CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 35: SECRET REPORT

Lu Qing’s fingers tapped rhythmically on the account book Shen Xiang had brought, and after a moment of contemplation, he said to Shen Xiang, "You should go. Leave the account book behind.

You were never here tonight, and I have never seen you."

Hearing this, Shen Xiang looked up at Lu Qing, but the sinister golden mask made it impossible to discern the expression of the Imperial Censor opposite him. Even the tone of his voice provided no hint of his stance or intentions, leaving Shen Xiang momentarily uneasy, unsure whether his daring late-night venture was a gamble won or if he had stepped into another protective network of officials. The determination he felt when revealing the collusion between Li Wencai and Lu’s instantly faded by more than half.

"Go on, don’t delay any longer." Lu Qing waved his hand, urging Shen Xiang to leave.

Shen Xiang pursed his lips, unwilling to go against the Imperial Censor’s orders. He kept a stern face and turned to leave, his hand reaching for the doorframe, when Lu Qing’s voice came from behind.

"Remember to act naturally, don’t arouse suspicion.

Once the storm passes, the Qingshui County Government will need people."

Shen Xiang was slightly taken aback, his eyes lighting up, and the determination he had just lost quickly returned. Without hesitation, he pushed the door open, closed it gently behind him, and disappeared quietly into the night.

After Shen Xiang left, Zhu Yu, driven by curiosity, flipped through the two account books again, frowning more with each page.

"How is it?" After Zhu Yu had closed the account book, Lu Qing, who had already removed his mask while sitting beside her, asked.

"I anticipated Mr. Li’s voracity, but I didn’t expect it to be this greedy," Zhu Yu admitted. "The visible and hidden account books show a significant difference."

Lu Qing shook his head, "He is indeed ’tolerant’, but unfortunately, he doesn’t have the ability to ’feast alone’."

Hearing this, Zhu Yu immediately understood.

Li Wencai turned a blind eye to Lu’s tyranny, shielding and indulging him, while the higher-ranking Magistrate sent all complaints against Li Wencai back to Li Wencai himself for handling.

This layer upon layer of protection is most likely all priced clearly, and the markup from top to bottom is certainly not just due to one person’s greed.

"Big fish eat little fish, little fish eat shrimp," Zhu Yu reflected, "Originally, I thought Lu’s was a little fish, and the individual brewers around Qingshui County were shrimp.

Now it seems I’m overestimating Lu’s, who may not even qualify as shrimp, but just algae being consumed by shrimp."

Lu Qing merely smiled lightly at her assessment.

Afterward, he didn’t stay up late examining the account books or documents; the three of them went to rest separately.

The next morning, the Chief Clerk did indeed send a rich breakfast over and took the opportunity to ask if the Imperial Censor had any instructions, indirectly trying to find out what Lu Qing was doing there and how long he intended to stay.

However, with the "gate god" rune guarding outside, it was obvious he could not get answers to these questions, nor dared to ask too bluntly, so he left in frustration.

And, as expected, Mr. Li, who had been sent home the previous day due to "overexertion," did not come to the government office to sign in. The Chief Clerk sent constables to Li Wencai’s residence to inquire, only for them to return shortly, saying they couldn’t even get past the gates, and no one responded regardless of how hard they knocked.

The Chief Clerk suddenly found himself at a loss as well, not knowing how to handle the "big Buddha" of an Imperial Censor sitting in the office without Li Wencai’s guidance.

After breakfast, Lu Qing continued going through the various account books of Qingshui County, and at the same time, handed over the criminal case files from the past year or so to Zhu Yu, asking her to help review them.

Though Zhu Yu knew little about account books, she was fairly familiar with criminal case files, so she sat beside the desk and began diligently reading through them.

By noon, she finally stretched her stiff arms and rubbed her sore neck.

"How are the affairs of Qingshui County Government?" Lu Qing asked.

Zhu Yu smiled back, "From the files they’ve brought, Qingshui County is like a model of efficient governance, with contented citizens and diligent officials, all working conscientiously, a picture of prosperity."

Lu Qing laughed at the sarcasm in her tone, "Indeed, there is no one without merit in this world.

Even in a place like the Qingshui County Government, among a group of incompetent officials, one can find the advantage of being skilled at managing account books and documents."

Zhu Yu nodded repeatedly, looking at the high stack of files that Lu Qing had already finished: "Once we’ve done looking through all of this, are we still staying in this government office?"

"Yes." Lu Qing called over the rune, "Have someone from the government office go outside and pick up some entertaining storybooks to keep the Second Lord entertained, so he doesn’t end up bored before we leave here."

Zhu Yu looked at Lu Qing in surprise, but the rune seemed unfazed by any orders from his master and immediately instructed the constable stationed outside the courtyard.

In less than half an hour, several items were continuously delivered from outside, including not only storybooks but also snacks and fresh fruits.

Those in the know would recognize it as items for the visiting Imperial Censor; those unaware might think it was prepared for some honored guest.

Lu Qing, not being modest with them, accepted everything that was sent, and for the rest of the day, the three simply stayed in the courtyard at the back of the government office, while the Chief Clerk and County Magistrate continued to feel uneasy out front.

Late that night, bird whistles suddenly resounded from outside the house. The rune guarding the doorway opened it and stepped out, returning shortly with a bamboo tube in hand.

By then, Lu Qing had also risen, lit an oil lamp, and pulled a sheet of paper out of the bamboo tube.

The paper was densely covered in writing. He quickly read through its contents, then picked up another piece of paper from the desk, wrote a few words, placed it back in the tube, opened the window, took out the Jade Whistle from his pocket, blew it, and threw the tube outside.

In the darkness outside, a shadow seemed to flicker past swiftly, and then everything returned to silence again.

Zhu Yu remained unaware of all this; it wasn’t until the next morning that she saw the paper Lu Qing handed to her.

Looking it over carefully, she couldn’t help but frown.

All three of them had stayed within the back courtyard of the county government for these few days, and none of them had left. Thus, the information recorded on this paper must have been gathered by the hidden guards working for Lu Qing.

Though Lu Qing didn’t specifically bring it up, Zhu Yu didn’t intend to ask unnecessary questions.

However, the contents recorded on the paper were somewhat puzzling.

Although the secret report was concisely worded, it explained everything clearly.

In the region of Qingshui County, there were said to be only three people who had acquired sudden wealth because of the Ghost Immortal Temple, and who still lived well today.

Two of them are a pair of brothers who live on a farmstead outside the city. They were known to be famous loafers and ruffians, causings disturbances in the village, gambling, and drinking. Whenever they had money, they would immediately waste it all in gambling dens.

Initially, the people around didn’t even know the run-down Mountain God Temple was a "Ghost Immortal Temple" that could grant sudden wealth, until one day they noticed those unruly brothers suddenly shook off their previous poverty and started living lavishly.

At first, they refused to tell outsiders how they had come by their fortune; it wasn’t until they were heavily drunk one day that they revealed they had prayed to the Ghost Immortal in the temple, and as a result, received a large ingot.

The bystanders were amazed but skeptical, as the brothers were not known for reliability.

Yet, curiosity is a constant in human nature, and one of those present also prepared offerings to the gods and went to the Ghost Immortal Temple to seek wealth. Miraculously, he too received a large ingot.