The steward eunuch from the Imperial Household Department came to report. He presented a list and respectfully said to Wei Dongling, "Among the concubines who went to keep vigil for the late emperor, there's no name of Concubine Shu."
Wei Dongling took the list and glanced at it. Then she nodded and waved her hand, signaling the eunuch to leave.
On the day of the fire, everyone rushed to put out the fire in a hurry, and no one noticed Concubine Shu's whereabouts. According to Ruan Niang, when she last fought with Concubine Shu and rescued the Empress Dowager, Concubine Shu didn't use all her strength. After a brief fight, she left Ruan Niang and the Empress Dowager on her own.
A glimmer of hope suddenly arose in Wei Dongling's heart. Yu Zixi seemed to have vanished into thin air that night. Could it be that Concubine Shu happened to save him and took him away from the imperial city?
But Yu Zixi was on the verge of death at that time. In the dark night, how could Concubine Shu find the dying Yu Zixi in the vast imperial palace?
Wei Dongling knew that this hope was too slim. But she still couldn't help praying secretly: If only Yu Zixi could be saved, she would do anything.
La Mei called out to Wei Dongling from afar. She stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Princess Five, are you really not going to see the Prince of Xiliang? I heard that Li Mingyang has been waiting outside the palace for days, just hoping to see you again. La Mei used to have a very bad impression of him, but because of his persistence, she somehow thought more highly of him."
Wei Dongling waved her hand and sighed, "I've been extremely busy these days. Where do I have the time to see him?"
After several battles, almost all of Wei Dongling's money was gone! When she checked the treasury accounts again, there were expenses for the injured soldiers, pensions for the fallen soldiers of the Celestial Dynasty, recruiting more troops, and purchasing weapons... The final balance in the accounts gave Wei Dongling a shock. She tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.
In this situation, how could she be in the mood to see Li Mingyang?
La Mei nodded thoughtfully and then said, "By the way, Princess Five, Lord Pin Hao brought back two girls early this morning. They've been waiting for you outside the palace for quite a while."
Two girls? Could they be Qi Jinlan and Lü Kou?
Hearing this, Wei Dongling strode outside quickly. From afar, she saw Qi Jinlan and Lü Kou standing in the cold wind, waiting for her.
Seeing Wei Dongling running towards them, the two girls knelt down gracefully and said in unison, "This commoner pays respects to Princess Five."
"Why do you need to be so polite when seeing me?" Wei Dongling helped them up and looked them up and down for a long time. Then she nodded and said with a smile, "It's so lonely in the palace. I miss you so much, so I asked Pin Hao to bring you here for me to see. How have you been recently? Have you gotten used to living in the Su Mansion, Jinlan?"
Qi Jinlan's bright eyes sparkled. She nodded and said with a gentle smile, "Everyone in the Su Mansion treats me very well. Lü Kou has even made me a bit fatter." Especially Cheng Hao's mother, who treated her like her own daughter.
"That's good!" Wei Dongling put her arms around their shoulders and led them to the Ministry of Revenue. "Since you're both here, stay with me for a while! I've been quite busy recently, and I need your help with some things!"
Qi Jinlan and Lü Kou glanced at each other and nodded in unison, "Please feel free to tell us, Princess."
"Currently, I have no one I can rely on around me. I need you two to learn how to check the accounts for me."
Hearing this, the two girls looked at each other in surprise. Qi Jinlan curtsied and said, "But we know nothing about this. I'm afraid we won't be able to help at all."
Wei Dongling said, "As long as you're willing to learn, I'll teach you."
Lü Kou nodded quickly and said, "As long as the Princess is willing to teach and doesn't mind my stupidity, I'm willing to learn."
Wei Dongling nodded and looked at Qi Jinlan.
Qi Jinlan bit her lip and nodded, "I can give it a try, but I'm afraid I won't be able to learn." Since the Qi Mansion was raided, she had been living in the Su Mansion. Although everyone treated her very well, she still felt like she was living under someone else's roof. Now, if she could really help her cousin a little, she was naturally willing.
Wei Dongling patted her on the shoulder and led them to the Ministry of Revenue.
In the Ministry of Revenue, Qi Jinlan and Lü Kou were at a loss when they saw the dense accounts on the bookshelves. Wei Dongling didn't hesitate. She sat them among the officials of the Ministry of Revenue and started to teach them how to check the accounts step by step.
Lü Kou was a bit confused when she saw the whole pages of numbers, but Qi Jinlan seemed to have a natural talent! Wei Dongling only taught some methods once, and she could remember them firmly. By the end of the day, Lü Kou looked a bit dejected, but Qi Jinlan was very excited.
Wei Dongling was very happy in her heart: Jinlan, what your father didn't have time to teach you, your cousin will teach you with all she has.
La Mei led the two girls back to Yaoguang Pavilion to rest, while Wei Dongling herself took a list and returned to the Taiji Palace.
Mu Rongxuan and Luo Xunlong were worrying about the increasingly empty treasury. Then they saw Wei Dongling pat a list and say to the "Ninth Prince", "You and Uncle Li should lead the Imperial Guards there in person. Raid the homes of the officials on this list one by one."
Mu Rongxuan was shocked and asked in surprise, "Why?"
Wei Dongling spread her hands and said, "You won't know until you look. There are so many moths. No wonder the treasury is empty."
Mu Rongxuan's face turned pale and he said, "It's currently the period of national mourning. Shouldn't we wait until the Ninth Prince ascends the throne and then take action one by one?" Otherwise, those veteran officials might start to chatter non-stop again, and it would give him a headache during the morning court every day.
Wei Dongling couldn't wait for a single day. She quickly waved her hand and told Luo Xunlong and Uncle Li to lead the Imperial Guards out.
Seeing a pile of memorials on the table that hadn't been reviewed, Mu Rongxuan worked day and night, with his eyes turning blue. Just for an old promise, he had promised to help Wei Dongling. Wei Dongling lowered her head and sighed, "Xuan-gege, you've really been working hard these days." She heard that he had even rushed back from Prince Rui's funeral in a hurry to attend to state affairs.
Mu Rongxuan's eyes were still fixed on the memorials. He replied in a low voice, "Why are you being so polite to me, Wanlin? With my ninth brother and me working together, we can handle these things. But judging from the current situation, it may take a long time for my ninth brother to be able to review the memorials independently..."
Wei Dongling was silent for a long time and then said softly, "Xuan-gege, actually, there's something I've never told you."
Mu Rongxuan looked up at her and asked, "What is it?"
There was no one around in the Taiji Palace. Wei Dongling sighed in a low voice, "Actually, the Ninth Prince, Mu Rong Yuchen, had already passed away before the late emperor died."
Mu Rongxuan was stunned for a moment and seemed a bit at a loss.
Wei Dongling continued, "The current Ninth Prince is actually..."
"Is it Luo Xunlong, right?" Mu Rongxuan said something that shocked everyone.
Wei Dongling asked in surprise, "How did you know?"
Mu Rongxuan smiled bitterly and said, "After spending a few days with him day and night, how could I not know?"
Wei Dongling was extremely shocked. Mu Rongxuan was extremely smart, so it was normal for him to guess. But he clearly knew the whole truth and still cooperated with them silently throughout the whole charade!
Could it be that just because of his friendship with her, he was willing to do all this for her? Wei Dongling's nose felt a bit sour, and her eyes looking at Mu Rongxuan were filled with a hint of guilt.