Chapter 112

Chapter 112

The compilation of the grand canon slowly got underway, like a precise and massive machine operating under the coordination of various government offices.

The Hanlin Academy and the Ministry of Rites formally submitted the preliminary list of texts to be compiled, the types of materials required, and the initial budget to the Ministry of Revenue.

Among them, the largest quantity needed was the mulberry-bark white cotton paper produced by the Nanchang Prefecture Government Paper Mill.

According to regulations, the Government Paper Mill was required to produce a fixed quantity based on the documents issued by the court. After production, designated water transport merchants would load the paper onto boats and ship it along the canal to the capital's docks. There, officials from both the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works would jointly inspect and take delivery of the shipment.

In this process of long-distance transportation and production financing, it was customary for the contracted water transport merchants and local commercial agents along the route to advance the costs. Only after the court accepted the goods without issue and settled the official payments would the principal and interest be repaid in full.

Following Nan Wuxie's earlier guidance, Xue Shechuan handled this matter with extreme caution. He strictly kept the profit margin for the Xue family's portion at the lowest standard implicitly allowed by the court. Furthermore, he made the accounts perfectly clear, recording every advance payment, every transfer, and every loss in detail, with all receipts intact. He strove to demonstrate "integrity" in this lucrative imperial commission, seeking only to avoid giving anyone any leverage.

On that day, just as he had carefully arranged for a smooth process, the detailed list of the latest batch of official paper due to arrive in the capital was delivered to his desk by his trusted confidant, who arrived on horseback several days ahead of the cargo boat.

As usual, Xue Shechuan took out the copies of the documents to verify them against the ones filed with the Government Paper Mill and the Ministry of Revenue, preparing to conduct the final review before arrival.

His eyes scanned line by line over the product name, specifications, and unit price.

But when his gaze finally landed on the total quantity and total amount, the hand holding the pen hesitated slightly.

The numbers were wrong.

The total quantity of official paper to be delivered in this batch as stated on the document was clearly ten percent less than the quota recorded in the filed documents. Yet the total silver amount listed at the end of the invoice matched the fixed amount exactly—not a single tael less.

Xue Shechuan put down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and the usual gentle calm faded from his eyes.

This was clearly not an ordinary accounting error or act of embezzlement. Deliberately reducing the actual quantity while maintaining the total silver amount in such a blatant manner was not about exploiting a mere ten percent difference in paper cost. Rather, its intent was to set up a charge of "falsifying quantities and fraudulently claiming official silver." Since this batch of paper was purchased and transported under the Xue family's management, the final accounts would not match the actual goods, and the blame would fall first on Xue Shechuan and the entire Xue family.

Xue Shechuan instantly understood the deadly trap's origin and its purpose.

The emperor's "grace" toward merchants was never without a price. Li Sheng did not only want a reliable imperial merchant; he wanted a subject who could be firmly in his grip and controllable through leverage. This frame-up was the rope being offered: either put it around his own neck willingly to show submission, or wait for the charge of embezzling imperial silver to land with him ruined.

Damn it, just as Nan Wuxie had predicted.

Fortunately, Xue Shechuan had been prepared and had arranged for this verification step with the list arriving first, thus avoiding being caught off guard. When the boat reached the capital and the officials from the Ministries of Revenue and Works inspected the goods on the spot, he would have been unable to defend himself.

Without a moment's hesitation, Xue Shechuan carefully secured the problematic detailed list and the original documents, not alerting anyone in the mansion. He only summoned his most trusted personal attendant, whispered a few instructions, then changed into inconspicuous plain clothes and quietly left the Xue Mansion through a side door.

Xue Shuyu had sneaked out without telling his brother Xue Shechuan to visit Marquis Nan's mansion. He had heard that Nan Wuxie had caught a chill and felt that his elder brother had been too tense lately over the procurement matters, so he wanted to check on him first.

Upon arriving at the Marquis's mansion, after his arrival was announced to the household, Wei Qinghe came out to greet him.

"Second Master Xue." Wei Qinghe greeted him with clasped hands.

Xue Shuyu's eyes sparkled, and he peered toward the closed door behind Wei Qinghe. "Still asleep?"

Wei Qinghe nodded. "Would Second Master Xue like to wait in the hall? Or..."

"No need, no need," Xue Shuyu quickly waved his hand. He wasn't the type to sit patiently in a hall anyway.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, a thought struck him, and he suddenly remembered something. A look of eager curiosity appeared on his face. "I heard that Brother Nan keeps a remarkably large bird in his mansion?"

Without waiting for an answer, he continued, "I've never had a chance to see it. Since he's asleep, why not... take me to have a look?"

As he spoke, he already looked impatiently curious.

Wei Qinghe hesitated slightly. The golden eagle was usually kept in the mews at the back of the mansion, and the fierce bird's temperament was indeed wild and hard to tame. Apart from Nan Wuxie, it rarely allowed outsiders near.

But seeing Xue Shuyu's eager expression, and knowing that he was close to the Marquis and that the Marquis was usually lenient with this second son of the Xue family...

"The golden eagle is fierce. Second Master Xue, just have a look and don't get too close, lest you startle it or get hurt." Wei Qinghe cautioned, then turned sideways to lead the way. "Please follow me."

Xue Shuyu followed happily.

They crossed several courtyards and came to an open area at the back of the mansion, shaded by trees and sparse in floral decorations, giving it a rather solemn feel.

Looking further, a huge aviary constructed of iron bars stood there, half-open, half-sheltered. Even before approaching, one could sense a wild aura.

Xue Shuyu walked softly, his eyes fixed on the interior of the aviary.

There, on a special high perch set in the center of the aviary, stood a fierce bird!

Its size was far larger than an ordinary hunting falcon. The edges of its coverts and flight feathers shimmered with a cold, ancient bronze-gold sheen. It stood with its head held high, its posture arrogant, its eyes like lightning, its hooked beak like iron, its talons like blades. Even standing still, it exuded a terrifyingly fierce aura.

"Wow..." Xue Shuyu couldn't help but let out a low exclamation, his eyes full of admiration and excitement.

Not only was he not afraid, but he moved two steps closer, observing the bird from a safe distance behind the iron bars.

The golden eagle seemed to sense the stranger's approach. Its head suddenly turned toward Xue Shuyu, its cold gaze fixed on him. Its wings opened and closed slightly, stirring a faint current of air.

Wei Qinghe immediately stepped forward half a pace, standing to the side in front of Xue Shuyu, and said in a low voice, "Second Master Xue, be careful. This beast is loyal only to its master and has a fierce temper. Except for the Marquis, it gets agitated easily when others approach."

But Xue Shuyu seemed not to hear Wei Qinghe's warning, or rather, he was completely captivated by the magnificent golden eagle. He tilted his head slightly, attempting to meet the raptor's gaze, and made soft coaxing "tsk-tsk" sounds with his mouth, as if playing with an oversized cat.

"What a beauty..." he murmured, his eyes burning. "Where did Nan Wuxie find such a treasure? What's its name? What does it eat usually? How often is it let out? Does it obey Brother Nan? Can it be taken hunting?"

A flood of questions poured out, full of enthusiasm, completely forgetting that he had come to visit a sick friend.

The golden eagle, seemingly attracted by this fearless and chattering human youth, kept its gaze fixed on Xue Shuyu.

Wei Qinghe watched this scene of a man and an eagle "confronting" each other across the iron bars, feeling both helpless and amused. This Second Brother Xue's boldness and curiosity were truly beyond ordinary. He had to stay more cautiously by the side to prevent the fierce bird from suddenly attacking or the young master from doing something even more reckless.

Xue Shuyu spent a good long while marveling at the golden eagle in the back garden, making faces and odd sounds at it across the iron bars.

The raptor stared back at him, but unexpectedly did not show any sign of aggression or obvious irritation. It only tilted its head slightly, as if puzzled by what this two-legged beast was doing.

Until Wu Ye came to find him, and said helplessly to Xue Shuyu, who was trying to find a blade of grass to tease the golden eagle's talons, "Second Master Xue, the Marquis is awake and asks you to come in."

Only then did Xue Shuyu exclaim "Ah!" and come back to his senses. He reluctantly withdrew his hand, cast several more glances at the majestic golden eagle, and then followed Wu Ye back to the front courtyard.

As he walked, he muttered under his breath, "This big bird is really something. Next time, I'll ask Brother Nan to let it out so I can see how it flies..."

The room where Nan Wuxie was recuperating had charcoal braziers lit despite the sweltering summer heat, making it stiflingly hot.

Before Xue Shuyu even entered the room, his cheerful, teasing voice drifted inside.

"Oh my—Brother Nan, you really are a rare sight in the capital! In the middle of summer, you still managed to catch a chill—" As soon as he got to that point, a wave of hot air hit him. "Good heavens, you've even lit charcoal braziers?!"

Saying this, he sauntered in and immediately spotted the figure on the bed wrapped in a quilt.

"Even a quilt? Are you celebrating the New Year early?"

Nan Wuxie indeed looked visibly ill, his face somewhat pale, his lips light in color. The usual lordly spirit that looked down on the world had mostly faded, leaving only a sickly, lazy air. He was wrapped in a brocade quilt, leaning against a pillow, and appeared somewhat frail. When he heard Xue Shuyu's voice, he opened his eyes, looking at the chattering Xue Shuyu with a hint of resignation.

Xue Shuyu, not one for ceremony, pulled up a chair and plopped down beside the bed, looked Nan Wuxie up and down, and continued his "sympathy visit."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, look at you, look at this poor thing, would you? You, a Marquis, the Slaughter God of the Northern Frontier, who waded through mountains of corpses and seas of blood! How awe-inspiring you used to be! How should I put it? Like a tiger that could devour a thousand miles!"

He drawled, then suddenly shifted gears with an exaggerated expression. "How come when you arrived at this gentle capital city, a little June breeze knocked you down? Is that proper? Who would believe it! If the soldiers at the frontier knew their Commander-in-Chief could catch a chill in summer, they'd probably laugh their heads off!"

...This guy truly deserves to die!

Nan Wuxie's head ached from the barrage of his mockery, and he lacked the strength to bicker back. He could only shoot him a feeble glare. "I don't know if they'll laugh their heads off, but if you say one more word, I'll knock yours out."

The fever made his whole body ache, moving was a struggle. Helpless, he added hoarsely, "...Just wait until I'm better."

"Oh, what a temper you have," Xue Shuyu retorted mercilessly, immediately picking up the thread. "Hey, let me ask—did Lord Wen do something to you, or were you too weak to resist temptation? How about I find some old ginseng and seahorse liquor from my brother's storeroom to properly nourish you? Being this weak at such a young age won't do!"

He spoke with a serious face, but his eyes were full of barely suppressed laughter.

Nan Wuxie regretted not beating this fellow to death last time!

He coughed twice in anger, pulled the blanket tighter, leaving only a pair of resentful eyes visible, and gritted out, "Xue, Shu, Yu... I can still beat you to death right now, you believe me?"

"No, no, no!" Xue Shuyu quickly waved his hands, but his smile grew even wider. "You're a 'key protected target' now; I wouldn't dare lay a hand on you. If your precious body were to get hurt again, Lord Wen would probably skin me alive!"

He deliberately mentioned Wen Buchi, winking mischievously. "But speaking of which, you picked a good time to fall sick, didn't you? Has Lord Wen been waiting on you hand and foot, tasting your medicine for you? Ah, you really know how to play your cards; this illness was totally worth it!"

Nan Wuxie listened as he rambled further and further off track, so he simply closed his eyes and turned his head inward, ignoring him.

Xue Shuyu finally couldn't help it and burst out laughing. Seeing that Nan Wuxie truly had no energy to spar with him, he dropped the exaggerated teasing demeanor and became a bit more serious.

Then he took a small brocade box from his bosom and placed it on the bedside table. "Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing you. This is a peace talisman my brother got from a temple; they say it was consecrated by a high monk. It'll ward off the sickness. Also, my brother is keeping an eye on 'that matter.' Just rest easy and stop worrying."

Hearing this, Nan Wuxie turned his head back, glanced at the brocade box, and his expression softened slightly.

The moment he looked away from the small brocade box and was about to say something to Xue Shuyu, Wei Qinghe's announcement came from outside: "Marquis, Manager Xue has arrived."

As soon as the words fell, before Nan Wuxie could even speak, Xue Shuyu jumped up from his chair like a cat that had its tail stepped on.

"My brother is here?!"

The cocky and triumphant expression on his face vanished instantly, replaced by sudden panic.

"Oh no, oh no! Why is my brother here!"

Nan Wuxie was puzzled by his sudden change of expression and frowned. "So your brother is here. Why are you panicking?"

Xue Shuyu desperately looked for a place to hide. He couldn't fit under the bed, so in his panic, he lifted Nan Wuxie's blanket and tried to crawl in, muttering, "...I didn't tell my brother I was coming to see you today. He doesn't allow me to come hang out with you without his knowledge!"

Startled, Nan Wuxie quickly clutched his blanket tighter and pushed the man away. Xue Shuyu stumbled from the push, standing there helpless. Watching his panic-stricken demeanor, Nan Wuxie found it both exasperating and amusing; the gloom of his illness was dispelled, replaced by pure absurdity.

He raised a hand to massage his throbbing temple, saying helplessly, "Are we plotting a rebellion or up to something shady? You're just visiting a patient—is it really that serious?"

He was completely floored by Xue Shuyu's weird logic. "And if you were caught in my bed, that would be even harder to explain. Who would I even complain to then?"

He paused. "Let him in."

He said this to Wei Qinghe outside.

Xue Shuyu wanted to say something more, but the door was already pushed open. Xue Shechuan walked in with unhurried steps, his face showing his usual gentle calm, revealing nothing unusual.

When his gaze landed on his younger brother, who was hunched in a chair like a scared quail, his footsteps paused for a moment.

You little... Just wait till you get home.

Business was the priority; he quickly returned to normal, walked straight to Nan Wuxie's bed, his eyes lingering on Nan Wuxie's face, and nodded in greeting.

Nan Wuxie assumed he had also come to visit, and was about to exchange pleasantries according to etiquette when Xue Shechuan spoke in a deep voice.

"There's trouble."