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

The Inner Guard Office, which oversees public offices.

The air here is filled with the faint fragrance of plum blossoms.

Although the bloody smell of the imperial prison from last night was gone, there was an added sense of imposing authority that made it hard to breathe.

Shangguan Wan'er was leaning back in a rosewood chair, flipping through a thick stack of reports.

Today she changed into a dark red official robe, and her long hair was tied up with only a black jade hairpin. She looked less fierce and more languid.

Of course, there's also that irresistible allure.

The woman's official robes were the same as the man's, but no matter how she wore them, her natural beauty could not be concealed.

Her long, slender legs were crossed at an angle, and her side profile made the round, crescent-shaped buttocks even more striking.

"I heard you used my commander's badge to swindle people at the Chang Le gambling den?"

Shangguan Wan'er didn't even lift her eyelids, and said in a cold voice.

Lin Yun stood below the hall, his heart tightening.

The Imperial Guard's spies were indeed everywhere; all his movements had been exposed.

Although I never intended to hide it, the term "fraudulent" can be applied in a way that can be both serious and minor!

"Your Excellency is wise. I was merely there to settle my family's assets and did not display my identification badge," Lin Yun said respectfully, bowing with his hands clasped.

"Settling down the family fortune?" Shangguan Wan'er put down the report and cast a half-smile at her.

"You're the first person to try and get a bargain on that big boss's turf."

"Stay away from there in the future. The waters of Chang Le Fang run deeper than you think."

"There are some accounts that even I, the commander, don't want to easily revisit, understand?"

These words sound like a warning, but they are actually a cautionary tale.

Lin Yun also caught the key words.

"I don't want to flip through it!"

It seems that the person behind Chang Le Gambling House has such great influence in the imperial court that he can even restrain the Plum Blossom Guard!

"Thank you for the reminder, sir. I understand and would never dare to cause you any trouble."

Lin Yun immediately seized the opportunity, getting so close that he could smell Shangguan Wan'er's fragrance, and then put on a troubled expression.

"But sir... that Qi-observation technique is really too mentally taxing. After investigating Zhao Wu yesterday, my head is still throbbing."

"If I didn't have some medicine to replenish my qi and blood, I'm afraid I'd be meeting my ancestors halfway through the next accounting audit."

"So?" Shangguan Wan'er raised an eyebrow, her big eyes full of amusement. She straightened up slightly and crossed her legs.

As always, her toes were pointed straight at Lin Yun.

"So... could you please give me an advance on some 'Qi-boosting pills'? Just deduct it from my future salary." Lin Yun had a straightforward look on his face, as if he were "working for the public good."

Buying Qi-boosting pills outside is too expensive, and they're also hard to find.

The Meihua team should have a sufficient supply of in-house defenders, and since they are considered insiders themselves, they should at least receive some subsidies, right?

Shangguan Wan'er chuckled, her beautiful eyes sweeping over Lin Yun before she suddenly swayed.

Lin Yun felt a flash of red before his eyes, a cold fragrance swept by, and then he shivered all over.

This feeling... is like someone just thoroughly patted him from head to toe, inside and out!

No... saying it was chilling to the bone isn't quite right, because that little hand seemed quite warm.

When I looked again, Shangguan Wan'er had returned to her original position, her fingertips holding the yellowed book on basic breathing techniques.

"Is this the kind of talent that comes from a military family?"

She flipped through two pages, her eyes revealing an undisguised look of disdain.

"This stuff is for martial arts practitioners who guard homes to build up their strength. For someone like you who hasn't even opened up their energy channels, practicing it will only make you eat a few more bowls of rice, and it will do you absolutely no good."

"My lord, my father and brothers died young, sacrificing their lives for the country. My family is destitute and has no one to help us. It is already difficult enough for us to afford this book..."

Lin Yun sighed at the opportune moment, perfectly embodying the word "down on his luck."

Shangguan Wan'er didn't reply. She casually shook the tattered book into dust and then threw a stack of scattered documents on the table.

"Get to work first."

She pointed to the documents, her tone becoming serious.

"The case at Qunyu Courtyard has implicated the Inner Guard."

"Li Hong'er was promoted by this commander. She had a reason for taking the money, which must be kept secret for now. But the matter of Qunyu Academy needs to be reported before the magistrate's office."

"If the memorials submitted to the Emperor are written in an unpleasant manner, the Imperial Guard will lose all face."

"Does Your Excellency mean... to balance the accounts?" Lin Yun's eyes lit up slightly; this was his area of ​​expertise.

"Not only should we settle the accounts, but we should also remove all the Imperial Guards," Shangguan Wan'er said coldly.

"This money should be classified as funds transferred for the purpose of luring and capturing rebels, rather than as 'embezzlement and bribery'."

"But the flow of funds doesn't match up. Those old foxes in the Ministry of Revenue can spot it at a glance. You, go and straighten it out."

Lin Yun took the documents and sat down directly in a corner of the office.

"As long as the numbers match, the logic is sound. This is something every commoner is familiar with."

This time, he did not open Tianyancha (a Chinese business information platform).

For Lin Yun, simply demonstrating his professional skills was no challenge at all.

He laid out the accounts of Qunyu Courtyard, Zhao Wu's confession, and the Inner Guard's records of public funds.

In the eyes of an auditor, all accounts are like building blocks.

As long as the path of robbing Peter to pay Paul is designed to be complex enough, and the end point is "public expenditure".

Then this money is innocent!

One hour.

The crisp sound of abacus beads clattering echoed in the communal room.

Lin Yun wrote swiftly, cleverly using the logic of "related party transaction deduction" and "bad debt provision" to package the bribes received by Li Hong'er as long-term operating funds prepared for the infiltrating agents.

When Lin Yun handed over the revised draft of the folded paper, Shangguan Wan'er read it carefully.

Her gaze shifted from initial suspicion to surprise, and finally to a deep-seated admiration.

This kid actually managed to launder black money into white money within a logical closed loop!

Moreover, every single transaction is traceable, leaving no trace of manipulation.

"Indeed wonderful."

Shangguan Wan'er closed the document and looked at Lin Yun again, her eyes showing a genuine sense of approval.

"Since you are so eager to learn, I, the commander, will give you a chance."

With a casual wave of her hand, a small white porcelain bottle and a book wrapped in dark blue brocade flew towards Lin Yun.

Lin Yun caught it steadily.

It felt slightly cool to the touch, and the porcelain bottle made a crisp clinking sound.

Judging from the noise, there are at least ten!

That's equivalent to one hundred strings of cash!

"This is the introductory chapter of the Plum Blossom Marrow Cleansing Classic, a hundred times better than your lousy breathing technique. Inside the bottle are ten top-quality Qi-tonifying pills."

Shangguan Wan'er leaned back in her chair, her expression weary but her gaze sharp as a blade.

"Once you've taken the goods, you have to do the work."

"From now on, you will be available whenever I call. If you have any questions about cultivation, you can ask me next time we meet."

"Thank you for your kindness, sir!"

Lin Yun bowed deeply, his heart pounding wildly.

In this era, cultivation techniques and resources define social class.

With these ten Qi-boosting pills, my Tianyancha (a Chinese business information platform) can finally stop being a "three-second man"!

"Go ahead," Shangguan Wan'er waved her hand.

"Remember this, your life now belongs not only to the Imperial Guard, but also to this commander."

"If you dare to use your energy for crooked and evil ways..."

"I understand, the ledger may lie, but your sword will not."

Lin Yun chuckled and tactfully withdrew.

As Lin Yun stepped out of the mansion, he touched the medicine bottle and cultivation manual in his arms, a smile playing on his lips.

Being a "senior accountant" in this Great Zhou Dynasty, and receiving this kind of compensation every day, would indeed be quite nice!