Great Zhou: Emperor Wu, I need to check your taxes.

The rain was falling harder and harder.

"Collecting debts? Just passing by? Hahaha!!"

Upon hearing those two words, the leading captain seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world.

This man was none other than Zhou Xing, Lai Junchen's most trusted and ruthless henchman.

He stared coldly at the ignorant scholar before him, his sword slightly raised, rain dripping down the blood groove.

"In this capital city, once you enter the territory sealed off by my Judicial Office, let alone a debt collector, even a passing ghost will be skinned alive before leaving!"

Zhou Xing glanced at Zhao Wu, who was shivering in the mud and pointing out that Lin Yun was his accomplice, and a cruel smile appeared on his lips.

"Since Zhao Wu says you're the contact, then regardless of whether you are or not, take you back and subject you to two severe tortures, even if you aren't."

At the command, several captains immediately stepped forward, while above the alley, the red figures of the Plum Blossom Guards lowered their bodies like ghosts.

This is a true desperate situation!

Lin Yun forced down his wildly beating heart, his brain working at its limit under the stimulation of adrenaline.

In this era, reasoning with the Magistrate's Court is a dead end, and talking about the law is a pipe dream.

The only options are an exchange of benefits or a hedge against risks!

Because apart from the people from the Magistrate's Office below who were wearing black, the people above were all wearing red, so they didn't seem to be a group of people!

Lin Yun's gaze wasn't on the approaching blades, but fixed on the mud-covered account book that Zhao Wu had thrown at his feet.

A sudden wave of fatigue washed over me, and then the data came to mind.

[Audit Target: The ledger underfoot (cover damaged)]

[Audit findings: The audit revealed that the Qunyu Courtyard's cash flow for the past three years included an unusual expenditure codenamed "Ping An Fu" (Peace and Fortune).]

[Related persons: Zhao Wu, Zhou Xing (Fifth-Rank Military Officer of the Court of Judicial Review), Li Hong'er (Officer of the Plum Blossom Inner Guard).]

[Risk Assessment: Involves allegations of illicit funds within the Judicial Office, with Zhou Xingzhong allegedly enriching himself.]

That's it!

This explains why Zhou Xing was so murderous from the start, and why he didn't even want to conduct an interrogation.

He not only wanted to arrest the rebels, but also to settle his own mess!

It is more likely that this will be used against the Plum Blossom Guard, which is also a secret service agency but is more favored by Wu Zetian!

This is my only chance of survival!

Just as the captain's hand was about to grab him, Lin Yun shook his head to shake off his fatigue, took half a step back, and stomped hard on the muddy ledger.

"Wait!"

Lin Yun suddenly raised his voice, which pierced through the rain and carried a chilling certainty.

"Lord Zhou, I am Lin Erlang from General Dingyuan's mansion. Arresting me is easy, but if this account becomes a dead account, how will you fill the hole in your 'Peaceful Fortune'?!"

These words exploded in Zhou Xing's ears like a thunderclap!

Zhou Xing's previously nonchalant expression froze instantly, his sinister eyes widened suddenly, and the horizontal sword he had raised froze in mid-air.

"What did you say?!"

Zhou Xing's voice became somewhat hoarse, but his killing intent surged several times over in an instant.

The surrounding officers were puzzled, but that didn't stop the air from freezing instantly.

Lin Yun knew he had made the right bet, but he also knew he was on the edge of a cliff!

You must explain why you "know," or you will be considered a true core traitor and executed on the spot!

"This humble commoner, though unworthy, once received instruction from a mysterious master in the art of observing qi from Daoist Yuan Tiangang. I may not understand your legal case, but I do understand accounting!"

Lin Yun remained unfazed, quickly repackaging modern auditing observation methods as a kind of metaphysics revered by the people of the Great Zhou.

He pointed to Zhou Xing's left sleeve, which was wet with rain, and then to the account book at his feet.

"Every step leaves a mark. Lord Zhou has black marks on the inside of his left sleeve from long-term rubbing of silver ingots, and the cuff is slightly slack."

"And I only glanced at these scattered account books just now, and I saw a record of a 'toll' that is paid out every fifth day of the lunar month..."

Lin Yun stared into Zhou Xing's eyes and said, word by word:

"The amount of this money seems to be exactly the same as the 'weight' that adults always carry in their sleeves. This is the ability to read the situation; when the situation has run its course, the accounts will become clear."

"you……"

Zhou Xing's face turned from blue to purple.

His secret of embezzlement and bribery was exposed in public, and even with the Plum Blossom Guards present!

This scholar cannot be allowed to live!

"Spreading rumors and misleading the public! How dare you fabricate facts in public and ruin the reputation of an official of the imperial court!"

Enraged, Zhou Xing's eyes flashed with ferocity. No longer caring about capturing prisoners, he gripped his knife with both hands, creating a gust of wind as he slashed down at Lin Yun!

"Go to hell!"

This time it was a fatal blow, with no mercy shown.

Lin Yun's pupils contracted sharply.

He was certain that Zhou Xing would panic, but he was taking an even bigger gamble!

I bet those people in red aren't on the same page as the magistrate's office, and they'll never allow the trail to go cold!

"Clang!"

A crisp, piercing metallic clang shattered the rain.

A slender yet resilient chain of black iron, like a serpent emerging from its hole, precisely wrapped around Zhou Xing's blade at the critical moment, forcefully deflecting the fatal strike by three inches.

Sparks flew everywhere.

The blade grazed Lin Yun's temple, and a few strands of hair fell into the rain.

Lin Yun's back was soaked with cold sweat, but he still tried to remain calm and didn't even move his foot off the ledger.

"Lord Zhou, are you in such a hurry to kill someone to silence them?"

"This doesn't seem like the style of the Magistrate's Office in upholding justice."

A lazy, cool voice pierced through the rain.

At the alley entrance, the row of previously silent black-canopied carriages slowly parted.

A lavishly decorated yet understated blue-canopied carriage had stopped there at some point.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and a slender, white hand reached out.

What followed was a woman who would make any man's eyes pop out.

Her tall figure was clad in a red robe, and her extremely long legs left no gap between her thighs with each step, making her so eye-catching and inspiring.

Although the robes he wore were thick and wide, they were still pushed up high, which shows how much "capital" he had.

Not to mention her fair neck, her aloof face, and the exquisite plum blossom between her brows—all of which were stunning.

"Lord Shangguan!"

Zhou Xing's expression changed drastically upon seeing the newcomer, and he had no choice but to sheathe his sword, though his tone remained firm.

"This boy is spouting nonsense; he must be an accomplice of the rebels. I am about to execute him on the spot!"

This stunning woman ignored Zhou Xing completely, not even glancing at him.

She walked slowly to Lin Yun, and the rain seemed to be blocked by something, not touching her at all.

Those eyes, as clear as autumn water, were fixed on the scholar who could still talk eloquently even with a knife in his hand.

The imposing aura emanating from that person caused Zhao Wu, who was on the ground, to faint from fright.

"You said you can read qi?"

The woman named Shangguan had a beautiful voice, but it was like a piece of jade that had fallen into ice water, exuding a chilling coldness.

Lin Yun cupped his hands in greeting, his gaze involuntarily sweeping over the "capital," before immediately lowering his head, maintaining a humble yet assertive demeanor.

"I have only a superficial understanding. The so-called 'observation of aura' is nothing more than investigating a person's background by observing their words, actions, clothing, and even the flow of their wealth."

"In the eyes of ordinary people, this is what 'auditing' means."

His words were very apt, but Lin Yun, who was looking down, couldn't help but fix his gaze on those exquisitely long legs.

What kind of genes could create such beauty?

The black boots covered half of her calves, but the tight red trousers still revealed her calves, which were not bulky at all.

The thighs above were incredibly fleshy, strong and powerful!

If someone were caught using this, they'd either die or roll their eyes!

"Hehe, this is interesting."

The woman's lips curled slightly upwards, but there was no real smile.

"Then look at me, can you see anything? If you can't..."

"I'll hand you over to Lord Zhou and let him thoroughly examine your so-called qi-reading skills."

Hmm? You're offering to let me see it? Is that really okay?

No… that’s not the key point right now! The key point is listening to her. This woman surnamed Shangguan is definitely not on Zhou Xing’s side!

Even if she's not a good person, as long as I prove my abilities, I shouldn't be crushed to death on the spot!

Lin Yun took a deep breath, forcibly gathered his mind, and activated Tianyancha again.

This time, however, Lin Yun wasn't looking at the objects or the legs.

Instead, it was the cold, beautiful face in front of me.

What came over me was no longer fatigue, but a drowsy feeling that I was trying to force my eyes to close.

[Audit Subject: Shangguan Wan'er (Commander of the Plum Blossom Guard)]

Credit Rating: A (Extremely High)

[Financial Status: Excellent (High proportion of non-performing assets, poor operating performance, and risk of negative news emerging recently)]

Huh? Negative news broke out? Could it be...?

Lin Yun rubbed his eyes, glanced down at the ledger, and understood the situation.

Just now, this ledger also listed a member of the Plum Blossom Guard named Li Hong'er!

This is an extremely dangerous secret, but it also means immense value.

He didn't answer loudly directly, but instead stepped forward, risking great disrespect, and lowered his voice so that only Shangguan Wan'er could hear him:

"I suspect that Your Excellency's personal arrival today, just like the arrest of traitors and the magistrate's office, is merely a pretext?"

Shangguan Wan'er's pupils contracted slightly, and her lowered jade hands clenched even tighter.

Lin Yun didn't stop, fighting off the drowsiness that was making his eyelids droop, and continued to whisper:

"And if I'm not mistaken, your real purpose is this ledger."

"This shows that even among adults... there are unclean things."

Lin Yun spoke these last few words almost right next to Shangguan Wan'er's ear, staring at her earlobe as it gradually turned from white to pink.

Shangguan Wan'er's murderous aura erupted for a moment, but was forcibly suppressed the next second.

A flicker of shock flashed in her beautiful eyes, which then turned into extreme danger.

This scholar actually saw through what she was trying so hard to cover up!

Lin Yun knew the time was right, so he quickly took a step back and threw out the most crucial bait, which was also his life-saving charm.

"My lord, the magistrate's office wants a dead end, to muddy the waters so they can fish for themselves. But the Imperial Guard wants the truth."

"Or rather, adults need someone who can help them sort out these messy accounts, but who won't nag."

"I'm very professional, and... I keep my mouth shut!"

"If it weren't for Yan, even if you crushed me to death right now, I wouldn't say a word!"

A brief silence.

Raindrops pattered on the bluestone floor.

A moment later, Shangguan Wan'er suddenly turned around, her red skirt fluttering, her voice echoing throughout the rainy alley.

"Master Zhou."

"This person has been taken away by the Imperial Guards."

Zhou Xing's face turned ashen, and he almost roared.

"Shangguan Wan'er! This is a serious criminal who has betrayed the party, you..."

"How dare you speak to me, the commander, like that?"

"As for Zhao Wu and that ledger..." Shangguan Wan'er interrupted him directly with her red lips slightly parted, her tone leaving no room for doubt.

"Since this man surnamed Lin says this matter is related to you, then His Majesty will decide who is in charge of this matter."

"What, Lord Zhou, do you want to go before the Emperor and have your accounts reconciled with mine?"

"you……"

Zhou Xing gritted his teeth, the veins on his hand gripping the knife bulging.

But after glancing at the silently approaching imperial guards and then at Shangguan Wan'er, who remained calm and collected, he ultimately did not dare to make a move.

In the capital, even his master, Lai Junchen, would have to think twice before going head-to-head with the Plum Blossom Guards.

Moreover, she can release her inner energy to disperse the rain. This woman's realm has broken through again at some point, far surpassing mine!

"Let's go!"

Zhou Xing glared fiercely at Lin Yun, as if he wanted to etch his image into his very bones.

Shangguan Wan'er sat back in the carriage, leaving behind only a cold remark.

"Put him in the carriage. As for Zhao Wu, throw him into the imperial prison."

Two bodyguards immediately stepped forward and "invited" Lin Yun to stay on either side.

Lin Yun felt the cold armor of the guards behind him and smiled bitterly to himself.

Although I won't die for now, I've gotten into Shangguan Wan'er's car, the female spy chief...

My troubles have probably only just begun!