Chapter 132: The Golden Case (2)

Suppressing the sharp glint in her eyes, Zhuo Qing replied, "She has already woken up, but her body is still quite weak. She must receive acupuncture once every seven days; after ten sessions, it should not recur within a year."

"I will send her over in seven days." As long as she could be cured, that was enough. After saying this, Su Yu walked past Zhuo Qing toward the room. Before long, four soldiers carried Gu Yun out.

Through the thin veil, their eyes met. After exchanging a look that conveyed "take care," they both looked away.

Seeing Zhuo Qing, Gu Yun's heart finally settled. Their meeting was brief, and they only had enough time to tell each other about their recent situations. It turned out that after Zhuo Qing transmigrated here, she entered the body of Qing Ling, but due to an error by Haoyue officials, she was mistakenly sent to the Prime Minister's Mansion, while the Qing Family's second young lady, Qingfeng, was sent into the Imperial Palace. This was actually for the best; it was much more convenient for her and Zhuo Qing to meet.

Zhuo Qing also entrusted her to help investigate the case of the murdered officer in the General's Mansion. She had originally thought it was just an ordinary murder case, but she never expected it to lead to the sensational Golden Case...

It is said that three years ago, the national treasury was robbed, and one million taels of Golden vanished overnight. Investigations revealed that the then-Minister of Revenue had colluded with outside thieves to secretly transport the Golden away through a secret passage. The Ministry of Justice dispatched troops to pursue them in all directions, but they were unable to find anything, and the case was eventually dropped. The victim of this murder case was precisely a member of the Ministry of Justice from that time. Back then, he had received instructions from the Vice Minister of Justice, Ping Ran, to assist the Northwest rebels in hiding the Golden in an underground river within a cave, waiting for the heat to die down before the rebels moved it away.

The imperial court's one million taels of Golden had been stolen by rebels just like that. How could the Emperor, Yan Hongtian, be willing to let it go? He threw down an Imperial Decree, which made Su Yu furious to the point of near-collapse.

Gu Yun leaned against a wooden chair, watching Su Yu glare at the Imperial Decree in his hand, flying into a rage. "Recover all the Golden before the Qiongyue Kingdom celebration?! There are only two months left until the celebration begins, and a round trip to Pei City in the Northwest takes twenty days. Does the Emperor mean for us to deal with the Northwest rebels in one month? That's impossible, isn't it?!"

Compared to Su Yu's irritability, Su Ren was much calmer. "If the time weren't so tight, the Emperor wouldn't have dispatched the Su Family Army." To think the treasury's Golden was actually transported to the Northwest, and they were using the treasury's gold to purchase military equipment and expand their forces—it would be strange if the Emperor weren't angry!

Throwing the Imperial Decree back into its brocade box, Su Yu snorted, "Big Brother has gone out to drink. If nothing happens, he might not return for three to five months. What should we do?" To think they needed to mobilize Big Brother for such a trivial matter as suppressing bandits; who knows what the Emperor is thinking!

The Imperial Decree clearly stated that Su Ling was appointed as commander. If Big Brother didn't go, that would be defying the decree. Su Ren thought for a moment and said, "It doesn't matter. Tomorrow, I will take thirty thousand elite troops and head to the Northwest first. At the same time, I will order someone to ride at top speed to find Big Brother and have him go directly to the Northwest to meet us in Pei City. That way, it won't be considered a violation of the Imperial Decree."

Gu Yun asked with great interest, "Are we leaving tomorrow?"

Su Ren paused and did not answer her immediately. Hearing her question, Su Yu had already exclaimed anxiously, "You aren't planning to go too, are you?!"

"Mm." Gu Yun nodded generously.

Su Yu immediately roared, "No! Marching to war is a very dangerous thing; it's not a game!" She was just a woman who knew a little martial arts; why did she always have to join in the fun!

"Did I say I was going just to play?!" Playing was only one of her very important goals. The Night Raid battle was already over, and she was very bored in the General's Mansion.

"You!" Su Yu was choked with anger!

"If Sister-in-law insists on going, then depart with the army tomorrow. Acting alone is never good." Given her personality, it was impossible to stop her from going; it would be safer to keep her within a controllable range. Once they reached Pei City, she would be Big Brother's responsibility!

"Second Brother!" Su Yu glared at him angrily.

"Fine." Gu Yun accepted readily.

The matter was settled. Su Yu snorted in protest, "Then I'm going too!"

Patting his shoulder lightly, Su Ren smiled, "The celebration is approaching. If you don't stay behind, wouldn't the General's Mansion be left without a master!"

Since Su Ren had said so, he had no choice but to stay. Su Yu felt very unhappy and left in a huff.

A strange look flashed in Su Ren's eyes. It seemed he really couldn't let his third brother have any more contact with Qing Mo!

Outside the Imperial City, the garrison camp.

On the vast open ground, the soldiers had already finished lining up. The large "Su" character on the bright red flag looked somewhat piercing. Gu Yun squinted slightly as she looked over, happening to see Leng Xiao standing in the ranks not far ahead. Sensing her gaze, Leng Xiao also looked over. Upon seeing Gu Yun, the corners of Leng Xiao's usually indifferent lips actually lifted.

Gu Yun also gave a faint smile in return but did not walk any closer to the ranks. Su Ren was standing at the front of the troops with a man who looked to be over fifty. She didn't know what they were talking about, and Gu Yun had no interest in listening. Habitually wearing her black martial attire, she squinted and leaned against the camp flagpole, waiting for them to finish assembling.

"The Madam is really here!" A loud laugh rang in her ears. Gu Yun opened her eyes helplessly. Han Shu's tall figure stood before her, blocking out quite a bit of the dazzling sunlight.

Madam?! Gu Yun was startled. Since when did she become a Madam?!

What she didn't know was that after the competition that day, her name had immediately spread throughout the entire General's Mansion. She had actually defeated the Deputy General, and she had won so beautifully! Every detail of the Night Raid battle had been passed on countless times, and the new recruits she trained were indeed all fierce! The military was a place that valued martial prowess above all else. Overnight, she had become a legendary figure. Even the commander addressed her as "Sister-in-law," so if she wasn't the Madam, who else could bear the title of "Madam"!

Gu Yun found it awkward no matter how she heard it! She didn't like this title at all.

"I heard the Madam was going to go along to suppress the rebels, and I thought I had heard wrong. I didn't expect you to really be here." Han Shu looked full of interest, unaware that his booming voice had successfully focused everyone's attention on them.

Many soldiers in the army had heard about the General's Wife competing against the Deputy General and were extremely curious about this extraordinary woman. However, at first glance, they all doubted the rumors. Could that thin, scrawny woman be the devilish drillmaster the new recruits spoke of?!

"Sister-in-law." Su Ren walked over with the man in his fifties. Su Ren smiled and introduced, "This is Zhenxi General Lou Muhai, the father of the Prime Minister."

This man was Lou Xiyan's father?! It didn't look like it. The Lou Xiyan she had seen was a refined and elegant man. This Zhenxi General had a square face, tiger-like eyes, and a burly build. He was full of ruggedness and looked like the type of person who was stubborn and difficult to get along with. He was more similar in temperament to these brutes in the General's Mansion and really couldn't be associated with Lou Xiyan.

"Old General Lou, she is my Big Brother's wife, Qing Mo. Come to think of it, we are now relatives."

Gu Yun's brows furrowed tighter and tighter. She had nothing to do with Su Ling, but now that she was standing on someone else's turf, she couldn't refute it. It was truly infuriating!

Lou Muhai secretly sized up the woman before him. She was Qing Ling's younger sister, right? With her scrawny figure and neither-male-nor-female attire, if there was one thing to note, it was that her eyes were clear and clean. But how could such a woman gain the favor of the Great General Su?

Regarding the "relatives" Su Ren mentioned, both Gu Yun and Lou Muhai looked as if they had no comment.

Su Ren had invited a snub for himself, but he didn't mind. Lou Xiyan had already sent out the invitations; the wedding would be in one month, and the bride was Qing Ling. As for Ice-Refining choosing Qing Mo, that meant the Su Family had chosen Qing Mo. Big Brother had no room to object; this marriage alliance was set in stone.

Pointing to a spacious and comfortable carriage behind him, Su Ren said, "Sister-in-law, the army is ready to depart. You should get in the carriage." It was the first time they had female dependents accompanying the army; he really didn't know what needed to be prepared.

Gu Yun didn't even look at the carriage Su Ren pointed to and replied directly, "I'll be like you; riding a horse is fine."

He knew she wasn't a delicate young lady, but it was a journey of over ten days after all. Su Ren advised, "The journey is long..."

Before he could finish, Gu Yun interrupted him loudly, "If I cannot do as you do, then I have no right to ask to accompany you. I don't take this distance to heart. No need for a carriage, let's go."

What an arrogant, what a brazen woman!

This was the inner voice of everyone present. However, the soldiers below became even more curious. What kind of ability did this General's Wife have to dare speak such bold words? Lou Muhai, on the other hand, was full of disdain. Once she was jolted on horseback for two days and her legs went numb, she would know how ridiculous she was. By then, crying wouldn't help!

Fine, if she said she would ride a horse, then she would ride a horse. Su Ren no longer insisted. He nodded to a Small General nearby, who led over a tall, pure black steed. The black horse had long, sturdy hooves and a coat that shone with a healthy luster. The height of the horse's back was almost level with Gu Yun.

Gu Yun gently stroked the horse's head, feeling a bit excited. When she learned to ride in the past, she used ordinary horses. This type of purebred horse had always been her favorite, and today she could finally have her wish.

"Madam." Just as Gu Yun was about to mount the horse to try it out, another soldier held a wooden box in his hands and presented it to her, though his hands were shaking so much that the box was about to fall.

Gu Yun was a bit puzzled. Was she that scary? Why was he shaking?!

To her, Ice-Refining was just a bit cool, but to ordinary people, it was bone-chillingly cold. Even through the wooden box, it was freezing.

Opening the wooden box, what lay inside was indeed Ice-Refining. She gently stroked the blade; the faint coolness was very comfortable. She truly loved this sword in her heart, but she had always had many concerns. Since it seemed to be a spiritual treasure sword, she would ask for its opinion.

Picking up Ice-Refining, Gu Yun held it in her palm and silently recited in her heart, "Ice-Refining, are you truly willing to accompany me? If you are willing, move once."

The sword body shook violently. Gu Yun was given a huge fright! This time, she truly and clearly felt that Ice-Refining had consciousness; it could completely understand what she said! This was too magical!

Her five fingers slowly tightened. Gu Yun had already made her decision. Since Ice-Refining was also willing to be her companion, then they would travel together.

Holding Ice-Refining in one hand and the saddle in the other, Gu Yun mounted the horse beautifully and said to Su Ren, "Let's go."

She finally accepted Ice-Refining! That was great! The old men at home should thank him properly!

"Depart." With Su Ren's order, the thirty-thousand-man troop marched majestically toward the Northwest.

(End of chapter)