He spoke with not a hint of seriousness, making Liu Yuru unable to resist giving him a light shove. "You only know how to sweet-talk me with such words."
Gu Jiusi raised his hand to grasp hers, pressing it against his chest. "Is it sweet talk or sincerity? Come, feel for yourself."
"I can't tell," Liu Yuru replied with a laugh.
Gu Jiusi leaned closer, gazing at her as he lowered his voice. "The clothes are in the way. Why not slip your hand inside and feel?"
Liu Yuru was momentarily stunned before she caught his meaning. "Gu Jiusi, you're truly too shameless."
"You've said that too many times," Gu Jiusi pouted playfully. "And I've never denied it anyway."
Liu Yuru pushed him again, but Gu Jiusi held her hand, guiding it toward his collar with a roguish grin. "Come on, give it a try."
"Gu Jiusi!"
Liu Yuru didn't know whether to laugh or cry as Gu Jiusi continued his antics, pulling her into an embrace. Once they were wrapped in each other's arms, they fell silent. After a moment, Gu Jiusi spoke softly, "Why are you unhappy?"
"Hmm?" Liu Yuru sounded puzzled. "What makes you think I'm unhappy?"
"When I came in earlier, I sensed you were upset," Gu Jiusi said seriously.
Liu Yuru was taken aback by his perceptiveness. She studied him for a moment before a gentle smile graced her lips. "I'm not unhappy. I was just lost in thought."
Seeing that she wouldn't elaborate, Gu Jiusi didn't press further. After they returned home, while Liu Yuru was freshening up, Gu Jiusi intercepted Yin Hong at the doorway. "What happened at the banquet today?"
Yin Hong, still simmering with indignation, eagerly recounted the day's events in detail. Gu Jiusi listened with a furrowed brow. When she finished, Yin Hong sighed. "Our mistress is simply too kind-hearted."
Gu Jiusi acknowledged with a hum before adding, "Stay close to her." Without another word, he turned and left.
He stood alone in the courtyard for a while, not returning indoors. Shen Ming, strolling through the grounds late at night, happened upon him. "Well, my dear brother, what are you doing standing out here in the middle of the night?"
Gu Jiusi lifted his gaze to Shen Ming, who grew uneasy under the intense stare. Swallowing nervously, Shen Ming asked, "What... what do you want?"
After a moment's contemplation, Gu Jiusi grabbed Shen Ming by the arm. "You're coming with me."
When Liu Yuru returned from her bath, Gu Jiusi was nowhere to be found. Though curious, she learned he had left with Shen Ming and assumed it was for some important matter, so she didn't inquire further. She had someone retrieve Madam Liu's purchase records from Floral Visage and tallied the amounts. The sum Madam Liu had spent on perfumed creams and rouge at Floral Visage alone exceeded several years of Liu Chun's official salary. After pondering this at home for a while, she eventually retired for the night.
Gu Jiusi returned in the dead of night, appearing exceedingly cheerful. Liu Yuru couldn't help but ask, "What did you do to be in such high spirits?"
Gu Jiusi simply grinned without answering as he climbed into bed, declaring cheerfully, "Time to sleep, time to sleep."
Unable to pry any information from him, Liu Yuru said, "I had the accounts checked and found records of Madam Liu's expenditures at Floral Visage. If you need them, I can compile the details for you immediately."
"No need," Gu Jiusi replied, tucking the blankets around her. "Stay out of this. Getting involved might harm Floral Visage's business. Just focus on your work and pay no mind to my affairs."When Liu Yuru heard Gu Jiusi say this, she asked suspiciously, "Then how do you plan to start this?"
Gu Jiusi smiled: "Didn't you have an argument today?"
Hearing this, Liu Yuru knew Gu Jiusi was aware of what happened during the day and quickly said, "That hardly counts as an argument."
"It doesn't matter anyway. But as you said, those who are attentive would have already taken notice. We don't need to go through extra trouble."
Liu Yuru acknowledged with a sound and fell asleep together with Gu Jiusi.
The next day, after washing up, Liu Yuru went to the shop she had acquired on the street. Goods were already being arranged inside, and it would open for business the day after tomorrow.
Ye Yun and Liu Yuru were inspecting the goods together. Ye Yun's condition had improved significantly recently. Though usually quiet, she was now full of energy. She had already energetically renovated the Gu residence, transforming a dilapidated courtyard into something grand and spacious. Some people even admired Ye Yun's redesign and specially came to ask if she would be willing to sell it.
Ye Yun had also designed the Floral Visage shop. Compared to the one in Wangdu, the Eastern Capital store was on a whole new level. As Liu Yuru and Ye Yun watched the goods being moved into the shop, Liu Yuru was explaining about the rouges when Yin Hong suddenly entered and whispered to Liu Yuru, "Madam, good news."
Liu Yuru turned around puzzled. Yin Hong glanced around and, seeing no one else, said with a smile, "Madam, something extremely amusing happened this morning."
"Hmm?"
"Last night, Minister Liu was dragged out of a brothel while naked and hung at the entrance. I heard Madam Liu went there with a rattan cane and whipped him all along the street."
"Such a thing happened?" Ye Yun was astonished, but Liu Yuru immediately thought of Gu Jiusi, who had gone out with Shen Ming last night. After a moment's hesitation, she slowly asked, "Do we know who did it?"
"Not yet," Yin Hong said cheerfully. "I heard Liu Chun woke up today with no memory of last night's events and was met directly with the rattan cane—probably beaten senseless."
"But," Ye Yun wondered, "would Madam Liu really show Minister Liu no mercy at all?"
"Last night, Minister Liu wrote a poem while drunk, and it reached Madam Liu's ears," Yin Hong leaned in and lowered her voice. "I heard it was something like 'pig trotters strung with warm jade, silk shrouded by a water bucket.' Madam Liu was furious, hence her actions."
"That is indeed excessive," Liu Yuru nodded, then asked, "And then?"
"Nothing much after that," Yin Hong shook her head. "It's just said that with his situation, the Censorate couldn't possibly turn a blind eye even if they wanted to."
That made sense. Great Xia officials were forbidden from visiting such pleasure quarters. With him stripped and publicly displayed, the commoners were already buzzing. Asking the Censorate to pretend nothing happened would truly be difficult for them.
Hearing there were no serious consequences, Liu Yuru didn't inquire further. She returned home early at noon and waited quietly in the corridor for Gu Jiusi to return enthusiastically.
As soon as Gu Jiusi saw Liu Yuru's expression, he knew something was wrong. He instinctively took a step back. Liu Yuru said calmly, "Stop."
Gu Jiusi didn't dare move. Holding a round fan, Liu Yuru walked past him expressionlessly and said lightly, "Husband, let's talk in the study."Gu Jiusi heard this and knew the conversation was not going well.
They entered the study, where Liu Yu Ru dismissed everyone and closed the door. Gu Jiusi stood in the main hall while Liu Yu Ru took a sip of tea without saying a word. Standing there, Gu Jiusi felt his earlier pride from the morning vanish and quickly said, "Don't worry, there's no way this will be traced back to me."
"You know what I'm going to say?" Liu Yu Ru looked up with a half-smile. Gu Jiusi hesitated, then cautiously replied, "Isn't it about Liu Chun?"
"So you do know."
Liu Yu Ru sighed and spoke slowly, "Jiusi, you're not a child anymore. Things like gathering people to beat someone up over a single disagreement—you could get away with that when you were reckless before, but now you need to be more careful. If this gets exposed, you won't be able to explain it clearly."
Gu Jiusi lowered his head, appearing to listen to the reprimand. Liu Yu Ru had no choice but to say, "I'm only doing this for your own good."
"I understand," Gu Jiusi quickly responded. "Shen Ming and I handled it cleanly yesterday, and Shen Ming took care of the main part. Besides, Liu Chun has already been taken to the Ministry of Justice, so there's no threat now."
"Liu Chun is at the Ministry of Justice?" Liu Yu Ru was surprised. Gu Jiusi nodded, "Yes, this morning the Censorate submitted a Memorial impeaching him. He's probably at the Ministry of Justice now, being investigated regarding his wife's situation."
"The Censorate acted that quickly?"
This was beyond Liu Yu Ru's expectations. Gu Jiusi nodded again, "The Censorate is currently under Ye Shi'an's uncle's management. I've heard they work extremely fast and have their own methods. Once they uncover Liu Chun's corruption, as the Vice Minister of Revenue, he'll have to account for the treasury inventory. At that point, they'll need someone to compare the previous dynasty's finances with the current situation, which will naturally lead them to think of my uncle."
"You've taken quite a detour with this plan."
Liu Yu Ru sighed with admiration. Gu Jiusi smiled, "If it weren't for the detour and the matter was traced back to me, I'm afraid His Majesty might become suspicious. After all, Prince Liang is a lingering concern of his."
Liu Yu Ru nodded. Gu Jiusi looked up at her cautiously and asked, "So, have I passed this test?"
"Don't be so rash in the future," Liu Yu Ru sighed. "Next time, don't resort to violence. Liu Chun was bound to be taken down sooner or later—why stir up trouble like this?"
Gu Jiusi smiled without replying, his gaze fixed intently on Liu Yu Ru. As she tidied the desk, she noticed his stare, paused for a moment, then somewhat embarrassed, whispered, "Alright, you should go and attend to your business."
Gu Jiusi acknowledged and turned to leave. At the door, he stopped, his back to her, and said softly, "Yu Ru, I won't let anyone bully you."
Liu Yu Ru's hands stilled briefly, and she whispered in response, "I know."
Gu Jiusi left and went directly to the Ye residence to find Ye Shi'an.
Ye Shi'an had moved back to the Ye residence several days ago, and visiting him required a formal appointment. After sharing a cup of tea with him, Gu Jiusi voiced his suspicions about Liu Chun and Lu Yong, saying to Ye Shi'an, "Forty million taels of silver—they finished counting it in one afternoon? How is that possible? There must be something fishy going on."
Ye Shi'an listened, took a sip of tea, and slowly asked, "Were you the one who cleared the previous dynasty's accounts?""Indeed." Gu Jiusi found Ye Shi'an's furrowed brow somewhat peculiar. "I was the one who audited it."
"Forty million?"
"Forty million."
Ye Shi'an took a deep breath. "Do you know what figure Lu Yong reported to His Majesty?"
Gu Jiusi was momentarily stunned before suddenly comprehending, exclaiming in shock, "He dared falsify the national treasury's silver reserves?!"
Ye Shi'an shook his head. "We don't know exactly how he presented it, but His Majesty believed him. Now the court universally believes the previous dynasty left only thirty million taels of silver. Thirty million isn't insignificant either. But what worries me is - regarding this audit, aside from you, does anyone else know about the forty million figure?"
Gu Jiusi pondered. This matter had practically passed through his hands alone, and ultimately, he was the only one who knew the exact forty million tally.
After careful consideration, he suddenly understood Lu Yong's confidence in reporting false numbers. Besides himself knowing it was forty million, others who might have known were probably already aligned with Lu Yong's faction. If ten million taels were removed during inventory, the accounts would match perfectly.
"Regardless," Gu Jiusi took a deep breath before continuing, "I hope you will inform Imperial Censor Ye about this matter. It must be thoroughly investigated."
"I understand." Ye Shi'an nodded calmly. "Rest assured."
While Ye Shi'an and Gu Jiusi were discussing Liu Chun's case, a carriage stopped at the rear gate of Lu residence. A gilded name card emerged from the carriage as a man's laughter came from within: "Inform Minister Lu that the person who can save his life has arrived."
OpenNovel