Chapter 27: Those who report crimes will be executed along with the perpetrators to prevent future troubles.

The next day, Yuan Yan kept Aman behind and had someone teach her martial arts. He then took Xue Lang and the others and went to the grain storage hall again.

The officials in charge, Yang, and their colleagues had been checking the accounts for the past few days, but the accounts provided by the warehouse officials had already been falsified. Their hard work over these past few days had yielded little result.

But what Yuan Yan was looking for was that underground secret account.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

When Yuan Yan entered, everyone present bowed and paid their respects.

Tian Guangliang, a clerk in the granary, also knelt down with the others.

This is His Highness the King of Yue, who has been ordered to inspect the grain.

She clutched the document she had already written in her sleeve, her expression hesitant, unsure whether she should risk her life to report the embezzlement of grain to the Prince of Yue before her.

I heard that after the King of Yue came to Chuzhou, he often feasted and made merry with Cao Shiguan and others. He did not seem to be the kind of upright and just person who could uphold justice for the people.

If she submits the document, she won't receive the imperial envoy's protection. If those in power find out she's denounced them, wouldn't that be tantamount to courting death?

Tian Guangliang was wavering, and she couldn't help but recall the words her husband had said to her when they were at home.

"My lady, let's just forget about it! What does it matter to you whether these high-ranking officials are corrupt or not? You should just focus on being a good clerk and supporting your family."

"You're only thinking about doing something so dangerous, without considering what will happen to your parents and children if something happens to you? The whole family will definitely not survive."

Thinking about this, she quietly began to have second thoughts.

However, the thought that despite this year's bumper harvest, the villagers were still barely making ends meet, with no surplus grain. Some people in neighboring counties had even been forced to leave their homes and become refugees due to the unbearable burden of grain requisition... made Tian Guangliang's heart tighten.

If this is the case even in a year of plenty, wouldn't there be countless people starving to death in a year of famine?

If these corrupt officials are allowed to continue their exploitation, these scenes will likely become a reality soon.

The King of Yue was the imperial envoy she had been waiting for.

Regardless of whether His Highness the King of Yue will report this matter to the Emperor, as long as Tian Guangliang tells the King of Yue everything she has seen and known, she can be considered to have a clear conscience.

Tian Guangliang finally made up his mind and prepared to go all in.

...

At this moment, Yuan Yan was talking with Wu, the steward, and others.

According to the information presented by Yu Liu, Chief Clerk Wu is greedy and lustful, and unlike the cunning and shrewd officials like Attendant Cao, he might be a breakthrough if they want to find someone to interrogate about the whereabouts of the accounts.

Yuan Yan smiled, but in his heart he was thinking about how to interrogate Master Wu later.

Tian Guangliang waited outside until the King of Yue came out of the main hall, and she immediately knelt down in front of him.

"Your Highness, I have something I wish to discuss with you privately," Tian Guangliang said, bowing.

Yuan Yan looked closely and recognized that the person in front of him seemed to be the clerk next to Cao Shiguan.

At this moment, Manager Wu stepped out a step behind and happened to see this scene, which immediately sounded an alarm in her heart.

"How dare you, Tian Shuli! What are you doing blocking this way? Get out of here at once! You've offended the King of Yue; even ten heads wouldn't be enough to pay for it!" she shouted at Tian Guangliang.

Yuan Yan smiled, displaying the air of a spoiled brat. "Steward Wu, it seems your officials have no sense of propriety. Luckily, it was me who offended you; if it were any other official, you would likely be held accountable."

This clearly means that the speaker is pretending to be ignorant and unwilling to listen to Tian Guangliang.

Upon hearing Yuan Yan's words, Tian Guangliang's face gradually turned ashen.

The worst-case scenario she had anticipated had occurred; judging from the King of Yue's arrogant attitude, he was not a good person capable of making sound judgments.

Not to mention that even though she had hinted so obviously, the King of Yue still refused to give her a chance to speak.

Are all corrupt officials in the world really in cahoots like this, caring nothing for the lives of ordinary people?

Tian Guangliang felt only bitterness.

Seeing that Tian Guangliang was still standing there without moving, Wu, the head clerk, already revealed a warning in his eyes: "Clerk Tian..."

Seeing this, his colleagues quickly pulled Tian Guangliang away.

"Guangliang, what kind of stubbornness are you displaying today... You're a veteran in officialdom, you should know better. We have to be careful what we say and do in front of these high-ranking officials, otherwise we'll all be in deep trouble if we offend His Highness Prince Yue and are punished by the higher-ups."

After seeing Yuan Yan off, Wu, the steward, went back to settle accounts with Tian Guangliang.

“Clerk Tian, ​​you’ve been a clerk for over ten years now! Don’t you know what you should and shouldn’t say in officialdom?” Chief Clerk Wu glared coldly at Tian Guangliang.

"Don't think I don't know what you're planning to do today... Tian Guangliang, what good will it do you to expose the inner workings of the government? The canal transport has always been a lucrative position, and which official hasn't taken a cut in it? Everyone does."

Is it right for everyone to act this way? Tian Guangliang felt an indescribable bitterness in his heart.

"You're so eager to be a good person, but don't forget you have parents, husband, and daughters at home. If you say anything you shouldn't, not only you, but they won't live either," Manager Wu threatened her.

Now that things have come to this, even His Highness the Prince of Yue, the imperial envoy, is sitting idly by. What else can she do?

If only she were to be in trouble, it wouldn't matter, but her parents, husband, and daughter are all innocent. Now that things have come to this point, how could she bear to gamble with the lives of her entire family?

Tian Guangliang sighed, his face pale, and he had already given in.

After she left, Wu, the steward, immediately reported the matter to Cao, the attendant.

"Fortunately, the King of Yue received a large sum of money from us and ignored this person. Otherwise, given our actions, if it had reached His Majesty's ears, we would have surely been executed along with our entire family, and our heads would have rolled."

Upon hearing this, Cao Jinjin immediately said, "This man surnamed Tian has harbored wicked intentions; he can't be allowed to live. Tonight, have someone silence him. Remember to do it cleanly, so no one can find any evidence against him."

Wu hesitated for a moment, "Then her parents, husband, and daughter...?"

“Naturally, we should kill them all to prevent future troubles,” Cao Jinjin said coldly.

...

Tianjia Village.

The village road was difficult to travel, and the carriage stopped halfway. Yuan Yan got out of the carriage and, with his guards, walked along the muddy village road.

Yu Liu led the way, and Yuan Yan looked at the thatched house in the distance and asked, "Is this where Tian Guangliang lives?"

“Yes, Your Highness, that’s what the villagers said,” Yu Liu replied.

She herself found it hard to believe that Tian Guangliang, who was a clerk in a granary, couldn't even afford to build a mud-brick house and could only live in a thatched hut in this remote village.

After finally arriving at Tian Guangliang's house, the guards stepped forward and knocked on the door.

"Knock knock knock... Is anyone there?"

"...Who is it?"

A handsome young man dressed in simple clothes opened the door, and when he saw Yuan Yan and a group of guards standing in the doorway, he was stunned.

"Sir, may I ask if this is the residence of Clerk Tian?" Yu Liu asked.

"Yes." Taro was intimidated by the large number of people in front of him and felt uneasy.

"The officials must be referring to my wife. May I ask what business you have with her..."

“Young Master Tian, ​​there’s no need to worry. We’re just taking a seat here. We hope we haven’t disturbed you.” Yuan Yan noticed his anxiety and spoke up to reassure him.

"This humble man dares not, gentlemen, please come in."

At this point, Tian Fulang couldn't help but show a hint of difficulty, "But my family is poor, and our house is small and humble; I'm afraid we can't seat so many people..."

The Tian family had two thatched huts. One was where Tian Guangliang's parents lived, and the other was where Tian Guangliang, his husband, and their daughter lived. A clay stove was built against the wall, which was also where Tian's husband cooked.

Such a residence was indeed rather meager for Tian Guangliang, who held the position of an official.

...

Not long after.

When Tian Guangliang returned, he opened the door and saw that the courtyard was full of guards.

His Highness the King of Yue sat upright in his main house, while his parents, husband, and youngest daughter were all in another room.

This unexpected scene left Tian Guangliang completely stunned in front of the house.

A note from the author: