Jinbao helped Jun Huailang into the carriage.
Normally, Fuyi would follow him into the carriage to attend to him, but today there was the Prince of Guangling inside, so for a moment, he did not know what to do.
He looked at Jinbao, only to see Jinbao pull him along and sit with him outside the carriage.
“We’ll come up here and enjoy some peace and quiet,” Jinbao said with a grin.
Fuyi hesitated. “This…?”
Jinbao blinked at him and gestured toward the carriage.
Fuyi roughly understood. Perhaps the master inside did not like people getting too close to him and did not like having people follow him inside to attend to him.
He gave Jinbao a grateful look, nodded at him, and sat beside him at the front of the carriage.
What he did not know was that the moment his own master entered the carriage, he was pulled straight into the arms of the very person who supposedly “didn’t like people getting too close.”
Jun Huailang stumbled forward, but he did not fall painfully. Instead, he fell directly into Xue Yan’s arms.
In an instant, he was enveloped by the scent of sandalwood.
Xue Yan wrapped an arm around his waist and asked him softly, in a voice only the two of them could hear, “Did you miss me?”
Jun Huailang turned his gaze away and hurriedly pushed him. “All right, stop fooling around.”
But Xue Yan continued leaning against him and talking to him.
“I missed you terribly. I practically wanted to stand right outside your door and wait for you.”
His breath was especially close to Jun Huailang’s as he spoke.
He leaned closer and closer.
“I even wanted to climb in through the window to see if you were asleep, then secretly kiss you.”
The tips of Jun Huailang’s ears were burning terribly.
How could this person say such things so casually?
He pushed Xue Yan several times before finally managing to push him away, earning a low laugh from Xue Yan.
“Why are you so lovable?” he said.
Jun Huailang himself did not understand. He had not even said a single word, so how had he become lovable?
He pushed Xue Yan aside and sat down properly beside him, only to see Xue Yan move close again.
It was as though being even a moment farther away from him would cost him his life.
Jun Huailang was just about to push him away when Xue Yan stuffed a booklet into his hands.
“Here. I had Duan Shisi investigate everything yesterday,” he said. “You don’t need to interrogate them one by one today. Just investigate according to this, and it’ll be enough.”
Jun Huailang took the booklet and opened it, finding that it contained detailed records of all the laborers who had caused trouble that day.
Those marked with red circles were not natives of Jiangnan. Altogether, they had gradually moved here over the past three years under various pretexts.
They had all come from Lingnan.
However, because they had prepared false identities for themselves before coming to Jiangnan, there was no way to tell from the records that they were bandits.
Jun Huailang pondered for a moment.
Although their records did not reveal anything, the mountain bandits of Lingnan had only submitted to the Yunnan Prince less than ten years ago. Back then, every one of them had taken to the mountains as outlaws and dominated their own territory. There must certainly be traces left behind proving that they did not match their false identities.
In that case, their identities as law-abiding commoners were fake, they had all come from the same place, and now they had caused trouble together in Jiangnan.
With this evidence, it would not be difficult to interrogate their true identities out of them. Once they had these confessions, everything could be sent to Chang’an together.
Jun Huailang put the booklet away.
“Didn’t you only receive the news yesterday?” Jun Huailang asked in confusion. “How did you get all this?”
Not to mention that Xue Yan had only received the news yesterday, he had been mentally and physically exhausted and had slept all the way until before dawn today.
Xue Yan was unconcerned.
“One night’s time was more than enough for Duan Shisi.”
Jun Huailang did have some impression of the young man beside Xue Yan.
He looked no more than a child, even younger than Jun Xiaowu. He probably was not more than a few years older than Linghuan.
Yet such a young boy followed Xue Yan’s side, not only helping him command the entire Embroidered Uniform Guard, but also carrying out dangerous missions for him without hesitation.
“He isn’t very old either, is he?” Jun Huailang could not help asking.
Xue Yan gave an indifferent hum. “I’ve never asked, but he should be quite young.”
Jun Huailang sighed.
Xue Yan leaned over and pecked him on the cheek.
“What, feeling sorry for someone again for no reason?” he asked.
Jun Huailang said, “He looks even younger than Xiaowu.”
Xue Yan clicked his tongue.
“You really love worrying about other people for no reason,” he said. “Why don’t you worry about me?”
Jun Huailang looked at him. “What is there to worry about with you?”
Xue Yan said solemnly, “I was kicked off your bed last night. Isn’t that pitiful?”
Jun Huailang hurriedly tried to cover his mouth, afraid that someone outside would hear him.
“If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll kick you out of the carriage,” Jun Huailang threatened.
Xue Yan laughed.
“Fine, I won’t say anything.”
As he spoke, he pulled Jun Huailang back into his arms.
“I already made an agreement with Duan Shisi. I won’t make him work for me for nothing,” he said. “He learned nothing but killing and robbing from a young age. If I ask him to do something else, he wouldn’t know how.”
“What other deal do the two of you have?” Jun Huailang asked in confusion.
Xue Yan said, “He works for me, and I help him get revenge. After all, with his strength alone, it would still be impossible for him to kill Duan Chong.”
Jun Huailang froze. “Isn’t Duan Chong his adoptive father?”
Xue Yan said indifferently, “He’s also the enemy who killed his father and mother.”
At this point, he paused and said, “Now that you mention it, he’s the only one left in his family.”
As he spoke, he lowered his head into the crook of Jun Huailang’s neck, like a large dog acting spoiled.
“Since you feel sorry for him, I’ll do him a favor and grant him another bit of mercy,” he said.
Jun Huailang asked, “What kind of mercy?”
Xue Yan chuckled and took a bite at Jun Huailang’s neck.
“I originally intended to have him succeed Duan Chong as the Chief Eunuch of the Eastern Depot. Technically, once he took that position, he would have to be castrated,” he said. “I’ll just leave that matter unmentioned, as if I forgot about it, and let him keep his roots. How about that?”
The tips of Jun Huailang’s ears reddened.
“Why are the only things you think about so improper?”
Xue Yan answered righteously, “With you beside me, how would I have time to think about proper things?”
——
Jun Huailang’s interrogation really did go very smoothly.
Among the bandits, some were tight-lipped. However, under threats and inducements, several of them eventually confessed everything, including their backgrounds, origins, and the orders they had received.
As expected, they had been sent by the Yunnan Prince. The Yunnan Prince had only been responsible for providing the manpower and resources. Once they arrived here, all the orders they received had been issued by high-ranking officials in Chang’an.
As for which high-ranking officials, they had no idea.
But they did not need to know.
Because as long as Xue Yan continued investigating deeply, it would become clear which high-ranking official in Chang’an had been desperately amassing wealth over the past few years, and where that money had gone. Once they investigated, everything would be revealed.
And the point of entry for this deep investigation was Guo Rongwen.
That day, when Jun Huailang left the government office carrying the confessions they had obtained, the Embroidered Uniform Guard members who had been checking the Jinling treasury also returned with news.
They had thoroughly examined the accounts for the past month or so and discovered that there had always been a small portion of the transactions that did not match the incoming and outgoing records. And when Jinling suffered the disaster and the granaries were opened to distribute grain, a large quantity of grain had actually disappeared without a trace, with the accounts unable to account for it at all.
Jun Huailang knew that this was because Guo Rongwen had acted too hastily at the time and had simply not had enough time to smooth out the false accounts.
Upon receiving this news, Duke Yong and Prefect Shen immediately summoned Guo Rongwen to the government office and questioned him about the accounts.
Guo Rongwen knew that even if there were discrepancies in the accounts, they had no concrete evidence proving that he had done it himself. After all, there had been so many people involved in the distribution of the grain. As long as he flatly denied everything, even if they were convinced that it was him, there was nothing they could do.
Thus, Guo Rongwen repeatedly claimed that he knew nothing about it, speaking through tears and appearing extremely sincere.
Duke Yong did not believe him.
He had known Guo Rongwen for nearly twenty years and knew how meticulous and cautious this man was when handling matters.
Back then, he had also been someone who repaid kindness. Before the imperial examination, because his family had been poor and he had also lost his luggage, he had stayed at Duke Yong’s residence for several months. After passing the imperial examination, although he had only become a county magistrate of the lowest rank, he had saved up an entire year’s worth of his regular salary. When he came to the capital to report on his duties, he had bought fine brushes, ink, and books to seek out Duke Yong and thank him for his kindness.
That was why Duke Yong had felt comfortable entrusting such an important matter as the accounts entirely to him.
Duke Yong did not believe that he had been careless or had simply failed to judge a person’s character.
He only knew that after so many years, people changed.
But even though the truth was now as clear as day, he had only just learned of it and had not the slightest piece of evidence in his hands. He confronted Guo Rongwen with reason and evidence, yet Guo Rongwen kept crying that he had been wronged, clearly resorting to shamelessly playing dumb.
Duke Yong was so furious that his head felt hot, and he could barely speak.
Seeing this, Prefect Shen, who was standing nearby, hurried forward to comfort him.
“Throw him into prison first!” Prefect Shen ordered the minor officials on either side. “Whether you personally embezzled it or simply failed to judge the people you employed, the grain was lost while it was under your watch. You cannot escape responsibility. Locking you up isn’t unjust!”
Guo Rongwen cried bitterly.
“Lord Shen, no matter what, I am still an appointed official of the imperial court. Without evidence, the only person who can have me imprisoned is His Majesty!” he said.
Prefect Shen gritted his teeth.
He knew that this man was shamelessly using the emperor to pressure him.
Indeed, no matter how low Guo Rongwen’s rank was, he was still an official from the capital. If he rashly imprisoned him, he himself would certainly be unable to escape responsibility when the matter was settled later.
Moreover, it was obvious at a glance that Guo Rongwen could not possibly have had such courage on his own, nor could he have had such a large appetite. There must certainly be some unknown faction from the capital standing behind him. If that faction could clear Guo Rongwen’s name, then the person who would end up on the execution platform would be himself.
Prefect Shen gritted his teeth, while the yamen runners on either side also began to hesitate.
“Evidence?”
At that moment, a lazy voice came from the doorway.
Several people looked over and saw Xue Yan standing there.
He walked in leisurely, with Jinbao and several Embroidered Uniform Guards following behind him. Xue Yan walked up to Duke Yong, cupped his hands, and gave him a half-bow. He then glanced sideways at Jinbao.
Jinbao hurriedly held out the letter in his hands and stepped forward to present it to Duke Yong.
Prefect Shen leaned over for a look and discovered that it was actually a contract for the purchase and sale of grain.
The time, quantity, and amount of money received from the sale were all clearly written on it. It bore Guo Rongwen’s signature and seal, and the quantity of grain also matched exactly with the amount missing from the treasury.
Prefect Shen looked at Xue Yan in astonishment.
How did this Prince of Guangling have such far-reaching connections?
The discrepancy in the treasury had only been discovered at noon today, yet by now, he had already found the evidence?
Xue Yan looked toward the Embroidered Uniform Guard beside him, and the guards immediately stepped forward and restrained Guo Rongwen.
Guo Rongwen was still struggling.
“Your Highness, even if you are the Prince of Guangling, you cannot falsely accuse an official!” He still did not know what Xue Yan had in his hands and continued struggling and crying.
Xue Yan clicked his tongue impatiently.
He had only just received word on the way here that the common people outside the city would be holding a night market along the roadside tonight to celebrate the epidemic being brought under control.
He knew Jun Huailang would definitely like seeing something like that, so he had already sent Duan Shisi back to the residence to pick him up.
He did not want to waste time on this piece of trash and make Jun Huailang wait.
He frowned, stepped forward, and kicked Guo Rongwen, sending him sprawling onto his back.
“When I want to arrest someone, I have never cared about the law or reason.”
He looked down at him.
“Take him away,” he ordered.