"Sir, todays settlement includes 230,000 in cash, an additional 520,000 taels of silver, 3,500 taels of gold, and 670 bolts of silk fabric, all of which have been recorded." The Ministry of Revenue official presented the ledger to Lu Zhen.

  Lu Zhen flipped through the detailed examination and asked: "Can the origin of the money be verified?"

  "It has been verified, all four copies have been recorded."

  Lu Zhen nodded slightly, "Put the money, silver and silk fabrics that were settled today in a box on one side, dont mix them up."

  "Yes."

  Lu Zhen turned around and saw Shang Mingyuan, who was like a small bee, moving around in the yard, and hesitated for a moment.

  The official from the Ministry of Revenue followed his gaze and explained in a low voice, "It was the eldest daughter of the Lin family who sent him here, saying that she wanted to let him gain some experience. He also has some talent for accounting, so the lower officials let him help with the accounts."

  Lu Zhen nodded slightly, but was puzzled in his heart. Today he exchanged with Lin Jiang and heard that he was on guard against the Zhao family and the Shang family. If so, why did he use Shang Mingyuan again?

  Governor Lin has so many people, and still needs Shang Mingyuan to come and help?

  Lu Zhen didnt understand in his heart, but he didnt ask either. After all, he and Lin Jiang hadnt gotten to that point yet. However, he started paying attention to Shang Mingyuan.

  Lin Qingyan happened to come and see the progress, bumped into Lu Zhen and smiled to greet him.

  "At this rate, it should be settled in two days. Today they wasted half a day and only started counting the money in the afternoon, so its a bit slow."

  Starting tomorrow morning, the progress will definitely speed up. Lu Zhen thought for a moment and said: "Before I came, His Majesty asked me to take good care of you siblings. If Miss Lin needs my help in any way, feel free to speak up."

  Lin Jiang hasnt mentioned helping out again since he showed weakness yesterday, and he doesnt know what else he can do.

  Lin Qingwan smiled gratefully at him, "Thank you, Lord Lu, but for now, I can still handle things."

  Human feelings should be used on the blade.

  Lu Zhen was curious, "Your Majesty has not yet decided who will succeed your brother, so after this matter is over, will Lin Gongzhu return to Suzhou? I heard that the Lin family has already started moving things to Suzhou."

  Lin Qingwan smiled wryly and said, "Before the imperial edict arrives in the future, I thought that my brother would eventually step down, and when the time comes, he will definitely have to vacate the official residence. In order to avoid chaos, I had people pack up early, but its just some daily necessities. Who knew that Your Majestys kindness would grant the official residence to Yuhin as the county lords mansion?"

  "If we are to return home, we will have to pack everything up and move out," Lin Qingyuan sighed: "Even if we move all our things away, in the future if we want to come back and live here, well probably have to buy some new things."

  Lu Zhen shook her head, "Lin Gongzhu was also too hasty, she should have waited for the imperial edict to arrive before making arrangements. Even if the emperor didnt bestow an official residence, would the successor still drive the Lin family away?"

  Lin Qingwan smiled, "If the successor is Vice General Zhao, Im not afraid, after all, our two families are relatives. But if its someone else, our Lin family cant occupy it for too long either. Other families also bring their whole household here."

  Lu Zhens pupils contracted, and she smiled lightly, "What? Did your brother recommend Zhao Jie? Your brother is famous for being impartial and selfless, but I dont know what made Zhao Jie catch his eye."

  "Who says my brother is impartial and selfless?" Lin Qingwan smiled. "He still has some personal motives, so when he recommended, he recommended Liu and Sun. Firstly, they are not weak in ability and have sufficient experience; secondly, they have been assisting my brother in Yangzhou and are most familiar with the situation there, so there will be no transition period after taking over; thirdly," Lin Qingwan mischievously blinked her eyes, "the two of them are my brothers deputies. With them in Yangzhou, Yubin and I will have some reliance on them in the future. This is one of my brothers personal motives, so he cant be considered completely impartial."

  Lu Zhen looked at Lin Qingwan in surprise, and after a moment, she asked with an ambiguous smile, "Then why does Miss Lin still think Zhao Jie will take the post of Yangzhou Governor? He has always been leading troops, and is not very familiar with civil administration."

  Lin Qingwan said with a seemingly smiling yet not quite smiling expression: "So Zhao Deputy Commander might be able to jump four levels in a row, huh."

  Lu Zhen smiled and said, "This promotion speed is almost as fast as Leng Ges."

  Lin Qingwan nodded, "Thats why Zhao is indeed a talented person. Even the Minister of Rites, who has always been indifferent to fame and wealth, spoke out to recommend him. Lu Du Hu lost a great deal."

  Lu Zhen twitched the corner of his mouth, and a chill was born in the bottom of his eyes.

  Lin Qingwan saw the situation and didnt say anything else, but instead turned around, took a look around, and left.

  The masters face slowly sank, and he couldnt help but say in a low voice: "Sir, Lin is sowing discord."

  "Even if its a provocation, its still an open challenge. How do I know shes not reminding me?" Lu Zhens face was solemn and cold as he sneered: "I didnt know Zhao Jie had such ambition. If there wasnt the position of Jiangnan Surveillance Commissioner, wouldnt that have blocked his way?"

  "Although Secretary Chen recommended him, its not necessarily that he has this idea. After all, Lord Zhao is still quite humble in front of the old master."

  "Chen Shangshus recommendation doesnt explain anything, but besides him and Liu Pei Sun Huai, three others were also recommended in the court. Lin Niang only mentioned him and no one else, do you think its just a coincidence? Compared to Zhao Jie, Lu Zhen believed Lin Jiang more, so he said: "Lin Jiang only mentioned him, obviously thinking his chances are the greatest, and Lin Jiang doesnt like him scheming for this position."

  He didnt think these words were thought of by Lin Qingwen herself, but rather instructed by Lin Jiang.

  Lu Zhen sneered: "Zhao Jie and Lin Jiang are relatives, but even Lin Jiang doesnt want to help him, which shows his character."

  Although he was unwilling to admit it, Lin Jiangs judgment of people had always been more accurate than his.

  "Go back to the house, Ill write a letter to Uncle, first suppress Zhao Jie, wait until I return to Beijing and then say, if he just wants to promote simply its okay, but if he uses other means, hum!"

  He couldnt help but feel that his own master was being used by the Lin siblings, yet Master seemed to be aware of this point and still chose to jump in.

  What else can he do, hes also helpless.

  But far away in Lingzhou, Zhao Jie, who was full of ambition, did not know that his superior had blocked his way. He had already formed a network of officials and paved the way for himself.

  In the capital, there is a Minister of Rites and a Left Servicing Official in the Ministry of Officials. Additionally, his sisters husband, Shang Ping, is also helping him out. On the other side of the Yangtze River, his second brother has already begun to make arrangements for him. As long as the Emperor asks about it, he can guarantee that his recommender will be among the top candidates. With his achievements over the years, although the position of Jiangnan Surveillance Commissioner is not entirely certain, there is still a 70% chance.

  If he could get Lin Jiangs recommendation again, the seven points might become nine points after all, as the outgoing observer envoy, he had the right to recommend.

  Zhao Jie thought that the letters he sent out should have been received by his sister and brother-in-law, but didnt know if Old Lady Shang would be willing to help him pull some strings in Linjiang.

  Lin Qingwan was also curious, "If there was no Tiān Jiàn Jìng, would you be willing to recommend Zhao Jie?"

  "Its official business, personal matters are separate, I still have a clear distinction between the two. Sun Huai has been following me for ten years, in my opinion, no one is more suitable to observe and take this position than him. However, my recommendation to Your Majesty is just a suggestion, if there is too much opposition from the court and Your Majesty also has concerns, then Sun Huai can only be transferred or continue as deputy."

  Lin Qingwan understood that Sun Huai did not become the Surveillance Commissioner because there were many opponents in the court, and the Emperor also had concerns, so in the end Zhao Jie became the Surveillance Commissioner.

  This time, Lin Jiang hinted that she was going to stir up trouble, apparently Zhao Jies coming to Jiangnan as an observer would only bring harm and no benefit to them, even if Zhao Jie was a distant relative of theirs.

  Lin Qingwan couldnt help but ask, "Will Lu Zhen take action?"

  "Hmm," Lin Jiang said, curling his lip: "Hes always been arrogant. Although he allows those under him to climb up, he doesnt allow others to surpass his control. Especially Zhao Jie, who dares to think of becoming the Jiangnan Surveillance Commissioner. But do you know that the Jiangnan Surveillance Commissioner and the Lingzhou Protector are of equal rank? However, in terms of power, the Jiangnan Surveillance Commissioner is more powerful than the Lingzhou Protector. If they meet again in the capital, do you think Lu Zhen would be willing to pay respects to his former subordinate?"

  "Moreover, Lu Zhen and I are no longer on good terms, but he will still give me this bit of face. Lin Jiangs eyes darkened: "It all depends on whether the Heavenly Dao stands on our side this time."

  Bai Weng floated lightly in front of them, pursing his lips and saying: "I see that Zhao Sheng has already linked the three families of Zhou, Xie, and Shang together, all intending for Zhao Jie to return as an observing envoy. If the Emperor asks who is suitable, these three families will definitely support Zhao Jie."

  Lin Jiang has been idle lately, so Bai Weng is in a great mood and goes out to play everywhere. He is in stealth mode, can go anywhere, and naturally knows more news.

  Lin Jiang slightly raised an eyebrow, "The Zhao familys commotion is quite beyond my expectations."

  This implies that the Celestial Mirror did not deduce this point and it is a new emergence.

  Lin Qingwan couldnt help but laugh too, which means change, and the more changes the better, who knows if these quantitative changes wont lead to qualitative changes in the end?

  Bai Weng looked at Lin Qingyuan, then at Lin Jiang, feeling that the two of them were becoming more and more alike, both resembling a fox crouching in the forest, watching its prey step by step into its own trap.

  He shuddered and shook off the goosebumps, looked around and slightly widened his eyes: "Immortal, you have a guest at home."

  "Oh? Who is it?"

  "He is the youngest son of the Shang family, your future son-in-law."

  Lin Jiangs smile faltered for a moment, and after a brief pause, he let out a sigh and looked at Lin Qingyuan, "You go attend to the guests."

  Lin Qingwan didnt move, but looked at Bai Weng with a frown and asked, "How did Shang Mingjie become her son-in-law? Didnt the two families not have an engagement?"

  "Its settled, its settled, they will definitely be engaged with such a fate." Old Man Bai muttered to himself, looking up at the cloudless sky where a small patch of thin gray clouds suddenly appeared, and that cloud grew bigger and darker as it rolled, turning black in just a few breaths.

  The old mans eyes were brimming with tears, and he couldnt help but cover his mouth. He really didnt intentionally reveal the heavenly secret, really! Heaven, please believe me!

  Lin Qingwan stared at him, following his gaze to the dark clouds, then calmly withdrew her line of sight and said: "You go, go outside the city, find a place where theres no one around, dont come back until the dark clouds have dispersed."

  Bai Weng shook his finger at her, "Lin Niangzi, in just a few months time, how can you become so ruthless?"

  One of the reasons why he and Lin Jiang chose her in the first place was that the Celestial Mirrors results showed that she had a kind and gentle heart.

  Lin Qingwan covered her chest and said: "My blood is hot, dont believe me? Lets bleed and see."

  Lin Jiang couldnt help but laugh, and the furrowed brow due to worry relaxed, laughing and waving his hand: "Youd better hurry up and leave, otherwise youll really damage the mansion and still have to spend money to repair it."

  Watching the dark clouds gathering and moving towards him, Bai Weng didnt dare to stay any longer, turned around and quickly headed out of the city.

  The dark cloud slowly followed him and changed direction.