Clouds and Moon Shadow

Chapter 141 The End of Qian Zhengdao

After more than three hundred moves, Gu Qingyue was delighted to find that Yue Ling's progress was no less than her own back then, which was quite impressive!

Gu Qingyue happily withdrew her moves. Of course, she had held back. If this were not a contest but a life-or-death struggle, the outcome would have been decided long ago.

The two stood apart, and before Gu Qingyue could even offer a few words of praise, she saw Song Ming, Song Ershan, Song Sanshu, and several others standing not far outside the courtyard.

The group of people all looked like they had seen a ghost.

"Ahem--------", Gu Qingyue coughed a few times, feeling a little embarrassed, when she saw the stunned expressions on their faces.

The group quickly snapped back to reality upon hearing the coughing.

"Qingyue, we are so sorry. We originally wanted to come and thank you in person, but we didn't expect you to be fighting with someone." Song Ming was the first to react and quickly explained.

Gu Qingyue stepped closer to the group and said, "It's alright, it was just a spur-of-the-moment decision. Are you all ready?"

As he spoke, he gestured to Yue Ling behind him, and Yue Ling leaped up and disappeared in an instant.

The group was startled again. Were these secret guards?

Gu Qingyue led everyone toward the front courtyard restaurant with a smile.

He treated everyone to a harmonious meal, which lasted until the moon was high in the sky before the gathering dispersed.

Gu Qingyue had just returned to the front hall with Chaihu and sat down when Rong Qingqing immediately entered.

Following behind was Yue Ling, who lowered her eyes and said, "Master, please give your orders."

Gu Qingyue thought for a moment, then quickly explained the location of the village and the situation of the small medicinal herb garden where Chaihu was growing to Chaihu.

"Take five people with you and make sure to bring the medicinal herbs back intact, preserving the roots and stems, as you will need to divide them upon your return."

Bupleurum also specifically emphasized the unique characteristics of several herbs, requesting that the roots be carefully protected.

Upon hearing this, Yue Ling cupped her hands in greeting and prepared to leave. Gu Qingyue, as if remembering something, asked, "How is the matter at the Bamboo Ritual Hall? Where is Master Qian?"

Yue Ling stopped and looked at the people in the hall, hesitating slightly.

"Say it, we're all family, it's alright," Gu Qingyue waved her hand.

Yue Ling then recounted the events that followed at the Bamboo Ritual Hall.

Ever since Gu Qingyue went to gather herbs, Yue Ling and Master Qian personally devised a plan, which ultimately resulted in Qian Zhengdao suffering a great misfortune.

According to Qian Jingxuan's evidence, Qian Zhengdao had an affair with the concubine he had given to Prefect Li. Furthermore, Master Qian had already collected a lot of other evidence of his corruption and abuse of power, which he presented to Prefect Li through secret channels. Prefect Li was furious.

So Qian Zhengdao was unlucky.

He had been currying favor with Prefect Li for many years, never expecting that in the end, it would be Qian Jingxuan, whom he despised the most, who would send him to his death.

According to Yue Ling, he was secretly executed by Prefect Li. Before he died, Yue Ling went to see him, and she brought Steward Zhou with her.

Qian Zhengdao knew he was doomed, but he was still smug. He had manipulated Prefect Li and trampled his cousin Qian Jingxuan, who had considered himself a genius since childhood, under his feet for more than ten years. He felt that his death was worthwhile.

As a result, upon hearing what Steward Zhou had done, he was so angry that he vomited blood. He had slept with Prefect Li's concubine, while Prefect Li's concubine had already been slept with by Steward Zhou. This was simply retribution, and he truly deserved it!

Now, only Wang Minqing, the clerk, remains in the prefect's residence. He enjoys the prefect's trust and Qian Zhengdao is a thing of the past.

For Qian Jingxuan, the mountain that had been weighing on his head for many years was finally removed.

According to Yue Ling, upon hearing the news of Qian Zhengdao's death, Qian Jingxuan got completely drunk, laughing and crying at the same time, saying that he had finally avenged his family and himself.

Of course, Yue Ling also said that the fact that this evidence was successfully presented to Prefect Li, was valued by him, and that he did not suspect Qian Jingxuan was thanks to Mu Nan's help.

This surprised Gu Qingyue. The help Mu Nan provided was at Mu Yun Chu's behest.

Gu Qingyue felt a little smug but also a little flustered.

After Yue Ling left, the three of them sat down again.

"Chaihu, what are your plans? Do you want to find a clinic to practice medicine first, or wait for Doctor Zhang to return and then follow him?" Gu Qingyue asked.

Chaihu had not left the deep mountains for many years, and Gu Qingyue wanted him to adapt to life in Lizhou first. Before Doctor Zhang returned, Gu Qingyue wanted to ask him what he thought.

Chai Hu thought for a moment, "Master, I haven't decided yet. I want to go out tomorrow to check out the medical clinics in Lizhou City and see what changes have taken place there."

As Chai Hu spoke, his eyes sparkled, making Gu Qingyue's lips twitch.

"And Dr. Zhang... I need to hurry up and read a few more medical books. I wonder if my senior brother will think my medical skills are too shallow." Thinking of Gu Qingyue talking about Dr. Zhang, his senior brother whom he had never met, he became a little nervous again.

“Don’t underestimate yourself. Your medical skills are not low, and you are good at cultivating rare herbs, which is not something everyone can do,” Gu Qingyue said. After thinking for a moment, she said, “You are unfamiliar with this place, so don’t rush. I will find someone to take you to Huichun Medical Hall. Go there first and then talk to Doctor Zhang when he returns.”

As soon as Gu Qingyue returned, she asked Doctor Zhang. According to Rong Qingqing, he had gone to a nearby county to make house calls and had not yet returned.

"Okay, then I'll go to the clinic first." Hearing that Gu Qingyue had made all the arrangements, Chai Hu felt relieved.

Upon hearing this, Rong Qingqing's eyes nearly popped out of her head. Doctor Zhang? Was this kid enough for him to mess with?

I just hope I can survive.

Seeing Rong Qingqing's expression, Gu Qingyue shook her head with amusement. Doctor Zhang may seem unreliable, but his medical skills are quite good. Chai Hu will definitely benefit from following him.

She finished discussing things with Chaihu and urged him to go and rest.

Only Gu Qingyue and Rong Qingqing remained in the hall.

"If you're asking about something, I..." Rong Qingqing saw Gu Qingyue staring at her and, remembering what happened that afternoon, tentatively began to speak.

She wasn't ready to lay her story bare before others, and for a moment, she was unsure whether to speak or what to say.

"No need," Gu Qingyue waved her hand. "I mean, if it's inconvenient for you to talk about your matter, don't say it now. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. Sister Rong, don't worry."

Seeing that Gu Qingyue indeed had no intention of probing her, Rong Qingqing breathed a sigh of relief.

I don't even want to think about that scar from back then.

Seeing Rong Qingqing with her head down, Gu Qingyue knew she might be thinking of something sad, so she quickly changed the subject.

"Sister Rong, did you know Uncle Song before?"

“You mean Song Ming? I know him,” Rong Qingqing straightened her skirt and said, “Back then, I was only about ten years old. One day, Brother Song came to Mingjing Manor as a guest with his master. He was carrying a large wooden box. According to my father, it was a divine bow that he had specially commissioned to be made as a birthday gift for my grandfather.”

With a nostalgic look on her face, Rong Qingqing recounted how she met Song Ming.

That night, Gu Qingyue lay in bed, repeatedly pondering a question: How could she ask Song Ming to forge another divine weapon for her? How could she convince him that she was capable of protecting these people?

According to Rong Qingqing, Mingjing Manor had dealings with Shenbinglou many years ago, and it is certain that Song Ming is wise, calm, kind and principled, and is by no means an ungrateful person. Back then, his master, Song Yuexin, was too upright and unwilling to be used, which led to the downfall of Shenbinglou. Master and disciple are of the same lineage and are both good people.

So, what do you need to do to win him over?

Gu Qingyue was so tired from thinking that she fell asleep.