"I'll leave the accounts to you."
The two censors cupped their hands in obeisance to the three young men in front of them and said with a smile.
Behind them, more than ten palace guards stood solemnly.
The three young men were dressed like scholars and had folding fans tied around their waists. They looked high-spirited, but there was a square object hanging on the other side, which looked a bit strange.
"You two are too polite. This is what we should be doing." Cui Xixin smiled and cupped his hands together.
One of the censors smiled and said, "Time is of the essence. Let's talk as we go."
"Please!" Cui Xixin extended his hand.
They were ordered by the emperor to investigate the accounts. Cui Xixin and the others were divided into four groups of three. At this time, the three of them were going to a county in the suburbs near the capital.
Although there were two Imperial Censors in charge of this trip, the status of these three people was not ordinary. The two Imperial Censors did not dare to put on airs. Moreover, the Deputy Prime Minister had already instructed them to show sufficient respect to the students of the Calculation Academy.
…
…
Chen County was a small county less than 50 miles away from the capital. It was neither too close nor too far away. Although it wasn't as rich as Jing County, it was still near the capital. It wasn't rich, but it wasn't poor either.
At this time, in the government office of Chen County, the county magistrate was pacing back and forth in the hall. His face showed a hint of anxiety.
After a while, he raised his head and asked, "Are they coming today?"
A middle-aged man with a mustache walked out and said, "Sir, according to the news from the capital, the investigation this time will start from a few counties in the suburbs near the capital. Chen County will be the first to bear the brunt. There should be people arriving today."
County Magistrate Zhao looked up at him and asked, "Advisor Ma, do you think this time is safe?"
Advisor Ma smiled and said, "Sir, don't worry. That person is an expert in accounting. He does things flawlessly. Even the emperor can't find anything wrong with the account books in his hands."
Advisor Ma looked at him and asked, "Sir, did you forget that there were also censors who came to investigate the accounts before the New Year? They stayed in the household for three days, but in the end, they found nothing."
Hearing this, County Magistrate Zhao was finally relieved and said, "That's true. Those useless imperial censors are far from being able to investigate our accounts!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a yamen runner came forward to report that the useless Imperial Censor of the capital had arrived.
"Please, Sirs. I've been waiting for you for a long time." County Magistrate Zhao greeted them with a smile and cupped his hands.
Even though his rank was higher than these two censors, they came from above, so he naturally had to be courteous.
One of the imperial censors said, "We have come to Chen County on the orders of His Majesty to examine the accounts of the yamen. Please cooperate, County Magistrate Zhao."
"Of course I'll cooperate." County Magistrate Zhao smiled and said: "A few days ago, an imperial censor came to investigate, but since it is the order of His Majesty, we naturally have to fulfill our duties. Two sirs, please follow me."
When County Magistrate Zhao led the two censors to the house, he looked back at the three young men behind him and asked in confusion, "These three are?"
"He's a student who came along to audit the accounts." One of the imperial censors explained.
County Magistrate Zhao nodded and didn't ask any more questions. He just felt that these three people were strange no matter how he looked at them, and a faint sense of foreboding arose in his heart.
"All the accounts of last year are here." County Magistrate Zhao brought them to the house and pointed at several thick books on the table.
He sneered in his heart. These things looked big, and it was impossible to finish reading them in a short time.
Cui Xixin put down the abacus and said, "County Magistrate Zhao, please prepare some writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone."
"Okay." County Magistrate Zhao responded and said, "Advisor Ma, did you hear that? Hurry up and prepare …"
Writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone were all prepared. According to the rules, as a county magistrate, he had to avoid arousing suspicion. County Magistrate Zhao said with a smile, "You guys take your time to check, I'll leave first."
When he walked out of the door, he saw that the three strange people had already spread out the white paper. They were fiddling with a square object pierced with beads and writing something on the paper. The corner of his mouth twitched, and he strode out.
Walking to the yard, he glanced at the two rows of imperial guards outside the door and ordered the advisor, "You guys have worked hard on the audit. Advisor, go to Spring Fragrance Restaurant and order a table of good wine and food. Ask them to send it over at mealtime."
In the house, hearing the crackling sound, the two censors looked at each other, picked up their teacups and took a sip. They walked over to have a look and then came back to have a sip of tea …
This was truly an easy mission …
"23rd of July, buy five-cut rice paper." Cui Xixin glanced at the account book in his hand and opened another one. After comparing, he sneered and said, "100 taels."
"Five-cut rice paper for 100 taels. Is the rice paper of County Magistrate Zhao's family made of silver?"
He picked up the brush and wrote a few words on the paper. A young man opposite him also moved and said with a smile, "There are some here too. The difference between the loans is too big. It's too naive to think that such a clumsy method can fool us."
The two censors were stunned for a moment and then immediately put down their teacups. "So fast?"
"I also found two here." The last young man smiled and said, "Hurry up and work, and you can go back earlier. I'll treat you to dinner at Drunken Moon Restaurant tonight."
"That's great!"
The two of them laughed, and the crackling sounds of their hands became even louder.
…
…
County Magistrate Zhao sat in the back hall for two hours. He couldn't get rid of the bad feeling in his heart. In annoyance, he walked to the front hall. Just as he stepped out of the door, he saw the two censors and the three young men coming out of the house. He was stunned for a moment and then immediately greeted them with a smile.
He couldn't even finish reading half of the account book in two hours. So, the checking of the account books was actually just a formality?
It seemed that he had worried for nothing. The smile on his face was even brighter. He walked forward and said, "You must be tired from checking the account books. I've just asked people to prepare a banquet. You might as well eat before you leave. Otherwise, it will be my negligence."
The censor looked at him coldly and said, "Arrest him!"
While County Magistrate Zhao was stunned, the two imperial guards had already pressed his shoulders.
County Magistrate Zhao immediately shouted, "What are you doing!"
"What are we doing?" The censor sneered and threw a few pieces of paper on his face. He said, "Zhao Bin, in one year, seven thousand taels of silver have been embezzled by you!"
Hearing this, County Magistrate Zhao's body shook violently. When his eyes swept over the papers on the ground, his expression was extremely frightened and then immediately turned pale …
"Thank you three for today." A censor cupped his hands to Cui Xixin and the other two and said, "When we return to the capital, we will definitely ask for your merit in front of His Majesty!"
"Thank you very much, Your Excellencies."
Cui Xixin smiled and cupped his hands. A trace of a smile also appeared on the faces of the two behind him.
That Li Yi really didn't have any conspiracy and gave them such a great merit for nothing. Could it be that he was showing goodwill to them and His Highness, the King of Shu?
…
…
"Dream on!"
Fang was really possessed. He thought that he could throw mountains of gold and silver at him one by one just because he had mastered the method of turning sand into colored glass. He didn't know that the rarer something was, the less valuable it was. If there were too many of them, they wouldn't be valuable anymore. He could only take advantage of the beginning to make a huge profit …
Mercilessly smashed Fang's dream. When he turned around, he saw the proud Lolita sitting at the door and looking at him. Li Yi walked over and looked at her. He asked, "Why do you keep looking at me these days?"
"How do you know that I'm looking at you if you don't look at me?"
The proud Lolita glanced at him and hummed a little tune, leaving him with an extremely cool back view.
Li Yi stared blankly in a certain direction until her figure disappeared. Then he slowly withdrew his gaze.
Could it be that the age of 12 was the dividing line between a Lolita and a young girl?
The proud Lolita who had just turned 12 seemed to be becoming more and more feminine …
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