[Censor Cao really hid his true colors well. On the surface, he was incorruptible and selfless, but he was actually the First Imperial Prince's man. Over the years, he'd helped the prince take down plenty of political enemies.]
After hearing her thoughts, the clouds of worry vanished from Jian Zhang's face.
Thinking it over carefully, it seemed that every official who had accused the First Imperial Prince at court had been impeached by Censor Cao.
Nan Nan's information was most likely true.
Emperor Deyuan loathed adult princes associating with officials more than anything. If Censor Cao's dealings were exposed, he would have a bitter cup to swallow, and Jian Zhang's own impeachment could be brushed aside.
Jian Zhang called the junior clerk over and whispered in his ear. The more the clerk heard, the more alarmed he became.
Teng was utterly floored. If his fifth sister's information was true, it was downright heaven-defying!
Even the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard would have to kowtow to her.
So that little performance Father had put on just now had been meant to draw out Fifth Sister's thoughts.
Father had such thick brows and honest-looking eyes. How could he be this sneaky too?
He wondered whether Fifth Sister could even find out the questions for the Spring Examination!
Teng tilted his head and reached out his little arms to hug Jian Ruonan.
Fifth Sister, your little brother will be your ox and horse. Please don't turn me away!
Your little brother will love you and stay close to you for the rest of his life!
With the soft, adorable little boy suddenly throwing himself into her arms, Jian Ruonan happily petted him while enjoying the juicy gossip.
Teng pricked up his ears and kept listening to her thoughts.
[Huh? Censor Cao took all that gold, so why didn't he spend it? How could he bear collecting so much without using any?]
[This man's willpower is no ordinary thing!]
[Not only did he refuse to spend it himself, he wouldn't even let his wife and children know. His wife often had to take the children back to her parents' home to scrounge for handouts, while he sneaked into the ancestral hall at midnight to sleep hugging his gold bricks... didn't the hard edges dig into him?]
Jian Ruonan imagined the scene. Though she liked gold too, she still thought a warm bed was more comfortable to sleep in.
Having heard enough of her thoughts, Jian Zhang immediately sent someone to notify the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard took orders directly from the emperor. They needed no reason to raid homes or arrest people and could search Censor Cao's residence immediately.
Jian Ruonan was still pondering how to tell Jian Zhang about Censor Cao. [Sigh, if I told Father outright, he probably wouldn't believe me, would he? This is worrying me to death!]
Beside her, Teng made a show of asking the clerk, "I saw a Reporting Box outside. What's it for?"
The clerk replied, "It's for ordinary people to report wrongdoers."
Jian Ruonan: !!
Hadn't she heard that anyone filing a complaint had to roll over a bed of nails first?!
Was Great Xia this humane?!
[I'll secretly write a report and drop it in later.]
Jian Zhang was on friendly terms with the Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Upon receiving the news, the deputy commander immediately brought his men to the Ministry of Justice Office.
Jian Ruonan and Teng were drinking tea when a group of Embroidered Uniform Guards in Flying Fish Robes suddenly rushed in, giving them quite a fright.
Though Teng was bold and mischievous, the sight of so many Embroidered Uniform Guards still left him stunned.
Even a proper man like him had been scared out of his wits by their imposing presence. As a sheltered young lady, Jian Ruonan ought to be even more frightened.
Sure enough, Jian Ruonan stood as still as a wooden chicken at the sight of them.
Teng stepped forward and hugged his fifth sister. "Don't be scared, Sister. Teng will protect you!"
[Oh my, I can't take it! So many mighty, muscular men-and in uniform, too!]
[So handsome! How are they so handsome? All this masculine energy-I can hardly stand it!]
[My lords of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, I wonder what case you're investigating. Could you take this humble maiden along?]
Jian Huateng: "..."
This sister really was anything but ordinary.
Jian Zhang left with the Embroidered Uniform Guard, leaving the siblings to amuse themselves.
With Jian Zhang gone, Jian Ruonan could secretly write her report. But she couldn't write traditional characters and gnawed on the end of her brush in frustration.
[Looks like I'll have to find a calligraphy copybook and practice first.]
Jian Huateng thought, By the time you finish practicing, Father will have been dismissed from office.
He called over the clerk their father had left behind and asked, "Where did my father go?"
The clerk said, "Someone reported Censor Cao for corruption. The vice minister went with the Embroidered Uniform Guard to search Censor Cao's residence."
Jian Ruonan: ??!!
She hadn't even written her report yet!
Father already knew?
[Wonderful! No need to practice my handwriting!]
Jian Ruonan let out a long breath of relief.
[I've truly worried myself sick for this family!]
Teng: "..."
A woman who only got up between nine and eleven in the morning had worried herself sick for her family? Who would believe that?!
Teng asked, "Fifth Sister, do you want to watch a house raid?"
Jian Ruonan: !!
"You're allowed to watch house raids?"
Teng looked at the clerk. "Can we go watch?"
The clerk thought for a moment. "I don't think there's any law saying you can't."
"Then we can!" Teng tilted his head, inviting his sister to smooth his hair. "Fifth Sister, let's go."
Jian Ruonan said, "Teng, your gall is big enough to swallow the sky!"
[Wonderful, Teng's the one who wants to watch. If anything goes wrong, no one can blame me.]
Jian Huateng: "..."
Fifth Sister, do you really have to throw your little brother into a pit like this?!
If he remembered correctly, this was only the first day they'd met!
Jian Ruonan: The sooner you start setting up your little brother, the better!
The siblings took a carriage to Censor Cao's residence.
Censor Cao's residence was in Four Alleys. Most people living there were ordinary residents; officials rarely bought property in the area.
Censor Cao had originally been a penniless scholar. After he passed the metropolitan examinations, the Song Family took a liking to him. Even this residence had been part of Madam Song's dowry.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard had already entered the censor's residence. Two Junior Banner Officers stood watch at the entrance, barring all unauthorized people.
Since they couldn't get through the main entrance, they could only try a side entrance.
Teng led Jian Ruonan to a neighboring household. It stood right beside the censor's residence, and the two shared a wall. All they needed was a ladder to climb over.
The siblings worked together to scale the wall, then headed straight for the ancestral hall.
Madam Song, Censor Cao, Jian Zhang, and the deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard were all at the entrance to the ancestral hall.
Censor Cao blocked the doorway, declaring that if anyone dared enter, he would dash himself to death against the entrance.
"You insolent whelps dare trespass in the Cao Ancestral Hall! With my ancestors watching from above, how could I allow you to run wild here?!"
"If you fail to uncover anything, don't blame this old man for fighting you to the death!"
Madam Song scolded them from the side as well. "Deputy Commander Zhang must have been misled. Look at me, Deputy Commander! I wear plain clothes, and our household only eats meat once every three days. How could we possibly have accepted bribes? We've been wronged even more grievously than Dou E!"
Deputy Commander Zhang hesitated. Although the Embroidered Uniform Guard answered directly to the emperor and acted with brute force, even they dared not become too overbearing.
Censor Cao's residence was shabby and dilapidated, with few servants or maids. It truly didn't look like a household hiding a vast quantity of gold bricks.
Censor Cao did have a reputation for integrity.
They had rushed into the ancestral hall and pried up several bricks, but had found neither gold bricks nor even a single copper coin.
Deputy Commander Zhang looked at Jian Zhang, who was also beginning to waver. If they found nothing, his official career really would be over.
If only he had brought Ruonan along. Then he wouldn't have to grope around blindly like this.
[Go for it, Father! That old thief Censor Cao treasures his life far too much to dare die!]
[The gold bricks are hidden beneath the stone tiles under the ancestral hall's offering table. Lift them up and you'll see!]
Jian Zhang nearly wept: !!
Nan Nan, you're here!!
Before you continue