Chapter 343: I Hear You Harbor Two Intentions

In reply to Your Highness, you gave me a letter on May 8 and another on June 3; I am certain I delivered the letters to the postal clerk. I asked for a receipt at the time, which I have here; please review it.

In reply to Your Highness, I am not as sharp as the previous one; I only recall it was around late May, I can't remember the exact date. But I am also certain that the letter was then handed over to the postal clerk. Because it was raining that day when I went to deliver the letter, I fell, arriving at the postal station with a bruised nose and swollen face, and I was teased for a long time by a coworker who happened to be picking up mail...... Your Highness could ask another coworker; one inquiry would reveal it.

In reply to Your Highness, I was indeed assigned in mid-July to send a letter...... but I truly am not as capable as the previous two: first, I didn't think to ask for a receipt; second, I have no coworker to corroborate. However, the postal clerk in charge of sending letters, Wang Lao Ba, is the son of my wife's sister's husband's neighbor's grandaunt. This kid is acquainted with me; when I went to send the letter that day, this old fellow even ate a baked bun I gave him before agreeing to take the letter......

Various faces passed before Du Shanü, each reporting respectfully in turn, then each settling into calm.

Du Shanü listened attentively for a while, feeling nothing amiss; instead, she heard one thing——

The group Chen Weifang employed, though their intellects varied, were indeed reliable in handling affairs.

Some tasks know to leave traces; even if a task leaves no trace, one can quickly find someone who can vouch for them that day.

In other words, the first step of the stationery leaving her hand is presumed to be error-free.

Du Shanü waved her hand to signal retreat, and the crowd gradually dispersed.

Chen Weifang stood beside her, noticing that her Wise Lord obviously seemed a little low in spirits, and spoke gently:

"How is the Wise Lord doing?"

"Logically speaking, there's no mistake here; the next step would be to investigate the postal station. But the Wise Lord is pregnant......"

Du Shanü knew his good intentions, yet she still rubbed her forehead and said:

"It's fine; some matters cannot be delayed—strike while the iron is hot to have thunderous effect."

"These people show no problem; then let's summon those at the postal station so I can hear how they transmit information between the two stations…… Right, you said earlier you'd go look for Chinu—why hasn't he returned?"

Chinu had originally gone to look for the missing Yu Baobao; now that Yu Baobao has returned, Chinu ought to have come back as well.

Chen Weifang had also said she would go bring the person back, but somehow, since she began checking on people half an hour ago, she hasn't seen anyone......

"He went to look for the Young Emperor."

Chen Weifang lowered her eyes; although the hall was empty, she still slightly lowered her voice:

"He's always been stubborn-tongued but soft-hearted; perhaps it's been too long since we parted, hearing that the Young Emperor has come after much travel, he told me he wanted to first see the Young Emperor."

"When I rounded up the people and passed the rear courtyard, I heard two people speaking; the Young Emperor seemed to have picked some wild peaches on the road, intending to share them with Chinu……"

Du Shanü listened intently; the more she listened, the more her brows and eyes involuntarily took on a hint of a smile.

Chen Weifang paused her speech, then deliberately went along with it and said:

"……The two of them now actually get along better than before."

What Du Shanü had hoped for was exactly this; knowing Chinu intended to restrain his temper, his whole being could be described as completely at ease, she only smiled and said:

"Can't say it's better; as long as those two sides don't cause trouble, I'll just pray to ancestors and heaven, thanking earth and sky."

"Let's clarify the lost letter matter early, then rest early."

Chen Weifang obeyed the order, but this time she did not leave.

A hall full of minor officials, if even such a trifle as going to the postal station to inquire about someone requires them to go personally, then holding office is truly inappropriate.

Du Shanü patiently waited, and casually asked her Afang about recent governmental affairs.

Chen Weifang answered each point, focusing on Liu Ji, whom Du Shanü might find interesting:

"The earlier inventory check also yielded some leads; Liu Ji in total seized over four thousand taels of cash......"

"Wise Lord, don't sigh yet; although the money is only over four thousand taels, the goods that cannot be sold on the market for cash are even more: there are six cases of southern pearls, eight boxes of celadon ware, plus some cotton, coal, tung oil, and brown sugar…… Most importantly, there is also a ship of Guangdong salt and two ships of pig iron."

Du Shanü had originally felt gloomy upon hearing of four thousand taels, but upon hearing the rest, her whole person instantly revived——

They spent roughly four to five months before and after, and the four thousand taels of silver they divided were indeed not much.

This is also why she sighed at the outset.

But money is not omnipotent; it may not solve urgent needs, and many things cannot be bought even with money.

For example, the shortage of salt and iron had been mentioned several times before.

What is meant by 'adding wings to a tiger'?

This is it!

Du Shanü was energized, yet she also knew another situation was certainly not good:

"I originally thought it was just ordinary goods, but how come there's also smuggling of salt and iron?"

If I remember correctly, the little booklet she gave Liu Ji recorded only valuable yet ordinary goods.

But if there is salt and iron, and moreover it's covertly smuggled via water transport, then its nature would be completely different.

The best case is that someone in Guangzhou Prefecture is privately moving and selling salt and iron.

And the worst case is that it's not merely bad.

For example, these goods were originally known to the government as 'business'; they themselves conducted official trade, merely awaiting the division of profits, but now Liu Ji has intercepted a portion of the goods, and that side will surely come to investigate......

Chen Weifang is no less than a worm in the lord's belly; despite her tarnished reputation over many years, no matter how many masters change, she can still rely on her insight to keep her footing.

He saw Du Shanü frown, and his heart understood most of it, then he continued:

"From my observation while auditing the accounts, that lad Liu Ji clearly seized the salt and iron before taking his cut, and he didn't keep any salt and iron for himself."

"This person has a bit of cleverness, taking only other ordinary goods and giving the salt and iron to you; no matter who was robbed, anyone coming to cause trouble would first go after you, and he would merely become a small role following your orders, at most sharing your guilt and responsibility……"

Du Shanü already knew that everyone has their own little thoughts, but she didn't expect human hearts to be so treacherous.

Therefore, she only let out a sigh:

"Saying this now is a bit late; it's merely a matter of blocking the enemy's advance with whatever means. At least we've got the salt and iron in hand, so we're not at a loss."

Chen Weifang answered obediently; Du Shanü had wanted to ask more, but out of the corner of her eye she saw four figures bowing their heads and ears, entering respectfully.

Knowing they were from the relay station, Du Shanü immediately spoke in a low voice:

"I summoned you here because I have a few private letters missing."

"You who receive mail at the postal station surely have a one-five-one-ten record? Dig it out."

Of those four figures, three reacted extremely quickly, all clasping their fists and saying yes; only one was somewhat slow, continually staring at his own toes, his reaction visibly delayed by a beat.

Du Shanü pointed with her finger and casually asked:

"...... Who is this person?"

The middle-aged man pointed at by Du Shanü was still staring at his feet, and for a moment he didn't react.

Fortunately, the person at his side reacted quickly, immediately clasping his fists and saying:

"This person is called Wang Lao Ba; he is one of the post clerks of the Zhoufu postal station, responsible for receiving and sending all mail in the city."

The postal clerk whose name had been called was obviously somewhat panicked; he suddenly lifted his head, his gaze meeting Du Shanü in the main seat and Chen Weifang behind her, and a fine sweat instantly appeared on his forehead.

Du Shanü was not in a hurry, and simply asked again:

"Where is the mail receipt ledger I asked for earlier? Take it out and check it item by item."

The person who had spoken first was exactly the post chief of the postal station; upon hearing this, his expression remained completely normal, and respectfully he drew a book from his bosom, bent forward, held it above his head, and handed it to Du Shanü.

Du Shanü had little interest in the ledger, her gaze continually wandering over the sweating middle-aged postal clerk.

Finally, as Du Shanü raised her hand to receive the ledger, the postal clerk fell with a thud, heavily hitting the ground:

"Your Highness! Your Highness, spare my life!"

"The ledger, what is recorded in it, indeed differs somewhat from the actual mail received......"

"It was me who did it, it was me who did it, but it's not entirely the fault of my subordinates; there are also other natural disasters and man-made calamities!"

?? Come provoke, come provoke! Today's update is finished; looking ahead, we'll have to wait until tomorrow for the continuation, hahaha.