Chapter 224

Worldly affairs are difficult.

To scheme with a tiger for its skin is even harder.

To find a heroic lord in the world, and then deal with that party as if scheming with a tiger for its skin, is difficulty upon difficulty.

But it is precisely such a difficult matter, my elder brother......

He actually did it all!!!

If placed in the past, Ouyang An would obediently play the foolish child, not attract attention, not need to do much, and certainly could not say such words.

However, tonight has changed.

Tonight, everything has changed.

My elder brother committed a heaven‑stupid folly, and happened to be caught red‑handed.

From now on, even if it could still be used, the former trust can never be regained.

This matter today may, for years, decades, even until death, be like a thorn lodged in the throat of their new lord.

Usually unnoticed, but once food is swallowed, the throat's thorn will be pulled, slicing their situation into bloody ruin......

They have wandered so long; where could be better than here?

They have wandered so long; who could surpass the bright future of this person before them?

They ought to have sworn to follow unto death, to carve out another world for themselves!

This heroic lord......

This heroic lord has given them an opportunity!

Ouyang An finally seized his elder brother's lapel, and with sorrowful cries burst into loud weeping.

Two old servants, one supporting him, the other pulling a corner of Ouyang Yan from his hand.

Du Shanü couldn't be bothered to watch this parting spectacle; after a cold glance for a few breaths, she spoke:

"From now on, you two brothers shall each reside in a city, and without cause must not send messages or meet."

This night is silent, this night is perilous.

The cool night's cold wind cannot match half the chill in Du Shanü's words.

She lowered her eyes, looking at Ouyang Yan still kneeling on the ground, and said:

"Ouyang Yan, if you still wish to hear news of your younger brother in this life, then from now on be more honest."

"As for Ouyang An......"

"If you still wish to protect your elder brother in this life, then stop hiding behind others as a 'foolish and innocent' child."

"Rather than let your elder brother scheme for you, the future and lives of you two brothers must still be won by your own efforts."

When her words fell to the ground, all things settled into dust.

Du Shanü never hides herself, plainly laying her design to control the two before them.

Yet no one dares to harbor even a hint of defiance.

At this moment, it was precisely the winter of the thirty‑sixth year of the Yin Dynasty.

No one could imagine that the King of An Nan, Ouyang An, who would one day sweep the southern seas and myriad barbarian states, is only about ten years old this year.

The King of An Nan, Ouyang An, also beheld the empress's might in Cang Cheng, then relocated to Dun Cheng; for the next fifty‑six years, until his death, he remained loyal to the Yin Dynasty, guarding its borders.

Moreover, no one could foresee that the later generations' temple‑named Chengzu, posthumously titled Guangwu, the eternal empress......

That winter month, she nearly, in a fit of anger, eliminated the future's chief ministers.

Everyone now only knows that Du Shanü's fury is boiling and overflowing......

It is difficult to truly quell it all along.

Even though Ouyang An was sent back to Dun Cheng by the old servants overnight, and after another sleepless night, Du Shanü's pervasive chill did not lessen.

Tonight, the Xian Xie is brightly lit.

Du Shanü not even taking a moment's rest, she ordered people to pull out overnight all of Ouyang Yan's handled official documents and treasury accounts, to place them in boxes before everyone, seal them, and await the Dun Cheng clerks' thorough investigation.

That night, in Cang Cheng, lamps were lit and drums beaten.

Du Shanü again ordered people to go through the city overnight, informing the populace that any past grievances may now be fully reported......

Conveying this to the populace is tantamount to humiliating official authority.

But Du Shanü precisely wants to humiliate Ouyang Yan.

This person behaves so defiantly before her; who knows what he does behind her back?

She has not often resided in Cang Cheng lately; if the city's people know only Ouyang Yan and not her Du Shanü, then whose hands will this city ultimately fall into?!

Du Shanü, others may make a thousand mistakes, but as long as there is cause, they might still be tolerated.

But there is one reverse scale: she cannot tolerate others being disloyal to her.

This fire has burned through night and day, showing not the slightest pause.

Winter sun spreads over the tiles, the whole courtyard gathers cold.

The entire Xian Xie lies dead silent, with no sound of past official business; clerks and minor officials each keep to their duties, yet none dare to speak or move, everyone bows their heads, holds their breath, expressions tense and solemn, a stillness as mournful as a funeral for parents.

Last night's incident within the courtyard has already spread throughout the Xian Xie; no one dares to show the slightest negligence or disrespect.

In the stillness, several carriages slowly came from the street corner.

The carriages are plain in form, not showy, yet their frames are wide, thick, and heavy, the bodies stable and solid, exuding an unassuming solemnity.

The carriages arrived slowly, stopped outside the Xian Xie gate, and then six well‑postured, solemn attendants disembarked.

Du Shanü stood waiting on the steps, looked up at this scene, and asked:

"If I recall correctly, only two messengers were sent to Dun Cheng before; why have six come today?"

Among the six attendants, one stepped forward from the ranks.

His appearance is ordinary, his attire plain, no different from the other attendants, except for a pair of narrow, elongated eyes that are unforgettable upon seeing.

He bowed respectfully, his tone reverent and steady:

"Replying to Your Highness——"

County Magistrate Chen had instructed that the county's affairs were numerous and tangled; if only two people examined the documents and accounts, even working day and night without rest, it would likely take ten days or half a month, so he simply sent students to lead personnel to come together, many hands make light work, to ease Your Highness's worries.

Speaking of thoughtfulness, Afang is indeed the one!

Only Chinu and he know how difficult it is for her to move!

Du Shanü felt relieved inside, involuntarily let out a breath, and nodded, saying:

"Go inside to handle affairs."

Six people followed Du Shanü into the main hall of the Xian Xie; servants quickly brought five long tables and several chairs, arranging them neatly in a row.

Then the yamen runners carried out all the boxes sealed the previous night, stacking the contents—yearly official records, tax and grain accounts, and commercial report documents—neatly beside the tables.

The inspection certainly wouldn't be that quick; Du Shanü had intended to rest a moment before returning, but before she could lift her foot to leave, she noticed something unusual——

Among the six people from Dun Cheng, the five clerks each took a seat, with a thin hemp rope tied in front of each table, all the rope ends gathering and connecting to the table of the leading narrow-eyed minor clerk.

The inspection began; the five people divided to examine, verify, and cross-check the files item by item, comparing account records and official details, ensuring content was correct, accounts error-free, and records complete, then they smoothly pushed the files along the ropes in front of them to the table of the leading minor clerk.

The leading minor clerk sat alone in the chief position, overseeing the whole, not participating in the preliminary checks, only responsible for compiling all the files.

He moved neither hastily nor slowly, taking the files handed over, his eyes scanning the pages, instantly locking onto the key data and important records, quickly sorting and organizing.

Files kept arriving from the five places, numerous and detailed, piled in disorder, yet he remained perfectly clear-headed, not missing a detail.

Whether accounts were tangled or official records minute and complex, he could quickly sort and clarify, spotting omissions, deviations, and doubts at a glance, classifying, filing, and reconciling accounts in orderly fashion.

Du Shanü stood to the side, watching silently; the anger that had burned all night gradually dulled, even giving way to a hint of bewilderment——

These, these people—where did Afang get them from?

How come I never saw them in Dun Cheng before?

And those tall, imposing carriages...

She never used them before when going out!

Surely Afang didn't rob that rich merchant after she left, right?

Afang, he—how could he get rich without bringing her!

?? Regarding Dun Cheng, it wouldn't be too serious...