After a long pause, Qin Yuan said, "This is truly... truly an excellent opportunity. Thank you so much, Brother Cheng, for thinking of this. Without his guidance, we would never have thought of it."
If I could follow the Five Cities Military Command for inspection, I would be more than happy to do so.
Dai immediately took over the conversation.
"There are still many things to discuss here. No one expected the Emperor to suddenly celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday. We always say we should be frugal on the 5th and 10th of each year, but we don't know why he's celebrating it again this year."
Qin Yuan didn't understand either.
In their previous lives, both the emperor and the empress dowager were extremely frugal.
One reason is that the Emperor and Empress Lin wanted to be a wise and virtuous ruler and empress.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Revenue would often cry out about a shortage of silver at this time, and the remonstrating officials would submit memorials urging the emperor to emulate the wise rulers, for those who could become emperors of all ages must first and foremost restrain their desires.
Qin Yuan said, "It's indeed time to re-examine the household registration and business registration records. It's been so many years since this has been done. Not to mention anything else, just look at how many people from other places have come to the capital to serve as officials. Their relatives and clansmen from their hometowns have all come to live in the capital with them. These people are getting married and having children, bringing their families along. And who knows how many more have come by claiming kinship ties. Even after retiring, officials don't return to their hometowns but continue to live here. And then there are those who have left their homes to make a living in the capital... There are just too many."
Mr. Dai nodded.
"That's right. My husband said he's going to put a lot of effort into the investigation this time. I remember the last investigation was more than ten or twenty years ago."
Qin Yuan and Madam Dai agreed that they would discuss the matter with Lord Gu upon his return and then devise a detailed plan. They would then simply ask the Marquis's residence for help with funding and personnel.
Madam Dai laughed and said, "You said you couldn't make decisions for the Marquis's mansion, but I think you can even make decisions for the Marquis himself."
Qin Yuan chuckled and said, "It's just that the Marquis entrusted this matter to me."
Madam Dai shook her head with a smile: "Everyone was once a new bride, I don't believe it."
After chatting and laughing for a while, Madam Dai got up to take her leave.
After seeing off Madam Dai, Qin Yuan spread out paper and pen, reflecting on several events from her past life and carefully noting them down for future consideration.
He secretly warned himself that he should not be prejudiced in his actions, thinking that living an extra life would give him complete confidence.
For example, this time, they almost missed the opportunity to check household registrations for the Empress Dowager's birthday.
After Hongye and the stewardesses finished checking the main accounts, leaving Hongmian and Mozhu to check them, she rushed back for lunch. Upon learning of this, she said, "You really don't know the ins and outs of a profession until you're in one. If it weren't for our connection with Master Cheng's family, who would have thought of this method?"
The capital city is so big, it's like the Zhao family and others have vanished into thin air.
Even if the Marquis's mansion has a way, its manpower and resources are ultimately limited, so they can only wait for her to step forward herself.
Cui Ming seemed lost in thought.
"You know what, if the man surnamed Zhao is patient enough, it's not impossible for him to come out and acknowledge his son in ten or twenty years."
Hongye was so frightened that she patted her chest and said, "Amitabha, may the Heavenly Venerable grant this poisonous woman a break from harming people. We must capture her quickly!"
Qin Yuan said casually, "She might have had this in mind all along, which is why she left behind two children."
Hongye asked, "I've wanted to ask this for a long time. Why does she need to come and take the child away now? She could have just waited."
Qin Yuan said, "You see, everything she does is interconnected. If one link breaks, the rest of the game might not be useful. When she followed the Marquis into the manor, she created the illusion that she was going to be taken into the manor. She was trying to win people over at every turn."
The red leaves nodded.
Thinking about their situation when they first entered the manor and their various suspicions about the Marquis, they couldn't help but feel disgusted with Zhao.
Qin Yuan said, "At that time, she was so arrogant. Who would have thought that she had brought clothes for smallpox patients from the north? She had been preparing this move for at least several years."
Clothes for smallpox patients aren't something you can just get whenever you want.
Hongye was startled and felt a chill run down her spine.
"This woman is not only vicious, but also deeply scheming."
Cui Ming nodded in agreement.
"Luckily, luckily we won."
Qin Yuan continued, "She wanted to use smallpox to stir up trouble in the Marquis's mansion, and when the mansion and even the capital were dragged into the vortex, it would be a good time for her to come out. It was indeed a good move, she anticipated what the Marquis and others were thinking in every way, and she was decisive and ruthless enough."
Cui Ming smiled and said, "It's a pity she met our young lady."
Hongye clapped her hands and laughed, "This is called brine curdling tofu. One thing subdues another. She was destined to lose when she met our young lady."
Qin Yuan chuckled and said, "Cui Ming just said it was just luck. There are no outsiders here, so why are you flattering her?"
Hongye said earnestly, “Every word comes from the bottom of my heart. Although you were intelligent when you were young, you were not so experienced. Ever since you arranged this marriage, it has been as if you have divine help. I think you are blessed with good fortune and have been protected by the heavens.”
Cui Ming said, "This is what they mean by 'good triumphs over evil.'"
Qin Yuan continued, "Don't interrupt me, I haven't finished yet, let's all discuss this together."
Hongye and Cuiming sat up straight, listening attentively.
Qin Yuan said, "But this move is now a waste. The two children have been sent out of the mansion and adopted by Sister-in-law Cheng's family. Is Zhao afraid that if she doesn't take them home, they might end up being raised by someone else?"
"Isn't there that fake Granny Yang here?" Cuiming reminded her.
Qin Yuan nodded: "You're right. With the fake Granny Yang around, it's impossible to raise her as a child. Even with the Marquis and the Marquis's mansion treating her well before, it was still like this... So why hasn't she made any moves yet?"
"Then why risk taking it away now?"
Qin Yuan said, "This is where things get interesting. With the Sixth Madam gone, everyone was busy with her funeral arrangements, and the manor was not well-prepared. Moreover, rumors about the Marquis were rampant..." At this point, she couldn't help but smile slightly, "That's why she decided to take the child away. This is because leaving the child in the Marquis's manor was already a lost cause. If the Marquis had no sons in his life, he would definitely adopt the Sixth Master's son and would no longer take care of his adopted son. Besides, Cheng-ge'er is no longer the Marquis's adopted son, but rather the adopted son of Sister-in-law Cheng's family."
“What’s wrong with keeping her at Master Cheng’s house?” Hongye asked, puzzled. “It’s better than her being a woman with a child wandering around. Why not wait until the child is older before coming to acknowledge him? I still find this puzzling.”
Cui Ming said, "Isn't it because she got involved with the Yelü clan? Perhaps she's gained a great fortune? If Xu Zhen really disappeared because of her, it's hard to say what this woman did. Besides, I also have something I don't understand. The Yelü clan has a blood feud with her for killing her husband. Does she intend to take her two children and recognize her enemy as their father?"
Qin Yuan remained silent, tapping her fingers lightly on the table. After a long while, she said, "Could it be that these two children have some secrets? It makes sense. Pang Hai's origins were unknown to begin with, but because he died saving the Marquis, even though we couldn't find out where he came from, we never had much suspicion... Zhao Shi suddenly became ruthless because the Marquis ordered Sixteen to go to Jizhou to find Pang Hai's clansmen... But later, the Marquis ordered people to search everywhere for old colleagues and fellow villagers, but they didn't find anything. What exactly is wrong?"
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