Please control me, my divine being!

As I walked through the corridor, a cold wind blew in my face.

Zhou Qing was wearing thin silk clothes, but he didn't feel much cold. When he arrived at the main courtyard, he happened to see Qian Siliang leaving the palace with his servants.

"Greetings, Your Highness!" Upon seeing Zhou Qing, the portly merchant immediately beamed with smiles and bowed respectfully.

"Come on, let's talk." Zhou Qing walked to the pavilion in the corridor.

Qian Siliang's heart skipped a beat. He wondered what this young prince wanted to do. He had just arrived in Jiang'an and would naturally have to pay his respects to various influential figures if he wanted to successfully start his business.

Other places are not difficult to solve thanks to the connections they have built up over the years.

The Crown Prince of Kening is known for his greed and lust.

He might not remember who gave him a gift, but if someone didn't, and his wicked servants came knocking on their door, they'd be in for a world of hurt.

I sent such a big box, isn't that enough?

I've heard that the Crown Prince is fond of women, especially young ladies. Could it be that he finds out I have a daughter who is of marriageable age?

Qian Siliang's mind was racing with chaotic thoughts, and before he knew it, cold sweat was beading on his forehead.

"I heard you're a famous wealthy merchant in the North. Why would you abandon your business and come to Jiang'an to develop your business? Don't be fooled by Jiang'an's prosperity; doing business here is much more difficult than in the North."

Picking up the tea that the maid had brewed beside him, Zhou Qing took a sip and asked calmly.

Qian Siliang looked bitter: "I don't deserve the title of a wealthy merchant. I'm just an ordinary person trying to make a living. I'm sorry for making you laugh, Your Highness. Coming to Jiang'an was a last resort. After all, I have a group of people who depend on me for their livelihood."

"Oh, but what major upheaval or upheaval has occurred in the north that forced even a prominent merchant like Manager Qian to leave?"

"Your Highness, please don't joke with me. The Wu Dynasty is in its golden age, the country is peaceful and prosperous, and the people are living in peace and contentment. How could there be any turmoil or upheaval?" Qian Siliang broke out in a cold sweat, afraid that he would say something that would cause trouble. "It's just that my personal abilities are limited, and I have been losing money everywhere I've been doing business in the North. That's why I had no choice but to come to Jiang'an to take a gamble. It has nothing to do with anything else."

"I see..." Looking at his expression, Zhou Qing felt that he probably wouldn't get anything out of him.

Merchants are cunning, suspicious, and glib.

Given my own identity, what I hear from others are mostly empty and pretentious compliments.

"From now on, every month, send some old objects to your residence that you can play with. They don't need to be too precious, just something similar to what we have today," Zhou Qing instructed.

Isn't this precious enough...? Qian Siliang felt a pang of heartache, but dared not hesitate: "Since His Highness likes it, this humble subject will do his utmost!"

Zhou Qing glanced at him: "The things you brought will be sold at normal market prices. We won't shortchange you. Let's go."

"Thank you, Your Highness, for your kindness."

Qian Siliang quickly stood up, clasped his hands in greeting, and, led by a maid, cautiously walked out of the palace.

Zhou Qing sat in the pavilion, pondering how to break free from his current information cocoon.

He was completely unfamiliar with the area outside the Prince's Palace.

The original owner's memories consisted only of eating, drinking, and having fun, living a life of debauchery, and were not of much reference value.

At this moment, he suspected that the real world he was in was related to the text-based game world loaded by the cheat system.

It's even possible that it's the same world!

Your own game character is a real, living person!

However, the Wu Dynasty was vast, and given the information acquisition efficiency and transmission speed in ancient times, it was naturally impossible for a remote town to be known by the prince who used to only eat, drink, and have fun.

I'm afraid even Zheng Chi doesn't know much about the small towns and villages scattered across the land of Wu Dynasty. Asking him about things he's never encountered before would seem rather abrupt.

To find out the truth, you must find a reliable source of information!

"Young Master, is there anything I can help you with?" Just then, Zheng Chi walked over.

Zhou Qing said meaningfully, "The Prince's mansion is too deserted. I'd like to find something to relieve my boredom."

Zheng Chi chuckled and said, "Young Master, would you like to find a few storytellers or some opera troupes?"

If you're a storyteller, Wan Shi Lou has recently published many new stories; I'll find a few master storytellers to come and perform them.

Several well-known opera troupes have also come to Jiang'an. With the Dragon King Festival approaching, it's a good time for these artisans to make money, so they're all rushing here.

Zhou Qing's eyes immediately lit up.

Opera troupes travel all over the country and are very knowledgeable. They go wherever there is excitement and must know a lot of folk tales and strange stories.

If the events in the game are related to reality, we might be able to learn about rumors about the River God or evil sores from them.

"Let's call a theatrical troupe; it'll liven things up in the Prince's mansion."

"So, young master, would you like to find a regular opera troupe or a frivolous one?" Zheng Chi asked considerately.

Zhou Qing paused for a moment, recalling the rumors of the original owner's lechery, and couldn't help but say, "Bring them all to see."

...

Li Qinghe had a very long dream.

I dreamt that my mother was weaving nets and washing clothes by the river, and that we were catching fish, shrimp, and crabs together.

The river water is clear and the aquatic plants are lush.

The mother hummed a song, her voice as soft as the wind.

"mother!"

Li Qinghe called out.

The mother looked up, her smile as usual.

The heartwarming scene lasted only a moment before the clear river water suddenly turned black.

Large numbers of dead fish floated to the surface, and the lush vegetation on both banks withered at a visible rate. Hideous sores sprouted from the mother's skin, oozing putrid pus.

"what!"

She sat up abruptly, a faint medicinal fragrance wafting into her nose and mouth.

Jiang Chuling opened her eyes, which were bloodshot: "You slept for a day and a night. Doctor Liu prescribed you some medicine to replenish your qi and blood. Remember to drink it later."

Li Qinghe hurriedly reached into her pocket, took out a bronze wine cup, and looked at the small body covered in sores at the bottom of the cup. Tears welled up again.

The mother could not be brought back to life.

But in her most desperate moment, only the gods granted her hope and gave her the courage to continue living.

"Mother, I will definitely help you cure your sores and stop you from suffering."

She made up her mind, but as soon as she got off the wooden bed, her legs felt weak.

Jiang Chuling supported her, saying, "Don't worry, you lost so much blood yesterday. Even if you have a good constitution, you can't recover all at once."

"I'm fine, I'm just hungry and have no energy."

Li Qinghe looked at the scratches on the back of her hand, caused by the edge of the bronze wine vessel, which had begun to scab over and heal.

After resting for a while.

She drank the herbal medicine and ate two steamed buns with water, and only then did a bit of color return to her face.

She then washed off the blood and dirt and changed into a clean set of clothes.

Jiang Chuling looked at Li Qinghe, who seemed like a completely different person after washing up, and her eyes sparkled with surprise: "Sister Qinghe, you've always been so beautiful."

Li Qinghe stammered, unsure how to answer, and changed the subject: "What happened at home yesterday..."

"It's alright, no need to explain, it's all over now." Jiang Chuling naturally took over the conversation: "But there are still some bloodstains in the shed. If others see them, it might cause trouble."

Li Qinghe said thoughtfully, "Indeed, there are often people in the shantytown who worship various things, and they are arrested by the police every now and then."

"Because the imperial court strictly prohibits heretical worship, licentious temples, and secret societies! As long as they are discovered, no matter the reason, it will be a serious crime." Jiang Chuling's eyes dimmed slightly as she whispered a reminder: "We need to hurry back and clean up the traces. Also, we need to arrange a funeral for your mother."

Li Qinghe nodded, carefully put the bronze wine cup into his pocket, slung the bamboo basket over his shoulder, and touched the wood-chopping knife inside.

"Let's go, let's say goodbye to Doctor Liu first."

Two girls walked out of the room.

But as soon as they arrived at the front hall, they encountered two believers with yellow talismans wrapped around their wrists, carrying a person and rushing in.