This Yamen Runner Can't Be Used

The system's face turned serious, and it said earnestly, "Host, these are the prices set by the system. Previously, I lacked the energy to display these items, which is why I gave you room to negotiate. That's no longer possible; you can only buy at the prices listed."

At this point, it muttered discontentedly, "You really got off easy back then."

"Besides, I only leveled up once, so what's displayed are the items I've already encountered, which I've already read to you before. Once I accumulate enough points to level up again, the shop will display even more items. Host, then you'll have lots of new items to buy."

As it spoke, its gaze shifted to the points displayed on the screen, and then it exclaimed "Wow!" "Host, you have so many points again! Quick, buy, buy! Just buy whatever you want and you can use it right away."

"I won't buy it." Zhao Ruxi coldly refused. "There's nothing I want."

system:"..."

She even said she missed it! Women's words are so deceitful! It will never trust its host again.

"However, I've now taken up a local post. I need you to gather information for me," Zhao Ruxi said.

"Host, I've upgraded now. I'm no longer the system you can just order around. Gathering information won't be as cheap as before, so be prepared." The system's tone also turned serious.

"It's gotten more expensive?" Zhao Ruxi's tone was full of regret. "Oh well. Anyway, I have my own men. Xiao Lingyan even gave me three guards. I can have them gather information without spending a single point, which saves me money."

As she spoke, she instructed Qingfeng to summon the other two guards besides Xiang Ming.

"Yang Jie (Lu Yun) greets you, young lady." A male and a female guard bowed to Zhao Ruxi.

To make it easier for their master to address them, Xiao Lingyan's guards retained their original surnames and each adopted a single-character given name. Therefore, all of these guards had two-character names.

The three guards were all between seventeen and thirty years old. Lu Yun was the youngest, only seventeen, and was a woman; Xiang Ming was the oldest, thirty, and already married.

"The gambling dens and brothels in Nanyang are all connected to Chen Kang, the clerk in the government office. Please investigate the details for me during this time," Zhao Ruxi said. "Also, investigate the relationships between the village chiefs and the salt merchants and Chen Kang."

"Yes," the two replied loudly, clasping their hands in a fist salute.

They were sent by His Highness Prince of Qi to protect Zhao Ruxi, but Zhao Ruxi already had capable people around her, so she didn't need them at the government office. They stayed in Zhao Residence all day and felt like they were growing mushrooms on their bodies.

Now that they had a task, the two of them were actually quite Gao Xing.

"You can cooperate, or you can divide the work; it's up to you. Let's set a ten-day timeframe. Find out as much as you can. My only requirement is that you don't expose yourselves," Zhao Ruxi said.

"Yes."

Zhao Ruxi originally thought she would have to stay at home for at least three or four days before receiving a notification from the yamen. However, only one day later, a clerk from the yamen came to inform her that the household registration office had prepared the files and accounts she wanted to see and that she should go to the yamen to receive them.

"Young lady, this clerk's name is Zhang Wenhuan. He came to see me first and told me he wanted to follow you. Only then did he mention that you should go to the yamen," Zhou Chun reported.

"Zhang Wenhuan? Okay." Zhao Ruxi nodded.

She had expected that this person would volunteer.

According to the information Xiao Lingyan gave her, Zhang Wenhuan, as a clerk in the Household Department, was unwilling to collude with Chen Kang. Cai Yaozong, who had just arrived in Nanyang and was eager to express goodwill to Chen Kang, found an opportunity to make an example of him, almost forcing Zhang Wenhuan to leave the Household Department.

Zhang Wenhuan is now a more marginalized figure in the government office than Guan Jian'an.

She had Zhou Chun spread the word in the government office in order to wait for Zhang Wenhuan to take the initiative to come forward and pledge allegiance to her. If Zhang Wenhuan lost his will to serve her and didn't even have the intention to do so, then there was no need to consider him anymore.

"Tell him to recommend a yamen runner. When I go to the yamen this afternoon, I'll specifically request him to come and work for me," Zhao Ruxi said.

Before Zhao Ruxi went to the yamen in the afternoon, Zhou Chun said to Zhao Ruxi, "There's a yamen runner named Yu Gang who has had the same experience as Zhang Wenhuan. He wants to seek refuge with you, young lady, along with Zhang Wenhuan."

Just as Zhao Ruxi was about to speak, the system suddenly popped into her mind and said, "Host, I can check on these two people for you."

"If it's the original price, we'll investigate; if not, we won't," Zhao Ruxi said.

The system firmly replied, "No. Different levels have different prices."

Zhao Ruxi ignored the system and asked Zhou Chun, "Was this Yu Gang recommended by Zhang Wenhuan, or did he come to us on his own?"

Zhou Chun was surprised by Zhao Ruxi's question and quickly replied, "It was my fault for not explaining clearly. Yu Gang came to me on his own. Not long after Zhang Wenhuan left at noon, Yu Gang came to offer his services. At the time, I was worried that you were resting, so I didn't inform you in time."

Because Zhang Wenhuan recommended himself, Zhao Ruxi agreed very readily. In addition, Yu Gang said that his experience was similar to Zhang Wenhuan's, and he was just a yamen runner, not as important as Zhang Wenhuan, so Zhou Chun didn't take it too seriously and didn't inquire about his situation.

He assumed that as long as someone volunteered, the girl would accept them. After all, those who volunteered were likely not on good terms with Cai Yaozong. That was better Guan Jian'an and Qin Wang, who were both unwilling, right?

Therefore, he did not report it in time, thinking that it would be enough to just inform the girl before she went to the yamen.

"We can't use Yu Gang," Zhao Ruxi said. "When Cai Yaozong first came to Nanyang, he did have a conflict with him. Later, Yu Gang sought Chen Kang's help and gave Cai Yaozong a large gift, which meant he had pledged allegiance to Cai Yaozong. Later, Cai Yaozong took advantage of this. Whenever he wanted to trip someone up, he would send Yu Gang to do it. Because Yu Gang openly had a conflict with Cai Yaozong, no one would suspect Cai Yaozong. He was an extremely useful pawn in Cai Yaozong's hands."

Zhou Chun's eyes widened in surprise, and then a layer of cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Because of his carelessness, he almost harmed the girl.

"You..." He wanted to ask Zhao Ruxi how she knew all this, since he had come to Nanyang in advance and led the servants to inquire everywhere, but they had not found out any such news that no one else knew.

But he swallowed the words back as soon as they left his mouth.

He recalled the three guards Xiao Lingyan to Zhao Ruxi. Apart from Xiang Ming, who accompanied the young lady, the other two were usually nowhere to be seen. Perhaps they were the ones who had uncovered this information.

Compared to others, they are still far behind! Zhou Chun felt a little disheartened.