Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Five
"What?" Mrs. Tang wondered if she had misheard. Otherwise, how could she have heard her husband say that Li Tianyou had become a third-rank official?
Madam Cao's elder brother was a prefectural magistrate, so she understood perfectly well how difficult it was for low-level officials to climb the ranks.
The Li family were mere merchants. How could they possibly have suddenly obtained a third-rank official post?
"I am just as surprised as you are," County Magistrate Cao said, though with some reluctance in his heart. "However, this seems to be an indisputable fact. The Li family likely wouldn't have the audacity to joke about such a matter."
"Who knows?" Mrs. Tang voiced her thoughts quietly. "What if the Li family thinks that since the capital is far away and no one will verify the truth, they can get away with it, especially if they've gained someone else's endorsement?"
"Hold your tongue! Do not speak like that again," County Magistrate Cao chided, even though he harbored similar suspicions. Such words must not come from their mouths.
Otherwise, if it turned out to be true and Li Tianyou held a grudge, it would spell trouble.
In the capital.
The Ministry of Revenue's accounts had finally been audited. Fortunately, apart from some problematic ledgers from Liu Zongcheng's tenure, the other records showed no major issues.
There was no evidence of embezzlement, just some clerical errors in bookkeeping.
"Now that the Ministry of Revenue's audit is complete, it's time to examine the accounts of the other five ministries," Zhu Jingchen announced to the court officials.
Upon hearing this, the several Ministers, though somewhat prepared, broke into a cold sweat.
"This time, the Ministry of Revenue has gained experience. Let them audit the account books of the various ministries. Minister Tang will lead, with Ministers Li and Xiao assisting him. Ensure this matter is handled thoroughly," Zhu Jingchen instructed, looking at the assembled officials below.
After the court session adjourned, everyone looked at Liu Bozheng with a mix of admiration and other sentiments.
"Minister Liu, you were truly farsighted, knowing to build good relations with the Ministry of Revenue early on," the Minister of Personnel, Lord Lu, said with a sarcastic tone.
"Lord Lu, what do you mean by that? Which court official doesn't maintain good relations with others?" Liu Bozheng found it hard to explain his predicament. Heaven knew the reason he had gifted Lin Qiao'er to Xiao Guozhi was because he couldn't stand the fact that Xiao Guozhi had seen her body!
It was unclear whether Xiao Guozhi even resented him for it.
Later, he had heard that since Xiao Guozhi took that concubine home, his life had become even more difficult.
Seeing Liu Bozheng fall silent, the other Ministers began wondering if they, too, should offer some benefits to other officials in the Ministry of Revenue.
"Oh dear, I have matters to attend to at my residence. I must take my leave."
The officials exchanged glances and hurried off. This matter could not be delayed.
Liu Bozheng, however, made his way to the Ministry of Revenue with a worried frown.
"Well, if it isn't Lord Liu? What brings you to the Ministry of Revenue today?" Tang Xiuyong asked upon seeing him, somewhat puzzled.
He wondered if someone from the Ministry had gotten involved in some case.
"Ah! I just... happened to wander this way. Yes, happened to wander here!" Liu Bozheng hadn't expected to run into Tang Xiuyong and felt rather awkward.
For a moment, he wasn't sure if he could still go in and clarify things with Xiao Guozhi.
Li Tianyou, who was just about to leave the Ministry, caught sight of Liu Bozheng and quickly hid. He had no desire to receive a concubine as a gift from this man.
Otherwise, he would have no way to explain it to his daughter and wife.
The Li family did not practice taking concubines. They never had in the past, and they certainly wouldn't start now.
"Lord Li, what are you doing?" Xiao Guozhi asked, looking at Li Tianyou in confusion.
"Lord Xiao, there's someone outside looking for you," Li Tianyou replied, promptly standing up with a smile.
He thought to himself that this visitor was surely here for Lord Xiao. After all, this man had gifted Xiao a concubine before. Perhaps he was here to inquire how she was faring.
With that thought, Li Tianyou's sentiment of "better him than me" grew stronger.
"Looking for me?" Xiao Guozhi scratched his head, unable to guess who might be seeking him today.
"Well, well, look who it is. If it isn't my former husband!"
Just as Xiao Guozhi was about to step out, he heard Mrs. Lin's impudent remark.
Logically, Mrs. Lin shouldn't dare speak to Liu Bozheng in such a manner.
After all, Xiao Guozhi's official rank was lower than Liu Bozheng's.
She ought to be more humble and submissive.
But Mrs. Lin held a grudge!
Back when she was in the Liu household, hadn't the master been rather fond of her?
Yet he had given her away to someone else without a moment's hesitation.
She couldn't help but feel bitter about it.
Moreover, the reason she had wanted to "borrow a seed"—what was it for?
Wasn't it simply to ensure the Liu family line wouldn't die out?
Little did she expect that not only would he not appreciate it, but he would also give her away.
Liu Bozheng frowned. This was exactly what he had feared.
He never imagined running into Lin Qiao'er here.
"Mrs. Lin, hold your tongue," Madam Chang interjected. She hadn't expected such a coincidence either. She had merely brought Mrs. Lin to see her own husband, only to encounter Mrs. Lin's former master.
However, remembering that his official rank was higher than her husband's, Madam Chang hurriedly tried to stop her.
It is already extremely difficult for our master to have achieved his current status.
We absolutely cannot let him become implicated because of us.
"Please forgive us, my lord. It was my failure to properly discipline the younger sister in the household. She meant no other offense." As Madam Chang spoke, she also performed a bow towards Liu Bozheng.
"Oh, it's quite alright." Liu Bozheng had originally been thinking of finding Xiao Guozhi to offer a proper explanation.
Now, as luck would have it, his former concubine was even taking pleasure in his misfortune.
Thinking of this, Liu Bozheng let out a soft sigh.
"Might I... have a few words alone with Concubine Lin?" Only after the words left Liu Bozheng's mouth did he feel that his request was somewhat abrupt.
"Lord Liu, I have matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave first." Tang Xiuyong, seeing this awkward scene, quickly said with a smile.
After Tang Xiuyong left, Madam Chang also felt somewhat awkward for a moment.
She frowned, wanting to refuse. After all, letting Mrs. Lin, who didn't know her place, be alone with an unrelated man was truly improper.
"Sister, please go find our husband. I will speak with Lord Liu for a few moments." Lin Qiao'er was somewhat curious. That somewhat pleading look in Lord Liu's eyes made it difficult for her to refuse at the moment.
After all, he was her former master.
"Lord Liu, what matter did you wish to discuss with me?" Seeing that Madam Chang was merely standing by the doorway not far away, Lin Qiao'er felt a warmth in her heart.
That foolish woman, didn't she know that she and Madam Chang should be rivals in love?
Shouldn't she have gone to fetch people to catch her in a compromising situation, being alone with an unrelated man?
Yet she was foolishly standing guard for her!
Liu Bozheng looked at Lin Qiao'er. Perhaps it was his imagination, but he actually thought her complexion looked better than when she was in the Liu household.
Originally, this matter was also something he found difficult to broach with Lin Qiao'er.
However, now, because of Lin Qiao'er, a rift had developed between him and Xiao Guozhi. If Lin Qiao'er could mediate the relationship between him and Xiao Guozhi, wouldn't that mean Xiao Guozhi would stop making things difficult for the Ministry of Justice?
