“Mm…” Su Xiao, brows furrowed, earnestly looked through the thick book on the table.
“Xiao Han, reached a conclusion yet?” Shen Yiren asked from behind as she turned the page on her document.
“Not yet. Give me a bit longer.”
There weren’t many members at Liu Shan Men who could swiftly identify clues for their case from the thick book, so everyone in the room was busy. Even though they had recruited new blood from Nanjiang, accepting praise from His Majesty meant having more cases on their plates.
Although Su Xiao’s martial arts progress improved by leaps and bounds, the same couldn’t be said for his work proficiency. To digress, he was still no match for the likes of Shen Yiren and Tang Ye in a fight. More pertinently, he was summoned to the room despite his shortage of common sense because he had a photographic memory. Shen Yiren could’ve replicated it in a way with her “Precision Scout”, and Ming Huayu Two (Ming Suwen) also had a good memory, but they were still only two people.
Upon finishing the document in front of her, Shen Yirenn said to her brother beside her, “Kuang, go through the remaining documents on my behalf.”
“Is it really appropriate for me to?” queried Shen Kuang, blushing.
“What’s the big deal? You’re my spitting image. You could mimic my handwriting by the time you were seven. Plus, I’ve checked them. It’s fine. They’re just routine documents.”
“But doesn’t that mean we’re flouting the rules? After all, I’m not an official.”
“So? If nobody here says a word, who’d know? Let’s say an outsider really does find out. I’d like to see who here would dare report me.”
Shen Kuang noticed his sister had changed ever since she returned from Nanjiang. She was stronger and prettier for sure, and she was still as frank as ever; however, she was gentler, similar to a young maiden, unlike before. When she frowned, it was like they were looking at a trained killer. In terms of her mindset, she had become more flexible instead of rigidly following rules. Her “aura”, for lack of better word, mirrored a man named Ming Feizhen a lot more than before. If she were holding a jug of wine and hanging a green foxtail from her upwardly-curved lips, she’d literally be him.
“Kuang, what are you smiling like an idiot for?”
“Nothing.” Shen Kuang gently hugged his sister and rubbed his forehead against her head. “I’m just glad you’re back.”
Shen Yiren scrubbed her brother’s head. “Never knew you learnt how to act coquettish.” For a while, only the two of them existed in the world. Once that moment was up, she noticed all the warm smiles directed their way and yelled, “What are you looking at?”
While the audience did avert their gazes, they couldn’t help having a giggle.
Shen Yiren cleared her throat. “I leave the documents to you. Everyone else, come over for a meeting. We have a big load of work today.”
“Hey, Shen Yiren, what’d you call me over for? I’m busy.” Mountain Monster, who was in a dress for a change, had a copy of “Nanjing Tourist Attractions” in her hand. “Hurry up. I haven’t visited Eight Deities Restaurant yet. I have to visit the restaurant that almost threw Ming Feizhen off the top floor no matter what.”
Mountain Monster’s new Dark Brigade unit only took orders from Ming Feizhen and Shen Yiren. She had no respect for protocols. Howbeit, nobody was in any position to protest in spite of their displeasure.
“Okay, I shall now, wait. Yan Ling, stop playing for a moment,” Shen Yiren instructed.
Tang Ye played the last note of “Far, Far From Home is the Heartbroken One” on his erhu. Tang Ye playing music had become so common that most people would think it was normal for there to be background music.
Bai Yeshuang was meditating because she wanted to make good use of time, while Lan Kelan was secretly penning a letter to send to Beiping, or more specifically, Ming Suwen. If Pre-Nanjiang Shen Yiren was in the room, they’d have all copped earfuls already. Having met with various weirdos in Nanjiang and talked business even with the likes of Gu Wuzhu’s subordinate, though, Shen Yiren’s tolerance had increased considerably.
“This morning, Yongheng Bank discovered their seal went missing.” Shen Yiren didn’t need to go out of her way to notice all the ears that reacted. “As you all know, Yongheng Bank has Gold and Silver Sect’s backing. The small square seal has been passed down since they started operating and grants the holder the authority to withdraw a million taels.”
Mountain Monster: “Oof, that’s a lot. Well, any hopes of withdrawing the money has been dashed now that the bank has reported the seal is missing, right?”
“Not exactly. As long as the thief can reach the other branches before word reaches the branches outside of the capital, they could still withdraw money. Xiao Han, any progress?”
Su Xiao raised his dust-laden face. “I’m done! According to their records, there are only seven branches within three hundred kilometres that have more than three hundred thousand taels, two of which are located in the capital. The others are located in Hangzhou, Suzhou, Yangzhou, Anqing and their headquarters in Zhenjiang.”
“There you have it. So, time is of the essence. Whoever has it will race against time to withdraw the money.”
Bai Yeshuang inquired, “Are we going to rush to the five branches?”
“We could, but it’s hardly possible. Yan Ling.”
Tang Ye: “Present.”
“Notify Shuntian Prefecture. Tell them to ignore everyone entering the capital but to inspect everyone exiting. Anyone suspicious is to be taken into custody immediately.”
“Understood.”
“Xiao Han.”
Su Xiao: “Present.”
“Take a team to guard the pier and do as I ordered Shuntian Prefecture to.”
“Roger.”
Su Xiao: “Wawa.”
Mountain Monster: “Huh? Call me Gui Laimeng!”
“As an expert in working in the shadows, work with Nanjing’s underworld to try dig up something.”
Mountain Monster: “Fine.”
“Yeshuang, Kelan, send constables to the five branches.”
“Roger.”
Shen Yiren coiled her index finger and tapped the table, muttering, “As for me, I shall personally check on the culprit. We must find locate the iron seal!”
