CHAPTER 587: CHAPTER 587 TRIBUTE

The Beimo Cheng King glanced at Xie Jingchen.

He gently tapped the horse’s belly with his legs, and the horse moved forward.

After they left, not even half a cup of tea’s time had passed when a man rode over with two guards.

That person was none other than—

The son of the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Qu Ming.

They were on horseback, but not riding fast.

It had a somewhat leisurely and strolling demeanor.

"Young Master made haste to return, yet was unexpectedly delayed by the Beimo Cheng King for half a day," one of the guards laughed.

The Beimo Cheng King brought many people, taking up the entire official road.

Qu Ming knew the envoys ahead were welcoming the Beimo Cheng King.

It was improper to hasten past them, so they followed slowly behind.

However, fortunately, there were only three more li to go, and he would soon be home.

This whole journey was considered a rest.

Xie Jingchen escorted the Beimo Cheng King to the Palace, allowing them to rest for a while before entering the imperial court.

Young Master Qu went directly home.

It was his first time leaving the Capital, and he had been gone for so long, causing the Minister’s wife to worry day and night, unable to eat or sleep in peace.

Seeing Young Master Qu return, the servant was ecstatic, "Go quickly and report to Madam, Young Master is back!"

Young Master Qu dismounted, stepped into the mansion, and asked the servant, "Where is Father?"

"Master just returned from the Ministry of Justice office; he is in the study now," the servant quickly replied.

Young Master Qu headed straight for the Minister’s study.

Knowing his son had returned, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice sighed with relief.

A mother’s worry knows no bounds when her child travels thousands of miles.

A father’s concern is no less.

But since he had chosen to entrust the task to him, he had to bear his worries.

Otherwise, if he showed any signs of regret, his wife, the Minister’s wife, would nag and make him grow even more gray hairs.

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice sat at the desk, his expression solemn.

Young Master Qu saluted him, "Father."

"Hmm," the Minister nodded.

"How did the task go?"

Young Master Qu took a bundle from the hands of the guard following him.

The bundle contained all the evidence he had gathered on this trip.

He was tasked with investigating the ledger records regarding Marquis Dongxiang’s robbery of grain and grass for Elder Yong Cheng.

After verification, the amount of grain and grass reported by Elder Yong Cheng to the court was four times the amount snatched by Marquis Dongxiang.

The difference in numbers all ended up in Elder Yong Cheng’s pockets.

Moreover, Elder Yong Cheng privately embezzled not only grain and money but also tributes.

Speaking of tributes—

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice furrowed his brow, "What tributes?"

Young Master Qu hurriedly said, "At that time, the infamous bandits of Qingyun Mountain were widely known, and a batch of tributes was in a hurry to be sent to the Capital but dared not pass alone under the Qingyun Mountain, so they were shipped together with the grain and grass transport."

"After the grain and grass were robbed, the tributes vanished, and according to the boatmen of the transport, after the Qingyun Mountain robbed the grain and grass, he saw some government officials at night carrying large chests out of the ship’s hold."

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice wore a deeply furrowed brow.

Because there was no record of tributes in Marquis Dongxiang’s accounts.

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice had reviewed the files and found no report from Elder Yong Cheng regarding the robbery of tributes.

However, Young Master Qu not only discovered it but also went to the tribute location to question around, confirming the truth of the tribute matter.

Losing tributes is a major crime, punishable by death if severe.

The Emperor did not punish them; they were thankful and spoke highly with gratitude for Elder Yong Cheng’s good words on their behalf.

It was a typical case of being sold out and still helping count money for the person.

Even privately pocketing tributes would be enough to anger the Emperor and strip Elder Yong Cheng of his title.

"You should go see your mother and then rest for a while; accompany me to the palace banquet later," the Minister of the Ministry of Justice said.

Young Master Qu took his leave.

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice looked over the evidence, then took the evidence to the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

Agarwood Pavilion, inner room.

Su Jin was dressed in a light blue dress, standing in front of a copper mirror.

Xingxing looked left and right and said, "Miss looks good in this outfit too."

Su Jin touched her waist and said, "When do I not look good in an outfit?"

"Miss is beautiful; she looks good in anything," Xingxing replied.

"Why doesn’t Miss wear the new clothes that were just made?" Xingxing was puzzled.

Miss loves wearing new clothes the most.

Every time the embroideress and Madam make her new clothes, she can’t wait to try them on.

This time, however, she was unmoved.

Su Jin glanced at the dress on the tray and said, "In this hot weather, with the embroideress making clothes, who knows how much sweat has stained them? I’ll wear them after they are washed."

Even if they were dresses made in winter, they should be washed before wearing.

Xingxing felt that Miss made sense, took the tray out, and handed it to the maids.

After getting dressed, she lounged on a small couch and read half a book; when it was about time, she took Xingxing and went to Qihao Hall.

Xingxing wore the set made for her by the Princess Consort.

Because it was embroidered with patterns, Xingxing had been reluctant to wear it.

Today, going to the palace banquet, on such a grand occasion, it’s definitely the day to dress as beautifully as possible.

Princess Nanzhang was ill, and the Princess Consort was moved by the fetus, so they did not attend the palace banquet.

The Old Madam was too aged to go either.

But even so, quite a few went to the banquet.

Seeing Su Jin come in, gazes involuntarily lingered on her for a couple more rounds.

This attire set off her skin like congealed fat, radiant and captivating.

Especially the liveliness revealed in her brows, far beyond what Xie Jinyu and others could compare.

Jealousy bubbled up from the hearts of several people.

The Old Madam looked her up and down and said, "This outfit looks nice, but this embroidery, it doesn’t seem done by the mansion’s embroideress?"

Mrs. Wang glanced at the Old Madam.

Su Jin replied, "This was made by my mother."

"The needlework of the Dongxiang Marquis’s wife is indeed excellent," the Old Madam praised.

It was rare for Su Jin to hear praise from the Old Madam.

This time she not only praised her but also included her mother.

Was this the sun rising from the western horizon?

However, the Old Madam only said one sentence, then spoke no more.

But Su Jin thought there must be something wrong.

For someone who wants her dead, every unusual sentence from her might hide a trap.

Being cautious ensures longevity.

Unable to figure it out, Su Jin shook her head and put the matter aside.

Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

In the study.

After reviewing the evidence, Marquis Dongxiang’s face was dark.

Though he had always known he was blamed for being a bandit illicitly, covering for many others.

Yet having such concrete evidence was a first.

He looked at the Minister of the Ministry of Justice and said, "You should immediately take people to raid the Yongcheng Bo Mansion."

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice, "....."

"Isn’t that rushing things?" the Minister of the Ministry of Justice said.

Raiding an Earl’s mansion requires the Emperor’s consent.

Marquis Dongxiang said, "Regarding the tribute matter, neither you nor I knew, and with such a major incident of tribute being lost, Yongcheng Bo did not report it; there must be something wrong."

"If we let Yongcheng Bo know the news and destroy the tributes, merely falsifying grain reports won’t be enough to take his life."

Many have falsified grain reports.

Not only Yongcheng Bo alone.

When there are many, the Emperor cannot possibly decapitate them all.

Moreover, Marquis Dongxiang firmly believed that the person who benefited most behind the falsification of grain reports was Duke Chong.

Duke Chong has military power; the Emperor must consider the overall situation to deal with him.

Therefore, Marquis Dongxiang did not have much hope for it.

But the Heir of Uncle Yongcheng nearly killed Su Jin.

The Heir of Uncle Yongcheng deserved the consequences, but a father who had lost his son would not let it go unavenged.

Having such a person staring at his daughter from behind, Marquis Dongxiang could find no peace in his sleep and meals, and felt uneasy until he was rid of this threat.

Moreover, Yongcheng Bo was a confidant of Duke Chong.

Marquis Dongxiang was worried about not finding an opportunity to catch Duke Chong by surprise; this might just be a good chance.

Some matters must be quick.

If delayed by a single step, all previous efforts might be wasted.

"Minister Qu has always been law-abiding, but I will take responsibility for this matter, just go do it," Marquis Dongxiang said.