Master Xu led them all to the accountants' office, three men came after them and went to the table which was filled with files. It seemed; they had also searched for the clues related to the case.
"Your highness, he was working on Da mine matters."
One of the men explained and served the records to the princess. Da mine was on the skirt of Da mountains. It was an iron ore mine, where they could extract high-quality metals, especially steel to forge their weapons.
Four years ago, an explosion caused a disaster and the prime minister asked them to keep the mining on hold until the safety terms could be settled, two years later, the mine began to work until now. What was wrong with there?
Her eyes traveled between the columns and numbers when the other man gave her another record, "Li Hui had noted all the space between the budget and the income the miners had received."
Li Shu's eyes were on the princess, the princess looked even more outstanding and attractive when she was investigating and acting seriously. Why was she this beautiful today?
On the other side, the prince bit his lip, snatching his eyes off the maiden, she was too much for being a maiden, he could not take this anymore; taking the record from his sister to get some clues regarding this mine, he distracted himself.
"213 people are working there, and have been extracting tons of iron ore! There must be a huge budget when this is only the number of miners!" he turned the page and continued reading the detail. Many devices were used there, and all needed expenses, including the damages and frustration.
Xing Huan's eyes rolled on her brother, continuing with the notices that Li Hui had scribbled. Li Shu ducked her head at the written words and said, "2000 gold coins were given as budget! Only 500 coins were consumed last year! It could not even nourish them!"
the princess smiled, so Li Shu was truly educated, easily in one glance she could read all of it and do the math. Of course, she did it well as a ravenous girl.
"Yes, but this department was responsible to determine the budget and give it to that sect's wardens and managers, they are watching everything through a principal and a royal proctor. Where were they? This is disqualification, huge unforgivable neglect."
"Your highness, the detector who is working on the case must arrive soon, as I know, they had summoned all the experts to the fishing expedition." Manager Xu explained and closed all the documents, they had searched over their sleepless night.
"I don't like this!" Li Shu murmured.
The princess put down the notebook and trailed off, "The detector will record all of this, make sure nothing slips out of their hands otherwise I will punish responsible people, personally. I will send words to the rest of the experts who had neglected, they must meet my father to explain extremely."
"How daring they were to embezzle through the budget! Did not we have inspectors? It had happened in two years, gradually and with the number of these golds, we could weaponize two armies of the seven lands!"
The prince pointed out. Princess Xing Huan couldn't deny that her brother impressed her. if he was aware of such treason, he wouldn't come to assist. Certainly, he was here to satisfy their father. It was a good start after all, especially after the mistake he made in Spring Camp. Yet, she needed to be observant.
"Good indication, like what prince Xing Bolin noted, summon the inspectors who you worked with."
The princess confirmed her brother, and the prince nodded as if he had achieved a triumph.
"Did you fire anyone here, lately?"
Asked Li Shu, and all eyes rolled to her side. Xing Bolin's eyebrows creased, 'My sister tolerates you speak in matters that have nothing to do with you!'
"What is this, Li Shu? Do you have another skill rather than swinging a sword?" the prince mocked. Such a pretty woman should serve him in bed, not strolling around with his sister. However, those rough hands didn't suit the face.
"Your highness brought me here to help her!" Li Shu could not bear this royal rat, but if it was prince Wu Xiuying, this disgusting being would kneel on his knees to plead with him for his life. Tonight, he would give him a lesson when he was with his sister.
"Speak Li Shu! We need solidarity to solve this, I am sure the workers are suffering from a lack of income. We might be supposed to visit them."
The princess allowed her.
"He had been searching among papers and I doubt he had talked to anyone, he was after remarkable names or clues. Someone was watching over his moves from here. So I ask again? Did he have any problem with anyone here or did you discharge someone?"
Manager Xu gazed at Li Shu, wondering how a maiden was able to speak like this, she must be genuinely bright, "No, we didn't fire anyone for slumber in duty," his eyes turned on the two men who were standing over there, waiting for clarification, "You were close to him, as I didn't receive any misbehavior report, you two must know!"
"Tang Long Wei, he used to argue with him a lot and believed that Li Hui is taking bribes to help people in taxes matter."
The manager shook his head, why didn't Li Hui report this misbehavior? That humble man was a big loss to this department.
"Where is he now?"
The men shrugged as they had no idea why didn't he come today.
"He is absent, we have his address." Manager Xu stated.
Princess's face dimmed, hoping that her assumption was wrong, or just a simple misunderstanding, turning to her personal guards, she demanded, "Zha Gang, Yan Yuxi, go and bring the man, my brother will come to the interrogation department with us."
They bowed, "We are at your disposal!"
The man took notes of the address and handed them, taking two more guards with them they left the place. Princess Xing Huan was sick of this pathetic state for having no inkling of what was going on. The bribe was prohibited in any department, but he had been accusing his colleague who was paying attention more to people rather than royals. Such a man couldn't be a criminal, nor could be a betrayal.
"Sister, what do we have to do in interrogation sect? did you catch the murderer?"
Princess Xing Huan was certain that he knew the answer, he used to have eyes over her and it wasn't out of mind that he had heard everything already.
"Yes, we caught him. he was a well-trained assassin."
Li Shu suppressed her chuckle! Why didn't she mention the merchant? Why was she protecting the man she just met last night?
The princess's sight turned on the old eunuch who was beside Fu Liu, surveying inside the room. He didn't want to attract the prince's attention. Gladly, prince Xing Bolin didn't spare notification on him, prying to grasp who he was.
"We are leaving." The prince stated, itching to see the assassin she mentioned and they headed outside when the detectors arrived.
"Your highness, what a bliss to see you are working on this case."
"Detector Kang, I am fortunate that you run this case, we could find no one better than you. Please make sure to send us the conclusion of the investigation and join us for the rest of the moves."
"Your highness can be relieved, that I will attend to you in the evening."
The princess snickered, good idea, she could get a space to meet her suitors.
"Put it in nutshell, so we can report the king." The prince added.
Leaving the Chancery building, Li Shu gazed around, and murmured to her brother, "Memorize every suspicious face."
Chaoxiang nodded, his majesty would want to work on this during the night. These dangerous people had a den here that they could conceal and then walk among crowds without being noticed.
...
Back to the castle...
Sweeping the ground from the muck. Aunt Gu Ju was recalling how savage the princess's gazes were, she was lucky that she didn't execute her.
"Come on, you are too slow, we hired you because of your strength, use it!"
The headman growled at aunt Gu Ju, he was also a chubby man, he wore a smirk, walking around ordering people. Especially, this woman who just came along. She introduced herself as Li Shu's aunt, predicting to catch a better position.
"Huh, it won't be like this. I am not going to stay here more than a few hours."
She put a squeeze on the broom's grip.
"Headman Kai, can you borrow your worker to me."
Aunt Gu Ju lazily turned her eyes to see who was he. Seeing the physician her eyes sparkled, who was the lucky person he would take with him?
"Do you want Gu Ju? But she just arrived two hours ago!"
"Yes, I know! I need her help."
The man's expression ran feral, averting to her.
"Fine, as you wish." He turned back and left, exhaling got steam.