Chapter 91: Visitors from Red Leaf Villa

Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Visitors from Red Leaf Villa

“Alright, let’s go quickly.”

Now that they had gotten what they wanted, there was no time to waste.

When they returned to Gu Qingli’s residence, she was still sitting on the bed in a daze.

Damn, it was too thrilling.

This sudden wealth made her blood pressure surge, her head buzzing, and she felt a sense of floating.

After calming her emotions, Gu Qingli took out those letters to read.

She read them one by one. Most were correspondence between the Empress and Dean Lin, with contents about who was causing trouble, who was being dishonest, or who needed silver. They weren’t of much use to Gu Qingli and Xiao Yunjing. However, she kept these letters for Xiao Yunjing to look at later.

Nearly half a month had passed since Xiao Yunjing had said he would return, but Gu Qingli doubted he would be back so soon.

They hadn’t found anything particularly useful in Dean Lin’s study. However, while clearing out Lin Ying’er’s belongings, they discovered some valuable items.

There were three property deeds, including one for the antique shop. Another was for a shop selling ready-made clothes, and the last was for a shop selling rouge and cosmetics. Additionally, there was an estate with five hundred mu of land in the south of the city.

An estate of five hundred mu was quite substantial. The shops and estates in Qiyang County were worth far more than those in the County Town. The total value of these three shops and the estate was no less than 50,000 taels.

It’s like I picked them up for free.

Heh heh…

Lin Ying’er, oh Lin Ying’er, why did you have to court death when you could have lived well?

The hunter has become the hunted. A bitter taste of your own medicine, isn’t it?

In the end, all your efforts only served to benefit me.

That night, Gu Qingli gave Wuyou the deeds for the three shops and the estate, asking her to handle them.

As for the items the three of them had carried back, Gu Qingli let them keep them. Yun No. 20 was given a gold bar and some other useful items. This moved Yun No. 20 almost to tears. They had been making money for others without seeing any of it themselves. Now, they finally had some savings to get married.

Gu Qingli patted him on the shoulder, telling him to work hard. She assured him that silver and beauties would come to those who followed her. She wouldn’t mistreat those who risked their lives to protect her.

「The next day」

Early in the morning, word spread through the city that Dean Lin’s house had been burglarized. Chief Zhao Shijin immediately opened a case to track down the culprits. Famous doctors from the city were also invited to the Lin residence, as it was said that Miss Lin was so frightened she had yet to awaken.

Wuyou was among them.

Naturally, no one could counteract Wuyou’s poison. And Wuyou had no intention of curing Lin Ying’er.

After much fruitless effort, Dean Lin realized that none of the doctors in Qiyang County could cure Lin Ying’er. He immediately had his Secret Guard send a message to the Capital City, requesting an Imperial Physician to treat her.

Lin Ying’er is still useful; she can’t be abandoned yet.

He also informed the Empress that ten of her Secret Guards assigned to him had been killed, asking her to send more skilled Secret Guards to investigate who could be so formidable as to kill his guards, infiltrate his residence, and steal so much wealth.

What kind of power would it take to steal so much wealth so covertly, leaving no trace, as if it had vanished into thin air?

Even using horse-drawn carts would require dozens of them and countless people to move everything. The crucial point was that there were no footprints at the scene.

When he saw the state of things, his scalp prickled, sweat beaded on his brow, his steps faltered, and he nearly fainted.

Too bizarre, too bizarre!

Once he had completely calmed down, he inspected the scene several times. He also recalled a Secret Guard who was on a nearby assignment to examine it, but the guard could only shake his head; there were no signs of anything having been moved.

Dean Lin was both shocked and furious. He was so enraged that his scholarly demeanor shattered, and he beat several servants to vent his frustration.

A vast fortune, all ill-gotten gains, had been lost, yet he dared not report it to the officials. Dean Lin had no choice but to swallow this bitter pill.

Meanwhile, upon receiving the carrier pigeon’s message, the Empress nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. She quickly burned the paper and had her trusted nanny take her token to handle the matters.

In the Qiyang County government office, Zhao Shijin perfunctorily ordered a casual investigation.

What a joke! This whole incident is too unusual. Who would dare commit such a crime at the Lin residence? They must have a death wish for their entire clan! Apart from *those* people, I can’t think of anyone else with such audacity. They can enter my county office as if it were their own backyard; breaking into the Lin residence would be child’s play for them.

Just thinking about their imposing aura made his heart tremble.

Heavens, what are they trying to do? I’m in the same boat as them now—we’ll prosper together or perish together. My lords, please don’t stir up any major trouble!

The more Zhao Shijin thought about it, the more frightened he became. His face drawn, he returned to the inner hall, lost in deep thought.

Appealing for help is out of the question. They have leverage over me, holding me completely at their mercy. Unless I no longer wish to live…

Sigh…

He silently prayed that those people would remain calm and collected.

The slightest misstep, and I’ll be doomed beyond redemption. All I want now is to peacefully complete my term and retire to my hometown. Those people’s methods are too terrifying.

「A few days later」

The uproar in Qiyang County over the burglary at Dean Lin’s residence gradually died down. The people from Red Leaf Villa arrived.

For this initial consultation, Gu Qingli appeared in her female attire.

Posing as a silent old man previously was truly suffocating!

Wuyou followed her closely.

In the sickroom, a quiet man sat in a wheelchair. He wore a moon-white robe and a purple and gold coronet. He had his back to the door and faced the window, gazing out, seemingly lost in thought.

“Young Master,” his attendant called softly.

The man turned his face.

Damn, what a face—a face that seemed to be chiseled by God himself! It was so exquisite it could take one’s breath away, cause a nosebleed, and make one drool. Fortunately, I have my face veiled; otherwise, this would be incredibly embarrassing.

“Greetings, Divine Doctor,” the man said, offering Gu Qingli a faint greeting.

Damn, that voice is incredible too—so captivating it could make your ears pregnant!

“Hello,” Gu Qingli nodded in acknowledgment.

“Help your master onto the bed,” Wuyou interjected.

“Ah, yes, yes, of course.” The attendant immediately lifted the man and laid him flat on the bed.

Gu Qingli noticed him frowning slightly.

He’s probably not used to the sickbed.

Wuyou positioned a chair, and the attendant moved the man’s wheelchair aside.

Gu Qingli sat down and began by taking his pulse.

The man turned his head, his gaze falling on Gu Qingli as she concentrated on taking his pulse. He could see her bright eyes beneath her fine, full forehead, and her long, thick lashes fluttering.

So cute.

The man was momentarily stunned. It was only for an instant, so fleeting that even Wuyou didn’t notice.

After taking his pulse, Gu Qingli asked the attendant to roll up the man’s trousers above his knees.

The muscles below the man’s knees had begun to atrophy, and there was a long, pale white scar below both kneecaps.

Gu Qingli tapped lightly on his kneecaps; there was no reflex.

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