[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-nothing-is-taboo":3,"chapter-nothing-is-taboo-nothing-is-taboo-chapter-361":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Nothing Is Taboo",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2310746,4514,"Chapter 361: Freight Caravan (Combined Three Parts)","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-361",361,"\u003Cp>Where are the children?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Xu’s stern demand, Hei Jie grew nervous and stammered, “Eh, ah, uh,” unable to form a coherent sentence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan grew even more anxious, for many malevolent spirits preferred to eat children, finding them “fresh and tender!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan lost patience; the beast-tendon rope tightened around Hei Jie’s neck, hoisting her into the air, while the sword pellet pointed directly at her brow: “Speak!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hei Jie’s eyes rolled back in her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She clawed at the rope around her neck, but the beast-tendon rope was fifth-rank; she had no strength to resist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan’s expression turned icy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword pellet extended and lengthened, piercing through the cowhide on Hei Jie’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hei Jie frantically slapped her back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But her arms were thick, her shoulders broad—she couldn’t reach her own back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hei Jie’s eyes pleaded, as if there was more to the story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan loosened the beast-tendon rope slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hei Jie gasped for air and barely managed to say, “On my back...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan flew into a rage: “Still trying to deceive me? Do you want to die?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s really on my back! Let me down first, then I’ll let them out. If you kill me, they’ll never get out!” Hei Jie hurriedly said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan hesitated, puzzled, but finally lowered Hei Jie to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the beast-tendon rope still circled her neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hei Jie knelt and collapsed forward; her body swelled, slowly revealing her true form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her size was many times larger than the previous black ox.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had surpassed the category of “ox,” reaching the scale of an “elephant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her back was broad and flat, bearing a peculiar space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a saddle-chair, or a soft, floating bubble of void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Firmly attached to her back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside were over twenty children—some playing, others asleep on hay, drooling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The children had been shrunk by some “sorcery” to barely an inch tall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The space on her back had become their playground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sorcery may not have targeted the children directly—anyone entering that void bubble would shrink entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan’s face remained cold: “You locked them in? You threatened the villagers to force them to farm and feed you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hei Jie exhaled two thick streams of hot air from her nostrils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She grunted twice, but only managed two muffled words: “No!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she offered no further explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan frowned, sensing something strange here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, let them out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hei Jie knelt and leaned sideways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as she once had, lowering her young master from her back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The children inside the void bubble slid out one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if riding an invisible slide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The children found it hilarious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They giggled and shouted excitedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they landed on the ground, each child rapidly grew back to normal size.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The big black ox and the other cattle approached as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they dared not come close, staying over ten zhang away, watching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The children, upon seeing their oxen, cried out softly and ran to climb onto their backs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though transformed, the cattle still couldn’t resist lowering themselves to let their little masters mount.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some children were too small, their arms and legs too short to climb up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The oxen would gently tilt their heads, using the thick base of their horns to help them up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For village children, the back of the family’s water buffalo was the safest, most comfortable place in their childhood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two mischievous children spotted Da Fu behind Xu Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They tiptoed toward him, trying to catch him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan paid no attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, Da Fu gave the two foolish brats a harsh lesson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the countryside, the most terrifying creatures weren’t yellow dogs or green snakes—but geese!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two brats wailed and ran in circles, chased and pecked by Da Fu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan looked again at Hei Jie, and seemed to understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You loved your young master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hei Jie said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence meant no denial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She resented her master for whipping her, forcing her to labor endlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she got along well with the young master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the village children could climb onto her back to play.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes Hei Jie wondered: Why do humans change so drastically between childhood and adulthood?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She enslaved the adults of the village, yet willingly spoiled the village children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The children were safe—Xu Yuan exhaled in relief, then fixed his gaze on the void bubble on Hei Jie’s back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was an extremely rare sorcery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had assumed these water oxen, including Hei Jie, were merely insignificant anomalies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Hei Jie possessing this ability elevated her status in Xu’s estimation by several levels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How should we handle these creatures?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu thought for a moment, then said to Hei Jie: “Enough. Return to your human form.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hei Jie exhaled two thick streams of hot air, then shrank back into a woman’s shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan said to her: “I am Xu Yuan, Police Inspector of the Qihui Bureau’s Zhan City Office.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hei Jie’s round, wide eyes held a clear, vacant stupidity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had no idea what “Qihui Bureau,” “Police Inspector,” or “Xu Yuan” meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was merely a small village beside the imperial road; villagers never spoke of the Qihui Bureau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan glared and barked: “The Qihui Bureau is the government office that hunts down creatures like you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hei Jie shuddered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mostly because this man was truly beyond her strength to fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though you haven’t killed anyone, you’ve still committed evil deeds. Under the Great Ming Code, you are sentenced to immediate beheading!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hei Jie’s dark eyes widened in terror; she trembled and touched her own neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beheading—cutting off the neck—how much pain would that be?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan paused, feeling he’d frightened her enough, then added: “But you care for children. Though you’ve become a monster, your heart still holds a pure corner—I cannot bring myself to kill you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hei Jie gazed hopefully at Xu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu continued: “I’ll give you a chance to redeem yourselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hei Jie tilted her head, thought for a moment, then tilted it the other way, thought again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After repeating this four times, she finally understood, and pouted unhappily: “You still want us to work for free?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I became a monster, I worked for you humans for free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After my transformation, I’m still supposed to work for free?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then what was the point of becoming a monster?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan pulled out a silver note, its surface imbued with “Commercial Law.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I won’t make you work for free—we’ll make a deal. You transport goods for me; I pay you market rate each time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This five hundred taels is my down payment. What do you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hei Jie stared blankly at the silver note, her expression as dumb as Da Fu’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How many copper coins is five hundred taels?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan calculated the current exchange rate and told her the number.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hei Jie gasped in shock: “That much?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bowl of tea costs three copper coins—how many bowls could five hundred taels buy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hei Jie counted on her fingers for a long time, still couldn’t figure it out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she knew it was a lot!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, I accept!” Hei Jie snatched the silver note eagerly, afraid Xu would change his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Commercial Law is sealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cultivation gains another boost!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan smiled warmly: “Go to Ghost Witch Mountain, find Bai Lao’s eye in Wangxiang Village, or Tian Jing—they’ll arrange things for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black Sister shook her head: “I don’t know either of those two.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan: …\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fine, Xu Yuan made all the arrangements himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sent a folded note to Jiao, instructing Tian Jing to come out and meet these foolish oxen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You wait…” Xu Yuan pointed to two earthen mounds along the road they’d come: “behind that mound. Tian Jing will come for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But before that, you release all the villagers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black Sister agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan added: “But you were originally the villagers’ property—you must compensate them for their losses before you leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why should we—” Black Sister protested, then felt the rope around her neck tighten slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black Sister wisely fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she clutched the five-hundred-silver-coin note tightly in her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the oxen’s money is in, don’t expect it back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Xu the Official said: “I’ll advance you this money. Later, you’ll repay it through labor—deducted gradually.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That works!” Black Sister nodded quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as I don’t have to pay out of pocket, it’s as if I didn’t pay at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan waved his hand: “Alright, go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black Sister gathered her foolish brothers and headed toward the earthen mounds together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan estimated Tian Jing would arrive tonight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Xu Yuan went from ox pen to ox pen, releasing the villagers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The villagers wailed and wept, kneeling to kowtow before Xu the Official.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their foreheads thudded against the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their nose rings clinked against the earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan summoned the village headman, counted the households that had “lost” oxen, and paid each family two hundred silver coins per ox.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The headman waved his hands: “How can this be? Those beasts turned into malevolent spirits—it’s not your fault.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You saved all our lives—how could you possibly pay for this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan forced the silver notes into his hands: “Old man, don’t worry—someone else is paying. This isn’t coming from my own pocket.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The headman stubbornly refused: “No, no, it’s unacceptable…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old man, spring plowing is about to begin. Without oxen, how can your fields be tilled by hand alone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The headman hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The village was poor—without oxen, this year’s harvest would plummet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come winter, people might starve to death!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan shoved the silver notes into his hands again: “Truly, it’s not my money. Old man, rest assured—the court will subsidize this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu the Official told a kind lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Very well, I thank you on behalf of the entire village for saving our lives!” The headman took the notes and kowtowed three times before Xu Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan stepped aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t stop the old man from kowtowing—but he wouldn’t accept such a bow from someone so elderly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night had fallen; Xu Yuan had no time to travel, so he spent the night at the headman’s home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, Xu Yuan had worried: if the Guanghuo Street business expanded, transporting goods between mountain and lowland would be troublesome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Lao’s eye was still strong, but if goods multiplied, carrying them all alone would be too much for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, with this herd of oxen, the problem was solved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Encountering such oddities on the road had yielded an unexpected gain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After spending the night, Xu Yuan slipped away at first light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, the villagers would insist on escorting him ten li in gratitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At dawn, the headman woke his wife, took out their precious jar of white rice, and plucked the last slice of cured pork from the rafters to prepare the finest meal they could offer, then brought it with his son and daughter-in-law to present to Xu the Official.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when he opened the door, the room was empty—Xu the Official was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The headman froze. His daughter-in-law lamented: “All this food was wasted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two small heads peeked through the door, fingers in their mouths, staring longingly at the pot of food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The headman waved them in: “Give it to the children.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two kids cheered and dashed toward their mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The headman stepped outside, gazing down the road, and sighed softly: “Such a good official is rare.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two children devoured their meal: “Grandpa, you’re right and wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In good spirits, the headman teased his grandsons: “What’s right? What’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When that big official came, we got good food—so you’re right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But that big official’s goose was vicious—it pecked my face and hurt! So you’re wrong too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha!” The old man laughed, then paused: Xu the Official had a goose? Why didn’t I notice?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Da Fu seemed to have the ability to go unnoticed when he wished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan rode for an hour, then stopped to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He opened his folded note and saw Jiao had replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It delivered bad news: Tian Jing wouldn’t arrive until tonight to meet the oxen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiao tried to explain briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his literary skill was limited, so he filled an entire page.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was little space left on the note.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It turned out Ju Ya and Qiu Ningtai had clashed in a magical duel—and caused disaster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiu Ningtai’s entire party died of illness, and the plague spread from them through Ghost Witch Mountain…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even some major malevolent spirits on Guanghuo Street had caught it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Including Tian Jing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unsurprisingly, “Ruan Tianye” was stirred—he slapped Ju Ya and ordered her to resolve it swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ju Ya, slapped, seethed with rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She dared not confront Ruan Tianye, so she vented her fury on the infected spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She did cure them—but the cure caused unbearable agony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Jing was tortured until he collapsed, his body weak and unable to rise—he needed a full day to recover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan snorted and shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ju Ya is a threat. If I get the chance, I must find a way to eliminate her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another hour passed, and Xu Yuan finally reached Zhancheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he was delayed at the city gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ahead, a large caravan was being inspected and paying entry fees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan assumed it was a major merchant group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as he waited behind the line, a window on one of the carts suddenly opened, revealing a face that smiled and called out: “Xu the Official—what a coincidence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Zhu Zhanlei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan smiled: “How about you? Did you spend all that thousand-silver-coin fortune at Baiyue Hall?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanlei’s face darkened, then a deliberate cough came from inside the carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan recognized it—Zhu Zhanmei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan’s face flushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanmei appeared beside her brother, smiling: “Xu the Official is back? I’m escorting my younger brother to his post. He’ll be stationed permanently in Zhancheng as Deputy to Miao Yu—please look out for him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re brothers—no need for favors. We’ll help each other.” Xu Yuan replied politely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanmei added: “We owe you a debt from before. My family has already repaid it—you’ll hear the news soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan frowned. What did she mean?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhu Zhanmei merely smiled, her eyebrows curved like a crescent moon, lips pressed shut, refusing to elaborate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some things couldn’t be spoken aloud in public.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanlei extended the invitation: “Let’s have dinner together after we enter. I’ll invite my brother-in-law—we’ll drink a few cups.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright,” Xu Yuan agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His stepmother and Wang Shen were both in Shanhe County—he had nothing else to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After entering the city, they parted ways to settle in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More precisely, Zhu Zhanlei needed to settle in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire caravan carried his belongings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan had walked some distance when a clear, melodious voice called behind him: “Xu the Official, wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanmei rode up on a fine horse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She still wore the uniform of a Hejian Police Inspector, a jade belt cinching her slender waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hem of her uniform fluttered with the wind on either side of the saddle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her fair face glowed with rosy cheeks, both martial and graceful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan stopped, and Zhu Zhanlei rode up and handed him a bundle: “I suppose you didn’t prepare anything—since I brought extra for my younger brother, I’ll give it to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan took it, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the bundle was a wooden box; when opened, it held red envelopes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanlei said: “Not much money. Two layers: the top layer has twenty taels each, fifty envelopes total.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bottom layer has ten taels each, ten envelopes total.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan hurriedly asked: “What’s the meaning of this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This money clearly wasn’t the Zhu family’s “thank-you” gift to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanlei merely smiled faintly, teasing: “You’ll find out soon enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she turned her horse and rode off, leaving behind a tinkling laugh: “Hehehe…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan was deeply confused and returned to the Chengnan Patrol Station with the bundle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, Lang Xiao Ba was on duty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the Xu official absent, no one dared assign Old Qin to guard the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Qin was especially miserable, feeling he was turning into “Gatekeeper Qin the Elder.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lang Xiao Ba saw the boss return, grinned wide, and moved to take his horse’s reins—when a large hand reached over, grabbed his shoulder, yanked him back, then stepped past him to reach Xu Yuan first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Ji Shuangqiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She smiled brighter than Lang Xiao Ba, took Xu Yuan’s reins, and boomed: “Happy New Year, my lord! Your subordinate pays his respects!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she pretended to bow, and extended a large hand, waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan instantly understood—the red envelopes were for this purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan pulled out a two-tael envelope and placed it in her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha!” Ji Shuangqiu beamed: “Thank you, my lord! May you rise swiftly this year, climbing higher and higher!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lang Xiao Ba, robbed of the first prize, dared not protest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He muttered a few auspicious phrases and received a red envelope from Xu Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Xu Yuan entered the yamen and handed out a red envelope to every subordinate he met along the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Ming imperial bureaucracy, subordinates were expected to give gifts to their superiors during the New Year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then would their superiors grant them an “Excellent” evaluation during the performance review.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or, if an opportunity arose, their superior might remember them and recommend them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the Three Secret Agencies, the custom was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The men under you risked their lives alongside you, day and night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Usually, it was the superior who gave out red envelopes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not much money—just for good fortune.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan silently thought: Zhu’s third sister was meticulous; she guessed he was new to office and likely unaware of this tradition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t just remind him—she simply gave him a share of what she’d prepared for her younger brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It showed the generosity of a great clan’s scion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, it was only a few hundred taels—nothing much to the current Xu official—but it greatly increased Xu Yuan’s fondness for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The top layer of two-tael envelopes were for ordinary Captains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bottom layer of ten-tael envelopes were for the several Jianxiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanlei arranged it perfectly—but barely had Xu Yuan sat down when Shi Bading came running over, bowing low with a sly grin and extending his hand: “My lord, I’m here for my reward!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan laughed and scolded: “Old brother, don’t joke. You’re my equal—what reward should I give you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Bading shook his head vigorously: “The Southern Office’s appointment should come soon—I’ll be the Zhanglu soon, hahaha! Give me my reward, give me my reward!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan couldn’t help but laugh and was forced to hand over a ten-tael envelope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhu Zhanlei invited me to lunch and drinks—come along.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sure,” Shi Bading answered without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhu and Miao clans were ancient great families; without Xu Yuan’s presence, Miao Yu and Zhu Zhanlei would never have deigned to notice a seventh-tier Police Inspector.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At lunch, Xu Yuan had planned to thank Zhu Zhanlei personally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhu Zhanlei didn’t come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanlei shook his head: “My sister probably thought you wanted to go to Baiyue Pavilion—she didn’t want to be there, so she made an excuse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan protested: “When did I ever want to go there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanlei shrugged: “Tell me all you want—you tell my sister.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan’s expression drooped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They ate at a refined, expensive restaurant in Beicheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far from Xieliu Alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Yu remained gloomy and soon drank too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slung an arm around Xu Yuan’s shoulder, slurring: “Brother, you’ve truly risen fast. Luocheng’s already talking—you’ll get your appointment soon. Then we’ll both be Zhanglu—we’ll rule the city together!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A real man builds achievements! All this love and sentimentality? Push it aside!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan sensed something off and winked at Zhu Zhanlei: “Did the marriage proposal fall through?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xu Yuan clearly remembered—when they entered the city, Zhu Zhanlei still called him “Big Sister’s Husband.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanlei looked exasperated: “Ignore him—he’s overthinking. As long as Father and Mother approve, won’t my elder sister obey them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Yu, still miserable, reached for more wine—but Xu Yuan and Zhu Zhanlei, seeing he was drunk, refused to drink with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he dragged Shi Bading to drink with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Bading couldn’t refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, both were slurring, growing more and more in sync, nearly ready to cut a rooster’s head and swear brotherhood on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Zhanlei whispered to Xu Yuan: “My elder sister still treats him coldly…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These past days, Miao Yu had tried everything—bending over backward—to win her favor, but she remained unmoved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This return to Zhancheng had truly crushed Miao Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had Xu Yuan and Zhu Zhanlei finished speaking than—thud, thud—Miao Yu and Shi Bading’s heads both slammed onto the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Passed out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3473,"2026-06-20T12:07:24.624Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","2e845f1107b0eab0b1126d1e7af3e26d6e6a0b23a2451538fdcb17d46663302d","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-362","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-360",413,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fnothing-is-taboo-cover.jpg"]