Chapter 79: Chapter 79 Longnan County Government
 

Qi Yue did not delay any further; she spent more than one shichen walking to the supervisor’s office.

After explaining her purpose, Qi Yue was led into a small room where an official in charge of handling related cases took the divorce paper, carefully examined it, made a record using an official document, and then flipped through another thick booklet to find a stack of papers and started searching through them.

Qi Yue knew that these were the records of exiled individuals for each year.

Those exiled here, without any identification, even had their criminal records controlled by the supervisor’s office.

Finally, the official picked out a sheet and marked it with an “X” in cinnabar ink, symbolizing its destruction.

Before long, Qi Yue held in her hand a small wooden token symbolizing civilian status and an identity certificate; with these two items, she could travel anywhere.

According to the supervisor’s office rules, the divorce papers should be kept for records, but Qi Yue gave the official ten silver pieces and asked to keep the divorce paper.

The belongings of exiles were as cheap as dirt; after all, no one would check a divorce paper, so after receiving ten silver pieces, the official returned the paper to her.

With these three items in hand and leaving the small office, Qi Yue suddenly felt somewhat lost.

From this moment on, she would no longer belong to the Zhao Family but would truly be Qi Yue.

It was almost laughable to think about it, when she and Zhao Xiyan were getting married, one as the daughter of a General and the other as the Marquis known as War God; their union not only required the Emperor’s decree but also the Shangguan Family’s jade disc. For them to divorce seemed an incredibly difficult feat, yet once the Zhao Family became exiles, a simple divorce paper was all it took to completely sever their ties.

Qi Yue took one last look at the position where the Zhao Family members were, left the supervisor’s office, and headed toward the nearby military horse farm.

She had already learned from the office official that there was a military horse farm near the supervisor’s office where she could buy a horse.

The journey to Longnan County Government would take more than ten days, and she didn’t have the time or energy to travel such a distance, so she planned on buying a horse.

No sooner had her figure disappeared from view than Qu Wei, dressed in white and waving a folding fan, appeared.

“Is everything taken care of?”

He spoke with a slight smile, as if asking the air.

“My lord, everything is ready.”

Following the sound of a voice, a short-statured official suddenly appeared from the empty space to his left.

This man was precisely the official who had just processed Qi Yue’s divorce. In a soft voice, he recounted the recent events and mentioned that Qi Yue had gone to the military horse farm to buy a horse.

After listening, Qu Wei’s lips slightly curled.

“Dispatch all the information we have gathered.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The short official duly withdrew.

Qu Wei returned to the back courtyard of the supervisor’s office and when he reappeared, he had changed into an outfit more suitable for travel, still in white.

A subordinate had already prepared a horse for him; he leapt onto the horse, and as he did, his whip landed on the horse’s hindquarters. With a long neigh, several horses galloped toward the direction of Longnan County Government.

Several days later, Qi Yue finally saw the imposing city gates of Longnan County Government.

During these days, she rode her horse by day and slept comfortably in her space at night, unlike the usual traveler who appeared dusty and weary.

The Great County Government of the southernmost part saw a constant stream of people every day, with strict inspections for those entering and leaving the city gates.

Qi Yue dismounted at the city gate and queued up to enter, leading her horse.

As she was wondering whether to find a place to rest first or to inquire about the location of the Prefectural Magistrate’s Office after entering the city, she suddenly heard a voice.

“Doctor Qi, we’ve been waiting for you. I reckon our lord will arrive soon too,” said the voice.

Curious, Qi Yue lifted her head to see Zhang Fang striding toward her with an unusual smile on his face.

“Doctor Qi, please come with me. Our lord has already arranged a welcome banquet, just waiting for you.”

Zhang Fang took the horse from her hand eagerly, which made Qi Yue feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Although Zhang Fang was merely the close guard to Prefectural Magistrate Hu, he was a man of rank, and she was nothing but the nominal chief disciple of Huang Zai’an. But given his reaction, wasn’t he a bit too eager?

Qi Yue thought so in her heart, but she didn’t refuse in the end.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do; upon entering someone else’s turf, it’s best to follow their lead.

Zhang Fang introduced the way and led her to the Imperial Products Building, the largest and most famous one in Longnan County Government.

The horses naturally had lads to take care of them, and as the two entered the Imperial Products Building, there were already people who came to greet them and guided them to a large private room on the third floor.

Qi Yue silently pondered the meaning behind this welcome banquet. She didn’t understand why Hu Chengxuan insisted on having this meeting, hadn’t everything that needed to be discussed been settled in the gorge before?

Soon they arrived at the entrance of the private room, and a familiar laugh could be heard from inside.

“The daringness of Marquis Hu, your nephew admires!”

Qu Wei?

Why was he here?

Qi Yue narrowed her eyes.

At this moment, Zhang Fang had already opened the door and asked her to come in.

She thanked him and entered the private room, and indeed saw Qu Wei sitting across from Hu Chengxuan, both with smiles on their faces, clearly old acquaintances and on good terms.

“Doctor Qi has arrived, please come in and take a seat.”

The moment he saw her, Hu Chengxuan greeted her amiably, his demeanor like someone happy to see a beloved junior.

Qi Yue couldn’t help but contract her pupils slightly as she responded.

“Yes, Supervisor.”

Still, she felt that a person like Hu Chengxuan suited a stern face better.

“Qu Wei, there’s no need to introduce Doctor Qi, I suppose. I heard you visit Master Huang every month; you should recognize her, no?”

“I do recognize her, but we’re not very familiar.” Qu Wei looked towards her with a smile, “She’s Master Huang’s chief disciple, after all, but she spends most of her time out gathering herbs. We’ve only met a few times in total.”

Although Qi Yue didn’t understand why Qu Wei didn’t reveal her identity but rather helped to conceal it, it did relieve her somewhat.

For now, she didn’t want Hu Chengxuan to know her true identity.

This sly Hu, knowing too much, would likely guess that she was searching for rhinoceros horn for Zhao Xiyan and might even implicate Huang Zai’an as a result.

Therefore, she simply nodded lightly towards Qu Wei.

“I’ve seen the Supervisor.”

Qu Wei flicked open his folding fan with a whoosh and cooly fanned himself a couple of times.

“Doctor Qi, there’s no need to be so formal. With you on this journey, I can rest assured. I hope you’ll take good care of us!”

Qi Yue frowned. On the journey? Was he also going to Longnan Ridge in the Western Regions?

Before she could ask, Hu Chengxuan began to explain.

“Doctor Qi, it’s like this. Nephew Qu Wei has some business to attend to in the west, and since it’s on the way, I’ve agreed to let him travel with you all.”

Although Qi Yue was very reluctant in her heart, she had no choice. If it weren’t for the fact that the miasma-infested Western Regions needed more hands, she would not be willing to deal with this Hu at all!

She impassively agreed, “I’ll leave everything to Superior Hu’s arrangements.”

Soon the dishes were served and, after sitting for a while, Hu Chengxuan was called away to attend to official business, leaving only her and Qu Wei in the private room.

Qi Yue had no desire to drink and chat with Qu Wei, so she stood up to leave. But to her surprise, Qu Wei stood up as well and blocked her way.

This pretentious man truly never forgot to wave his folding fan.

“Miss Qi, aren’t you curious at all why I want to travel with you?”