Qin Zhaoyue would never kill someone, but who knows?
Given her tarnished reputation, this threat probably sounds quite convincing, otherwise Zhou Yanqing wouldn't have been able to break down.
This isn't the first time she's benefited from the original owner's reputation: as long as she lacks morality, no one can morally blackmail her.
Zhou Yanqing kept stammering "you" for a long time but couldn't come up with a coherent answer.
The Sixth Princess was well-known, and he couldn't be sure whether this was a bluff or a real threat.
“Or…” Qin Zhaoyue leaned back slightly, glancing at the other person with half-lowered eyes.
"I'll send you one head first, and keep the other one for now?"
Magistrate Zhou, do you prefer a boy or a girl?
Zhou Yanqing's eyes were bloodshot, but he was unable to move because it felt like a mountain was pressing down on his back.
As if all the strength had been drained from his body, he closed his eyes listlessly.
When he opened his eyes again, his expression was much calmer.
"I don't know that person's true identity, but I'm certain he comes from someone important..."
Qin Zhaoyue scoffed, "Do you need to tell me? You didn't even say you lost a little finger. Are you blind or just trying to fool me?"
Zhou Yanqing's pupils trembled. With a portrait and the ability to describe precise features, just how much did the other party know? Was this a test to see what was going on?
He gritted his teeth and decided to speak, "I have a guess that the other party is from the royal family."
Qin Zhaoyue pouted, "You're so hesitant and uncooperative. Do you think readers want to read your nonsense? Get to the point!"
“Hoo…” Zhou Yanqing exhaled a breath of stale air. “I have a naturally sensitive sense of smell. When I was granted the title of Jinshi in Fengjing, I was fortunate enough to meet the Nobleman Ci and smelled a special fragrance. Later I learned that it was borneol.”
"I have smelled the same scent every time I have passed by the portrait of that person. Although it is very faint, I would never mistake it."
Liu Yan remained calm, but her heart skipped a beat because this was a very important clue.
Dragon's brain incense was only available in the palace. It wasn't just a matter of rarity; anyone of low status could not use it, otherwise it would be considered an overreach of regulations.
In the capital, the mention of the word "noble person" is enough to catch an endless number of people if you cast a net.
But very few people actually use camphor incense, or even have a trace of its scent on their servants!
With such an accurate portrait and distinctive physical characteristics, finding the person should not be difficult.
Dragon's brain incense? Qin Zhaoyue searched her memory but only had a vague impression.
It seems that my third or fourth sister did something that the Empress rewarded me with, but as for her... I've never even seen her!
Damn it, that sixth brother is so unlovable.
She said irritably, "The mine was shut down for a day this year, why?"
"I don't know. That was an order from the mine management. I guess something special came out of the mine."
Because that collapsed mine shaft has never been mined again, as if something was being deliberately hidden.
What could be found in an iron ore mine? Liu Yan's thoughts raced. Whatever it was, it couldn't be anything that would prompt the person behind the scenes to send an envoy.
Seeing that Liu Yan had nothing more to ask, Qin Zhaoyue simply reached out her hand, "List, ledger."
This was their last resort. Zhou Yanqing stared straight at the person opposite him. "I need a promise!"
"Keep putting on a good show and don't give yourself away, and your two children will naturally be safe and sound."
"During the reckoning, spare their lives."
Zhou Yanqing breathed a sigh of relief when no mention was made of himself and only the bare minimum was made of his children.
He had lived a life of being at the mercy of others for too long; continuing to act was not a difficult thing for him.
"In the woodshed, don't let the steward find out."
Clearly, the butler who helped him dispose of the body was not one of his men.
Thus, under Liu Yan's escort, they successfully obtained the list and ledger.
Upon closer inspection, the first thing recorded was the approximate amount of iron ore illegally mined each year.
Zhou Yanqing was not the magistrate, nor did he actually know the specific quantities. Instead, he estimated them based on the number of times the ships were loaded and the draft.
Nine years after he took office, the total number he arrived at was 40% larger than Zhao Hengjiang's estimate, which translates to more than 3,000 heavy cavalry and armored vehicles.
Besides that, there was a list of all the participants he knew, a densely packed list, including hundreds from Qingyao Prefecture and the garrison.
Liu Yan frowned slightly, "The prison magistrate of Longmen County, Hanoi Prefecture?"
Zhou Yanqing chuckled, “Yes, I am a second-class Jinshi and the magistrate of Zhongxian County, a seventh-rank official, yet I have to obey the orders of a subordinate.”
The prison warden was responsible for guarding the prison and escorting prisoners; he was an unranked subordinate official under the county constable.
Liu Yan asked this question because there was only one person in the "superior" column of the roster: Shi Zhongkui, the prison warden of Longmen County.
Needless to say, he's just a puppet.
"After the Sixth Prince leaves tomorrow, immediately order the assassination of Zhao Qingshan. You don't need to worry about anything else."
Zhou Yanqing didn't understand the intention behind the order, but since it was already part of the plan, he agreed.
Having narrowed down the area around the person in the capital, and with further clues to follow, this trip can be considered a success.
Liu Yan put away the ledger and was about to leave when the Sixth Princess remained seated without moving.
"Your Highness?"
Qin Zhaoyue looked at the other person and continued to extend her hand.
Zhou Yanqing smiled wryly, "I have already explained everything clearly."
He's already given us the ledger list, which he considers his trump card. How could he possibly have anything to hide?
Qin Zhaoyue rolled her eyes. "Stop pretending to be stupid. Hand over the money you embezzled. It'll be just what you need for disaster relief and flood control."
Flowing Flame: ...
Zhou Yanqing: ...
"What are you looking at? It's a blessing that your head can still rest on your neck."
Besides, don't you need to bribe officials to protect your two children? Xuanji Weichun is working for some corrupt official like you, isn't he?
"Why don't you take a look in the mirror? That face is huge! Hurry up!"
Zhou Yanqing was speechless. Forget it, money is just an external thing. How else could he squander it in this county town?
After a short while, Qin Zhaoyue took away 300,000 taels of silver notes.
There's only one thing on my mind: "A clean prefect for three years, 100,000 taels of silver—TV dramas are absolutely right!"
Under the eaves, she patted the handsome old man on the shoulder and pulled out 100,000 taels of silver notes.
"This money will be confiscated for disaster relief and then given to my eldest sister to manage."
After carefully putting away the 100,000 taels, he flicked the remaining silver notes and asked, "Commander Liuyan, what are the rules of your Xuanji Guard?"
Liu Yan's forehead twitched, and he quickly understood what the Sixth Prince meant.
Good heavens, they even dared to embezzle the proceeds from the illegal ironworks case? They're going to take 200,000 out of 300,000 taels?!
"Your Highness, our Xuanji Guard has no such rule."
Qin Zhaoyue winked at him, "I understand, I understand!"
As he spoke, a silver note worth ten thousand taels fell to the ground.
"Hey, whose silver note is this? Commander Liuyan, you're so careless!"
Flowing Flame: ...
Seeing that he remained unmoved, Qin Zhaoyue pouted and tossed down another card, "Hey, there's another one here."
Liu Yan remained silent, his cheeks twitching.
Seeing this, Qin Zhaoyue threw down another card, "I'm warning you, don't go too far, that's enough, greed is not advisable!"
Liu Yan: Who? Who went too far? Who is insatiable?
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