"Old Hu! Didn't I tell you beforehand? Don't let people talk about state affairs here, especially... anything involving that person. Why didn't you listen? Things aren't like they used to be... there's a reward for reporting these things!"
"A reward for reporting? What does that mean... Holy crap... I get it!" Manager Hu understood. The man with his head covered and his voice strained was taking a silver ingot from the constable and leaving happily, without ever taking off his hood.
"Who is that bastard? He messed up my business and still got a silver ingot for nothing!" Manager Hu was very indignant, mainly because he was indignant that the silver ingot had fallen into someone else's hands and he hadn't received his share.
"Don't ask. The higher-ups said to protect the informant's... privacy and safety!"
With Liang Bantou gone, the teahouse was deserted. Frustrated, Boss Hu told his staff to close for half a day, figuring that with the yamen's commotion, there would be no customers today.
"Hey, where are San Dongzi and Xiao Dezi?" Two of the four waiters at the teahouse are missing.
What was said in jest was taken seriously by the two clever young waiters. Hearing about the reward for reporting, and seeing the gleaming silver, they turned and dashed out. There were plenty of teahouses in the capital, and a single silver ingot could be worth a year's wages.
"Bang!"
The colorful teacup shattered on the ground. King Qin Mu of Yan sat there with a livid face, a stark contrast to his usual loyal and righteous demeanor.
Power is alluring. No matter how tough you are, when faced with such a great temptation, how many people can suppress the darkness in their hearts?
“Your Highness, this must have been Qin Mo’s idea. The Empress would never have come up with such crooked schemes as ‘rewards for reporting,’ ‘cash on delivery,’ and ‘protection of informants’!” In just a few days, Qin Mu’s side had over a hundred people arrested, much to the dismay of the Second Steward of the Prince of Yan’s Mansion, who was in charge of spreading the news.
It's not unusual to offer rewards for reporting, since the Great Xia Dynasty had similar laws before. But to have piles of cash piled up at the entrance of the government office for people to watch, and to distribute hoods for free to protect informants' privacy, is disgusting. Now every scoundrel on the street has a hood!
"Don't be afraid. Prevention is worse than cure. The more afraid they are, the more we must rise to the challenge. Send out clever people and continue carefully..."
"Your Highness, the Prince of Chang Le requests an audience!"
"...Please let him in!"
Prince Chang Le walked in with a solemn expression and said to Qin Mu, "Consort Han has given birth! She has given birth to a princess!"
"Hmm!" The Prince of Yan remained noncommittal, but judging from the Prince of Chang Le's expression, he knew there was more to come.
"I've gone to see her, and this princess... is perfect!"
"No problem?"
"The three imperial physicians took turns examining the princess's pulse, and she is perfectly healthy!"
Qin Mu's expression grew even more somber, and after a long silence he finally said, "Stop spreading rumors about the imperial family. Let's wait and see!"
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