351 Departure
“What are you thinking about? Have you been reading some strange novels recently?” Lu Ze was amused by Lin Suisui’s reaction and pinched Lin Suishou’s nose as he said helplessly, “There’s no treasure map. I’m just guessing if the silver mine that I’m looking for is in the mountain.”
Lu Ze didn’t hide anything and told Lin Suisui his thoughts truthfully.
“Silver mine?” Lin Suisui looked up at Lu Ze in disbelief. “But shouldn’t silver mines belong to the Imperial Court?”
According to the laws of the empire, anyone who discovered gold, silver, copper, iron, ores and didn’t report them would be punished with treason!
Who had the guts to take such a risk?!
“Didn’t I use the military investigation these past few days to figure out the background of the Gu and Lin families?” Lu Ze told her the entire story.
“A few of them couldn’t withstand the torture, so they revealed what they knew. A few of them mentioned that the reason these two families were so arrogant was that they had a silver mine.
However, these people were not high-ranking enough and were not qualified to know about such a confidential matter.
In order not to alert the enemy, I could only arrange for someone to investigate secretly. However, half a month has passed, but I still haven’t found any useful information.”
At this point, Lu Ze’s voice couldn’t help but sound a little gloomy.
Such an important mineral that concerned the fate of the country had now become a tool for private gain! It would be strange if Lu Ze, the future heir to the throne, wasn’t angry.
“I didn’t expect Mrs. Luo and the others’ visit to bring a clue.”
Thinking of what Lin Suisui had just said to him, Lu Ze smiled again. He lowered his head and rubbed it against Lin Suisui’s forehead as he muttered in a hoarse voice, “You’re really my lucky star.”
“But this is just a guess. If there’s no silver mine in the mountains, won’t you be very disappointed?” Lin Suisui looked at Lu Ze worriedly. It was precisely because she understood his current difficulties that her heart ached for him even more.
“Won’t we know if there’s a silver mine or not after we investigate?” Lu Ze was quite open-minded and smiled at Lin Suisui as he replied very calmly, “Haven’t you always wanted to find out about the living environment of Mrs. Luo and the others?
It’s spring now, so let’s accompany Mrs. Luo and the others back this time and treat it as a trip.”
“Is that okay?” Upon hearing Lu Ze’s words, Lin Suisui was interested. However, thinking of how busy Lu Ze had been recently, she was a little worried that he would be too busy.
“Why not?” Lu Ze was amused by Lin Suisui’s cautious appearance and explained to her gently, “Regardless of whether there’s a silver mine in the mountains, to be safe, I have to take a look.
It just so happens that Mrs. Luo and the others can be our excuse. I’ll go back and discuss it with Pei Qian. We’ll split up. This way, if there’s really a silver mine there, Pei Qian will cooperate and catch everyone!
“It doesn’t matter even if there’s no silver mine. Just treat it as me accompanying you out to relax. It’s fine.”
Upon hearing Lu Ze’s words, Lin Suisui was finally relieved. Just as Lu Ze had said, ever since she came to Cloud Mountain City, she had not entered any mountains to pick medical herbs.
Now that there was such an opportunity, she naturally couldn’t ask for more.
After the two of them discussed it, Lin Suisui told Mrs. Luo, Fang Liu, and the others the next morning. When she heard Lin Suisui say that she wanted to go back with them, Fang Liu smiled happily. “We’re overjoyed for you to come with us.”
This time, Fang Rui’er didn’t go with them. Instead, she chose to stay at home and watch the house.
From what Fang Liu said, there was a new chicken, duck, and pig at home that needed to be taken care of. She originally planned to bring Fang Rui’er over to see Lin Suisui when she came to Cloud Mountain City next time, but she didn’t expect Lin Suisui to suggest going back with them this time.
Fang Rui’er would probably be overjoyed to see Lin Suisui.
Since they had decided to go back with Mrs. Luo and the others, some things had to be prepared in advance.
Because Yuan Niang had to stay behind to take care of the medical center, only Bai Guo and Yin Qiao went with Lin Suisui this time. However, thinking about how she had not seen Fang Rui’er for a long time, Yuan Niang took the time to go to the jewelry shop and buy a hairpin and a pair of earrings for Fang Rui’er as a gift.
Lu Ze had been busy discussing the specific arrangements with Pei Qian these past few days. It wasn’t until the day before they decided to set off that he returned to have a banquet with Mrs. Luo and her family. The next morning, seven to eight carriages left the city under the protection of the cavalry led by Su Qi and Su Le.
It would take at least a day and a half to travel from Cloud Mountain City to the village where Mrs. Luo and the others lived.
Because Fang Liu, who was traveling with them, was pregnant, it wasn’t suitable for them to rush things. Secondly, because the scenery along the way was quite pleasant, Lu Ze treated it as if they were on a road trip. They traveled in a high-profile manner along the way, as if he was afraid that others wouldn’t know the purpose of their trip.
“Someone has been following us since we left the city.” When they were resting in the inn, Lu Ze answered Lin Suisui’s doubts in a low voice. “Our excuse for coming out was to travel, so if we traveled in a hurry along the way, it would have aroused suspicion.
“Besides, only if we attract their attention can Pei Qian arrange for people to cooperate with us in the dark.”
Lin Suisui nodded. As she expressed her understanding of Lu Ze’s arrangements, she didn’t forget to ask Lu Ze how long it would take for them to reach the village where Mrs. Luo and the others lived.
“At our current speed, we should be able there to reach at sunset tomorrow.” Lu Ze calculated for a moment before answering Lin Suisui, “I’ve already arranged for Su Le and the others to enter the village in advance to prepare. This way, we won’t be in too much of a hurry when we go over.”
Lin Suisui was stunned for a moment. She wanted to say that there was no need to go through so much trouble, but on second thought, it was no longer the same as before, when she and her mentor would rest wherever they went.
Perhaps she and Lu Ze didn’t care, but they still had Bai Guo, Yin Qiao, and so many guards by their side. They couldn’t let these people camp in the wilderness!