Please control me, my divine being!

As the second-in-command of the prefectural government, Magistrate Yang immediately dismissed these people.

He was left with only a few trusted men, who led Zhou Qing into the government office, explaining the layout of the office as they walked.

Zhou Qing listened silently.

At this moment, Judge Yang was extremely anxious, wondering why the Crown Prince had suddenly come without any preparation.

Otherwise, he would have to invite a few top courtesans, host a banquet, and entertain them properly to keep this prince occupied and prevent him from having any sudden whims.

"Prefect Yang, I recently read some interesting articles in local tabloids."

Zhou Qing had already prepared his explanation, so he naturally said, "I heard that you arrested a group of tabloid vendors today, so I came to ask about it."

Judge Yang was slightly taken aback.

I thought the prince had come on some important occasion, but I never expected it to be like this.

Tabloids have always circulated among the people, and this is something that is difficult to eradicate, so the authorities do not crack down on it very hard, usually only once every month or two.

This is a trivial matter and he doesn't know much about it.

"Your Highness, I will take you to the prison right away." Judge Yang reacted quickly and immediately ordered his men to summon the magistrate and the jailer.

Zhou Qing walked into the gloomy prison cell, with Song Lin following closely behind, never leaving his side.

Soon the arrested vendors were brought before the jailer.

Zhou Qing threw today's newspaper in front of them: "Who collected this tabloid?"

The vendors looked at each other in bewilderment.

Although no one knew the identity of the distinguished young man before them, seeing how cautious and timid the important figures in the government offices were, even a fool could tell that this man was no ordinary person.

"Sir, these tabloids are all compiled from various sources and then sold together. We're all selling pretty much the same stuff."

Someone mustered up the courage to answer.

Zhou Qing turned the page immediately: "Does anyone know this person who rolls up the curtain?"

"Me! Sir, I'm the one who collects all his tabloids," a vendor immediately said.

"Okay, then come out with me."

A moment later, Judge Yang, with a smile on his face, saw off the carriage embroidered with golden dragons and let out a heavy sigh of relief.

Thankfully, nothing serious happened.

If His Highness were to suddenly have a strange whim and make some inexplicable request, he wouldn't know how to fulfill it.

As the carriage drove back to the palace, the peddler was now covered in cold sweat.

Zhou Qing stepped down from the carriage and casually said to the vendor, "I will send someone with you to invite the curtain-roller to the Prince's mansion."

talking.

He looked at Song Lin, who stood beside him like an iron tower, and said, "Song Zhiguai, I'll trouble you to take a group of men and go with him."

"Yes, ma'am."

Song Lin coldly agreed.

After finishing this task, Zhou Qing dismissed everyone and returned to the warm pavilion.

The cause of his predecessor's death is still unknown, and strictly speaking, he is still under house arrest by the prince to read books.

He spent this time cultivating his character in the warm pavilion, creating a persona of a prodigal son returning home, which finally made Zheng Chi relent.

Occasionally, I can find an excuse to go out and see the outside world, which is already the limit.

Furthermore, when they went out, they had to be accompanied by a large number of people, and they were not free.

Now that he has learned about those strange cultivators, Zhou Qing himself dares not go out and wander around.

His predecessor was infamous. If he were to encounter a cultivator who didn't like him and killed him with a single glance using some mundane technique, he would have nowhere to turn to cry.

Before achieving mastery in cultivation, the most important thing is to stay in the palace and develop one's skills.

Song Lin has always been the type to get things done quietly. He's ruthless and doesn't talk much, and he often deals with all sorts of people in the underworld. If you entrust him with the follow-up matters, you almost don't need to worry.

As for the person rolling up the curtain being a cultivator, Zhou Qing was even less worried.

If cultivators could truly do whatever they wanted in Jiang'an, how could the imperial court and government have ruled the Great Wu Dynasty to this day?

Moreover, Song Lin's ability to become a major figure in the Prince's mansion, despite the fact that so many martial arts masters and imperial guards couldn't control him, must mean he has some real skills.

Zhou Qing never asked him if he was a cultivator.

You won't get any answers from this kind of question; it will only embarrass people.

Even if they are indeed cultivators, according to the cultivation methods of this world, intelligence and information are obviously the top priority.

No one will casually reveal their path.

And most importantly, even if Zheng Chi and Song Lin knew about the cultivation world and those strange cultivators, they were unwilling to tell him no matter what.

That proves there's only one reason.

It must have been that prince in the capital city of Sili who issued the order, and it might even be related to the original owner's confinement in Jiang'an.

Zhou Qing reopened the book and looked at the progress in Lianshan City.

You entered the Zhang family compound and successfully found Steward Zhang.

The other party remained as glamorous as ever; none of the changes had affected this man living in the Zhang family.

Upon seeing your arrival, the manager's eyes showed surprise...

……

In the inner house.

Manager Zhang looked surprised: "Li Qinghe? You're actually here?"

He never imagined that he would see the girl who used to herd sheep for the Zhang family again in his lifetime.

Having managed the Zhang family for decades, he remembered all his workers quite well.

Especially this little girl named Li Qinghe, she is diligent and has never made any mistakes.

Each time monthly pay is given, if a few coins are given less, the other party doesn't cry or make a fuss.

Don't underestimate these few coins; with hundreds of servants in the Zhang family, the sum adds up to a considerable amount.

Manager Zhang frowned, noticing the wood-chopping knife at the girl's waist. He instinctively sensed something was wrong, and his tone suddenly turned stern: "What are you doing here?"

However, the methods that had been extremely effective in the past were now ineffective against this timid girl.

Li Qinghe's left eye was covered by her bangs, only her right eye stared coldly at him: "My mother is gone."

Manager Zhang was taken aback, but his tone softened immediately. He quickly pulled out several dozen coins from his pocket: "The dead cannot be brought back to life. Please accept my condolences. She was a strong-willed woman and worked for the Zhang family back then. Give her a proper burial..."

"My mother was killed by you," Li Qinghe said again.

"Miss Li, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. What is your mother's relationship with me?"

Manager Zhang's tone suddenly rose a notch.

"Then tell me, what did you and the Huang family do in Huangshui Town?"

"How dare you! Who do you think you are, questioning me like this? Guards!"

Manager Zhang's expression changed, and he shouted out.

But there was no movement outside.

Li Qinghe drew her wood-chopping knife and casually closed the door behind her: "Let me guess, were you the ones who infected those people with the evil sores in Huangshui Town?"

Manager Zhang's face turned pale: "So many people have contracted this evil sore, could it all be related to my Zhang family?"

"Those who contracted it later naturally have nothing to do with you, but the first group of people to be infected with the evil sores were all deliberately selected by you in order to create orphans."

Li Qinghe's mind was exceptionally clear.

Having witnessed everything before and considering Manager Zhang's current reaction, she already knew the answer in her heart.