Ji Yunshu continued, “All these years, Anfu has experienced many robberies, each one of them unsolved. What’s more coincidental is that every case was reported by a guest who had lodged at Lin An Inn. Why, then, have these numerous cases not been solved at all? Why haven’t the whereabouts of a single lost item been discovered after these guests left Lin An Inn? Yet, Lin An Inn still enjoys a roaring business. If this one remembers correctly, Lin An Inn is operated by that Du Sanniang, right? Strange, how strange indeed. His Highness and this one spent a night there as well on our way into Anfu. What’s odd is that someone lost their belongings that night as well. Luckily, we managed to recover them. Could that inn be cursed? Why are their guests always losing their belongings? First Madam just mentioned that it was Du Sanniang who stole the Zhang Estate’s Guanyin Seal – is there some sort of connection between all these cases?”
She narrowed her eyes as she continued to flip through her record book. Liu Zhiliang’s poor heart was about to give out from stress and his palms were practically dripping with cold sweat!
Jing Rong could not help but chuckle at Ji Yunshu’s act of seriously flipping through that record book. Not bad, little rascal, not bad at all. You’ve really grown, haven’t you, learning how to tease someone like this – Liu Zhiliang is already shaking all over! He finally finished munching on the last melon seed. He wiped his hands clean, stood up and dusted his robes, then strode over and gave a little tap on Liu Zhiliang’s shoulder. “Liu Zhiliang, how much did it cost you back then for you to earn this position?” He joked mockingly.
Liu Zhiliang was already in a frenzy from Ji Yunshu’s earlier ambiguous statements. With Jing Rong’s mocking, he became even more frantic, “Your Highness means…”
“Don’t get nervous now. The dividends from the investments made to get you where you are today must be collected, no?
Liu Zhiliang’s face fell, but Jing Rong had already begun his calculations, “Let’s see. Here, this Prince would do the math for you. Ten thousand silver taels were ‘donated’ to get you your official hat and robes. Lord Liu’s salary is only forty-five taels per month – based on that, it would be almost twenty years before you’d break even. That’s twenty years too long, but Lord Liu doesn’t look like a man who would participate in losing businesses. You’ve only governed Anfu for a few years, but I’m sure you’ve already earned more than your initial ten thousand silvers, right?”
“This official doesn’t understand what Your Highness is trying to say.”
“Liu Zhiliang, oh Liu Zhiliang. You wear your official robes, decorate your yamen simply, and serve the commonest of teas in your office – you look every part an honest official. But in reality, you are a golden-tailed peacock wearing a crow’s disguise! You’re actually extremely wealthy, aren’t you?” Jing Rong continued on in his light tone, even patting Liu Zhiliang’s bulging middle cheekily! Ji Yunshu burst out laughing, rolling up her record book for good.
Jing Rong and Ji Yunshu had been teasing Liu Zhiliang since last night, giving him ample opportunity to ‘fess up to his own misdoings, but this wily old fox insisted on maintaining his foolish act. Liu Zhiliang bowed deeply as his conscience was jolted awake, “Your Highness must be kidding. This official is neither golden-tailed peacock nor do I have much money.”
Jing Rong lost his cool, “Are you still trying to hide? Look at your petty face – are you afraid this Prince would want your silver?”
“This official…”
“Forget it. Old fox, if I don’t produce the evidence before your eyes, you wouldn’t remove your crow’s disguise.”