The courtyard was quiet again for a long moment. Bai Su was also silent with his thoughts for some time, unable to recover.

“Actually, although we are grateful to Bai-daren, we have no intention of asking the Second Young Master to explain these so-called truths,” Yuan Du said suddenly.

Bai Su was taken aback and looked at Yuan Du in confusion. It seemed as if what Yuan Du wanted to say next was the focus of the night. 

Everyone who was eavesdropping was also in a daze. There was more?

Huo Fenglie glanced at Liu Zhenqing, and Liu Zhenqing’s eyes flashed. They both thought of what Du Dongfeng had done secretly.

Yuan Du nodded toward Du Dongfeng.

Du Dongfeng turned around and went into a room. He came back out holding a pile of account books and placed them in front of Bai Su.

“We already live a comfortable life, and the officials involved in the original tax fraud case have been dismissed one after another. Only Magistrate Yao was considered a hidden accomplice at that time. He seemed to have a backer behind him, so he stayed in office, and after all these years, he was content with his lot. It was not convenient for my son Dongfeng to serve as an official, so he became a government servant. However, just two years ago, we discovered that officials in Tongmao Prefecture had begun to embezzle tax money again.” Yuan Du said this with great indignation. After all, it was due to this corruption that his family’s destiny was ruined.

“Embezzling tax money?” Bai Yu said in shock. 

He Lan and Qin Yu frowned to themselves. After all, the emperor had strictly managed this area in recent years. There were few such rumors, and the common people of Tongmao Prefecture seemed to be doing well.

“That’s right, even though they did it covertly, I still noticed that something was wrong. Therefore, I have been asking Dongfeng to secretly investigate the taxes and keep a record book to collect evidence of their crimes. Much evidence has been collected, but we don’t know who we can trust now. Who should it be given to? I knew that the Second Young Master was here to investigate the Imperial Examination fraud case, so I asked my son to secretly observe your character. We don’t believe in those other officials, but we believed in Bai-daren, so we can only leave these to the Second Young Master and hope that he can help.”

When Yuan Du finished speaking, he led his son to salute Bai Su.

Bai Su quickly supported Yuan Du and made a deeper salute himself.

“This junior is naturally obligated to take care of this. I would like to thank Yuan-daren for helping to clear up my confusion. I also respect Yuan-daren for working on behalf of Great Zhou even though he is not in his position.”

Yuan Du also cupped his hands in obeisance.

Bai Su raised his head and asked the last doubt in his heart: “I have one more question.”

“Please speak.”

“What about Prefect Cheng?” Bai Su asked at once. “Is he trustworthy?”

Yuan Du looked slightly uncomfortable. “I only know that Bai-daren appreciated his talent and regarded him as a confidant, so he wrote a letter of recommendation for him, which allowed him to directly serve as an official. The two could be regarded as good friends with close ties. At the outset, when Bai-daren was dealing with the corrupt officials here and secretly investigating the tax fraud case, he also knew about it. Then something happened to Bai-daren, and Cheng-daren stayed behind closed doors for a long time. He was probably mourning. Later, he became an honest official and can be said to have the best reputation in Tongmao Prefecture. This time, whether it was the corruption case we were investigating privately or the Imperial Examination case, he was uninvolved in it and extremely upright.”

Du Dongfeng also said: “I think he is a good official, but he seems to be quite prejudiced against Prime Minister Liu because of Bai-daren’s death. There is nothing that can be done. The reason why we didn’t hand over the evidence to him is because he is in poor health and seems likely to fall ill at any time. Moreover, his official position and background are not enough to suppress Magistrate Yao.”

With this said, everything made sense.

Afterward, Du Dongfeng quietly sent Bai Su back, promising that if he ever had any questions, he could come to him.

When Bai Su sat down, he said, “Come in, everyone.”

After a moment, He Lan and Qin Yu appeared in the house, as well as Huo Fenglie with Liu Zhenqing in his arms. 

Although Bai Su had no martial talent, he knew his brothers well and had an intuition that they must be there.

Sure enough, as soon as they appeared, Qin Yu and He Lan discussed with Bai Su what they had just heard. First the truth from back then, and then the tax fraud case that had appeared just now. As people from the Jinyiwei and Donchang, they naturally had a lot of suspicions to explore.

But Huo Fenglie and Liu Zhenqing focused all of their attention on the evidence brought back by Bai Su.

The two of them exchanged glances, and Lui Zhenqing smiled. They didn’t need to bother searching, as the evidence in their hands was nearly complete and took little effort to get.

“It seems that Yuan-daren is still as skilled as when he was young,” Liu Zhenqing said with a smile.

When Du Dongfeng recorded the ledgers at the beginning, he was probably going back to show them to his father.

“Hey, what’s going on with you two? Why didn’t you react at all to the matter of Prime Minister Liu?” He Lan had talked about it for half a day, but when he saw that the two key people didn’t respond, he couldn’t help but call out.

The two of them turned around. Bai Su looked at Huo Fenglie and kept silent.

Huo Fenglie said nothing and looked at Liu Zhenqing.

Liu Zhenqing smiled awkwardly and said: “I’ve lost my memory and I don’t know what to say, but it feels pretty good to know that my distant cousin was not as bad as everyone says.”

He Lan said speechlessly: “Don’t you want to clear his name?”

“What’s the point, he’s dead. He also doesn’t have any descendants who need his reputation. The only ones who were slightly implicated are our Imperial merchant Liu family, but we were doing fine before. Not only did the emperor not embarrass us, but he also took good care of us.” Liu Zhenqing said appropriately, “And didn’t Yuan-daren say it too? It’s difficult to exonerate his name.”

Everyone couldn’t help but choke at Liu Zhenqing’s words. This relative was so open-minded, and their entanglement seemed to be in vain.

“Let’s talk about this tax case.”

Liu Zhenqing and Huo Fenglie had originally been investigating it privately, but because of Du Dongfeng the case directly surfaced, which freed them from having to hide it and allowed them to act openly.

“This evidence is enough to convict those officials to death,” Bai Su said.

Qin Yu only glanced at it and frowned. “What a coincidence.”

Bai Su also nodded and said: “It is a coincidence.” 

“Why do you say that?” He Lan asked curiously.

“Other than Magistrate Yao, all of the corrupt officials are involved in the Imperial Examination fraud,” Qin Yu said with disdain. “Did you not even read the dossier?”

He Lan gave a hehe and said: “Come on, you just looked at it. But you’re right, it really is a coincidence. It can only be said that corrupt officials are greedy and will take money wherever they can get it.”

“But there are so many people.” Bai Su and Liu Zhenqing had a keen idea.

It seemed as if someone had deliberately switched the crime for them and pushed them out to be punished.

After all, even though the charges were different, they were both still capital crimes.

And another point, as for the money they embezzled, where did it go? The officials’ homes were searched after the Imperial Examination case, and the amounts found were completely inconsistent.

“I’ll interrogate them again,” Qin Yu said.

He Lan also said: “We must interrogate them meticulously. I didn’t expect these old boys to be so good at hiding. Even when they’re about to die, they don’t have any good principles.”

Perhaps it wasn’t because they didn’t want to speak, but that they didn’t dare to speak. These few people were unaware, but Huo Fenglie and Liu Zhenqing knew that there were rebels behind the tax case. It didn’t matter if they died, but if their families were implicated, it would be over for them.

Bai Su said: “Someone needs to keep an eye on Magistrate Yao.”

He Lan rolled up his sleeves for battle and said: “I’ll go and keep a good eye on that big fish.”

Huo Fenglie said: “I will contact the emperor at once and inform him of the situation here.”

At this point, at least the tax case could be closed, and if the same people were involved, the Imperial Examination case could be solved along with it. Once an Imperial Edict was issued, everything would be settled.

Bai Su suddenly looked at Huo Fenglie and said: “Zhanyuan, Yuan-daren’s family…..”

Huo Fenglie said directly: “The case is over, and rewards will be given based on merit. I will note down Du Dongfeng’s achievements. If they are willing, Du Dongfeng may enter the military camp and the Du family may return to the capital.”

It was not possible for the original family, but it was possible for the Du family. Joining the court was not a possibility, but they could be rewarded with enlistment in the army.

Then Du Dongfeng’s talents would not be submerged, and Yuan-daren could once more find his own place to shine in the Huo family army.

Hearing this, Liu Zhenqing couldn’t help but look at Huo Fenglie with a smile.

The plan was decided, and everyone got busy. Although Bai Su still went to Cheng Xi to assist him, his focus had completely shifted.

“What has Yuzhou been busy with recently?” Cheng Xi asked straightforwardly.

Bai Su could only say vaguely: “Nothing, ah, I’m just a little curious about whether these officials have committed crimes other than the Imperial Examination fraud.”

Cheng Xi’s eyes flashed slightly, and when he was about to speak, he suddenly coughed again.

Bai Su was startled and quickly stepped forward to help settle him down, but in the next second, he saw blood overflow from the hand covering Cheng Xi’s mouth.

“Brother Cheng!” Bai Su exclaimed in shock. “I’ll go get a doctor!”

Cheng Xi grabbed Bai Su and said: “Yuzhou needn’t take the trouble. I know my own body.”

Bai Su said with a frown: “Brother Cheng, if you don’t look after your body well, my brother will scold you from the afterlife.”

Cheng Xi looked absent-minded: “It would be good for him to scold me.”

Seeing Cheng Xi’s infatuated look, although Bai Su was already clear on this, he still felt very uncomfortable. After speaking, he turned around to get Cheng Xi’s cloak, but found that it was damp and felt like crushed ice to the touch. In fact, he had noticed more than once that the cloak Cheng Xi wore was a bit strange.

Bai Su couldn’t help but say doubtfully: “Brother Cheng, your clothes are not warm at all. It shouldn’t be like this in early spring…..”

Cheng Xi said: “My residence is rather cold. Perhaps the servants haven’t been careful.”

“Brother Cheng, with your body, how can you stay in such a cold place? You had better rest for a few days. Perhaps…..perhaps things will be settled soon,” Bai Su couldn’t help but say.

Cheng Xi’s gaze gradually intensified, and he suddenly said: “Yes, it is time for me to rest. By the way, those paintings are nearly finished. I’ll send someone to invite you to pick them up when the time comes.”

Bai Su smiled lightly and said: “I’ll expect you at any time.”

Soon, news came from Qin Yu that those officials had been recruited. They had all followed Magistrate Yao’s instigation to embezzle tax money, but only scraped off a little bit, with Magistrate Yao taking most of it. After their arrests, Magistrate Yao had sent someone to insinuate that they could not disclose the tax fraud matter, or their families’ lives would be in danger. Thus, they didn’t dare to say anything.

That night, He Lan came back to Huo Fenglie and said: “Magistrate Yao is trying to flee.”

It was unknown if Magistrate Yao had sensed that something was wrong, but he had already arranged for his family to leave Yao Manor one after another. He Lan was worried that they would take away any evidence, and rushed back to report.

Huo Fenglie had already dispatched soldiers and horses nearby for this case, so upon hearing this, he sent people to arrest him.

Soon, everyone who left Magistrate Yao’s manor was captured. However, they hadn’t brought anything useful with them, and were unaware of what had happened. Magistrate Yao had just suddenly told them to leave.

There was no other way, so the soldiers immediately surrounded the magistrate’s manor overnight and captured Magistrate Yao.

An Imperial Edict was also sent from the capital to conduct a thorough investigation.

The next day, things changed in Tongmao Prefecture. The Imperial Examination case had hidden the tax fraud case, which was simply a shocking secret.

Magistrate Yao was placed under strict guard. After all, the lesson from Yanqiu Prefecture was still fresh in their minds. This time, Magistrate Yao could not be allowed to die inexplicably.

Far away in the capital, the emperor also issued a secret order and sent someone to take care of the current Minister of Revenue.

That’s right, the Minister of Revenue was Magistrate Yao’s backer.

However, when the emperor’s people set out, the Minister of Revenue had already committed suicide by poison. They were a step too late.

On the other side, Huo Fenglie was about to lead the others to interrogate Magistrate Yao. Bai Su initially intended to follow, but didn’t expect that Cheng Xi would send someone to deliver a letter at this time, asking him to pick up the paintings from his house.

Bai Su wanted to go another day, but the visitor said that Cheng Xi was unwell and feared that he would be unable to entertain him in the future, so he asked for Bai Su to go today.

Worried that Cheng Xi’s health was getting worse, Bai Su went to the appointment.

But as soon as he boarded Cheng Xi’s sedan chair, he noticed an aroma inside and gradually became dizzy.

When he woke up again, he found himself tied to a chair on the far side of a main hall.

Before he could react, Bai Su was shocked by the red silk decorations with the “happiness” character draped all over the main hall.

And what shocked him even more was that there was a person sitting paralyzed in the main seat.

The man was wearing wedding robes and a red veil. His face could not be seen, but it could be inferred from his body shape that he was male.

But cold air radiated out from his body, so cold that even Bai Su could feel it.

That man showed no response and remained motionless no matter how Bai Su shouted. There were only drops of water dripping from the chair he was sitting on.

Bai Su didn’t understand the current situation at all, and when he saw no reaction from that person, he began to look around. After a moment, he saw that the paintings decorating the walls of the main hall were his brother’s work, both the paintings and the calligraphy.

Just when Bai Su was dumbfounded, he heard footsteps. He turned back to look and saw Cheng Xi wearing a groom’s wedding clothes, walking in with a smile on his face. The expression on his face really was a smile, but it was also eerie.

“Brother Cheng…..what are you…..doing?” Bai Su had hoped at first that it was some kind of misunderstanding, but the moment he saw Cheng Xi, his disillusionment was shattered.

Cheng Xi was all smiles as he said: “I’m inviting you to our wedding banquet. I have no relatives left, but it would be best for his relative to be here.”

Bai Su regarded him in astonishment, then looked at the unmoving man. He suddenly had a chilling feeling.

Cheng Xi slowly walked up to the man and embraced him, trying to help him stand up.

But with this movement, the red veil slipped off.

At that moment, Bai Su’s pupils shrank and his entire body went cold.

At the same time, Liu Zhenqing and the others met Magistrate Yao.

Magistrate Yao had already come to terms with reality. He looked at the visitors and sneered: “What, the Second Young Master of the Bai family isn’t coming?”

Such abrupt words left everyone puzzled.

“Why are you asking about him?” Qin Yu took the lead to say.

“Isn’t it because of Bai Yu that Cheng Xi worked so hard to bring me to this point?” Magistrate Yao said sardonically.

It seemed that Magistrate Yao wasn’t aware of how he had ended up like this, and was completely convinced that it was Cheng Xi who did it. This statement made Liu Zhenqing suspicious.

Could it be that Cheng Xi was behind the Imperial Examination fraud case?

He Lan said contemptuously: “Old boy, it seems that you were also involved in Bai-daren’s death?”

Magistrate Yao suddenly burst out laughing. “Who says Bai Yu died that year?”

As soon as he said this, everyone in the cell went quiet and the expression on every face changed.

Liu Zhenqing felt as if his ears were ringing. This was an answer he had never expected. He took a step forward at once and said in a tone of disbelief: “He’s still alive?”

“Of course he’s dead.” Magistrate Yao’s words instantly extinguished the fire that suddenly rose in Liu Zhenqing’s heart.

“Just two years ago, he committed suicide in Cheng Xi’s residence.”

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Chapter Fifty << Table of Contents >> Chapter Fifty-Two