Chapter 21 Pursuing the Female Lead Pursuing

Chang’an was anxiously waiting outside the door, not knowing why Yue Guanyi’s expression had suddenly changed, looking terrifying.

Suddenly the door was flung open, revealing a pair of cold, piercing eyes. Although he had been by Yue Guanyi’s side for many years, Chang’an couldn’t help but shudder.

He had changed into an official uniform, the dark black robes making his complexion appear even more pale and gloomy. The fierce beast embroidered on his chest was as cold as his gaze, the pitch-black pupils filled with an unshakeable terror.

“Immediately gather troops and set out for Yanshun County at once.”

Yanshun County? Isn’t that where Qiu Daren is right now…

Chang’an understood everything. No wonder Her Highness had suddenly lost composure, as if she had become a different person.

Whenever it involved matters concerning Qiu Shuzhi, it was never a small matter.

He immediately assembled a large troop, along with several renowned commanders from the capital to accompany them. Compared to the inconspicuous carriage Qiu Shuzhi had arrived in, the Jinyiwei’s procession was truly imposing.

Even without sending someone to notify County Magistrate Dai Yun in advance, those Feiyufu uniforms were known to all. As the thunderous sound of hooves entered Yanshun County, the residents, seeing their brocade robes and silver-like appearance, all hurriedly made way and dared not look directly, fearing to invite trouble.

The carriage slowly approached the Yanshun county office. Before it even came to a stop, Dai Yun was already leading the officials and their families to respectfully await them in front of the office.

“This lowly official was unaware of the Jinyiwei大人’s esteemed visit and failed to welcome you from afar. Please forgive me,” Dai Yun said while glancing at the tightly covered carriage, trying to guess who had been sent from the capital this time.

Yue Guanyi lifted the heavy curtain and stepped down from the carriage. The setting sun’s golden light shone upon him as if coating him in a layer of radiance, his beautiful and cold features like a snow-capped mountain at sunset, breathtakingly gorgeous.

But those eyes were cold and damp, glinting with a fierce light, suddenly exuding an imposing and arrogant aura.

Even Dai Yun, who had tasted many famous courtesans, had never seen such an exquisitely beautiful man before, and for a moment forgot all etiquette.

“How dare you! You see the Jinyiwei Commander and don’t kneel?” Chang’an shouted angrily.

The thunderous reprimand jolted Dai Yun back to her senses. Only then did she realize that Yue Guanyi was wearing the uniform of a third-rank official, with the blood-soaked fierce beast glaring at her fiercely.

“This official deserves death. Please forgive me, Your Highness.” Dai Yun hurriedly knelt down, repeatedly kowtowing on the ground. The sound of bones hitting the earth continuously reached her ears.

The Empress Dowager’s edict had come so suddenly that even court officials were unaware. Naturally, Dai Yun, a seventh-rank county magistrate, had no idea what kind of figure was sitting in that carriage. At most, she had estimated it to be a commander or associate director, someone who could be bribed and the matter would pass.

But she never imagined that the person who came was actually the Jinyiwei Commander, in charge of the entire Jinyiwei, the skin-peeling and tendon-pulling demon – Yue Guanyi.

Dai Yun’s heart instantly sank. She never expected that such a powerful and feared figure would come to her small temple.

Yue Guanyi slowly walked down from the carriage. The dark, oppressive official robe stopped beside her continuously kowtowing face, like a vast black cloud pressing down from the sky, making it hard for her to breathe.

In this small place of Yanshun, there was only one reason that could bring Yue Guanyi here – the silver mine.

Could it be that her actions had been exposed?

Dai Yun felt her whole body turn cold, large beads of sweat constantly seeping from her forehead.

Yue Guanyi coldly looked down at Dai Yun, who was hunched over like an ant, wanting nothing more than to stomp her underfoot and crush her spine.

It was this dog who deliberately made things difficult for his Qiu Niang.

You made her uncomfortable, so naturally he had to give this worm a taste of suffering.

Without receiving any indication from Yue Guanyi, Dai Yun could only continue kowtowing, not daring to stop. Her forehead gradually became numb, and she felt a warm stream trickling down her face, dripping into the dust.

The family members beside her were all frightened by this intimidating scene, quietly sobbing and whimpering.

Yue Guanyi looked down at the ant at his feet for a long while before finally saying, “No need for such ceremony. You may rise, 大人.”

Dai Yun felt immense relief, staggering to her feet. Despite her head being covered in blood, she didn’t dare to wipe it, her mind spinning and almost unable to stand steady.

Suppressing her terror at Yue Guanyi’s status, she asked, “May I inquire what important matters have brought Your Highness to Yanshun County?”

Yue Guanyi’s lips curled into a faint smile, and Chang’an behind him immediately took out an imperial edict.

“Empress Dowager’s edict: Dai Yun, County Magistrate of Yanshun County, Shuntian Prefecture, has been in office for over ten years and has failed to effectively manage the illegal mining. The Jinyiwei Commander Yue Guanyi is hereby specially appointed to assist Qiu Shuzhi, Deputy Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, in supervising the case. By imperial order.”

Dai Yun’s body suddenly stiffened. It was indeed for this matter.

Yue Guanyi’s cold eyes narrowed. “Does 大人 Dai have any objections to the Empress Dowager’s edict, that you do not accept it and express gratitude?”

“This official wouldn’t dare!” Dai Yun, frightened by Yue Guanyi, felt a chill run through her body and immediately knelt to accept the edict and express gratitude.

“Your Highness must be weary from the long journey. Why not rest at my humble abode for a while?”

“That won’t be necessary,” Yue Guanyi directly refused.

He knew that Qiu Shuzhi was staying in the county office before him. “This prince will stay in the county office. It will also be convenient for handling the case.”

“The inner hall of the county office is simple and crude. This official fears it would be beneath Your Highness’s noble status,” Dai Yun cautioned tremblingly.

Previously, Dai Yun had only heard of Yue Guanyi’s notorious reputation, with people calling him a demon crawling out of hell. Now that she had seen him in person, she realized Yue Guanyi was no mere demon, but the living King of Hell that struck terror into millions of lesser ghosts.

The furnishings and decor of the county office were extremely simple compared to this master who lived in silk and jade in the palace. She absolutely had to serve him well, without the slightest negligence, otherwise it would mean losing her head and her entire family being executed.

“Simple and crude?” Yue Guanyi sneered. “I hear that Qiu Daren, who came here to handle the case, is also staying temporarily in the county office. If you knew it was simple and crude, why did you arrange for her to stay here?”

Dai Yun was frightened by his cold tone, her voice trembling as she said, “That was Qiu Daren’s wish. She wanted to stay in the county office for convenience in investigating the case.”

“If that’s the case, then this prince should also stay here,” Yue Guanyi said.

Dai Yun dared not say anything more and repeatedly agreed, “Please come in, Your Highness. This official will immediately send someone to make preparations.”

Chang’an followed Yue Guanyi into the county office, while the rest of the group waited outside.

Qiu Shuzhi was reviewing some details about the silver mine in the inner hall, still unaware of how lively it was outside the county office at this moment.

Today she was not wearing her official uniform, but casually dressed in a white robe and skirt, her long hair loosely tied up, with a light blue sash around her waist accentuating her slender figure.

An Dai hurriedly ran in from outside to Qiu Shuzhi’s room, out of breath.

“What’s the matter? Why are you so flustered?” Qiu Shuzhi asked, closing the document.

“大人, the Crown Prince has arrived,” An Dai said, panting heavily.

“The Crown Prince?” Qiu Shuzhi was slightly surprised. By rights, the affairs of Shuntian Prefecture should not involve him.

“Not just that, there are also many Jinyiwei outside, a vast crowd. Dai Yun is currently welcoming them,” An Dai continued.

Qiu Shuzhi put down the document in her hand and after a moment’s thought said, “Since the Crown Prince has come to Yanshun, I should go pay my respects to him, both out of courtesy and duty.”

An Dai’s expression became somewhat difficult. Although the Crown Prince held a high position, he was also notorious for his ferocity. It would be better for Qiu Shuzhi to go pay respects alone; she was unwilling to show her face before him.

Qiu Shuzhi saw through her concerns, knowing how terrifying Yue Guanyi’s reputation was, and said, “You go back first. I’ll just have Ji Mei accompany me.”

An Dai’s face lit up with joy. “Yes, 大人.”

The county office was only so big, just a few steps from the back hall to the front hall. The previously quiet and cold front hall was now illuminated with interweaving lights. The usually lazy yamen runners now all had tense expressions, and occasional snippets of conversation could be heard from inside the hall.

Qiu Shuzhi walked to the front of the hall and saw Chang’an guarding the door. As soon as he saw Qiu Shuzhi, his face broke into a smile. “Qiu Daren, this official was just about to come find you.”

The conversation inside the room suddenly stopped.

Qiu Shuzhi asked gently, “I heard His Highness has arrived, so I came specially to pay my respects.”

Chang’an smiled, “His Highness has been waiting for you for some time inside.”

Hearing the conversation that had been going on inside earlier, Qiu Shuzhi hesitated and said, “Would it be disruptive for me to enter now while he’s discussing official matters with 大人 Dai?”

Chang’an thought to himself, His Highness came precisely for you, how could it be disruptive?

“Not at all, not at all. Crown Prince Yue came specifically to work on the case with you. Please go in quickly,” Chang’an said with a smile.

He opened the door. Yue Guanyi was seated in the main seat, his long-held high position now fully on display, making Dai Yun standing to the side appear somewhat servile in comparison.

As soon as Yue Guanyi saw her, his intimidating cold eyes instantly melted like spring water, becoming soft and tender.

“This official Qiu Shuzhi pays respects to Crown Prince Yue,” Qiu Shuzhi said as she walked up to Yue Guanyi.

Just as she was about to bow, she heard Yue Guanyi hurriedly reach out to support her arm, saying, “No need for formalities!”

Seemingly afraid Qiu Shuzhi might feel awkward, he quickly pointed to a chair nearby and said, “Please, have a seat!”

Qiu Shuzhi had no choice but to sit in the seat beside him.

Sitting down, Qiu Shuzhi noticed something was off about Dai Yun. There was an obvious injury on her forehead where she had been struck, with blood still occasionally seeping from the wound, giving her a somewhat sorry appearance.

She could roughly guess what Dai Yun had been through, but it wasn’t appropriate to ask directly, so she simply pretended not to have noticed.

“How has Qiu Daren been faring in Yanshun County these past days?” When Yue Guanyi first saw Qiu Shuzhi, he wanted nothing more than to rush over immediately, but with the eyesore Dai Yun in the way, he could only feign composure and ask.

Hearing this, Dai Yun thought Yue Guanyi was looking for another excuse to make things difficult for her, and quickly looked at Qiu Shuzhi with pleading eyes.

Qiu Shuzhi smiled faintly and said, “This official has been doing reasonably well in Yanshun County. However, I’m ashamed to say that I have yet to resolve the matter of illegal mining and have no face to report back to the Prefect.”

“You’ve only just arrived in Yanshun. It’s normal that you haven’t been able to handle it yet. As for 大人 Dai, who has been deeply rooted here for many years, not only has she failed to resolve issues within her jurisdiction, but others have to come clean up her mess…” Yue Guanyi’s cold gaze swept across.

Dai Yun felt a chill run down her spine, cold sweat pouring out.