Gu Chengyin immediately turned to another page of the account book in his hands. In the same year, after the autumn taxes of Lanling Commandery were collected in September, there was a reported item for a subsidy regarding the newly established mechanisms of the Weaving Bureau. The account book records an approved disbursement of fifteen thousand taels of silver. Who was the final approver for this fund, and were there any additional conditions?
Gu Xiaoli's gaze remained unfocused, staring calmly into the empty space ahead, yet she answered fluently once again. In September of the five hundred and sixty-third year of Luoli, the Weaving Bureau of Lanling Commandery submitted a memorial requesting the allocation of subsidies for newly established mechanisms.
The initial application was for twenty thousand taels of silver. After the Inner Secretariat verified the weaving tax revenue and budget surplus of that prefecture for the year, a reduction was recommended.
Ultimately, Lord Cui Tingyu, the then Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue who concurrently managed weaving affairs, approved it on September 28th, setting the amount at fifteen thousand taels.
The additional conditions were that the funds must be used exclusively for their designated purpose, strictly limited to purchasing new-style looms and training artisans, and must not be diverted to other uses. Furthermore, a detailed account of the expenditures and an effectiveness report had to be submitted to the Ministry of Revenue and the Inner Secretariat for the record before June of the following year.
Another perfect answer.
Gu Chengyin was no longer limited to the book in his hand. He quickly pulled out two more account books from different years concerning different matters, flipping them open at random.
His speaking speed grew faster and faster, and the questions became increasingly tricky, even involving cross-year data comparisons and tracing related parties.
In the five hundred and sixty-fourth year of Luoli, the procurement funds for winter cotton clothes in Youzhou City showed an expenditure of eighty thousand taels. Who was the supplier?
In the five hundred and sixty-fifth year of Luoli, the special funds for the Luoshui River dredging project were disbursed in three installments. What were the respective amounts, and how long were the intervals between the previous two?
In the five hundred and sixty-second and five hundred and sixty-fifth years of Luoli, what were the recorded grain procurement prices of Qingwang Grain Store in Qinghe Commandery, respectively? Were there any abnormal fluctuations?
...
Gu Xiaoli stood there the entire time, her posture straight, her expression still maintaining that world-weary calmness.
Facing Gu Chengyin's rapid-fire questions, she did not panic in the slightest. Every time, at the very instant a question was asked or within a remarkably short time, she could provide a precise and flawless answer.
It did not seem like she was recalling memories; rather, it was as if she was directly retrieving clear files from her mind.
Gu Chengyin asked quickly, and she answered quickly.
Between the questions and answers, it was like a duel between masters, or like a precise human-machine interactive system operating at peak efficiency.
When Gu Chengyin finally stopped, he gently placed the account books back on the desk.
He looked at Luo Zhao. Their eyes met, and without needing words, both understood what the other was thinking.
The upcoming auditing work would enter a completely new stage because of Gu Xiaoli's presence.
Those deliberately destroyed or hidden accounts would be resurrected from her memory, becoming the most powerful evidence to nail down those corrupt parasites.
Gu Xiaoli.
Gu Chengyin spoke slowly, his voice solemn. Next, we will have to trouble you.
Gu Xiaoli knew what this meant. Without even needing an order, she took the initiative to walk towards Shangguan Yunying.
With Luo Zhao's permission, Shangguan Yunying led Gu Xiaoli downward.
Luo Zhao's gaze followed their departing figures until they blended into the area below, only then withdrawing her sight.
Sunlight poured down from the skylight, enveloping the two of them in a bright pillar of light. Even the dancing motes of dust in the air seemed to slow down.
Luo Zhao suddenly spoke, breaking the silence between them.
Gu Chengyin, let me ask you.
If Lyu Fang had not sent Gu Xiaoli, did you... have another way?
Hearing this, Gu Chengyin glanced at Luo Zhao, nodded calmly, and let out a clear, single syllable from his nose.
Mm.
Affirmative, crisp, without the slightest hesitation or false modesty.
Hearing this answer, the corners of Luo Zhao's lips curled up very quickly.
She immediately lowered her head, pretending to organize the scattered papers on the desk to conceal that fleeting smile.
She absolutely could not let Gu Chengyin see her looking so... easily pleased.
After tidying up a bit, when she raised her head again, her face had returned to its usual coldness.
She casually picked up one of the incomplete account books from the pile in front of her.
Luo Zhao gently rubbed the rough edges of the paper with her fingers, her voice carrying an icy edge.
Since these parasites are so insidious and despicable that they even resorted to such underhanded tricks.
If we don't take this opportunity to make good use of it, it would be a total waste of their painstaking efforts.
Saying this, she gently handed the problematic account book in her hand toward Gu Chengyin.
The gesture was casual, but the intent could not be more obvious.
Gu Chengyin's gaze fell on the handed-over account book, then quickly lifted to meet Luo Zhao's eyes, which were chillingly cold yet held a hidden expectation.
In that instant, he completely understood Luo Zhao's unspoken subtext.
Make a scene! Blow this matter up! Make it known to everyone!
Make a fuss until the streets and alleys, teahouses, and taverns of the Divine Capital all know that the Crown Princess's Palace is auditing the Ministry of Revenue's accounts.
But the audit is going very poorly, because the crucial accounts have coincidentally all been destroyed!
Her Highness was indeed not a character who only knew how to endure or act recklessly.
When it was time to be ruthless, her sharp tactics and meticulous mind were in no way inferior to those old foxes in the imperial court.
Gu Chengyin reached out and steadily took the account book.
Feeling the rough texture of the paper with his fingertips, it was as if he could touch the filth and arrogance hidden behind it.
I understand Your Highness's intentions.
He pondered for a moment, seemingly thinking of a certain link. It is just that... doing so might wrong Lord Shangguan.
Gu Chengyin looked at Luo Zhao with a hint of consultation. I hope Lord Shangguan can appreciate Your Highness's good intentions and not harbor any resentment because of this.
Hearing this, Luo Zhao gently shook her head.
It does not matter. With Shangguan Yuan's experience, not only will he not be angry, but he will also cooperate with you quite tacitly.
No one knows better than him how deep and muddy these waters are.
Over these years, whether he was acting against his will, intentionally turning a blind eye, or secretly collecting something, only he himself knows.
But one thing is certain: he is absolutely unwilling to be a scapegoat for the insatiable greed of certain people, much less have his reputation ruined because of it.
Your going there this time is actually giving him an opportunity. He will only go with the flow and will never resist stubbornly. In fact, he might have been waiting for someone to cause this scene all along.
As for Yunying... A trace of softness flashed in Luo Zhao's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by firmness. I will personally comfort her. You just go all out and do it without any scruples. The bigger the commotion, the better.
She spoke the last sentence with absolute decisiveness.
Gu Chengyin nodded in agreement, took the problematic account book, and got up to walk toward the door.
Going downstairs, he passed through the female officials who were still immersed in their work.
Gu Chengyin did not look at anyone. His steps were extremely fast, and the expression on his face was already completely different.
iaobai: "Councilor Dad, front me some funds. I want to hire ten thousand professional miners for a project!" [Five-Star Mission Issued: Capture the leader of the Blood Heaven Pirate Gang, who is on the run in the Radiant Star Sector. It is said the gang has over a hundred members. Proceed with caution.] Lu Xiaobai: "Councilor Dad, lend me the family's hundred-thousand-strong Lu Army!" [Seven-Star Mission Issued: Subdue a juvenile Void Dragon Beast.] Lu Xiaobai: "Councilor Dad, I'm taking your tamed Void Dragon Beast King out for a family reunion!" I said, System, don't you have any slightly more challenging missions? You're just not up to par! [Nine-Star Mission Issued: Become the Human Councilor.] Lu Xiaobai: "Dad, there's a small matter I'd like to discuss with you..."
ing gift was a patch of barren land, and disciples were all picked up along the way. He spent fifty years diligently building three "ramshackle little sects," thinking he could finally live a carefree life relying on his disciples. But right at the fifty-year mark, he was suddenly swept away by a spatial rift and exiled to the Chaos Desolation, the Disorderly Ruins. There was no spiritual energy there, only slaughter. Relying on the cultivation feedback from his disciples, Gu Changyuan hacked his way through a sea of blood for eleven hundred years. When the system finally fished him back out, he discovered the ramshackle little sects he'd built back then had developed a rather... unusual style. Hold on... I vanished for a thousand years, so how did my ramshackle little sects become holy lands?!
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
agon king storylines. At the start, I obtained the "Ultimate Lackey System" - the more I act as a lackey, the stronger I become. What else could I do? I chose to become the personal henchman of the ultimate villain, Su Muwan. I provoke all sorts of chosen ones, snatch away their opportunities, and commit every evil deed imaginable. You ask who's behind me? Hmph! You're not worthy of knowing my lady's name! ...... ....... I am Su Muwan, the eldest daughter of the Su family. Since childhood, I've possessed extraordinary talent in martial arts, which led to my arrogant and domineering personality in my past life. I was even foolish enough to repeatedly challenge those favored by heaven, ultimately resulting in a tragic death. In this life, I must behave and absolutely cannot walk the same path again!! However... SLAP!! "So you're the Dragon King, huh?!" When I saw my little lackey swagger over and viciously slap the Dragon King who was hiding his identity, I felt my heart sink. Su Muwan's suspended heart finally died as she watched Qin Luo, her utterly loyal lackey, standing before her. She fainted on the spot from shock. Heaven is determined to destroy me!! (Pure love 1v1, light-hearted, no angst, single female lead, villain, reincarnation, lackey)
