Xie Yue nodded and said slowly, “Your Highness, Princess Consort, this old man believes that if we’re to investigate, we should focus primarily on Danfu County. Danfu County’s civilian laborers make up forty percent – solving this one location would resolve nearly half the manpower. Moreover, common people have a herd mentality. Danfu County is the largest among all the counties, so once Danfu County’s civilian laborers come, the other counties will likely follow suit.”

“Exactly so.” Xu Weizhi also said, “Most importantly, Magistrate Cheng of Danfu County has an extraordinary background. When this old man and Brother Xie examined the civilian laborer rosters, we deliberately investigated – that Magistrate Cheng is a student of a student of Grand Secretariat Lu.”

Grand Secretariat Lu was Lu Heng’s grandfather, the previous head of the Lu family.

Upon hearing this, Qin Yining’s brow furrowed. “Nowadays, whenever I hear about anyone or anything connected to the Lu family, I feel irritated. The civilian laborers’ delay in arriving is obviously because Magistrate Cheng has done something behind the scenes. Most likely it’s at Earl Lu’s instigation.”

Pang Xiao laughed carelessly. “No matter, no need to worry. Haven’t we encountered few difficulties before? It’s nothing more than meeting soldiers with generals and floods with earth.”

Seeing Pang Xiao so carefree, Qin Yining couldn’t help but smile as well.

Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi had originally looked tense, but seeing this, they also relaxed.

Pang Xiao said seriously, “The priority now is to clarify why Danfu County’s civilian laborers haven’t arrived, then prescribe the right medicine. If that Magistrate Cheng has played tricks, so be it – I’ll have to use my status to pressure him. But if the problem lies with the common people, things won’t be easy to handle.”

“Indeed.” Qin Yining frowned. “Although conscripting civilian laborers to build the imperial mausoleum is the court’s decree, in the people’s eyes, the person in charge is you. If the people refuse to come and you use force, it might incite popular anger. At best, it would ruin the reputation we’ve built up over time; at worst, it could cause civil unrest, giving His Majesty grounds to punish you.”

Xie Yue said, “What the Princess Consort says is true. Moreover, if this matter isn’t handled well and delays the imperial mausoleum’s construction progress, it will equally invite His Majesty’s blame.”

“Earl Zhongyi calculates well.” Xu Weizhi sneered. “Such a strategy kills two birds with one stone – it can distract Your Highness’s attention, drawing you to resolve the civilian laborer issue, giving him time to handle the treasure under the pretext of investigating stone materials, while also taking the opportunity to frame Your Highness. This person’s methods are cunning and not to be underestimated.”

Pang Xiao smiled. “Since we’re on opposing sides, whatever we do is fair game. To compete for victory or defeat, we can only rely on our respective abilities.”

“But how should this investigation be conducted?” Qin Yining showed a thoughtful expression and said slowly, “Sending people might not work well. If we alert the enemy, it might delay important matters. I do have a suggestion.”

“Oh?” Both Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi looked expectantly at Qin Yining. “Princess Consort has already thought of a method so quickly?”

Pang Xiao looked at Qin Yining with anticipation. “Let’s hear it.”

Qin Yining smiled. “Since Earl Zhongyi might be deliberately creating trouble for you to distract you, why don’t we follow his wishes and give him time by openly leaving Huichuan County? This way we avoid being constrained in our actions and delaying important matters, and we can focus on resolving the civilian laborer issue without giving His Majesty grounds to punish you.”

“What the Princess Consort says is extremely right.” Xie Yue also said, “Better to turn his scheme against him – leave Huichuan County and let Earl Lu operate the treasure matter.”

Qin Yining nodded. “As for investigating the civilian laborers in Danfu County, I suggest a two-pronged approach.”

Xu Weizhi stroked his long beard and nodded with a smile. “What the Princess Consort says is very true. This old man also thinks this method is excellent.”

Hearing this, Qin Yining knew that Xu Weizhi’s thoughts aligned with hers, so she stopped continuing and gave the opportunity to speak to the strategist.

Xu Weizhi said, “This old man believes this matter is best handled with one open and one covert approach. Your Highness would naturally be in the open – the civilian laborers not arriving in Huichuan is no secret, so it’s only proper for Your Highness to investigate in Danfu County. This can attract Magistrate Cheng’s attention, making it easier for another team to secretly investigate in Danfu County.”

“This method is excellent.” Xie Yue nodded in agreement. “As for those secretly going to Danfu County, they needn’t act furtively – they can disguise themselves as traveling merchants and openly go to Danfu County to do business. Contacting common people and encountering all walks of life would make gathering information easier.”

Pang Xiao nodded. “This method is feasible. How about having Master Xie and Master Xu disguise themselves as merchants…”

“Your Highness.”

Qin Yining interrupted Pang Xiao’s words and said seriously, “It would be most appropriate for me to disguise myself as a merchant and take Jingzhe and the others.”

Pang Xiao’s brow furrowed, disapproving. “You go? That’s too dangerous.”

“What danger is there in this?” Qin Yining smiled. “Of all the things we’ve encountered before, which wasn’t more dangerous than this? This time it’s just pretending to be a merchant doing business – nothing could be simpler. Gathering intelligence is exactly what the Silver Mask secret agents excel at. Taking Jingzhe and the other three would be sufficient.”

She then explained to Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi, “The two masters could naturally handle this matter well, but you are both strategists beside His Highness, which many people know clearly. Since His Highness plans to leave Huichuan County with everyone, if two important strategists were missing from his side, it might arouse suspicion. I’m a female family member who usually doesn’t need to show my face publicly, and Jingzhe and the other three aren’t people who attract attention. Most people wouldn’t notice if His Highness was missing a servant. My disguising as a merchant would attract the least attention and would also be easiest for gathering information.”

After Qin Yining finished explaining her thoughts in one breath, she looked inquiringly at Pang Xiao.

Pang Xiao naturally knew that what Qin Yining said was correct, but he really didn’t want Qin Yining to leave his side. Like every time before, he always didn’t want Qin Yining to take risks, and was angry at his own incompetence.

Xie Yue smiled. “Your Highness, this old man thinks the Princess Consort’s method is feasible. If the Princess Consort goes, it would indeed be better than us two going.”

“The reasoning is sound, but…”

Qin Yining smiled. “Since you also think so, then let’s do it this way. Don’t you trust me to handle things?”

Regarding Qin Yining’s capabilities, Pang Xiao was naturally confident. But regarding Qin Yining’s safety, he was truly worried.

Qin Yining thought for a moment and said, “Disguising as traveling merchants doing business really doesn’t involve much risk. I’ll set out with Your Highness, then take people ahead once we’re outside the city. Your Highness can make a grand show of traveling slowly. After I’ve gathered the information, I’ll come out to meet you, and we can enter the city together.”

Pang Xiao remained silent in thought for a long time. There really wasn’t any other more appropriate method at present. After thinking through the situation carefully, he finally nodded.

Since they had made their decision, they needed to prepare. To disguise as traveling merchants, at minimum the goods had to be complete. Fortunately, with the local Sifang Trading Company available, Qin Yining arranged for people to work behind the scenes, easily preparing two cartloads of goods.

Pang Xiao personally went to the county office.

Lu Heng came out with a smile to welcome him, cupping his hands. “Your Highness honors us with your presence – this subordinate failed to welcome you properly.”

“Earl Zhongyi need not be so formal.” Pang Xiao returned the courtesy, smiling as he followed Lu Heng to sit in the front hall. Lu Wenru brought tea and respectfully withdrew.

Looking at the dark blue robe with subtle embroidered patterns that Pang Xiao wore, Lu Heng inexplicably thought that this was perhaps Qin Yining’s needlework.

Qin Yining was willing to do needlework for Pang Xiao but wouldn’t spare him a glance.

His heart felt even more stifled, and he increasingly didn’t want to entangle with Pang Xiao further.

“What brings Your Highness here? Do you have any instructions?” Lu Heng got straight to the point.

Pang Xiao was naturally also too lazy to waste time with Lu Heng. Lu Heng had been coveting his Yining for more than a day or two. If he stayed too long, he worried he might not be able to resist strangling this fellow.

“Instructions is too strong a word. It’s just that His Majesty ordered the construction of the imperial mausoleum, but now there are some problems with the mausoleum project. Civilian laborers from various places haven’t arrived, and I’m afraid the mausoleum’s groundbreaking will be delayed.”

Lu Heng nodded with a grave expression. “What Your Highness says is true. This subordinate has also learned of this matter and is truly at a loss.”

Speaking of this, Lu Heng couldn’t help but observe Pang Xiao’s expression. Seeing him frown in silence, he couldn’t help but continue, “It’s just that His Majesty’s decree instructed this subordinate to thoroughly investigate the mausoleum materials. This subordinate is already overwhelmed and truly cannot spare the energy.”

Lu Heng’s face was full of worry and guilt as he inquired, “How does Your Highness plan to handle this matter?”

Pang Xiao said with complete sincerity, “The matter is indeed difficult to handle. This prince has investigated and found that the civilian laborers selected this time come from our county and several surrounding counties, with Danfu County’s laborers accounting for a full forty percent. This prince plans to personally investigate this matter.”

Speaking to this point, Pang Xiao looked at Lu Heng with probing and challenging eyes. “This prince has heard that Magistrate Cheng of Danfu County has quite some connection with your Lu family.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Heng’s heart jumped, then he felt somewhat relieved. If Pang Xiao was willing to question him, he was already anxious and probably blamed the Lu family for Magistrate Cheng’s actions. If Pang Xiao showed no suspicion or anger at all about this matter, then he would suspect that Pang Xiao already knew something behind the scenes.

Lu Heng said in alarm, “That Cheng Weimin is indeed a student of a student of my late grandfather. However, this relationship could be called close or distant – it’s indeed quite remote. At least this official and Cheng Weimin have only a nodding acquaintance.”

“Is that so?” The doubt in Pang Xiao’s eyes remained, clearly not trusting Lu Heng.

“Forget it. Since this involves whether His Majesty’s imperial mausoleum can be constructed smoothly, when this prince goes there, I will certainly investigate the underlying reasons thoroughly. If there truly is someone behind the scenes inciting the people and obstructing the mausoleum’s construction progress to achieve their goals, this prince will never be lenient. At that time, I will report the facts to His Majesty to request the Son of Heaven’s judgment.”

This was an obvious threat, and even Lu Heng couldn’t help but shudder.

“Your Highness’s loyalty to the sovereign and country, your impartiality, is truly admirable.” He absolutely refused to take Pang Xiao’s bait.

Pang Xiao sneered. “Impartiality and loyalty to sovereign and country are the most basic things you and I should accomplish. What does the Earl think?”

Lu Heng knew this was Pang Xiao’s threat, obviously blaming the Danfu County matter entirely on Lu Heng.

“What Your Highness says is true.”

Pang Xiao stood up, snorted with laughter, and strode away.

Lu Heng fearfully stepped forward to respectfully see him off, escorting him all the way out of the county office before slowly straightening up.

Watching the carriage carrying Pang Xiao gradually disappear into the distance, Lu Heng’s lips curved upward. With light steps, he flicked his sleeves, turned around, and strode back into the county office.