The Imperial Study!
"Uncle Emperor?" Xie Jing'an shivered!
It seemed his uncle had found out about him flirting with that girl outside the palace today!
"Do you know your mistake?" Xie Qianmo asked coldly.
"Uncle Emperor, nephew is sincere this time. I like that girl!" Since his uncle already knew, he decided to lay it all out!
"Whose daughter is she? Is she a suitable match for you?"
The question of suitability plunged Xie Jing'an into thought!
"Why are you not speaking?" Xie Qianmo frowned.
"Uncle Emperor, if I say I like the girl unilaterally, would you believe me?"
"That girl was tight-lipped and never revealed her name, nor did I find out her origin."
Xie Qianmo shook his head speechlessly. "You know nothing about her, yet you dared to consort with her. Aren't you afraid she's a spy sent by an enemy nation, using her beauty to control you and threaten me?"
Xie Jing'an shook his head. "Uncle Emperor, it's not what you think. I shamelessly pursued her, but she kept rejecting me. She couldn't possibly be an enemy spy!"
"You are still too young. You can't even see through such a tactic of playing hard to get!"
"Uncle Emperor, it's not like that! Nephew can be sure she's not an enemy spy!" Xie Jing'an hastily explained, truly afraid Xie Qianmo would put a stop to it!
He had finally met a girl he fancied; he didn't want his uncle to extinguish it!
"Someone you can't even find out about – haven't you considered the suspicious aspect?" Xie Qianmo's expression was cold.
In his opinion, this was Xie Jing'an's immaturity.
Xie Jing'an had considered it, but he didn't want to investigate further!
If she was truly playing hard to get, luring him in, then he... Xie Jing'an refused to contemplate the possibility.
However, his uncle's reminder was indeed correct!
The capital was royal territory!
He had mobilized so many people to investigate, yet they couldn't find anything?
As long as someone was alive, the imperial secret forces could find them, but… this time, they simply couldn't!
"Uncle Emperor, what should I do?"
"From now on, you are forbidden from associating with that woman!"
Xie Jing'an's heart trembled. "Uncle Emperor, no... no... I refuse! Nephew has finally met a girl he likes. I don't want to give up like this!"
"As for the spy, this is merely our current speculation. The truth has not been uncovered yet, so it cannot be taken as fact!"
"Are you determined not to give up until you reach the Yellow River? By the time you uncover her background, you'll be finished!"
Xie Jing'an's heart ached. "Uncle Emperor, nephew will investigate her background as quickly as possible. If she is not a spy, I hope Uncle Emperor will not stop me from being with her!"
Xie Qianmo waved his hand. "Fine. You are an adult now and of marriageable age. If you truly need a wife, I can bestow a marriage upon you!"
Xie Jing'an refused without a second thought. "No, nephew does not want an imperial marriage. Nephew only wants that woman. I hope Uncle Emperor will grant my wish!"
Seeing Xie Jing'an's persistence, Xie Qianmo chuckled coldly. "What kind of woman is it that makes you so infatuated? I am very curious!"
"When nephew proves she is not a spy and successfully proposes, Uncle Emperor will naturally see!"
"Today at the restaurant, I heard you had physical contact with that woman. How could you be so reckless?"
Speaking of which, Xie Jing'an felt wronged. "Uncle Emperor, nephew and that woman did not have physical contact. At most, we hugged once!"
"Remember, do not act rashly in the future!"
"Yes, Uncle Emperor!"
Xie Qianmo waved his hand. "You may go."
Xie Jing'an sighed in relief! Fortunately, his uncle did not stop him from liking that woman, otherwise, he would have been driven mad!
After leaving Chunyue Restaurant!
Qin Yun secretly changed her disguise and returned to her original state!
Then, along with Qingshan and Hong Fu, she returned to the manor!
"Master, did you find anything? What are the third and fourth floors of Chunyue Restaurant actually for?"
Speaking of this matter, Qin Yun was so angry she sighed.
She never expected that scoundrel Xie Jing'an to be at Chunyue Restaurant too!
"Master, you didn't find any clues?" Hong Fu saw Qin Yun's unusual expression.
"It's not entirely without clues. Those who can go to the third floor are all influential figures, in other words, only officials and nobles are allowed."
Qin Yun suddenly recalled something Xie Jing'an had said. "Right... and you need some kind of waist token or something!"
"As for the fourth floor, it seems to be a secret base! I have only been to the third floor for now. It's really difficult to get to the fourth floor!"
Qingshan said solemnly, "Master, what do you plan to do next?"
Qin Yun patted her head and thought for a moment. "The four major restaurants, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. This matter cannot be rushed. Let's put it aside for now. I need to deal with the second wife first!"
"Let's go to the wood shed. Perhaps we can get useful information from Mr. Jin!"
The three of them went to the wood shed!
Mr. Jin was covered in wounds!
His once decent face was now filthy and unrecognizable!
The moment he saw Qin Yun enter, Mr. Jin recoiled in fear, terrified as if he had seen a devil!
Qin Yun smiled with satisfaction. This was the effect she wanted!
If a tiger doesn't show its fangs, it's mistaken for a sick cat!
After these few days of torment, Mr. Jin must have witnessed her cruelty!
"Bring him to me! I have questions to ask!"
"No, no!" Mr. Jin resisted, but it was futile. Qingshan grabbed his shoulder and lifted him, dragging him to kneel before Qin Yun!
Qin Yun blinked her eyes!
This Mr. Jin weighed at least a hundred catties, yet Qingshan carried him to her with one hand. This strength... was invincible!
Quickly regaining her composure, Qin Yun sneered. "Answer whatever I ask. If I find you're lying, I'll cut out your tongue!"
Hearing this, Mr. Jin completely broke down!
Who said the young master of the Qin manor was harmless and a good-for-nothing?
Outsiders had no idea what he had endured these past few days!
If time could turn back, he would have remained a diligent accountant, never to have colluded with that slut Min Shi again!
"You've been handling the accounts for the Qin manor all these years. Where did you hide the money you earned privately?"
"It was all given to that slut Min Shi. I don't know where she hid it!" Mr. Jin trembled in fear.
Qin Yun observed Mr. Jin's subtle changes in expression. His demeanor did not seem like he was lying!
"Besides you working for her, are there others in the manor who assist her?"
Mr. Jin stammered, "Yes... Besides the maids and nannies of Min Shi's lineage, Granny Xu from the third branch is also her person! I don't know about anyone else!"
She had already known that Granny Xu was from the second branch!
Did this Mr. Jin truly not know, or had Min Shi not considered him important enough to be entrusted with more?
"I'll ask you one more question: in the Qin's Winery, the secret recipe for fruit wine from Gui Xiang and Qiu Xiang was sold. Who was the intermediary?"
"This... this junior does not know!" Mr. Jin lowered his head, not daring to meet Qin Yun's eyes!
He hadn't expected that Qin Yun had already investigated the matter of the fruit wine recipe!