Zhou Sanwei looked at the somewhat scholarly Lord Lu before him and couldn't help but think of that clever little troublemaker in the Lu family. That boy was constantly exchanging letters with his eldest nephew, letters his nephew didn’t dare send directly to the princely residence—each one had to be received through the Zhou Residence instead. At this rate, the Zhou Residence might as well become a postal station.
"Seeing you reminds me of my young friend Chao. That boy of mine talks about him every day. If I ever get the chance to visit Yingchuan, I’ll have to trouble Lord Lu for hospitality."
Lord Lu broke into a nervous sweat.
"It would be my greatest honor! My humble son also speaks of Young Master Zhou with great fondness."
That little rascal had kept his lips sealed! Not a word about maintaining contact with the third young master of the Zhou family! He’d assumed the boys were just children who’d forget each other over time—who knew they’d kept up their correspondence!
Lord Lu gritted his teeth in frustration.
"It’s good that the boy loves reading. Whether he’s lying down or sprawled out with a book, it’s all fine, don’t you think, Lord Lu?"
Zhou Sanwei teased.
Lord Lu’s face flushed red as he awkwardly agreed.
"Y-yes, quite right, my lord."
Lu Chao!! How could you blab about everything?!
Ungrateful child!!
It seemed the ruler would have to come out again when he got home. This time, no one would stop him!
Zhou Sanwei watched Lord Lu’s crimson face with a mix of sympathy and amusement.
And it wasn’t just him who knew—even His Majesty had caught wind of it. The emperor, being of a carefree disposition, quite agreed with Lu Chao’s views, laughing that some books were indeed best enjoyed lying down. "That boy suits my tastes," he’d said.
Lord Lu would probably faint if he ever found out.
"You’re the one handling the documents and materials for the mines, correct?"
Lord Lu nodded.
"This humble official is responsible for them."
Secretly, he wondered if the arrival of the Inspectorate meant irrelevant personnel like him could finally return to Yingchuan. Hopeful, he glanced at Zhou Sanwei.
"The Inspectorate is short-handed. You’ll stay and continue organizing the documents. Report any findings directly to me in the coming days."
"Ah? Understood! This official obeys!"
Lord Lu was stunned. Why was he being roped into such a major case?
Wasn’t it standard for the Inspectorate to handle investigations while outsiders kept their distance?
Well, no matter. Sorting documents was sorting documents.
Shaking off his thoughts, Lord Lu returned to reviewing the records.
Though he lacked cunning in political schemes, he was upright and sincere. Others, upon learning of their son’s close ties to the young master of the Zhou family, would surely send their child to the capital under the guise of education—really just to cling to powerful connections. Childhood bonds were precious, after all. Who knew? The Lu family might even return to the capital’s inner circles through this.
But what good were mere letters?
Lord Lu, however, had a different plan: ensure Lu Chao wrote properly to maintain the relationship, send gifts during festivals (one could never go wrong with gifts!), and if Young Master Zhou ever rose to prominence, the Lu family would at least have someone influential to speak for them. They’d also get early news from the capital—what a bargain!
That little rascal Lu Chao was actually useful for something. Fearless, too—where had he gotten that from? Lord Lu had been a model of obedience in his youth.
A memory flashed through his mind—Madam Su, quiet and reserved, always keeping to herself. Once, passing her courtyard, he’d seen her hunched over beneath the rose bushes, retching violently. On his way back from duty, he’d impulsively bought her a packet of dried fruit from a street vendor.
Her wide, disbelieving eyes as she accepted the apricot preserves—as if they were scalding hot—had been so timid, so cautious.
Lu Chao was nothing like her. That boy dared to argue back, dared to dodge the ruler in his hand, making him itch to turn the brat over his knee.
Even Lu Yuanyi had grown more mischievous under his influence.
Now, with him away from home, who knew how lazy those two little monkeys had become?
Lord Lu shook his head, trimmed the candlewick, and resumed flipping through the documents.
After days of reviewing records, he’d gained a rough understanding of Yuxi County.
The land was barren, the soil sandy. Every winter, countless commoners starved to death. Those with means gradually migrated to the central plains, leaving only the poorest behind to scrape by on their meager fields.
The iron mines belonged directly to the imperial military overseers, contributing nothing to Yuxi County’s revenue.
No wonder the streets were so quiet even in daylight, the townsfolk gaunt and hollow-eyed.
Zhou Sanwei had combed through the Song family’s accounts and surviving correspondence. The case was both straightforward and complex.
That day, Commander Xie had led soldiers to arrest County Magistrate Song’s twelfth concubine and her younger brother.
The blacksmith’s shop was already empty, but the concubine was found dead in the Su family’s backyard.
According to the escaped servant’s testimony, the magistrate’s brother-in-law had secretly sold Yuxi County’s iron ore to foreign barbarians.
How? And to whom?
The trail had gone cold.
It remained unclear whether the brother-in-law was a foreign spy or aligned with another faction. Regardless, County Magistrate Song’s charge of treason was inescapable.
When the magistrate learned his brother-in-law was a barbarian agent, he’d fainted on the spot.
Treason meant the extermination of nine generations.
Even a wastrel like him knew the Song family was finished.
Song Lusheng was an uneducated lecher whose scandals had plagued the capital. To preserve the family’s reputation, the Marquis of Zhongliang had secured him a post in impoverished Yuxi County, reasoning that no respectable noble would covet such a backwater. Perhaps the hardship would reform him.
With the marquis’s wealth, there was no need for embezzlement. Steward Fu had been assigned to keep him in line—yet somehow, loopholes had been exploited.
...
After a drizzling rain, winter’s chill swept over Yingchuan. Lu Chao bundled himself in layer after layer.
Dashing down the corridor, he spotted Lady Lu standing outside the main courtyard upon arrival.
"Mother, it’s freezing out here. What are you looking at?"
Lady Lu gazed at the delicate frost coating the courtyard like a painting.
"Chao, look—the courtyard is white as snow. Quite poetic, don’t you think?"
Lu Chao nodded absently.
"Yeah! Like it’s covered in powdered sugar!"
Suddenly, Lady Lu understood why Lord Lu sometimes wanted to hit him. Her own palms itched.
But it was too early in the morning. She’d let it pass.
"The weather’s getting colder. Your father’s been gone over a month, and he didn’t take much warm clothing. I was thinking of sending some to him."
"Probably unnecessary. He might already be on his way back. Besides, Uncle Zhong’s with him—he’ll make sure Father doesn’t freeze."
Lu Yuanyi, seeing his mother and brother at the door, assumed they were waiting for him and sprinted over.
"Mother! Tell the kitchen to make sugar cakes today! When I saw the frost this morning, I suddenly craved them!"
Without waiting for an answer, he added,
"Who were you saying was cold?"
Lu Chao, helping Lady Lu inside, replied without turning his head.
"Your dad."
Whack!
Lu Chao suddenly felt a slap on his back. Turning in confusion, he glanced at Lady Lu beside him. The thick winter clothing had spared him any real pain.
"Mother? Why did you hit me?"
