 years and has not understood anything. He has finally climbed to the position of Chief of the Left Department of the Imperial City Department, and now when his death is approaching, he has to die as a "eunuch".

How could Li Zhengkong not cry?
At this moment, a cold voice was heard from the corridor outside the cell, "This thief Li Zhengkong is protecting Zhao Wumian. It is not an exaggeration to say that he intends to rebel. I will take him in for questioning."

Here it comes... Li Zhengkong felt even more desperate.

The jailer opened the cell door and escorted Li Zhengkong out.

Li Zhengkong walked forward silently following the unknown detective captain in front of him, but after leaving Zhaoyu, he turned left and right and walked into a small house. Then the captain pressed a trigger and a dark room appeared in the room.

Li Zhengkong was slightly stunned, "Shangguan, what is this?"

"Stop talking nonsense." The captain of the police escorted Li Zhengkong into the dark room, looking extremely cruel.

Li Zhengkong had no choice but to walk down silently, his heart becoming increasingly gloomy. But when he stepped out of the stone steps, he discovered that there were several black-robed constables standing in the dark room. The two leading them were two women.

One of them is the famous Miss Su from the capital, Su Qingqi, and the other one...

Li Zhengkong's pupils shrank slightly, "Zhao Wumian's...accomplice!?"

Even though Guan Yunshu was wearing a mask that day, her temperament was so outstanding that Li Zhengkong recognized her at a glance after looking at her carefully.

After saying this, he felt even more desperate.

Seeing that Yunshu is here, it means that Zhao Wumian is most likely in the same group with this group of people... Then they brought Li Zhengkong here secretly, obviously intending to kill him and silence him.

Guan Yunshu's pretty face was expressionless and she did not speak.

Su Qingqi nodded slightly to the surrounding police chiefs, "Thank you all."

The captain who had just escorted Li Zhengkong laughed.
"That's not a big deal. We are appreciated by Chief Constable Su, so we can earn a living in the Detective Department. The monthly salary is 20 taels of silver. Every month, I can buy a piece of fine rouge for my wife. Now, for the sake of pursuing a great cause, I am willing to sacrifice my life, let alone a few wounds."

After saying that, the captain drew the long knife from his waist and cut several wounds on his thighs, arms, and chest without hesitation. Then he flew out of the dark room. Not long after, he was heard shouting in fear, "Li Zhengkong escaped!!!"

Then came the sounds of fighting and shouting from the outside world.

Li Zhengkong was slightly stunned, and then his face was full of disbelief. He was not stupid. Judging from his reaction, it was obvious that he wanted to protect him.

But a captain said to him, "You can stay here for a few days. You will be safe here. If you are caught, we will all be finished... This is your only way to survive."

Li Zhengkong's expression was dazed for a moment, and then he was overjoyed and burst into tears.

He reacted a little later and asked in disbelief, "Why did you protect me? Killing me would obviously put an end to all trouble, but what else does Zhao Wumian need to use me for?"

"Use you?" Su Qingqi's delicate face showed some doubts, and then she shook her head, "You helped the young master enter the palace, and you have completed the task decently. Before I came to the Detective Department, the young master specifically told me that it would be best if I could save your life... In fact, we sent someone to follow you last night, and we might have been protecting you in secret."

"Just because of his words, you are going to take the risk to protect me!?" Li Zhengkong couldn't help but have a crying and laughing expression, still couldn't believe that such a good thing would happen to him.

But Su Qingqi obviously had no intention of talking to him. She gave a brief explanation and left quickly with Guan Yunshu. It was obvious that she had something important to do.

Li Zhengkong hurriedly stopped Su Qingqi and said, "I have already checked the things that Mr. Zhao asked me to check last night."

Su Qingqi paused and looked back, "What did I ask you to check?"

"Before Li Xuan and Lin Miao entered the palace, they were both wandering knights. They didn't have any experiences worth mentioning, but they were too ordinary, which was obviously suspicious. I can see that their resumes have been embellished. At the same time, there is also Eunuch Lin. Before he entered the palace, his name was Xia Chengsong. He was able to enter the realm of martial arts champion because of the Qingying Jade Clothes awarded by Emperor Taizu Gao. But why Emperor Taizu Gao awarded him the Qingying Jade Clothes is unknown, and that information has also been erased."

This clue is not really very useful. After all, Li Zhengkong was arrested and put in jail after investigating for less than an hour last night.

Su Qingqi frowned slightly, then nodded slightly: "I will convey it to you, Master."

After saying that, Su Qingqi and Guan Yunshu left the dark room.

Guan Yunshu pondered for a moment and said to Su Qingqi, "My identity is too conspicuous. I am currently staying in the Detective Department, and I can still use the excuse of 'looking for some clues from Ye Wancang's body'. From the perspective of outsiders, I have only stayed in the Detective Department for one day, which is barely acceptable. But at this sensitive moment, I obviously cannot continue to stay in the Detective Department, let alone go to the Shen family to look for Zhao Wumian."

Su Qingqi was slightly stunned, "Why?"

"Zhao Wumian killed Ye Wancang, and everyone in the martial arts world knows that Ye Wancang once killed a famous disciple of Xiao Xitian. I came to the capital for Ye Wancang... Eunuch Lin will naturally suspect whether I have any relationship with him." Guan Yunshu shook his head slightly, "During this period of time, I will live alone in the capital. When I can leave the capital, I will go to Xiao Xitian to find Uncle Dongxuan to kill Eunuch Lin." Guan Yunshu paused, and then said: "Before that, let's not meet, and we must not expose Zhao Wumian."

The situation is sensitive at the moment, so it is never too careful. Therefore, Su Qingqi did not say much, but just bowed slightly to Guan Yunshu and said, "Be careful in everything."

"I am a disciple of Xiao Xitian. Unless Xiao Xitian breaks off relations with the imperial court, Lord Lin will not dare to attack me." Guan Yunshu took off the constable token from his waist and threw it to Su Qingqi, then went back to the backyard to lead out the horse, with a slightly hesitant look on his face, and then said to Su Qingqi:

"If nothing unexpected happens, Zhao Wumian and I won't meet again in the near future. Please tell him for me... Let him rest and recuperate during this period. We will take care of the affairs in the capital. He has done enough and it's time for him to take a rest."

Su Qingqi raised her eyebrows slightly, tilted her head to look at Guan Yunshu, and a smile appeared on her face, "Miss Guan also cares about him."

"He's my only friend."

Guan Yunshu said this calmly, then led the horse and left the Detective Department, his back slender and independent.

Su Qingqi looked at her, but was thinking that Guan Yunshu might be more suitable than her to practice dual cultivation with Master Zhao that night.

At least, Su Qingqi always felt that Zhao Wumian and Guan Yunshu were in tune with each other, as if they were a perfect match. Guan Yunshu never concealed the special place Zhao Wumian held in her heart, but looking back at herself... Since Qin Fengzhai and Zhao Wumian met, the words they had spoken to each other were actually very few.

Because of Zhao Wumian's various behaviors, she might have secretly fallen in love with him, but what about Zhao Wumian? Does he really like her?
Su Qingqi thought that might not be the case.

The one Zhao Wumian should like should be Guan Yunshu, or a woman like the emperor.

She was silent for a moment, then shook her head repeatedly, clearing away the distracting thoughts in her mind, thinking that this was not the time to think about matters between men and women.

Su Qingqi went to the main hall again and gathered a team of people, preparing to heal Zhao Wumian's injuries under the pretext of thoroughly investigating the Shen Mansion. However, no matter how you look at it, it seemed like Su Qingqi had offered herself voluntarily... The more Su Qingqi thought about it, the more weird and embarrassed she felt. She could only keep repeating the thought of "putting the overall situation first" in her heart to barely suppress the weirdness in her heart.

The Shen family is a royal family, so it is not easy to conduct a thorough investigation. The search warrant must be stamped by several court departments. Chief Inspector Su did not skip these steps at this sensitive time... This was to inform the capital that the Detective Department was investigating the Shen family openly, so as to reduce the suspicion of the Shen family.

Su Qingqi stood in front of the gate of the Detective Bureau with her hand on her sword, waiting for the search warrant. At this moment, she saw a young woman in gorgeous clothes looking curiously at the alley beside the gate of the Detective Bureau.

When the woman in gorgeous clothes saw Su Qingqi, her expression immediately lit up and she began to trot over here.

Su Qingqi waved slightly and greeted him, her tone also carrying some joy, "Xiaoyao... um, why is the Crown Prince's Consort here?"

Xiaoyao is actually Su Qingqi’s best friend who grew up with her in the capital.

Su Qingqi is not Guan Yunshu. She has several close girlfriends, and this little prince's consort is one of them... Although she is called the prince's consort, she is actually one year younger than Su Qingqi and is only fifteen years old this year.

In this world, it is common for girls to get married at the age of fourteen, and for boys, it is time to get married, have children, and start a family at the age of sixteen.

You should know that when Shen Xiangge was summoned into the palace to be the queen, she was actually only fifteen years old.

This prince's wife also got married at the age of fifteen. She had once aspired to become a chivalrous woman like Su Qingqi, but unfortunately she was not talented. After ten years of martial arts training, her martial arts skills were only so-so. Then, by chance, she met the prince of Shu...

As far as Su Qingqi knew, there was also a story when Xiaoyao and the Prince of Shu got married... The Prince of Shu was assassinated and took refuge in a dilapidated temple. Xiaoyao was there at that time. The two of them suddenly felt that it was difficult for them to survive, and they had a good impression of each other, so they got married hastily in front of the stone Buddha in the dilapidated temple to leave no regrets.

Why did Su Qingqi know so clearly? Because it was she who led the team to rescue the Prince of Shu and Xiao Yao.

She also felt that it was pitiful that Xiaoyao got married at such a young age, and she once suggested helping Xiaoyao regain her freedom, but Xiaoyao always refused with a smile.

Now seeing Xiaoyao again, Su Qingqi suddenly felt that her situation was somewhat similar to hers.

She had never thought that she would actually make a lifelong commitment to a man at the age of fifteen or sixteen. This was fine, as Xiaoyao and the Prince of Shu were at least in love with each other, but Zhao Wumian might not like her...

Thinking of this, Su Qingqi couldn't help but feel an indescribable sadness in her heart and wanted to cry.

But she was not an ordinary woman who showed her emotions casually. When she saw Xiaoyao, she still put on a gentle smile and asked, "Why are you here?"

Xiaoyao's face was filled with surprise. She held Su Qingqi's hands with both hands and jumped up and down without any of the calmness of a prince's wife. Her voice was brisk,
"I know everything that happened to you recently. I even asked the prince to send someone to Jin to help you! But I heard from the prince that the prince's people didn't find you, but you entered the capital not long ago. I have always wanted to see you, but you are always in a hurry and disappear in a flash. I often come to the gate of the Detective Department to wait for you, and now I have finally seen you~"

After that, the Crown Prince's Consort hugged Su Qingqi again, jumped up and down again, and then asked: "I don't know much about the princess, the throne and other things, but are you injured? Have you been wronged?"

Su Qingqi wanted to say that I was actually very confused in my heart. Although I knew that practicing dual cultivation with Mr. Zhao was a natural thing, it was still difficult for me to accept it in my heart. I could not get rid of this thread... But of course I couldn't tell this to outsiders. I could only shake my head with a gentle expression and said, "It's okay. It's all thunder and rain."

However, after saying that, Su Qingqi couldn't help but ask Xiaoyao, "I remember that when you married the Prince of Shu, you had only known each other for seven days... You got married in less than seven days, don't you regret it? You decided your lifelong event so hastily."

The Crown Prince's Consort blinked her eyes, then suddenly laughed, thinking that Su Qingqi had finally come to her senses and wanted to find a man, so she smiled with some reminiscence:

"At first, I was really regretful and scared. After all, we got married in a dilapidated temple, and there was a lot of life and death involved. In my opinion, we should have at least gone through a period of either a dull or unforgettable experience before getting married. But there was no other way. We got hastily married in a dilapidated temple, and I was already his Crown Prince's Consort.

And we didn’t just stand still after getting married... We can also say that we got married first and then fell in love with each other..."

The Crown Prince's wife smiled sweetly, "Marriage is just the beginning of our relationship. If we hadn't gotten married, I wouldn't have known that the Crown Prince had so many problems, like sleeping without clothes, not washing his feet or face before bed, etc. I hate him so much, but there's nothing I can do. I just like him and I won't marry him."

Get married first, then like each other... Su Qingqi's eyes were dazed, and she thought of Zhao Wumian, and then she suddenly realized something in her heart.

Yes, so what if Zhao Wumian doesn't like her? It's not too late to make Zhao Wumian like her now.

She was able to become the youngest prime minister of the contemporary era at the age of sixteen. So, it would not be difficult for Zhao Wumian to fall in love with her.
But Su Qingqi was full of confidence in her heart, and she couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "I, I also have a boy I like... How can I make him like me?"

The Crown Princess's eyes flashed with a hint of "as expected", and then she waved towards Su Qingqi and whispered in her ear:

"It's a very cumbersome process, but in the end, it's just one word: to say no but to accept."

"Huh?" Su Qingqi didn't understand.

Seeing Su Qingqi being so 'stupid', the Crown Princess had no choice but to speak frankly:
"Qian Su Zhai not only sells rouge and jewelry, but also some, um, bellybands that cannot be mentioned explicitly. It is often visited by the wives of princes and nobles. Although half of the building was demolished that night by a man named Zhao Wumian, the business is still going on. So, I'll go buy one for you and you can try it on. I guarantee that your crush will like it."

Su Qingqi was no longer a novice, but she still didn't understand. She thought to herself, how 'unspoken' could a bellyband be?
And Zhao Wumian didn’t seem to like her bellyband very much. He seemed to like her feet more...he was always pinching them.

After a brief conversation, a constable came with a search warrant and waved at Su Qingqi, "Captain Su, you can go to the Shen Mansion now."

Su Qingqi nodded slightly, then bowed to Xiaoyao, "I'll go take care of my official business first. If you have anything, you can send a letter to the Su Mansion."

Xiao Yao took a few steps back so as not to disturb Su Qingqi. After watching her lead the team away, he thought for a moment and turned to walk towards Qian Suzhai.

If your best friend has someone she likes, you should pay more attention to her.

Su Qingqi is shy and has no connections, so this thing that cannot be discussed openly has to be purchased by herself.

(End of this chapter)