Du Zhong had already finished his shift and gone home.

Seeing that the door to his father's study was ajar, Du Shizheng stopped. "Second sister, please don't go in. I'm going to discuss official business with Father."

Du Yutong: "..."

Her elder brother was the Vice Director of the Arsenal, and had almost no connection with the Court of Judicial Review. She needed to be absent when discussing matters.

Du Yutong obediently responded. When she saw her brother knock on the door and enter the study, she turned around and tiptoed to the window.

"The Emperor summoned me to the palace yesterday. The Prime Minister is currently being held in custody by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The Emperor is personally handling the case. Has the discrepancy in the armory's inventory been clarified?"

Her father's voice was icy, and Du Yutong shivered as she listened.

"Father, this is exactly what I want to tell you. A few days ago, the Emperor sent people to the armory to check the count, and there was a discrepancy of more than a hundred weapons."

Hearing her father and brother's conversation, Du Yutong's legs went weak.

He thought to himself, "Oh no, my brother is in big trouble this time."

The number of weapons is wrong. He, a sixth-rank supervisor, is going to be demoted to the lowest rank. No, he should be imprisoned.

Du Yutong jolted and moved forward a little.

Then the elder brother said, "Aunt has gone home. We no longer need to be tied to the Wei family. I have submitted the list. The Emperor did not say how to punish me. He just told me to go home and reflect on my actions."

“Well done. Don’t underestimate the new emperor just because he’s young. He hasn’t dealt with the old ministers since he ascended the throne. They say you have to strike the snake at its vital spot. The emperor is a ruthless man. From now on, we should protect ourselves and not associate with those people anymore.”

After Du Zhong finished speaking, he secretly rejoiced that he was fortunate to have received guidance from Miss Jiang that night, otherwise the Embroidered Uniform Guard's sword would have been pointed at the Dali Temple.

...

The Du family's carriage took Jiang Shuyue to the gate of the Jiang residence, where she gave the driver a tip before entering.

Just as I entered the hall, Gao Mu and Cang Yun returned.

"Miss, Juxian Pavilion has been shut down, and even the real estate agent can't find out who owns the restaurant."

"Aren't there any other restaurants for sale or lease?"

Cangyun quickly cupped his hands in greeting, “Miss, you may not know this, but Zuixian Pavilion is located on Zhengdong Street, in the best location. It is a gathering place for nobles and merchants from all over the country.”

Juxian Pavilion is a combination of restaurant and inn, and its chefs are among the best in the capital. Jiang Shuyue knew this without Cang Yun having to explain.

She looked at Gao Mu, "You mean there aren't any other restaurants that have been sold?"

"The broker said that business in the capital is getting better and better, and no one is willing to give up their restaurant for the time being."

"Then let's wait a little longer."

The villagers have just received the meat rabbits, and it will take at least six months before a large number of meat rabbits are available on the market.

Back in the courtyard, she slipped into her spatial dimension, reviewed the medical records she had compiled, and checked the remaining silver. It was more than enough to buy the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

After leaving the space, Qiuju brought Suisui in.

"Mother, I gave those two little rabbits back to Brother Xie. He insisted on giving me a calligraphy book, and I couldn't refuse, so I had to accept it." Sui Sui said, handing over a calligraphy book.

Jiang Shuyue took a look and indeed it was Qingling Shanren's regular script, which was very suitable for students who were just starting out to practice.

Qiuju recalled the scene of the scholars in Qingyunzhai discussing poetry and suggested, "Miss, I have noticed that Young Master Xie often visits the poetry wall in the study. Why don't you write another poem and hang it in the study?"

"Sure, prepare the brush and ink, and I'll send the gatekeeper over to hang it up in a bit."

Jiang Shuyue asked Lan'er to take Sui Sui down to play.

A moment later, the room was filled with the fragrance of ink. Jiang Shuyue pondered for a moment, then picked up her brush and wrote in one stroke:

Thick clouds and sorrowful fog fill the Xiao and Xiang rivers; fallen leaves startle the long, dark night.

I drew my sword and sang passionately several times, but when I raised my cup and looked around, my face was filled with desolation.

Jiang Shuyue hesitated for a moment before finally signing her name as Yue Niang.

Seeing her young mistress's bright smile, Qiuju reminded her, "Miss, tomorrow is the day you have an appointment with Physician Lin to go to the palace."

Jiang Shuyue put down her pen and ink. "Let's get some rest early tonight."

After nightfall, Jiang Shuyue went to the affordable grain shop again.

Besides grains, the shop also sells rice and flour, thanks to Nangong Zeyue's contact with grain merchants.

By the time they returned home, the moon was already high in the sky.

In the neighboring yard, Nangong Zeyue was taking a bite of a wild apple, making a "crunch" sound.

"It smells so sweet. Our Sui Sui is the best. She always thinks of her uncle no matter where she goes."

Seeing that there wasn't much left after Nangong Zeyue had finished eating, Sui Sui yawned and said, "Uncle Nangong, don't eat anymore. If you're hungry, just ask the kitchen to cook you a bowl of noodles."

Nangong Zeyue flicked the fruit pits out the window, looked down at the bamboo basket, and saw that she had already eaten all the larger ones.

He picked up a handkerchief and wiped his lips, saying gently, "Sui Sui, your uncle is full. You should rest first. I'll take all the apples here to your mother. She's going to the palace tomorrow."

After covering Sui Sui with a blanket, Nangong Zeyue carried a bamboo basket and leaped over the wall.

Gao Mu and Cang Yun happened to be patrolling on the other side of the wall. When they saw Nangong Zeyue leap over the wall, Gao Mu stepped forward, cupped his hands, and asked, "Young Master Nangong, did the young master sleep well?"

"With me here, of course you can sleep well. Now, have a taste, it tastes good."

With a whooshing sound, Gao Mu and Cang Yun reached out and caught the apples that flew towards them.

“This, I can’t eat it. The young master said he wants to save some to send to the palace to pay tribute to the emperor.”

“I’m afraid of someone who starts something and then abandons it. If I tell you to eat, then eat. Why are you making so many demands?”

Cangyun and Gao Mu watched as Nangong Zeyue walked towards the young lady's courtyard, and the two looked at each other in bewilderment.

Cangyun was completely confused. The emperor hadn't even held a selection of concubines, so how could he be accused of starting a relationship and then abandoning the woman?

The apple in my hand has become a hot potato; I can't eat it, and I can't not eat it.

After a moment of stunned silence, Gao Mu picked up the apple, wiped it on his sleeve, and took a bite out of half of it.

"Old Gao, you really eat it. There aren't many left to be sent to the palace."

"Young Master Nangong ordered this food for us. There's nothing good in the palace, so these two apples won't make a difference." Gao Mu said dismissively, knowing there were some things he couldn't say.

Young Master Nangong has spent more time with Sui Sui than with the young lady herself, yet the Emperor has still not given her a formal title.

He heard Qiuju recount how the young lady escaped from the manor, ended up in Yunling Village, and then fled to Yannan due to drought. Gao Mu felt indignant on behalf of the young lady.

"That's right. When the new emperor ascends the throne, neighboring countries will come to pay tribute. There will be all sorts of rare things. The emperor didn't even make our young master a crown prince or anything. It's no big deal if he misses out on a wild apple."

Cangyun didn't hesitate any longer, and in two bites, the apple was gone.

After finishing the meal, she smacked her lips with lingering satisfaction, "If only Miss could stay at the manor for a couple more days, perhaps we could find some fruit trees on the mountaintop that no one has discovered yet."

In Xingyue Courtyard, Qiuju came out after hearing a knock on the door.

"Young Master Nangong, what is this...?"

"This is a gift from Sui Sui to His Majesty. Sui Sui will be going to the private school tomorrow and won't have time to come to the palace."

Looking at the few half-green, half-red bumps in the bamboo basket, Qiuju's lips twitched.

She clearly remembered that there were several big, red ones inside, but after Nangong Zeyue messed around with them, only a few oddly shaped ones were left.