Chapter 69: The Weak Link

The couple turned against each other, and the confessions were obtained smoothly. The wife confessed to her husband's theft of the mansion's treasures, trying to make a profit from nothing. The steward admitted to the theft but insisted that he too was swindled by moneylenders, ending up with nothing.

Beyond that, the wife knew nothing, and the steward would only admit to that much.

Zheng Xi then questioned him about his concubine's location and any other stolen goods. The steward stubbornly maintained, "All lost to that cursed swindler."

This was indeed a dead end. Those who led the usury ring, including one who drove people to death, were executed last fall, with others who absconded with the funds still at large.

Zheng Xi thought to himself: Not confessing doesn't mean I won't find out.

After ordering the couple taken away, he briefly discussed the matter with his uncle, the Prince of High Yang.

The prince furiously exclaimed, "Others use opportunities to their advantage, returning what they borrow. He used it to make a profit and let everything scatter! Where are my treasures?!!!"

Zheng Xi remained calm, stating, "Those who exploit others for high interest are bound to commit other serious crimes. Driving someone to death over debts is just one; there could be abductions or causing severe injuries. Thinking he can cover his tracks with 'just a loan sharking arrest'? I fear he's more deeply involved and can't extricate himself. Uncle, if we continue to investigate, we may uncover more."

The Prince of High Yang declared, "Even if it was I who lost my mind and gave it all away, you must uncover how it was done."

Zheng Xi simply replied, "Yes."

The Prince of High Yang lamented, "My son is nothing compared to you."

Zheng Xi remarked, "Uncle was well aware of the trouble I used to cause."

The Prince of High Yang responded, "If they could cause the kind of trouble you did, I wouldn’t be so worried."

Zheng Xi could only laugh helplessly, "Even my father thinks I’m a handful."

Both of them instructed not to disturb the Dowager Duchess and not to mention Zheng Xi’s visit the next morning. The Prince of High Yang particularly ordered to discreetly choose people for the task, assuring, "You don’t need to worry, uncle. That child knows his limits."

They decided not to mobilize forces that night. They could occasionally break curfew themselves and cover it up, such as Zheng Xi claiming an urgent matter at his grandmother’s, using filial piety as a cover.

Mobilizing a large group in the middle of the night, however, would be hard to excuse. The standard for a commendable Prefect of the Capital was to fear no nobility. Acts like wearing inappropriate attire, using the imperial roads, or breaking curfews were generally overlooked by most, but those who strictly enforced the law according to the statutes earned historical praise.

The current Prefect of the Capital was Wang Yunhe, evidently someone who could earn a few commendable lines in the history books.

The Prince of High Yang suggested his nephew stay at the mansion, "We’ll proceed tomorrow. I’ll assign someone with a few guards to follow his lead."

Zheng Xi agreed, "Alright."

And so, they had clearly arranged everything for Zhu Yi.

As a result, Zhu Yi got a good night’s sleep, without being awakened in the middle of the night for unspeakable tasks. At that time, she was dozing off on a small couch in Zheng Xi's outer study.

Zheng Xi went to the mansion, but didn't have Zhu Yi leave, so she had to wait for him there.

She wasn’t too familiar with others in the Marquis of Zheng's mansion, but those around Zheng Xi treated her exceptionally well. They didn’t let her wait in vain; a servant led her to a couch in the outer study and even brought her a blanket, saying, "Miss Zhu, you might as well rest here for a bit. Even if Master Zheng returns soon, it will still be a while. You have to go to the Supreme Court tomorrow, right?"

Zhu Yi asked, "This is the master's study. Resting here won’t cause you any trouble, will it?"

The servant laughed, "No one really comes here at night. Even if they do, it’s so quiet you can hear them from afar. I’m on night duty today, it’s not particularly tiring, and I’ll wake you up when needed."

Zhu Yi thanked him, and the servant replied, "It’s nothing. Rest well, Miss Zhu."

…………

It seemed to Zhu Yi that she had only closed her eyes momentarily when daylight arrived. She awoke at the slightest sound outside, quickly got up, stretched, and turned her neck. She tidied her clothes and shoes and noticed dawn breaking outside, promptly folding the blanket.

The servant, pushing the door open, said, "Miss Zhu, you're up already? That’s early! I’ll take the blanket. Master Zheng hasn’t returned all night. Will you continue waiting here, or...?"

Zhu Yi responded, "Considering the time, I better head to the Supreme Court first."

Just then, Lu Chao entered, "Knew you’d still be here. Master Zheng has gone to the imperial court for the morning session. He instructed me to return and give this to you."

He placed a large box of food on the small crabapple table beside Zhu Yi. The servant, taking the blanket away, soon brought in water for washing. Lu Chao praised, "Good job, lad. Quick thinking." The servant stuck his tongue out in response.

Zhu Yi, preferring to attend to herself, washed her face and combed her hair. Sitting down at the table, she invited, "Join me, you’ll be busy later. Don’t let this delay you."

Eager to partake, Lu Chao politely declined at first but soon joined in. Without chopsticks, they each grabbed a pastry, "Just to tide us over; we'll have a proper meal later." The servant added, "We usually get leftovers from Master Zheng, but today we’re lucky to have something fresh. This is enough for us."

They didn’t eat much, just a few bites each. Zhu Yi, however, enjoyed her meal until Lu Chao mentioned, "Master Zheng said there’s no need for you to go to the Supreme Court today. He wants me to take you to the Prince's mansion; he has instructions for you."

Pausing with her chopsticks, Zhu Yi inquired, "What’s it about? No offense, but I still need to report for duty. If there’s any slip-up, it’d be problematic if the censors catch wind."

Lu Chao reassured, "I knew you’d say that. Look here."

Zhu Yi read the note extracted by Lu Chao, written by Zheng Xi. It instructed her to help search for the stolen goods for the prince's mansion, urging her to be meticulous and avoid disputes with the mansion's personnel. A brief section at the end summarized the results of the overnight interrogation.

Zhu Yi pocketed the note, thinking to herself that since Zheng Xi was in charge, he'd handle the duty roster. If she got penalized for this, she'd just freeload off him!

She then asked, "What came out of last night's interrogation? Master Zheng wanted you to inform me."

Lu Chao relayed everything.

"Did Master Zheng specify anyone to accompany me? Surely, I can't be expected to work alone with another household's entire staff?"

"Well, you've got me," Lu Chao responded.

He also fetched a robust young servant from the Zheng household and, leading a horse, the trio set off for the prince's mansion.

……——

Prince Gaoyang proceeded to the imperial court as usual today, leaving the mansion outwardly unchanged. Upon the trio's arrival, they were greeted by the familiar faces of the chief steward and a eunuch. Zhu Yi quickly dismounted, greeting, "Young one pays respect to the two elders."

The chief steward and the eunuch seemed somewhat moved, welcoming them inside and leading them to a courtyard before the chief steward spoke up, "You really did continue the investigation."

"It was luck. The places I was most suspicious of turned up nothing; it was sheer chance that cast a wide net."

"Luck?" the chief steward mused. "When luck strikes, only those skilled and prepared can seize it."

The eunuch added, "Isn't there a saying that great fortune is hard to bear? The young master is the opposite, capable of embracing it. Not only can you bear it, but you also went out searching and actually found something."

Zhu Yi modestly declined the praise, "Oh no, not at all. Just doing my duty diligently to avoid future regrets for not being thorough. May I know what's needed from me now?"

The chief steward and the eunuch exchanged glances, "We'll stay here on duty. If there's anything, just send someone to notify us. Here are ten men at your command. As for the matters at the Supreme Court, Zheng has arranged everything; focus solely on the task at hand."

The eunuch also mentioned, "His Highness has said that Judge Zhu is prudent and capable, and will not have Judge Zhu work in vain."

Zhu Yi promptly replied, "I shall follow the order closely."

She then inquired, "May I know what was uncovered in last night's interrogation? I was only given a brief summary when instructed, and I seek detailed information to minimize mistakes during the task."

The chief steward, not present last night as he returned home, and the eunuch, who served the prince, shared everything they witnessed. Zhu Yi listened intently, expressed her gratitude sincerely, and inquired about a few names of the mansion's guards before bidding farewell to both, taking the assigned men and exiting the mansion through a side door.

Barely stepping out, Lu Chao whispered, "Master Zheng said to follow your lead, what's our plan?"

"Let's start with the one who pawned the jade cup! Split into groups; too many people together will draw unwanted attention. You take a few men from this end, I and the others will circle around to the back. We'll surround her residence," Zhu Yi briskly divided the groups, with Lu Chao and five of the mansion's guards forming one team, and herself with another robust servant from Zheng's household and additional men forming another, ensuring no one could slip away.

Unaware of the internal manager's predicament, his concubine had recently pawned items for some cash, still not fully spent on necessities, cursing the cruel thief at home daily. Upon arrival at the well-kept small courtyard, Zhu Yi instructed Lu Chao to cover the back, while she approached the front door.

A young girl's voice from inside asked, "Who's there?"

Zhu Yi answered, "Wang Da-ge sent me with a message."

An irate voice from within cursed, "That deadbeat remembers us?"

As the door opened and before Zhu Yi could speak, the guards accompanying her from the mansion swiftly entered, silencing and dragging the maid inside. The group flooded in, securing the door, and standing guard.

Zhu Yi, taken aback for a moment, quickly whispered, "Move!"

The courtyard, draped in withered wisteria, had a desolate air, contrasting with a few blooming chrysanthemums under the trellis. Without instructions, two guards searched the annexes and kitchen, quickly restraining a plump cook by the stove and a maid in the room with a rope.

Witnessing the efficiency, Zhu Yi noted the distinction of the mansion's personnel and foresaw a smoother operation ahead. Yet, she remained vigilant, mindful of her experiences across the county, prefecture, and the capital, recognizing the rarity of such skilled and disciplined individuals, hinting at the mansion's formidable and potentially elaborate preparations.

Zhu Yi proceeded with caution, wary of becoming expendable, and refrained from any premature sense of authority over these men.

Carefully, she instructed, "Do not allow them to make noise, nor harm them. Have Lu Chao leave someone at the back door, and the rest come in!"

Soon after, the guard from the mansion assigned to the back door also entered. After a brief consultation, Zhu Yi, drawing from the guards' methodical approach, picked up a few tips on conducting searches quietly and advised, "Search silently, thoroughly."

Lu Chao questioned, "How long will this search take? Should we not inquire if they know anything?"

Zhu Yi responded, "Ignore them for now; trust me and join me in the search."

Trusting Zhu Yi, who is adept at such tasks, Lu Chao watched in amazement as Zhu Yi methodically discovered various items, remarking, "Please ensure these are well-guarded, they appear to belong to the mansion." A list was made, tallying up to around a dozen items.

Zhu Yi also ensured no one pocketed any valuables found in the concubine's private stash, gathering them together for inventory as well, alongside property deeds and titles, all meticulously documented and stored.

Lu Chao asked, "What are you doing?"

Zhu Yi explained, "I've seen the list of stolen items; these match the descriptions. Those that don't, or are not of the same make, need to be separated."

Further searching the secondary residence, Zhu Yi discovered a secret drawer in the vanity, uncovering an account book. After reviewing it briefly, she comprehensively went through the book—records kept by the concubine for the internal manager.

The accounts, being straightforward, were understandable to Zhu Yi; anything more complex would have been beyond her comprehension. After reviewing the entire book, she pocketed it, then ordered, "Pack these two types of items separately. Hire a cart, claim it's for a trip to a relative's for winter. Ensure the door is locked securely."

She instructed someone from Zheng's household, "Inquire with Master Zheng where both the people and the items should be delivered."

Lu Chao hurriedly mentioned, "Master Zheng instructed to just bring everything directly to the mansion."

Zhu Yi agreed, "That works." She crammed both people and boxes into the cart, pulling everything to the internal manager Wang's home, then hiring another cart to transport them from there to the mansion.

She chose not to interrogate the unfortunate concubine, suspecting that the affair might involve sensitive matters within the mansion, such as disputes between legitimate and illegitimate offspring. Preferring to keep domestic scandals private, she worried about external parties finding out. With the account book in hand, she felt she could report back without delving deeper into the mansion's internal affairs.

Instructing the mansion's guards to disperse and return separately, she escorted the cart back to the mansion, nestled between them, with Lu Chao volunteering to accompany her. Both squeezed into the cart, facing the frightened and pleading gazes of the concubine and others. Lu Chao, turning away from their stares, asked Zhu Yi, "Is this it?"

Zhu Yi replied, "What else did you expect? It's just helping a relative, right?"

Near the mansion, she whispered to Lu Chao, "In ordinary families, outsiders knowing about their affairs is embarrassing. In a mansion like this, if people like us know too much, it might cost us our lives. Hence, it's best if we pretend to know only what's evident and nothing more."

Lu Chao took a sharp breath at her caution.

Looking at the concubine in the cart, Zhu Yi advised, "Once we arrive, tell everything you know; it might lessen your punishment." Then, without meeting the concubine's eyes, she waited quietly for the cart to reach the mansion.

Arriving at the mansion late in the afternoon, after a day filled with searches and detours, and having missed lunch, everyone was famished. The stewards, having waited without the appetite to eat themselves, greeted them at a side gate, the eunuch anxiously inquiring, "What happened?"

Zhu Yi reported, "We've brought the person and some items, but they don't closely match the stolen goods from the mansion. It seems these were sold off over many years. Here are both the person and the items, including this account book. Could you please write a receipt for these?"

The steward, amused and exasperated, joked, "A receipt, really? You think this is the Ministry of Justice?"

Zhu Yi solemnly stated, "As an official from the Ministry of Justice, I naturally adhere to its regulations. Should I forget and act carelessly when handling affairs, wouldn't that cause trouble? I dare not develop bad habits."

While they were conversing, a voice from outside announced, "His Highness has returned!" Everyone ceased their activities.

Accompanying High Yang, the Prince, was Zheng Xi. Upon returning, they heard of the progress made. The Prince commended Zheng Xi, "You always choose your people wisely." Zheng Xi modestly replied, "It's merely luck. The unsatisfactory ones are not brought before you, Uncle, to avoid embarrassment."

The Prince smiled.

……——

Zhu Yi had planned that once the account book was handed over to Zheng Xi, she would have fulfilled her duties and could return to her usual tasks at the Ministry of Justice. Wouldn't it be wonderful to copy case files for the Gong Jie case and thus gain experience for promotion?

She and the stewards awaited the return of the Prince and Zheng Xi.

Zhu Yi then saw Zheng Xi again, who commented, "You've done well."

The Prince inquired about Zhu Yi's findings. Zhu Yi, not saying more than necessary, handed the account book to Zheng Xi, who then passed it to the Prince.

Upon hearing "account book," the corner of the Prince's eye twitched. He scanned it briefly and almost rolled his eyes, shaking the book and exclaiming, "To think such a book could steal from me!"

Zheng Xi said, "At least the thief is caught. The rest should be handled smoothly by Uncle's mansion. I can now report back to my mother; I've hardly dared to face her these days."

The Prince sighed, "Nor do I dare to face her, let alone your grandmother. What if they ask how the household is? What can I say? A fine household, yet in my hands, it has come to this."

Zheng Xi remarked, "At least the pest has been unearthed. I must return home tonight; if I delay any longer, my mother will scour the city for me."

The Prince of Gao Yang responded, "There's no need to exclude you from this matter. I still need to borrow the magistrate for a while longer. You should also stay."

Zheng Xi agreed, "Yes."

Zhu Yi looked towards Zheng Xi, who nodded at her.

Zhu Yi felt a bitter sense of helplessness.

Since her birth, she never had the chance to manage any accounts. Her family's poverty was evident without the need for bookkeeping. After becoming fostered by Yu Miao Miao, she wasn't responsible for the Yu family's finances either, although Yu Miao Miao and Hua Jie did teach her a bit. But it was just that—a bit—and what she learned had little to do with accounting. Yet, she understood the ledger because it was recorded very simply, not even requiring the few accounting tips Hua Jie had shared with her. It merely listed what was received or pawned on certain days, the amount of loans given, and the interest collected.

But the items listed in this account differed significantly from those stolen from the royal mansion!

Zhu Yi guessed that the mansion manager wouldn't have such a ledger at home; he must have kept the illicit accounts with his concubine. Otherwise, they would have already been confiscated by the royal mansion, eliminating the need for Zheng Xi's help, let alone Zhu Yi's efforts.

Where did the missing items go? How many concubines and ledgers could a mansion manager have? If this was the only one, who took the rest?

Zhu Yi instinctively wanted to escape.

However, Zheng Xi was already deeply involved, and the Prince of Gao Yang was clearly aware of the situation. Annoyed, he exclaimed, "Look at this! The thief even kept a record! Zheng, just conduct the investigation! If someone dies, I'll take the blame!"

Zheng Xi replied, "That won't be necessary."

Handing the account book back to Zhu Yi, he asked, "Did you find anything noteworthy?"

Zhu Yi stated, "This is an account book."

Zheng Xi scolded, "Speak plainly!"

Zhu Yi, with a pained expression, explained, "This is all I can make out. You know me; since I was born, I could see every penny in my household without the need for an account book. I’ve never dealt with nor learned about them. My field is legal studies, akin to that of a strict magistrate, far from a gentleman proficient in the six arts. You still haven't provided me with the math tutor you promised."

Zheng Xi was rendered speechless.

The Prince of Gao Yang remarked, "You are indeed a child eager to learn."

Zhu Yi bowed her head, silent, as she connected all the clues in her mind, sensing that the matter was complicated, likely tied to the royal household's disputes over legitimate and illegitimate succession. Bold yet cautious, she didn’t want to delve into the palace's internal affairs without understanding them fully. After all, what business did she have with the squabbles of the mansion's wives and concubines? Her own circumstances were far simpler than those of a mansion manager’s concubine's brother’s mistress. They had their own homes, while she would need to haggle with the landlord about her rent renewal tomorrow. Why concern herself with the luxury of leisure?

Since the case of Lady Cao's death, Zhu Yi realized that in her official capacity, unveiling the truth wasn’t always the priority.

A case isn’t solely about recovering stolen goods or capturing thieves but about determining the facts and applying the appropriate laws and judgments.

Without considering the facts and justice, a case cannot be properly handled.

Zheng Xi suggested, "Uncle, how about we verify the accounts first and continue our investigation afterward?"

The Prince of Gao Yang lamented, "Such misfortune within the family, but fortunately, you are not outsiders."

Zheng Xi responded, "In that case, we will take our leave now. Uncle, feel free to call on me if needed."

With no further reasons to stay, Zhu Yi and Zheng Xi left. Zheng Xi then took her into his carriage.

…………

As soon as Zhu Yi got into Zheng Xi's carriage, she became even more well-behaved. Zheng Xi, seeing her demeanor, couldn't help but laugh, "Scared now? Aren't you usually bold? Acting all familiar with me, now you know fear?"

Zhu Yi responded, "That's different!"

Zheng Xi said, "Indeed, you do have a quick wit. So, tell me, what did you find out?"

Zhu Yi, utterly frustrated, replied, "Stop making fun of me. At this rate, I'd rather go back to being a shaman."

Zheng Xi scolded, "Lack of ambition! Why not give it a try? How did you become so timid after becoming a minor official? Is it that you can't find anything?"

Zhu Yi said, "It's too late to learn accounting now. Even if I could calculate, he's pinned it all on the deceased and the fugitives. With no proof from the dead, there's nothing to be done."

Zheng Xi encouraged her, "Start investigating. Show me what you're capable of."

Zhu Yi negotiated, "Let's make this clear first: I might find a way to discover the goods, but I won't understand or deal with the accounts. Once you have them, do whatever you please with them. In a battle of gods, don't use us clueless shamans as your banner."

Zheng Xi, amused yet exasperated, said, "Always bargaining with me, even now?"

Zhu Yi explained, "Initially, Big Brother Jin lectured me all the way, warning me not to be an ungrateful wolf. I grew up in the jianghu, accustomed to seeing all sorts. I'm not easy to get close to. He blamed me for not opening up, and I feared getting too close to anyone. Today we share a meal at someone else's funeral, tomorrow we part ways. Having experienced many partings, I've grown indifferent.

Only after I started studying did I come across the phrase 'familiarity does not breed contempt.' This is your uncle's affair. Following your order, I thought I'd just look into the surface matters. How you use the findings is up to you."

Zheng Xi, touched, felt a twinge of sadness, "Indeed..."

He reached out, gently tousling Zhu Yi's hair, "Such a child! A smart person would keep these thoughts to themselves, while a fool could never come up with them. Are you smart or foolish?"

Zhu Yi, worried about her situation, confessed, "Neither smart nor foolish, just that after entering the capital, everything is entirely different."

"Oh?"

Zhu Yi said, "Before, I didn't need to think much. In the counties and prefectures, a bit of cleverness was enough for me to push through anything successfully. Once I entered the capital, I realized how insufficient my cunning and awareness were. The capital's bureaucracy, the seasonal clothing, the pawnshops everywhere, and my accent... everything is a lesson, full of stumbling blocks, forcing me to learn piecemeal."

Zheng Xi said, "It's too late to learn accounting now. I'll provide you with an accountant. From now on, keep your wits about you. I don't need you to expose them, nor should you easily hand them over to others."

Zhu Yi responded, "I don't need an accountant. Tomorrow, when I go back, just write me a note, and I'll take a case file to Governor Wang of the capital. Wasn't he the one who took care of the usurers? I remember a theft case that said to check for stolen goods suspected to be harbored by these people. You find an accountant, compare the two sets of books, and just ask where the stolen treasures managed by that steward are!"

Zheng Xi asked, "The Supreme Court has such a case?"

Zhu Yi replied, "Yes, it's an old case from before you arrived at the Supreme Court. You wouldn't know. I saw it during a review."

Zheng Xi agreed, "Alright, let's do that."

After spending several days outside, Zhu Yi could finally go home and get a good night's sleep.

Upon returning home, claiming to be exhausted from official duties, even Zhang Xian Gu tread lightly and refrained from nagging her. Lying in her own bed under a simple cloth quilt, without incense in the room, and having oil pancakes rolled with pickles for a late-night snack felt more comfortable than any mansion or manor!

She thought: People are strange. When the house had only torn quilts and wild vegetables, facing issues meant just leaving. Now, even just renting a place and being a low-ranking official, she felt hesitant. She didn't feel like herself anymore!

Zhu Yi began to regret and despise her own attitudes.

The next morning, she mustered up her courage again, thinking: Hiding like this is just bowing down for a beating. If I'm like this, won't my mother be bullied even more?! No! I must strengthen my skills and rise in rank!

She deeply regretted: Speaking to Zheng Qi so weakly yesterday, I was like a dog showing its belly!

Dammit!

Zhu Yi left for the Supreme Court with indignation but by the time she stepped into the palace gates, her unnamed fury had subsided significantly, and upon entering the Supreme Court, she had completely calmed down.

Left Justice saw her and asked, "Little Zhu, why weren't you here yesterday? What were you assigned?"

He asked casually, and Zhu Yi answered just as casually, "There was an old case about stolen goods, so they had me run an errand."

The Left Justice said, "You, who usually stand out in front of Zheng Da, why have you stepped back to do these miscellaneous tasks, allowing that centipede to take the lead? He's already eagerly undertaking impressive tasks!"

"Centipede?"

"Yes, Centipede. Su Centipede, who walks through life with all feet, there's no path he hasn't tread upon. It's a wonder with so many feet, he still manages to tread everywhere."

Zhu Yi chuckled lightly, "You have a way with words, calling him a centipede, as if rushing to be stepped on? Not me!"

She pulled out old files and waited for Zheng Xi to return from the court to sign a note, then took it to the Capital Governor's Office. She had a bit of a connection there now. The note was delivered to Wang Yunhe, who looked at Zheng Xi's writing and the old files Zhu Yi brought, and said, "You may proceed to copy."

Zhu Yi, feeling somewhat embarrassed, requested, "I'm afraid of copying errors due to my inexperience with accounts. May I borrow the account books to take back? Here's a note from Zheng Da."

Wang Yunhe, having a favorable impression of her, agreed, "Yes."

With a flushed face, Zhu Yi took the account books back, got three accountants from Zheng Xi, and spent five days copying them diligently. Once done, she returned the books to Wang Yunhe, who briefly skimmed them and said, "I'm not very familiar with this myself, but I know the basics. As a newcomer to the Supreme Court, you'll inevitably need to verify accounts during your tenure. It's not just homicide or theft cases we investigate; some understanding is required."

"Yes."

After thinking for a moment, Wang Yunhe wrote down several book titles and said, "These are on arithmetic. Buy them, read through to get a basic understanding. Later, you can ask an accountant for further instruction, and you'll be nearly there. You don’t need to be an expert in everything, but you can’t be completely ignorant either. When you encounter cases with falsified accounts, just find a sharp accountant to review the finances for you."

Zhu Yi felt a heavy sense of unease, Wang Yunhe was still so sincere and kind. Taking the list of books from Wang Yunhe, she found herself heading to a bookstore to actually purchase a few volumes before returning to the Supreme Court to report back.

Upon her return to the Supreme Court, she was summoned by Zheng Xi once more.

Zhu Yi was in a foul mood, and Zheng Xi's mood was even worse. The two of them, with gloomy expressions, looked at each other. Zheng Xi said, "Set aside other matters for now and focus on this!"

Zhu Yi was puzzled, "What matter?"

Zheng Xi gritted his teeth and said, "Gong Jie!"

"Me?"

With a grim expression, Zheng Xi revealed, "Correct guess, the accounts made it clear, there's a discrepancy of a significant amount. It turns out, it was the eldest son who orchestrated this. Guess where it went?"

Zhu Yi responded, "You've mentioned Gong Jie. Can I handle it?"

Zheng Xi sneered, "What do you think?"

Seeing Zheng Xi's sarcasm, Zhu Yi realized he was extremely angry. She thought to herself: The Prince still wants to mend ties with Prime Minister Chen, so it’s not surprising that the eldest son would attempt to bribe Gong Jie for the position of the heir apparent.