These days, officials of all ranks in the Ministry of Rites can be said to be extremely busy.
The emperor suddenly wanted to check the accounts of the Ministry of Rites, but after so many years, the accounts of the Ministry of Rites had long been a mess that could not be checked. The Minister of Rites had not slept well for a long time. As a minister, he naturally knew that some things should not be done too much, and he turned a blind eye to the people under him.
But he never expected that just by letting go of his hands, these people would actually cause him such a big trouble.
Moreover, the emperor asked him to investigate the case in front of the palace, but he was unable to find out the truth. Although he himself was not involved in this matter, if someone else found out, it would be his fault. Especially now that there are so many complicated issues here, he couldn't hand anyone over. But fortunately, the emperor actually sent the ninth prince to investigate the case.
And the little girl in the palace before, no matter whether she can really read the account books or not, she and the Ninth Prince are both young children. No matter how smart they are, they have to know that the means in this world are much older than their age.
"Sir, don't worry. Even if he were the God of Literature, he wouldn't be able to find anything abnormal in this account book." The civil servant from the Ministry of Rites said with a bow.
The Minister of Rites looked up and said, "Do everything carefully. The girl in Marquis Gu's mansion is not simple."
"It's absolutely safe. There's not a single false thing in this account book. I don't believe she can tell the false from the true."
After hearing this, the Minister of Rites looked at him meaningfully.
At this time, Shen Qingqiu and Gu Yanwei had already arrived at the Ministry of Rites in a carriage, and the officials of the Ministry of Rites were already waiting for them.
Shen Qingqiu was wearing a red dress, red boots, and a black hat. He looked elegant and youthful. The Ninth Prince was wearing a red gown. Although they were both red, their styles were completely different. Even the officials of the Ministry of Rites were stunned. They knew that the Crown Prince was a handsome man that the ladies were eager to throw flowers at. Who would have thought that the Ninth Prince, who never showed off his talent, was actually born like an immortal.
“Sir Song!” Shen Qingqiu opened her mouth, calling out to the Minister of Rites who was two heads taller than her.
"Lord Shen..." The Minister of Rites hurriedly returned the greeting and lifted his robe, "Your subject greets the Ninth Prince."
Gu Yanwei raised his hand and said, "No need for empty formalities, Minister, please stand up."
Seeing that the Ninth Prince was as easy to talk to as the rumors said, the Minister of Rites quickly stood up. He thought that they were just two children and there shouldn't be any problem. "I know that the court has been ordered to investigate the case and the account books have been prepared..." As he spoke, two officials came over carrying the account books that had been sealed for many years. He looked behind the Ninth Prince and said, "Your Highness, do you want to work in the Ministry of Rites or should I ask someone to help you move the account books away?"
Gu Yanwei raised his hand and said in a gentle voice, "No need, I brought someone here."
Then he saw Wang Xi, holding a dustpan in his hand, standing outside the Ministry of Rites with a smile on his face, followed by two eunuchs and eight guards.
"Sir Song, then we'll have people move." Wang Xi said with a smile.
"Please, father-in-law."
"Wait." It was Shen Qingqiu who spoke. She moved her eyes slightly and landed on the account book that the Ministry of Rites had already sorted out. "Let me check it first."
Wang Xi felt that Shen Qingqiu was being nosy. The account books of the Ministry of Rites all had the seal of the Ministry of Rites. Could it be that the Ministry of Rites dared to forge them? This was the first time that His Highness had handled government affairs in more than ten years. Wang Xi was grateful to this girl for helping His Highness, but secondly... he still felt that this girl was too wild.
Shen Qingqiu stroked the account book with both hands, without even opening it, and said directly: "This account book is fake."
!!!
Wang Xi: …
"Miss Shen, please don't talk nonsense. There is a seal of the Ministry of Rites on this account book. How can it be fake? You haven't even flipped through it, how do you know it's fake?"
Shen Qingqiu looked at him, "It's okay to be stupid, but you think you're smart, that's really stupid." She pulled up the account book, "Do you know why I know this account book is fake without even opening it?"
The official was stunned for a moment, and was about to ask why, but he finally changed the subject, "This account book is real, you haven't even looked through it, how can you talk nonsense?"
Wang Xi thought to himself: This wild girl couldn't be making trouble again.
But when he turned around, his Ninth Prince was looking at the girl eagerly, "Why is it fake?"
"This account book's title page is from November of last year..." Shen Qingqiu smiled slightly, "I came to the capital last year. Last year, the whole country was hit by a cold winter, with continuous frost. Do you all remember it?"
Wang Xi nodded: "Of course, last year the palace wasn't very warm even with the floor heating on."
To be honest, if it weren’t for Liu and the cotton-padded jackets and clothes in Liu’s Embroidery Tower, many of his sons would have died.
"Yes, it rained for several months before November, and after November it was frost, and we hardly survived the snow. In such humid weather, even my embroidery, which is dried in the embroidery building every day, is inevitably damp and moldy. But your account book from last year is still as good as new on the first page?"
The official's eyes widened immediately. Oh no! He was only concerned with asking his subordinates to copy the contents, and there would definitely not be any mistakes, but he never thought about the age of the account book.
Fortunately, the Minister of Rites made amends, "The books of our six ministries may be checked by officials at any time, so they must be kept properly. Miss Shen, the embroidery thread in your home is damp, but it does not mean that the account books of our Ministry of Rites will also be damp..." He laughed, "Miss Shen, are you kidding us?"
Shen Qingqiu also smiled at him, "Yes, let's go to the warehouse of the Ministry of Rites later to see if there are any moldy books. I think the Ministry of Rites has more than just account books, there must be records of last year, why don't we take a look at them all?"
The Minister of Rites stopped smiling, knowing that he could not get away with it by laughing, and said, "The account books are all real, but as the young lady said, they are moldy, and the handwriting may be a little unclear. These are all re-copied by the officials below, and there are absolutely no mistakes or omissions."
"Then please ask the Minister to bring out the original." Gu Yanwei said.
"But Your Highness, the account book has already..."
Gu Yanwei smiled, "Sir, I am here to investigate this case on the orders of my father. I am looking at the original document from the Ministry of Rites. If you insist on having a copy, why don't I ask my father to come and ask for it in person?"
Minister of Rites: ...He is wrong. How could he think that the Ninth Prince is gentle and easy to talk to! He is obviously a tougher person than Shen Qingqiu. Aren’t they still discussing whether to give it to him or not? Why did they directly call the Emperor? !
"Your Highness, you are joking. How can you trouble the Emperor with such a small matter?" He then shouted fiercely at the back, "Are you all deaf? Can't you hear that Your Highness wants the originals? Why don't you go to the warehouse and move all the things over here!"
Not long after, a group of people who looked like clerks from the Ministry of Rites came up with a few boxes of things.
The Minister of Rites said, "These are all original books. You can take a look."
Shen Qingqiu believed that a cunning rabbit has three burrows. How could someone who has been falsifying accounts for years not leave himself a few more ways? He immediately prepared to open the lid and check the account book carefully. However, Gu Yanwei held his hand back, and he saw him looking at the Minister of Rites with a smile, "Of course I believe what you said. I won't disturb you from doing your business."
The Minister of Rites breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the matter was resolved.
However, the next second, Gu Yanwei said, "I will carry these account books back to the palace. I think the account books of the Ministry of Revenue have already been received by father. I will go to him to compare them. I heard that the Ministry of Revenue has also sent a few people who are good at abacus. I think with the help of those people, the account problem will be solved tonight."
The Minister of Rites was completely stunned... Ministry of Revenue, are the accounts submitted by the Ministry of Revenue real or fake? What if they don't match? Why is there no news from the Ministry of Revenue? If he checks their accounts, why doesn't the Minister of Rites inform him? In an instant, he thought of many things in his mind. What if the accounts submitted by the Ministry of Revenue also have problems, but the Ministry of Revenue still sent people over... That means the Ministry of Revenue feels that this matter can no longer be concealed, and wants to put the blame on the Ministry of Rites.
After being immersed in officialdom for many years, the Minister of Rites suddenly became a conspiracy theorist.
"Wang Xi, ask someone to move it." Gu Yanwei ordered.
"twitter!"
Wang Xi was about to ask someone to move, but he saw the Minister of Rites suddenly fall down from the table, and happened to fall on the box in front of him.
"Mr. Minister, what do you mean?" Gu Yanwei asked.
The Minister of Rites moved his lips, trying to find an excuse for the first, second, and third time. He couldn't find one, but Gu Yanwei helped him find one. "Mr. Minister, did you remember that there are a few books missing and want to ask someone to bring them up?" Gu Yanwei said with a smile.
The Minister of Rites nodded in agreement with his words.
Gu Yanwei smiled again, "Well, Wang Xi, let's not move it yet. Let the Minister check it again."
Wang Xi is a senior eunuch in the palace after all, and he has some good sense. So these dogs from the Ministry of Rites gave His Highness the original account book the first time, and now they gave him a fake account book the second time? His Highness is easy to talk to, and he will not let others bully him like this, so he threw Wang Xi a whisk and said, "Sir Minister, please read carefully this time. If there are any mistakes or omissions, I will report everything to the emperor."
The Minister of Rites smiled and said, "No, no, it's just an inspection, just an inspection."
About half a quarter of an hour later, a mahogany box was picked up by two officials. It was not very clean and there were traces of dust from being wiped. It was obviously not the one that had just been brought up.
"I think there shouldn't be any problem this time." Gu Yanwei smiled softly, "Is that so, Your Excellency."
"Yes, yes, yes."
Gu Yanwei ordered again, "Wang Xi, let's go."
Wang Xi squeaked and asked someone to lift the things. Gu Yanwei looked at Shen Qingqiu again, "Qiu'er, let's go." But Shen Qingqiu's big eyes looked at him without hiding, as if he was getting to know him all over again.
"Qiu'er?"
Shen Qingqiu woke up from his trance, and seeing that Wang Xi had already moved all the things out, he said, "Let's go first." After saying that, he raised his foot and walked out. Gu Yanwei's heart suddenly tightened. As soon as the two of them left the Ministry of Rites, he pulled her sleeve and asked softly, "Are you angry?"
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