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

Setting up an account in front of the soup kitchen was the most un-official thing I've ever done in my life.

When officials audit accounts, it usually happens at the yamen (government office).

The door was closed, tea was brewed, account books were piled up, and several people frowned as they flipped through them.

The people waited outside.

In the end, all I got was the message "the case is complicated."

Then it gets complicated to the point where people die, food runs out, and money disappears without a trace.

Not today.

Today's accounts must be displayed on the street.

Let the disaster victims see it.

Let the guards see.

Let the guards of the princess's residence see.

It also lets those eyes hiding in the crowd see.

I had three long tables brought over.

The first Qingheyi Granary Rice Coupon.

The second ticket stub was placed in Yongfeng Third Counter.

The third sheet contains the patient records from the South Pharmacy and a copy of the donation notes from Ci'en Temple.

Angelica dahurica is not here.

I miss her very much.

I'm not thinking about her as a person.

She was thinking about her iron abacus.

Since I didn't have angelica root, I had to make it myself.

Fortunately, she had already picked out these problems for me; they were all the most damaging ones.

I held up a wooden sign.

"Tian Xiaoya".

A commotion broke out in the crowd.

The little girl who woke up at the southern medicine shed was led to the front by the female doctor.

Her face was still pale, and her eyes were timid, but she could already stand.

"This child is on the roster of the South Soup Dishes and will receive soup for three days."

I raised the first tent.

"Receive one dou of rice from the Qinghe Charitable Granary Rice Certificate."

the second one.

"At the South Pharmacy, a patient experienced palpitations and fear, and was given a dose of sedative."

The third one.

"In the merit book of Ci'en Temple, the merit for placement in the water and land is one tael and seven mace of silver."

I looked at the crowd.

"She was written about four times."

"But how many of her meals were actually substantial?"

Tian Xiaoya's mother cried out from the crowd, "Not even a single meal!"

This statement is like a stone thrown into water.

Crying erupted from the crowd.

I didn't stop.

"Zhao Gui".

A tall, thin man was helped out.

He was one of the disaster victims rescued from the firewood shed of Ci'en Temple.

"The account book states that he died of illness, whether by land or water."

I spread out the pages of the merit book.

"But he's still alive."

Zhao Gui knelt down with a thud, his voice hoarse: "I'm still alive! I haven't received any grain! They locked us in the woodshed, saying that if we wrote our names down, we'd get food!"

Anger began to surge in the crowd.

This time, no one threw stones at Xiao Lingyi and me.

They were looking at Wang Fu.

Wang Fu knelt on the ground, his face paler than a dead man's.

I took out the notice from Wang Fu's body again.

"This was found in the bosom of Wang Fuhuai, the steward of Wang Gelao's residence."

"It says on it that you are plotting a rebellion with Princess Zhaoning and me today."

I slammed the notice on the table.

"But have you rebelled?"

Someone in the crowd shouted, "No!"

"Do you want to kill His Majesty?"

"No!"

"Do you want to burn down the capital?"

"No!"

"What do you want?"

This time, the answer wasn't from just one person.

There are many people.

"grain!"

"Survive!"

"statement!"

I nodded.

"it is good."

"Then let's make things clear."

"The disaster victims are asking for food, not rebelling."

"Disaster victims wanting to investigate relief funds is not treason."

"The disaster victims' refusal to be included in the death register is not an act of rebellion!"

I raised the Emperor's Golden Medal.

"His Majesty's golden token is here. Anyone who dares to accuse your request for grain of treason today is deceiving the Emperor!"

After those words were spoken, the crowd calmed down.

It's finally stabilized.

Xiao Lingyi glanced at me.

There was a barely perceptible shift in her eyes.

I know we've managed to suppress the fire for now.

But not enough.

Suppressing a fire can only provide temporary relief.

To put out the fire, the person who started it must be pressed into the ashes.

I looked at Wang Fu.

"Manager Wang."

He gritted his teeth and remained silent, head bowed.

"Where did you get this old Qing Dynasty account book in your arms?"

Wang Fu did not answer.

Yan Xiaoyi walked over and lazily placed the knife on the table.

"I'm asking you a question."

Wang Fu shuddered.

But he still didn't say anything.

I smiled.

"loyalty."

His complexion improved slightly.

I continued, "But do you think Grand Secretary Wang will protect you?"

Wang Fu's face turned pale again.

"Zheng Huaien is dead."

I looked at him.

"He Rui is dead. Cao Heng is dead. Su Que is dead. Zhao Yue is dead. Zhou Bingli has been taken into custody. Cui Jing has already confessed."

"Manager Wang, do you think you're more important than Zheng Huai'en?"

Sweat began to bead on his forehead.

I pushed the notice in front of him.

"This is a forgery of the princess's seal. Forging a royal seal and inciting disaster victims to rebel—that's enough to get you killed several times over!"

Wang Fu's lips moved slightly.

"I...I was just following orders."

well.

Again, I was ordered to do it.

These two words appear more often today than "disaster relief".

I asked, "On whose orders?"

Wang Fu closed his eyes.

Did not say.

I nodded.

"OK."

I turned to the guards and said, "Take Wang Fu back; there's no need for further interrogation."

Wang Fu suddenly looked up.

I said calmly, "His silence means he's willing to take the blame for his master. In that case, treat him as having forged the princess's seal and incited treason."

Wang Fu became anxious.

"Lord Shen!"

"Tell me or I'll take you away."

"Yes...yes, Madam!"

My eyes flickered.

"Which lady?"

Wang Fu's voice trembled as if his bones had been removed.

"Madam Wang, the Grand Secretary."

A low murmur rippled through the crowd.

I continued, "Does Grand Secretary Wang know?"

Wang Fu immediately shook his head.

"I don't know! The Grand Secretary doesn't know!"

That was said too quickly.

So fast it's like reciting a poem.

I sighed.

"Manager Wang, this is no fun."

"I really don't know if the Grand Secretary knows!"

"Who took the Wang family's private seal?"

"lady."

"Who gave you the genuine document for clearing up old accounts?"

"lady."

"Who gave you the orders to drop off signs and post notices in the south of the city?"

"lady."

I nodded.

"Very good, they are all ladies."

Wang Fu nodded vigorously.

"It's Madam."

I suddenly asked, "Which courtyard does Grand Secretary Wang usually reside in?"

Wang Fu was taken aback: "East Courtyard."

"Which hospital is Madam staying in?"

"West Courtyard".

"Where is the Wang family's private seal kept?"

"The hidden cabinet in the east study."

As soon as he said it, his expression changed instantly.

East Study Room.

Grand Secretary Wang resides in the East Courtyard.

The private seal was placed in the East Study.

If you are willing to take it, then of course you may.

But it would be rather awkward if the Grand Secretary said he didn't know.

I smiled.

"Manager Wang, write this down."

The guards immediately made a record.

Wang Fu's face turned ashen; he knew he had let something slip.

I then asked, "Who has the key to the hidden cabinet in the east study?"

Wang Fu shut up.

Yan Xiaoyi tapped the scabbard lightly with his finger.

Wang Fu stammered, "Your Excellency, Madam, and... and my son."

Who opened the closet last night?

Wang Fu's eyes were glazed over.

"lady."

"You saw it?"

"I see...I see it."

"Is the Grand Secretary in?"

He did not answer.

I took a step closer.

"Steward Wang, there are so many disaster victims in the south of the city. Are you now taking the blame for Elder Wang because you think he can still save you?"

Wang Fu was trembling all over.

I whispered, "If he really wanted to save you, he wouldn't have let you come to the south of the city with this treason notice."

"You're a dead end."

"Zheng Huaien too."

"You're even lighter than Zheng Huaien."

Wang Fu collapsed to the ground.

After a long silence, he said in a hoarse voice, "The Grand Secretary is here."

at last.

Explain yourself.

Wang Fu cried.

"After the incident at Yongfeng last night, the Grand Secretary sent me to the Third Bureau to provide backup. He said that if Shen An found out about the Imperial Accounts, he should send the real document to the south of the city and tell the disaster victims that Princess Zhaoning was ordered by the late Empress to clear the accounts, and then release the news that Shen An is the son of Shen Lie."

Xiao Lingyi's face turned cold.

I asked, "Who gave you the news about Shen Lie's son?"

Wang Fu looked up at me.

"The Grand Secretary said that this line already existed in the capital."

My heart sank.

It has been around for a long time.

In other words, my identity wasn't only discovered in the last two days.

The accounting committee knew about it long ago.

They haven't revealed it yet; they're waiting for the most opportune moment.

That's really patient.

I asked, "Who found that out?"

Wang Fu shook his head.

"I don't know. I only know that the Grand Secretary said that Shen An's knife will eventually be used against His Majesty."

it is good.

My knife has been meticulously planned and executed by many people.

My father arranged for me to kill my father.

The emperor assigned me to investigate the case.

Grand Secretary Wang arranged for me to plot a rebellion.

I was the only one left, like a hapless guy looking for a way with a knife.

I then asked, "Where are Bai Song's old accounts?"

Wang Fu's expression changed.

"I have no idea."

"You really don't know?"

"I really don't know! The old debts were brought back to the manor by someone sent by the madam. I only saw the box, and I don't know where it was sent afterward."

"What does the box look like?"

"Blackwood White Seal".

"Has Grand Secretary Wang seen it?"

Wang Fu remained silent.

I raised my hand.

The guards held him down.

Wang Fu immediately exclaimed, "I've seen it! The Grand Secretary has seen it! Last night in the East Study!"

The crowd erupted in uproar again.

This is enough.

In public in the south of the city, Wang Fu confessed that Grand Secretary Wang had instructed the distribution of genuine plaques, proclamations of rebellion, exposure of his identity, and access to Bai Song's old accounts in the East Study.

Although he has not yet confessed his guilt in the Golden Hall.

But public sentiment has already been won back.

I looked at Xiao Lingyi.

She was looking at me too.

I whispered, "Your Highness, it's time to return to the palace."

"Where is Wang Fu?"

"Take it with you."

"Where are the disaster victims?"

I looked at the crowd.

That's the hardest part.

People have stabilized, but the hunger persists.

The accounts have been opened, but the grain still needs to be distributed.

Xiao Lingyi turned to the disaster victims and said, "Today, the Qinghe Granary will continue to distribute real grain. The South Soup Dishes will be relit, and the Princess's Mansion will provide silver to buy grain for three days. The Censorate will set up tents here, and all disaster victims can register their names according to the wooden plaques."

She paused for a moment.

"Whoever is written to die, will be brought back to life."

Many people burst into tears upon hearing this.

Whoever is written to die, will be brought back to life.

This is even more important than distributing grain.

Because they had finally returned to life from the dead in the tent.

I ordered the Imperial Guards and the Princess's Palace Guards to maintain order, and I also ordered someone to go to the Censorate to transfer officials to set up tents.

I had someone bring over a small table.

The person sitting behind the table was a household clerk who had been temporarily transferred from the Yong'an County government office, with a stack of blank household registration papers beside him.

The clerk looked very displeased.

According to regulations, the task to be performed today requires approval from the Ministry of Revenue, verification by the local authorities, and finally, re-recording by the county government.

After all this is over, a person might die again.

I placed Tian Xiaoya's wooden plaque on the table.

"Write."

The clerk looked up and said, "Lord Shen, canceling household registrations and re-registering them requires an official document from the Ministry of Revenue."

Xiao Lingyi placed the Princess's Seal on the table.

"I, the Empress, will vouch for you."

I then placed the Censorate's case seal next to me.

"This is for your records."

The clerk wanted to speak further.

An elderly woman with white hair suddenly knelt down from the crowd, crying, "My lord, this old woman died in the office last year. If I don't live today, will I even be alive to receive official documents tomorrow?"

No one could respond to that.

The clerk lowered his head and picked up his pen.

The first household registration certificate lists Tian Xiaoya as her name.

The second one is about Zhao Gui.

The third picture shows the twelve remaining households in Liugou Village.

Paper is not expensive.

A single piece of paper brought them back to life, transforming them from the dead in the granary, medicine shed, and merit book.

Holding her household registration certificate, Tian Xiaoya asked me softly, "Sir, am I considered alive now?"

I looked at her.

"Let's calculate first."

"If anyone writes about you to death again, let them come and hold me accountable."

The crowd fell silent at first, then someone called out, "Imperial Censor Shen."

Not a traitor.

He is not a prince consort.

It was Imperial Censor Shen.

Suddenly I realized that the rock that hit my shoulder wasn't such a bad loss after all.

Once these matters were arranged, the south of the city was truly stabilized.

Before getting into the carriage, Xiao Lingyi suddenly stopped.

She looked at the blood on my shoulder.

"Does it hurt?"

I glanced down at it.

I was so busy just now that I almost forgot.

Now, when she asked me that question, I suddenly felt a pain.

"good."

"It's alright, it just hurts."

"Your Highness's words are unreasonable."

"You said that?"

I thought about it.

"I don't think I have any either."

She looked at me, her voice very low, only I could hear it.

"You admitted it in public."

"Um."

There is no turning back now.

I smiled.

"I had no way out anyway."

Xiao Lingyi remained silent for a moment.

"have."

I looked at her.

She said, "Let's go back to the manor."

I was stunned.

She had already turned and gotten into the car.

I stood there, and suddenly felt that the injury on my shoulder didn't hurt as much anymore.

Of course, it's also possible that I'm just too sleepy to concentrate.

Yan Xiaoyi said from the side, "Lord Shen, get in the carriage. If you stand any longer, the blood will flow again."

I look at him.

"Guard Yan, you've been talking a lot today."

"Because you look like you could fall over easily today."

I sighed.

"Can't you guys wish me well for once?"

Yan Xiaoyi thought for a moment.

I hope you don't die.

Again.

I climbed onto the car.

The carriage headed towards the palace.

Wang Fu was escorted to the back.

Both the genuine and counterfeit Qing dynasty account cards are in the certificate box.

Residents in the south of the city lined up again to receive food.

People lined up again in the south of the city to receive their grain, and the first batch of deceased individuals were reclassified as living individuals.

Wang Fu and two accounting plaques were impounded in the rear vehicle.

Wang Song already knew that the fire he had lit had failed to burn.

Next, we should ask him why he knew about the opening of the imperial tent in advance.