I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

After Peng Sanwang walked around the screen wall, the view suddenly opened up before him.

Inside the courtyard.

On the left is a mountain landscape built with Taihu stones. The stones are porous, and below, whether it is hot spring water or heated by charcoal channels, the flowing water makes the surrounding area hot and misty.

On the right is a verdant screen made of the Three Friends of Winter—pine, cypress, and bamboo—which not only exudes elegance but also insulates against the cold.

A thick velvet carpet was laid along the main road in the middle.

Looking at the courtyard and the mountain scenery, Peng San racked his brains and came up with a sentence that suited his current status.

"Though made by man, it seems as if created by nature."

Having said that, he felt even more confident in his identity, straightened his back, stepped onto the carpet, and walked to the front hall door.

At the entrance, two tall and beautiful young women dressed in purple dresses bowed to Peng Sanwang and then pinned a delicate wooden plaque engraved with "Peng Sanwang of Hangzhou Peng Family Pawnshop" to his chest.

This logo facilitates communication among business people.

The "Peng Family Pawnshop in Hangzhou" was fabricated by Aji. However, there are many pawnshops in Hangzhou, and he had already prepared some excuses for Peng Sanwang, so the possibility of it being exposed is not high.

Peng Sanwang put his hands behind his back and walked into the front hall with the air of a wealthy and powerful official.

The front hall is very large.

There is a complete tiger skin rug at the entrance.

Two long tables were set up on either side, with all kinds of snacks and warm yellow wine on them. Young women were brewing tea, and musicians were playing the zither behind a curtain.

Several copper charcoal stoves were placed in the corner.

The highest grade imperial charcoal, red charcoal, burns for a long time, is smokeless and odorless, and leaves pure white ash, making the hall warm as spring.

Of course, there are many other fine items that Peng Sanwang could not recognize.

For example: a ram's horn lamp made of agate in the corner, snow scene paintings by famous people on the wall, various official kiln porcelains, Xuande bronze incense burner burning sandalwood, Suzhou kesi (silk tapestry) on the golden nanmu wood chair, etc.

Most of them are items from the palace.

If Shen Nian were here and saw this scene, he would definitely curl his lip and say: "There are many good things, but they are piled up in a cluttered way and lack aesthetic appeal!"
To Shen Nian, a high-ranking official who had seen the world, this kind of arrangement was nothing short of nouveau riche style.

But the many big businessmen who came today see it differently.

They have seen elegance and have an eye for aesthetics, but they have never seen rarity.

Many of the decorations here are items from the palace, which cannot be bought with money alone; they require extremely high levels of power.

This perfectly demonstrates the wealth and influence of the owner of the West Suburb Courtyard, the Hermit of the West Suburbs.

With someone in the palace as a backer, business is sure to be profitable.

At this moment, some businessmen were already walking around and chatting in the front hall.

Peng Sanwang first walked inside. After the front hall, there were two side halls, and next to the side halls were several tea rooms.

The tea room is a place for businessmen to discuss private business or resources, but there is an additional fee for using the tea room.

A quarter of an hour costs 100 taels of silver, and half an hour is the minimum, with no refunds.

Peng Sanwang stepped across the side hall and through a hanging flower gate, which led to another large hall, similar in layout to the first hall, where merchants were also moving about.

He walked through the main hall, then through the side hall, and saw a covered walkway at the very back, and behind the walkway was another door.

This is the third door, which is tightly closed and guarded by a young man in a blue shirt.

The banquet was to be held inside the third gate, but we could not enter at that time.

After learning about the situation, Peng Sanwang immediately turned back and began chatting with the merchants around him.

Those who arrive here just as dusk is clearly not considered wealthy merchants.

Most of them gritted their teeth and stomped their feet before taking out a thousand taels of silver to broaden their horizons and see if they could make a business deal.

Businessmen are generally very outgoing; after a few words, they start praising each other's industries and discussing the possibility of cooperation.

Peng Sanwang often interacted with grassroots vendors, but he didn't seem out of place here.

……

About half an hour later, the number of people in the various halls increased.

Peng Sanwang estimates that there are already nearly a hundred people.

The entrance fee for one person is one thousand taels of silver, so for one hundred people it would be one hundred thousand taels of silver.

He couldn't help but marvel at how powerful the West Suburbs Courtyard was at making money, but the costs were also terrifyingly high, so it could probably only be held once a year.

While chatting with the merchants, he casually inquired about the special programs in the western suburbs courtyard, hoping to find out some information about firearms. However, most of the people in the front hall were visiting for the first time and, like him, knew almost nothing.

Fifteen minutes later, nearly a hundred people had gathered in several halls.

The young men in blue robes standing guard in the various halls called out, "The banquet is about to begin. Please proceed to the third gate, esteemed officials!"

Immediately, the merchants excitedly rushed to the third gate.

After the third door opened, there was another courtyard, and then a more spacious hall came into view.

Clearly, this is another house, only it has been connected to another one.

Immediately, many beautiful women in purple robes began to distribute numbered tickets to the merchants. Merchants who purchased larger amounts of paper tickets for the West Suburbs Courtyard sat in the front seats, while those who purchased smaller amounts sat in the back.

Because there were more than 100 people, there were three rows of tables and chairs on both sides of the front hall, and in front and behind.

Peng Sanwang, who bought twenty paper tickets (two thousand taels of silver), sat in a seat at the back of the hall. It wasn't the very last seat, but it was definitely in a corner.

However, it does not obstruct the view at all, and the speaker in the main seat in front can be clearly seen.

Before long, the guests took their seats, one person per table and one chair.

Looking into the distance, Peng Sanwang recognized no one, but judging from the clothes and demeanor of the merchants sitting in front of him, their net worth was definitely over ten thousand taels of silver.

Soon after, dishes, snacks, and drinks were placed on the table, with a girl in a purple dress standing behind each person, ready to be at their beck and call.

After everyone had eaten something to fill their stomachs, the main character made his appearance.

A middle-aged man dressed in a long, embroidered silk robe appeared directly in front of them.

This middle-aged man, about fifty years old, had a fair complexion and a somewhat prosperous appearance. He had a wisp of blue beard under his chin, giving him a very scholarly look.

He looked around, and the hall gradually quieted down.

"Is this the owner of the West Suburb Courtyard, the Hermit of the West Suburbs?" Peng Sanwang asked with a puzzled look, quickly memorizing the man's appearance.

Aji instructed him to memorize the appearances of the important figures at the banquet, so that an artist could later draw their portraits.

"Gentlemen, good evening! Welcome to the year-end banquet hosted by the West Suburbs Courtyard! I am the steward of the owner of the West Suburbs Courtyard, the Hermit of the West Suburbs. You may call me Old Bai!"

"Old Bai!" The group of merchants bowed in unison.

Old Master Bai nodded in satisfaction, then continued, "The main purpose of the banquet organized by the West Suburbs Courtyard is to respond to the new policies of the imperial court and promote the prosperity of commerce in our Great Ming Dynasty! Today, everyone is gathered here, so please feel free to speak your minds. I will also talk about what you can do with the West Suburbs Courtyard. After you have eaten and drunk your fill and enjoyed the songs and dances, you can continue to discuss cooperation and seek my help in making connections. Once the business is discussed to your heart's content, you can enjoy the special programs of the West Suburbs Courtyard. You will all know about them later!"

Peng Sanwang looked at Elder Bai with a puzzled expression.

He suddenly felt that the other person spoke like a eunuch, but the other person had a beard, and because of the collar covering him and the distance, he couldn't see whether he had an Adam's apple.

Just then, Boss Bai made a gesture.

A group of young women dressed in sheer gauze ran out from behind, and then music started, and the women began to dance.

Then, a variety of exquisite dishes were slowly served.

The merchants enjoyed a visual feast, holding royal wine cups and eating ingredients that were not necessarily delicious but very expensive. Suddenly, they felt that the entrance fee of one thousand taels was not so high.

After a period of singing and dancing, Old Bai continued speaking.

He is very talkative.

The discussion ranged from the reforms and new policies of the Ming Dynasty to the development of commerce and trade among the people, as well as which industries were profitable and which were not.

He was very familiar with the imperial monopoly on salt, iron and tea, had a good understanding of the emerging maritime trade, and was also quite knowledgeable about the Yaodong Trading Company, which was now under the control of the imperial court but still profited in the old way. He could accurately recite a lot of data from the Ministry of Revenue on commerce.

And most of the data is confidential.

The merchants listened with great interest, nodding from time to time. Peng Sanwang, who seemed to understand but not quite, also nodded in agreement with the merchants.

Judging from the merchants' expressions, it was clear that what Old Man Bai said was correct and exactly what the merchants wanted to hear.

This old man seems to be able to participate in any transaction, and more importantly, he is confident that he can make a profit.

The banquet continued in this manner.

The delicious food kept being served, the beauties' clothes became less and less, and Old Bai's explanation of how to make money through commerce frequently drew rounds of applause.

A thought suddenly popped into Peng Sanwang's mind.

"This...this...if Elder Bai is from the palace, then could the Hermit of the Western Suburbs possibly be His Majesty or the Empress Dowager?"

Peng Sanwang made a bold guess, but then quickly shook his head.

"Since the Hermit of the Western Suburbs hasn't shown up, this matter is no longer my concern. I just need to remember the appearances of some important figures and find clues about the murders committed with firearms to complete my task and get a job in the Ministry of War!" Peng Sanwang murmured to himself.

Half an hour later.

Old Bai stepped down from his seat and began drinking with the merchants. If a merchant had a request, the young man in blue next to him would write it down, and Old Bai would answer separately if it was a chargeable item.

Before long, Old Bai arrived beside Peng Sanwang.

Peng Sanwang and the surrounding merchants hurriedly cupped their hands in a toast to Old Bai. Peng Sanwang noticed that Old Bai's collar seemed to deliberately cover his Adam's apple. Unless he pulled open the collar, he couldn't see it clearly. However, with his sharp eyes, he discovered that Old Bai's beard was fake, definitely fake.

"Although his voice has changed somewhat, his appearance and temperament remain the same. He is most likely a eunuch!" Peng Sanwang thought to himself.

But then he suddenly had another thought: Was he deliberately trying to make people suspect that he came from the palace, in order to show off his status, which is why the fake beard was so obvious?

Soon, Bai Lao left Peng Sanwang and the others, because these businessmen had little money and even fewer people willing to pay to ask questions.

After staying in the living room for another fifteen minutes, Mr. Bai was led to the tea room by a wealthy merchant for further discussion.

The remaining merchants drank and chatted amongst themselves.

at this time.

A woman in a purple dress handed Peng Sanwang a palm-sized red note sprinkled with gold powder, and gave him a flirtatious wink.

Peng Sanwang looked at the red note and discovered that the special paid features had arrived.

He felt a little embarrassed after just one glance.

The inscription reads: "Looking at the pole with gauze lanterns, male-male singing, rare beasts fighting, beauties playing chess, Western Regions illusions, beauties on golden plates," etc.

Each item costs over a thousand taels of silver, and they are mostly overnight stays.

Among them, the "Wanggan Shading Lantern" is the cheapest, priced at 1,200 taels.

In short, this project involves several young women carrying poles and hanging lanterns to create a hazy, romantic atmosphere. The guest chooses one of the lanterns, blows it out, and then enjoys a passionate night together.

These projects are not located in this residence.

If you're interested, you can hand over a paper ticket from the western suburbs, and a young man in a blue shirt will lead you to a place for pleasure.

In fact, some private places in the capital also offer these kinds of entertainment, although the quality is not as good as here, but they are more cost-effective.

Most businessmen choose to spend their time here after a successful business deal, and then relax together.

Although Peng Sanwang still had two thousand taels of paper money from the western suburbs, it was of no use for spending on these items.

He immediately began to stroll around the front hall.

They would see which merchant seemed to be a regular customer and then spend two hundred taels of silver to take him to the tea room for a chat.

Peng Sanwang ate, drank, strolled around, and chatted. When he discovered that someone was a regular customer, he invited them into the tea room for a detailed chat. After noting down the person's wooden sign, he inquired about their background.

Before long, six hundred taels of silver were spent in the teahouse, but unfortunately, there was nothing of value to be gained.

Another half hour passed, and the merchants who had reached an agreement found the young man in the blue shirt and went off to experience more exciting entertainment activities, while some merchants who were unwilling to spend more money chose to get a refund and go home.

There are fewer and fewer people.

If Peng Sanwang doesn't leave or try out the entertainment activities, he might become the focus of attention.

He thought about it and decided to leave.

He wouldn't get any useful information if he stayed any longer.

Just as he was about to return the paper tickets from the western suburbs, he suddenly heard a voice from not far away: "Brother Sun, I heard that last time you showed off the latest firearms of our Great Ming Dynasty in front of a group of wealthy merchants, you were the one who killed that civilian, right? I hope the government won't find out about you."

"Be careful what you say, this matter must not be spoken!"

Peng Sanwang was overjoyed upon hearing this.

Just as he was about to look for the person who was speaking, he turned his head and saw several girls in purple dresses blocking his view, while the two men who were speaking quickly disappeared around the corner.

He could vaguely make out that they were two young men in their early twenties.

He dared not chase after them blindly, fearing he would not be able to get out, so he immediately beckoned to a girl in a purple dress and said, "Refund!"

……

Half an hour later, Peng Sanwang was taken to the foot of Xishan Mountain and boarded the carriage that Aji had prepared for him.

It was already midnight, and the city gates were closed. He could only report back tomorrow.

He was ecstatic.

The words he just heard were enough to make him jump from the Five Cities Military Command to the Ministry of War.

Tonight was an unforgettable night for him; he almost couldn't resist spending 1,200 taels to experience the sightseeing pole lantern.

……

December 22nd, early in the morning.

Shen Nian arrived at the Ministry of War and waited for Peng Sanwang to report on the events of the previous night. Once the truth was found, the money he had spent would have to be reimbursed by the imperial court!
After a while.

Peng Sanwang, sporting dark circles under his eyes, was led by Aji to Shen Nian's study.

There were only the three of them in the room. Shen Nian looked at Peng Sanwang's face and said, "What... didn't you sleep all night?"

"Yes, after attending the banquet in the western suburbs, I was afraid that I would forget everything I saw if I slept, so I dared not sleep and kept thinking about how to report it!" Peng Sanwang said truthfully.

"Now you can speak. Come, sit down and tell me slowly!"

Aji, who was standing nearby, immediately handed Peng Sanwang a chair and served him a bowl of tea.

Then, Aji picked up a pen and paper, ready to take notes.

Peng Sanwang paused for a moment and began to recount everything that had happened to him since he was taken away by the young man in the blue shirt.

He recounted Bai Lao's speech and the conversation between the last two young masters almost word for word, and also noted down the wooden signs of more than ten merchants.

After listening to Peng Sanwang and confirming that he had nothing more to add, Shen Nian stood up.

Peng Sanwang and Aji also stood up.

Shen Nian looked at Aji and said, "Aji, find a reliable painter immediately and have him draw the appearance of that old man Bai. Then investigate this person; also investigate all the merchants with names and surnames."

"Yes!" Immediately, Aji was about to lead Peng Sanwang away from the Ministry of War's office.

Shen Nian looked at Peng Sanwang and added, "Peng Sanwang, after you finish these things, get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow someone will notify you to report to the Ministry of War. Also, your monthly salary will be doubled this month!"

"Thank you... thank you... Your Excellency!" Peng Sanwang kowtowed deeply to Shen Nian. His initiative had changed his entire life.

As the Minister of War, Shen Nian could transfer an official to the Ministry of War through the Ministry of Personnel, but transferring a clerk was a matter of a single word.

Although the perpetrator has not yet been identified, it has been confirmed that the firearm murder occurred in the western suburbs courtyard.

Peng Sanwang deserves the greatest credit and should be rewarded.

……

After a short while, only Shen Nian remained in the Ministry of War's hall.

Shen Nian pondered carefully what Peng Sanwang had said. How dare he be so arrogant in the capital, using all kinds of imperial items, and how well he knew about the relevant data of maritime trade, royal stores, and maritime business.

The five Grand Secretaries? The heads of the six ministries? A host of nobles?
Shen Nian felt that they would have a hard time managing a place like the West Suburb Courtyard, and that if they were discovered, they would be ruined.

"Could it really be royalty? His Majesty? Or the two Empress Dowagers?"

Thinking hard.

Shen Nian dared not think any further.

If it were the young Wanli Emperor or the two empress dowagers who created a setting like the West Suburb Courtyard for their own personal gain, Shen Nian would not know how to handle it.

If that's the case, then the Ming Dynasty's royal family is utterly corrupt, and Shen Nian might have to resign and return to his hometown.

……

On December 23, the morning court session was held as usual.

Emperor Wanli announced that officials in the capital would enter their annual leave period after the 25th of this month, and that officials not on duty and those preparing for sacrificial rites would not need to go to the yamen.

The annual leave will continue until the 20th day of the first lunar month.

However, the Ministry of War and Shuntian Prefecture were exempted. Emperor Wanli demanded that the murderer who used firearms to kill people and the person who stole the firearms be caught before the end of the year.

This made Shen Nian realize that the young Wanli Emperor was definitely not the hermit of the western suburbs or unaware of the situation.

However, the Ministry of War, Shuntian Prefecture, and the Jinyiwei and Wucheng Garrison, which were assisting in the investigation, had no leads whatsoever.

Xishan is so large, and no one witnessed Qi Mancang's initial death scene, making it extremely difficult to find relevant clues.

In the afternoon, just as Minister of War Shen Nian was so anxious he was about to overturn the table, Aji arrived at the Minister's Hall.

Swish!
Aji unfolded a portrait and said, "Young Master, this is Old Bai, the steward of the West Suburbs Courtyard!"

Swish!
Aji then unfolded another portrait.

"This is Old Bai, who is beardless and rather thin. Upon identification, Old Bai is a eunuch from the Jiajing era. His name is Shi Gui. He once served as the Grand Eunuch of the Imperial Household Department and was skilled in statistical analysis. Later, he was expelled from the palace for making a mistake and now lives in the west of the city. He keeps a low profile but lives a very extravagant life. I took Peng Sanwang to identify him this morning and confirmed that it is him without a doubt!"

"In addition, we investigated more than ten well-known merchants, but found no contact between them and the palace, nor with Shi Gui. As for the two young men who were talking, we have no leads at the moment."

Shen Nian frowned slightly.

"Could an old eunuch who was expelled from the palace have stirred up such a storm? Could he have known all sorts of information about the court's finances? Could he have an inside man in the firearms battalion who could have stolen the 'Lightning Gun' and then put it back? Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

Suddenly, Shen Nian's eyes lit up. She looked at Aji and said, "Aji, go investigate his godson. He must have a godson!"

"Aji understands!" Aji quickly walked outside.

For an old eunuch who has been expelled from the palace to live so comfortably and organize such a large-scale event, he must have a godson.

A palace eunuch can live without a maidservant to share a meal with, but he cannot live without a godson.

……

Late at night, in the study of the Shen residence.

Because Aji had not returned, Shen Nian had been waiting for him.

Aji knew the matter was urgent, and given his nature, he would investigate and find a result even if it was very late that day.

Shen Nian didn't have to go to the yamen on time, so she could rest a little later and waited for him.

Just then, Shen Nian heard a knock on the door.

"Young Master!" It was Aji's voice.

"Aji, come in!" Shen Nian became excited.

The door opened, and Aji walked in, saying, "Young Master, Shi Gui, who goes by the alias Master Bai, has a godson in the palace named Sun Jiu."

“What? Sun Jiu? But… but that…” Shen Nian’s voice trembled.

“It is indeed Sun Jiu, the eunuch serving Prince Lu!” Aji replied.

"Could it be...could it be that the owner of the West Suburb Courtyard, the Hermit of the West Suburbs, is...is His Highness Prince Lu!" Shen Nian was momentarily stunned.

Shen Nian paused for a moment and looked at Aji.

"Aji, go back and rest. Let me think about how to handle this matter!"

"Yes!" Aji left the room.

Shen Nian leaned back in the large chair, closed her eyes, and began to think seriously.

The more I think about it, the more I believe it is Prince Lu.

The eunuch Sun Jiu alone did not have such power; only the Prince of Lu could secretly command the soldiers of the firearms battalion to steal the lightning muskets.

Shen Nian recalled that Prince Lu had expressed interest in the lightning musket more than once.

In addition, this winter, Empress Dowager Li and Emperor Wanli have begun to search for a princess for Prince Lu. Prince Lu has turned fourteen this year and will be able to get married next year.

After the wedding, the imperial court would build a royal palace for him, both of which were extremely expensive.

Therefore, Shen Nian specifically told Prince Lu during her lecture that the wedding should not be extravagant and the construction of the palace should not be luxurious.

Perhaps it was because of these two things that he wanted to make money, and then his eunuch Sun Jiu and his godfather came up with this terrible idea.

"But...who killed Qi Mancang? Why was he killed?" Shen Nian asked, puzzled.

After pausing for a moment, Shen Nian murmured, "There are still many doubts, but there's no need to investigate further. Tomorrow I will personally ask Prince Lu. If he is indeed the Hermit of the Western Suburbs, then all the problems will be solved!"

……

The following afternoon, in the Forbidden City, in the South Third Palace, in front of the Prince of Lu's residence.

As Shen Nian walked to the door, she ran into Sun Jiu, the eunuch in charge of serving at the Prince of Lu's residence.

Sun Jiu was taken aback for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "Grand Secretary Shen, hasn't His Highness Prince Lu's studies ended this year?"

He assumed Shen Nian was there to attend class, since the Prince of Lu's classes were all in the afternoon.

Shen Nian smiled slightly and said, "Please trouble you, Sun Chengfeng, to inform His Highness Prince Lu about next year's course arrangements!"

"Please wait a moment, Grand Secretary Shen. I will go and report to His Highness Prince Lu immediately!"

Immediately, Sun Jiu hurried towards the palace. In front of Shen Nian, the eunuchs of the Prince of Lu's mansion all looked like obedient and good eunuchs.

After a while.

Sun Jiu welcomed Shen Nian into the Prince of Lu's study.

Prince Lu was already waiting to the side. He pouted and said somewhat reluctantly, "Teacher, it's the New Year, can't the lessons be arranged for next year?"

Prince Lu was somewhat willful in front of Shen Nian.

Because he always considered Shen Nian one of his own, and he had no pressure from the court, he just wanted to be a wealthy and noble prince.

Shen Nian said with a smile, "Some things must be said after the New Year; it will be too late after the New Year!"

Soon after, Sun Jiu left, leaving only Shen Nian and Prince Lu in the study.

Shen Nian looked at Prince Lu and asked directly, "Your Highness, have you ever heard of the Western Suburbs Courtyard?"

Upon hearing this, Prince Lu's body trembled violently, and he dared not look directly at Shen Nian.

When Shen Nian saw his body tremble, she knew the answer in her heart.

"Your Highness, is the Hermit of the Western Suburbs you? Did you order Sun Jiu and his godfather, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department during the Jiajing era, to build the Western Suburbs Courtyard to amass wealth? Most of the furnishings in the Western Suburbs Courtyard are yours, aren't they? Why are you amassing wealth in this way? And what about the use of a flintlock pistol to kill people? I need answers!"

Faced with Shen Nian's series of questions, Prince Lu's eyes blurred with tears, and he couldn't help but sob. He hadn't expected Shen Nian to be able to find out about this matter, let alone that Shen Nian already knew so much about the situation.

Shen Nian stood opposite him, quietly waiting for him to speak.

About a breath later.

Prince Lu wiped away his tears and said, "Sir, yes, I am the Hermit of the Western Suburbs. It was Shi Gui and Sun Jiu who came up with this idea for me."

"I found it profitable, and they promised that my identity would only be known to a few people, so I agreed."

"My original intention in building the western suburbs courtyard was not to facilitate collusion between officials and merchants, but to help merchants achieve trade. In this way, not only can it revitalize the commerce in the capital, but it can also earn some of the money for my marriage and the construction of the royal palace."

"At the beginning, there weren't many merchants participating, so Shi Gui and Sun Jiu started using some special entertainment activities to attract people. Last time, in order to make a deal with more than ten merchants, Sun Jiu used my name to ask Yu Jin, the manager of the firearms battalion, for a lightning bolt gun. He intended to use this novel gadget to show the merchants the capabilities of the West Suburbs Courtyard. However, I didn't expect that Sun Jiu's godson, Sun Yu, had a few drinks and then used a wine porter as a live target. I have already reprimanded them!"

"Sir, this matter must not be made public. You can reprimand me in private, but you must not tell the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. They will beat me to death. Later, I will have Sun Jiu make up another reason and find a scapegoat. Then you can close this case, how about that?"

Hearing this, Shen Nian felt a chill in her heart.

Prince Lu was not misled by his subordinates; he was aware of everything.

Emperor Wanli loved money, as did Prince Lu; they treated the lives of ordinary people as mere crops.

Shen Nian thought for a moment and looked at Prince Lu.

"Your Highness, let us go see His Majesty now! Admitting your mistakes voluntarily is completely different from being denounced by me!"

"Sir, you...you...why don't you think about me? I do this kind of business because the court is unwilling to pay for my marriage or build my palace. Is it wrong for me to be self-reliant? That man's death was an accident. Sun Jiu and his godson Sun Yu can pay with their lives. It has nothing to do with me!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Nian felt even colder.

Sure enough, the Zhu family only cared about themselves. They believed that everyone else was their servant and that their needs were the most important.

At this moment, Shen Nian's face was ashen, and she barely managed to restrain herself from slapping the Prince of Lu.

Shen Nian bowed to Prince Lu once again.

"Since Your Highness is unwilling to admit your mistake, then I will report this matter to His Majesty. Furthermore, I will immediately resign from my post as a lecturer at the Prince of Lu's residence. I am incompetent and cannot teach Your Highness well!"

After saying that, Shen Nian turned and walked outside.

……

Prince Lu sat blankly in his chair, pondered for a moment, and then called out towards the door, "Sun Jiu, come in quickly!"

Soon, Sun Jiu appeared before the Prince of Lu.

Seeing that the Prince of Lu's face was covered in tears, he asked in confusion, "Your Highness, what... what happened?"

"Sir, you know! You know that I am the Hermit of the Western Suburbs! He... he went to my elder brother's court to accuse me!" Prince Lu said, his voice trembling with tears.

Sun Jiu was shocked.

If this matter is made public, Prince Lu will at most be severely punished, but he will certainly die.

He thought for a moment and then quickly said, "Your Highness, the best course of action now is for you to go to Cining Palace and confess this matter to the Empress Dowager. You should say that you did this to raise money for your wedding and the construction of your residence, so as to share the burden of the Emperor. As for the firearms killing... you should say that Sun Yu impersonated you and that neither of us knew anything about it."

"Your Highness, as long as the Empress Dowager protects you, His Majesty will also protect you, and this matter can be suppressed. Your Majesty, if this matter is suppressed, you must also protect my life!"

"Yes, yes, I understand. Let's go to Cining Palace immediately!" Prince Lu stood up and said anxiously.

……

At this time.

Just as Shen Nian was about to reach the entrance of Wenhua Hall, she suddenly stopped.

He suddenly realized that, given the extent of Emperor Wanli's favoritism towards Prince Lu, Empress Dowager Li, who doted on Prince Lu, would likely come to the Wenhua Hall after he reported this. The two of them would probably order Shen Nian to suppress the matter and find a scapegoat to close the case.

Shen Nian was facing these two alone and had no strength to resist.

He decided to inform Zhang Juzheng about the matter first.

Among the five Grand Secretaries, Shen Nian was the most adept at dealing with the young Wanli Emperor, while Zhang Juzheng was the most adept at dealing with Empress Dowager Li.

The difficulty in this matter lies with Empress Dowager Li, who dotes on her son.

Shen Nian immediately walked towards the Cabinet Office.

He couldn't yet imagine how the case would end, but he absolutely couldn't let an innocent person die unjustly.

That was the pillar of the family.

His unexpected death may have ruined his entire family.

Even royalty cannot bully people like this, nor can they treat the common people like dirt.

He needs an explanation. (End of Chapter)