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

By the time I returned to the Censorate from the palace, the sky was already setting in the west.

Zhao Guanlan hadn't slept all night, and his eyes were dark and swollen, but his spirit was stronger than anyone else's.

On the table were piles of Yongfeng ticket stubs, Qinghe Yicang rice coupons, Nanyaopeng medical records, Ci'en Temple donation book, and the secret tail of the second account that Bai Zhi had just copied from the imperial tent.

Bai Zhi sat behind the table, calculating with the abacus as if she were waging war.

Ah Liu handed her a piece of paper, his movements as careful as if he were handing her a knife.

When I came in, Bai Zhi only raised her eyes briefly.

"Not dead?"

"Could you perhaps use a different greeting today?"

"That's good. Come over and sign."

Zhao Guanlan handed over the cover of the new case file.

The old case of the Jiangbei disaster relief funds and the clearing of accounts.

Chief Investigator: Shen An, Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate.

Assistance needed for investigation: Princess Zhaoning's residence.

Inspection: Internal Security.

I signed my name.

The name Shen An has lost its original meaning in the imperial court.

He used to be an imperial censor, a son-in-law of the emperor, and someone the emperor only trusted.

Now there's another layer.

Shen Lie's son.

But the handwriting is still mine.

The case is still mine.

That's enough.

"Account B has been preliminarily verified."

I sat down.

"explain."

Bai Zhi said, "The Jiangbei disaster relief fund is nominally allocated 100,000 taels."

Ah Liu took a quiet breath beside him.

"So many?"

Bai Zhi ignored him.

"Among them, the actual grain expenditure was about 20,000 taels. The Qinghe Yicang warehouse used fake grain, moldy rice, and sandbags to offset the debt of 30,000 taels. The Ci'en Temple's water and land merit donation was converted into 17,000 taels of silver. The Nanyao Shed Anmin Medicine was falsely spent 8,000 taels of silver. The Yongfeng Three Cabinets were converted into more than 20,000 taels of silver."

I frowned: "That adds up to over 100,000."

Bai Zhi sneered.

"That's why it's called a false account. It's not like one sum of money is divided into ten parts; it's like one life being claimed three times, a peck of rice being counted on both sides, and one cart being used for four different purposes."

She turned the abacus.

"The actual amount embezzled and falsely recorded is at least 140,000 taels."

Ah Liu's eyes widened.

"There were only 100,000 in disaster relief funds, how could you embezzle 140,000?"

Bai Zhi looked at him and said, "You've finally gotten to the point."

Ah Liu straightened his back instantly.

Bai Zhi said, "Because they not only coveted the silver allocated by the imperial court, but also repeatedly used the list of disaster victims to pawn their money at local granaries, temples, banks, and medicine shops."

I understand.

They didn't steal a bag of rice.

They used this piece of paper, which depicts a disaster victim, to borrow money from all over the place.

The disaster victims themselves had no food to eat.

That's the most ruthless part.

Bai Zhi pointed to tent B.

"Secretly, the second accountant took 20% of it, approximately 28,000 taels."

Xiao Lingyi asked, "Where did they go?"

"The old Yongfeng cabinets were transferred to three properties under the Wang family's name."

Which three places?

"The private storehouse in the East Study of the Prince's Mansion, Chongyi Manor outside the city, and..."

Bai Zhi paused for a moment.

"Southwest Grain Route"

The room fell silent instantly.

I looked up.

"The Southwest Grain Route?"

Bai Zhi looked at me.

"right."

Ah Liu's expression changed.

Zhao Guanlan also looked at me.

Xiao Lingyi remained silent.

But I know those four words are deadly.

A portion of the silver in Wang's second account was sent through the southwest grain route.

I am also the son of Shen Lie.

The connection with Grand Secretary Wang can actually be traced back to my father.

I asked, "How much?"

"Around ten thousand taels."

"Who handled it?"

"The Southwest branch of Yongfeng Bank was transferred to a grain merchant."

"name."

Bai Zhi looked down at the ticket stub.

"Luo Chenghai".

I don't know him.

But Zhao Guanlan frowned.

"This man is a merchant from the southwest who trades grain between Sichuan and Jiangbei year-round. The court once suspected him of transporting grain for Shen Lie, but there was no concrete evidence."

Ah Liu's eyes were already showing signs of panic.

I looked down at the ticket stub, but my mind gradually calmed down.

This was not an accident.

This is the second cut made by Grand Secretary Wang.

The first blow was revealing my identity.

The second cut connects the silver in the second account to the southwest grain route.

If this is confirmed, I will be more than just the son of a traitor.

They would also become living prisoners for the disaster relief funds flowing into the southwestern rebel army.

At that time, even if Grand Secretary Wang is guilty, he can claim that the Jiangbei disaster relief fund case was infiltrated by anti-Japanese forces from the southwest.

The case immediately became a major problem.

I would be completely nailed down.

Xiao Lingyi asked, "Is the ticket stub real or fake?"

Bai Zhi said, "True."

Ah Liu's face turned even paler.

I replied, "That's good."

Bai Zhi looked at me.

I said, "If it's a genuine ticket, we can trace its distribution. Fake tickets are more troublesome."

Zhao Guanlan nodded.

"Lord Shen is right. The Yongfeng Southwest Branch needs to be checked, but it's a long way away, and the round trip by mail will take at least ten days."

Ten days.

We can't afford to wait.

I asked, "Where is Luo Chenghai?"

Zhao Guanlan replied, "I don't know."

Bai Zhi flipped through the ticket stubs and suddenly stopped.

"He's in the capital."

Everyone was looking at her.

Bai Zhi pointed to a redemption ticket.

"Yesterday, Luo Chenghai exchanged silver at the Yongfeng Jingcheng main counter."

A thought struck me.

"He didn't leave?"

"No. This ticket has not been fully redeemed; only three thousand taels have been redeemed. The remaining silver needs to be collected by the person in person this afternoon."

Zhao Guanlan immediately said, "Arrest them."

I looked at Xiao Lingyi.

She nodded.

"take."

Ah Liu also perked up.

"Young master, can we arrest them ahead of schedule this time?"

"Um."

I looked at the ticket stub.

"But don't alert Yung-Fung."

Bai Zhi said, "Yongfeng has already been sealed off."

"Three containers were sealed, not the entire container."

I picked up Luo Chenghai's ticket.

"Let him come and collect the silver."

Ah Liu was stunned: "Fishing him?"

"right."

Will he come?

"meeting."

Why?

I pointed to the ticket stub.

"If he really was transporting silver for the southwest, he should have fled the moment Yongfeng was sealed off. But the fact that he dared to stay in the capital shows that he has someone to rely on. The remaining three thousand taels of silver is neither too much nor too little; it's just right to test the waters."

Bai Zhi continued, "His coming means he thinks he won't be caught."

I nodded.

"Then let's let him make a mistake once."

Zhao Guanlan immediately arranged for the Censorate to dispatch officers.

Gu Xingzhi also sent his inner guards to assist.

Xiao Lingyi asked, "Are you going in person?"

"go."

She glanced at my shoulder.

I immediately replied, "Your subject will not fight."

Yan Xiaoyi appeared out of nowhere.

"I'll hit him."

I look at him.

Where did you go just now?

"I slept for a moment."

I remained silent.

This person can sleep anytime, anywhere.

That takes skill too.

In the afternoon, Yongfeng Bank reopened its front hall.

On the surface, the Imperial Guard sealed off the three counters and allowed ordinary silver exchanges to continue as usual, so as to avoid panic among merchants in the capital.

In fact, next to each accounting office in the front hall sat a member of the Censorate.

The bodyguards disguised themselves as employees.

Yan Xiaoyi was sleeping on the eaves.

Ah Liu, disguised as a tea server, was so nervous that he kept spilling tea on his own shoes while pouring it.

I sat in the back hall, looking at the front hall through the screen.

Xiao Lingyi did not appear.

She was in the private room next door.

The princess's presence in the money exchange was too conspicuous.

But she wouldn't feel at ease if she didn't come.

So she came, but did not show herself.

This is so Xiao Lingyi.

At noon, a middle-aged man wearing a gray silk long gown entered Yongfeng.

He was not tall, had a smile on his face, and looked like an ordinary businessman.

But his eyes are very lively.

When you enter, first look at the counter, then the back door, and then the beam.

Yan Xiaoyi sat on the beam with his eyes closed.

I don't know if he saw it or not.

The middle-aged man walked to the counter and handed over the ticket.

"Luo Chenghai, take the remaining silver."

finally come.

The accountant received the ticket, his fingers pausing almost imperceptibly.

He then said as we had arranged, "Manager Luo, the silver exchange was not completed yesterday, and we need to go to the back office to verify and stamp it today."

Luo Chenghai smiled.

"When did Yongfeng become so troublesome?"

The accountant smiled obsequiously: "The three cabinets are sealed and inspected. The situation is tense, and we're afraid of making a mistake."

Luo Chenghai's eyes flickered slightly.

Why were the three cabinets sealed off and searched?

The accountant lowered his voice: "I heard it's a disaster relief fund case."

Luo Chenghai's smile faded slightly.

"What does the imperial court's investigation have to do with our business?"

As he spoke, he headed towards the back hall.

I sat at the table in the back room, holding a teacup in my hand.

As soon as he came in and saw me, he stopped in his tracks.

"Lord Shen?"

He recognized me.

well.

I smiled and said, "Manager Luo, I've heard so much about you."

Luo Chenghai's smile quickly returned.

"I am but a humble merchant; may I ask what business Lord Shen has with me?"

"Take the silver."

"Then you should contact Yongfeng's accountant."

"Your silver is rather special."

I pushed the ticket stub over.

"Jiangbei disaster relief funds, Wang family account number B, Yongfeng Southwest branch, Luo Chenghai."

Luo Chenghai glanced at it but didn't panic.

He even sighed.

"Lord Shen, you misunderstand. I am in the grain business. There is a disaster in Jiangbei, but there is grain in the southwest. It is only natural for me to exchange silver for grain from Yongfeng."

"Where's the grain you bought?"

"On the way."

"Where are they being shipped to?"

"Jiangbei".

Which warehouse?

"this……"

He stopped.

I laughed.

"Shopkeeper Luo hasn't forgotten who he sold to, has he?"

Luo Chenghai said, "The grain transport routes are complicated, and the common people need to check the accounts."

"It's okay."

I clapped my hands.

Bai Zhi entered through the side door.

She was holding an account book in her hands.

"I checked for you."

Luo Chenghai's expression finally changed.

Bai Zhi spread out the account books.

"Yesterday you exchanged three thousand taels, saying you were buying grain to transport north of the Yangtze River. But the most recent batch of grain under your name won't go north of the Yangtze River, it will go through the Qingxia Road in the southwest."

Luo Chenghai forced a smile and said, "Changes in trade routes are common."

"Further south of Qingxia Road lies Shen Lie's controlled area."

Bai Zhi looked at him coldly.

"Use the disaster relief funds to buy grain and transport it to the rebel-held areas in the southwest."

Luo Chenghai suddenly turned to look at me.

"Lord Shen, you are Shen Lie's son. Perhaps this matter should be addressed to you."

finally come.

I knew he would bite me.

"Manager Luo, do you think this money is for me?"

"Isn't that right?"

He smiled.

"Since Lord Shen is the young master of the Southwest, who knows if this case is just a pretext for you to purge those who know the truth under the guise of investigating disaster relief funds?"

His voice suddenly became louder.

It seemed like they were deliberately letting people outside hear.

"Grand Secretary Wang is guilty, Zheng Huai'en is guilty, Yongfeng is guilty. But if the disaster relief funds ultimately went into the Southwest military rations, then what are you, Lord Shen?"

There was a figure moving outside the front hall.

What a Luo Chenghai!

He didn't come to collect the silver.

He's here to throw a second bucket of dirty water.

I looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"Manager Luo, you're right."

His eyes flickered.

I continued, "Therefore, this grain must be thoroughly investigated."

"nature."

"You said it was shipped to the southwest, right?"

Luo Chenghai smiled and said, "That's how it is in the tent."

"Do you know that there was a landslide on Qingxia Road in Southwest China three days ago?"

His smile froze.

I don't know.

But I dare to cheat.

You can't be guilty at this time.

I continued, "After the landslide, all the grain carts were rerouted to the northern post road. If you really have grain going to the southwest, the convoy should leave a post station sign on the northern post road now."

I looked at him.

"Manager Luo, where's the postal permit?"

His expression changed.

Bai Zhi glanced at me.

She was unaware of the landslide at Qingxia Road.

But she immediately realized what was happening and flipped through the ledger.

"There is indeed no post station sign for the Northern Post Road on Luo Chenghai's account."

Luo Chenghai's forehead was covered in sweat.

I continued, "Because there's simply no food."

"What you call the Southwest Grain Route is just a fake route on a ticket stub."

"The silver was transferred out of Yongfeng and written as the Southwest Grain Transport Office, but in reality, no grain was purchased or transported."

Luo Chenghai took half a step back.

I asked, "Where are you really headed?"

He was silent.

I picked up the ticket stub.

"I'll speak for you."

"Wang wanted to pin the second account's silver on the Southwest Grain Route and frame me and Shen Lie."

"But the money didn't actually leave the capital."

"It's still in Yongfeng."

Luo Chenghai's face turned completely pale.

Bai Zhi suddenly looked up.

"Does the Yongfeng main counter have a secret vault?"

Luo Chenghai gritted his teeth and remained silent.

I looked out from behind the screen.

"Yan Xiaoyi".

A lazy reply came from the roof beam.

"exist."

"Take it down."

Luo Chenghai turned and ran.

He ran very fast.

But he couldn't outrun Yan Xiaoyi.

Yan Xiaoyi fell from the beam and kicked the man over.

Even as Luo Chenghai was pinned to the ground, he was still shouting, "Shen An framed me! Shen An is trying to silence me!"

I walked up to him and squatted down.

"Manager Luo, that's a good greeting."

He stared at me intently.

I smiled.

"But you forgot."

"I have publicly acknowledged that I am Shen Lie's son."

"You're trying to scare me with this again; it's nothing new."

Luo Chenghai's face froze.

I stood up and said to Bai Zhi, "Investigate Yongfeng's secret vault."

Bai Zhi's eyes shone brightly.

"This is finally getting interesting."

Ah Liu peeked out from outside and asked timidly, "Young Master, is there another dead body in the secret vault?"

I thought about it.

"Very likely."

Ah Liu immediately shrank back.

A moment later, he leaned back.

"Shall I go and fetch Physician Song?"

I nodded.

"go."

As Luo Chenghai was being taken away, Xiao Lingyi emerged from the private room.

She looked at me.

"Has Qingxia Road really collapsed?"

I whispered, "I guessed."

Xiao Lingyi glanced at me.

"You're really brave."

"Your Highness is not a newcomer to this knowledge."

She did not refute it.

Bai Zhi has already led her people to Yongfeng's backyard.

I followed.

This time, we're not going to investigate the three cabinets.

It was a hidden vault beneath the three cabinets.

After Luo Chenghai was taken away, Bai Zhi pressed the "Southwest Grain Transport" ticket stub on the general ledger.

"Yin did not leave the capital."

"It was first written as 'Southwest Grain,' and then prepared to be distributed into the palace gates and the south of the city."

I nodded.

"Eleven years ago, Wang Song could still say that he was doing it to stabilize the situation."

"How can he explain the 28,000 taels of unauthorized funds this year?"

Xiao Lingyi looked towards Yongfeng's backyard.

"Open the secret vault first."

I followed.

Wang Song's past crimes have been exposed.

What we need to find now is evidence that he is still reaching out today.