FDPBCT 11

Chapter 11

Charge It to the Minister of Revenue’s Account (Page 1/2)**

Jixiang went to inquire and returned shortly with a frown. “Princess, that mansion has been on the market for nearly two months with no takers. It’s truly inauspicious.”

Ye Qiong’s gossip radar immediately went off. “Spill the details.”

With such a prime location and no buyers, it couldn’t be a haunted house, could it?

Jixiang lowered her voice. “That mansion is right next to the Marquis of Dingyuan’s residence. Two months ago, the Marquis of Dingyuan was imprisoned for treason and colluding with the enemy. His entire household was placed under house arrest. The neighbors were all afraid of catching the bad luck of ‘treason,’ so the family that originally lived in that mansion moved away overnight and was eager to sell. But everyone else was avoiding it like the plague—who would dare to buy it!”

Ye Qiong immediately withdrew her gaze.

Treason—that sounded like a lot of people were going to die.

She was someone who failed exams—better not get involved in this.

[Host, don’t be afraid. You still have over a month to live.]

Ye Qiong glanced at her remaining lifespan. My fate is in my own hands.

She didn’t have to get involved, but she absolutely had to hear the gossip—otherwise she wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight.

Ye Qiong looked at Cheng Qi with pleading eyes, her face full of curiosity. “Did the Marquis of Dingyuan really commit treason?”

Cheng Qi glanced at the tightly shut gates of the Marquis’s residence, his tone somewhat complicated. “In response to Her Highness, the case files show that both witness testimony and physical evidence point to the Marquis’s treason. However, His Majesty, mindful of past ties, did not order the execution of the entire household—merely placed the entire marquisate under house arrest. But under pressure from the court, the Marquis was still imprisoned, awaiting judgment.”

“This matter has far-reaching implications. His Majesty has yet to reach a final verdict.”

“However, at court, the Grand Chancellor has taken the lead, along with other noble families, repeatedly submitting memorials to pressure His Majesty, saying that ‘the law of the land cannot tolerate favoritism,’ demanding that His Majesty conclude the case and deal with the Marquis swiftly.”

Ye Qiong frowned after hearing this. “The noble families are that powerful?”

They could even pressure the Emperor? Force His Majesty to reach a verdict?

Cheng Qi lowered his gaze, his voice dropping slightly. “The noble families have been deeply entrenched for over a hundred years. Their disciples and former subordinates are scattered throughout the court and the country. Though His Majesty holds the imperial power, he still needs to weigh the pros and cons and consider the dignity of these families.”

Ye Qiong looked at him curiously. “How do you know so much about court affairs and the noble families?”

Even she, as a princess, didn’t know as much as a guard.

“This subordinate… is also from a noble family.”

Ye Qiong was shocked. “Then how did you end up in the Brocade Guard, and now assigned as my bodyguard?”

She had thought all noble子弟 were like the Gu family—arrogant, overbearing, and idle.

Cheng Qi lowered his gaze, his voice dropping further. “My birth mother was of low status, and I held no standing in the clan. Rather than being ostracized within the family, it was better to come out and seek my own fortune.”

Ye Qiong gave him a thumbs up. “Ambitious! I like subordinates like you. Don’t worry—this princess will definitely lead you to great success and prosperity.”

Cheng Qi: “…”

He’d be grateful if the princess just caused fewer disasters.

Seeing that the princess was getting along so well with the new guard, Jixiang’s alarm bells immediately went off. She quickly changed the subject to interrupt them. “Princess, are you still buying the mansion?”

“Of course I’m buying it.”

Ye Qiong had already figured it out: renovate the mansion, make it grand and impressive, then recruit a bunch of enforcers. In the future, when she went out on duty, she’d look incredibly cool.

“Charge it to the Minister of Revenue’s account?” Ruyi couldn’t help but chime in.

“Obviously! What, do you expect me to pay out of my own pocket for official business?”

Ye Qiong looked at Ruyi as if she were the spendthrift.

Who goes to work and loses money doing it?

Seeing the princess’s expression, Jixiang immediately puffed out her chest.

She knew she was better than Ruyi.

See? Out of all the servants, only she truly understood the princess’s thinking.

So she volunteered. “Princess, let this servant go ask.”

Before long, Jixiang returned beaming with satisfaction.

“Princess, it’s done!”

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*(This chapter is not finished; please click the next page to continue reading.)*

Cheng Qi’s eyes widened. The person selling the mansion actually put it on the Minister of Revenue’s account?

Cheng Qi was very curious and wanted to ask Jixiang how she had managed it.

But as a composed and restrained Brocade Guard, speaking up now would be out of character.

Seeing that the mansion was secured, Ye Qiong thought that since renovation costs would also need to be charged to the Minister of Revenue’s account, it might be a bit much to keep bothering him.

As a sensible child, she did understand a thing or two about social graces.

“Jixiang, send someone to the Minister of Revenue’s residence with some gifts, and say that this princess is sending her regards to the esteemed elder.”

Cheng Qi watched, dumbfounded. He wanted to advise against it but didn’t know how to begin—after all, the logic of this mistress and her maid was so uniquely twisted that it was impossible to refute.

Watching the pair looking so confident, Cheng Qi could only sigh inwardly.

Oh well.

His task from His Majesty was simply to protect the princess. The rest wasn’t his concern.

Jixiang, who considered herself the princess’s number one maidservant, immediately arranged for someone to return to the manor to prepare gifts.

Then she asked, “Princess, it’s getting late. Should we return to the manor for the midday meal?”

Ye Qiong nodded. “Yes, we should eat. But since we’re working for the court, the court should provide meals. We won’t eat at home—let’s go to a restaurant to celebrate our first day on duty.”

Jixiang felt ashamed. This time, her thinking hadn’t kept up with the princess’s.

How could she have thought about going back to the manor for a meal? That would be such a waste—the manor was practically broke now.

Only the princess knew how to be thrifty and budget properly.

Jixiang was once again filled with admiration.

The group once again made their grand way to the most expensive restaurant in the capital.

But just as they reached the entrance, they were stopped.

“Zhaoyang—little sister!”

A sudden male voice rang out.

Ye Qiong turned around and saw two young men in fine robes standing behind her.

The one who had spoken had a hint of condescension in his brow.

The one beside him was quite handsome, but the way he looked at her was like she was something filthy—with undisguised disgust.

“Who are you?” Ye Qiong asked bluntly. She genuinely didn’t recognize him.

The young man was startled, then a flash of anger appeared on his face. “Zhaoyang! You don’t even recognize me anymore?”

Ruyi quickly whispered from behind, “Princess, it’s His Highness the Second Prince…”

The Second Prince, as if just remembering that she had lost her memory, snorted coldly. “I am your Second Imperial Brother!” He pointed to the handsome young man beside him. “And this is Young Master Gu.”

“Oh, hello Second Imperial Brother! Goodbye Second Imperial Brother.”

With that, Ye Qiong turned and headed toward the restaurant.

After all, the only imperial brother she’d met since losing her memory was the Crown Prince. As for the others—since they hadn’t come to see her, they were clearly unimportant. And since they were unimportant, she couldn’t be bothered with pleasantries.

She was busy.

“Stop right there!” The Second Prince was furious at how completely different Ye Qiong’s attitude was from before her amnesia.

In the past, this Zhaoyang had listened to him, her imperial brother, the most—even the Crown Prince came second. Now, after losing her memory, she didn’t even have basic manners.

Remembering the purpose of his visit today, he immediately put on the air of an elder brother. “Since we’ve run into each other, good. Zhaoyang, that runaway slave you took from the Gu family a couple of days ago—return him immediately. A princess, forcibly taking another family’s servant—what kind of behavior is that?”

Young Master Gu also spoke coldly, his voice icy. “I ask the princess to return him!”

Ye Qiong blinked, her expression innocent. “What runaway slave? Do you have proof? Without proof, it’s slander!”

She touched the Kyoto Patrol Envoy token at her waist, grinning with righteous integrity. “Slandering a court official—according to the laws of the Great Zhou, regardless of the severity, the punishment is thirty strokes of the cane.”