Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Splendid Landscape Scroll

“There was tax silver hidden in the Song residence?!” Su Qingmeng’s expression grew grave. “Could he have been involved in the tax silver case from back then?”

“He doesn’t have the means for that.” Li Yunjie replied, voice low. “Judging by the amount of tax silver in the secret chamber, at most he’s just a fence for stolen goods.”

“What do you mean?”

Li Yunjie recalled what he’d seen in the secret room.

Among the scattered silver, the tax silver from Yongzhou and the official silver from Jiangnan made up almost equal halves.

“At first I thought the tax silver had been transported north by the Wu people, but now it seems that wasn’t the case.”

Su Qingmeng frowned deeply. “But if all that silver stayed in Daqian, why hasn’t a trace of it turned up in the markets these past three years?”

“This is tax silver, big sister!” Li Yunjie’s eyes dimmed. “Who would dare to spend it openly?”

“You’re right.” Su Qingmeng blinked shrewdly. “So what you’re saying is, Song Yongnian secretly recast the tax silver into ordinary ingots and spent it lavishly?”

Li Yunjie shook his head. “The Crown Prince colluded with the people of the northern deserts and risked so much to steal it. It’s impossible he’d do all that just to squander it.”

“Then what for?”

In Su Qingmeng’s mind, if silver wasn’t for spending, it had no other use.

Li Yunjie fell silent, lost in thought.

The appearance of that woman from the Wu clan in the Song residence last night proved that there were indeed secret dealings between the northern tribes and Song Yongnian.

It meant the Wu people were laundering the tax silver through Song Yongnian, quietly releasing it back into circulation.

“But the amount is enormous.” Li Yunjie muttered after a long pause, “To absorb that much silver without drawing attention, there is only one place capable of it.”

“What place?” Su Qingmeng stared at him, eyes shining with curiosity.

“You’ll know tomorrow.” Li Yunjie’s lips curled into a faint smile.

His mysterious air only made Su Qingmeng more eager to know.

...

Having stayed up so late the night before, Li Yunjie slept until the sun was high.

The summer heat was deepening, and faintly, the chirr of cicadas could be heard outside the window.

A gentle breeze from the water towns drifted in, bearing the subtle fragrance of lotus blossoms.

Wait—lotus blossoms?

Li Yunjie jolted upright, bracing himself with both hands.

He suddenly felt a warm, soft sensation in his right palm and stiffly turned his head.

“Young master, propriety between men and women, you know~” Yun Qiwu teased, a playful look on her face.

Li Yunjie hurriedly withdrew his hand.

This damned hand—someone must have cursed it!

Otherwise, how could it always land so precisely!

“Sorry.” He forced a laugh. “That was rude of me.”

Wait a minute!

This is my bed!

Li Yunjie found his confidence again.

Why should I apologize at all?

“What are you doing in my bed?” he demanded, eyeing Yun Qiwu’s alluring figure irritably.

Yun Qiwu rose gracefully, stretching lazily.

“I only came by to check on you this morning, but you were fast asleep. I didn’t have the heart to wake you.”

“So I had no choice but to nap with you for a while.”

After several days apart, this beauty’s words were still as outrageous as ever.

Li Yunjie shook his head in resignation.

Lady, you’ve dropped your chastity all over the floor—are you aware?

Just as he finished dressing, Shiyi brought in breakfast. “Young master, you’re awake.”

Li Yunjie frowned at the three sets of breakfast. “What’s this? Did you know she was in my room?”

Yun Qiwu picked up a steamed bun, laughing lightly. “This young man is very tactful. The moment I came in, he left.”

“He’s been standing guard at the door ever since.”

Shiyi nodded with pride, as if awaiting praise: Young master, didn’t I do well? Compliment me!

Li Yunjie rolled his eyes, then changed the subject. “You wouldn’t come here for nothing. Speak—what brings you here today?”

Yun Qiwu laughed heartily. “I heard you brought the Song father and son to justice a few days ago. I came to congratulate you.”

“What’s there to congratulate?” Li Yunjie replied indifferently. “It was nothing.”

Yun Qiwu paused, then went on, “When I helped you seek medicine from Gu Xian’er the other day, you said you owed me a favor. Does that still stand?”

Her hesitant expression made it clear she seldom asked anyone for help.

“Of course,” Li Yunjie answered without hesitation.

“Then could you help me retrieve a painting from the Song estate?”

“What painting?” he asked, intrigued.

Seeing that Li Yunjie hadn’t refused, Yun Qiwu’s eyes lit up. “The Splendid Rivers and Mountains by Gong Qingfeng.”

That name rang a bell.

Suddenly, Li Yunjie remembered the painting the fat man had handed him the night before—it was Splendid Rivers and Mountains!

“May I ask what you want it for?” Li Yunjie sensed a whiff of gossip.

“I’m only acting on someone else’s behalf.” Yun Qiwu pouted. “I heard Song Yongnian bought it. I came to Jiangnan just for that painting.”

Li Yunjie raised an eyebrow. “With your skills, sneaking into the Song mansion shouldn’t be difficult. Why come to me?”

Yun Qiwu sighed. “I’ve tried several times and never found it.”

Her patience thinning, she added, “Why do you ask so much? Will you help or not? If not, just say so—no need to beat around the bush.”

So impatient.

No wonder she’d asked to borrow a man for a child right away.

Li Yunjie considered a moment, then said gravely, “Ah, that might be difficult…”

Yun Qiwu frowned. “Aren’t you the heir? What’s so hard about fetching a painting from the Song estate?”

“That’s true,” Li Yunjie pretended to be troubled. “But you know, with Song Yongnian in custody, his assets will be confiscated next.”

“The Ministry of Justice handles confiscations. I can’t interfere.”

“If the Emperor heard of it, he’d charge me with overstepping my authority!”

He deliberately raised his voice to make the task sound harder.

The harder it seemed, the more costly his help would appear.

And the greater the cost, the more grateful Yun Qiwu would be!

“If it’s too much trouble, forget it.” Yun Qiwu said, crestfallen. “I’ll try to think of another way.”

She turned to leave.

“Wait, miss!” Li Yunjie called after her, sighing. “Though there are many obstacles—”

“I, Li Yunjie, am no one to go back on my word!”

“Since you’ve asked, I’ll go through fire and water if need be!”

“Leave it to me!”

Yun Qiwu turned back, a little embarrassed. “But didn’t you say it’s a serious matter? If the Emperor blames you, what will you do?”

Li Yunjie waved it off with a smile. “No matter. At worst, I’ll lose my title and office—my life is safe.”

Hearing the consequences were so severe, Yun Qiwu hesitated. “Perhaps… you’d better forget it…”

Li Yunjie turned sharply, resolute. “I said I’d help, and I will!”

“Please go back and wait for my word!”

Seeing his determination, Yun Qiwu could only nod and leave, worry clouding her face as she drifted out the window.

“Young master,” Shiyi said quietly once Yun Qiwu was gone, “isn’t that painting under your pillow…”