Spring had arrived, and it was the season when snow melted, the air was filled with a damp chill, and the morning fog was biting cold.
The dawn light was still hidden in the lingering blue clouds, the sky not yet fully bright. Chaolu rubbed her face, exhaling white mist through her lips, looking listlessly at the ants she was playing with on the steps. She noticed Hongshuang holding freshly ironed clothes, standing in the courtyard, staring at the red-feathered bird that had just been released from its cage on the eaves, deep in thought.
Chaolu was also deep in thought.
She tossed away the grass stalk, walked over to stand beside Hongshuang, and said gloomily, “Isn’t Miss supposed to have a fake marriage with this man named Huo? She isn’t truly Ji Yuyao, so why are they sleeping in the same room?”
Moreover, they seemed to have a lot to talk about.
Sometimes they even went in and out together, as if they had some secret. She was idle in the residence, so idle that she felt like she was growing mold.
Chaolu was unhappy, very unhappy.
Hongshuang glanced at Chaolu and whispered, “It’s not good for Miss to be too close to Huo Xian.”
As she spoke, a maid approached, nodded to them, and directly knocked on the door, saying, “Master, Commander Chen requests an audience.”
The person inside seemed to be awake already and quickly responded.
The inner room was still dim, making the luminous pearl stand out.
After some rustling sounds stopped, the door opened and then closed, Ji Yuluo turned over, and drowsily wrapped herself in the quilt.
She pressed her temples a few times before sitting up, gradually waking up as she stared at the account book Huo Xian had just placed by the pillow.
Given her current relationship with Huo Xian, they shouldn’t be sharing a bed anymore, but he wasn’t at the residence during the day, and only at night could he talk to her about the progress of the investigation. Talking led to him leaning on the couch.
After a few days of this, Ji Yuluo got used to it.
However, the recent sudden cold spell made the weather increasingly cold. She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she felt that the charcoal fire in the room was dwindling, often burning out by midnight, and the quilt, which was already thin, became even thinner. Several times she woke up to find herself clinging to Huo Xian’s back.
Surprise upon surprise.
A maid came in to assist with washing and dressing. Ji Yuluo casually tied her hair and sat at the round table to deal with breakfast.
Though she said “deal with,” the maids and servants in Huo’s residence were very attentive. The breakfast these days never repeated, and it seemed they had changed the cook, as the food tasted exceptionally good, and she could drink two bowls of porridge.
With Huo Xian absent, Chaolu could sit and dine with her. Hongshuang, however, didn’t dare. Those trained by Xie Subai were always strict and never shared meals with their masters.
She served tea on the side, observing Ji Yuluo’s increasingly lazy expression, and said, “Miss has been getting along well with Huo Xian lately.”
Ji Yuluo responded with a “hmm” and gave the last crab meat bun to the eager Chaolu, saying, “In the future, in the capital, there will inevitably be many times when we need to rely on his influence.”
Hongshuang said, “But the Jinyiwei are cunning, especially Huo Xian. His words can’t be fully trusted. It’s like negotiating with a tiger for its skin. It’s best for Miss to plan early. Right now, the capital is full of dangers. We might as well withdraw for now, and in the future—”
Before she could finish, Ji Yuluo suddenly turned her head to look at her, and Hongshuang immediately lowered her head, “I spoke out of turn.”
Ji Yuluo didn’t say anything, just replied faintly, “I know what I’m doing.”
—
On the other side, Huo Xian pushed open the study door, and Liyang followed closely behind.
Liyang still had a sword at his waist and looked travel-worn, presumably having come directly from the Zhenfu Division. His expression was grim as he said, “A message came from Doctor Qi. This cold is spreading rapidly, and more and more people in the Qinghe District are falling ill, with the sickness recurring in a strange way. It’s only been a few days, and the symptoms are still unclear, but based on experience, it’s best to be prepared just in case.”
Huo Xian remained silent, the room unlit, his figure hidden in the darkness, visible only in sharp outline, seemingly lost in unpleasant thoughts. After a long pause, he said in a low voice, “This matter must not be publicized. If it’s not an epidemic, it would cause unnecessary panic, and if it is an epidemic, it would be even more critical to keep it quiet. Take people and cordon off the Qinghe District. No one goes in or out. Say it’s to catch a fugitive. Violators will be executed!”
Liyang’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly agreed.
Huo Xian continued, “Qinghe District is full of all sorts. If it’s truly an epidemic, it might have already spread. Send people out to monitor closely! If anyone shows strange symptoms, detain them under the pretext of a Jinyiwei investigation and quarantine them. Also, how’s the situation with the medicinal herbs?”
Liyang reported, “We’ve searched all the pharmacies in the city, but there isn’t much. If it’s truly an epidemic, it’s far from enough. I sent people to Lincheng, but by the time our Jinyiwei arrived, someone had already been secretly buying herbs in batches. When we investigated further, we found no clues.”
Sensing something amiss, Liyang pondered, “Master, if this is true… could someone be plotting behind the scenes?”
The outbreak started in Qinghe District, an area teeming with brothels, gambling dens, and taverns, where countless people came and went. It was the most densely populated part of the city. Whether it was his imagination or not, it seemed too coincidental.
Moreover, someone was quietly buying up medicinal herbs. If not for early detection, the outbreak could catch them off guard, repeating the disaster of seven years ago.
But deliberately spreading an epidemic? That was beyond madness!
The situation was still unclear, and Huo Xian remained silent.
However, as he raised his head, a bad thought occurred to him. If the Jinyiwei were already buying herbs and someone was secretly buying them up, the other side would know that the Jinyiwei had anticipated this. If this is true, there’s no need to wait for an outbreak to cause panic—sometimes rumors alone are the most lethal!
Huo Xian said sharply, “Liyang, you go—”
Nanyue rushed in, interrupting, “Master, it’s bad! Rumors of an epidemic have spread in the capital, and the city is in chaos. All the pharmacies have been looted!”
Indeed, an abnormal situation always signals trouble! Huo Xian sprang to his feet and strode out, “Liyang, get to work!”
Liyang hastily responded and hurried out.
A few days ago, Huo Xian had ordered secret surveillance, mobilizing people just in case. Now, it was really necessary.
Huo Xian was about to report to the palace when he encountered an eunuch rushing towards him. The eunuch, carrying a duster, hurriedly approached, and upon closer inspection, he recognized him as the eunuch serving the emperor. With a sharp voice, the eunuch said, “Lord Zhenfu, hurry to the palace, the sky is falling!”
Huo Xian thought nothing could be worse than the spread of the epidemic news, but he had to go to the palace anyway, so he didn’t ask more and hurried there.
In the imperial study, even Zhao Yong was present.
Usually, he didn’t serve the emperor directly, partly because he didn’t want to deal with the foolish emperor and partly because the emperor didn’t like being supervised. But today he was here, looking particularly grim.
Huo Xian entered, and the “father and son” exchanged a glance, a silent signal passing between them. Huo Xian knew it wasn’t good news, but what was bad for Zhao Yong might not be entirely bad for him.
Emperor Shun’an, in a rage, had already smashed several cups and bowls and was pacing angrily in the hall. Seeing Huo Xian, he pulled him over, “Zhe’an! Look at this! Look at these useless fools!”
Most of those kneeling in the hall were from the Ministry of Revenue, including Qin Wei.
Huo Xian narrowed his eyes, a bad premonition creeping up on him. After listening to the Minister of Revenue, Yuan Xiangsheng, he was stunned, “The treasury silver is missing?”
“Ye, Yes!”
Qin Wei did not like Huo Xian, but when he was in the presence of the emperor, he was still afraid of him. Trembling, he handed over the document and said, “The official in charge of the treasury saw this document and only then allowed the silver to be taken out.”
Huo Xian took the document, and Emperor Shun’an’s expression changed slightly, instantly falling silent.
The reason was simple. The stolen silver was ostensibly for the construction of the Longevity Palace for Emperor Shun’an.
The Longevity Palace was the emperor’s palace, and its construction had taken half a year, consuming immense financial and material resources. The cabinet was strongly opposed to this, given that since the time of the previous emperor, the national treasury had been increasingly depleted. By the time of Emperor Shun’an, the state coffers were practically empty. Moreover, Emperor Shun’an was extravagant, and the expenses of the harem were already a significant annual expenditure.
Even Zhao Yong disagreed with the construction of the Longevity Palace.
Exploiting resources is one thing, but completely depleting them is another.
However, it was evident that Emperor Shun’an had ignored this advice and treated the national treasury as his personal fund, using it at will! This misuse had provided an opportunity for the thieves to steal the treasury silver!
Emperor Shun’an blamed the Ministry of Revenue officials but knew he was also responsible. Yet, he was adept at shirking responsibility. Waving his sleeve dismissively, he said, “This document must have been mixed in with other official papers. I didn’t look closely before stamping it. But all official papers come from the cabinet, so someone must have done this on purpose! Accomplices, all of them!”
Huo Xian remained silent.
To successfully transport the treasury silver out, it would have to pass through many hands, large and small departments, from top to bottom. There had to be people assisting at every level. Those assisting might not even hold high positions, and sometimes just turning a blind eye would allow such a document to reach the emperor.
Such an arrangement could not be made in a day.
It was like the three legal institutions and the Jiuxuan Camp—pieces that had been silent for a long time.
Now, the one moving the pieces was finally making a move.
If Huo Xian could sense this, Zhao Yong must have been aware for some time. The hall was so silent that a pin drop could be heard.
This kind of silence was unsettling. Emperor Shun’an hurriedly said, “Such a large amount of silver being transported out would attract attention. Send people to pursue it. It may not be impossible to recover it.”
Qin Wei, kneeling below, said anxiously, “But the national treasury is already strained. Losing such a large sum, how can we explain this to the court officials…”
Emperor Shun’an frowned, “Just suppress the news for now! It’s not like we need the money immediately.”
Huo Xian finally understood why his eyelid had been twitching. Expressionless, his voice steady, he said, “Your servant has something to report upon entering the palace today.”
Author’s Note:
Here’s a little hidden sweetness for you: At night, when she feels cold, Luoluo snuggles up to Huo Xian, which keeps him awake 🐶. After tossing and turning, he simply turns his back, so when Luoluo wakes up in surprise, she’s always snuggled up against his back.
