Chunxiang tossed and turned and sat up from the bed.

It's a bit cold tonight.

I wonder if it will be cold in Yinzhou...?

"..."

She gently picked up the old children's shoes placed next to her pillow.

She felt that everything was over, and she wanted to turn this relationship into a memory as soon as possible.

...is it really over?

Of course it was impossible for the kid to answer her.

However, while holding this shoe, she couldn't stop thinking... She imagined the heart of the mother who suddenly lost her son, and the inner thoughts of Li Yuezhen who had always treasured this shoe.

She finally realized that she hadn't said anything important yet.

She must tell Li Yuezhen whether he is qualified to ask for these things or not, whether he is guilty or not.

"I like Mr. Li Yuezhen..."

The dim moonlight illuminates the old blue children's shoes in my hands.

No matter what Li Yuezhen cares about...just because he cares, he can't let go of this relationship easily.

Since Li Yuezhen insists that he is a sinner, he must tell him that even so, he still likes him.

If she gives up this relationship and takes the initiative to stay away from him, Li Yuezhen may feel that because she is a sinner, she cannot continue this relationship.

When she first joined the palace as a maid, she was very nervous every day and did wrong things all day long. However, the queen never scolded her, but encouraged her, and she quickly adapted.

If the queen had complained about hiring an incompetent maid, she would have become less and less confident and would have resigned long ago.

…it’s not over at all…

She hasn't expressed her feelings yet, and Li Yuezhen hasn't felt her feelings either.

From now on, she told him that she liked him every time she met, until Li Yue really felt that she was annoying and really hated herself.

By that time, it's never too late to give up.

When his mother sewed this shoe for him, she must have prayed for his happiness.

"I... also hope you can smile..."

Chunxiang clenched her little shoes.

…

Guo Abei, the censor of Lenan, said that Wang Hetong did not collect taxes in Minghai County, but illegally levied taxes on residents in the downtown area of ​​Lenan who made more money by doing business in the market, which happened to be near the hotel where Li Yuezhen stayed.

Wang Hetong is basically a picky persimmon.

"The ones who actually collected the goods from door to door were the followers Wang Hetong brought from the capital."

"Is he alone?"

"He also brought two strong men, they seem to be Wang Hetong's family soldiers."

Like yesterday, Li Yuezhen listened to Guo Abei's report in a deserted narrow alley.

"As you have guessed, there are indeed account books. Those who paid taxes said that after paying the money, the attendants would record in the account books which family the money was collected from."

And... Guo Abei's expression became even more solemn.

"Several of them said that Wang Hetong's followers also said that temporary taxes will be levied again recently."

"……recent?"

"Said almost ten days ago."

It seems that as long as you stay in Lenan for a while, you can get everything on the spot.

"The account books can be used as evidence. It is best to confiscate the previous account books at the same time. I guess they may be hidden in the official residence... Can you help me?"

"No problem at all."

"Then I will inform you at that time. If I am unable to go to the Censor's Office in person, I will send someone to deliver the 'unsellable hairpin' to you, please."

Guo Abei showed a surprised expression for the first time.

"...a hairpin that cannot be sold?"

"You'll know then."

As long as the evidence is confiscated and brought back to the Yushi Prison, your work will be done.

If Guo Abei's news is true, this matter will be settled soon.

After it's over...it's time to return to the capital.

…It is impossible to escape forever…

Distractions can affect work.

Li Yuezhen sighed and walked back to the downtown area, and found Shun Bo walking in front.

He was about to step forward to say hello, but Shun Bo didn't see Li Yuezhen and turned into the road ahead.

"..."

In front of that road is a gentle slope, which does not look like it is inhabited.

Li Yuezhen chased after him and saw Uncle Shun squatting in front of the wooden fence.

Li Yuezhen thought he was feeling unwell, but when she looked carefully, she found Shun Bo inspecting the wooden fence.

Hearing Li Yuezhen's footsteps, Shun Bo turned his head and was not surprised to see Li Yuezhen, but just nodded to him.

Li Yuezhen nodded to him silently. At this time, she discovered that there was a depression inside the wooden fence, and there was a large pool of water that could not be distinguished whether it was dark green or brown.

It shouldn't be called a pool, but a swamp.

...could it be here?

He remembered what the old man told him when he was in the market before, and couldn't help but feel sad.

He felt very uncomfortable here.

"My son fell in here."

Uncle Shun patted it, shook the wooden fence again, and said calmly.

"We were not careful and he fell down. Only his shoes were found. After that, I nailed a wooden fence here to prevent any more children from falling in. Sometimes I would come and check to see if there was any damage.

repair."

"..."

Shunbo's tone was very calm, but his wrinkled face showed regret and loneliness.

Shun Bo inspected it carefully and stood up.

The wind is very cold.

"I told myself that there is another world deep in this swamp, and my son is alive and well there."

"……Yeah?"

"right."

Uncle Shun said no more, silently looking down at the swamp.

After a while, he looked back at Li Yuezhen.

"It's cold here, let's go!"

"good……"

When Li Yuezhen was about to walk uphill with Shun Bo, something seemed to pass through his field of vision.

"...?"

When he looked back, there was no movement, just a dark swamp.

What is it? I just saw something blue being thrown into the swamp... No, I didn't see it with my own eyes, but deep in my eyes, deep in my mind...

"Uncle Shun, so you are here."

When he came back to his senses, he found that Shun Bo had reached the end of the ramp and someone was calling Shun Bo.

Hearing the panicked voice, Li Yuezhen hurried up the slope and found a middle-aged man running towards him.

"Uncle Shun, you are indeed here, go home quickly."

"What's wrong?"

The middle-aged man stood in front of Shunbo out of breath, pointing in the direction of the downtown area.

"The prefect is levying temporary taxes again. Jueyang has no money to pay. Cuihua..."

Uncle Shun ran away, and Li Yuezhen followed him. He heard from the middle-aged man next door that Jueyang didn't make a lot of money because of his inconvenient legs and the fact that he had to take care of his grandmother. He asked the prefect's followers to give him a few more breaks.

But the waiter said that if he couldn't pay, he would take Cuihua away.

"It's baffling. What does this have to do with taxation?"

"Anyway, those guys planned to arrest people from the beginning..."

The middle-aged man was running and talking, panting hard and coughing.

He asked Uncle Shun to go first, and Uncle Shun quickened his pace.

Li Yuezhen bent down and looked at the middle-aged man who stopped.
To be continued...