Do Not Offend the Reborn Wicked Wife-Chapter 454: Is the Invitation Poisoned?

"Emperor, I implore you to dispatch a troop to rescue those innocent children who haven’t yet been harmed!"

After Zhao Mengran interrogated regarding this matter yesterday, he was shocked himself. No wonder there have been more child disappearance cases handled by his side in the past two years.

But because the disappearances were sporadic, and as they happened while traveling with their parents, it could have been that they got lost and couldn’t find their way back, so it was just a matter of sending people to search, merely for show.

Thinking back now, was this really just a matter of getting lost?

This was abduction!

He might be suspected of dereliction of duty, which is why he is now more proactive than anyone else in ensuring this matter is handled!

Qi Yun glanced at Zhao Mengran, knowing he was trying to make amends, waived his hand and said, "In that case, I approve! Though you shouldn’t personally go; let your assistant handle it!"

"Yes, I obey your command, Minister!"

...

"A Mu, congratulations, the Emperor has tasked you to go over there to examine the situation and seal the officials in charge, he values you highly!"

Li Qingmu returned from court, and upon learning he was sent for local duties, Su Shi congratulated him repeatedly.

Those mixed in the officialdom have sharp senses; although Su Shi is forthright, this doesn’t mean he’s foolish. Qi Yun promoted Cui Yuanhe as Prime Minister, Di Jing as Vice Prime Minister, while the Junior Prime Minister position remains vacant, with many ministers submitting memorials urging for a prompt appointment of the Junior Prime Minister, but those memorials disappeared without a trace.

Now, Qi Yun sent Li Qingmu to investigate the child trafficking case in the local area and arrest the derelict officials, he’s essentially building his resume.

For local tasks, the Imperial Censorate takes charge, coupled with past military merits; once these credentials accumulate sufficiently, he’ll be given the Junior Prime Minister position.

This treatment is extraordinarily enviable.

"Congratulations, Mr. Li, congratulations!"

The Imperial Censors came to congratulate, Li Qingmu only smiled faintly.

This moment is better to remain silent, speaking could easily stir jealousy.

Back home, Li Qingmu gently stroked Long Yue’s protruding belly with a hint of reluctance.

"Your husband is heading to Guyang County, take good care of yourself."

Though reluctant, he still had to go.

Long Yue said, "Go ahead, remember to return early."

Guyang County is just beside Jiangling County, it’s a remote small town, due to its special geographic position, it’s relatively isolated, merely managed by a County Magistrate, while other administration is aided by some local officials, with not many sent down for inspections, gradually, it turned into a place beyond governance.

The court can’t focus on all places, thus the human trafficking case emerging revealed such lawless zones.

Li Qingmu going there seems dangerous but actually isn’t, Qi Yun appointed him a troop of Imperial Guards, all capable and strong men, allowing for direct action before reporting.

The next morning, the weather was splendid, the sun shining brightly.

Long Yue accompanied him to the outskirts, Li Qingmu felt his little wife was overly cautious, then smiled and said, "Go back, as today the sun is getting intense, don’t let it heat you."

"Take care, even if it’s a small place, treacherous people abound in poor mountains and evil rivers!"

Having said this, Long Yue shoved a package into his arms.

The package contained several bottles and jars, all sorts of medicines developed by Duanmu Nan, antidotes, poisons, everything for self-defense.

"Mr. Li, please!"

A middle-aged man approached from one side, the accompanying Chief Clerk Wang from Jingzhao Mansion, Wang Qi.

Wang Qi, at forty, sporting a goatee, with small yet bright eyes, adept at currying favor.

Seeing Li Qingmu, he donned a broad smile, slightly bent knees, looking quite respectful.

There’s no choice, Li Qingmu’s official rank far exceeded his, coupled with his positive relations with Zhao Mengran, his superior, Wang Qi had all the more reason to fawn.

Yet Li Qingmu wasn’t fond of Wang Qi’s type, barely nodded in response.

Wang Qi noticing Li Qingmu’s stark indifference, hastily smiled apologetically, "Oh dear, Mr. Li, don’t hold a grudge, the Qingshui Village case, I merely prosecuted based on various gathered testimonies and material evidence, absolutely no intention to incriminate you!"

Li Qingmu was puzzled, how did the Qingshui Village incident come up?

Oh, perhaps because he was the one reporting the case then, so this was him worrying about being held accountable?

This person’s thinking is indeed peculiar.

Li Qingmu calmly stated, "This matter has been proven unrelated to Chief Clerk Wang, you need only do your job well."

Chief Clerk Wang slightly relaxed, initially he was quite happy upon hearing he’d go to Guyang County, a chance to fetch credits and achievements, but turned gloom when hearing Li Qingmu would accompany him to supervise the officials, fearing sabotage.

This was him probing for reassurances.

Li Qingmu provided him some peace of mind.

"Let’s go!"

Thus, Li Qingmu with several officials and a troop of Imperial Guards set off to Guyang County to rescue the children and prosecute the villains!

...

Li Qingmu had been gone for seven days already, Guyang County being quite a distance from Shengjing City, merely the journey takes half a month, hence he was still en route.

As the weather gradually heats up, Long Yue pregnant fears the heat, so the household used ice early, but it only cools, not chills, according to Duanmu Nan, consuming excessively cold things can weaken the body, harmful to her and the child.

Long Yue could only stare blankly at chilled watermelon.

"Madam."

Ning Xiang quietly tiptoed in, though it was already afternoon, Long Yue was resting, disinclined to disturb her, yet had to due to a very special visitor.

"An invitation from the Eastern Palace, the Crown Princess Consort asks you to admire blooms in the Imperial Garden tomorrow!"

"Eastern Palace?"

Long Yue was actually awake already, leaning against the bedside doing embroidery, taking advantage of her belly still not too large, creating more.

Hearing an invitation from the Eastern Palace, she became vigilant, "Who sent from the Eastern Palace?"

That Crown Prince being no good, previously even coveted her beauty, before she was expelled from Shengjing City by Pang Wenzheng, Crown Prince Qi Junji had attempted contact with implication of taking her as a concubine, but Long Yue refused.

Since she and A Mu came to Shengjing City, they had no contact with the Crown Prince, considering Pang Wenzheng’s support for the Crown Prince, they were essentially adversaries, even less likely to visit.

"Madam, please see..."

Ning Xiang holding an invitation felt it scorchingly hot.

As a maid of the Li family, knowing the household affairs, knowing husband and wife’s discord with the Crown Prince, Crown Princess Consort’s invitation seemed suspicious.

She worriedly glanced at Long Yue.

Long Yue was about to take the invitation when she suddenly said, "Quickly, release!"

"Ah?"

Ning Xiang, confused, as Long Yue made a swift move and slapped away her small hand.

"Ah!"

Ning Xiang exclaimed, looking down and finding her fingertips slightly blackened!

"Madam, is...is the invitation poisoned?"

Ning Xiang cried out in panic.