Chapter 582: Chapter 582. Stuck in the Oil

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation | Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

“What took you so long?”

When Su Qing heard that Zhang Ye had returned, she sat up straight and asked coldly.

“I was afraid of alerting the enemy, so I searched all the houses around the trading company.”

Zhang also bowed and cupped his fists to report. He was very cautious. He had to put on a show. Otherwise, after searching the trading company, the trading company’s staff would go out and ask around. If the surrounding people only searched the trading company, they would be alerted.

“You did well.”

Su Qing admired Zhang Ye even more. He was brave, resourceful, and quick-witted.

What is the result of the investigation?”

There are no Princess Lanting and envoys in the trading company. There are only registered merchants.”

Zhang Ye’s words stunned Su Qing. She wasn’t there?

“Have you found the relay station?”

If she wasn’t at the trading company, would she stay at the official relay station?

“This lowly one has also checked the courier stations on the street where the trading company is located, as well as the official courier stations, but did not find any traces of them.”

Zhang Ye shook his head. Su Qing frowned. Could it be that the man in black was lying?

“How about this? Help me check if the Japanese envoy’s car has entered the city?”

Su Qing ordered Zhang Ye to continue investigating. If she hadn’t entered the city, could she have gone straight to Sea City Base?

“Yes.”

Zhang also agreed and turned around to get things done.

This time, she waited another hour until Jiang Yuyan fell asleep before Zhang Ye returned.

“Reporting to my lord…”

“Speak.”

Su Qing’s eyes were bright, and she didn’t seem to be sleepy at all. When she heard Zhang Ye’s report, she interrupted him and asked him to get straight to business.

“Yesterday, Princess Lanting and the envoy did enter the city to rest, but they left yesterday afternoon.”

Zhang also told Su Qing the news he had heard. Su Qing pondered for a moment before saying,

“Don’t tell anyone about this. Open the city gates, and we’ll leave.”

“Yes.”

Zhang Ye cupped his fists in agreement. He felt a sense of excitement in his heart. It was a big deal for a big shot to investigate the Japanese. It was an honor for him to help a big shot.

“Aren’t you going to rest for a while?”

Jiang Yuyan was worried about Su Qing’s health and asked her softly.

“No rest.”

Lanting had left yesterday afternoon, and it was now the middle of the night, meaning they had been gone for several hours. What made them leave so quickly without a night’s rest?

It must be because of the capable person who could build ships they brought with them. Lanting was afraid she could not take this person away if exposed, so she only took a short rest in Jincheng before leaving.

This also indirectly proved that what the man in black said was true. Su Qing was afraid that if she delayed, she would miss them, so she decided to chase them overnight.

Zhang also watched as the carriage left Jincheng. His eyes were filled with nostalgia and disappointment.

Although he had not seen the big shot in the carriage and had not spoken much, he had a strong intuition that the big shot in the carriage must be a powerful official in the court.

Guard Little Ding had been on tenterhooks the entire way. The road was bumpy, and the Empress had asked him to hurry. If something happened to the Empress, even if he had a few heads, it would not be enough for the Emperor to chop them off.

Su Qing asked Xiao Qi to prepare a pill to protect the fetus. Only after ensuring the child’s safety did she let guard Little Ding hurry on his way.

She was sitting on a thick cotton cushion, so even if there were a bump, it would not be damaged. However, Zhong Yong and Jiang Yuyan were worried, so Zhong Yong sat on the ground. If his master were knocked off her seat, he’ would use his body as a cushion to protect his master.

Jiang Yuyan held Su Qing’s arm tightly, protecting her stomach at all times.

Su Qing looked at their nervous expressions and smiled.

“Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

“Master, you’re taking too much of a risk.”

Xiao Qi said leisurely in the system. She had to hurry up and make a seatbelt.

She used beef tendon to ensure her master’s safety.

Everyone was worried about Su Qing. On the official road, Zhang Jinglin led the Xiao Family’s Army and hurried through the night. There were no elders in the Xiao Family’s Army in Haicheng. There must be a spy among the soldiers. He feared they would secretly let Lanting go, so Xiao Zeyu sent Zhang Jinglin to lead the army.

Although he had sent Zhang Jinglin, Xiao Zeyu was still worried. If it weren’t for his political affairs, he would have gone after Qing’er long ago.

But now, Xiao Zeyu couldn’t sleep at night. He paced back and forth in his bedroom, worried about Su Qing and the child in her stomach.

Su Qing arrived at Sea City a day later. It was a city by the sea. It wasn’t too big and wasn’t very prosperous. There were only a dozen businesses on the street, a restaurant, and a courier station. Fishermen came to sell fish on both sides of the street. The entire city could be seen from the east side of the city.

The surrounding area was filled with low-rise mud houses, all inhabited by fishermen. There were only a few thousand people in Sea City. Without land, they could only rely on the sea to survive.

Su Qing’s carriage arrived at Sea City, and the city guards came over to check Su Qing asked the guards to take out the customs clearance documents, stating they were cloth merchants.

The city guard only took a glance and shouted that the document was fake. At first, he was shocked. This document was indeed a fake document that the Empress had made on the way. After a glance, it was seen through.

Just as the guard Ding was at a loss, the city guard made a silver gesture to him.

“We haven’t eaten yet!”

The guard was enlightened. Was this a trap?

He immediately took out a tael of silver and handed it over. He smiled and said, “This is my gift to the officials.”

“Too little.”

The soldier took the silver and shook it in his hand. He felt that it was too little. It was not easy to meet a rich person, so he would take as much as he could.

“Sir, we’re all small businessmen, tsk… Alright, that’s all.”

The guard, Little Ding, put on a troubled expression and unwillingly took out another tael of silver, meaning that they wouldn’t have any more if he asked for more.

The soldiers also stopped when they saw it. They accepted the silver and waved their hands to let the guard Little Ding enter the city.

Even though the cities near the sea also had outer walls, they were all made of mud walls, so they would not be able to stop the pirates.

The fishermen here are robbed a few times a month. Since the government couldn’t do it, they set up patrols independently. When they see the pirate ships coming, they will beat the gong. All the fishermen would come out to fight against the pirates. Their lives were tough.

After Su Qing’s carriage entered the city, she went straight to the courier station. There was only one courier station in Haicheng that was operated privately. There were also official courier stations only opened by officials or envoys.

Su Qing and the others used fake identities, so they directly checked into a private station.

The conditions of the courier station were deplorable. The paint on the tables and chairs was mottled, and some were missing arms and legs. There was only a shopkeeper and a waiter at the courier station. When the waiter saw a guest he warmly welcomed him. The waiter went to help tie up the horse. The shopkeeper asked Su Qing,

Sir, how many of you are there?”

“Four of us, two rooms.”

Su Qing and Jiang Yuyan had changed into men’s clothes and spoke in a man’s voice. It was impossible to have more rooms in such a small courier station, so they only asked for two. She and Jiang Yuyan will share one room, and Zhong Yong and Xiao Ding the other.

The shopkeeper said apologetically to Su Qing,

“I’m sorry, sir. There’s no room available. It’s all booked. Do you think an ordinary room is okay?”

Usually, there was no one living in the upper rooms. Now that the supply was short, they could not earn any money.

Su Qing’s eyes flickered.

Did someone book it? Could Lanting and the envoy be staying here?