Jinghe Year Fifteen, the ninth day of the third month, Mao Hour.
At the Suzhou postal station, morning light filtered through, but the mist had yet to clear.
This time, the merchant arrived even earlier.
His clothes were less immaculate than before, and the faint traces of a sleepless night lingered between his brows.
Shen Mingxuan approached the desk and bowed with clasped hands, his voice slightly hoarse.
"Lord Wei."
Wei Nisheng raised his eyes, looked him over, and let the corners of his mouth lift.
"Did you sleep poorly last night, Owner Shen?"
"I..." Shen Mingxuan hesitated, then finally spoke.
"I spent the entire night thinking, my lord, and only then realized that this Shell-Cracking Hammer really is..."
"Nothing of great consequence." Wei Nisheng rose, walked to the window, and pushed one half open.
The morning chill drifted in, carrying distant sounds from the streets.
"Most of Suzhou's temple lands have been sorted out over these past few days.
Unfortunately, Temple Property and the Imperial Silk Bureau have exchanged 'offerings' over the years.
The monks cannot explain these accounts, and the Ministry of Revenue's archives shed no light on them.
After much consideration, I concluded that only you, Owner Shen, could help me untangle them."
"My lord, you also want..." Shen Mingxuan's expression shifted, his Adam's apple bobbing.
"The Imperial Silk Bureau's accounts?"
"Li Jin has withdrawn into his shell. It would be inconvenient for me to knock on his door myself."
Wei Nisheng turned, his gaze mild and warm, as though asking about the weather.
"You have dealt with him for years, Owner Shen. If, under the pretext of 'assisting with the accounting of temple property,'
you were to visit the Imperial Silk Bureau and fetch a few transaction ledgers on my behalf..."
He paused here, his