"Sixth Prince... what are you planning to do now?"
The word "again" is used quite vividly.
Sui Mo paused, recognizing the voice of Lord Yin Zhe.
He used a secret telepathic technique and did not reveal himself; his whereabouts are unknown.
Remembering His Highness's special instructions before his departure, Sui Mo remained expressionless, but his right hand naturally reached into his robes.
He took out a palm-sized sandalwood box and gently placed it in the shade of a pillar.
That was fine, but Suimo raised his head again, brazenly closed his left eye, and held it for a full three breaths before slowly opening it.
According to her prince, this is called turning a blind eye.
The whole process was as natural as tidying her sideburns. After finishing, she didn't linger and strode towards the outside of the Jingzhao Prefecture.
Hidden in the shadows: ...
Sensing the wooden box left on the ground, and recalling the action of breaking the ink just now, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
She had already understood what he meant.
The next moment, the wooden box disappeared and appeared directly in her hand.
Gently open the box, and inside lies a magnificent gold-threaded Kalavinka hairpin.
Yin Zhe recognized it; it was the very same weapon that Zhao Yue had used to fool Zheng Huiyin at Qizhen Pavilion.
So... this is hush money?
Yin Zhe already knew in his heart that Xiao Liu had probably tricked someone again.
Huh? Why did I say "again"?
However, since it was aimed at the Duke of Zheng's mansion... Yin Zhe narrowed his eyes slightly.
Considering His Majesty's attitude, as long as it doesn't escalate too much and doesn't affect innocent people, it seems to be harmless.
"Never mind," Yin Zhe said, weighing the valuable gold hairpin in his hand.
She took the benefits, but this matter really had nothing to do with the work she was doing.
What else can we do? We can only turn a blind eye.
In the Phoenix Palace, court officials dressed in robes of various ranks filed out.
Today's court meeting focused on the defense of the northern border and the autumn harvest that has begun in various regions.
There were not many disputes or memorials submitted, and the court session ended relatively early.
Duke Zheng Mingyuan, dressed in a purple python robe and with a jade belt around his waist, walked steadily down the white marble steps.
However, unlike his usual scene of being surrounded by many noble colleagues and chatting and laughing, there was now a large empty space around him.
As if by prior agreement, the nobles all kept their distance from him.
They huddled in small groups, their eyes occasionally glancing furtively at the Duke, whispering amongst themselves in hushed tones.
The reason is self-evident:
The names of all the young ladies from various families were neatly displayed on the list of those who had passed the preliminary examination, but Zheng Huiyin, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zheng's family, was nowhere to be found.
The implications of this are clear to every cunning old fox in the imperial court.
At the height of controversy, who would be willing to step forward?
Duke Zheng seemed oblivious, his face calm and composed, even more so than usual.
Only his hands, hidden in the wide sleeves of his robe, clenched into fists, revealing a cold and hardened heart.
Some things should be done sooner rather than later; everything must be finalized before the preliminary exam begins.
In stark contrast to his deserted household was Deng Hongyi, the Prefect of Jingzhao.
The day before yesterday, several major cases that shocked the capital were adjudicated in one fell swoop with swift and decisive action.
It is said that the gangs involved in human trafficking and usury were all uncovered by following the clues from Chengyuan.
Everyone knew perfectly well that His Majesty was using Deng Hongyi to send a warning to the restless aristocratic families!
This previously unknown Prefect Deng has become a sharp knife in His Majesty's hand.
At this moment, congratulations and inquiries filled the air, and officials of all kinds surrounded him.
"Prefect Deng is decisive and efficient; he is truly a role model for us all."
"Congratulations, Prefect, on your new achievement! His Majesty will surely be delighted!"
"Your Excellency, I wonder about the follow-up to those cases..."
Deng Hongyi wore a respectful smile, repeatedly cupped his hands in greeting, and said:
"My colleagues are too kind; it's all just my duty, nothing to brag about."
There are still several thorny cases in the government office awaiting my attention. I'll go ahead and get back to work!
As he spoke, he kept walking, almost awkwardly squeezing out of the crowd and hurrying towards the palace gate.
Back at the rear office of the Jingzhao Prefecture, without even changing out of his official robes, he hastily ate a simple meal and drank several mouthfuls of strong tea.
These past few days have truly exhausted him to the point of near collapse.
During the day, when presiding over court cases, my wrist aches from slamming the gavel and my voice becomes hoarse from shouting.
After their shifts ended, they still had to work late into the night, personally reviewing the mountain of case files, fearing the slightest oversight.
Even if Deng Hongyi had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare not do his best in the task assigned by His Majesty.
Fortunately, the main culprit's case has been basically concluded, with only a few loose ends remaining.
For example, a number of accomplices who acted as henchmen for human traffickers and provided them with hiding places were arrested by following the clues.
"My lord," the old clerk serving him said, noticing his haggard face, "now that you've finished this last session, you should be able to relax a bit, shouldn't you?"
Deng Hongyi put down his teacup, rubbed his throbbing temples, and spoke with a deep weariness:
"We must not slack off on the case files!"
All confessions, evidence, and signatures must be carefully verified to ensure there is no ambiguity or inconsistency.
He paused, his gaze suddenly becoming serious and sharp.
"Also, give those constables and yamen runners a good talking-to and make sure they keep a close eye on things."
Having solved such a major case, they will certainly not be shortchanged by the imperial court in their reward.
All those petty thievery tricks I usually use, I'll put them away for the next few days.
Anyone who dares to cause trouble at this critical juncture and ruin our job, don't blame me for not showing any mercy and skinning them alive!
The old clerk quickly bowed and said, "Sir, you can rest assured. I have given orders to do this repeatedly. This time, I guarantee it will be done cleanly and without causing you any trouble."
It was common practice for subordinates to skim some profits, and as long as it wasn't too excessive, Prefect Deng usually turned a blind eye.
But this time is different. The emperor's sword hangs over their heads. Who dares to provoke them?
Deng Hongyi sighed, stood up, and dusted off his slightly wrinkled official robe:
"Alright, let's open the office."
We should strive to complete the last batch of reviews before noon, and act swiftly and decisively.
After we organize, file, and submit all the case files this afternoon, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief…
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