CHAPTER 125: CHAPTER 125: YOU’VE PLANNED EVERYTHING OUT?

"Insult my parents? You’re not worthy!"

Li Qingmu said coldly, and then Ma Biao was taken away by the Young Prince’s men.

"Not bad, you didn’t act on impulse this time!"

Once most of the mountain bandits had been taken away, a voice came from behind Long Yue, it was Qi Jingyu, still with his hands behind his back, head held high, looking arrogant and smug.

"Oh, the southeast wind is blowing? How come the Young Prince came personally?!"

This brat has this kind of temper, probably won’t change in this lifetime, Long Yue wasn’t afraid of him and joked with a smile.

"Hmph!" Qi Jingyu snorted with his head up, "Your man has caused trouble again!"

"Uh..."

Long Yue blushed, realizing the gravity of the situation.

Li Qingmu was talking with several soldiers, and soon brought Qin Wuyou out from them.

Seeing Qi Jingyu arrive, Li Qingmu considered for a moment and had Qin Wuyou wait for them at the foot of the mountain.

"Greetings to the Princely Heir!"

Li Qingmu saluted, adhering strictly to the protocol.

The Young Prince glanced at him sideways, knowing that this proper demeanor was from a guilty conscience, and said angrily, "Do you know what trouble you’ve caused?"

Li Qingmu looked puzzled, "Why does the Young Prince say so? I haven’t caused any trouble!"

Qi Jingyu saw the cunning look in Li Qingmu’s eyes and knew he was pretending again, feeling annoyed, "Something big has happened, the Xiliang envoy died within our Dazhou territory, causing a stir throughout the court, His Majesty the Emperor has had the news sealed, but it won’t be hidden for long, the Xiliang people will sooner or later make trouble for us!"

Li Qingmu lowered his eyes and said softly, "It was done by the mountain bandits! Now that we’ve captured these mountain bandits, isn’t that an explanation to the court?"

"But can a few mountain bandits compare to the importance of relations between two countries?"

"No, they cannot!"

"So, you, the Gaoyang County Magistrate, are in big trouble! This happened on your territory, you bear great responsibility!"

"Rest assured, Your Highness, I have already written a memorial, taking responsibility for this event and personally led the charge into the bandit’s den to capture those who harm the people. Furthermore, I shall volunteer to go to Xinan to assist with any possible future military actions to atone for my mistakes!"

"You..."

Qi Jingyu was taken aback, he had always thought this guy was eager to go to Xinan to connect with Pang Longyue’s grandfather, so he agreed to help him maneuver.

But to think he had already planned this far in advance?

Was it unintentional or intentional?

As Qi Jingyu thought about these matters, Li Qingmu looked innocent and said, "Your Highness, it’s not that I want to cause trouble, it’s just that those people went too far. I can ignore personal insults, but attacking my men, that I absolutely won’t tolerate!"

Qi Jingyu eyed him sideways, "Really?"

"Really!" Li Qingmu replied solemnly.

Qi Jingyu felt he shouldn’t believe his nonsense, but somehow he did.

"Where’s your memorial? Let me have it! I’ll find someone to present it!"

"It’s already written, thank you, Your Highness! By the way, Your Highness, what you asked me to investigate earlier, I’ve found it!"

Seeing that things had been settled, Li Qingmu relaxed, then remembered the important issue at hand.

Qi Jingyu’s eyes lit up, "Really? Quick, take me to see!"

Qi Jingyu had known for a long time that this bandit den wasn’t simple, but due to the treacherous terrain, it had been unbreachable for years, until Li Qingmu arrived.

This person was clever and daring, and key to this perplexing puzzle, he drew maps that were clear and concise; others understood at a glance, and then he led people up the mountain.

Yet he had no idea what exactly was on the mountain; they needed to interrogate Ma Biao and others, and now Li Qingmu had already found out? That’s fantastic!

"Your Highness, this is it!"

In just half an hour, Long Yue led the Young Prince to the cave they discovered.

The entrance was surrounded by dense shrubs with many scattered stones, and even some iron filings.

"The entrance is blocked!"

Soldiers went to inspect and reported back.

"Blocked? Then break it open!"

"Yes!"

Several soldiers took tools to hammer at the cave, the clinking sound made Long Yue suddenly think, "There used to be stationed bandits here, these people mustn’t be let go!"

"Rest assured, these menaces won’t be spared, but... I also need them to guide me."

As Li Qingmu spoke, he showed a meaningful smile.

"What are you up to now?"

Qi Jingyu found this man specialized in causing trouble, when asked, he heard a soldier cheer, "Your Highness, it’s open! My god, it’s full of armor and weapons inside, Your Highness, come quickly!"

"What? Get out of the way, let me see!"

Qi Jingyu immediately rushed in, someone nearby lit a torch, and the inside scene was clear, it was full of armor, glinting coldly in the firelight.

The space inside was vast, forming a deep tunnel, going deeper, there were furnaces, piles of raw iron and incomplete weapons under construction.

"Hmm, this cave is a full weapon and armor workshop? These bandits have such nerve? They must be ordered by someone, interrogation will reveal who they’re working for!"

With hands behind his back, Qi Jingyu grunted coldly, Li Qingmu entered, glanced at the cave, suddenly said, "Your Highness, don’t you find it odd? Ma Biao and them have been bandit kings here for over twenty years, yet none have wives or children? At least some should, right?"

Qi Jingyu was taken aback, "You mean, they have wives and children, just not in the camp?"

"It’s just my guess, but it wouldn’t be far off, they’re nearby so they can be cared for, so I’m sure those few would go find their wives and children."

"Their families likely live together, and if we just seal off all roads in the vicinity, we can catch their families, having hostages means we needn’t fear Ma Biao and others resisting? Good, very good, Li Qingmu, you truly are cunning... Cough..."

Qi Jingyu realized he slipped, and quickly cleared his throat, yet still looked very proud.

Li Qingmu smiled lightly, unbothered.

"Take everything, bring all the weapons and armor from the cave!" Qi Jingyu raised his head, looking very pleased, "This is the Young Prince’s spoils of war, Li Qingmu!"

"Here!"

"How shall we conclude the case?"

"The bandits killed the envoy, I eradicated the bandit’s den, that’s all!"

"Good!"

Qi Jingyu nodded, praising this person for not only being clever but adaptive and not rigid!

This is talent!

"Let’s go, down the mountain, seal off the entire city, no one is to enter or leave! We must find these bandits’ families!"