Xuan Yi: "..."
Where did that come from?
He simply couldn't understand the thought processes of the Princess Consort and this County Princess Jiacheng. For whatever reason, stealing or robbing disaster relief funds was a capital offense!
Nan Shiying looked at Mu Xiaoxiao, propped her elbows on the table, leaned forward, and said in a seductive voice, as if a demon were luring an innocent lamb into the abyss: "How about it? Isn't this more meaningful than stealing from passing wealthy individuals? Not only does it help the disaster victims, but it also punishes corrupt officials. Isn't that delightful!"
Mu Xiaoxiao was tempted by her words, but she still instinctively harbored suspicion, adopting a defensive stance: "Why should I believe you? What if you're just a shameless scoundrel greedy for the disaster relief funds!"
Mu Xiaoxiao took the opportunity to scold her.
Nan Shiying retorted: "If I were after money, why would I tell you this, knowing your identity?"
Mu Xiaoxiao was momentarily speechless.
Nan Shiying continued: "If you wish to participate in this matter, you must follow my instructions; if you don't, then keep everything to yourself."
Before Mu Xiaoxiao could figure out how to refute her previous statement, she heard the latter part and immediately cast her previous thoughts aside, rebelliously asking: "What can you do if I reveal it?"
Nan Shiying, however, smiled.
Her face bloomed like a peach blossom, her smile as bright as the summer sun, and even her voice was tinged with a smile, but her words sent an involuntary shiver down one's spine: "Then I'll kill you."
Mu Xiaoxiao trembled all over, not believing the other party was joking.
She shrunk her neck, pouted a little aggrievedly, rolled the hem of her clothes with the hand hanging by her side, and said softly, "Then, then I'll participate."
Only then did Nan Shiying nod with satisfaction.
...
The trio became a quartet.
Xuan Yi and Mu Xiaoxiao began visiting various places to investigate matters related to the disaster relief funds.
It took only two days to uncover clues.
"Hongyi did indeed leave behind the disaster relief funds," Mu Xiaoxiao picked up the teapot and poured water into her mouth. After drinking a good gulp, she suppressed the burning sensation in her throat, but the fire in her heart could not be extinguished no matter what.
"The Magistrate of Lin'an County used the disaster relief funds to purchase all the surplus grain from the surrounding towns. However, for some reason, he did not distribute the grain to the disaster victims but hoarded it in the yamen. He clearly had so much grain in his hands, yet he let the disaster victims starve to death. He deserves to die!"
Mu Xiaoxiao was filled with righteous indignation.
After the anger subsided, her heart was filled with bewilderment.
She didn't understand the purpose of the other party's actions!
She asked Nan Shiying: "Why did he do this?"
Nan Shiying held her teacup, a sharp, chilling glint in her eyes. In the past, corrupt officials were always the most excited when disasters struck.
If it were just greed, it would be fine. What was most feared was insatiable greed coupled with incompetence, and this magistrate was not only greedy but also vicious.
She said: "The disaster relief funds came from the national treasury. Every piece of silver was stamped with the treasury's seal. Even if the magistrate wanted to be greedy, he wouldn't dare. The only way to pocket these funds was to exchange the disaster silver for grain and then sell the grain at a high price to the people of Yuzhou."
"With one transaction in and one out, not only was the silver exchanged, but he also earned several hundred taels more. As for whether the disaster victims would starve to death, what did it have to do with him."
"He deserves to die, to be killed!"
Mu Xiaoxiao never imagined that there could be such a vicious person in the world. She wished she could rush into the yamen right now and tear that scoundrel official to pieces.
Nan Shiying looked at the agitated Mu Xiaoxiao, filled with doubt. Logically, such a matter would be handled with utmost secrecy by the magistrate, and it would not be easily leaked. How did Mu Xiaoxiao find out?
Nan Shiying touched her teacup and asked: "How did you find out?"
Mu Xiaoxiao's eyes flickered. She initially wanted to boast about herself, but after careful consideration, she chose to tell the truth: "Today, as I was walking, I was thinking about how to get close to the runners in the yamen when someone bumped into me and walked away. I wanted to chase after him to argue, but I found a sachet in my bosom. I opened the sachet and saw two pieces of paper. One stated the whereabouts of the disaster silver, and the other was this..."
Mu Xiaoxiao spread out the paper from her bosom and handed it to Nan Shiying: "This seems to be a map of the yamen."
Nan Shiying glanced at it. It was indeed a map of the yamen, but the question was, who had given this to Mu Xiaoxiao, and what was their purpose?
She looked up and asked Mu Xiaoxiao: "Do you remember what the person who bumped into you looked like?"
Mu Xiaoxiao shook her head: "I don't remember. No, I should say, I didn't get a clear look at the person."
Recalling it, all she could remember was: "That person was probably a head taller than me, thin, and judging by their back, they seemed to be a young man."
Nan Shiying was silent for a moment, concluding that her description was as good as saying nothing.
She rubbed the map with her hand and suddenly smiled.
She felt that the situation was becoming more interesting than she had imagined.
...
"What should we do?"
Mu Xiaoxiao looked at Nan Shiying, who was eating, and asked anxiously.
Nan Shiying took a bite of meat and said a word vaguely: "Wait!"
"Wait for what?" Mu Xiaoxiao pressed, confused.
Nan Shiying suddenly missed Ji Jinmo. At least if it were Ji Jinmo, she wouldn't have to explain so much.
She clicked her tongue impatiently: "Don't ask, just wait."
"Fengluan!" Mu Xiaoxiao glared at her, gritting her teeth as if she wanted to chew her name.
Nan Shiying sighed and decided to give her something to do, lest she become restless and mess things up. So she said: "You don't need to worry about what to wait for. I have a more important task for you."
"What?" Mu Xiaoxiao's anger immediately vanished, and she asked excitedly.
"Find the person who gave you the sachet that day."
Mu Xiaoxiao's smile froze on her face, feeling that she was deliberately making things difficult. Nan Shiying saw her suddenly crestfallen face and snorted: "What, can't do it?"
"I knew you couldn't do it. Forget it, you'd better stay at the inn."
Although she knew it was a challenge, Mu Xiaoxiao still threw herself into it: "Who says I can't do it? I'll find them for you!"
Saying that, she ran out without even eating.
Nan Shiying hooked her lips.
Poison Elder glanced at Nan Shiying, wondering where Xuan Yi had gone.
...
For three consecutive days, Mu Xiaoxiao searched for the person. Occasionally, she borrowed some silver from Nan Shiying to buy grain and help the disaster victims, but more often, she was searching for a needle in a haystack.
On the fourth day, a merchant caravan arrived from the direction of Yuzhou.
Nan Shiying finally perked up.
The grain merchants of Yuzhou had arrived.