Chapter 72 I wish I'd seen a ghost sooner

In the study of the East Palace, Mu Chenbi met Mei Shiyu, the head of Gongcheng Money Shop, for the first time. Perhaps it was the cool breeze at the palace gate, or perhaps it was because he was wearing a moon-white satin robe, but his face appeared even more sickly, pale and bluish, without a trace of blood. Mei Shiyu coughed a few times, and his frail body began to sway, as if he would fall to the ground with the slightest touch. Seeing Mu Chenbi looking at him, Mei Shiyu forced a self-deprecating smile, bowed respectfully, and remained neither humble nor arrogant.

"So you are Mei Shiyu? The young master of the Mei family, whose fame is known throughout the land for his successful money exchange."

Mei Shiyu's expression remained indifferent, devoid of emotion. "I am Mei Shiyu, greetings to Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"Please take a seat." Mu Chenbi raised his phoenix-feather eyelashes, and Luo Yichen glanced at him gratefully before hurriedly going to fetch a stool.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Mei Shiyu didn't stand on ceremony with him. He had been waiting outside the palace gate for a long time and was really tired. He brushed open his clothes and sat down on the stool. He took out a copper coin from his pocket. Luo Yichen immediately understood and took it and presented it to Mu Chenbi.

Mu Chenbi picked up the copper coin, turned it over and looked at it, saying, "These are the fake copper coins your bank accepts? They look exactly like the real ones."

Mei Shiyu nodded, his voice soft and low, “Let alone Your Highness, even ordinary people and merchants outside would find it difficult to distinguish between real and fake without comparison. But as long as they have real money in hand and can weigh it, it’s not hard to tell the difference. The people at Gongcheng Money Shop are all experienced old men, and fake copper coins cannot escape their eyes. To date, the money shop alone has collected nineteen fake coins.”

"A money shop already has nineteen counterfeit copper coins in this short period of time?" Mu Chenbi exclaimed in surprise. "Those circulating in the market that haven't entered the money shop are not included."

“Not bad.” Mei Shiyu’s pale face flushed slightly. “Ever since I received the first counterfeit copper coin, I have sent messages to other branches outside the city. I received a reply the day before yesterday that no other branch except Rongdu had seen a similar item. It seems that this item only appears in Rongdu.”

Mu Chenbi flicked the copper coin, then caught it steadily in her palm. "The daily turnover of Rongdu merchants is no less than tens of thousands. It's no wonder that the Salt and Iron Bureau didn't take it seriously, and there was no mention of this matter in the memorials approved by Father." Mu Chenbi scrutinized Mei Shiyu's forced upright posture. "You've seen a lot in the world. To be able to bypass the Salt and Iron Bureau and find the Eagle Guard leader to see me for a dozen or so counterfeit copper coins... It seems that you think this matter is extraordinary and not as simple as a dozen or so coins."

Before the audience, Mei Shiyu did not have high hopes for the Crown Prince. He heard from Luo Yichen that the current Crown Prince was martial and loved weapon forging. Martial arts often lead to a disregard for literature. Mei Shiyu was a scholar who valued literature, but his martial spirit was rough. He did not think that a mere warrior could help him. It was only after hearing what Mu Chenbi had just said that he realized he had underestimated the Crown Prince of Jin.

Mei Shiyu's thin lips parted slightly, but before he could speak, he couldn't help but cough softly. His face turned from red to purple, and his chest heaved like a bowstring that might break at any moment. Mu Chenbi glared at Luo Yichen, his gaze drifting to the tea on his desk. Luo Yichen pondered for a moment before realizing what was happening and hurriedly handed the Crown Prince's teacup to Mei Shiyu.

Mei Shiyu's cough gradually subsided. He didn't bother with formalities with the Crown Prince, took the teacup and drank it quickly. Only then did he feel a little better. After catching his breath, he looked at Mu Chenbi and gave him an apologetic smile.

"No rush, Young Master Mei, please speak slowly." Although Mu Chenbi said this, he was truly afraid that this person would not be able to catch his breath and would die in his Eastern Palace.

“These counterfeit copper coins,” Mei Shiyu hesitated slightly before deciding to speak, “appeared in Rongdu many years ago; my late father experienced this when he was alive.”

"Exactly the same as the fake copper coins from years ago?" Mu Chenbi exclaimed. "Could we be mistaken?"

Mei Shiyu said firmly, "There's no mistake. The coins the money shop has been receiving lately are from the same batch as the counterfeit copper coins from Rongdu many years ago. They're the same items from back then." Seeing Mu Chenbi's shocked expression, as if he knew about the counterfeit copper coin case from back then, Mei Shiyu knew he hadn't come to the wrong person. "Your Highness knows about this case from back then?"

Mu Chenbi nodded. His father had mentioned this matter to him. The Ma family's mint in Rongdu had embezzled brass and adulterated it to make counterfeit coins. Fortunately, it was discovered in time, which prevented a major disaster.

The Emperor lamented that Ma Yi, the head of the mint, was a renowned hero in Rongdu, with wide connections and a high reputation. He had served the court for many years and enjoyed the late Emperor's deep trust. Yet, for his own selfish gain, he had committed such a foolish act, not only losing his own life but also ruining the Ma family's reputation. Following this case, to prevent similar incidents from recurring, the Emperor established the Mint under the Salt and Iron Bureau, reclaiming the right of private workshops to produce coins for the imperial court.

— Counterfeiting copper coins is a crime punishable by the extermination of an entire clan, so how come only one person from Mayi died? Mu Chenbi was still puzzled at the time.

The Emperor said that Mayi had taken all the blame. Considering that his family had been minting coins for three generations with diligence and few faults, and that the amount of brass he had embezzled was not too large, and that he had only recently ascended the throne, he really did not want to cause further bloodshed. So he used Mayi's head to close the case, and the rest of his clansmen were exiled to the desolate lands, never to return to Rongdu.

The Ma family had already collected and destroyed all the counterfeit copper coins, something that had disappeared for over a decade. How could it suddenly reappear in Rongdu? Mu Chenbi stared intently at Mei Shiyu, "In your opinion, where did these things come from? And who was responsible for them?"

Perhaps his throat was sore from coughing, Mei Shiyu's voice was a little hoarse, "I run a money exchange, I do business, not the Three Departments that investigate cases... Your Highness asked me, I don't know either."

These words made Luo Yichen's spine tremble. It was true that the young master was richer than a country, but the person sitting opposite him was the future emperor. He had to be careful with his words.

Mu Chenbi seemed unconcerned by his offense, raising an eyebrow slightly as she continued, "You insist that the counterfeit coins were cast in the same batch as those from over a decade ago. How old were you back then? Could it be... that you've seen them? It seems... Gongcheng Money Shop has been hoarding... items from that time?"

Luo Yichen secretly thought to himself, "This is bad. If this is true, wouldn't Mei Shiyu be crying 'stop thief' in the middle and walking right into a trap?"

Mei Shiyu remained calm and composed, showing no sign of panic. He said unhurriedly, "Your Highness is absolutely right. My late father did indeed leave behind a copper coin from that time to remind future generations to be more careful and to recognize this object that brings chaos to people's lives. Besides, if he hadn't had the foresight to leave one behind, I wouldn't have been able to tell that the fake copper coins from so many years ago actually came from the same furnace. In this light, my late father's private collection can actually be considered a meritorious act."

Mu Chenbi chuckled upon hearing this. Seeing his expression soften, the atmosphere in the study immediately relaxed. "Young Master Mei is so intelligent and eloquent that I feel as if we've known each other for a long time." She then pretended to be annoyed and looked at Luo Yichen. "Luo Yichen, you and Young Master Mei are old acquaintances. Why didn't you introduce him sooner?"

"Your subordinate," Luo Yichen was taken aback by the question, "I am known for being stubborn and incorruptible, how could I do such a thing? It's only because it concerns the people's livelihood that I... that I dared to break the rules."

Mu Chenbi and Mei Shiyu exchanged a smile. Mu Chenbi's gaze slid down and noticed a bone fan with a jade clasp tucked into Mei Shiyu's waist. "It's getting chilly in autumn, why do you still carry a fan with you?"

Mei Shiyu glanced at it, picked up the jade clasp and held it in his hand. "This is my late father's keepsake. Having it with me is like having my father still alive."

Mu Chenbi knew that he had lost his mother at a young age and his father in his youth, and that he also carried a huge family business of a money exchange on his shoulders. Seeing that he was sickly and had difficulty speaking, Mu Chenbi felt a pang of sympathy. Mu Chenbi picked up the copper coin and said, "Don't worry, I will talk to my father."

"I am relieved to see Your Highness." Mei Shiyu stood up and bowed. "His Majesty is wise, and with the Crown Prince assisting him, I have truly found the right person for this matter."

Mu Chenbi felt relieved and waved to Luo Yichen to see him out.

When Mei Shiyu left the East Palace, it was already dark. In the deep palaces and gardens, shadows overlapped. The palace lanterns along the way cast dim yellow light on the bluestone slabs. A night wind suddenly rose, making the cold and desolate atmosphere even more pronounced. Mei Shiyu shivered and quickly pulled his cloak tighter. He regretted not listening to his cousin and wearing a mink coat, which would have made him feel less cold.

"Are you cold?" Luo Yichen glanced at him. "Miss Mei always protects you, why didn't she tell you to put on a warmer coat?"

Mei Shiyu pursed his dry lips. "It's my fault for being stubborn and refusing to comply."

The East Palace is located to the west of the Imperial Palace, not far from the most bustling West Street in Rongdu. Today is the fifteenth of the month, and it is also a grand market day. The night market will be open until midnight, and the entire street is brightly lit. Even beyond the overlapping palace walls, one can still see some lights in the distance.

"How is Miss Mei these days?" Luo Yichen asked in a low voice. "I haven't been able to rest lately, and I haven't seen her for more than ten days."

Mei Shiyu laughed and said, "The Mei family's gate is always open. If I remember correctly, your salary is still deposited in my family's bank. It's only a short walk to visit you when you have time. Why are you asking me?"

The darkness concealed the rough man's red face, and Luo Yichen awkwardly said, "I'm just... busy."

Passing through the palace road, not far away, there were flying eaves and glazed tiles, red walls and courtyards. Seeing Mei Shiyu looking in that direction, Luo Yichen said, "That is the Chengen Hall. Apart from the Emperor, almost no one goes there."

“Cheng'en Hall…” Mei Shiyu murmured, “This hall is right next to the East Palace and not far from the main hall. The empress who lives there must be the most favored in the palace.”

Luo Yichen shook his head and lowered his voice, saying, "Cheng'en Palace is an empty palace with no concubines living there."

"Empty?" Mei Shiyu was slightly surprised. He didn't ask any further questions. In the depths of the palace, there were many things that a mere merchant like himself couldn't possibly know.

Outside Chengen Hall, a dark figure flickered, whether preparing to enter or just coming out was unknown. Luo Yichen looked over alertly and saw that the figure was shrouded in darkness with a golden thread wrapped around its left eye. Knowing who it was, he relaxed and led Mei Shiyu toward the palace gate.

"That person?" Mei Shiyu also saw the black figure. Even from a hundred paces away, Mei Shiyu recognized the familiar figure—the Imperial Preceptor Cui Jin. His father's body was barely cold when this group of court guests, led by Cui Jin, entered his father's mourning hall. This man had a terrifyingly eerie face and a chilling one-eyed expression. He was wrapped in a black robe, and his words and actions were incredibly oppressive. Even just standing there silently sent shivers down one's spine. The most experienced manager of the money exchange trembled and couldn't utter a complete sentence when he saw him.

He stayed at the Mei family for a full twenty days. When he left, everyone in the Mei family seemed to have finally broken free from their oppressive shackles. Mei Shiyu even fell seriously ill and it took him more than a month to recover. Mei Shiyu would never forget that near-death experience until his last breath.

Luo Yichen assumed he was frightened and calmly said, "Imperial Preceptor Cui Jin is an old hand by the Emperor's side. The Crown Prince regards him as his teacher. He may seem intimidating at first glance, but he is not difficult to talk to."

"—Imperial Preceptor Cui Jin." Mei Shiyu murmured the name, then looked up again. Cui Jin seemed to have also seen him and Luo Yichen, nodding slightly in the night breeze, as if in greeting. Mei Shiyu dared not meet his gaze again, and hurried towards the palace gate.

West Street Night Market

Seeing Song Mian again, Guan Ye was no longer afraid. Gazing at her fellow passengers frying oil cakes, Guan Ye remembered that Song Mian was arrogant back then, speaking with an official tone and pontificating. When he learned that their destination was Canglang Island, his arrogance vanished, replaced by overwhelming fear. Without hesitation, he jumped into the deep sea and paddled desperately towards a way to survive. Everyone thought he was doomed, but Hu Xian didn't even raise an eyebrow. How strong was his will to survive that he was able to carve a path through the surging waves and actually return to the capital?

Guan Ye sighed. The once noble Song Mian was now dead in the sea. The oil cake vendor had a humble look in his eyes, his pride worn down by poverty. He skillfully kneaded the dough and wrapped the filling, his palms twirling in the hot oil, much like his control over the temperature when forging swords. The moment the first bubble appeared on the surface of the oil, he quickly threw the oil cake in, not feeling the pain as oil splattered all over his hands. He used long chopsticks to flip it over, frying the oil cake until it was golden brown, then promptly took it out, shouting that each person could only buy three at most. He swallowed his hungry saliva. He wore a thin blouse stained with oil, and the autumn wind was truly chilly.

During a break from his work, Song Mian also saw Guan Ye. He grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, and waved his long chopsticks at Guan Ye. Guan Ye gently bit her lip and walked towards the fried cake shop.

"Three?" Song Mian gestured with his fingers.

“One.” Guan Ye took out a coin.

"It's on me, no money required." Song Mian blocked her hand, rolled his eyes and looked behind her. "Last time there were three of you, why didn't you let them bring two? Last time I offered you a ride, but you refused and ran away faster than a rabbit. What's wrong?"

Guan Ye accepted the fried cake without hesitation, looking ashamed. "Last time... I thought I saw a ghost."

Song Mian had clearly expected this, and grinned, "I also thought I'd seen a ghost."