Chapter 300: Chapter 37: Returning to Jinzhou, The Great Fire’s Transformation

Translator: 549690339

Second Year of Longxing Period, Jinzhou Prefecture.

Unknowingly, a year has passed since Jinzhou was promoted to a prefecture-level city.

The rooster crows, and the sky is bright.

The splendid sunlight sprinkles on the orderly green tiles and red walls, and a gentle breeze blows up the colorful shop flags. People and horses pass by in an endless stream.

Ever since the Xia’s Empress upgraded Jinzhou to Jinzhou Prefecture, the favorable conditions provided by the government and the reduced taxes have attracted more merchants to do business here, making Jinzhou Prefecture even more prosperous.

On the street, passers-by look at an open shop and discuss.

“Is Huai Family’s small shop open again? Who’s the woman inside?”

“I remember, hasn’t this pawnshop been closed for a year? No one bought its location in a year. It’s so strange.” “Didn’t the Pawnshop Young Master die?”

Inside the pawnshop at this moment.

Yu Qinghan looks at the familiar scene in front of her, and her mind is filled with memories from the past.

There are lively and happy kitchens, leisurely counters, shameless and impatient boudoirs, and peaceful and serene backyard gardens.

But now the scene is gloomy and dim. “Fairy sister, where is this place?”

The little girl asks.

She is a native of Qinghe Village, who has always stayed in the village and has never seen such a big city, so she is full of curiosity about everything.

The sister in front of her can actually fly directly, taking her around just like a fairy in the sky.

So she also calls the other party Fairy Sister.

“It’s a place in my dreams, and a place I’ve always longed for.”

Yu Qinghan wears a blue silk long skirt, holding the little girl’s hand, turns her head, and smiles slightly.

Since she took the throne, this shop has been directly managed by the government, and it has not been rented to other merchants. It has been left empty, just to keep a memory.

People always have a soft spot for the old, like to look back while moving forward.

“Today, I will cook a meal for you here.”

Thinking of this, Yu Qinghan takes the little girl to the market to buy vegetables, and then cleans up the shop.

Soon, after a long absence, the chimney finally emits cooking smoke.

A table for two, the pawnshop is still quiet.

“Fairy sister, the dish you cooked is so delicious.”

The little girl grabbed a piece of stewed pork with brown sauce with her chopsticks, her mouth full of greasy, and exclaimed in surprise.

“My husband used to say the same thing.”

Yu Qinghan supports her cheek with her right hand, her phoenix eyes hook up, and smiles sweetly.

“Clatter! ”

Suddenly, there was a sound of horseshoes vibrating outside the pawnshop. Many common people were persuaded to leave by the government soldiers along the way, and they were not allowed to pass.

A loud voice rang through the street.

“The governor of Jinzhou prefecture, Qian Kun, begs for Your Majesty’s forgiveness for the poor reception!”

Hearing the visitors, a helpless look flashed across Yu Qinghan’s face, but she still stood up, went to the entrance of the pawnshop, and saw the streets crowded with officials of all sizes from Jinzhou Prefecture, all kneeling. She sighed, stood tall and slender, and said calmly,

“I am on a secret visit this time, so there is no need for formalities. You may all stand up.”

“I dare not, now that Your Majesty has appeared under my jurisdiction, there must be some inadequacies.”

The sweat on the forehead of the governor of Jinzhou Prefecture, with his hands cupped, knelt on the ground, not daring to stand up.

Since he took office, this pawnshop has been under lockdown. After a year, he inquired around and learned that this place was where the current Emperor had lived, so it could not be disturbed.

If someone comes back, it must be the Emperor’s personal visit.

He had heard that the Empress who has been reigning for more than a year is an iron-blooded and divinely-confident ruler who has dismissed many trouble-making and competent officials over the past year.

Useless, arrogant, and meddlesome, all were driven out of the Imperial Court.

Upon hearing the movement in the pawnshop, he rushed over immediately. How could he be negligent?

The little girl in the pawnshop saw the gentle fairy sister suddenly change into a different person, and there were so many kneeling people outside the pawnshop. It seemed that they were all her subordinates. The little girl’s face was full of astonishment.

“If I tell you to stand up, stand up. Doesn’t my word work?”

“Yes!”

The governor heard this, then slowly stood up. But the soldiers behind him were still kneeling. He saw Yu Qinghan’s eyes sink slightly and hurriedly shouted to them,

“Her Majesty has ordered, all stand up.”

Yu Qinghan glanced at him, stretched out her hand, and hooked her fingers.

“You, come here.”

“Ah?”

The governor walked over in bafflement and asked cautiously, “What are Your Majesty’s orders?”

“How is the current situation in the Imperial Court?”

Yu Qinghan’s face was calm, her arms folded across her chest, and she asked tentatively.

The letter she received in the Spiritual Mountains was the information from half a month ago, and there must have been some changes in the Imperial Court recently.

The governor wiped the sweat from his forehead and said respectfully,

“Your Majesty, even though you have been away for several months, the Cabinet Minister you have appointed is handling important matters, and everything is going on as usual. However, Changning King is very active in the court, promoting many of his confidants, and some military authority from Changning Imperial Army is in his hands. So when others have objections, they dare to be angry but not speak out.”

“Additionally, there are rumors among the people that the Northern Wolf Empire is also planning something. The daily official gazette of the Xia, written by the Imperial Academy, mentions that the Northern Wolf and the disciples of the Devil Sect have been getting close lately. Not only is it mentioned in the gazette, but sect disciples have also reported the matter to the government offices. ”

“Of course, these are just things I heard for the moment, and I am unaware of the more specific situations.”

“Shenluo… Northern Wolf…”

Yu Qinghan repeatedly muttered these two names.

It seems that the Devil Sect is ready to take action.

Moreover, it supports the two major empires.. Could it be intending to use Shenluo and Northern Wolf to launch an attack on Central State?