Zhu Nanxian’s brows furrowed slightly. He quickly walked to the window and looked out, only to see several bailiffs holding torches surrounding the inn. Further away, there were several rows of soldiers—by the looks of it, they had come with the imperial envoys.

He was already a person who had “ascended to heaven.” No matter who had come, being recognized would ultimately be inappropriate.

Thinking thus, Zhu Nanxian retrieved a cloak from his baggage.

Outside, shouting voices rose one after another. It turned out the officials couldn’t wait any longer and had sent bailiffs to knock on doors.

Yunlai Inn was currently booked by the Jiang family. Apart from people from Cuiwei Town, there were only the inn’s workers.

Upon reaching the main hall, people had mostly assembled. Zhu Nanxian looked around and saw that the one directing the bailiffs to count heads was Yao Youcai. The two people beside him—one was Assistant Director Lu from the Ministry of Finance, the other was Deputy Commissioner Zhang from the Left Military Commission. Besides these, there was also an official with proper features and a small indentation on his right eyebrow standing slightly further back. He looked young but carried himself with great composure—it was Zhai Di.

The square tables in the main hall had been moved aside, and several chairs and stools were joined together. But since the Vice Censor-in-Chief wasn’t sitting, the rest didn’t dare take their seats either.

Shortly after, the headcount was completed. Hearing that two people were missing, Yao Youcai asked loudly: “Where are that person surnamed Su and his guard?”

“Reporting to Your Lordship, Su Xie had urgent business and went out with Guard Tan. Their destination is unknown. They said they would return later.” Chao Qing answered.

Yao Youcai gave a careless “mm” and swept his gaze around. His eyes fell on Zhu Nanxian: “Guard Nan, wearing a cloak in the middle of the night—aren’t you stifled?” Then he ordered, “Someone, remove his cloak!”

Seeing Zhai Di appear here, Zhu Nanxian was worried about Su Jin’s trip to the reception temple tonight and was momentarily distracted. Suddenly seeing two bailiffs come forward to remove his cloak, before he could react, he raised his hand to block. In a flash, one person’s arm was twisted behind his back by him.

“You dare rebel—” Seeing this, Yao Youcai wanted to call people to apprehend Zhu Nanxian.

Chao Qing said: “Your Lordship, Your Lordship may not know—Guard Nan suddenly fell ill tonight and fears passing his sickness to others, which is why he’s wearing a cloak.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes. If Your Lordship doesn’t believe it, you can ask the inn’s workers. Tonight the inn even called for a doctor.”

Yao Youcai knew that this guard surnamed Nan wearing a cloak for no reason must have something suspicious about it. If it were any other time, he would definitely force him to remove it. But now was different—standing to the side was an imperial envoy, a capital official, and a deputy commissioner from the Military Commission. Never mind—after all, he hadn’t come for him tonight anyway. He might as well let him off and be a “reasonable” person.

So he waved his hand, ordering the bailiffs to stand down, then looked at Jiang Jitong and said: “Old Master Jiang, this official has already reported to—” He turned around and gave a deep bow to Zhai Di, “Lord Zhai, Vice Censor-in-Chief from the Imperial Censorate in the capital, about how you bribed officials back then to have Jiang Yan evade military service. Do you acknowledge your guilt?”

Jiang Jitong’s face was ashen, his knees on the ground. Actually, from the moment he saw Yao Youcai coming again, he had anticipated this scene. He trembled again and kowtowed: “Reporting to Your Lordship, this commoner acknowledges guilt. But Lord Yao, Lord Imperial Envoy, this commoner’s bribery of officials back then was done by me alone. Jiang Yan was young at the time and didn’t know—he didn’t intentionally evade service. Whether Your Lordships wish to punish or behead, could you only punish this commoner alone and spare my son’s life?”

“How to determine the sentence for your young master’s crime of evading service—Lord Zhai is a censor and will naturally distinguish right from wrong.” Yao Youcai said. Seeing Jiang Jitong readily admit his crime, with a wave of his hand, several bailiffs understood and immediately apprehended him.

Zhu Nanxian felt suspicious in his heart.

Yao Youcai’s true purpose was to seize the mulberry fields of Cuiwei Town, which was why he repeatedly used the matter of Jiang Yan evading service to threaten Jiang Jitong.

But now, he had actually pulled the rug out from under them, directly reporting the matter of evading service to Zhai Di, clearly not leaving the Jiang family any way out. Was this person surnamed Yao no longer wanting the mulberry fields?

That wasn’t right. Zhu Nanxian thought there must be another scheme behind this.

Zhu Nanxian knew he should temporarily save Jiang Jitong, at least not let him fall into Yao Youcai’s hands.

But once he spoke up, it would inevitably arouse suspicion. If it were only Zhai Di alone, that would be fine, but unfortunately both Assistant Director Lu from the Ministry of Finance and Deputy Commissioner Zhang from the Military Commission knew him.

So he could only remain silent and let the bailiffs take Jiang Jitong away.

Yao Youcai continued: “This official has come today for another important matter. You townspeople of Cuiwei were formerly mountain people, later clearing forests to make fields and becoming mulberry farmers, but your household registrations are unclear. Now, it happens to be the time for Great Sui’s once-a-decade household registration census—”

As he spoke, he stepped back and raised his hands, bowing respectfully to Assistant Director Lu beside him: “When Lord Lu from the Ministry of Finance was verifying household registrations in Shu, he discovered that among you, two people’s registrations are particularly problematic. They weren’t originally from Shu at all, but later registered here. The registration only states they were disaster victims from the Peach Blossom Flood in Wuchang.”

He swept his gaze around: “Where are Mu Axiang and Mu Yunxi?”

Shuxiang, having been injured, was originally standing at the back of the crowd. Hearing these words, she struggled to come forward and responded weakly: “Reporting to Your Lordships, this common woman and her nephew are originally from Jiangnan. Later our family moved to Huguang. For several consecutive years there were Peach Blossom Floods—we were scattered and displaced. Later we registered in Shu. I don’t know where the problem lies in the household registration?”

Shuxiang and Yun Xi’s household registration had been personally handled by Shen Xi—there could absolutely be no mistake. Now that Assistant Director Lu was finding fault, there was only one possibility—his intentions lay elsewhere, like a drinker who cares not for the wine.

Could it be he had learned of Yun Xi’s identity?

Zhu Nanxian’s heart tightened.

“The problem lies precisely in the fact that you were disaster victims from Wuchang Prefecture three years ago.” Assistant Director Lu answered. “During the Peach Blossom Flood in Huguang that year, disaster victims numbered in the tens of thousands. Setting aside bandits and criminals, among them were also two court criminals the court needed to apprehend—a woman and a half-grown child.”

Assistant Director Lu looked at Shuxiang: “Are you Mu Axiang?” Then he asked again, “Where is Mu Yunxi?”

Yun Xi fell silent. Though he didn’t know exactly what had happened, he guessed tonight’s events weren’t simple. Fearing he would implicate Thirteenth Uncle, he was about to step forward when suddenly someone tugged at the corner of his garment.

“It’s me—” The next moment, Jiang Ci stepped forward, emerging from the crowd.

All the people of Cuiwei Town were stunned. This was a grave crime of deceiving the court.

“Ah Ci—” Seeing this, Jiang Yue’er cried out, but before she could finish a sentence, she was shouted down by Yao Youcai.

Yao Youcai said: “The imperial envoy is present here. How can you shout and cry out?”

He naturally recognized Jiang Ci, but he was pleased to see this happen. After all, a scapegoat—the Jiang family’s crimes would increase by one degree. He’d pretend not to know for now, and when it was discovered later, it would be another achievement.

“Lord Lu, Mu Axiang and Mu Yunxi are both here. How do you think they should be dealt with?” Yao Youcai turned to ask.

Assistant Director Lu thought for a moment: “First imprison them. Tomorrow morning at first light, immediately escort them back to the capital and hand them over to the Ministry of Justice.”

Zhu Nanxian’s heart sank again.

Watching as Jiang Ci and Shuxiang were about to be taken away by the bailiffs, if he didn’t stop this now, it would be too late.

“Wait!”

Yao Youcai was about to lead Assistant Director Lu and Deputy Commissioner Zhang out of the inn when suddenly someone in the crowd called out to them.

Zhu Nanxian spoke coolly: “I have heard that among the Three Judicial Offices in court—the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Imperial Censorate—only they have the authority to interrogate and try cases. May I ask this lord, since when does the Ministry of Finance have the power to arrest people?”

Hearing Zhu Nanxian’s disrespectful words, Yao Youcai was about to scold him when Assistant Director Lu raised his hand to stop him.

He turned around, his gaze falling on Zhu Nanxian, looking him up and down. After a brief pause, he spoke: “This official is taking Mu Axiang and Mu Yunxi only to question household registration issues, after which they will naturally be temporarily transferred to the Ministry of Justice. Moreover, since they are criminal suspects, this official naturally wouldn’t act without evidence. I have a dispatch from the Ministry of Justice in hand. The dispatch is confidential and cannot ordinarily be shown to people.”

Zhu Nanxian asked Zhai Di again: “Has Lord Zhai seen the dispatch?”

Zhai Di only felt this person wearing the black cloak was inexplicably familiar. After a moment of silence, he spoke: “I have seen it.”

It was this morning that Shu Wenlan showed it to him, saying it was entrusted by Minister of Justice Qian Yueqian. It was indeed genuine.