"Go back," she said, turning and heading towards the main courtyard of the Qin family.
"Mother, are we not going out?"
"Why would we go out? I'm almost driven crazy. I'm not in the mood."
"Grandma, I want to go out and play."
"Ziyu, be good. Grandma will take you out to play another day."
"Oh," Qin Ziyu replied with disappointment.
"Send someone to the Zhou family and tell Qing to meet another day."
"Understood, Mother."
As they reached the gate, the gatekeeper's servant approached and asked, "Madam, should I deliver this thing to the kitchen or to your place?"
Zhao Rou thought for a moment and said, "Deliver it to my courtyard."
"Yes, Madam."
The confrontation between Madam Gong and Third Madam Qin ended with Madam Gong's open-minded personality triumphing over Madam Qin.
...
After traveling for two days and two nights, Gong Xiaohua and the others finally reached the border of Nanlong Prefecture.
Yu Wei woke up on the second morning of fainting, and under the golden wound medicine prepared by Gong Xiaohua, a delicate pink scab had formed on his wound.
The wounds of the others were also healing and lively under the effect of the golden wound medicine.
Everyone was amazed by the efficacy of this wound medicine. If it weren't for Gong Xiaohua's golden wound medicine, it would have taken at least seven to eight days for Yu Wei's injuries to scab over.
Now no one doubted Gong Xiaohua's medical skills anymore.
Instead, they looked at Gong Xiaohua with fanatical admiration. What kind of extraordinary teammate was she?
In the future, as long as they went out on an errand with her, it was like following a treasure chest. Not only could she protect their lives, but she could also save them.
If she were to claim any more skills, they would never doubt her again. It must be true.
The farther they went towards the border of Nanlong Prefecture, the more refugees they encountered on the road. Upon inquiring, they learned that the prefectural mansion had been distributing porridge to the outside world.
"Let's not go to the prefectural mansion. Let's go directly to Shuangyu County," Lord Li thought for a moment and said.
"Yes."
So they entrusted their horses and carriage at the dock, boarded a boat, and disguised themselves as refugees, making their way to Shuangyu County.
Shuangyu County was the source of the water disaster and undoubtedly the most dangerous place now.
Gong Xiaohua and the others mingled among the refugees and headed to Shuangyu County together.
However, when they arrived at the county gate, it was tightly closed, allowing people to leave but not enter.
Not far from the gate, there was a porridge shed where a dense crowd of refugees gathered, each with a haggard face.
But with limited resources, the pot of porridge was soon empty.
"Today's porridge distribution ends here. Disperse, disperse."
"Sir, it hasn't been distributed for long. Please cook some more."
"Yes, yes. We haven't received any porridge for two days. Sir, you can endure not eating for a few days, but what about the elderly and children?"
"The county magistrate is kind-hearted. He allowed wealthy merchants in the city to donate rice and grain for the porridge distribution, but the supply is limited. The amount of porridge distributed each day is regulated. If you want to complain, blame the court for not allocating disaster relief funds to you," an impatient official said.
"Oh heavens, what future do we common people have? Are they trying to force us to our deaths?"
This cry of despair, like a lit fuse, resonated in everyone's hearts.
Without knowing who started it, the crowd rushed forward, snatching the rice from the hands of the soldiers, causing chaos on the scene.
"We shouldn't linger here. Let's leave this place first," Lord Li said softly.
The group quickly departed and found a hidden spot to sit down.
"The relief funds from the imperial court were supposed to have been allocated already. Why did the soldiers just say that the court didn't send any disaster relief this year? Lord, where do you think these relief funds have gone?" Yu Wei asked.
"There are two possibilities. Either the relief funds never reached Nanlong Prefecture, or they were seized by the prefecture itself."
"If they were seized by Nanlong Prefecture, the prime suspect would be the Nanlong Prefect. It's unlikely that the prefect would be so foolish as to reveal such a blatant piece of evidence. If he indeed seized the funds, there must be a powerful backer behind him, someone with high rank and influence in the imperial court. It seems that the key to solving this case lies in the whereabouts of these relief funds," Lord Li analyzed.
"We should find a way to investigate the county government offices in Shuangyu County. The city can only be exited now, not entered. Gong Xiaohua, do you have a plan?"
Gong Xiaohua looked towards the distant city gate. In ancient times, the city gates were made of thousand-year-old iron birchwood and coated with a thick layer of tung oil, making it very slippery and difficult to climb. The only way to ascend was by using a hook and rope, taking advantage of the cover of darkness.
"Lord, it's worth a try, but we need to prepare some things."
"Very well. Tonight, you will take two people and go to the county government offices. Look for any clues."
"Yes, my lord. I will make the preparations."
So, accompanied by two others, Gong Xiaohua headed towards nearby villages to gather some metal materials and hemp, in order to make a makeshift hook and rope.
Night fell, and the sky turned pitch black.
Taking advantage of the fatigue and laxity of the guards, Gong Xiaohua led the two men to a secluded spot outside the city wall.
She threw the hook towards the top of the city wall and tested it a few times to make sure it held steady.
Leaving one person to keep watch, Gong Xiaohua and Xiao Fu climbed the wall using the rope, quietly disappearing into the darkness.
Avoiding the patrolling soldiers in the city, the two made their way to the outside of the county government offices.
Under a large tree.
"Xiao Fu, you'll be in charge of the outside of the county government offices. If I haven't come out after an hour, you should go back on your own."
"No, Master. It's too dangerous for you to go alone. I'll go with you."
"No need. When I finish investigating inside the county government offices, I'll need someone to meet me outside."
"But I'll go in, and you stay outside."
"Why are you being more long-winded than a woman?"
Without giving Xiao Fu a chance to react, Gong Xiaohua quickly ran towards the courtyard wall, leaped up, and with three agile steps on the wall, she flipped over and smoothly entered the courtyard.
Leaving Xiao Fu dumbfounded in place.
He suddenly had a suspicion that the reason the master left him outside wasn't for someone to meet her, but because she was afraid he would slow her down and become a burden.
Within the county government offices, there were patrolling guards. Gong Xiaohua took the opportunity to knock out one guard, disguising herself and joining the patrol team.
After making a round, Gong Xiaohua had a good grasp of the layout of the county government offices.
Except for the study and the dungeon, which were guarded by officials and soldiers, there was no one else around.
She needed to enter the study without raising any suspicion. With utmost caution, Gong Xiaohua quietly left the group and, not far from the study, set a fire in the firewood shed.
As the fire grew larger and chaos erupted in the mansion, she took the opportunity to make her way to the study.
The guards at the entrance had already rushed to extinguish the fire, so Gong Xiaohua pried open the door and slipped into the study like a slippery fish.
