After leaving the Inner Residence, Song Qingshu went straight to the place where the guards were healing. He found a few of them with light injuries and were in good spirits to ask about what happened last night.
"Last night, when we were escorting Chief Huang back, we passed by the Surging Gold Gate. Suddenly, two men in black appeared …" The group of guards began to describe the scene.
"Two people beat you up like this?" Song Qingshu was puzzled. Most of these guards were carefully selected by Han Chuan Zhou. Although they were not top-notch masters, they were agile. In addition, Huang Rong was with them. Although her pregnancy had affected her skills, with her intelligence and the Dog Beating Stick Technique, she was still a top-notch master in Jianghu. Even with such a lineup, she was still easily defeated by four people, which showed how high the opponent's martial arts were.
Hearing Song Qingshu's question, the guards looked ashamed. "The martial arts of the two men in black were too strange, and their movements were fast. We were no match for them."
"You were seriously injured. It can be seen that you risked your lives to protect Chief Huang, so you did your best. Don't blame yourselves." Seeing the ashamed faces of the group of guards, Song Qingshu comforted them.
Hearing him say this, the group of guards looked excited. They all felt that they would die for their bosom friends.
"It's strange. We thought we were dead for sure, but the two men in black only made sure we lost the ability to fight. They didn't take our lives," one of the guards said doubtfully.
Song Qingshu had been wondering about this before. Hearing this, he frowned and said, "Could it be someone you know?"
The group of guards shook their heads. "No, I don't know them. They didn't look familiar. Besides, we don't know anyone with such high martial arts."
Song Qingshu pondered for a while and suddenly asked, "How were their martial arts?"
"Their moves were like this …" The two who were the least injured jumped off the bed and began to gesture as they recalled.
While watching, Song Qingshu pondered, "I can't tell their martial art style. Either they are deliberately hiding their martial art, they are not using their own school's martial art, or … they are not Jianghu people."
To subdue Huang Rong, who was proficient in the Dog Beating Stick Technique, without using any of their own martial arts, even if they were one of the Five Uniques, it would not be easy. This was not the era where sages were everywhere and Sword Saints were as common as dogs. How could there be so many Five Uniques experts? Coupled with the fact that this was the capital, it seemed that the latter possibility was more likely.
After greeting the guards for a while, Song Qingshu returned to his study and began to think about where to start his investigation. Compared to the previous disappearances, there was even less information this time, and it was even more impossible to know where to start.
After thinking for a while, he still had no clue. Song Qingshu couldn't help but feel annoyed.
"Reporting to Your Highness, Chen Youliang requests an audience!" The maidservant outside reported.
"Let him in." Song Qingshu thought to himself that he could only rely on the Beggar Sect to find a needle in a haystack.
Not long after, Chen Youliang trotted in. "Youliang greets Young Master! Oh, that's not right. I should call him Prince Qi. "
"Quickly rise, no need to be so polite." Seeing that the other's eyes were bloodshot, it was clear that he had been busy all night. Song Qingshu had to admit that although Chen Youliang's character was questionable, he was serious and capable. He was a rare talent.
"I just received news that Your Highness has found Mistress and the others?" Chen Youliang had mobilized the Beggar Sect to search for a night, but there was no result. Just as he was feeling uneasy, he heard that Song Qingshu had found them. He couldn't help but be overjoyed. After all, after the reunion, the other would be happy and would not vent his anger on him.
"Yingying and Miss Yue have indeed been rescued. As for Chief Huang," Song Qingshu's face was a little ugly. "She was originally rescued, but she was kidnapped midway. So I will have to trouble you for the next few days to continue to investigate her whereabouts in the city."
Hearing that Huang Rong had disappeared, Chen Youliang was secretly delighted. It must be known that he had stolen the Jiangnan Beggar Clan's power, and had always been very afraid of the former Clan Leader, who was above him in both intelligence and prestige. He was worried that she would come to cause trouble for him, and in his heart he hoped that she would never come back.
Of course, he only dared to quietly think about all of this. The man in front of him was not easy to fool. Thinking of the other's previous ruthless methods, he weighed the pros and cons and gave up on the idea of feigning compliance but secretly opposing.
In any case, even if I use all my strength, I most likely won't be able to find her. Why should I give him a handle and become the target of his anger? Chen Youliang's heart was cold, but on the surface he put on a fawning expression. "All right. When I return, I will arrange for the brothers of the sect to search the city."
Song Qingshu nodded. After a moment of silence, he said, "Now that I have the title of Prince of Qi, I can set up three departments and appoint officials. Mm, Youliang, I have decided to hire you and your master to the Prince of Qi's household to handle various matters. "
Chen Youliang was slightly startled, then overjoyed. He knelt down and said, "Many thanks, Your Highness!"
How could he not be overjoyed? It must be known that although he secretly controlled the Jiangnan Beggar Sect and could be considered a character in Jianghu, in the eyes of the rich and powerful nobles, he was nothing more than a bumpkin. However, after becoming a household official, he was completely different. In an instant, he had gone from a commoner to an official of the court.
It must be known that the highest ranking official in the Prince's household was the Master of the Household. As the tutor of the Prince of Qi, the position was usually held by a person of virtue and prestige, a talented and knowledgeable elder. His official rank was lower than the third rank. Next was the Chief Clerk, who was in charge of the Prince's household's subordinates. His official rank was lower than the fourth rank.
It must be known that for those scholars who had studied hard for dozens of years, after experiencing the hardships of thousands of soldiers and horses, to reach the second rank of Jinshi, the majority of them could only obtain a seventh-rank position. Many of them had even wasted many years in the capital, unable to find an opening. Yet, the moment he arrived, he was already a fourth-rank official.
Seeing Chen Youliang's ecstatic expression, Song Qingshu secretly nodded his head. Previously, he had relied on various kinds of coercion to force Chen Youliang to obey his orders. After wielding the stick for too long, he had to give Chen Youliang a taste of the carrot. Only then would he be able to work for Song Qingshu with a peace of mind.
After Chen Youliang left, Song Qingshu thought for a moment and sent for Li Jiannan. Since Li Jiannan had taken the initiative to seek refuge, Song Qingshu had to put his heart at ease.
The two chatted for a while. Finally, Song Qingshu appointed the two brothers as advisory counselors, or in other words, advisors and counselors. Their official rank was higher than the fifth rank.
Li Jiannan was overjoyed. After all, they did not want to be bandits for the rest of their lives. They had always wanted a proper identity. Now, not only had they become an official, but they had also become a medium-sized general. How could they not be happy?
Thinking of his mother's happy expression when she found out, Li Jiannan increasingly felt that seeking refuge with Song Qingshu was the best decision he had made in his life.
Song Qingshu asked about the situation of the Loyal Army in the Dabie Mountains. Now that Zhang Rou and her father were dead, and their trusted subordinates had been wiped out the night before, he decided to send the two brothers back to the Dabie Mountains to reorganize the remnants of the Loyal Army. Li Jiannan was naturally willing. He had originally planned to do so. After all, it was easy to tell the difference between seeking refuge with an army and seeking refuge with two generals without an army.
Li Jiannan decided to have his older brother Li Haotian stay in the Prince's mansion to recuperate. He would return to the Dabie Mountains first. Time waited for no man. If he waited for Li Haotian to recover before returning, the Loyal Army would probably scatter. Secondly, he was meticulous. In order to make his new master feel at ease, he deliberately left his older brother in the Prince's mansion as a gesture.
As the saying goes, courtesy demands reciprocity. Song Qingshu also made a gesture and personally saw him out of the mansion. He had just waved goodbye to Li Jiannan and was about to return to the mansion when he suddenly heard a familiar voice. "Brother Song!"
Song Qingshu turned his head and saw Guo Jing running over with an anxious expression.
"Brother Guo, come in and sit." Song Qingshu invited him.
"I'm not going in." Guo Jing shook his head. Clearly, he was not in the mood to drink tea. "Do you have any news of Rong 'er?"
Song QingShu hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he decided to tell the truth. He recounted what happened last night, and then said with an apologetic expression, "I'm sorry, Brother Guo. I didn't expect that there would be such a thing."
Guo Jing listened to him with a serious expression. Finally, he shook his head. "How could I blame you? I am already very grateful to you for rescuing Rong 'er from the hands of the Loyal Army. As for what happened afterwards, no one could have predicted it."
Song Qingshu could not help but sigh. Guo Jing was indeed a very reasonable person. In his heart, Guo Jing was a classic example of helping one's family rather than one's own. If it had been Huang Rong, there was no guarantee that she would not be angry.
"Who were those two black-clothed men? Did you find any clues? "Guo Jing hurriedly asked.
Song Qingshu shook his head. "I have no clues right now."
Guo Jing sighed. "Then we will investigate on our own. If there is any news, we will inform each other." As soon as he finished speaking, he did not wait for Song Qingshu to urge him to stay. He left in a hurry.
"I hope there is some progress on his side." Song Qingshu sighed. Guo Jing had been famous for a long time. Of course, he had his own connections. With the help of Jia Shidao, perhaps he could find something.
After hesitating for a moment, Song Qingshu did not return to his residence. Instead, he walked in another direction.
Meanwhile, in the censor's residence, a young girl in a red dress was playing on a swing in the back garden. However, there was not a single smile on her face. She was in a bad mood, and the servant girl who accompanied her had been driven away by her.
"I am so angry. Why do I have to stay at home every day?" Shi Xiangyun suddenly said with her teeth clenched. However, her anger quickly dissipated.
"That bastard is too scary. If I go out and bump into him, it will be really troublesome. It is safer to stay at home," Shi Xiangyun murmured to herself.
"Miss Shi, are you talking about me by the bastard?" At that moment, she suddenly heard an unforgettable voice.
During this period of time, she often had nightmares about this voice. How could Shi Xiangyun not recognize it? Her body stiffened as she looked up and saw the devil-like man standing on the swing frame, coldly staring at her.
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