Chapter 64 Remembering Jiangnan (Part 4) "It's pleasing to the eye."...

At 1:45 PM, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Ye Mu stood in the corner with his head down.

She was traveling south in a hurry, and only halfway through her journey did she realize that she had not asked His Highness the Crown Prince for information on the officials of Wujiang County. She could only rely on the fragmented information she had heard over the past month to quickly piece it together.

Zhou Chongli, a distant nephew of Vice Minister Zhou of the Ministry of Revenue, did not use this relationship to obtain a minor official position. Instead, he passed the imperial examination through proper channels and had an impressive resume that attracted attention. He was a second-class Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), had served in the Hanlin Academy, and was only stationed in a local area for three years. However, due to his diligence and competence, he was repeatedly rated as excellent in the evaluations and was promoted to magistrate of Wujiang County five years ago, where he was in charge of the area.

The local taxes were in arrears and the river works were in disrepair, but in just three years, the accounts have been completely renewed. The performance evaluations have been "outstanding" year after year, and last year there were even rumors that he was about to be promoted to Assistant Prefect of Suzhou, in charge of the prefecture's finances and grain, a truly lucrative post.

With such a background and political achievements, anyone who sees him for the first time would think he is a rare capable and honest official.

Even more so, the old officials in the government office gossiped in private, saying that he was very strict with himself, lived frugally, was unmarried, and did not keep prostitutes.

However, he was also ruthless. When he first arrived, he dealt with several cunning and entrenched officials with lightning speed, confiscating their property and exiling them without any mercy. From then on, everyone in the county government was in awe of him.

This is the visible structure of officialdom.

If His Highness the Crown Prince hadn't pointed out that Zhou Chongli, the magistrate of Wujiang County, was suspected of embezzling 50,000 taels of river works relief funds... Ye Mu thought that even if he was suspicious, he probably wouldn't have been able to associate the word "great corrupt official" with the upright-looking, outstanding young magistrate in front of him.

Zhou Chongli walked slowly inside the house.

He walked up to the office of Secretary Yu, casually pulled out a detailed list of grain tribute converted into silver, and glanced at it for a moment. "Last autumn flood, Wujiang reported 8,000 taels of silver for reinforcing the dikes, of which 3,500 taels were spent on purchasing stone blocks. Secretary Yu, in your opinion, if more stone blocks are needed before this year's spring flood, will the market price be higher or lower than last year?"

Scribe Yu's forehead was beaded with sweat. "Reporting to Your Excellency, this humble official has been mostly checking land taxes lately. As for the market prices of materials, I need to... I need to inquire with the procurement department..."

Zhou Chongli neither agreed nor disagreed, gently putting the account book back without uttering a single word of reproach, but his imposing presence made Yu, the clerk, lower his head even further, almost burying it in his chest.

He paced a few more steps and stopped in front of Ye Mu's desk.

The desk was a bit messy, with a copy of "Records of Miscellaneous Expenses in River Works Over the Years" that she had just finished checking lying on it, next to which was a small abacus made of pearls and jade.

Several Xiuyan jade beads had strayed from their original positions and were scattered haphazardly on the crotch, as if their owner had hastily rearranged them without properly tidying them up.

Zhou Chongli glanced at the abacus, paused for a moment, raised an eyebrow, and looked away.

He then reached out and picked up the withdrawal record.

The room was so quiet that only the faint sound of turning pages could be heard.

"Who checked this copy?" His voice, though not angry, carried an imposing authority that made everyone's hearts clench and they held their breath.

Zheng, the head of the household affairs office, had already soaked his inner clothes with cold sweat when Zhou Chongli stopped in front of Ye Mu's desk.

Upon hearing this, he almost jumped up, desperately trying to wink at Ye Mu, his eyes practically bulging out of their sockets. But the blockhead-like boy was probably too terrified to notice, staring intently at the small tile in front of his toes, completely oblivious to his hints.

The official had no choice but to bite the bullet and step forward, bowing even lower, his voice hoarse, "Reporting to Your Excellency, it is a new writer, Ye Mu checked it."

Ye Mu was called upon by the person in charge, and only then did he notice the booklet in Zhou Chongli's hand. He stepped out from the corner and said, "It is I."

Zhou Chongli tilted his head slightly to look at her hands, which were tightly gripping her sleeves. Those hands were slender and somewhat thin.

He looked again at the withdrawal record in his hand, "Last March, we purchased 2,000 flood control sacks at a unit price of 90 cash."

“It’s the same kind of burlap sack,” he said, flipping back a few pages and pointing, “but the county government purchased them the autumn before last, and the unit price was sixty cash.”

“The price of a burlap sack has skyrocketed by thirty cash in a year,” Zhou Chongli said. “Clerk Ye, have you noticed this while you’re checking?”

All eyes were secretly drawn to them.

Manager Zheng was an impatient man, and seeing that Ye Mu still couldn't utter a word, he was extremely anxious.

If this hothead answers poorly and angers the magistrate, he might be implicated.

He answered first, "My lord, please allow me to report that last year, many places in Jiangsu Prefecture suffered from floods, which affected the hemp harvest, and the price of hemp sacks naturally rose accordingly."

"The date this batch of sacks was recorded was March 12, while the report on the large-scale floods in Jiangsu Prefecture arrived at the prefectural government office in late July."

Zhou Chongli chuckled lightly, "Manager Zheng, are you implying that Wujiang County had some kind of premonition and raised prices more than three months before the floods due to a shortage of raw materials?"

Zheng, the official in charge, wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. "I failed to notice, I failed to notice."

Zhou Chongli ignored him and turned to Ye Mu, saying calmly, "Secretary Ye, what do you have to say?"

Fortunately, these days, Yu Shuban noticed that Ye Mu was gloomy all day long, and fearing that the young man would get sick from being so depressed, he would talk to her whenever he had free time.

He talked at length about the local produce market in Wujiang, the fluctuations in grain and labor prices over the years, and even which years had more rain and which sections of the river were prone to accidents.

Ye Mu listened attentively, and when he encountered something he didn't understand, he would ask a few questions. It was rare for Secretary Yu to hear this "silent gourd" speak, so he naturally answered everything he knew.

She couldn't appear too smart, arousing suspicion, nor could she truly seem like a useless person.

"Return to my lord."

Ye Mu kept his head down. "When I checked, I did see a huge price difference, which made me uneasy. I found out that the market price of burlap sacks in the neighboring county was also fluctuating at sixty-five coins. I also asked Secretary Yu privately, and he told me that the local burlap fields had a decent harvest last year. Although it was not a bumper year, it was not a big problem."

"This humble servant is dull-witted, but after being reminded by Secretary Yu, I reviewed the documents submitted by the workshop and noticed that a batch of stockpiled burlap sacks had been urgently requisitioned to reinforce the dangerous dike in the Xitang section."

As she said this, her voice lowered, "I have a wild guess: could it be that the emergency mobilization caused a shortage of the county government's regular inventory, requiring an emergency replenishment before last year's spring flood season? And perhaps the prices for emergency purchases are different from usual?"

After she finished speaking, her back was already soaked with sweat.

Zhou Chongli listened quietly, his gaze shifting from the ledger to Ye Mu's lowered neck.

The boy was thin, with his shoulder blades protruding slightly under his oversized cotton robe. He lowered his head, revealing a section of the back of his neck. His skin appeared somewhat pale in the dim light of the room, unlike her sallow complexion.

I don't think I've seen him this sallow at the lantern festival.

"You and Clerk Yu are quite meticulous, knowing to investigate related old files and connect the dots." Zhou Chongli put the account book back in its place and looked at Ye Mu. "When did you arrive at the yamen?"

Seeing that Lord Zhou's expression was slightly troubled, Chief Clerk Zheng stepped forward, bowed, and replied, "Your Excellency, Ye Mu only arrived in late February and hasn't passed his probation yet. He's a temporary clerk. He's from Wanping and came here to stay with relatives and make a living. I noticed that he's good at accounting, his penmanship is steady, and he seems honest and reliable, so I've decided to keep him in our household registration office to learn..."

It's normal for a young man traveling alone south to visit relatives to look tired and haggard. But that night in Wanping, under the lamplight, although he was also thin, his brows were bright and clear in the lamplight, unlike his current ashen complexion.

Zhou Chongli said solemnly, “Bring out all the original receipts and contracts related to the river works procurement in recent years. I will verify them one by one.”

The head of the household affairs office, Zheng, readily agreed, "This humble official will personally supervise the process to ensure that all receipts and contracts are complete and properly organized. I will personally deliver them to the signing office the day after tomorrow for your review."

"I won't be there this morning, I'll be back in the evening," Zhou Chongli interrupted, walking out. "Have Ye Mu pack it up and have him bring it over as well."

"Yes, yes!" The person in charge bowed repeatedly as he saw him off.

Ye Mu was taken aback.

Isn't this exactly what I wanted?

She has been here for over a month, burying herself in the copied books all day long. She has only been dealing with the polished surface, scratching the surface without getting to the real thing.

The Crown Prince entrusted him with finding irrefutable evidence of keeping two sets of account books and clues to the flow of embezzled funds. These crucial items would never be openly displayed on the shelves of the Household Registration Office. Their most likely hiding place was in the signing room where Zhou Chongli worked.

It was a more secretive place than the inner palace; ordinary clerks would never be able to step inside without being summoned.

At that moment, Zhou Chongli's casual remark opened a crack for her.

This is a golden opportunity.

At this time, Chief Clerk Zheng had already seen Zhou Chongli off and returned.

He strode up to Ye Mu and earnestly instructed him, "Did you hear that? The county magistrate personally selected you. Those old receipts are the most messy, so you must be careful and make no mistakes, and you must not delay the time."

Ye Mumu nodded.

Chief Clerk Zheng sighed heavily again, sounding exasperated. "When you're in front of the county magistrate, you need to be even more shrewd! Say what you should say, don't ask what you shouldn't ask, and keep your eyes on the line. This is your destiny, and also your test, understand?"

Ye Mu remained slow to react, uttering a muffled "hmm" as a response.

Manager Zheng couldn't help but sigh deeply. This person was only good at accounting; he knew nothing else. He shook his head, put his hands behind his back, and turned to leave.

After he left, it was almost time for his shift to end. Everyone else had already slipped away, leaving only Ye Mu and Secretary Yu in the office.

Yu, the clerk, then came closer, his face filled with sincere gratitude and a little embarrassment. "Clerk Ye, thank you for mentioning me to Lord Zhou earlier."

Ye Mu raised his head and said earnestly, "Secretary Yu, you're too kind. These are things you taught me in your spare time. I'm just stating the facts."

"Did I teach you all this?" Upon hearing this, Secretary Yu scratched the back of his head somewhat blankly and chuckled dryly. "I'm usually so talkative, I've told you so many random things that I can't even remember what I've rambled on about... I think I mentioned it briefly?"

He clearly hadn't thought about it deeply, attributing it simply to his own talkativeness and the fact that the magistrate praised him, which filled him with a naive joy, and he put his doubts out of his mind.

He had been working at the Wujiang County government office for over two years, and it was already a blessing if he wasn't criticized or reprimanded by the head official. He had never been so fortunate as to have his name remembered by the county magistrate today.

He was in a great mood. Looking at Ye Mu's sallow and thin face, he found him even more pleasing and pitiful. He said warmly, "Since you came here, you probably haven't had a proper meal, have you? Come on, today I'll treat you to roast goose on the front street. I'm not bragging, but our Wujiang roast goose is slow-roasted with lychee wood. The skin is crispy and the meat is tender. It's oily but not greasy. It's a flavor you can't find anywhere else. Only after you've eaten and drunk your fill will you have the strength to deal with this pile of debts."

Ye Mu's throat bobbed slightly upon hearing this, not out of greed, but out of a helpless amusement and a slight sense of guilt.

She was too embarrassed to say it out loud, but she didn't actually live such a poor life.

In the bundle Xie Yicheng gave her before parting, there was a five-hundred-tael silver note from the Datong Money Shop in the capital, which could be exchanged anywhere in the world.

In the letter my mother sent the other day, which was delivered through a third party, besides her many instructions, she also attached a redemption certificate from Fulong Money Exchange.

The letter said that the woman in charge of her shop, Lady Yun, had come to her shop a few days ago and insisted on giving her an advance of half a year's wages, a full 180 taels. She and her daughter kept some for daily expenses and exchanged the rest for this portable voucher to send to her.

However, there was no branch of Fulong Money Shop in Wujiang County, so she had to go to Suzhou City to withdraw the money. She hadn't had time to check the exact amount yet.

Fortunately, she had mentioned to Lady Yun that she was working at the rouge shop, so she was probably careful and wouldn't let anything slip.

In addition, she worked as a temporary scribe in the county government, and although the monthly allowance was not much, it was only one tael and five mace of "work and food silver".

But all things considered, with her savings, she could easily afford to rent out a roast goose shop for a period of time, let alone eat roast goose.

So, although she pretended to be a down-on-his-luck scholar in the yamen, eating only dry rations or the cheapest vegetarian noodles for lunch, when she returned to her small house and closed the door, she would secretly treat herself to various trendy foods every few days, such as Suzhou-style pastries, braised pork, Tibetan mutton, and shrimp and eel noodles, based on recommendations from the "Wuzhong Local Customs" she bought at the market or from others.

But at this moment, facing Yu Shuban's round face full of pure goodwill and his unconditional enthusiasm, Ye Mu really couldn't bring himself to refuse, and was also afraid that refusing too much would seem strange.

So she just smiled shyly and said, "I'm really sorry to have troubled Secretary Yu with all this money."

"What's the big deal! A goose only costs a few dollars! Let's go, let's go!" Secretary Yu put his arm around Ye Mu's thin shoulder and led him outside.

That night, Ye Mu returned home with a faint aroma of roast goose emanating from him.

The small house was located in a quiet alley in the southeast of the county town. It was a small courtyard with two main rooms. Although it was not luxurious, it was clean and tidy. It was more than enough for her to live in. It was arranged by Han Er, the manager of Jinyun Silk Shop, who was the "cousin" arranged by the Crown Prince.

When they first brought her to live, her uncle originally wanted her to stay in the back of the Han family's residence.

The Han family, having received a secret instruction from the Crown Prince, naturally dared not neglect their duties. They prepared the best guest quarters and treated their distant nephew with such courtesy and attentiveness that they were almost apprehensive.

But Ye Mu couldn't stand it.

She was originally here to investigate the case secretly, so she needed to keep a low profile and not attract attention. Staying in a merchant's house was already a bit conspicuous, and being treated so specially would probably attract unnecessary attention in a few days.

So she politely declined, saying that she was "used to a quiet place and didn't want to disturb her uncle's family," and only said that she wanted to rent a simple little house nearby.

Manager Han was a clever man. Although he didn't know the whole story, he guessed that his nephew probably had a special identity and couldn't be too high-profile, so he didn't insist. He quickly found the house through a broker and rented it under the guise of helping a distant relative settle down. Ye Mu took care of all the expenses.

Just as Ye Mu had closed the courtyard gate with his backhand, before he could even lower the latch, he suddenly heard light footsteps approaching from outside, followed by a gentle knock on the door knocker.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she opened the door a crack.

Standing outside the door was an unfamiliar boy, about half a year old, holding a thin letter in his hand. He handed it over and said in a clear voice, "Is this Young Master Ye Mu? The clerk from Jinyun Silk Shop delivered it to the teahouse on the front street during the day and asked our manager to pass it on to you. He said it was for you, and the manager asked me to bring it here now so as not to delay your business."

"Thank you for your trouble." Ye Mu took the letter, took out a few copper coins and gave them to the child, then she locked the door again.

She went into the room, lit a lamp, and saw an unfinished county gazetteer and some scattered clues on the table. Ye Mu pushed it aside, opened the letter, and saw that it was from Zijing. She had been formally learning under Instructor Zheng and had learned a lot of characters. She was in the midst of a beginner's enthusiasm.

She was a lively and talkative person, with a lot to say that she wanted to pour out, but she didn't know enough words to write them all.

The inclusion of typos is quite amusing.

Ye Mu's gaze fell on the first line, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curve into a smile.

"The doctor who is now a resident physician at Baohetang is quite famous! Master Zhao said that ever since the doctor took office, business has been booming! However, there are many young scoundrels who come from who-knows-where, pretending to have headaches and fevers even when they are not sick, and they keep glancing at the doctor. These people are really shameless!"

Master... Manager... Overseeing... Young lady... Excuse me...

Ye Mu laughed so hard he almost fell over, picked up a pen, and wrote neat annotations in the blank space next to him.

"My father planted many kinds of vegetables, including jujubes, cucumbers, and broad beans. They grew very well. We couldn't even finish eating them all, so we didn't have to buy any."

The letter was rambling, actually describing many trivial matters between neighbors in the alley: which woman had given birth to a baby, which mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had quarreled, what new fabrics they had bought, but she quickly skimmed through them all. Only the few words related to Xie Yicheng were repeatedly chewed over by Ye Mu.

At the very very end of the letter.

"Girl, take good care of yourself in the south, eat on time, and don't eat cold food. Happy birthday in the east."

Happy birthday.

There was also a crooked gold ingot drawn next to it, probably meant to depict a peach.

Ye Mu curled her lips into a smile, her eyes slightly red; she had almost forgotten that her birthday was just around the corner.

At this time last year, she was still deep within the Hou Mansion. This year, she is alone in Wujiang, thousands of miles away, carrying a secret mission and navigating the treacherous waters of danger.

She covered her face with the letter and carefully inhaled the warmth emanating from the capital.

Kuai Dong. Ye Mu silently repeated this adorable typo in her mind.

Let's hope so.

Hopefully, her birthday the day after tomorrow won't be too bad.

-

The following day, Ye Mu was organizing receipts in the household office, categorizing them by different shops, guarantors, and clerks, and then grouping them by type of material, such as blue bricks, stone slabs, wooden stakes, burlap sacks, and lime.

Exhausted, I went home around midnight and fell asleep immediately.

The next day, around late afternoon or early evening.

The evening clouds hung low, pressing heavily on the continuous roof tiles of the Wujiang County government office, casting an indelible, somber indigo hue. The courtyard where the signing office was located was even more deserted than other places.

Ye Mu was holding a heavy wooden box, inside which were neatly arranged river engineering invoices and contracts from the past three years.

She walked slowly to the signing room and saw that the two black lacquered doors were ajar. Inside, there was no sound, no light, and no one was talking.

Ye Muyi stopped three steps outside the door, tucked his sleeves in and lowered his eyes, and announced loudly, "Ye Mu, the clerk of the Household Department, has been ordered by the Lord to deliver the river works documents."

There was no response from inside.

After a short while, she repeated the process again, still silent.

The old servant leading the way, carrying a lantern and hunched over, said in a low voice, "Perhaps the master is away for a moment. Secretary Ye, the weather outside looks bad, it looks like it's going to rain. Why don't you come inside and wait a while, and put your things on the desk, so that the important documents won't get wet."

Ye Mu looked up at the leaden-gray sky, hesitated for a moment, nodded in agreement, and gently pushed open the door.

The room was indeed empty, and the dim light of the impending rain made it appear even more secluded than usual.

The cool, refreshing scent of ink and the bitter aroma of old paper grew stronger, permeating the air.

Ye Mu looked around. The rosewood desk was in the center, with writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstone neatly arranged, and an unfinished document pressed under the jade paperweight.

The west wall was covered with bookshelves, stacked high with boxes and scrolls, reaching all the way to the ceiling. Under the east window was a low couch and a small table, with nothing else superfluous.

The truly important things are never made public.

Ye Mu composed himself, first gently placing the wooden box on the small table, and after confirming that there were no approaching footsteps in the corridor outside the door, he moved very quietly toward the bookshelf.

Her fingertips brushed over the labeled files, quickly examining them in the dim light from the window.

"General Record of Grain Tax in the Fourteenth Year of Kangding"

"Summary of old criminal case files".

"Detailed breakdown of grain shipments over thirteen years".

...

Consistent with the label, they were all ordinary documents available for inspection in the government office, with no clues whatsoever.

Ye Mu was about to put the file back when he noticed several locked beechwood boxes behind the file, inside the bookshelf.

She took it out and examined it. The lock was an ordinary brass padlock, but the edges of the keyhole were smooth, indicating that it was frequently opened and used.

Could it be hidden here?

The light outside the window dimmed further, dark clouds rolled in, and a faint rumble of thunder echoed across the sky.

Ye Mu was deep in thought, touching the lock on his body, when just then, a series of unhurried footsteps came from the corridor outside the door, growing louder as they approached.

Her heart pounded, and she quickly put the small box away, pushed the file back to its original position, and hurried back to the small table.

She casually knocked a book of receipts she was about to take out to the ground, scattering some papers, and bent down to pick them up.

Zhou Chongli pushed the door open and came in, and what he saw was her drooping nape.

He seems a bit more sallow than he was the day before. Does he have some old ailment?

A piece of paper fell beside the bookshelf. Ye Mu went over to pick it up, and when he stood up, he accidentally bumped the bookshelf with his shoulder. The files were about to fall over, so Ye Mu reached out to steady them and straightened them before turning around.

She doesn't know Zhou Chongli well enough to be unpredictable, and she's afraid he'll realize she's tampered with the files. So she'll organize them right under his nose to avoid arousing suspicion.

Only by walking in the light can one better conceal their tracks in the shadows.

It seemed that Ye Mu only noticed the man standing quietly at the door at this moment. He looked somewhat embarrassed, hurriedly put the receipts in his hand into the wooden box, bowed his head and said, "This humble servant Ye Mu greets Your Excellency. The receipts have been preliminarily sorted out. Since Your Excellency is not here and the door is not locked, I have taken the liberty of bringing them in first to wait."

Zhou Chongli did not respond immediately.

He walked straight to the desk, sat down, and then looked up at Ye Mu. "It's alright, I've kept you waiting."

His gaze lingered on her lowered brows, his tone revealing neither joy nor sorrow, "Have you noticed anything important?"

Whether it was Ye Mu's suspicion or not, she always felt that he had a hidden meaning in his words.

It's as if asking, "Have you discovered anything important in this room?"

Ye Mu forced himself to suppress the pounding in his heart, pretending not to hear the possible deeper meaning.

She placed the wooden box in front of Zhou Chongli and, relying solely on her prepared statement, focused on the suspicious circumstances surrounding Shunfa Brick Kiln, which had won the bid for a crucial section of the Dongwei project despite its high price.

Finally, she lowered her eyelashes and said the same thing again: "However, my knowledge is limited and my observations are only superficial. There may be other rules and practices that I have not yet come to know, so I dare not make any rash judgments."

Zhou Chongli listened quietly. There were no lights in the room, and it was already dark outside. A light rain had started to fall silently.

Dampness seeped in through the window cracks, clinging to his skin. Ye Mu stood with his head down, feeling uncomfortable all over, as if prickly thorns were on his back.

After a long pause, Zhou Chongli finally spoke.

"They've got the suspicions right. Shunfa Brick Kiln is expensive, but their materials are of poor quality. Last autumn, during the flood season, the slope protection built with their bricks and stones in the Dongwei section collapsed the fastest."

He said calmly, "The shopkeeper of those expensive burlap sacks last year is the brother-in-law of the owner of Shunfa Brick Kiln. Were you aware of this relationship?"

Ye Mu's heart skipped a beat. The supply of substandard materials for the two key production sections in the east and west was actually related by marriage?

The underlying complexities were far more intricate than the receipts she had seen.

She shook her head. "This humble servant is unaware. If that's the case, the burlap sacks are expensive and the bricks and stones are of poor quality. The purchases from these two places are probably not isolated incidents. There must be someone in between who is colluding and conspiring."

Zhou Chongli didn't answer, but looked out the window and asked, "It's this late, you probably haven't had your dinner yet?"

The topic suddenly shifted.

Ye Mu was taken aback, but seeing that he did not answer, he did not dare to ask again, "Reporting to my lord, not yet."

Zhou Chongli stood up. “Official business has been quite tedious, which has kept me here. My residence is just a few steps behind this courtyard. If you don’t mind the simplicity, please come with me and we’ll have a simple home-cooked meal.”

"Your Excellency's kindness is too much for me to dare to trouble your family..."

"I live alone, so it's just a matter of adding a pair of chopsticks. There's no need to be so formal."

In fact, Ye Mu already knew that his inner quarters were empty. He was just a scholar who buried himself in accounts and should not know the inside story.

That's why she mentioned her family, which fits the words of the taciturn scribe.

But he wouldn't allow her to refuse. Since he had already said that, Ye Mu could only bow and say, "Thank you for your kindness, sir. I will respectfully comply."

Passing through the side gate on one side of the signing room, you will find an open-air corridor planted with slender bamboo.

The air was crisp and moist from the rain, and water dripped from the bamboo leaves. At the end of the corridor was a moon gate, through which the warm light illuminated a corner of a delicate courtyard. There was a cobblestone path and a few banana trees. Although not large, it was kept elegant and clean.

There were few servants, and they all bowed silently when they saw Zhou Chongli. They looked at Ye Mu with slight surprise, but no one asked any questions.

The dining room was located in the warm pavilion, with a square table, two dishes of seasonal vegetables, a bowl of ham and bamboo shoot soup, a dish of steamed shad, and a basket of glistening rice, all with an enticing aroma.

Zhou Chongli washed his hands in the copper basin, dried them with a fine cloth, sat down at the head of the table, and pointed to the seat opposite him: "Sit."

Ye Mu also washed his hands and sat down carefully at the lower seat.

Far from official business, the imposing aura of Zhou Chongli seemed to have faded somewhat. Moreover, the warm pavilion was elegantly furnished, with a more homely atmosphere than the signing room, but for some reason, it made Ye Mu feel even more out of place.

"Who else is in Wanping's household?"

"My parents died early, and I was raised by my uncle. After my uncle passed away, I was all alone."

“You bravely traveled south alone to visit relatives.” Zhou Chongli picked up a porcelain spoon and ladled her a bowl of soup. “These bamboo shoots came from our own backyard in the spring, and they’re still quite fresh and tender. Try them.”

Ye Mu accepted it respectfully, thanked him, and took a small sip.

The soup was incredibly flavorful, with the sweetness of the bamboo shoots blending perfectly with the savory aroma of the ham. Her taste buds were soothed, but her mind became increasingly tense.

Based on our current interactions, Zhou Chongli is strict, sharp, and unapproachable in official matters, but in private, whether it's his carefree attitude when giving away the abacus that night or his gentle and considerate manner now, he is quite refined and courteous.

Looking at the house and its furnishings, they are elegant and clean, without any beautiful maids or entertainers, showing no signs of extravagance, and can be described as simple and unpretentious.

If he is indeed the corrupt official the Crown Prince described, who not only embezzled huge sums of money from river works but also extended his reach into the gray areas of tea and salt permits, then where is the money?

He embezzled so much money, but instead of using it to enjoy life or buy property and mansions, where did all that money go? And why did he embezzle it in the first place?

"In half a month, it will be the birthday of the Prefectural Judge of Suzhou. You will come with me."

Ye Mu snapped out of his reverie, his chopsticks pausing. The magistrate of Suzhou Prefecture…

“Speaking of which, we are from the same clan, and he also has the surname Ye,” Zhou Chongli said in a casual tone. “Lord Ye Xingjian was appointed to a post outside the capital at his own request, and he is highly regarded by the governor. However, you have lived in Wanping for a long time, so you probably haven’t heard of him.”

Ye Mu silently chewed the rice in his mouth, but could no longer taste any flavor.

How could I not have heard of it?

Ye Xingjian, that's her brother.

She might be able to fool others with this change of appearance, but she wasn't sure if her brother, whom she had known since childhood, would not recognize her at all.

If their whereabouts are exposed and their identity revealed, it could implicate the Crown Prince in a very serious matter...

We absolutely must not go.

Ye Mu slowly put down his chopsticks and lowered his eyes, his voice filled with fear. "Please forgive me, sir. These are the birthday celebrations of dignitaries in the government. All those who come and go are important officials and famous scholars. I am but a lowly scribe with limited knowledge. How dare I presume to attend? I am afraid that my behavior will only make you a laughingstock. I dare not obey your request."

"It's alright. It's just a regular birthday banquet, so you don't need to be too nervous. Just follow behind me. You don't need to say anything or do anything. Just watch. It will be beneficial for you to see the world."

This statement is reasonable and seems to imply a desire to help or promote someone.

Ye Mu's heart sank further. He placed his hands respectfully on his knees, not daring to raise his head. "I am grateful for your favor, sir. However, I dare to ask again, there are many capable officials in the Ministry of Revenue. Why did you choose me alone?"

The rain pattered on the banana leaves outside the window, each sound striking the heart.

Zhou Chongli also put down his bamboo chopsticks and placed them on the celadon chopstick rest. He glanced at Ye Mu's Adam's apple, then looked away.

"It catches my eye."

Zhou Chongli casually uttered these words, chuckled, and looked at her, his words carrying a hidden meaning, "Or is it that Secretary Ye has other concerns about you?"

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