He looked at Lu Chi with a dark gaze, "You actually trust her that much?"
"I stayed by her side incognito for a year... After my identity was exposed, instead of being flattered, I was still made to do chores like emptying swill. In her eyes, I am just me, without any change in my status."
"When I returned to Beijing, she was worried I'd suffer some losses, so she specially gave me a life-saving ginkgo leaf," he paused, then added, "Don't worry about it, I gave it to my wife."
After saying that, she continued, "When I held a ginseng competition in the capital, she specially sent Steward Qin to bring ginseng to support me, which allowed me to make a great contribution in front of the emperor."
"And the walnuts my family eats were also a gift from her. We haven't even finished this basket yet, and the next basket is already here..." She paused again, "Don't worry about the walnuts either, I made them into walnut paste and gave it to the Queen."
Before he could continue, Xiao Yuan interrupted him, "Wait a minute, I remember you only managed to scrape together enough money to redeem yourself before you left. If you weren't going to be the one to do the swill, who would?"
There was also the ginseng competition, where she won first place, which opened up avenues for the Anzhi Hall in the Sheng Dynasty. Logically speaking, she rose to prominence by leveraging your influence. And also... did you eat too many walnuts and ruin your brain?"
Lu Chi suppressed his emotions and said coldly, "Cousin... you don't understand... are you taking this on? If not, I'll go find the Emperor myself."
Xiao Yuan gripped the letter between his fingers, a sharp glint in his eyes. "I accept... smuggling banned drugs, manipulating tribute goods, framing colleagues, oppressing the people... each one a heinous crime that threatens the very foundation of the nation."
After saying this, he stood up and walked out. "I don't believe her, but I believe you. Wait for me in the mansion; I'll go and inform Father."
The Eastern Palace and the Imperial Palace are right next to each other. At this time, the palace gates were already closed. The Crown Prince handed over his request to see the Emperor, which was then relayed to the Emperor by the eunuchs. It just so happened that the Emperor was still awake.
The emperor set down the plaque and tapped the table twice with his fingertips. "Summon him in."
The eunuch withdrew. A short while later, Xiao Yuan strode into the imperial study, bowing meticulously, "Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."
"Rise." The emperor's voice was devoid of emotion, his gaze fixed on Xiao Yuan. "The palace gates are locked. For the Crown Prince to knock on the door so late at night, it must be no small matter."
Xiao Yuan presented the letter, stating, " Lu Chi received a secret report that Zhou Yan, the prefect of Jing'an Prefecture, is colluding with merchants to smuggle prohibited drugs, manipulate tribute goods, frame colleagues, and oppress the people."
After reading the entire letter, the emperor calmly asked, "If what this letter says is untrue, what will you do?"
"Your subject was merely on his way to the border to comfort the soldiers, and was simply passing through Jing'an Prefecture."
"Granted." The Emperor gently placed the letter back on his desk, his gaze distant. " Lu Chi is a cautious man; he wouldn't have presented the letter to you without certainty."
He paused, then looked at Xiao Yuan, "Since you've chosen the guise of 'comforting the border troops,' you can't just go through the motions. The north happens to be where the Qin Household Army is stationed; don't forget to go and take a look."
Xiao Yuan understood immediately and bowed deeply, "Your subject understands."
The next day, as soon as the city gates opened, a group of people headed towards Jing'an Prefecture.
Jing'an Prefecture, post station.
Zhu Huaizhang stood in front of Jin Shanyao, his face grim. " Lord Zhou, this case clearly has nothing to do with the Anzhi Hall. Why not release him?"
" Lord Zhu... the case is under investigation. No one is allowed to leave until the results are in."
"Since Lord Zhou says so, let's open the coffin and examine the body."
" Lord Zhu... the family is very emotional..."
" Lord Zhou..."
" Lord Zhu..."
Jin Shanyao, with her two children, moved her head back and forth between the two men. It was the first time that two males had fought so fiercely for her. Looking at Fang Rui and Li Xiao, the tension was even more palpable.
Jin Shanyao a deep breath and shouted, "Don't fight over me anymore, it's all my fault."
The air fell silent instantly, and everyone stared at him as if he were an idiot. Jin Shanyao straightened her back and cleared her throat. "When are we having breakfast? The child is hungry."
Zhu Huaizhang stared at Jin Shanyao, his face filled with disappointment and anger at his lack of progress. After a long pause, he squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth, "You really are like an army that needs supplies before it can move..."
Zhou Yan quickly realized what was happening and couldn't help but burst into laughter. He ordered the yamen runners, "Go, give Shopkeeper Jin meat buns, big meat buns, as many as you like."
Then, smiling, he looked at Jin Shanyao, " Shopkeeper Jin, it's not that I'm deliberately detaining you, but I also have no choice... Such a tragedy has occurred in Jing'an Prefecture, and everyone involved must stay to await trial."
Jin Shanyao her eyes, disapprovingly saying, "Look at what Lord Zhou is saying. Isn't cooperating with the government in handling cases what ordinary people should do?"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Huaizhang felt a lump in his throat. He wanted nothing more than to strangle Jin Shanyao. Whose side was she on? How could she be helping others undermine him?
Just as his anger was rising, he heard Jin Shanyao leisurely, "I brought Anzhi Hall's account books with me before I came. If the case has nothing to do with us, Lord Zhou should compensate me according to the Anzhi Hall's daily average."
Seeing Zhou Yan's smile freeze on his face, Jin Shanyao remained unmoved. "Even if Lord Zhou is not the best, he is still a fourth-rank prefect... He wouldn't cheat ordinary people out of their money. Let's not count the income from the mountain herbs, just the money for divination and medical treatment..."
Just then, a series of clattering sounds came from an abacus. Zhou Yan looked in the direction of the sound and saw Meng Anci take an abacus out of his bag and start fiddling with it.
Meng Anzhi held up an account book. Meng Anci glance at it, and she would turn a page. The two worked together seamlessly, their movements fluid and graceful.
After a long, rapid click-clack, Meng Anci away the abacus, her small face serious, and said, " Anzhi Hall's daily income is one hundred and twenty taels."
Zhou Yan was so choked by the number that his face turned pale, and he was about to explode when Jin Shanyao interrupted him with a smile.
"Look at you, child. Lord Zhou is no stranger. How can you calculate it based on gross profit? You have to deduct the cost of medicinal materials, the monthly wages of the employees, and the losses of the shop."
The net profit is only eighty taels a day. Anzhi Hall is an honest man who never takes advantage of the government. Lord Zhou, please compensate him with eighty taels a day.
Her tone was sincere, and her words were all for Zhou Yan's sake, "If Lord Zhou lets us go now, we'll forgive the losses of the past two days. Of course, it's fine if you don't let us go, but the losses..."
Zhou Yan stared at her for a long time, then suddenly laughed, " Shopkeeper Jin, have you thought this through? The money from Jing'an Prefecture isn't so easy to take."
Zhu Huaizhang nodded in agreement, "Indeed... Jing'an Prefecture is so arrogant and tyrannical... Why don't we just sign a document and stamp it?"
" Lord Zhu... what do you mean by this?"
" Lord Zhou, if you release them today, Anzhi Hall's losses will be forgiven. If you insist on not releasing them... you must sign a document."
A mocking glint flashed in Zhou Yan's eyes. He turned and ordered Fang Rui, "Keep an eye on him. If he escapes, you'll be held responsible."
After saying that, he strode away.
Jin Shanyao pointed at his retreating figure and looked at Zhu Huaizhang, "My lord... he won't sign."
Zhu Huaizhang laughed in exasperation, "Go eat your steamed buns."
He was being delusional; Zhou Yan wouldn't easily let the Jin Shanyao away. Now he could only fight alone, hoping to escape unscathed.