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

Chapter 48 One Hour

When I returned to the Censorate with a hot pancake in my mouth, I felt like I was finally acting like a human being again.

Although the man was covered in mud, his sleeves were torn, his eyes were bluish, and he walked a little unsteadily.

But at least there's a hot pancake in my mouth.

Ah Liu stayed by my side, watching me the whole way, as if afraid I would suddenly collapse while eating.

"Young master, why don't you take a nap first?"

I shook my head with the biscuit in my mouth.

"I'm not sleeping."

"Just take a short nap."

"Don't close your eyes."

"Would you like to sit down and eat?"

"It's easy to sit down but hard to get up."

Ah Liu shut up.

He probably realized that I wasn't not sleepy, but I was afraid that if I closed my eyes and opened them again, Qian Rong would have already cleared out all the witnesses, banknotes, and records.

Twenty-four hours.

I've heard quite a bit about it.

But when it comes to actually investigating a case, they feel they can't even afford to waste time on a cup of hot tea.

Upon entering the Censorate, Zhao Guanlan had already assigned personnel.

Liu Laoqi was in the east wing, guarded by Xu Shen from the Imperial Medical Academy.

Qian Fu was in the west wing, with two guards watching the door from outside.

Xiao Xiu was placed in a side room in the backyard, and A Liu was responsible for keeping an eye on her, and also to make sure she wasn't scared to death.

I asked, "Where's Bai Laoxiu?"

Zhao Guanlan shook his head.

"The Ministry of Justice refuses to release him. They say the prisoner is too badly injured to be transferred."

I sneered.

"Now they realize how serious their injuries are."

Zhao Guanlan said, "I have already submitted a document requesting the Censorate to send a medical officer to the old prison of the Ministry of Justice for re-examination."

"The Ministry of Justice will drag its feet."

"So I had someone send a copy directly to the palace."

I glanced at him.

Lord Zhao has also gone astray.

Good.

Good people can't investigate bad debts.

When Qian Fu saw me, he huddled in his chair.

Last night he was like a respectable accountant, but now he looks like a dumpling just pulled from the edge of a frying pan.

As soon as he saw me, he knelt down with a thud.

"Lord Shen, I'll talk! I'll tell you everything! You must protect me!"

I stuffed the remaining half of the hot pancake into my mouth and sat down.

"You need to live like a human being first before we talk about protecting you."

Qian Fu nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, yes."

Where is Deputy Secretary Qian?

He looked up sharply.

"How did Lord Shen know there was a deputy clerk?"

I looked at him.

"Accounting staff, do you really keep only one ledger?"

Qian Fu's face twitched.

will not.

Accountants fear two things the most.

When the master turns against someone, the servants are silenced.

Therefore, the official account is given to outsiders, the secret account is kept to oneself, and the secondary account is used to protect one's life.

If Qian Fu, a coward who fears death, hadn't left himself a backup plan, he would have resigned himself to his fate when he met Ji Qing last night.

He whispered, "There's a set of assistant reporters."

"Where?"

"The secret compartment in the Qian family's accounting office."

"Where's the key to the hidden compartment?"

"At the Qian residence."

I stared at him.

Qian Fu said urgently, "It really is at the Qian residence! I went to the blacksmith's workshop last night, but I only brought the accounting bag and didn't dare to bring the key. The key is hidden under the incense burner in the accounting room, so no outsider can find it."

"What's in the assistant reporter's office?"

"The origin of the money, the destination of the banknotes, and several expenditures personally described by the master."

"Is it written by Qian Rong himself?"

Qian Fu hesitated.

I placed Ji Qing's poison bottle on the table.

Qian Fu immediately replied, "Yes! There are two notes, written to me by the master. They're not official documents, but the handwriting is legible."

This is important.

The private seal could be passed on to the accountant.

The silver notes could be passed on to the servants.

It can be handwritten notes, which are hard to push.

Of course, Qian Rong could also be said to have forged it.

Therefore, more evidence is needed.

I asked, "Is it possible to get it?"

Qian Fu's face turned pale.

"Lord Shen, the Qian family is definitely on high alert now. Going to the accounting office is tantamount to suicide."

I asked if I could get it.

He had a long face.

"Yes, it's possible. There's a small window in the back wall of the accounting office for ventilation. A thin person could squeeze through it."

I looked at Ah Liu.

Ah Liu froze as soon as he entered the room and heard this.

"Young master, what are you looking at me for?"

"You're thin."

"The little one isn't thin; he's been eating quite a bit lately."

"You can drill."

Ah Liu's eyes slowly reddened.

"Young master, could I please eat less in the future? Is it too late for me to gain weight now?"

Before I could speak, Yan Xiaoyi leaned against the door and said, "I can squeeze through too."

Ah Liu's eyes lit up.

"Brother Yan is wise!"

Yan Xiaoyi added, "But I don't recognize the secret accounting room."

Ah Liu's eyes darkened again.

Qian Fu whispered, "Only I know how to open the hidden compartment."

The room fell silent.

This is troublesome.

Qian Fu wanted to enter the Qian residence.

But now that Qian Fu has shown his face, the first person in the Qian family who wants to kill him is none other than Qian Rong.

I tapped on the desktop.

"There's no rush to go to the Qian residence."

Qian Fu breathed a sigh of relief.

"Arrest Lu's Pharmacy first."

Qian Fu caught his breath again.

"Manager Lu... Manager Lu?"

I look at him.

"Do you know him?"

Qian Fu wanted to slap himself.

I laughed.

"It seems you know each other."

He whispered, "Lu's Pharmacy is an old pharmacy on the back street of the Ministry of Justice. It often supplies medicine for injuries to the old prison and also sells some... less-than-ideal items."

"poison?"

"They don't call it poison, they call it potent medicine."

"Was Liu Laoqi's poison from Lu's Pharmacy?"

Qian Fu lowered his head and remained silent.

I spread out the copy of the Yongfeng Bank note.

"I exchanged a 372 silver note at Lu's Pharmacy on the back street of the Ministry of Justice. Accountant, if you want to live, don't make me ask you a third time."

Qian Fu closed his eyes.

"Yes. That ticket is for Pharmacist Lu."

"Who obtained the poison?"

"Ji Qing".

"You've seen it before?"

"I've never seen them retrieve drugs, but I've seen the tickets."

Does Manager Lu acknowledge Ji Qing?

"Token of recognition".

"What keepsake?"

Qian Fu glanced at Xiao Xiu.

Xiao Xiu said softly, "Gold thread crane sleeve lining."

really.

Golden-threaded cranes are not only good at recognizing people.

It also serves as proof of receipt for retrieving items.

I stood up.

"Has the news been released in Yongfeng?"

Zhao Guanlan said, "They have already been released. Yongfeng is willing to buy back the unredeemed silver notes number 372 at double the original price."

Ah Liu was stunned.

"Really double?"

I said, "Let's see who comes to take it."

"What if no one comes?"

"Then check out Lu's Pharmacy."

Yan Xiaoyi asked, "What if someone comes?"

"That would be even better."

I looked at everyone.

"Next, a few things. First, Liu Laoqi cannot die. Second, Qian Fu cannot die. Third, Xiao Xiu cannot be lost. Fourth, when someone from Yongfeng Bank comes to exchange notes, immediately signal them. Fifth, if anyone from Lu Pharmacy leaves the city, burns their accounts, or closes down, arrest them immediately."

Ah Liu counted on his fingers, his face growing increasingly bitter.

"Young master, do we have enough manpower?"

"not enough."

"What should we do then?"

"borrow."

"From whom should I borrow it?"

I looked at Zhao Guanlan.

Zhao Guanlan understood what I meant.

"Several officials from humble backgrounds can be transferred to the Censorate."

"You need to be stubborn, quick on your feet, and someone no one can bribe yet."

Zhao Guanlan said, "Lu Huaizhou."

I was taken aback.

I've heard of that name before.

There was a poor censor in the Censorate who was so poor that he had to mend his boots three times. He was stubborn, loved to write impeachments, was afraid of death but refused to admit it.

It's a good fit.

Not long after, Lu Huaizhou arrived.

He was thin, with a serene complexion, and his official robe was faded from washing, with patches on the cuffs.

As soon as he entered, he saw me covered in mud, then looked at the poison bottle, the bill bag, and the banknotes on the table, and his brows furrowed as if he were about to write ten impeachments.

"Lord Shen, Lord Zhao says you need people."

I nodded.

"Is Lord Lu willing to help?"

Lu Huaizhou had a stern face.

"I'm not helping you, I'm investigating a case."

I like that.

I said, "Then please have Lord Lu take two men to guard Yongfeng Bank. If someone tries to cash out the remaining notes from No. 372, don't panic. Record the person first, then deduct the notes. Delay as much as possible."

Lu Huaizhou asked, "What if the other party is a benefactor?"

"It'll drag on even longer."

"What if you bring a knife?"

"Call Yan Xiaoyi."

Yan Xiaoyi looked up.

"I'm at Lu's Pharmacy."

"Then call it the Censorate."

Lu Huaizhou took a deep breath.

"Your arrangement is very crude."

I said, "Time is tight, so we'll have to make do."

Lu Huaizhou snorted coldly.

"My memorials are more comprehensive than yours."