Chapter 97: Ningzhuo Governors house 1 (1/2)

At a huge courtyard at the Center of Ningzhuo

Su Liya didn't have much interaction throughout the journey to Ningzhuo, she stayed in the carriage with her maids. They usually stopped for an hour in the afternoon for lunch but since they would soon arrive at Ningzhuo, there was no need for that.

They stopped for a few minutes at the City Gates while the captain stationed at the gates introduced himself to Lu Yaozhu before they continued inside. Su Liya didn't hear the full gist of Lu Yaozhu's discussion with the officials since she was in the carriage.

However, as soon as they arrived, Lu Yaozhu went off to settle a few things at the security council while Lu Yaozhu left for the Governor's house with the servants and half of the Elite guards. Before leaving the officials Lu Yaozhu rode to the carriage window and knocked on the wooden frame.

Baozhai rose the curtain up to check who it was, she was expecting it to be Yu Tao or General Wang but was surprised to see their Young master, ”Young master!”

”Call Liya”, Lu Yaozhu replied calmly.

”Yes!” Baozhai caught Su Liya's eyes briefly as she moved to the seat opposite the window to make space for her mistress.

Su Liya moved closer to the window and raised the curtain. She rose the white vail up and hooked it on the top of her hat, ”General!” She said softly, squinting her eyes slightly at the bright sun outside the dim carriage.

There were two windows on the carriage, both of which although open slightly was covered by thick white curtains. That coupled with the whore veil she had on made her vision darker.

She had found the veil a nuisance when it was first brought out by Baozhai but when she was informed that princesses were not to reveal their face anyhow, she kept quiet and decided to bear with it.

Lu Yaozhu pulled out a gold badge and a set of keys from his sleeve and handed it over to Su Liya, ”take this”.

Su Liya's gaze travelled from his face to his hands and back to his face, ”why?”

”I won't be accompanying you to the Governor's house, I need to handle a few things at the security bureau. You are the Lady of the house so I will leave setting it up to you. if you gave any questions just ask Rong Rong or Matron Gu from the palace”, he motioned for her to give him her hands, Su Liya gazed at him essentially but stretched out her palm.

He dropped the badge and a bunch of keys into her outstretched palm, ”this is the Lu families official badge, that can mobilize the Elite guards and give you access to large amounts of our funds while those keys lead to my store box here in Ningzhuo and the capital. Please keep them safe, I will come back as soon as I can”.

Su Liya glanced at the badge and key in her hand and nodded ”Okay, thanks” he rose the horse reins to when she pulled at his sleeve, ”Be careful out there, no one is to be trusted most especially those corrupt officials. Don't sign anything without reading it properly”.

Lu Yaozhu searched her expression for anything that would give off her strange thoughts but found nothing. Su Liya was proving to be a big bag of secrets, she was right most of the time that he was getting a little curious about how she cones about her accurate judgements of situations.

He grinned and nodded the rode away quickly, the rest of the officials present left with Lu Yaozhu except the Chief in charge of the ministry of works. A short stick-thin man in blue official clothes, who introduced himself as Chief Ning. Su Liya didn't meet him face to face but with a curtain between them, as was usual tradition.

After having just a few words with him, it was easy to tell that he wasn't to be trusted. Chief Ning acted very nervous and avoided answering any of her questions. Which was a good tell of a liar, he didn't sound convinced of the information he was giving and tried to avoid being asked any questions more questions.

They travelled silently until they arrived at a huge courtyard at the centre of Ningzhuo. Su Liya lifted the curtain up as the carriage came to a stop and looked out the window. There was a big plank at the top of the gates that was a nameplate with the name ”The Governor's House” carved boldly and painted Gold.

Ningzhuo was the capital city of the northern province of Northern Wei. Each province of northern Wei had their independent ministries and leaders that answered to their Provincial Governor who answered to the Emperor. Ningzhuo as the capital city of the northern Province house the head offices of various ministers all under the Military Governor.