Gu Moran looked at the group. " The Ministry of War is checking people tomorrow; I'll be in the front hall to hold them up."
"At Murong Courtyard, Qingdai is guarding the gate, Su Yao is carrying the register, Wanqing is answering the rules, Ling'er is using the medicine cart to block out miscellaneous items."
He looked at Liu Ruyan: "The gossipy women in the outer courtyard, I'll trouble you to keep an eye on them, Madam."
Liu Ruyan nodded. "What will get out is that the prince is so ill he's about to fall apart."
The next day, as soon as it was light, the stables in Murong Courtyard were already bustling with activity.
Tuoba Mang changed into old clothes, the cuffs of which were frayed, and his hair was tied up with a cloth strip.
She wasn't wearing any makeup.
But when he stood in front of the stable, all the grooms looked shorter.
Murong Xue circled him halfway around with her riding whip. "Bend your back a little."
Tuoba Mang bent over.
Shen Ling'er handed over a bottle of medicinal powder. "Put some on your hands to mask the smell of alcohol."
Tuoba Mang took a sniff, and his features scrunched up. "This smells even more bitter than horse manure."
Shen Ling'er put the bottle away. "Then you can wipe the horse manure."
Tuoba Mang immediately poured the medicine powder into his palm. "The medicine is good, it smells good."
Before 9:00 AM, the officials from the Ministry of War entered the residence.
The man who arrived was Zheng Min, an assistant minister in the Ministry of War. His beard was neatly trimmed, but his eyes kept glancing at people's sleeves and waists.
Gu Moran sat in the front hall, wearing an outer robe, with Shen Ling'er's prescription spread out beside the teacup.
The medicine smells very strong.
Zheng Min had just finished bowing when his nose suffered the consequences.
"His Highness is about to leave the capital, Ministry of War has been ordered to inspect the military equipment accompanying him. The knights of the Northern Territory are skilled in battle, and if they were to infiltrate the entourage, it would be against regulations."
Gu Moran coughed twice, pressing his hand to his chest. He coughed until Uncle Fu reached out to support him before speaking, "Don't worry, Vice Director Zheng. I'm very disciplined. My father sent me to Yi Prefecture to recuperate; I don't even want to see a sword."
Zheng Min smiled and said, "Your Highness is cautious, so I can report back easily. I heard that someone from the Northern Territory entered the manor yesterday?"
"Have."
Zheng Min raised his eyelids slightly.
Gu Moran picked up the teacup, then put it down again, overwhelmed by the smell of medicine. " Madam Murong came to deliver something. He ate a meal and almost emptied my entire treasury."
Zheng Min's smile faded, "Where is he?"
"The stables."
"Could you please come and examine it?"
Gu Moran looked at Uncle Fu: "Take Vice Director Zheng to Murong Courtyard. The stables smell bad; if Yuanwailang doesn't mind, I won't stop you."
Zheng Min cupped his hands in farewell. "It's my duty."
In the stables of Murong Courtyard, Tuoba Mang carried a manure pitchfork, his back bent, his face etched with the weight of humiliation and hardship.
Ministry of War official entered, he had just looked up when Murong Xue's whip handle struck the side of the manger.
Tuoba Mang immediately bowed his head. "This humble one Tuo Qing, greets Your Excellency."
Zheng Min sized him up. " Northern Territory?"
Tuoba Mang looked at Murong Xue.
Murong Xue said coldly, "I'm asking you a question."
"Yes."
"Can you ride a horse?"
Tuoba Mang almost puffed out his chest, but then forced it back down. "Yes. My ancestors were midwives."
Zheng Min's lips twitched slightly. "Hold out your hand."
Tuoba Mang reached out his hand.
Zheng Min examined his palm, pressing down on several calluses. "This is no ordinary groom."
Su Yao opened the dowry register. "The grooms of the Northern Territory follow the army to raise horses, and they also carry sticks when they encounter bandits. If you think the grooms of the Northern Territory should only feed hay, you might as well go directly to Prince Murong and mention it."
Zheng Min stopped.
The name "Prince Murong " sounds even more pungent than the smell of a stable.
Zheng Min rephrased the question, "Do you know how to use a knife?"
Tuoba Mang's lips had just moved.
Murong Xue spoke first, "A kitchen knife. Used for chopping grass, mincing meat, and also for when the kitchen is too busy."
Tuoba Mang quickly added, "I can chop up a whole sheep."
Zheng Min stared at him for a moment, then pointed to the spirited horse in the stable. "Since it's a new stable animal, take it out and walk it around a couple of times."
The horse had just moved to a different spot yesterday; it was pawing the ground with its front hooves and blowing hot air from its nostrils.
Tuoba Mang's eyes lit up.
He was about to stride over when Murong Xue glanced at him.
Tuoba Mang slowed his pace, muttered a few words in the Northern Territory, and placed his hand on the horse's neck, pressing down along the mane.
The horse shook its head twice and actually quieted down.
Su Yao immediately chimed in, "My lord, the Prince's residence is far away. If we don't take a coachman like this, are we going to take one who can only write?"
Zheng Min closed the booklet. "Note: Tuo Qing, a stable hand in the Murong family, is skilled at judging horses and is of robust build."
Tuoba Mang breathed a sigh of relief, but dared not relax too much, lest he straighten his back.
When Zheng Min left Murong Courtyard, his shoes were covered in grass clippings, and his face looked unwell.
Gu Moran came from the front hall, his cloak smelling of medicine.
Shen Ling'er followed beside him, her eyes fixed on his steps, as if ready to press him back onto the bed at any moment.
Su Yao handed him the supplementary page of the Ministry of War's records. " Zheng Min didn't make any trouble, but he wrote 'strong build'."
Xie Wanqing said, "He asked about the calluses on my hands, the knife, and my identity in the Northern Territory. He wasn't just randomly investigating."
Liu Ruyan looked towards the courtyard gate. "I've sent someone to follow Zheng Min. If he meets anyone along the way, we'll get news tonight."
Gu Moran took the supplementary page. "Let him memorize it first."
Uncle Fu took the paper.
Gu Moran added, "The more detailed it is, the more painful it will be when it's torn up later."
The study door closed, blocking out the smell of the stables outside, but the smell of medicine took over.
Uncle Fu left two messages.
The first message was relayed outside the palace gates.
Lin Yichen's personal guards submitted a memorial requesting permission to return to the Northern Territory, expressing their willingness to lead the remaining troops to continue expanding the frontier and pursuing and annihilating the scattered tribes.
The second document was a short note delivered by Boss Zhao's undercover contact.
When Lin Yichen arrived in the capital, his old injury to his left rib flared up again, and his personal guards helped him dismount. He didn't go into the post station, but went directly to the Ministry of War to await orders.
Lin Qingdai crossed her arms. "Returning to the capital in triumph, I ask for no reward, only the victory itself. His Majesty will be pleased."
Xie Wanqing flipped through the blank list. "We'll also be wary. If someone has too much fame, it'll be troublesome to give them too much or too little military power."
Su Yao tapped her pen on the paper. "No matter how much is given, the money and provisions will be used. Rewards require money, and border expansion requires provisions, horses, medicine, and equipment. If the Ministry of War's accounts can't hold back the money, the Ministry of Revenue will find other ways."
She looked up at Gu Moran: " Yi Prefecture can't escape."
Gu Moran unfolded the old map.
As he looked at the waterways of Yi Prefecture, a series of troubles flashed through his mind.
As the caravan headed south, the price of medicinal herbs rose, post stations were congested, grain carts were rerouted, and waterways were blocked.
Someone wants to target the Prince's residence; it's not necessarily necessary to send assassins.
Cutting off roads, raising prices, confiscating medicine, and hauling away boats—that's enough to give them a hard time.
As darkness fell, Uncle Fu delivered another urgent letter.
The candlelight illuminated the paper.
" Lin Yichen's memorial has been submitted to the Emperor."
The Ministry of War dispatched the military merit register from the Northern Territory overnight.
The Ministry of Revenue inquired about the remaining silver reserves for salt and iron production in Yi Prefecture over the past three years.
After reading it, Su Yao stopped writing on the ledger page.
Tuoba Mang peeked out from the doorway. "Is there another battle?"
Gu Moran stared at the two characters " Yi Prefecture " and slowly placed the letter face down on the table.
"There's no war."
He looked up, his smile a little forced.
" The Ministry of War is up to something again."
Shen Ling'er placed the bowl of medicine in front of him. "You still have to drink your medicine first."
Gu Moran looked at the bowl of medicine and remained silent for a moment.
Tuoba Mang said earnestly, "Young master, are you going to run? I'll carry you."
Murong Xue smacked him with the handle of her whip. "Shut up."
Gu Moran picked up the medicine bowl, and the bitter taste rushed to the back of her tongue.
The wind is strong.
But before making a run for it, you have to finish this bowl of medicine first.
Gu Moran sharpened the charcoal pencil for the third time, and then, with the tip on the paper, drew a thin line along the woman's ankle.
Three pictures were spread out on the table.
One reached the ankle, another past the calf, and another featured a subtle Shu brocade pattern and thin ribbons.
Shen Ling'er stood to the side, staring at the pictures, her finger pausing on the rim of the bowl.
"You don't sleep, you just draw this?"
Gu Moran didn't look up, but added two more lines, "Before I depart, I want to leave my father with something to remember me by."