Chapter 294: Wow! So Much Junk!

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up; she picked up a just‑eaten, discarded, sparkling fruit pit from the table, walked to Xiao Ningxun, thrust it into his chest, loosened her little hand, and mumbled, "The big lantern, the big lantern fell down!"

A flash of dim light, and the fruit pit vanished.

With a crisp "crack!" the large colored‑glass lantern above Qian Guangyuan's head snapped cleanly at the central copper‑chain joint!

"Wha‑la—!"

The heavy chandelier crashed down toward the main table!

"Sir, watch out!" the nearest servant leapt forward, shoving the stunned Qian Guangyuan aside forcefully.

"Boom!!!"

The chandelier struck solidly where he had just stood, scattering wood chips and glass shards everywhere.

Qian Guangyuan was protected by a servant as he fell to the ground; his Hair Crown was askew, a spray of shattered glass cut a line of blood across his forehead, and his crimson‑purple brocade robe was smeared with dust and wine stains, looking a mess.

The whole hall erupted in clamor!

"How did the lantern fall?"

"Qian Weng! Qian Weng, are you alright?"

"Where's the doctor! Call the doctor!"

Qian Guangyuan was helped to his feet by the crowd, still shaken, feeling both ashamed and angry.

He pointed at the wreckage before him, trembling with fury, "Scoundrel! Where's the manager of Wangjiang Tower? How dare such shoddy work be hung here?"

"Fortunately it was I who was hurt today; had it been Lord Han, how many of you would have heads enough to be cut off? Bring them, give me—"

His words were cut off.

"Tap, tap, tap."

A steady, heavy tread came from the main street, rapidly drawing near.

The people inside had not yet recovered from the chandelier's fall when the sudden footsteps startled them.

Countless soldiers in canal‑transport uniforms, brandishing weapons, poured in like a tide from both the main and side doors, instantly blocking every exit.

Their faces were hard, eyes unwavering; a murderous aura spread, scattering the hall's music and wine fumes to pieces.

The strings and bamboo music had long since stopped.

Everyone froze on the spot, bewildered, looking toward the doorway, then terrifiedly all turned to the third floor.

The anger on Qian Guangyuan's face froze, and a strong unease rose within him.

He forced a smile, bowed toward the third floor, "Lord Han, Lord Han? This is—"

At the third‑floor railing, a deep‑green silhouette slowly emerged.

Han Chengzong stood with his hands behind his back, expression blank, his gaze sweeping the crowd below before settling on the disheveled Qian Guangyuan.

"Qian Guangyuan." Han Chengzong's voice was low yet enough to command the room, "I, the inspector, ask you: the No. 3 B‑section warehouse at West Gate Wharf, the private cellar behind the red‑tile house on East City's Talisman Street, and the underground of Yongchang Warehouse by South City's Stone Bridge—are these all Qian family properties?"

A buzzing filled Qian Guangyuan's mind, and his face turned as pale as paper.

All those places are Qian family holdings! Two of them are the warehouses where he stores private salt! How does Han Chengzong know so precisely?

"Han, Lord Han…" his throat was dry, he forced a smile, "Indeed they are my properties."

"Your properties?" Han Chengzong cut him off, pulling a booklet from his sleeve and giving it a gentle shake, "An hour ago, soldiers under my command, together with the magistrate's office, sealed your family and those warehouses."

"In total, thirty‑five thousand shi of salt were uncovered, exceeding your salt ledger by thirteen thousand shi! The guards are all your household servants; what else do you have to say?"

The hall instantly erupted into chaos!

"Thirty‑five thousand shi? Where did so much salt come from!"

"Could it be… private salt?"

"Could the Qian family really…"

Everyone stared at Qian Guangyuan, their faces showing shock, contempt, fear, and schadenfreude…

Those who had just flattered him now retreated a half step, expression unchanged.

Qian Guangyuan swayed, barely able to stay upright.

But after years of navigating the market, his reflexes were swift; he instantly forced a look of grievance and indignation.

"Wronged! Lord Han, I'm wronged!" he fell to his knees, his voice hoarse, "Those salts—perhaps the subordinates were careless, the accounts and the actual goods couldn't be reconciled in time, so they piled up in one place!"

"There is absolutely no way it's private salt! This… this is a frame‑up! I, a servant of the Imperial Court, am loyal to the throne; how could I not know private salt is a grave crime? How dare—"

He wailed, his gaze sweeping harshly over several people he usually clashed with, clearly pointing at them.

Han Chengzong's expression unchanged, he said lightly, "Oh? A frame‑up? Those thirty‑five thousand shi of salt are thirty percent more than what your ledger shows! You mean someone bought that much salt, put it in your storehouse, to frame you?"

Qian Guangyuan, prostrate, wept, "The accounts! Sir, everything must be reconciled with the ledgers!"

"Please, sir, order the retrieval of all salt‑affairs ledgers at once; if any part is unclear, I am willing to take the blame!"

"But without concrete accounts, how can one judge that I smuggled based solely on the goods in the warehouse, rather than someone else framing me? I refuse to accept that!"

Han Chengzong fell silent for a moment.

Indeed, although the troops inspected the warehouses and seized the Qian family's assets, they found no secret ledger concerning private salt.

The difficulty in tracing private salt lies in the fact that even if the physical goods are precisely seized, without a hidden ledger recording the transactions, the salt in the storehouse can be explained away for any reason, and that secret ledger must be hidden in the most concealed spot.

The commotion in the hall had calmed, and everyone looked up at Han Chengzong, waiting to see his judgment.

In the side room, Xiao Ran raised an eyebrow, "That old fox, indeed knows how to exploit a loophole."

Han Chengzong said slowly, "In that case, I will give you a chance to defend yourself."

"Immediately detain Qian Guangyuan and his family in the Canal Transport Office's official quarters, provide him with paper and pen, and let him first give his own account of the origin of the excess salt."

"Take them away!"

Qian Guangyuan was dragged by the soldiers, shouting hoarsely as he was led out, "Sir, I am wronged! The Qian family is wronged! Please see the truth! Restore the Qian family's innocence!"

Everyone watched him being taken away, their hearts all uneasy,

Han Chengzong waved his hand, "Everyone, you may disperse now."

"Yes!" Everyone, as if granted a great pardon, retreated tremblingly.

Han Chengzong returned to the private room, just about to speak, when Xiao Ran said to Xiao Ningxun: "Thank you, Third Young Master. I'll stay here to accompany Sir Han. You and Tuan Tuan take my private seal and go to the Qian family to see if you can find those secret accounts."

Xiao Ningxun rose, took Tuan Tuan's small hand, and said: "It's my duty."

The group left Wangjiang Tower and arrived at the Qian mansion.

Once a mansion with vermilion gates and embroidered doors, now the entrance is guarded entirely by soldiers.

Xiao Er stepped forward, presented Xiao Ran's seal, and a government soldier reported in a low voice: "We've searched for over an hour, but found no hidden compartment or secret room, nor any account books."

Xiao Ningxun nodded, leading Tuan Tuan inside.

The interior was in utter disarray.

Chests and cabinets overturned, cupboards flung open, silks and porcelain ornaments scattered across the floor; the valuables had all been seized, leaving only ordinary items in utter chaos.

Several people gazed at this courtyard, which a glance showed had once been splendid, and couldn't help but feel shocked.

Only Tuan Tuan was excited beyond words: "Wow! So much junk!"

The crowd: "……"