Who is Grandpa Zhang? He comes from a family that makes the best steelyards in Beichuan. Unfortunately, due to the war in Beichuan, almost all of his family members died, and now he is the only one left.

Selling scales is not as prosperous as it used to be; now even eating is a problem.

If it weren't for Princess Yu sending people to provide them with porridge every day, he might have starved to death long ago. Yesterday, Princess Yu sent someone to find him and asked him to do a favor by recognizing someone.

He agreed without hesitation. Princess Yu was a very kind person, and he was just a useless old man. He would do anything to help the princess.

"Uncle Zhang, this is Manager Duan, do you know him?"

Grandpa Zhang is over seventy years old and his eyesight is not very good. He has to bend down and get close to see Duan Tian kneeling on the ground.

“Oh… I remember this old man. Three years ago, he came to me to order a fake scale. I remember very clearly that making fake scales is not allowed in our Zhang family. It will be punished by heaven.”

But at that time my grandson was seriously ill and we had no money to see a doctor. He said that if I made this scale, he would give me ten taels of silver.

To pay for my grandson's medical treatment, I had to defy my ancestors' teachings and make a fake scale that would shortchange me by three ounces per pound.

Thinking about this, Grandpa Zhang felt extremely remorseful. He was already unfortunate enough, but he also caused others to suffer the same misfortune as him.

He didn't know what Duan Tian was going to do with the scale at the time, but shortchanging someone was unethical, so the retribution fell on him.

"You're lying. I've never seen you before, and I can't understand what you're saying at all."

Upon seeing Grandpa Zhang, Duan Tian had already lost all confidence.

But Grandpa Zhang could no longer lie. The princess told him to say whatever he knew, and that he was getting old and wanted to admit his mistakes. He hoped that after he passed away, he could give his ancestors an explanation in the afterlife.

“This is a scale I made myself. How could I not recognize it? There are also our Zhang family’s unique inscriptions on the bottom of the scale, where it is encased in copper. Your Highness can have someone check it.”

Su Luo asked the Red Feather Army soldier who had brought the scale rod earlier to open the part covered by the copper sheet.

Sure enough, the copper plate on the reverse side had the character "Zhang" printed on it.

When Grandpa Zhang picked up the scale again, his hands were trembling. He felt both hatred and helplessness towards the scale.

“That’s right, this is the despicable thing I did myself. Now my whole family is suffering the consequences. My son and grandson have all left me. It’s retribution…”

Su Luo had someone help Grandpa Zhang to the back to rest, and then said to Duan Tian.

"Duan Tian, ​​what else do you have to say? Do you need me to have someone weigh this grain again? It's three ounces short per pound. What a clever scheme."

When the truth came out, everyone in the village pointed fingers at Duan Tian, ​​secretly relieved that they hadn't vouched for him.

The workers from the eight villages who had just protected Duantian were now filled with fear.

Duan Tian has been doing these things for years without any accidents. They are all bribed. They don't know what the princess will do to them. They probably can't escape responsibility.

"Tell me, Steward Duan, where did all my grain go? Who was in contact with you, and what are your accomplices?"

Duan Tian knew he couldn't escape, but he wouldn't let Su Luo succeed so easily.

Su Luo saw that he was still arguing back and her face was full of sneers.

“Even if you don’t tell me, I have ways to find out. I’ve already sent people to investigate those tenants who just took away this grain. If nothing unexpected happens, we’ll have the results today.”

If I'm not mistaken, they probably have a pretty good relationship with Steward Tian.

"Taking advantage of this grain distribution, I wonder what tricks they'll pull on my food again."

As she spoke, Su Luo turned to the eight workers, walked up to them, and said...

"Are you planning to help Steward Duan cover it up, or will you tell him what you know?"

The eight people looked at each other, their eyes and subtle movements revealing their fear and panic.

They wanted to speak out to lessen their responsibility, but they didn't know Su Luo's character. What if this master was just trying to trick them into revealing information and then deliver a fatal blow?

Although Steward Duan had done many shady things, he also had some skills. If possible, Steward Duan would help them get away with it, so they decided to wait and see.

When even Steward Duan was powerless to do anything, they would then reveal the whole story. After all, they weren't the masterminds behind these events; all they needed to do was save their own lives.

"I...we don't know anything."

"Hmph, if you don't want to tell me, then I will tell you myself. This estate belongs to Prince Yu, so the grain stored here is naturally not ordinary grain."

This contains military rations distributed by the imperial court. Anyone who misuses these rations will be punished according to military law.

Su Luo returned to her seat and asked one of the Red Feather Army soldiers next to her to tell Duan Tian and the others what the consequences would be for using the military camp's provisions without permission.

"Guards, tell me how your military law is applied?"

A Red Feather Army soldier stood before Su Luo, cupping his fists in reply: "Your Highness, provisions are the foundation of the entire army. Anyone who touches them will have their tendons severed and be stabbed to death."

This confused Duan Tian. Wasn't this grain temporarily stored here to relieve the people? How did it become army rations?

If that's really the case, then the entire Akabane Army will hold him accountable, and he won't be able to escape even if he wants to.

I originally thought this princess was someone who didn't care about anything, since the previous two owners never came to visit them at the estate.

All he had to do each year was keep his income and expenditure accounts neat and tidy, and nothing would go wrong. But today he really ran into a brick wall.

After Su Luo finished speaking, everyone in the village knelt down. If the grain in the granary were to be converted into military rations, they would have ten heads and still not be enough to be chopped off.

"Your Highness, please spare me! I didn't know this was grain. I was coerced. Please spare me!"

Duan Tian knew he couldn't escape, and now he only begged to be spared.

After wasting so much breath, this was exactly the result Su Luo wanted. Now she would ask the questions she needed to ask.

"Duan Tian, ​​tell me... where did you put all the grain? If the grain can't be found, all of you will have to go to the military camp in the suburbs and explain to Prince Yu."

But don't blame me for not warning you, Prince Yu isn't like me who would waste words on you here. You can imagine what methods he uses in the military camp.

Duan Tian and the workers from the eight villages all knelt and prostrated themselves before Su Luo, their faces filled with fear and tears.

"Please spare our lives, Your Highness! We are willing to tell you where the grain is. We were truly coerced."

Su Luo: "Speak..."

Duan Tian told him everything he knew. Even if he hadn't, the princess could have found out by having someone investigate those tenant farmers.

They were his relatives and the channels through which he transported goods, so even if he was eloquent, it was useless to him at this moment.