All Hail Cousin Brother

Chapter 491: The Player

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Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Everyone knew that Yu Youyao and Cousin had a good relationship. It had been a long time since they last met, so it was only human nature for her to catch up with Cousin personally. They smiled kindly and did not stop her.

The “cousins” returned to Qing Qu Residence.

Zhou Linghuai asked Chang An to send over the gifts he had prepared for everyone in the residence.

Although the Northern Territory was poor, there were many special things, such as Lantian jade, Tang sancai ceramics, wine, and many precious medicinal herbs and spices.

Zhou Linghuai used the excuse of going to “You Prefecture”, and naturally

should put on a complete show.

“Cousin, are you hungry? I’ve prepared some food for you to eat first.” Yu Youyao got someone to go to the Jade Courtyard and brought over the medicinal cuisine that had been brewed early in the morning, the newly made Eight Treasures Cake, and a few light and simple snacks.

They were all Zhou Linghuai’s favorites.

Zhou Linghuai did not have a strong appetite and usually ate light food.

After entering the Yu Residence, Yu Youyao was very meticulous. The two of them often ate together. Whenever she saw a dish that he ate more, she would arrange for someone to make it for him in different ways next time. As time passed, she had more or less figured out his preferences.

He could also prepare food that suited his taste every time.

Yu Youyao took a pair of silver chopsticks and picked up a golden ball. She placed it in her cousin’s bowl. “This is a rose pear ball, with filling made from rose jam. Cousin, try it.”

Zhou Linghuai had stayed in Shandong for four months. In order to please him, the clan had offered many treasures and delicacies. The rose pear balls were a specialty of Pingyin County, so naturally, he had tasted them before.

The rose pear balls were made of sweet rose filling. They were fragrant and sweet, but he didn’t like them very much.

However, since Yu Youyao had personally made it for him, he naturally could not let her down.

Hence, Zhou Linghuai picked up the ball and took a bite. “It’s golden in color. The outer skin is crispy, and the inside is soft and tender. The texture is salty and fragrant. It’s much better than the rose pear balls I ate in Shandong.”

Yu Youyao was overjoyed. “I know that Cousin doesn’t like sweet things. I made salty and sweet flavors with flower sauce. As long as you like it.”

There were a total of six or seven dishes on the table. Slowly, they finished all the dishes without realising.

Yu Youyao scooped another bowl of white jade ginseng soup and handed it over. “Cousin, you must have worked hard in Shandong those few months. You have to drink more soup to nourish yourself.”

Zhou Linghuai took the white jade ginseng soup and said with a smile, “With the various herbal dishes that Cousin has constantly prepared to nurture my health, this trip to Shandong was very smooth. It wasn’t too tiring, and my health is much better. Rather, it’s been hard on you.”

He was the one in battle, but the person who was most nervous and worried was Yu Youyao.

Every time she sent a letter to him, she would always ask Yin San to bring some herbs and medicine over. She was afraid that he would not have enough, and she was even more afraid that something would happen to him. A good herbal dish was not easy to make. It must have consumed a lot of mental energy.

At the mention of Shandong, Yu Youyao couldn’t help but pout. “Cousin, it’s been more than ten days since the army returned to the court. Why are you only back now?!”

Initially, she thought that she would be able to see her cousin in seven or eight days at most.

Who knew that this ordeal would take so long?

Every day, she would send someone to inquire about Yin Huaixi’s whereabouts, and every day, she would look forward to his return.

Zhou Linghuai smiled. “After Li Qiguang and the remaining members of the clan are escorted into the capital, they still have to be jointly tried by the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review. Naturally, I have to cooperate with the trial process. Li Qiguang is guilty of treason. It’s very important and involves a lot of people. It won’t be easy for him to be tried from the bottom to the top. Be it the Ministry of Justice or the Court of Judicial

Review, they don’t dare to be negligent at all. Hence, it took those 10 days.” This was after he had arrested the person and had gone through an interrogation. The personnel that needed to be investigated and the evidence that needed to be found were all very comprehensive. Only then could he explain it clearly in front of the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review. For the time being, he had nothing to do.

Next, the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice needed to verify the evidence he had gathered, fill in the gaps, interrogate, and so on.

Ten days was still a short period of time. With the progress of the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice, it could last for a month.

When Yu Youyao heard this, she knew that she had thought too simply. She had thought that after Li Qiguang and the remaining members of the clan were escorted into the capital, the matter in Shandong had pretty much been resolved.

Unexpectedly, Li Qiguang started a rebellion. This was the crime of treason.

The Emperor would definitely order a strict investigation. Everyone who was involved with Li Qiguang and the others must be investigated one by one. They would rather kill a hundred people by mistake than let anyone off.

Yu Youyao frowned. “When can we finish dealing with Li Qiguang’s case?

Zhou Linghuai said lightly, “At the earliest, it will take more than a month. As long as it’s a crime of treason, the Imperial Court would rather kill a thousand people by mistake than let anyone off. Shandong is rich in resources, Li Qiguang is the leader of the clans. The Li family has controlled Shandong for many years and has connections all over the country. Moreover, Li Qiguang was heading a rebellious faction. Many people will be implicated.”

Especially in the Jiangnan area!

Yu Youyao sighed slightly. “As long as Li Qiguang’s case is not closed, Cousin will be involved. Will it affect Cousin’s status as Zhou Linghuai?”

Only when Li Qiguang’s case was closed could his cousin’s job as the general of the east be officially relieved.

Zhou Linghuai shook his head. “Don’t worry. There’s no need for me to personally handle some trivial matters.”

His goal was huge. If everything required him to personally appear, he would have long exhausted himself to death. The game had already been set up. He was now the chess player.

Only then did Yu Youyao feel a little relieved. With a thought, she hurriedly asked, “Cousin, will Li Qiguang’s case implicate the Jiangnan area?

Zhou Linghuai smiled and asked, “Why do you ask that?”

Yu Youyao knew her cousin well. His attitude had already made everything clear. “I remember that Song Xiuwen was originally in the coastal area of

Shandong. He was in charge of the battle along the coastal area of Shandong.

Later, because of the Wokou pirates in Zhejiang, he was transferred to

Zhejiang.”

Song Xiuwen had a large number of troops in his hands. If the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice wanted to interrogate Li Qiguang, it was impossible for them not to investigate Song Xiuwen.

Zhou Linghuai smiled faintly. “Song Xiuwen has been transferred to Zhejiang for three years.”

He had just said that Li Qiguang’s case would implicate all parts of the country. Yu Youyao immediately reacted and thought of Jiangnan first.

The three divisions had already completed the case of the King of You.

Li Qiguang’s rebellion was urgent and needed to be dealt with urgently, so the follow-up to the King of You’s case was postponed. At this critical juncture, the Marquis of Ningyuan reported to Song Xiuwen.

Yu Youyao had always been very sharp in politics. She immediately thought of Song Xiuwen. Then, she thought of Song Xiuwen’s involvement with

Shandong and naturally guessed all of this.

Yu Youyao took a deep breath. “Li Qiguang must have been plotting a rebellion since a long time ago. Song Xiuwen has only been transferred to Zhejiang for three years. During his time in Shandong, the two of them are more or less linked..”