Chapter 1394: Meeting and Secret Discussion

Chapter 1379: Meeting and Secret Discussion

This was a remarkable achievement in the Goldflame Plains, which had been plagued by years of chaos.

Xue Zongwu glanced behind the gate, noticing that two bronze array panels in the gate arch were still worn and unrepaired—a detail he had observed during his previous visit to the city. Evidently, Mangzhou had not bothered to repair its city protection array for the past six months. Since Mangzhou was located deep within Yaoguo territory and unlikely to face attacks, and because such a grand array could still function with three or four broken panels, the local authorities had grown complacent. Xue Zongwu shook his head. If these were his subordinates, their heads would have been cut off long ago.

Mangzhou remained as prosperous as ever, with its bustling market stalls, exquisite lakeside mansions, grand city temples, and people dressed in spring attire, seemingly unchanged from before. Compared to the capital city of Tianshui, Xue Zongwu preferred Mangzhou. Living here offered the same luxurious indulgence but with less restraint and more freedom. As Mangzhou was a crucial thoroughfare for western officials traveling to the capital, many nobles were currently visiting the city. Xue Zongwu rode through the streets in his carriage, accompanied by his personal guards, and every official he encountered saluted him. Xue Zongwu simply nodded in acknowledgment and passed by them without uttering a word.

His destination, naturally, was Xiaotao Villa. After Xue Zongwu’s mentor and father-in-law retired from Qingnie Mountain, the King of Yao even personally visited him while passing through Mangzhou, staying at Xiaotao Villa for three days. A person respected even by the monarch would, of course, thrive in Yaoguo. Currently, Mangzhou was bustling with traffic, but at least half of it was directed towards Xiaotao Villa. Officials and wealthy merchants passing through Mangzhou would all send their visiting cards to the Qi Mansion.

Mangzhou had limited high and steep peaks. Xiaotao Mountain, though densely forested, was only about a hundred zhang (over three hundred meters) tall in total, making it a mere hill compared to other famous mountains and rivers—except for the northern peak, which rose to two hundred zhang. The mountain road was built wide and flat, allowing three carriages to travel abreast. This mountain road was no longer quiet as it once was, with carriages constantly coming and going. Like other residences, the Qi Mansion’s courtyard walls stood a zhang and a half high, concealing a garden full of lush greenery and vibrant flowers, hidden from outside view.

Upon Xue Zongwu’s arrival, the Qi Mansion immediately opened its main gate to welcome the important minister. Since he was visiting his mentor and father-in-law, Xue Zongwu found it inappropriate to enter with his full retinue. Following custom, he selected a few adjutants and trusted elites to accompany him, while the rest of his men waited at the resting pavilion outside the gate. Xiaotao Villa frequently received visits from influential figures, so two rows of houses, known as the resting pavilions, had been built halfway up the mountain to provide food, lodging, and fodder. Visiting officials with too many attendants or guards could leave their personnel and horses at the pavilions while they proceeded to the mansion.

As dusk approached, the Qi Mansion was already brightly lit. Xue Zongwu walked over ten zhang inside the main gate. The evening breeze carried faint sounds of laughter. It seemed the Qi Mansion was once again filled with distinguished guests tonight. As the saying goes, "true hermits hide in plain sight." After Qi Yunsheng's retirement, high-ranking officials and nobles had even fewer reservations about associating with him. He was, in fact, busier than when he was the Great Elder of Qingnie Mountain.

The young servant leading the way bowed so low he almost touched the floor, saying, "My lord instructed that as soon as you arrive, you are to be escorted to the Hall of Nurturing Heart."

"The Hall of Nurturing Heart?" Xue Zongwu was familiar with the villa and didn't need guidance. However, with so many distinguished guests present tonight, Qi Yunsheng, as the host, should be entertaining them. Why would he meet him in the Hall of Nurturing Heart? Qi Yunsheng had three small spiritual retreats within the villa. The Hall of Nurturing Heart was one of them, and also the closest to the banquet hall and garden. Xiaotao Villa was very large, and if Qi Yunsheng met Xue Zongwu here, he would still need to attend to other guests afterward. Xue Zongwu felt a slight surprise, but he followed the turn, heading towards the Hall of Nurturing Heart. His adjutants and personal guards followed closely, never leaving his side. Along the way, several more officials saluted and greeted him.

His principal wife had passed away years ago, yet he maintained a close relationship with his father-in-law, Qi Yunsheng. Everyone in the know understood why. The Hall of Nurturing Heart was not far from the banquet, but the dense vegetation filtered out the noise. The serene environment was suitable for quiet contemplation and reflection, and naturally, also for private discussions and secret meetings. Xue Zongwu knew that Qi Yunsheng arranging to meet him here indicated something important. Turning past a clump of low ferns, light shone ahead, signaling the Hall of Nurturing Heart. With a raised hand from Xue Zongwu, his personal guards dispersed into the woods, no longer following him.

Stepping into the Hall of Nurturing Heart, Xue Zongwu saw Qi Yunsheng standing by the window with his hands behind his back and immediately said, "Master, I trust you are well!"

"Come in and close the door." Qi Yunsheng personally closed the window. Once the barrier was activated, the clamor from outside immediately faded.

"How have things been recently?" The events in Shuangxi could not yet be openly discussed, so Xue Zongwu simply said, "Everything is going smoothly."

Qi Yunsheng pointed to a thin wooden box on the table. "Yesterday morning, someone quietly placed this in the guardroom by the villa's main gate."

"What is this?"

"Open it."

Xue Zongwu opened the box and saw a square-shaped ledger inside, whose style was very familiar. Could it be? He quickly picked it up, but the further he flipped through, the worse his expression became. It was a ledger, and he recognized the handwriting at first glance: Qian Yu! Qian Yu, his accounts manager, had died under mysterious circumstances in Shuangxi, and this was Qian Yu's ledger!

Qi Yunsheng asked meaningfully, "Is there anything I should know?"

"This is my ledger, originally kept at the Shuangxi official residence. This year, I sent Qian Yu to audit the accounts as usual, but he was first robbed and then killed; at the same time—" Xue Zongwu licked his lips, "—someone infiltrated the accounts office at the official residence, rummaged through everything, took several ledgers, and then set a fire, burning half of the old records." He shook the ledger in his hand. "This is one of them. Ha, it was a diversion after all!"

Qi Yunsheng's brows furrowed. "Are these ledgers problematic?"

Xue Zongwu nodded helplessly.

"What's going on?"

"These are the entries for actual expenditures. Tong Huan said that if Tianshui City sends people to re-establish the accounts, these entries will be used for verification. If they don't match up..."

"You are too greedy!" Qi Yunsheng slapped the window frame. "I warned you long ago, alas!" This son-in-law was decisive and resourceful, but he had one major weakness: greed! "Greed" is a huge pit; once you fall into it, you'll only become greedier. He believed that what Xue Zongwu called "some" was undoubtedly an astonishing figure, trouble that would be irreversible if exposed.

Hearing his complaints, Xue Zongwu pursed his lips and remained silent. This old man was trying to appear so clean, yet he didn't consider how much wealth the Qi family had accumulated through him, Xue Zongwu, over the years! He was in the foreground, while Qi Yunsheng remained behind the scenes, yet both their fortunes had multiplied several times! When it came to insatiable greed and ruthless tactics, how could he compare himself to this father-in-law? Tsk, they both knew each other inside out. Why was the old man pretending to be so virtuous in front of him? If Xue Zongwu was a fierce tiger, Qi Yunsheng was a cunning old wolf!

"There are also red markings in the ledger," Qi Yunsheng had already seen it beforehand. Xue Zongwu was startled to hear this. When Qi Yunsheng pointed them out, he clenched his teeth tightly. Besides the financial irregularities, the ledger even had red lines highlighting projects related to Governor Huang. Xue Zongwu's "official business" with Governor Huang appeared to be legitimate government-to-government transactions on the surface, with every entry documented and traceable. The illicit dealings within were extremely subtle; a simple audit of the ledger itself wouldn't reveal any problems.

The problem, however, was that Qingyang had amassed detailed evidence when settling accounts with Governor Huang. One or two pieces of that information, when correlated with this ledger, revealed discrepancies! Governor Huang's execution had happened almost half a year ago. Xue Zongwu had already destroyed most of the related documents he possessed, only recently remembering that there were still a few ledgers in Shuangxi! He had instructed Qian Yu to quickly go and destroy the old records to redo them. Who knew such an accident would occur? Now Qian Yu was dead, and one of the missing ledgers had been delivered to his father-in-law.

This was clearly a message: The person who stole the ledger wanted to tell him that everything about him, from his movements to his evidence, was under their control.

Qi Yunsheng asked him, "How many ledgers were lost in total?"

"I don't know. The other documents were burned, so I can't verify."

"Then the other party must have at least several more," Qi Yunsheng pressed his temples. "Do you think what I think?"

Xue Zongwu's voice was strained as he uttered two words: "Qingyang!" His series of troubles began when Qingyang assumed the role of Grand Inspector of Yaoguo.

"That old hag from Beijia spent several months understanding the court and political situation, and recently she's become increasingly aggressive, even publicly challenging His Majesty!" Xue Zongwu said grimly. "She sent this ledger to me. What do you make of it?"

"Perhaps she wants to tell you that although Governor Huang died early, the clues didn't disappear, and she can still trace them back to you." Qi Yunsheng sighed. "It's a pity Governor Huang died. He was a clever and efficient man."

If He Lingchuan were here, he would likely understand a little of what was being hinted at.

"She wants to demonstrate her power to me?"

"No, more than that," Qi Yunsheng analyzed. "If it were merely to demonstrate power, she wouldn't need to send you the ledger; she could simply declare your crimes in court and then present it as evidence. I believe she wants to either blackmail you or win you over."

"Blackmail me? Win me over?" Qi Yunsheng's thoughts coincided with Xue Zongwu's. "What does she want me to do?"

"Yaoguo is so vast, and its court so complex, that she and her few hundred people can't possibly control it on their own. She needs the support of powerful local forces... like you." Qi Yunsheng waved his hand. "Don't sneer just yet; this is the best strategy."

"What about the middle strategy?"

"If you refuse to change your ways, she can at least make you wary and prevent you from confronting her directly," Qi Yunsheng continued. "If even that fails, there's a last resort: publicly expose the evidence she has in court, sow discord between you and His Majesty, and ruin your reputation. This would also weaken our King's power."

Xue Zongwu gritted his teeth, making a grinding sound. "This old hag is truly vicious!" Abroad, he had conquered cities and seized territories with brutal methods, earning him the reputation of a "fierce and evil god." But that was abroad, outside Yaoguo! Abroad, whatever he did brought him prestige, and he was a hero upon his return. He knew perfectly well that the people of Yaoguo cared nothing about the Goldflame Plains, nor the lives of others, and even took some pride in hearing about his ruthless tactics. However, domestically, if Qingyang were to expose him for obstructing national interests and exploiting the common people, with every accusation made public, his reputation would be utterly ruined!