Chapter 18 (18) Helping and pleasing, and being aware
"Mr. He?"
Seeing the familiar name, Bai Kang frowned. His subordinate said, "Everything our people found is here."
On the table lay several account books and several silver notes. The silver notes issued in various parts of Daning State were not universal, making exchange somewhat difficult. They could only be used or redeemed for silver at specific banks. The notes had distinct local characteristics, and Bo Kang recognized them immediately: they were issued in the northwest.
"Mr. He's family hasn't had time to redeem these two. As for these..." The subordinate pushed the account book aside and whispered, "Two months ago, several merchants in Longxi City pawned a batch of Longxi Heng Kiln porcelain at a very low price at the pawnshop owned by Mr. He's wife. These porcelains were then sold to the owners of two treasure pavilions at prices higher than the market price. We have already investigated the two owners and will be able to find out their relationship with the King of Longxi as early as tomorrow morning. However, our people may not be able to catch up..."
He didn't finish his words. Although the King of Longxi was a notoriously idle prince, he was also a member of the imperial clan, so it was no exaggeration to say that he had great connections.
"Go away." Bo Kang waved his hand dejectedly. He reviewed the accounts and found that they were indeed a very common bribery method as his subordinates had described.
Most importantly, why would this idle prince help buy and sell exam questions?
He walked out of the warm room and was about to go back to grading papers when Qing He ran over from the end of the corridor and said with a bitter face, "Sir, this is bad! Young Master Lianzhi is missing!"
Bo Kang was stunned, and his headache suddenly came back: "Didn't I ask you to keep an eye on him?"
Qing He hesitated, not daring to speak. He didn't dare say that Young Master Lian Zhi had asked him to get a coat, and in the blink of an eye, he was gone. He had been with Master Bai for several years, and his martial arts skills were not bad, but when it came to speed, he was definitely not as good as Young Master Lian Zhi.
"Please clean up my table. I'll go find someone." Bai Kang rubbed his eyebrows and felt even more annoyed.
This Lianzhi only knows how to cause trouble for him!
But since Lianzhi couldn't escape the Imperial College, he wasn't too anxious. Before he even left the corridor, he heard a familiar, slightly coquettish, clear laugh. Someone was chatting with someone, occasionally offering a compliment.
Bai Kang's face suddenly turned dark. He followed the sound, pushed open the door and was about to start cursing, but when he saw the scene inside, he was stunned.
Several examiners were taking their turn to rest, sitting around drinking and eating snacks. Lianzhi faced him, chatting with Mr. He, a senior official from the Ministry of Rites, whom he and his subordinates had just discussed.
The usually serious and stern Mr. He was very considerate of him, with a kind smile on his face that he had never seen before. When he looked up and saw Bai Kang, the smile on his face disappeared, and he glared at him, puffing his beard and saying, "Master Bai, you are so flustered, how can you be so unbecoming?"
Bai Kang grinned at him, a fake smile. He and Mr. He had always had a bad relationship, so this smile looked more like a bared tooth. He said, "Why is Lianzhi here with you? He has a bad temper and is causing you trouble."
"Nonsense! I think this kid is very good, better than you!" said the Minister of the Ministry of Rites next to him.
Lianzhi chimed in at the right moment, squeezing out a few fake tears: "Don't worry, Master Bai. The masters are very caring towards me, just like a grandfather. I have always hoped to have the love of my grandparents since I was a child, but unfortunately I am an orphan..."
Bai Kang looked at him, speechless. It was incredible. Lianzhi started to act pitiful again. Several adults were fooled by him. He was also deceived by Lianzhi's pitiful appearance in the beginning and was willing to save him.
Oh, Lianzhi also mentioned her grandfather at that time.
"I'll take him back first." Bai Kang waved to Lian Zhi, "Come here."
Lianzhi leaned pitifully against He Lao, unmoved. The veins on Bai Kang's forehead throbbed. There were so many people around, he couldn't just bring her back, so he said, "Come back with me, Lian'er. I need you."
Um……?
Lianzhi was stunned. She hadn't expected him to call her that. Seeing that Bo Kang was still staring at her, Lianzhi stood up and followed him. He rubbed his ears, feeling them burning.
Most of them were a little angry. Didn't Bo Kang know his nickname? How disrespectful.
His ears were suddenly pinched, and Bai Kang's face enlarged in front of him: "What did you promise me? Huh? Didn't I tell you not to run around? You've been pretending for two days, and you can't pretend anymore?"
So that's why. Lianzhi pretended to be pitiful and said, "But I didn't run away from the Imperial College. Brother, I listened to you."
If he could escape from the sight of so many officers, soldiers, and guards, the Minister of War would have his head chopped off. Bo Kang held his forehead and said, "I beg you, please be patient for a few more days and don't cause trouble for the gentlemen."
"How could I?" Lianzhi couldn't stand his speculation and retorted, "Didn't you see just now that the gentlemen all like me very much? You want to investigate Master He, I'll help you get some information..."
"stop!"
Bo Kang covered his mouth in time, looked around, and when he saw no one was passing by, he asked suspiciously, "How did you know?"
Emperor Jianguang gave him seven days to investigate the matter. He only discussed it with the Imperial College's chief academic officer and didn't mention it to anyone else. He also asked his subordinates to investigate, but they did so in secret.
As for Lianzhi, he was wary of her, and he wanted to prevent Lianzhi from getting involved even though she knew nothing. He was always on guard against Lianzhi whenever he met someone.
"Who haven't I met? Besides, I'm from Liangzhou." Lianzhi's voice sounded a little proud. She felt that the other party would definitely agree, so she said lightly, "Master Bai, Brother Kang, let me help you."
"Go back." said Bo Kang.
Lianzhi was startled: "What?"
"I said go back and stay here." Bai Kang picked up the confused Lianzhi, brought her back to his room, and threw her on the small bed. "Don't worry about my affairs. Just stay here."
After saying that, he hurried away again. After closing the door, he called Qinghe over and told her, "Keep an eye on him. If he steps out of the door again, it will be all on you."
Qing He nodded timidly. Then Bai Kang remembered something and ordered, "Pay attention to who he's meeting these days."
Didn’t you say that Young Master Lianzhi is not allowed to leave the room? How could he possibly meet outsiders?
Although Qinghe was puzzled, she still kept this sentence in mind.
At night, the Imperial College was brightly lit.
Lianzhi yawned, feeling quite bored. Looking at the clerks hurrying to and fro outside the window, he was about to speak when Qinghe anticipated what he was about to say: "Master Bai has ordered that you not be allowed to leave."
"I'll just take a look." Lianzhi retracted her gaze. Qinghe asked cautiously, "How about I play chess with you?"
"I can't." Lianzhi said confidently.
Of course he would, but he didn't want to communicate with Qinghe any more. Lianzhi rolled her eyes and said, "I want to take a bath."
This reason was not excessive, so Qing He certainly would not refuse. He asked the servant to prepare a bucket of hot water and brought it over. Qing He said very naturally, "Master, please change your clothes."
Lianzhi was taking off her clothes. Seeing Qinghe staring at her, she stopped what she was doing and said, "Get out! Don't look at me."
"I'm helping the young master take a bath." Qinghe said.
Normally, he would have already started ordering people around before Qing He could even say anything. But today was different. Lian Zhi said, "Get out."
Qinghe didn't move.
"Why don't you just stand at the door and watch?" Lianzhi crossed her arms, seeming a little impatient. "If you lock the door, can I really pick it open and run away?"
That's really hard to say. Qing He didn't dare to say this, but he felt that this was indeed the best solution, so he stood outside the door and waited. Before he locked the door, he secretly took a look through the crack.
It's really like taking a bath.
Qinghe locked the door and listened for a while. Only when he heard the sound of water from inside did he completely feel relieved.
The room was quiet, with only the occasional sound of running water. Lianzhi sat lazily in the tub, reaching out and knocking three times on the rim.
"Come down," he said to the void, his voice barely audible, like a whisper. But soon, someone landed and squatted beside the table.
It was a man of a different race who had contacted him before.
"You knew I was there?" The man's voice was muffled by his mask, making it even harder to discern. But Lianzhi heard it clearly. "Even if you were wearing black and came in against the wall, I could still see you."
The man snorted coldly. He stood up and saw that Lianzhi was actually bathing. He could barely conceal the surprise in his eyes and quickly squatted down again. Lianzhi didn't care. "I need your help. Arus, I have a list..."
As he said this, he stood up with a towel wrapped around him and went to get the list. Arus covered his eyes and said angrily, "Go back! Go back to the bathtub!"
"Ah? You still care about this." Lianzhi's voice was full of genuine doubts, "Usually there are eunuchs helping me bathe." The person he was talking about was Eunuch Wen.
Hearing this, Arus became even angrier. This guy actually compared him to a eunuch!
Seeing him angry, Lianzhi laughed even more happily, obviously on purpose. He sat back down: "That list..."
"I know everything." Arus said, "Why should I help you? Are you really in love with—"
He didn't finish the second half of his sentence, but they both knew what he meant. Lianzhi fiddled with her damp hair and said nonchalantly, "Didn't you let me get close to him? I'm trying to gain his trust."
That made sense. Arus looked at his face through his fingers, gritted his teeth and promised: "Okay! I'll help you!"
He was ordered around in Liangzhou, and he was also ordered around in the capital. He really owed him a lot! He might as well have the Minister of Rites kill this guy. He took a deep breath, snatched the list and was about to leave, only to hear Lianzhi's voice muttering to herself behind him: "So you agreed so easily? I was going to let go of the silver I promised you before. Remember to give it to me!"
Arus secretly gathered his strength and left quietly with a rage in his heart. Their conversation was so quiet that it did not alarm the people outside. Lianzhi wiped herself hastily. When she heard the door open outside, she stood up and called out, "Come in and help me change my clothes."
The keyhole creaked, and it wasn't Qing He who entered, but Bai Kang. Lian Zhi, who hadn't even had time to put on his coat, felt a little uncomfortable being watched. But soon, Bai Kang trotted over, grabbed him, and sniffed him carefully.
The hot, humid breath brushed across her hair and cheeks, mingling with the warm steam in the air. Lianzhi's ears felt hot again. Before she could push the person away, she heard Bai Kang ask, "Who's coming in?"
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