“You, you’re being pedantic!” Zhang Siqing angrily flicked his sleeve.
Censor Xing said nothing, but his unyielding attitude made everything clear.
“Lord Liu, look at this—” Zhang Siqing looked toward the Left Chief Censor.
The Left Chief Censor held his forehead.
What could he do? He was also helpless!
When they had initially selected censors to dispatch to Fudong, because the previous two censors had either died of sudden illness or met with accidents, everyone thought it was inauspicious, and no one was willing to go. This Censor Xing had volunteered himself.
He had already experienced this subordinate’s stubborn temperament.
To avoid being embarrassed by his subordinate, the Left Chief Censor wisely remained silent.
The atmosphere became deadlocked for a moment.
Shao Mingyuan spoke up: “In that case, Censor Xing should go attend to his duties. As for those two lost account books, we’ll look for them again.”
Censor Xing bowed stiffly to the group: “Then this subordinate will go attend to his duties.”
He still needed to write detailed memorials about the various evil deeds of Xing Wuyang and his fellow officials in Fudong to present to the Emperor – he had plenty to keep him busy.
“Sigh—” Watching Censor Xing turn and leave, Zhang Siqing stretched out his hand helplessly.
“Lord Liu, that’s your subordinate. You’re just letting him walk away like that?”
“What else? Force him to death?” The Left Chief Censor glanced at Zhang Siqing and reminded him righteously: “Minister Zhang, don’t forget that my subordinates are most fond of committing suicide by ramming into pillars when disagreements arise.”
Zhang Siqing stroked his beard, rendered speechless by this retort.
“So what do we do now? Those two account books must ultimately be presented to the Emperor as important evidence. Two account books with two different handwritings – anyone can see they’re fake, and our heads will all roll!”
Kou Xingze listened silently to the argument between Zhang Siqing and the Left Chief Censor, then turned his gaze to Shao Mingyuan: “When the Marquis told Censor Xing that we would look for the lost account books, did you have some particular meaning in mind?”
With Kou Xingze’s reminder, Zhang Siqing and the other man both looked at Shao Mingyuan.
Shao Mingyuan exchanged a glance with Qiao Mo.
He had just suddenly noticed Qiao Mo giving him a meaningful look, which had prompted him to temporarily appease Censor Xing.
“Three gentlemen, I would like to discuss something with the Marquis,” Qiao Mo said.
Seeing everyone looking at him, Qiao Mo’s expression remained calm, as if Censor Xing’s unexpected refusal hadn’t affected him in the slightest.
“Very well, you two go inside to talk.” After slight hesitation, Kou Xingze nodded in agreement.
The three high officials went to the corridor to endure the cold wind, their moods quite heavy.
The study was quiet and spacious, filled with the rich fragrance of ink.
After a moment of silence, Qiao Mo spoke, but not about the account books: “My eldest sister and I share the same mother and are only two years apart in age. Although we haven’t spent much time together since she lived in seclusion with our grandfather in Jia Feng from childhood, our interests are remarkably similar…”
Shao Mingyuan didn’t interrupt, listening carefully.
He wanted to understand everything related to Zhaozhao.
When Qiao Mo finished, he looked deeply at Shao Mingyuan: “Marquis, has my sister ever mentioned to you that both of us are skilled at imitating others’ handwriting?”
Shao Mingyuan was slightly stunned and shook his head: “Zhaozhao never mentioned it.”
At this, he smiled: “Zhaozhao isn’t someone who likes to show off.”
Qiao Mo’s lips twitched slightly.
He had been worried that Shao Mingyuan might feel embarrassed, but the man was quite good at finding excuses.
“If Censor Xing’s handwriting were placed before us, given one day, my sister and I could imitate it to eighty percent similarity. If given three days, we could make it indistinguishable from the real thing.”
Shao Mingyuan listened in amazement.
People with extraordinary natural talent truly did exist – his wife and brother-in-law were both such people.
Thinking of this, the young general rubbed his face in distress.
What should he do about the increased pressure? If his and Zhaozhao’s future children weren’t clever, they would surely take after him…
“Marquis?” Qiao Mo didn’t understand why the man before him suddenly looked distressed.
Shao Mingyuan came to his senses and laughed awkwardly: “Brother-in-law’s exceptional talent truly commands my admiration.”
Young Master Qiao inexplicably detected some insincerity in his tone. He looked at Shao Mingyuan with puzzlement, then sighed softly: “Whether it’s me or my sister, either of us could forge Censor Xing’s handwriting to transcribe those two account books, but I’m not certain if doing so would be right—”
The education he had received made it clear in his heart that such actions were not befitting of a gentleman, yet those two account books were too important-important enough that he was willing to abandon certain principles.
“Brother-in-law needn’t overthink it. Doing this would be right,” Shao Mingyuan said without hesitation.
Qiao Mo looked at him with profound eyes.
Shao Mingyuan smiled very casually, as if what made Qiao Mo hesitate wasn’t worth worrying about at all: “For some matters, results are more important than process – this is true on the battlefield, and it’s true in official circles as well. As long as we know it’s right, then it’s worth doing. We should be unwavering and need not retreat!”
Qiao Mo’s eyes flickered slightly.
Shao Mingyuan smiled and looked out the window, saying softly: “Everyone wants to maintain gentlemanly conduct and noble character, but many things in this world must still be done by someone.”
Qiao Mo’s heart trembled, as if he were seeing the young man before him for the first time.
He was two years younger than Qiao Mo himself, yet already a renowned, ever-victorious general and Marquis Guanjun personally enfeoffed by the Emperor. Many people envied him, many admired him, but equally many secretly cursed him as cold-blooded and heartless, claiming he had shot his wife to gain military merit.
The common people were ignorant and followed rumors blindly. Sometimes, destroying someone’s reputation required nothing more than a few idle men gossiping after drinking.
He had always thought Shao Mingyuan had reached his current position through passion and hot blood, but now he discovered this man was more perceptive than most people.
The youngest high-ranking general of Great Liang was unwavering and pressed forward precisely because he saw things.
Qiao Mo reached out and patted Shao Mingyuan’s shoulder, saying solemnly: “The Marquis is right. I know what I should do now.”
However, Shao Mingyuan smiled and shook his head: “Brother-in-law cannot do this.”
This time, Qiao Mo was completely confused, his eyes showing puzzlement.
“If Physician Li cures brother-in-law’s facial injury, you’ll participate in next year’s metropolitan examination, won’t you?”
“Yes.” Qiao Mo frowned, already understanding Shao Mingyuan’s meaning.
“If brother-in-law wants to go far in his official career, you cannot let people know you’re skilled at imitating others’ handwriting.”
Which superior would dare employ a subordinate who could imitate others’ handwriting?
Qiao Mo fell silent for a moment.
“I’ll go find Zhaozhao.”
Qiao Mo stopped Shao Mingyuan: “My sister is a girl. How can I stand aside while dragging her into this?”
“Brother-in-law, I know Zhaozhao’s thoughts. If you were the one to step forward, she would be angry.”
Qiao Mo’s lips moved, but he finally sighed.
Li Family East Residence.
“Madam, the First Madam from the West Residence has brought Third Miss to pay their respects to you,” the maid whispered in Jiang Shi’s ear.
“What time is it now?”
“It’s noon.”
Jiang Shi’s cloudy eyes remained motionless. She snorted coldly toward the front and struck her cane heavily on the ground: “It seems they’re bullying this old woman because she can’t see. Coming to pay respects when it’s almost noon!”