She was held tightly in Di Yunjian's arms, facing him directly. Due to her slender figure, Di Yunjian could hold her firmly with just one arm.
"Hold on to me tightly."
Yan Qingshu obediently wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned against his chest.
Listening to his strong and steady heartbeat, she pursed her lips. Suddenly, she found herself craving this rare sense of security.
"Giddyap!"
The deep and powerful command to the horse rang out. Yan Qingshu felt her body sway uncontrollably. The wind whistled past her exquisite hair bun, and the silk scarf on her arm fluttered in the wind.
She tilted her head slightly to look at the man's chin. Following her gaze upwards, she saw his fair skin and rosy thin lips.
These lips had lingered on her body passionately on many occasions.
She tightened her hold on Di Yunjian's waist a little more.
When the horse galloped out of the imperial palace, the clouds in the sky were already ablaze with a fiery red.
Li Dahai and Zhuyao were driving the carriage and following behind.
The wind roared in her ears. The scenery changed from the red walls and green tiles of the palace to the gradually bustling streets.
The streets near the summer were extremely lively.
Yan Qingshu lifted her head from Di Yunjian's embrace and looked at the bustling streets. Lanterns were hanging high everywhere, and the cries of street vendors echoed continuously.
It was a scene of peace and harmony. Perhaps this was what a prosperous and peaceful country looked like.
The horse stopped in front of a villa. Di Yunjian dismounted first. After standing still, he reached out his hand to Yan Qingshu.
"Jump down. I'll catch you."
Yan Qingshu widened her eyes. Looking at the height from the ground, her lips trembled a little.
She moved her legs uneasily and touched the horse's belly. The horse kicked its hooves restlessly.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here to catch you."
Di Yunjian knew she was scared. He just looked up at her with tenderness in his eyes.
Yan Qingshu shifted her body and jumped down from the horse. The next moment, she was caught firmly. Her fluttering skirt traced an arc and left a rippling circle.
It was not until her feet truly touched the ground that she let out a slight sigh of relief. She stamped her feet on the ground.
"I told you not to be afraid. You still don't trust me?" Di Yunjian said with a smile as he gently tapped her fair forehead with his folding fan. Then he handed the reins to the servant who came out of the villa.
"Your Majesty, what are we doing out of the palace?" Yan Qingshu lifted her skirt and followed behind him.
Di Yunjian turned his head to look at her and said with a smile, "I'm taking you out to eat the delicious food in the restaurant."
Yan Qingshu was not a fool. She raised her eyebrows and followed behind him.
At this time, Li Dahai and Zhuyao also caught up.
As they walked through the streets, the handsome gentleman and the beautiful lady always attracted people's attention.
Di Yunjian took out his money bag and put it in Yan Qingshu's hand. He said, "You take Zhuyao and stroll around the snack stalls in this area. Don't go too far."
Yan Qingshu could tell that he was trying to distract her, which suited her just fine.
She took the money and agreed with a smile.
Di Yunjian then asked several secret guards to protect Yan Qingshu secretly before he felt relieved and entered the restaurant.
Yan Qingshu weighed the money bag in her hand. She took out three silver ingots from it and put them in Zhuyao's palm.
"Zhuyao, is the painter's house far from the Longjing Pavilion?"
"Not far. When the servant took the doctor to see the patient and paid the consultation fee and the medicine fee, it only took about an incense stick's time to come back."
Zhuyao replied. The painter's house was located in the North Street of the capital, where the poor people gathered.
"Then I'll wait for you here. Hurry up." Yan Qingshu instructed.
"Don't worry, my lady." Zhuyao nodded and walked in the opposite direction with the money.
Yan Qingshu was not worried about her safety. The secret guards of the emperor were following secretly. When Zhuyao left to do something, the secret guards would surely follow.
She smiled slightly. She never intended to hide it from the emperor anyway.
Looking at the bustling streets with all kinds of snacks, she found a sweet - water tea shop and sat down. She slowly sipped the sweet mung bean soup while waiting for Zhuyao.
There were so many snacks. It would be better to buy them and eat together when Zhuyao came back.
Although the vendor was not well - educated, seeing that her clothes and jewelry were all of high quality, he was more polite to her.
Yan Qingshu picked up the bowl and took a sip of the sweet soup. Her amber eyes were always watching the people coming and going on the street.
In the middle, she witnessed a real - life scene of love at first sight just like in the storybooks.
The daughter of a merchant bumped into a noble young master. Her purse and sachet fell to the ground and were picked up by the young master. But unfortunately, the young lady didn't notice. The kind - hearted young master chased after her.
When the young lady turned around and their eyes met, the world around them seemed to slow down.
It seemed to be a predestined marriage.
Yan Qingshu smiled.
---
The largest restaurant in the capital was the Dezhuang Restaurant.
The business was booming, and the hall was full of customers. This restaurant was one of Di Yunjian's private properties. As soon as the waiter saw him, he respectfully invited him upstairs.
"Master, the target is in Private Room No. 2 of the Tian Character Series."
The waiter whispered. Di Yunjian nodded slightly.
"Sir, Private Room No. 1 of the Tian Character Series! Right this way, please!"
Di Yunjian walked upstairs steadily and sat in the private room.
Next door, the people in the private room were chatting merrily.
"Brother Chen, the drought in the northwest has lasted for a long time, and the people there are suffering. We feel really bad about it."
Di Yunjian recognized this voice. It was the Marquis of Zhenyuan.
"Brother Yan, there has been no heavy rain in the northwest for three years. Even when it rains, it's just a light drizzle, which can't solve the drought problem. Now the people in the northwest are about to start fleeing from famine again!"
Di Yunjian tightened his grip on the folding fan. Anger flashed in his eyes.
Fleeing from famine again?!
The court had distributed a large amount of disaster - relief grain and silver. The news from the court was that the disaster victims in the northwest had been brought under control. The disaster victims set out from Longyuan and gathered in Xijing. And the local officials along the northwest direction had provided porridge to them. If it was really as written in the memorials, the disaster victims should have been well - controlled. How could it be possible that many disaster victims were found starving to death along the official roads!
Di Yunjian clenched his fists tightly. The veins on his fists bulged.
Unless they had falsified the memorials!
Thinking of the news reported by Zhu Liangcai a few days ago, he had already sent people secretly to the northwest to investigate without alerting the suspects.
It was also the secret guards' report today that these officials were gathering in the restaurant that made him leave the palace.
"Brother Chen, our two families are in - laws. You are in charge of the financial and grain affairs of the Ministry of Revenue. Please handle the matter in the northwest well. Don't disappoint the one sitting on the throne." The laughter of the Marquis of Zhenyuan came.
"Brother Yan, you can rest assured. The Ministry of Revenue is the foundation of the court's finances and grain. We will surely follow the emperor's order and try our best to rescue the disaster victims!"
"Moreover, Brother Yan's daughter is quite favored in the palace. As long as she gives birth to an heir, your status will surely rise."
The flattering laughter of other officials came one after another.
After that, hearty laughter rang out, mixed with the sound of clinking wine glasses.
Di Yunjian sneered. He quietly left the private room with Li Dahai, who was full of indignation.
"Master, it seems that the situation in the northwest is just as you expected. The local officials in the northwest and these two court ministers are covering up for each other and deceiving Your Majesty."
There was also uncontrollable anger in Li Dahai's tone.
"Actually..."
Di Yunjian coldly continued.
"Actually, they have already controlled the people in the northwest, withheld the court's disaster - relief grain and silver, and become local tyrants!"