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

When I put the account card into the certificate box, I suddenly felt that it was heavier than gold.

It's just a wooden sign.

It was about half the size of a palm, dark black, with its edges worn shiny.

But it can connect Qinghe Yicang, Yongfeng Sangui, Ci'en Temple, Nanyaopeng, Changning Piandian, Princess Mansion, and even my identity in the southwest into a single rope.

The other end of the rope can be pulled gently by someone.

I am a traitor.

Xiao Lingyi was an accomplice.

The princess's residence was the hideout.

These people in the capital have really foreseen the future.

They were so far away that I wanted to applaud them.

Of course, it's best to use the back of a knife to make the drum.

When Bai Zhi arrived at the princess's residence, her face was even colder than the account book.

Ah Liu followed behind her, carrying a stack of booklets in his arms, looking as tired as if he had just been dragged out of Yongfeng Department Store.

"Young master, Miss Bai said we need to bring all of these."

I glanced at it.

Qinghe Yicang rice coupons total root.

Southern medicine shed patient records.

The Complete Record of Merits and Donations of Ci'en Temple.

Yongfeng Third Counter Ticket Stub.

He Rui's false confession before his death.

An old incense burner in the side hall of Changning.

Clear the account book.

There is also a supplementary register of congratulatory gifts from the Princess's residence.

Bring this set to the Golden Palace; it would be enough to stun half the court.

I asked Bai Zhi, "Have all the seeds been removed?"

Bai Zhi said coldly, "Those that can be tested have been tested, and those that can't be tested have been sealed off. Anyone who dares to say I've tampered with them, I'll chop off their hand."

Ah Liu whispered a reminder: "Miss Bai, you can't say that in the Golden Hall."

Bai Zhi looked at him.

Ah Liu immediately said, "But you can think of it this way."

I think Ah Liu's survival skills have been getting better and better lately.

Xiao Lingyi changed into her court dress.

It wasn't the wedding dress I wore when I expressed my gratitude yesterday.

This is the court attire Princess Zhaoning wore when she formally entered the court to meet the emperor.

It has a dark blue base with gold trim, and a jade pendant is held at the waist.

She stood in front of the main hall of the princess's residence, her face showing neither fatigue nor anger, but only an extremely sharp calmness.

I was going to tell her she should take a break.

But he swallowed the words back down his throat.

She won't rest.

The late empress's letter was in her sleeve, Aunt Zhaoyue's death was right before her eyes, and the old incense burner from the side hall of Changning was sent to her residence.

Letting her rest at this time is almost like sheathing a knife.

When we entered the palace again, it was already broad daylight.

I spent my second day of marriage in the Golden Palace twice in one night, more so than taking the imperial examination.

Ah Liu sat outside the carriage, yawning the whole way, and kept muttering, "Young master, I used to think that the wedding would be very lively, but I never expected it to be this lively."

I lifted the curtain to look at him.

"Want a lively wedding?"

Ah Liu immediately shook his head.

"For smaller groups, set up two tables. It's best if no one brings incense burners."

I nodded.

"Ambitious."

When the carriage arrived at the palace gate, many officials had already been urgently summoned into the palace.

Last night, Zheng Huaien was tried in the Xuanzheng Hall. Many people were still asleep when they were summoned back this morning.

They all looked unwell.

Grand Secretary Wang also came.

The old man is old and had stayed up all night; he should look haggard.

But when he got out of the car, he still stood up straight and had a calm look in his eyes.

Like an old tree, with roots that run very deep.

I saw him, and he saw me.

He bowed to Xiao Lingyi, his voice gentle.

"Good morning, Your Highness."

Xiao Lingyi looked at him.

"May Grand Secretary Wang also be well."

That sounds reasonable.

But I always feel like it's a bit like asking: How come you're not dead yet?

Grand Secretary Wang looked at me again.

"You've worked hard, Lord Shen."

I smiled.

"The Grand Secretary has it even harder, having to be disturbed by the accounting records at such an advanced age."

His gaze paused slightly.

"Clear the accounts?"

I looked at him.

"The Grand Secretary doesn't know?"

Grand Secretary Wang slowly said, "I only know that the palace urgently summoned me, but I do not know the details."

"That's perfect, the emperor will hear it in a moment."

After I finished speaking, I followed Xiao Lingyi inside.

Ah Liu whispered from behind, "Young Master, you're getting bolder and bolder when you talk to the Grand Secretary."

"I'm not brave."

"What is that?"

"If you don't sleep enough, your brain can't control your mouth."

Ah Liu thought it made a lot of sense and silently moved half a step away from me.

Xuanzheng Hall was reopened.

The emperor remained seated on the dragon throne.

His face was paler than at night, but his eyes were clear.

Gu Xingzhi had already returned to the palace and was standing by the side of the hall.

Pei Shen was also there.

After being "invited" back to the palace for questioning by Gu Xingzhi, he was not imprisoned, but simply remained in the palace temporarily.

This shows that the emperor has no intention of taking action against him yet.

Or rather, it cannot be done now.

Pei Shen's expression remained gentle when he saw us.

It seems that the confrontation at Zhaoyue Nunnery was just a mountain breeze.

I glanced at him.

He looked at me too.

Neither of them spoke first.

The Emperor said, "Shen An, Zhao Ning, why did you urgently request to see the official documents and enter the residence? What is the matter?"

Xiao Lingyi stepped forward.

"Father, Cao Heng, the third accountant of Yongfeng Bank, committed suicide by poisoning. Before his death, he left a note on the table saying 'The account card is in the Princess's residence.' Your son and Shen An returned to the residence to investigate and found an account card in the old incense burner of the Changning side hall, which was being replenished by the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, in the outer treasury of the Princess's residence."

As soon as she finished speaking, a low murmur arose in the hall.

Grand Secretary Wang frowned.

"Is the 'clearing the tent' at the Princess's residence?"

That was a very quick question.

It's like they've been waiting to ask.

Xiao Lingyi looked at him.

"Your Excellency has excellent hearing."

Wang Ge Lao paused for a moment.

"This old minister is simply shocked."

I stepped forward and presented the certificate box.

Wei passed it directly to the emperor.

The certificate box was opened.

The accounting board was placed inside, its blackness glaringly obvious.

On the front, old debts are settled.

On the reverse side, An Chaogang.

The hall was completely silent.

The accounting meeting was like a chilling wind.

Now that this sign is displayed, the eerie wind has taken shape.

Tangible things are the easiest to frighten people.

Because everyone knows that an organization capable of circulating such cards cannot simply be a group of corrupt officials temporarily banding together.

It has rules.

There is a safe.

There are old grievances.

And identity.

The emperor picked up the inventory list and looked at it for a moment.

"Where did you get it?"

I said, "The outer treasury of the Princess's residence, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices is sending in replacement gilded incense burners."

Grand Secretary Wang slowly said, "Since the matter was discovered at the Princess's residence, why didn't Lord Shen and His Highness first defend themselves, instead of rushing to the Golden Hall?"

I laughed.

"That's a good question, Your Excellency."

Grand Secretary Wang looked at me.

I said, "If this card was hidden by Your Highness and me, I should burn it, bury it, or stuff it into Ah Liu's pillow. It should never be presented to Your Majesty in broad daylight."

Ah Liu stood in the line of witnesses outside the hall, and when he heard the word "pillow," his face turned green.

Someone in the hall bowed their head.

I don't know if I want to laugh or I'm afraid to laugh.

Grand Secretary Wang's expression remained unchanged.

"Lord Shen's clever words cannot erase the fact that the investigation report was indeed found at the Princess's residence."

"I will not wipe it off."

I pointed to the incense burner.

"I am about to make it speak."

Wei Zhi instructed the eunuch to present the old incense burner from Changning.

The characters at the bottom of the incense burner were also revealed.

In the winter of the fourteenth year of Chengxi, offerings were made in the side hall of Changning.

The emperor's gaze lingered on that line of text for a long time.

long time.

Soon everyone in the hall realized something was wrong.

Xiao Lingyi looked at the emperor.

I'm watching too.

The emperor offered no explanation, only asking, "Who delivered this incense burner to the princess's residence?"

Qiu Tang stepped forward and presented the supplementary book of congratulatory gifts.

"Your Majesty, it was He Rui, a minor official from the Ministry of Rites' Department of Sacrificial Rites, who submitted the supplementary register. It is titled 'Supplementary Congratulatory Register from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.'"

Wei went directly to the booklet.

After reading it, the emperor handed it to the Minister of Rites.

The Minister of Rites had turned pale.

He originally thought he was just there to listen in on old cases from the Ministry of Revenue, but he never expected that the fire would spread to the Ministry of Rites in the blink of an eye.

"Your Majesty, He Rui is merely a minor official. I still need to investigate the matter of the Ministry of Rites' supplementary registration."

I said, "He Rui is dead."

The Minister of Rites' expression changed.

"Dead?"

"He took poison at the inn in the south of the city."

I had someone present me with the paper He Rui left behind before his death.

It was written on the paper:

The list of names has been sent to the princess's residence; Shen An will surely rebel.

"He Rui left this before he died," I said. "It seems to be referring to me."

Grand Secretary Wang said, "Isn't that right?"

I look at him.

"Your Excellency, do you think I, if I were a rebel, would have a minor official from the Ministry of Rites write such a blatant note?"

Grand Secretary Wang said calmly, "The more straightforward it is, the more likely it is to be true."

"And the more likely it is to be stupid."

I smiled.

"While I may not be the most intelligent, I am not that stupid either."

Ah Liu nodded vigorously outside the hall.

It was stepped on by Bai Zhi and immediately stopped moving.

I continued, "He Rui and Cao Heng, both dead, left behind inscriptions pointing to the Princess's residence and your minister. But both inscriptions show signs of coercion."

Gu Xing stepped forward and explained the evidence, including the marks left by Cao Heng's left hand being forced to dip in tea to write, the pressure marks on his right hand, and the broken handwriting on He Rui's note.

Gu Xingzhi speaks without embellishment.

Just state the facts.

It's annoying to have someone like that as a witness.

Because it's hard to say who he's favoring.

Pei Shen suddenly said, "Even if it was written under duress, it doesn't mean the account book wasn't kept in the Princess's residence."

I looked at him.

"Lord Pei is right."

Ah Liu was used to me arguing with others outside the palace, but this time he just silently covered his chest.

I said, "So let's look at the incense burner again."

Angelica dahurica stepped forward.

She had been checking the accounts all night and looked terrible, but her eyes were bright.

"Your Majesty, I have verified the copy of the Taichang Temple's register of sacrificial objects. In the winter of the fourteenth year of Chengxi, there was a gilded lotus-patterned incense burner in the side hall of Changning Palace. After the late Empress passed away, the objects in the hall were sealed up, and according to regulations, it should be placed in the Taichang Temple's discarded object storehouse."

The Minister of Rites immediately replied, "The Imperial Household Department's abandoned utensil storehouse is under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Household Department. The Ministry of Rites is only in charge of the regulations and rules of rites, not the specific items."

Bai Zhi coldly replied, "Why are you in such a hurry, sir? I haven't even mentioned your hand yet."

The Minister of Rites' face stiffened.

Bai Zhi presented another booklet.

"In this year's supplementary list of wedding gifts, the Taichang Temple replaced the incense burner. The approval process was handled by the Ministry of Rites' Sacrificial Affairs Department, and the item was taken to the Taichang Temple's discarded item warehouse. The handover was signed at three different locations."

She pointed to the booklet.

"He Rui of the Ministry of Rites, Lu Zhun of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and another seal of the Ministry of Rites."

The Minister of Rites had sweat on his forehead.

"The official seal may be used by the relevant officials in accordance with regulations..."

"Using the seal is permissible, but taking old artifacts from the Changning side hall is also permissible?"

Bai Zhi's voice turned cold.

"For the princess's wedding, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices offered a congratulatory gift. Of all the auspicious objects in the world, they chose an old incense burner from the side hall of Changning Palace, which was used before the late empress passed away. They even stuffed a Qing Dynasty tent plaque inside the burner. My lord, this is quite a choice of items."

The Minister of Rites was completely speechless.

The emperor looked at Gu Xingzhi.

Gu Xingzhi said, "Lu Zhun, the clerk of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, has been detained. He Rui of the Ministry of Rites is dead. Lu Zhun had seen He Rui before his death."

A thought struck me.

Gu Xingzhi gets things done even faster than I do.

The Emperor asked, "What did Lu Zhun say?"

Gu Xingzhi said, "Lu Zhun said he was acting on orders from his superior to bring the weapons."

"Who is Shangguan?"

"Zhou Bingli, Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices."

Zhou Bingli, Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

Someone in the hall gasped softly.

I looked at Grand Secretary Wang.

Grand Secretary Wang's expression finally darkened slightly.

Xiao Lingyi said in a low voice, "Zhou Bingli is a student of Grand Secretary Wang."

it is good.

Finally, a person emerged from the incense burner.

Grand Secretary Wang slowly stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, although Zhou Bingli was recommended by this old minister, this old minister has never been involved in the affairs of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices."

The emperor looked at him.

"I haven't asked you yet."

Grand Secretary Wang lowered his head.

"This old minister is filled with trepidation."

Fear my ass.

If this old man is truly terrified, I'll chew up the accounting plaque.

I looked at Grand Secretary Wang.

"A disciple of the Grand Secretary sent an old incense burner from Changning to the Princess's residence. Inside the burner was a Qing Dynasty account book. Before his death, a minor official from the Ministry of Rites wrote that Shen An would definitely rebel. Before his death, the accountant of the Yongfeng three-tiered store wrote that the book was in the Princess's residence."

I paused for a moment.

"Does Your Excellency consider this an attempt by someone to write a seditious memorial against me?"

Grand Secretary Wang raised his eyes.

"Lord Shen is upright and honest, so naturally he has nothing to fear."

I laughed.

"I am upright, but I fear that someone might stuff incense into my burner in the middle of the night."

Someone in the hall was trying not to laugh.

The emperor did not laugh.

He stared at the incense burner, his expression growing colder and colder.

I suddenly realized that, for the emperor, this was not just about framing the princess's residence.

Someone brought him some old items from the night the late empress passed away.

It was as if it was reminding him.

We still have the things you didn't finish investigating back then.

The emperor slowly spoke: "Summon Zhou Bingli."

Gu Xingzhi said, "We're already outside the palace gates."

The emperor glanced at him.

Gu Xingzhi added, "I brought it with me when I came."

I admire him.

Although Commander Gu doesn't take jokes, he's a really pleasant person to work with.

When Zhou Bingli was brought into the hall, his face was pale.

He was around fifty years old, with a short beard, and dressed in a neat official robe, but his forehead was covered in sweat.

Upon entering the hall, he knelt down.

"Your subject, Zhou Bingli, Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

The emperor asked, "Did you order Lu Zhun to retrieve the old incense burner from the side hall of Changning Palace?"

Zhou Bingli said in a trembling voice, "It was my oversight."

Another oversight.

Now, whenever I hear those two words, I want to accuse them of a crime.

The emperor said coldly, "I ask you, did you order someone to remove it?"

Zhou Bingli prostrated himself on the ground: "Yes."

Why?

"On the occasion of the princess's wedding, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices was supplying congratulatory items. I noticed that the incense burner was in good condition, so..."

"nonsense."

Xiao Lingyi suddenly spoke.

Zhou Bingli shuddered.

Xiao Lingyi looked at him.

"The old artifacts from the side hall of Changning Palace cannot be used as wedding gifts according to palace regulations. As the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, how could you not know this?"

Zhou Bingli was sweating profusely.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty was negligent for a moment."

I walked over and squatted down in front of him.

"Zhou Shaoqing".

He didn't dare look at me.

I asked, "Who gave you permission to take it?"

"unmanned."

"Who put up the 'clearance' sign?"

"I don't know."

Why did He Rui die?

"I don't know."

"Why did Lu Zhun say he was acting on your orders?"

"I did indeed let him retrieve the weapon, but I was unaware that the token was inside."

"Then why are you shaking?"

Zhou Bingli froze.

I looked at him.

"It's normal for you to be afraid of His Majesty. It's normal for you to be afraid of the princess. But your hands trembled when you heard about the clearing of the tents. But when you heard about He Rui's death, your hands stopped trembling."

Zhou Bingli's face turned even paler.

"This means He Rui is dead, you know that."

Gu Xingzhi looked at him.

"Zhou Bingli."

Zhou Bingli suddenly looked up at Grand Secretary Wang.

Just one glance.

very short.

But everyone watching the case in the Golden Hall saw it.

Grand Secretary Wang closed his eyes.

As if realizing he had made a grave mistake, Zhou Bingli immediately prostrated himself on the ground.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty does not know..."

The emperor said, "Gu Xingzhi."

Gu Xing stepped forward.

"Take him away for questioning."

Zhou Bingli suddenly looked up, his voice trembling: "Your Majesty! I have something to say!"

Grand Secretary Wang suddenly said, "Zhou Bingli, in the imperial court, every word you say is a crime. Think carefully before you speak."

This is not a reminder.

This is a warning.

Zhou Bingli's face turned deathly pale.

I looked at Grand Secretary Wang and suddenly smiled.

"Your Excellency, you truly care about your students."

Grand Secretary Wang said calmly, "I do not wish to see people speaking nonsense out of fear of punishment and falsely accusing court officials."

"Then let him speak. If he's lying, then we can punish him later."

The emperor said, "Speak."

Zhou Bingli trembled like a leaf.

"Your Majesty, I...I am ordered to retrieve the old incense burner from Changning."

"On whose orders?"

His lips trembled.

He couldn't say anything for a long time.

Gu Xingzhi took a step forward.

Zhou Bingli finally closed his eyes and squeezed out two words as if through clenched teeth.

"Wang Shi".

There was a dead silence in the hall.

Grand Secretary Wang suddenly opened his eyes.

"Zhou Bingli!"

Zhou Bingli kowtowed repeatedly.

"I deserve to die! I only know that the Wang family sent a note with their private seal, ordering me to retrieve the old incense burner from Changning and hand it over to He Rui of the Ministry of Rites to be included in the princess's congratulatory gifts. I had no idea that there was a clear account book inside!"

Wang's private seal.

The old Yongfeng banknotes also bear the Wang family's private seal.

I looked at Grand Secretary Wang.

This time, the old Grand Secretary's face finally lost all its gentleness.

The emperor picked up the old Yongfeng note.

The ticket reads:

In the fourteenth year of Chengxi, Lan Yi was appointed to hold the account book, which was stored in three cabinets.

Ticket holder: Zhaoyue.

Wang's private seal.

The emperor's voice was not loud.

"Prime Minister Wang".

He did not call him Grand Secretary Wang.

It was called Wang Xiang.

That was the title given to Grand Secretary Wang when he was assisting in government.

"Do you have anything to say?"

Grand Secretary Wang slowly knelt down.

He knelt very slowly.

But it's very stable.

"His Majesty."

"This old minister is old and we have failed to notice that the women and servants in our household were using the Wang family's private seal to carry out their duties."

I almost burst out laughing.

Another oversight.

Today, in this golden palace, the very word "oversight" is almost killing me.

Grand Secretary Wang continued, "But to accuse this old minister of being involved with the Qingzhang Association based solely on a private seal, an incense burner, and the words of a Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices out of fear of punishment is probably not convincing to the public."

Older gingers are more spicy.

Zheng Huaien's oversight was a fatal mistake.

Grand Secretary Wang's oversight was a fatal mistake.

He admitted that his personal seal was used, but denied that he was aware of it.

Zhou Bingli was merely a student.

He Rui is dead.

Cui Jing is a relative of the Wang family, but it can be said that he ran the business privately.

Yongfeng's three counters bear the Wang family's private seal, but they can also be said to be old banknotes from their home.

Every thread on Grand Secretary Wang's body was attached, but none of them could immediately strangle him.

The emperor looked at him.

I'm watching too.

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the hall.

An imperial guard entered the hall and knelt on one knee.

"Your Majesty, an urgent report from the inner prison!"

The emperor's eyes darkened.

"explain."

"Zheng Huaien committed suicide in prison."

The hall fell silent.

Xiao Lingyi suddenly looked at me.

My heart sank.

Did Zheng Huaien commit suicide?

impossible.

How could someone so afraid of death, who would drag everyone down with him, commit suicide right after vomiting out Zhaoyue Nunnery?

Gu Xingzhi asked coldly, "How did you die?"

The guard bowed his head.

"Taking poison."

It's poison again.

I looked at Grand Secretary Wang.

Grand Secretary Wang knelt there, his face filled with sorrow and shock.

It's as if I just heard the news.

I slowly exhaled.

it is good.

Zheng Huaien's tail has finally been completely cut off.

With his death, many questions became even more difficult to answer.

But sometimes even the dead can talk.

I looked at the emperor.

"His Majesty."

"Your Majesty, I request that Zheng Huai'en's body be examined."

Grand Secretary Wang looked up.

"Lord Shen, Zheng Huai'en is already dead. Do you still wish to desecrate his corpse?"

I looked at him.

"The Grand Secretary heard that too."

"Taking poison."

I said, word by word, "Too many people have died in the past two days. I cannot rest easy until I verify the cause."

The emperor remained silent for a moment.

"allow."

I bowed my head in greeting.

"I obey your decree."

As I turned to leave the hall, I glanced at Grand Secretary Wang one last time.

He knelt in the hall, his gray hair hanging down, looking like a loyal old minister.

But I know.

In this hall, the person most skilled at keeping accounts may not be Zheng Huaien.

Zheng Huaien is dead.

The debt isn't settled yet.

The real old accountant had only just begun to work with the abacus.