Chapter 163 Zhao Haiqing? What is he doing here? (Seeking monthly votes)

Sending Zhao Guanxiang to Jingzhou was what Zhao Qi’an had originally hoped for.

Even though Zhao Guanxiang entered the Celestial Realm at the age of nineteen, and even though the Astronomical Patrol Observatory valued him very much, it was not an easy task for him to quickly improve his status in the Astronomical Patrol Observatory.

And today’s Jingzhou is the place with the best opportunity to accumulate merits.

Zhao Qi’an had the information sent by Gong Xinying, which was enough for Zhao Guanxiang to turn the situation around after he went to Jingzhou. He was quickly appreciated by the commander-in-chief Ling Fang and was reused.

As for how high Zhao Guanxiang can climb in the end… Zhao Qi’an can’t say for sure.

The Astronomical Observatory was the territory of the Imperial Master, and he could not give Zhao Guanxiang much help.

For example, this time, letting Zhao Guanxiang lead the Xiaowei to attack Yifeng Imperial Farm was already a very risky move. It also took advantage of the excuse of joint law enforcement by the Zongzheng Temple and the Xuntianjian. But it can’t happen again. The people in the Xuntianjian are not fools, not to mention that there is a national master who knows the truth of the world.

From now on, the most Zhao Qian’an could do was to provide some intelligence assistance to Zhao Guanxiang as he did before.

But… this is enough.

The ability of my fourth son to get things done is something that can be trusted.

If he really messed up, the worst that could happen was that Zhao Guanxiang would have to hide his real name and change his identity to go to Donghai and manage other businesses for him.

……

Not long after Zhao Guanxiang left, another secret letter from Xiaowei was delivered to Zhao Qi’an’s study.

“Master, a few days ago, you asked Xiaowei to investigate the buyers of the pawnbrokers who were colluding with the Zhou family, and they have already found some ‘big customers’.”

Luan Nu respectfully presented the secret letter to Zhao Qian’an, and then waited in the study for instructions.

After reading the letter, Zhao Qi’an frowned slightly and asked, “The Wu family is also among them?”

Luan Nu had already prepared a plan in her mind, and answered fluently: “The Xuzhou Wu family is a thousand-year-old family. It is the largest landlord in Xuzhou and has a monopoly on the sea salt business. In recent years, as Prime Minister Wu has become more and more powerful, the Xuzhou Wu family has also been expanding outward, and they are in great need of manpower.”

“Xuzhou has a small population, and few people are willing to sell themselves into slavery. They can only buy official slaves and private slaves from other places through brokers, so it is reasonable for them to deal with the Zhou family.”

Zhao Qian’an glanced at Luan Nu, and Luan Nu lowered his head and looked very docile.

Apparently, when Zhao Qian’an wanted to investigate the buyers of the dental clinic related to the Zhou family, she had been following the progress on Xiao Wei’s side, doing her homework, and was just waiting for Zhao Qian’an to ask.

Although she is not as resourceful as Gou Xiangxi, who can give immediate suggestions when encountering problems.

She is not like Zhao Nishang who takes care of all matters personally, no matter how big or small. She will only ask Zhao Qian’an for instructions when there are problems that she cannot solve.

But Luan Nu quickly found her position beside Zhao Qi’an – that is to help Zhao Qi’an deal with all unnecessary trivial matters and serve as Zhao Qi’an’s “mouthpiece”.

Zhao Qi’an placed two documents on the desk, one was the “Guest List of Yifeng Royal Manor” sent by Zhao Guanxiang, and the other was the “Buyers List of Large and Small Dental Shops Related to the Zhou Family” found by Xiao Wei.

He looked at the two documents and pondered for a long time, then put them away in his sleeves, stood up and said, “Prepare a gift for me and a carriage, I want to visit the palace.”

Luan Nu’s face flashed with surprise, but she didn’t ask any more questions. She bowed her head meekly and said, “Yes, I will tell someone to prepare it right away.”

……

The imperial palace, in Chengping Palace.

In the courtyard, birds are singing and flowers are blooming.

On the cobblestone path, two palace maids were carefully supporting the pregnant consort of the Second Prince, and another palace maid was behind them holding an umbrella to provide shade.

Qin Muwan is now almost five months pregnant. While other pregnant women’s bellies are just beginning to show their size at this month, her belly has already bulged high, almost the same size as that of an ordinary pregnant woman in her eighth or ninth month of pregnancy.

She had only stood outside for a while, but sweat was already on her forehead. She gently stroked her belly, a gentle smile on her face, and then looked forward.

On the grass in front, I saw the fat Ji Haoyu working as a carpenter, and several eunuchs were busy moving wood beside him.

In one morning, the prototype of a swing was built on the grass. “Your Highness, take a break.”

Hearing the princess’ call, Ji Haoyu stopped his work, handed the hammer to the eunuch serving beside him, and walked towards Qin Muwan with a smile.

He took the cold soup that Qin Muwan brought, pointed at the swing and said, “When the prince grows up in the future, my beloved concubine will bring him here to play. I built this place with my own hands.”

Qin Muwan took out a clean embroidered handkerchief and wiped Ji Haoyu’s sweat gently. Her gentle voice was somewhat helpless: “Your Highness, children can’t run and jump when they are born. It will take many years for the prince to play with this.”

“Haha, in a few years, I’m afraid I won’t be able to do these anymore. I’m too old.”

“How can your highness say that…”

Although Ji Haoyu seemed to be nonchalant and said it as a joke, there was a bitter smile on his face.

In fact, in terms of age, he is still in the prime of his life as he has just turned fifty.

But perhaps because of his obesity, his health has deteriorated greatly over the years and his energy is not as good as before.

Sometimes he thought, what’s the point of fighting with the third brother? The third brother’s health is worse than his, he is basically a sickly person, can the two of them really live longer than their father?

He gently stroked Qin Muwan’s belly, and his expression softened.

We still have to fight…

Even if he could not be emperor for two years, he should at least fight for a bright future for his son.

“Ouch.”

Qin Muwan suddenly let out a moan, covered her stomach, and her face turned pale.

Ji Haoyu immediately panicked: “My beloved, are you okay?”

“It’s alright, Your Highness.” Qin Muwan, supported by the maids on both sides, managed to stand up straight and forced a smile, “The prince is making a fuss inside.”

Ji Haoyu did not dare to be careless, and ordered the palace maids, “Help the imperial concubine to rest, and make a paste of pregnancy-preserving medicine for her to take.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The palace maid helped Qin Muwan leave.

Ji Haoyu watched them leave with some worry in his eyes.

He knew that this pregnancy was not easy to maintain.

But no one knew what happened to the Baiyun Temple. All the people in the temple died overnight, and the whereabouts of the temple master Cang Baizi were unknown…

Although he had asked his capable men to identify the pregnancy-preserving medicine obtained from Baiyun Temple, as they were just some tonics for strengthening the blood and qi, he also had someone prepare a few new doses for Qin Muwan to take.

But since it was not obtained from Baiyun Temple, it always feels a little unsafe.

“Ugh.”

Ji Haoyu sighed lightly, turned around, and saw his close companion “Eunuch Fu” walking towards him hurriedly.

Eunuch Fu came in front of Ji Haoyu and bowed, “Your Highness, Viscount Haiqing wants to see you.”

“Zhao Haiqing?” Ji Haoyu was a little surprised, then laughed and said, “I can’t even invite him to come on weekdays, but today he came to the palace to see me in person?”

“Does Your Highness want to see me?”

“Let him in, and wait for me in the side hall.”

“Yes.”

Double monthly votes in the past few days, I hope everyone will vote enthusiastically, thank you~
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(End of this chapter)