Chapter 172: Bandit Suppression

Chapter 172: Bandit Suppression

After court adjourned, Cui Ziqi still had to debrief at the Censorate, and his friends went their separate ways.

Both Cui Ziqi and Vice Minister Lü could finally relax—this was about the best outcome they could hope for. As long as he kept his life and his official position, Cui Ziqi, being young, would still have opportunities in the future.

The entire bureaucracy was abuzz with discussion of the matter. Cui Ziqi’s evidence was solid, and Emperor Wuming had intended to spare him, so the issue would simply fade away. The purge of fifty-three officials sent a chill through the capital’s bureaucracy, making others think twice about crossing paths with Cui Ziqi. Other officials, who relied on personal connections, could only regard him with wary admiration, keeping their distance rather than provoking him.

After all, Cui Ziqi had worked in the Ministry of Justice in his early years and now served in the Censorate—both were intimidating departments.

While the court and public were still abuzz over Cui Ziqi’s actions, Zheng Shanci had already returned to the Ministry of Revenue.

He sipped his tea to collect himself. Fifty-three officials—Cui Ziqi had carried out his task without a care for his own neck. After reflecting on it, Zheng Shanci returned to managing the ministry’s affairs.

The refined salt and glass projects were handed off to the Ministry of Works, which was now recruiting laborers to build factories. As for the undercover watchposts along the cement roads, the Ministry of Revenue had to handle that itself.

The sentries needed to be literate and have some knowledge of arithmetic. Such individuals usually worked as accountants in taverns, so to station them along the roads as sentries—a dreary assignment—required offering them certain benefits.

First, shifts had to be arranged, ensuring sentries were present every day. The schedule would be one day on, one day off. During festivals, local yamens would provide them with festival bonuses and provisions, treating them the same as active officials, with benefits equivalent to those of a ninth-rank official.

Their monthly salary would be three taels of silver.

Zheng Shanci set these baseline requirements to attract applicants, leaving the rest for Vice Minister Fan to refine.

By the afternoon, Vice Minister Fan had drafted the plan. Zheng Shanci found no issues with it and submitted a memorial to the Grand Secretariat. When Chief Grand Secretary Wei read Zheng Shanci’s memorial, he chuckled to himself. Since taking office as Minister of Revenue, Zheng Shanci had handled matters well—most importantly, he could bring in revenue, which aligned with Chief Grand Secretary Wei’s temperament.

As the Chief Grand Secretary of the Great Yan Dynasty, he understood the importance of gold and silver. He approved the proposal, and the order was disseminated from the court to local yamens. The yamens put up recruitment notices. Each watchpost required two people, and they'd put up a small station for their lodging. With cement now available, construction had become much easier, and local yamens took the matter seriously.

Forty percent of the revenue collected by the sentries would be retained by the local yamens for their own use, while the remaining sixty percent would be submitted to the court. This arrangement would increase local yamen income, ensuring they took the matter seriously.

To get people to do their jobs well, they had to be given incentives.

Local yamens prioritized the task and quickly screened candidates for the watchposts. Some examination candidates even took up the positions, wanting a lighter job that still provided income for their studies.

With a schedule of one day on, one day off, and a monthly salary of three taels, the pay was considered high in smaller regions. Some commoners farming at home just scraped by after a year’s harvest, so three taels a month represented a comfortable life in their eyes—though few in their families were literate.

These watchposts, large and small, required no court oversight. Their monthly salaries were drawn from local yamen treasuries, leaving the yamens to manage them. Every few years, the Censorate would make undercover rounds, arresting anyone guilty of corruption or bribery and confiscating their assets for the state treasury.

Zheng Shanci had played this perfectly.

Cui Ziqi had mentioned three million taels of silver in court, but in truth, he had understated the amount. There were also ancient texts, calligraphy, paintings, jewelry, deeds for houses, and land—all packed in stacks of boxes.

At the very least, this added up to another million taels.

The assets of fifty-three officials were substantial. Zheng Shanci directly confiscated the land deeds for the state treasury. Most of the property deeds were left in the localities, useless to the court, so they could be listed for sale through brokers.

The rare and valuable ancient texts and paintings were selected for storage in the treasury, while the rest could be sold. The Ministry of Revenue had specialized officials well-versed in this field, and after Zheng Shanci’s instructions, they knew exactly what to do.

Leaning back in his chair, Zheng Shanci could almost hear the clinking of silver. The corners of his lips curled in satisfaction.

The sound of silver clattering filled his ears.

Zheng Shanci realized that since becoming Minister of Revenue, he had grown increasingly fond of money—a bad habit.

He gave himself a mental scolding.

...

Yu Lanyi, however, had no such dilemmas. Noticing Lv Jin was in low spirits, he took him on a grand tour of the capital, splurging without holding back. He had bought many shops and rented them out, and now his personal wealth was considerable—all the profits were his alone. At noon, news arrived from the palace: Cui Ziqi’s matter had been resolved, and the scare had been for nothing. When the message reached him, Lv Jin’s heart finally settled, and his expression relaxed, his brows smoothing out.

"Satisfied now?" Yu Lanyi teased him.

Lv Jin smiled. "Who could stay calm in a situation like this? When my husband comes home, I’ll give him a piece of my mind. Did he even think about our family when he did this? I want to ask him that, but I’ll probably end up unable to say it."

Yu Lanyi understood completely. "You’re in love with him."

Lv Jin’s face flushed red.

That was way too blunt, making Lv Jin flustered and fidgety.

His fingers pinched the hem of his robe. After being married to Cui Ziqi for so long and even having a child together, hearing Lan Yi say it out loud felt like a sudden blow to the head.

"I-I… It’s not like I love him *that* much," Lv Jin stammered.

Yu Lanyi saw right through it.

But he dropped it to spare Lv Jin. Lv Jin sighed in relief and, after spending some more time with Yu Lanyi, went home.

Yu Lanyi had also brought gifts for Father and Dad from outside, so he planned to mooch dinner off the marquis’ household.

When he arrived, Master Yu wasn’t home, and only An Geer was there. An Geer was walking around the courtyard with Yu Liuge, Yu Lanyi’s young nephew.

Yu Liuge couldn’t speak yet and just babbled and blew bubbles at Yu Lanyi.

"Liuge’s thriving," Yu Lanyi said softly, gently touching the child’s cheek.

"I had some new pastries brought over. Let’s relax and enjoy the garden together." An Geer had a servant take the child away and pulled Yu Lanyi to sit in the pavilion.

After sharing some tea, An Geer asked, "Your brother told us that Shan Ci reported the corruption in the Armaments Directorate. Recently, the family received several letters from military officers expressing gratitude. They barely knew Shan Ci and didn’t want to disturb him directly, so they sent some gifts to the marquis’ residence instead. Dad and I discussed it and declined them. We thought we should mention this to you two. Since Shan Ci isn’t here now, telling you counts just the same."

Hearing An Geer’s last words, Yu Lanyi felt smug. Telling him counted just the same—after all, he was the head of the household.

"Thanks for handling this, sis and Dad," Yu Lanyi replied. He agreed that Zheng Shanci shouldn’t have too close a relationship with military officials.

An Geer smiled. "As long as you don’t blame us."

When Master Yu returned home and saw Yu Lanyi, he was pleasantly surprised. "When did you arrive?"

Yu Lanyi answered cheerfully, "I’ve been here for a while. I brought you all some things from my trip outside."

Hearing that he had been out, Master Yu pressed Yu Lanyi for details.

"Thank goodness you took guards, or I wouldn’t have been at ease. Your father mentioned that there have been rogue bandits killing people recently. His Majesty is still deciding who to send to suppress them. Those bandits are utterly ruthless—they not only rob but also kill to cover their tracks. An entire village was massacred. They’re desperate criminals with no conscience at all."

Yu Lanyi shuddered at the thought. If he ever encountered such people, he’d have to run for his life.

"The court must send someone. If these people are allowed to roam freely, how many more will die by their hands?" Yu Lanyi said seriously.

An Geer added, "Slaughtering a whole village? Monstrous."

Master Yu sighed, thinking of the innocent lives lost. "It’s up to the court now."

After their duties ended, the Marquis of Changyang and Yu Zhangxing returned home together and were surprised to see Yu Lanyi there. The Marquis laughed. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

Yu Lanyi replied, "I do as I like."

The Marquis didn’t argue with his son. "Since you’re here, join us for dinner. Lately, you should visit the Duke’s residence more often. The old man’s not what he used to be. You boys ought to visit more."

Yu Zhangxing and Yu Lanyi murmured in agreement.

Before long, Zheng Shanci arrived with Xiao Pingan.

"I’m here to play!" Xiao Pingan ran and threw himself into Mr. Yu's arms.

Zheng Shanci greeted the Marquis of Changyang and Mr. Yu first.

"Shanci is here, have a seat first. Tell the kitchen to prepare a few more dishes," the Marquis of Changyang invited Zheng Shanci to sit.

Zheng Shanci sat beside Yu Lanyi.

"Have you heard about the recent bandit incident?" the Marquis of Changyang asked.

"The Ministry of War submitted a report. Though they haven’t picked a leader yet, the Ministry of War has instructed the Ministry of Revenue to prepare provisions in advance. I’ve already got the supplies ready."

The Marquis of Changyang said, "This time, Changxing asked for the job from His Majesty."

Zheng Shanci was surprised. "The Ministry of Revenue hasn’t received any news yet."

"I mentioned it to His Majesty when I left the palace this afternoon. The paperwork isn’t done yet," Yu Zhangxing said.

His mood was good today. Though his face stayed stern, he let a little emotion show at home.

An Geer’s head snapped up toward Yu Zhangxing, his expression stunned.

"This bandit cleanup isn’t that risky. It’s not a battlefield—just a ragtag group of outlaws. There’s nothing to worry about," Yu Zhangxing suddenly added.

Zheng Shanci humored his brother-in-law. "Big Brother’s right. With your skills, you’ll handle these bandits easy."

Yu Lanyi shot him a glare upon hearing this.

Zheng Shanci: "???"

Did I say something wrong?

By evening, Zheng Shanci had a great meal at the marquis’s residence, joined the Marquis of Changyang and Yu Zhangxing for a few drinks. Knowing his limits, he didn’t overindulge.

Xiao Pingan popped his head in. "I want to drink too!"

Zheng Shanci handed him a bowl of soup. "Just have some fish broth. Be careful of the bones."

Curious, Xiao Pingan hesitated, but Yu Lanyi said, "Kids who drink turn ugly. Still want to try?"

Xiao Pingan’s eyes widened in fright, and he shook his head like a rattle-drum.

He absolutely didn’t want to become an ugly child.

……

After Zheng Shanci and Yu Lanyi left, An Geer told the servants to take care of the child before returning to his room and sitting there lost in thought.

Yu Zhangxing pushed the door open and sat beside An Geer. "I’ve trained in martial arts since childhood. After His Majesty chose me as his study companion, my life was bound to his. When he ascended the throne, I became the Imperial Guard Commander. Now, I want to strike out on my own."

"I understand your thoughts. I just… can’t help worrying," An Geer murmured, wrapping his arms around Yu Zhangxing’s lean waist and burying his face in his chest.

Yu Zhangxing felt a surge of tenderness. "Don’t worry. I know my limits."

An Geer trusted Yu Zhangxing deeply, though a few tears still escaped. Feeling the dampness on his chest, Yu Zhangxing’s heart softened further.

Even if An Geer might have been acting deliberately, Yu Zhangxing was putty in his hands.

On the other side, Zheng Shanci and Yu Lanyi returned home, where Yu Lanyi immediately pressed Zheng Shanci for details about Cui Ziqi.

The messenger at noon had only mentioned the outcome without specifics, leaving Yu Lanyi itching for more. He pestered Zheng Shanci to elaborate.

Since the matter was no longer a secret, Zheng Shanci went through it all in detail.

Yu Lanyi clenched his fists. "Cui Ziqi did the right thing."

Fired up, Yu Lanyi declared, "If I were Cui Ziqi, I’d have killed those damn officials too!"

Zheng Shanci chuckled and grasped Yu Lanyi’s fists. "Alright, it’s all over now. Thankfully, Brother Cui is fine."

"It would’ve been heartbreaking if something had happened," Yu Lanyi grumbled.

He wasn’t well-versed in official matters, but he knew actions shouldn’t leave people disheartened.

After a pause, Yu Lanyi asked again, "Is Elder Brother really going to be fine on this bandit hunt?"

Zheng Shanci reassured him, "He’ll be fine. Elder Brother is highly skilled in martial arts—he’ll come out on top easy, especially against such a ragtag bunch."

Yu Lanyi leaned over Zheng Shanci curiously. "What’s a 'ragtag bunch'?"

Zheng Shanci: "..."

He was getting a headache and ended up having to explain things to Yu Lanyi.

After listening, Yu Lanyi nodded in satisfaction. "Zheng Shanci, you explain things better than my childhood tutors. No wonder Xiao Pingan loves listening to you."

Yu Lanyi pulled him close to sleep.

...

When Cui Ziqi returned home, he got an earful. His parents, frustrated with his recklessness, lectured him before letting him go. After checking on his son, Cui Ziqi slipped back to his room, cautiously peering around the doorframe.

Lv Jin acted like she didn't see him.

Seeing Lv Jin glance his way, Cui Ziqi straightened his back and pulled up a chair to sit beside her. Lv Jin kept embroidering with a handkerchief, without looking up. "You’re blocking the candlelight."

Cui Ziqi sulked and scooted over.

Lv Jin stayed silent, so Cui Ziqi went to clean up first. The summer heat was stifling—he had already bathed upon returning home, but after dinner, he was sweating buckets again and needed another wash.

By the time he returned, the candles in the room had been extinguished. Clenching his jaw, Cui Ziqi climbed into bed.

"I didn’t brush my teeth," Lv Jin blurted out.

Cui Ziqi, mid-lean over her, froze. "As if I don’t know you—I’m kissing you anyway!"

Lv Jin kicked him hard.

She laid into Cui Ziqi, who didn’t resist, letting her vent her anger.

After a while, Lv Jin finally calmed down, having blown off steam. She patted the bed, signaling Cui Ziqi to come closer.

Cui Ziqi came right over.

"Sorry for making you worry," he said carefully.

Lv Jin stayed silent for a long moment before turning to examine his body. Her fingers kept touching a long scar on Cui Ziqi’s chest and another arrow wound near his heart.

Cui Ziqi didn’t dare speak further. The two lay quietly in bed, the only sound the rustling of fabric.

The candlelight crackled, spitting sparks. Lv Jin kept touching the scar near the heart—the flesh there was newly healed and tender. The touch tickled Cui Ziqi.

He reached out and grasped Lv Jin’s hand. "It’s all in the past. It’s healed now."