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

Meanwhile, Lin Yun had already devoured the food on the table, changed into a brand-new official robe, and strode out the door.

As soon as he stepped out of the alley, he keenly sensed those faint gazes following him again.

The magistrate's office is mostly composed of a motley crew.

But one thing must be admitted is that they are serious about risking their lives.

"Go ahead and follow along. This will allow you to see what I want you to see."

Lin Yun smirked and, instead of trying to shake them off, went straight to the Shunyi Pawnshop on the street.

The pawnshop had already closed, but after Lin Yun tapped a specific code a few times, the door silently opened a crack.

Old Qiao poked half his head out, looked around warily, and let Lin Yun in.

"Lord Lin, it's so late..."

"Old Joe, I'm planning something big, and I need your help."

Lin Yun got straight to the point, lowering his voice.

"I want to try my luck at the Chang Le Casino, but I don't want to be stopped by the magistrate's office before I even get inside."

"Take a few brothers and hold them off from behind. Don't let anyone easily get in and cause trouble."

Upon hearing this, Old Joe's expression immediately changed.

"Lord Lin, that gambling den is..."

"I know," Lin Yun said, raising her hand to interrupt him.

"Commander Shangguan told me that the boss behind that is a tough nut to crack. But tonight I'm going to test that tough nut."

"Fortune favors the bold. If we win this gamble, we'll have something real to challenge the Magistrate's Office."

"You must have heard about Zhou Xing from the Judicial Office going to the Imperial Guard today, right?"

Lin Yun stopped speaking at this point.

Looking into Lin Yun's eyes, which shone brightly in the night, Old Qiao finally gritted his teeth and slapped his thigh.

"Alright! Since Lord Lin has the guts, Old Qiao will risk his life to go crazy with you!"

……

Chang Le Casino remains the same decadent den of debauchery.

The sounds of dice clashing, gamblers roaring, and winners laughing wildly filled the air.

No matter who they are outside, once they enter here and sit at the gambling table, their lives are all determined by the dice in the cup, without any difference.

"Bang!"

The two heavy doors were kicked open from the outside, and the loud noise instantly drowned out all the noise.

The entire gambling den fell silent for a moment.

Everyone turned around in astonishment, only to see a young official in a dark green robe and a leather belt standing calmly at the door with his hands behind his back.

His official robes stood out starkly among the group of shirtless, sweating gamblers, yet they exuded an aura of authority that deterred anyone from acting recklessly.

"An official... an official?"

"He's an Imperial Censor! A seventh-rank official!"

Someone in the crowd recognized the rank of the official robes, which immediately caused a stir.

The head manager, Qian Si, sitting behind the tall counter, was idly fiddling with an abacus.

Upon seeing the newcomer, a hint of surprise flashed in Green Bean's eyes.

This person... looks familiar?

Is this that good-for-nothing scholar from the Lin family?!

How did he suddenly transform into an official in robes?!

"Oh, isn't this Young Master Lin... oh no, Lord Lin?"

Qian Si, being a seasoned veteran who had seen it all, quickly suppressed his shock and greeted them with a forced smile.

"What brings you here? Want to play a couple of rounds? Or...?"

"Manager Qian looks quite well. However, I'm short of money and can't afford to play this game."

Lin Yun walked straight to the counter, took out the jade thumb ring from his pocket, and slapped it onto the mahogany counter with a snap.

"I have a treasure that I'd like to exchange for some money. Could you please take a look at it, Manager Qian?"

Qian Si was taken aback, picked up the ring and looked at it.

It feels warm and smooth to the touch, with a vibrant green color. Not only is the material top-notch, but the carving is also the work of a master craftsman from the imperial court.

"Tsk tsk tsk, this is good stuff."

A flash of greed crossed Qian Si's eyes.

He's a connoisseur; this thing could fetch at least eight hundred strings of cash on the black market.

If a wealthy lady takes a liking to him, even a fortune wouldn't be enough to entice him.

"How much does Lord Lin want to exchange?" Qian Si asked tentatively.

"What do you think?" Lin Yun looked at him with a half-smile.

Qian Si rolled his eyes and held out a hand.

"Five hundred strings of cash. That's the price for a sure thing. Others don't get this price when they come to the gambling den to exchange money."

"five hundred?"

Lin Yun chuckled, as if he had heard a joke, and shook his head helplessly.

"Manager Qian, you should be honest and fair in business."

"This is a top-grade treasure. Aren't you afraid of burning your hands by trying to bargain like this?"

Lin Yun extended another finger and gently tapped the table.

"A thousand strings of cash. If it's even a penny less, I'll flip this counter over."

Qian Si's face twitched.

A thousand strings of cash? They're trying to rip him off!

Even if they can be sold, the profit won't be much.

But looking at Lin Yun's official robes, he thought that this might not be just a one-time deal; perhaps he could make a profit in the future...

"Fine! A thousand strings of cash it is!"

Qian Si gritted his teeth and nodded with a pained expression.

"However, Lord Lin, if this is pawned now, the interest rate will be quite high."

"Interest rates are negotiable."

Lin Yun put away the pawn ticket he had just written, but he didn't intend to take the money and leave.

"Manager Qian, business is done. How about you do me a favor this long night?" Lin Yun suddenly lowered his voice and changed his tone.

"Hmm? Is there anything you need my help with, sir?"

"I'm currently investigating a money laundering case at Qunyu Courtyard. I remember your subordinate Wang San is sworn brothers with Zhao Wu, the 'Big Teapot' over there?"

"Moreover, before the downfall of Qunyu Academy, a large sum of money flowed into your gambling den's accounts."

Upon hearing this, Qian Si's face, which had initially held a hint of flattery, instantly darkened.

"Lord Lin, you can place bets as you please, but you can't say things carelessly."

Qian Si's smile vanished, he took a step back, and his eyes turned cold.

"Wang San and Zhao Wu are long dead; there's no way they can testify. Are you trying to pin this on me?"

"Whether it's a case of shifting blame or not, let me check the accounts and I'll know," Lin Yun said calmly.

"Check the accounts?" Qian Si sneered.

"Lord Lin, although you're dressed in official robes, don't take yourself too seriously!"

"This Chang Le gambling den has been operating here for so many years, what kind of storms hasn't it weathered?"

"You think you're qualified to investigate our accounts, given your lowly seventh-rank official status?"

Just as Qian Si finished speaking, a cold, damp wind suddenly swept in from outside the gambling den.

A dozen or so men dressed in black robes walked in slowly from both sides.

Although they didn't actually fight, their intention to start a fight was crystal clear!

There's a familiar face inside; he's from the Magistrate's Office!

Qian Si's eyes lit up, mistakenly thinking that this person had come to support him, and he immediately straightened his back a lot.

"Hehe, Lord Lin, it seems that it won't be so easy for you to leave today."

Qian Si sneered and leaned against the counter pillar, picking the dirt out of his fingernails.

The gamblers who had been watching the spectacle were terrified when they saw this, and they all tried to slip away, clinging to the wall.

The atmosphere instantly became extremely tense.

It's like a fully drawn bowstring, ready to snap at any moment.