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 had to tell Li Yuezhen whether he was qualified to ask for these things or not, whether he was 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 she cannot continue this relationship because she is a sinner.
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 then 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 not 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 the residents of 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'll let you know when the time comes. If I can't 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, only to find 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."
"..."
Shun Bo'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.
"Are you okay?... Could you please tell me what the temporary tax is?"
"Emperor, Queen..."
"What?"
The man wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, panted heavily, raised his head and said, "I heard that the queen is going to build a new palace..."
"..."
Li Yuezhen was absolutely furious.
There is no need to confirm the authenticity of this matter with the Ministry of Household Affairs in the capital, because it is absolutely impossible... It is impossible for the queen to plan to build a new palace, let alone tax the people for it.
"Thank you, I'll go take a look first, too."
"Okay, okay..."
Li Yuezhen started running, and the wooden box on his body made a rattling sound.
Wang Hetong just made up the most taboo reason.
He circled around and returned to Huayue Tower, but there was no one in Huayue Tower, and there was a noise from the front of the street near the market.
He pushed aside the crowd and couldn't help but take a breath.
Shun Bo curled up and fell in the middle of the road. Mu Wan knelt beside him, trying to pick up her limp husband.
Jueyang fell not far away. He didn't know if he had been beaten. His face was swollen and his clothes were dirty, but he still tried to stand up.
"Stop fighting...please!"
Looking back, he saw two soldiers holding the struggling Cuihua's arms and shoulders. Another soldier with a sinister face pulled out his sword and put it on his shoulder, as if he was deliberately trying to scare everyone.
"As long as you obey me, we don't have to go to war like this."
That was the eunuch's follower who was driven away by Cuihua with a broom. He waved his crutch proudly and said.
And that is Jueyang's crutch.
"If you want money, can't you just pay it on my behalf?"
"That won't work."
The follower waved his cane randomly and hit Jueyang on the shoulder hard, causing Jueyang to fall to the ground again.
The onlookers turned their heads one after another, or wanted to rush forward, but when they saw the fierce glare in the soldier's eyes, they pulled back.
"do not go……"
Jueyang's mouth was bleeding, he put his hands on the ground and raised his head.
He gritted his teeth and tried to crawl to Cuihua, but the eunuch's follower kicked him in the face.
"Stop!...Okay, I'll go with you!"
"Cuihua!"
Mu Wan was about to rush out, but the attendant hit her on the shoulder with a cane.
Cuihua screamed.
Li Yuezhen held her left arm with her right hand, held her breath, and tried her best to restrain herself.
As a supervisory censor, he can beat the prefect's subordinates to pieces, but he is currently pretending to be a businessman for a secret visit, so he cannot act rashly.
Li Yuezhen restrained herself silently and stared at the account book held under the attendant's arm.
The soldiers dragged Cuihua away, and Li Yue really didn't dare to look at her expression.
The follower cursed the angry crowd and threw his crutch on the ground.
After a while, they got on a carriage parked nearby and drove away. Several young women who looked like Cuihua's friends called her name in mournful voices.
After the carriage left, Li Yuezhen walked towards Shun Bo and helped him sit up.
Shun Bo fainted, and Mu Wan sat on the ground blankly, touching her shoulders.
The people who were standing by looked at each other awkwardly, and several women rushed over.
"Send Uncle Shun back first, can you call the doctor? He seems to have fainted, and the boss lady seems to need treatment too..."
When Li Yuezhen turned around, she found that Jueyang, who had been beaten the worst, grabbed the crutches and stood up. Then, step by step, he chased after him as fast as he could.
"Hey...hey, Jueyang, where are you going?"
"I'm going to find her..."
One neighbor shook his head in pain.
"Don't be stupid. If you continue to disobey the prefect, I'm afraid you won't be able to live here anymore. Although you can't bear it, you can only give up Cuihua. Who told you not to marry her home earlier... Now it's already
Too late."
"I know……"
Jueyang still chased in the direction in which the carriage left.
No one accompanies him.
The neighbor just now was right, disobeying the governor will only lead to trouble.
The people watching dispersed with solemn expressions, and only a few women helped Shun Bo and Mu Wan walk back to their home.
Seeing Jueyang's back gradually leaving, Li Yuezhen slowly straightened her body.
It's... too late?
"..."
Li Yuezhen walked on the street where everyone dispersed. Even without running, she caught up with Jueyang not far away.
Jueyang turned his head and looked at the businessman walking beside him.
"Who are you……?"
He had a little slurred speech. Maybe his mouth was still bleeding when he was beaten just now.
"I am a guest of Huayue Tower. By the time you reach the prefect's mansion, it will be dark already."
"But, I have to go..."
"The Yushi Prison is relatively close, can I ask you to go there?"
"……ah?"
Li Yuezhen handed a hairpin to him.
It was a wonderful hairpin, decorated with both plum blossoms and chrysanthemums.
"……What's this?"
"The censor in Lenan has a censor named Guo Abei. Please give this to him."
"I know Guo Abei, but I don't have time now..."
"I will go to the prefect's mansion first."
Jueyang stopped.
"Even if you go...this matter has nothing to do with you."
"Wang Hetong insulted the master who my sweetheart serves. Although my situation is different from yours, I can't forgive him just like you."
Jueyang showed a confused expression, and Li Yuezhen handed over the hairpin again.
"Now that you know Yushi Guo, I feel relieved. Please be sure to give it to him. He will know it when he sees the hairpin. You and Yushi Guo come together. I want to rush over as soon as possible."
"……good!"
Jueyang grabbed the hairpin, turned and left.
After Li Yuezhen confirmed that Jueyang was heading towards the Yushi Prison, he also started running.
The wind is getting stronger and stronger, and the weather is getting gloomier.
Yesterday, Li Yuezhen had already gone to the prefect's mansion on a hillside to investigate the situation. Like the prefect's mansion in other counties, it was surrounded by walls and behind it was the governor's official residence.
Li Yuezhen put down the wooden box before going uphill, took out a dark blue jacket from the drawer that could only be opened using a mechanism, put it on, and hung the jade jade on his belt.
The guards of the Prefect's Mansion saw a stranger carrying a large wooden box climbing up the slope. They looked at each other in surprise and tried to prevent him from entering the Prefect's Mansion.
"Wait a minute, who are you?"
"I am the supervisory censor, and I am here to see the prefect Wang Hetong. Don't move!"
One of the guards was about to turn around and inform Wang Hetong, but Li Yuezhen immediately stopped him.
"I just need to find the prefect, and you guys stick to your posts. Those who act without authorization will be punished."
No matter which prefecture you go to, the guards will almost obey obediently when they hear this sentence.
Li Yuezhen walked in as leisurely as if she were walking into her own courtyard.
At this time, a man who looked like a groom came from behind the house leading a carriage.
It was the same carriage that took Cuihua away just now.