My father ordered me to kill the emperor, but His Majesty bestowed a princess upon me instead.

After Wei San finished saying the four words "the old treasury of the Ministry of Revenue", he fainted again.

The room fell silent for a moment.

The fire in the medicine furnace crackled softly, like someone burning paper money far away.

Ah Liu looked at Wei San and his face turned pale.

"Young master, will he not wake up again?"

Physician Song was finishing up the acupuncture when he heard this and frowned: "He won't die for now."

Ah Liu breathed a sigh of relief.

Physician Song added, "But he won't be awake for long."

Ah Liu caught his breath again.

I looked at Wei San on the bed.

This minor clerk from the old Ministry of Rites' treasury was given tranquilizers, stuffed into a carriage in Qinghe Lane, and used as living evidence to frame Shen An.

He should have died in the box.

It's already quite difficult for someone alive to utter the phrase "entered into the old treasury of the Ministry of Revenue" these days.

But this statement is also very problematic.

It was recorded in the old treasury of the Ministry of Revenue.

Why is Zheng Huaien not afraid of the three-day deadline?

Because he knew that three days would be enough to empty a warehouse.

No.

It might not even take three days.

If the people in the Ministry of Revenue are quick, they can burn what needs to be burned, move what needs to be moved, and replace what needs to be replaced in half a day.

I turned to look at Zhao Guanlan.

Zhao Guanlan was also looking at me.

The two officials from the Censorate exchanged a glance, their meaning clear.

can not wait.

Zhao Guanlan said, "Let's go to the Ministry of Revenue now."

Ah Liu was taken aback.

"Now?"

Zhao Guanlan looked at him.

Ah Liu immediately changed his tune: "Now is perfect, now is the best time. It's still early, the officials from the Ministry of Revenue probably haven't had breakfast yet, it's the perfect time to ambush them at the door."

I glanced at Ah Liu.

This kid has made great progress recently.

We already know that blocking the door should be done before people have finished eating.

Lu Huaizhou stood to the side, holding the folding book, his eyes still bloodshot.

"Lord Zhao, shall I go as well?"

Zhao Guanlan said, "You will stay in the Censorate."

Lu Huaizhou was taken aback.

Why?

"Write a memorial."

"Writing again?"

"If the Ministry of Revenue obstructs the sealing of the treasury, impeach them immediately. If the Ministry of Revenue has already moved the treasury, impeach them immediately as well. If the Ministry of Revenue claims that the old treasury has no accounts, impeach them immediately as well."

Lu Huaizhou remained silent for a moment, then cupped his hands in greeting.

"Your humble servant understands."

Ah Liu whispered, "Although Lord Lu doesn't have to go out this time, he's still quite busy."

Lu Huaizhou glanced at him.

"Busy trying to survive."

well.

The new recruits in the Censorate quickly grasped the essence of the matter.

I sealed the Qinghe half-tent, the rubbing of the pre-written seal, and the draft of Wei San's testimony separately.

A document was brought by Zhao Guanlan.

I'll bring one.

A copy was left with the Censorate.

Ah Liu looked at the three pieces of evidence with a complicated expression.

"Young master, we're getting more and more familiar with sealing things now."

"Practice makes perfect."

"So, could I open a certificate-sealing shop in the future?"

I look at him.

"You just need to survive this month."

Ah Liu immediately stopped talking.

Yan Xiaoyi leaned against the doorway and lazily asked, "Should I bring a knife?"

I look at him.

"When have you ever forgotten to bring it?"

"I'm asking you."

The "Returning Sheath" in my sleeve is pressed against my wrist bone.

It hasn't been away from me for long since last night.

I said, "Bring it."

Ah Liu glanced at my cuffs subconsciously.

I glanced at him too.

He immediately looked up at the sky.

"The weather is nice today."

The sky outside was overcast, and the weather didn't look good at all.

But no one called him out on it.

When we arrived at the Ministry of Revenue, it was just past 9 AM.

The area in front of the household registration office was busier than usual.

It's unusually lively.

Several minor officials from the Ministry of Revenue were carrying boxes out through a side door. The boxes were sealed with labels that read "Old Treasury Inventory".

Other officers stood guard at the side gate to prevent unauthorized personnel from approaching.

I stood at the street corner and watched for a while.

Ah Liu saw it too, and his voice immediately lowered.

"Young master, they really are moving."

I nodded.

They moved in a real hurry.

The box didn't go through the main entrance, but through the side entrance.

This shows that the Ministry of Revenue itself knew that this matter was not suitable for others to see.

Zhao Guanlan's face darkened.

"Walk."

As soon as we reached the side gate, the gatekeeper stopped us.

"Inspection of the old treasury of the Ministry of Revenue: No unauthorized personnel allowed."

I showed my badge.

"Shen An of the Censorate, by imperial decree, investigated and clarified the accounts and sealed the old treasury of the Ministry of Revenue."

The constable's expression changed.

"Please wait a moment, Lord Shen, I will inform you."

I laughed.

"It's acceptable to issue a notification."

The constable breathed a sigh of relief.

I continued, "Put the box down first."

The clerks carrying the boxes froze.

The constable hurriedly said, "Lord Shen, the old treasury account books are being sent to the Ministry of Revenue for verification. This is an internal matter of the Ministry of Revenue."

"The Qinghe records are probably still in the old warehouse. Now you're moving the records out of the old warehouse, and you call that internal affairs?"

"this……"

Zhao Guanlan stepped forward.

He doesn't like to talk nonsense.

But when he speaks, he commands respect.

"lay down."

Two words.

That's more effective than me saying twenty sentences.

The clerks looked at each other, then put the box away.

The box made a dull thud when it hit the ground.

There's a book inside.

Quite a lot.

Before I could even open the box, Zheng Huaien had already walked out of the Ministry of Revenue's gate.

He seemed to arrive very quickly.

They may have been waiting for this all along.

Zheng Huaien, dressed in his official robes, had a gentle expression. The events in Qinghe Lane last night, the testimony before the emperor this morning, and the relocation of the Ministry of Revenue's treasury at this moment were all just ordinary official matters.

"Lord Zhao, Lord Shen."

He bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.

"You two arrived in a hurry."

I said, "Minister Zheng moved in a hurry."

Zheng Huaien glanced at the box on the ground.

"The old warehouse of the Ministry of Revenue is old and damp, and infested with insects. After the case in Qinghe Lane last night, the Ministry of Revenue conducted an internal inspection of the old grain and accounts and prepared to move them to the open warehouse for verification in order to prevent the evidence from being damaged."

"So thoughtful."

"It's my duty."

I looked at him.

"Did Vice Minister Zheng know we were going to inspect the old treasury?"

"His Majesty has already issued a summons regarding Wei San's confession. If Lord Shen wishes to examine the accounts, the Ministry of Revenue will naturally cooperate."

He said that while he was cooperating, the box next to him was about to be lifted away.

This is very much like the Ministry of Revenue.

They verbally cooperated.

Carrying boxes in his hands.

I asked, "Since you're cooperating, why not seal the warehouse first?"

Zheng Huaien said, "Even when sealing the warehouse, we need to take inventory first."

Who will take the inventory?

"Treasurer of the Ministry of Revenue".

"The Ministry of Revenue is involved in a case, and the treasury officials of the Ministry of Revenue are taking inventory of the old treasury."

I nodded.

"This rule is so perfect, it's like a trap."

Zheng Huaien's expression remained unchanged.

"Lord Shen is joking again."

Zhao Guanlan said coldly, "Minister Zheng, His Majesty has given the Censorate three days to investigate and record the matter. Since the old treasury may be involved in the case, the Censorate shall seal the treasury from now on."

Zheng Huaien said, "Lord Zhao, the old treasury of the Ministry of Revenue involves old accounts of disaster relief, river works, cash payments, and warehouse storage over the years. If it is all sealed up, it may affect the affairs of the Ministry."

Zhao Guanlan said, "Three days."

Zheng Huaien remained silent for a moment.

Even three days can lead to mistakes.

I laughed.

"It's better to make a mistake than to lose your life."

Zheng Huaien looked at me.

I said, "Dead people are receiving food at the western soup kitchen, patients are being fed to sleep at the southern soup kitchen, the names of the dead are sewn onto the inner robes of the Ministry of Rites, and the covers of a collection of human garments are hidden at the bottom of the palace clothing chest. Vice Minister Zheng, if the old treasury of the Ministry of Revenue is mismanaged again, it will not only affect the affairs of the ministry."

When these matters were brought up, the expressions of the surrounding minor officials all changed.

The people in the Ministry of Revenue had certainly heard rumors.

But when I recounted each item at the household registration office, it was a different story.

Zheng Huaien's smile finally faded a bit.

"Lord Shen, the case is still under investigation."

That's why the warehouse was sealed off.

I looked at him.

"If it's decided, it won't just be sealing the treasury, it will be confiscating the Ministry of Revenue."

Ah Liu gasped in shock.

That might be a bit harsh.

But I don't have time to be gentle right now.

The old warehouse is being moved.

Saying one more pointless word could mean one less page in the account.

Zheng Huaien's eyes turned cold for a moment, but he quickly recovered.

"Since Lord Zhao and Lord Shen insist, the Ministry of Revenue can cooperate in sealing the treasury. However, please also stipulate in the Censorate that if the Ministry of Revenue's affairs are delayed during the sealing period, the Censorate will be held responsible."

Zhao Guanlan said, "Write."

Zheng Huaien was slightly taken aback.

Zhao Guanlan continued, "But it was also stated that before the old treasury of the Ministry of Revenue was sealed, the account boxes had already begun to be moved out under the pretext of inventory checks. If the account books in the boxes were missing, burned, or replaced, the Ministry of Revenue would be held primarily responsible."

Zheng Huaien fell silent.

I suddenly realized that Zhao Guanlan is really useful in critical moments.

He doesn't usually try to steal the spotlight.

His words were like nails.

Zheng Huaien looked at Zhao Guanlan.

After a moment, he said, "Okay."

He stepped aside.

"Please, both of you."

I didn't go in immediately, but instead pointed to a few boxes on the ground.

"Seal these first."

Zheng Huaien frowned.

"These are just old books waiting to be moved."

"Because it needs to be moved, it is sealed off first."

I said to Ah Liu, "Remember this. Before the old treasury of the Ministry of Revenue was sealed, four boxes were already carried out for inventory of the old treasury of the Ministry of Revenue. The Censorate will now seal them on the spot, and they must not be moved before they are opened."

Ah Liu wrote it down immediately.

It was written very carefully.

I wrote under the table last night, so being able to write standing up now is already a blessing.

Yan Xiaoyi stood to the side, staring at the clerk carrying the box.

Those minor officials were so under his gaze that they didn't know where to put their hands.

One of the young clerks had dust on his sleeve.

I glanced at it.

It's not ordinary gray.

It's paper ash.

The clerk noticed my gaze and immediately pulled his sleeves back.

I've made a mental note of him.

Nothing has been done yet.

There's no rush to catch small fish.

Let's look at the old warehouse first.

The old treasury of the Ministry of Revenue was located in the western part of the backyard.

The door is small, with gray walls, black tiles, and a newly replaced iron lock.

New lock on old door.

It's very eye-catching.

Ah Liu whispered, "Young master, this lock looks younger than the door."

"You have good eyesight."

"Is there a problem?"

"Do you think the Ministry of Revenue has suddenly become more fond of its old treasuries?"

He shook his head.

"That's definitely not it."

Zheng Huaien heard it, but ignored it.

He simply told the storeroom clerk, "Open the door."

The warehouse clerk stepped forward, took the key, and unlocked the door.

When the key was inserted, it clicked smoothly.

Everything went too smoothly.

An old lock and a lock, if not used for many years, won't be so easy to open.

Unless it's replaced.

Or it has been driven many times recently.

The door opened.

A musty smell of old paper wafted out.

It wasn't as chaotic as I had imagined inside.

The shelves are neatly arranged.

The boxes and booklets are arranged separately.

The ground was swept.

It's excessively clean.

I stood at the doorway, not going in immediately.

Zheng Huaien said, "Lord Shen, the old treasury has been opened. How do we investigate?"

I looked inside.

"Don't move yet."

Why?

"It's too clean."

Zheng Huaien said calmly, "The old treasury of the Ministry of Revenue is cleaned regularly."

I smiled.

"The West Soup Dishes also provide soup regularly."

He stopped talking.

I stepped into the warehouse.

Each step was taken on a very thin layer of dust.

The gray is very new.

It's not just years of accumulated dust.

It was dust from the paper that had just been swept away and then fell back down.

The old warehouse door was half-open behind me, letting in light, and dust particles floated slowly in the light.

Like a very light snowfall.

But I know that tents were burned in this snow.