sjar Chapter 433 What you're doing is like teasing your prey; it's far too risky.
Chapter 433 What you're doing is like teasing your prey; it's far too risky.
It was late at night when Gu Junze returned to the mansion, but Chu Ruohan was still awake and sitting under the lamp waiting for him. When she saw him push open the door and enter, she immediately got up and took his outer robe.
"You've been busy until so late again," Chu Ruohan said softly, pouring him a cup of hot tea. "How was your day?"
Gu Junze took the teacup, drank it all in one gulp, and the weariness between his brows eased slightly: "We arrested a few more. This time it was Vice Minister Zhou of the Ministry of War and his cronies."
“This is the twentieth day already.” Chu Ruohan frowned, looking at her husband’s tired face. “Don’t you already have a list of all the officials connected to Qingmo Valley? Why don’t you take them all down at once?”
Gu Junze took off his boots and stretched his limbs: "Things aren't that simple."
"How is it not simple?" Chu Ruohan handed him a hot towel. "If you arrest them one by one, aren't you just giving those who haven't been caught yet a chance to escape?"
Gu Junze wiped his face, a sly look in his eyes: "It's precisely to give them a chance to escape."
Chu Ruohan was stunned: "What do you mean?"
“If we wipe them all out, it may seem like we’ve cleaned things up on the surface, but we can’t guarantee that there won’t be any that slip through the net.” Gu Junze put down the towel and looked at his wife. “Qingmo Valley has been hidden for many years and has a vast network of roots. What we’ve grasped is just the tip of the iceberg.”
Chu Ruohan still didn't understand: "So you deliberately gave them a chance to escape?"
“That’s right.” Gu Junze nodded. “Those who run away often expose more of their accomplices.”
“We have placed informants at the city gates and major thoroughfares. Any suspicious person attempting to escape the capital will be secretly followed.”
Chu Ruohan suddenly realized: "You're fishing."
“Exactly.” Gu Junze smiled. “In the past few days, quite a few people have panicked and tried to escape from the capital, only to fall into our trap. Their escape routes, meeting places, and hiding places have all become our clues.”
Chu Ruohan pondered for a moment, still with doubts: "But, wouldn't arresting them one by one every day alert them? What if the real big fish have already escaped?"
Gu Junze shook his head: "The core figures of Qingmo Valley will not leave the capital easily. They have cultivated deep roots in the court for many years. Giving them up easily would be a loss."
"Besides, they think they're superior because of their status, and that I wouldn't dare touch them." Gu Junze sneered, "That's exactly what I'll take advantage of."
Chu Ruohan was still worried: "What you're doing is like teasing your prey; it's too risky. What if those people become desperate and do something drastic?"
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Gu Junze patted her hand. "This is a strategy that His Majesty and I discussed, with the aim of uprooting Qingmo Valley."
Chu Ruohan sighed: "I'm just worried about you. You've been busy until late every night these days, and you still have to attend court during the day. Can your body handle it?"
Gu Junze pulled her into his arms: "With you by my side, I naturally feel full of energy. Besides, Qingmo Valley has committed many evils over the years, and I am very gratified to be able to eradicate them today."
Chu Ruohan leaned against his chest and whispered, "I'm just afraid you're overworking yourself and hurting your health."
"No, it won't happen." Gu Junze gently stroked her hair. "At the latest, we'll be able to close the net after the New Year. By then, none of those parasites in the court will escape."
Chu Ruohan looked up at him: "Are you sure this is the best way?"
"Trust me." Gu Junze's eyes gleamed with determination. "I will not give anyone the opportunity to threaten our family."
Chu Ruohan nodded and said no more. She knew that Gu Junze always acted with discretion, and there must be a reason for his decision.
"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore." Gu Junze gently kissed her forehead. "You should rest. You're still waiting for me so late."
“Yue Shu wasn’t feeling well today, so I kept her company for a while,” Chu Ruohan said. “Ying Qing was so nervous that even Doctor Qian got impatient with him.”
Gu Junze laughed: "It's inevitable to feel this way when you're a first-time father. Wasn't I the same way?"
"Yes, you were even more nervous than him." Chu Ruohan smiled as she recalled her pregnancy. "Back then, you wanted to hold me in the palm of your hand."
"It is now too," Gu Junze said softly, taking her hand. "Let's go back to our room and rest. We have a tough battle to fight tomorrow."
Chu Ruohan obediently followed him back to the bedroom. Although her worries had not completely dissipated, she understood that Gu Junze had his own plans.
She only hoped that the operation against Qingmo Valley could be completed smoothly without any further setbacks.
Gu Junze tucked her in and said softly, "Go to sleep. I'm here, nothing will happen."
Chu Ruohan nodded, closed her eyes, and slowly fell asleep in her husband's warm embrace.
The next morning, Gu Junze got up early and dressed quietly, afraid of waking his sleeping wife.
"Leaving so early?" Chu Ruohan opened her eyes, her voice still sleepy.
"We need to go to the palace early today to report to the Emperor." Gu Junze leaned down and gently kissed her forehead. "You can sleep a little longer."
Chu Ruohan shook her head and sat up: "I'll see you off."
"No need, it's cold outside." Gu Junze pressed her shoulder. "You should rest more."
Looking at his tired yet resolute face, Chu Ruohan felt a pang of heartache: "You must take good care of yourself too."
Gu Junze nodded and turned to leave.
Chu Ruohan watched his retreating figure and sighed softly.
She knew that Gu Junze carried a heavy burden on his shoulders, and she understood that everything he did was for the stability of the country and for them to live in peace.
However, she couldn't help but worry when faced with such a formidable enemy.
Qingmo Valley has been hidden for many years, and its influence extends throughout the court and the country. Can it really be wiped out in one fell swoop?
Chu Ruohan couldn't sleep, so she got dressed and went to the hall, where she happened to meet Chu Yueshu, who had just come out of her room.
"Yue Shu, why are you up so early?" Chu Ruohan looked at her younger sister with concern. "Did you sleep well last night?"
Chu Yueshu nodded, her face slightly pale: "I slept okay, but I felt a little nauseous, so I thought I'd get up to get some fresh air."
“This is a normal reaction when you’re pregnant.” Chu Ruohan took her sister’s hand. “Come on, let’s go have breakfast.”
The two sisters arrived at the dining hall, where the maids had already prepared a light breakfast.
Chu Ruohan personally served her younger sister a bowl of millet porridge and added a few bites of steamed radish.
"Eating something light will help relieve nausea," Chu Ruohan said gently.
Chu Yueshu took the bowl and took a small sip: "Sister, are there so many things happening in the court lately? Brother-in-law called Yingqing away this morning."
Chu Ruohan placed a slice of lotus root in her sister's bowl, saying, "Eat ours, don't worry about them."