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Long after Qi Ping left along the river, noisy footsteps could be heard in the distant woods, as well as the sound of axes chopping down bushes.

Not long after, a group of soldiers came out, and someone exclaimed: "Over there."

Then, a group of people arrived quickly. After seeing the body by the river, they were shocked. When they saw the clothes clearly, they moved their hair away and confirmed the face, and then breathed a sigh of relief:

"It's Cao Yuan!"

The leading soldier ordered one person to stay, and the others began to search in all directions. After a long time, they returned without finding anything.

"Take the body back," the leader said.

…

In the inner hall of the government office, a group of people in brocade clothes were sitting dully.

It had been three days, but they still hadn't found Qi Ping and Cao Yuan. Even Mr. Fourth was helpless, which gave everyone a sense of familiarity.

It felt like I was back in the northwest.

"It's been so long, how come there's still no movement? The prefect is not trying his best, right?" Female Jinyi sat glumly.

Yu Qing shook his head: "If there is no news, it is good news."

He was not good at comforting people, but his clenched fists showed that he was also anxious.

He once lost Qi Ping in the northwest and finally found it back. He would not allow himself to lose it again.

At this time, snow particles began to fall in the courtyard. Yuezhou is located in the south, so winter snow is rare.

Even if there is snow every year, it is only a very small amount and is like grains of salt. For southerners, it is a rare thing.

It's even more incomparable to Kyoto.

Naturally, the people in brocade clothes had no intention of admiring the snow, but outside the courtyard, a red official robe floated up.

Magistrate Zhang looked excited: "There is news!"

In the house, a large group of people in brocade clothes stood up with cheers. Pei Shaoqing asked: "Have you found it?"

Magistrate Zhang nodded, shook his head, and explained under the murderous eyes of everyone:

"The people below found Cao Yuan's body by a river in the mountains. His chest was pierced with a sharp weapon. They also found discarded brocade clothes around them, but no trace of Qi Yuandu was found."

Everyone was stunned and confused.

Yu Qing asked: "Are there any traces of other people at the scene?"

"No."

Pei Shaoqing analyzed:

"If there is no third party, then Qi Ping probably killed Cao Yuan and then left. It is impossible to take off his clothes for free. Perhaps he was worried that the people from Fu Lao Lin would chase him, so he may have left the mountain now."

This reasoning is logical.

Hong Jiaojiao said in surprise: "Then what are you waiting for? I'll order people to keep looking."

Magistrate Zhang said: "I have ordered people to intensify the search efforts. If there is any news, we will report it as soon as possible."

Everyone immediately felt much more at ease, and their anxiety subsided a little. What they were most worried about was Qi Ping's defeat, but since Cao Yuan was dead, he was still able to leave, which meant he was still alive.

"Excuse me, Lord Magistrate." Yu Qing handed over his hand.

Magistrate Zhang waved his hand and sighed:

"Qi Yuandu was really fierce. The people below said that they followed the traces of the fight. For three days, the two people seemed to be fighting continuously. It is really unimaginable."

Everyone was stunned, and they were beaten for three consecutive days? Is this how terrible the third level of marrow cleansing is?

Yu Qing's eyes were complicated, and he asked himself, if he were Qi Ping, he wouldn't be able to do this.

…

…

Kyoto.

In the morning, the sky became gloomy and the cold wind howled.

Then, it started to snow heavily.

This was the first snowfall of the year, and it was falling. Before long, white snow covered the roofs, treetops, and the roads that crisscrossed the city of Kyoto. The whole world was covered in silver.

Huaqing Palace, the eldest princess Yongning had insomnia last night and drank some wine. When she woke up in the morning, she still felt dizzy.

The brazier in the house is always filled with charcoal, burning red, and the room is as warm as spring.

The eldest princess woke up leisurely, pulled off the quilt, and her white and silky body slipped out.

Putting on my coat, I heard howling outside the house and reached out to open the window. Suddenly, a cold wind swept in with snowflakes.

The eldest princess's green silk hair was fluttering, her tiredness suddenly dissipated, and the palace maid's exclamation came from outside: "Your Highness, don't catch a cold."

Yongning smiled, but tightened his collar, sighing in his heart, if it weren't for the special status of the royal family and her inability to practice, why would she be so weak?

Even if he is not as good as Qi Ping, he should be able to survive the cold and heat... Well, speaking of it, I haven't seen him for a long time.

The eldest princess was thinking, and suddenly she heard the sound of a bell. Then, the petite Princess Anping, with a delicate face, wrapped in a red cloak, walked happily from outside the courtyard, followed by the maid who was trying hard to hold an umbrella.

Anping smiled and said, "It's snowing heavily this year. Do you want to have a snowball fight?"

The eldest princess is helpless, thinking that you don't have the airs of a princess at all.

He frowned lightly, remembering the "prediction" published in the newspaper by the Taoist Experience Department. If it was really snowy this winter, it might not be a good thing for the people at the bottom of Kyoto.

…

Nancheng.

The newspaper office was quite busy today. There was heavy snow in the sky, but there was a long line of horse-drawn carriages parked outside the shop.

The men from Xiangjiazhuang, who had changed into uniform clothes embroidered with the "Hexagonal Bookstore" logo, loaded the packed items into the carriage.

Xiangjia Dalang and Erlang commanded back and forth.

Fan Er, who was wearing a yarmulke and with round cheeks, said goodbye to the guys and gave instructions on the future arrangements.

The operation of the newspaper has been on the right track so far. According to the "business plan" left by Qi Ping, the tentacles of Rokkaku Bookstore and the newspaper should start to explore outside Kyoto.

To put it simply, it means opening a branch outside Kyoto.

Naturally, he chose Yuezhou City, which has the most prosperous literary style and is second only to Kyoto in prosperity. Originally, Fan Er had not planned to leave so early.

First, there is a lack of capable manpower.

Secondly, the bookstore business cannot be put down.

But now both of them are solved under Qi Ping's arrangement. The former has the help of experienced Xiang Long who travels all over the country.

The latter has the new manager Lin.

"President Fan, if it's snowing today, why not start again tomorrow?" Lin Miaomiao, wearing a black cloak with beautiful and elegant eyebrows, walked over and suggested with a smile.

After becoming the shopkeeper, Lin Miaomiao changed her hairstyle. Her hair was tied up behind her head, and her neck looked particularly slender.

Although she is not as beautiful as when she was an oiran, she is more dignified and respectable.

"Shopkeeper Lin." Fan Er smiled and looked at her with some emotion. When Qi Ping arranged for Lin Miaomiao to be in charge of the bookstore, Fan Er didn't say anything, but he was worried about it.

I always suspected that Qi Ping was drunk. He was an oiran who was very sociable, but how could he manage a shop?

As a result, during this period of time, Lin Miaomiao showed terrible learning ability in management and business, which shocked him.

He actually pressed it down so that it was submissive.

Fan Er often lamented that Qi Ping was so good at recognizing people.

"No need, we have already booked the boat and will leave today. I will have to worry about the things in the shop from now on."

Lin Miaomiao smiled and nodded.

Next to him, Mr. Yun, the editor-in-chief, walked over, followed by three little girls, smiling:

"You can go with peace of mind. When you are young, you should be adventurous. Otherwise, when you are old, you will be like the old man, sitting in Nancheng and not wanting to go anywhere."

Fan Er handed over his hands and listened to the instructions.

Immediately, they exchanged pleasantries for a while, got into the carriage in the wind and snow, shouted to Long, whipped the horsewhip, and with a "pop" sound, the motorcade rushed towards the Kyoto Pier.

A group of people were left to watch, and Xiang Xiaoyuan suddenly said: "Brother Qi is still in Yuezhou City. I don't know if dad and the others can meet him."

Qi Shu's thin eyebrows wrinkled. She actually wanted to go to Yuezhou, but she thought she had to stay and look after her business, so she didn't go.

The pale-faced Yun Qing'er swallowed a small piece of pastry and wiped her hands with a handkerchief, thinking that Sister Yaoguang was still as generous as ever.

…

…

Yuezhou City is the most prosperous city in the south, with it as the center and surrounded by small towns and villages.

Xinghua Town is a place with beautiful scenery at the foot of "Yunling".
To be continued...