Shangguan Hongye was already waiting for her in the upper room of the inn. When he saw her coming in, he asked meaningfully: "How is it? Madam, what news did you get?"
Of course Ming Lanru would not tell the truth, she just sighed: "I didn't get any news, where are the officials?"
Shangguan Hongye put his long legs on the table and lazily threw an account book to her: "I know that you have nothing to say and can't do things well. Please take a look at this account book first. What's the problem?"
Ming Lanruo took a look and saw that it was the income and expenditure records of the disaster relief officials after the Qin Prince's Palace arrived here.
She perked up and started reading immediately.
Her father almost raised her as a boy. She learned many skills from him, and accounting was just one of them.
Soon, she realized something was wrong.
"The expenses on this account are too little!" She frowned and couldn't help but whisper.
It has been almost three months since the disaster relief work, and the amount of food, grass, clothes and other materials brought by the Qin Palace has been distributed, which is equivalent to less than 5,000 taels of silver.
The Prince of Qin's Mansion is a first-grade prince's palace. As a favored prince, Shangguan Hongye has his own fief. In order to highlight his love for the people, the original budget for this area was fifteen thousand taels.
Although it is not as much as the 500,000 taels allocated by the imperial court, it is still quite a lot.
That snow disaster is a once-in-a-century event. It snowed even in the capital city in March, and the northeastern Xinjiang area must have been snow-capped, making it extremely difficult.
These supplies worth fifteen thousand taels have not been distributed yet!
What does this mean?
"This is the case not only for our Prince Qin's Palace, but also for the distribution of disaster relief materials by other palaces such as Prince Mu's Palace, Prince Chaoyang's Palace, etc." King Qin sneered.
"Are the victims not allowed to enter the city?" Ming Lanruo suddenly asked.
Seeing the woman in front of him so alert and alert, a strange light flashed in Shangguan Hongye's eyes.
He lazily held some grass from nowhere and crossed his legs: "Didn't you find that Heiliao City is too quiet, there are not many victims. For such a big snow disaster, even if the snow melts now, it will still be green and yellow. In the end,
It was easy for people to starve to death, but now Heilia City is in good order."
"Where have all the victims gone?" Ming Lanruo couldn't help but worry. She always had a bad premonition in her heart. Where have all the victims gone?
This situation is too weird. Could it be that all the victims were sent to mine?
Then mining also requires food. The prefect of Heiliaocheng has so much food that he can't even use the food provided by the court for disaster relief?
Shangguan Hongye raised his eyebrows: "How do I know? I've only been here a few days."
Ming Lanruo pondered for a moment, then suddenly said: "We have to find a way to investigate the situation in Heiliao City and prepare a porridge shop. We have to donate rice and grain to see who comes to receive the porridge."
The official of the King of Qin on the side hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice: "Little madam, when we gave alms before, there were very few people who came to receive the porridge. We put more rice porridge for them, but they refused to take it."
Aren’t the victims all starving to death, yet there is such a weird thing happening?
Ming Lanruo and Shangguan Hongye looked at each other and saw deep suspicion.
Ming Lanruo pondered for a moment, her eyes moving: "It doesn't matter, I have a way!"
Shangguan Hongye looked at her, a little wary: "Don't mess around and cause trouble for me again!"
Ming Lanruo raised her eyebrows: "Aren't we here just to cause trouble? If we don't cause trouble, how will you deal with the prince?"
Shangguan Hongye was stunned for a moment, then showed a weird smile: "Haha, it makes sense. My brother, the prince, who is full of benevolence, righteousness and morality, doesn't know what good things to do here. If my father knows, there will be no work.
I must not be the only one."
Ah, he felt very good when he thought of Shangguan Zhou's distorted and broken look on his hypocritical face.
After saying that, Shangguan Hongye patted Ming Lanruo on the shoulder happily and vigorously.
Ming Lanruo was almost slapped down rudely by him. She quickly held on to the table and couldn't help gritting her teeth: "Official, please be careful. I'm not one of your humble soldiers!"
"Don't worry, madam." Shangguan Hongye teased and deliberately reached out to hold her shoulders.
Ming Lanruo's face turned cold and she stretched out her hand to push him displeased: "Let go!"
Shangguan Hongye let go of her with a half-smile, but quietly approached her and urged her: "You said you have a way to attract the victims. What method is it? Tell me quickly!"
Ming Lanruo took back her thoughts and started talking like this to Shangguan Hongye.
After hearing this, Shangguan Hongye frowned and stared at her doubtfully: "This method is really effective. My subordinate officials have never given me money before!"
Ming Lanruo smiled lightly: "Why don't you believe it? Do you want to take a gamble? Not only can I attract the victims, but I can also find out the reasons why these victims are abnormal within three days?"
Shangguan Hongye snorted indifferently: "What are you betting on?"
"You lose, just to do something within my power. If I lose, I will do something within my power for you." Ming Lanruo set a trap with a smile, and did not hide the calculation in his eyes.
Shangguan Hongye looked at her pretty and fair face, and he had other plans in his mind.
What does she want to plot against him?
But her appearance is really heart-wrenching. This bet will be profitable for him!
Even if she loses, he is not afraid. If she makes excessive demands, he will say that he is unable to do anything.
"Deal!" After Shangguan Hongye pondered for a while, he said simply and asked with a twinkle in his eye: "Are you going back to the prefect's mansion today?"
Ming Lanruo held her chin and said lazily: "I'm not going back. If I go back, it's hard to come out."
Now that they are in the magistrate's residence and cannot approach the island in the middle of the lake, it is inconvenient for them to move, so they might as well do what they need to do outside and find out what they need to know.
Shangguan Hongye smiled happily: "Okay, I'll ask someone to arrange a room for you."
It would be best not to go back, and make that little eunuch Xiao Yanzi so angry! Make him act like a monster between him and Ming Lanruo all day long!
Ming Lanruo didn't know why Shangguan Hongye was in such a good mood suddenly, but in order to cover up his whereabouts, more than 20 elite members of the Red Blood Legion she brought from Concubine Ming's Mansion stayed at the inn.
So, she nodded: "Okay."
Ming Lanruo and Chen Ning went to her room. The room was very comfortable and spacious. Jing He was already waiting for her.
"Miss, why did you make that bet with the King of Qin? It is the King of Qin's business to manage the victims. Shouldn't we hurry up and find out the whereabouts of the Duke?" Chen Ning was very puzzled.
The eldest lady just met Shopkeeper Liu and didn't ask a word about the Duke, nor did she ask them to inquire about the whereabouts of the Duke.
Ming Lanruo smiled: "Shopkeeper Liu said that their contact point is very small, and they are under the control and suppression of the Red Blood Legion in Northeast Xinjiang. I guess they won't be able to find out anything about my father."
It is not as accurate as the source of information from Shangguan Hongye. After all, Shangguan Hongye's men belong to the imperial court.
Chen Ning frowned, unable to deny Ming Lanruo's analysis.
Ming Lanruo looked at the hazy sky in the distance outside the window and said calmly: "However, those Red Blood Legions who rebelled against General Mu are different. They have stayed in the Northeast for so many years, and they must know more than Shopkeeper Liu.
!”
In her previous life, she worked as an intelligence agent and did quite well.
A good spy must learn to integrate sources of information and it is important to verify the authenticity of the information from multiple parties.
The Prefect of Hei Liao, Shangguan Hongye, the Red Blood Legion of Northeastern Territory, the Red Blood Rebels of Northeastern Territory...
As long as each one can dig out a little bit of information, like a jigsaw puzzle, the truth about his father's disappearance can be pieced together.
"But what does this have to do with your bet with the King of Qin to help the victims?" Jing He wondered, she was a straight person.
But Chen Ning's narrow eyes lit up: "I understand, my subordinates. Shopkeeper Liu said that the red-blooded rebels in Northeast Xinjiang are living at the bottom, and many people have been affected by the disaster. Among those victims, the eldest lady plans to find relief through relief.
Get out those bloody traitors!"
Ming Lanruo had cold eyes and a smile on her plump lips: "Smart!"
The night is getting darker
Ming Lanruo was still thinking about a map of Northeastern Xinjiang when a knock on the door suddenly came.
"Who?" Ming Lanruo opened the door. The inn was safe, so she didn't think much about it.
As soon as he opened the door, he saw Shangguan Hongye's tall figure standing outside the door, holding a tray with wine, vegetables and snacks in his hand.
She was stunned.
He raised his eyebrows: "Why, don't you invite me in?"
Ming Lanruo also raised her eyebrows: "What's the matter with Your Highness? Isn't it appropriate to visit late at night?"
A smile appeared on Shangguan Hongye's handsome face. He looked at her deeply, seemingly helpless: "I have something to discuss with you. Besides, I don't look like a bad person..."
Before he finished speaking, he suddenly froze and stood in front of the door unable to move, unable to speak.
"Some people don't look like bad people, but they look like dogs that covet the meat in other people's bowls." A cold young voice sounded behind him.
Ming Lanruo: "..."
She looked at the beautiful young man in red who slowly walked out from behind Shangguan Hongye, with a complicated expression: "Xiao Yanzi, why did you... run out?"
Xiao Yanzi looked at Ming Lanruo, and then at King Qin next to him who had his numb and mute acupuncture points marked, and who was glaring at him with an angry expression.
He showed a "bright and innocent" smile: "Horako came to take care of my sister to take a bath and fall asleep, which is commonly known as sleeping attendant.