Qingyu Case: Female Minister of Dali Temple

"And..." Chen Shao looked at the account book of Fenglong Company beside him, and the wooden box brought back from Huichuntang on the account book. After a pause, he continued, "Put the account books of Huichuntang, Shiweizhai, Changshun Shoe Store and Wenjia Manor aside for now, and check the account book of Fenglong Company first. While checking, pay attention to the transactions with cities bordering other countries such as Changming City, Tuoyu City, Kunlun Town and Butou City."

Quan Shuyu went to the desk and wrote down the place she mentioned.

Chen Shao took a look and continued, "There are a lot of things to do right now, and we don't have enough manpower. You need to take on more responsibilities. Even so, don't force yourself when your body can't take it. There is a long way to go, so there is no need to rush."

Quan Shuyu smiled and said, "Don't worry, sir. Miss Chan Yi... Miss Chan Yi is watching me."

"Also," Chen Shao couldn't help laughing when he said these two words. After laughing, he still instructed Chan Yi, "Hand over all the silver we received since coming to Hongyuan County and all the expenses so far to her. She will be responsible for the financial revenue and expenditure in the future."

"It's no problem to leave it to her, and I'm happy to be relaxed," Chan Yi said, "but she hasn't recovered yet. Young Master asked her not to endure it, but from what I've seen from her recently, she won't listen. I don't know when I'll be able to finish the account books of Fenglong Commercial Bank, and there are still the account books of Luo Zhengxin, Wen Family and Lu Family to sort out. Even if she has three heads and six arms, I'm afraid she won't be able to handle it. Let me tell you, since you want to find help, why don't you find it now?"

Quan Shuyu said angrily, "How can I be so delicate?"

Although she said this, it did not stop her from swiftly moving the account books of Fenglong Commercial Bank to the desk and starting to organize them.

Chan Yi winked at Chen Shao: Just look.

"Then go find them." Chen Shao glanced at her frail body and said, "There were sixty students who went to Wen's manor a few days ago. Thirty of them have been arranged today. So call the remaining thirty over."

When Quan Shuyu heard about thirty people, he quickly stopped them and said, "We don't need that many people. Three or five will be enough."

Chan Yi sighed and said, "My dear sister, we don't need so many people, but we have to pick some."

Quan Shuyu blurted out: "Do we need to choose students from the Imperial College?"

Then he remembered that many people in those gardens were sent there by students from the Imperial College, so he changed his words and said, "We need to select carefully."

"That's right." Chan Yi said shamelessly, "Not to mention the Imperial College in Hongyuan County, even if the students in the Imperial College want to work with you, they have to be selected carefully."

"Okay, stop bragging." Chen Shao urged, "Hurry up and ask Fu Jiu to invite someone, and invite the doctor of medicine and medical students as well."

Although we don’t know how many people will come to see the doctor tomorrow, we still need to be as prepared as possible.

When Chan Yi went to ask Fu Jiu to hire someone, Chen Shao continued, "After the money is in your hands, the expenses will also come from your hands, especially the expenses of the kitchen. Go back and tell the people in the kitchen to go to the village to buy the meat and vegetables for the small kitchen."

Quan Shuyu nodded in agreement.

Chen Shao originally wanted to let her take charge of the account books of Huimin Medicine Store, but after taking a look at the account books of Fenglong Commercial Bank, he thought that since they had accepted her, she would definitely follow them around the country in the future, and sooner or later, someone else would have to take care of the account books of Huimin Medicine Store. It would be better not to let her get involved now to save the trouble of handover. With this in mind, he changed the subject and asked, "How are the four girls living with you doing recently?"

Quan Shuyu also wanted to find an opportunity to tell her about them. Seeing that she took the initiative to ask, he said, "They are almost fully recovered, but they were all betrayed to Luo Zhengxin by their own brothers. Even though they are saved now, they are reluctant to go back home."

Being betrayed by a brother, the parents must be aware of it. Born in this era, if you are no longer innocent, you will have no way to survive after returning. Chen Shao thought for a moment and said to her: "Ask them if they are willing to help in the medicine shop. If they are not willing to go, wait for a while until Lord Lei and Lord Hu clear out the property of Luo Zhengxin, Wu Dong and others, and I will see if there are other good shops for them to choose."

Before Quan Shuyu could respond, Chan Yi, who had just returned from giving instructions to Fu Jiu, stood at the door and said, "Sir, Lord Lei is here."

This is really unexplainable. He came right after I mentioned him. Quan Shuyu stood up to leave, but Chen Shao stopped him and said to Chanyi, "Please let him in."

Lei Dehou came in under the blazing sunlight and saw Quan Shuyu flipping through the account books. He was slightly startled for a moment before he looked away and said, "Sir, the compensation for the victims of the serial murder case has all been paid out."

Chen Shao asked, "Is everything going well?"

"It went relatively smoothly. There were one or two who were dissatisfied that what they got was different from others and wanted to make trouble. But after I told them that they could give it up if they were not satisfied, they behaved themselves." Lei Dehou said as he handed over the detailed list of compensation.

Chen Shao took it and glanced at it, then put it aside and asked Chan Yi, "Have the twenty-one people who dug the bones been paid?"

Chan Yi replied, "I have already given it to you."

"It's fine as long as you give it to me." Chen Shao looked back at Lei Dehou, "Wanhe Pharmacy and Kangle Pharmacy are the property of the Zhou and Hu families?"

This had been said a long time ago, Lei Dehou nodded honestly and said, "Yes."

"The preliminary list of official drugstores has been released, and notifications have been sent out," Chen Shao asked, "Didn't the Zhou family contact you?"

"I have." Lei Dehou did not dare to hide anything and told him everything about the Zhou family looking for him at noon. After listening, Chen Shao said, "Go and tell them later to let Kangle Hall prepare well. If there are too many people going to Huimin Pharmacy for treatment tomorrow, other doctors and medicine dispensers in Kangle Hall will have to go over to help. Also, tell them that Huimin Pharmacy is the name of the official pharmacy, and ask them to behave well."

Lei Dehou should be.

Chen Shao glanced at him and asked, "Is Zhou Zhongtian still with you?"

Redhou nodded.

Chen Shao ordered: "Put him in jail. Since the Zhou and Hu family's pharmacies are on the preliminary list, I will not try him for the time being."

After he agreed, Chen Shao asked, "Are we going to check the assets of Luo Zhengxin and Wu Dong next?"

Lei Dehou said respectfully, "Yes, I'll be there in a moment."

Chen Shao nodded: "Then go."

Seeing that he didn't leave, I couldn't help but ask, "What's the matter? Tell me."

Lei Dehou glanced at Quan Shuyu and asked hesitantly, "I wonder who you are going to target next, young master?"

Chen Shao looked at him for a moment: "Are you asking this for yourself or for someone else?"

Lei Dehou knew that he could not hide it, so he confessed honestly: "It was the head of the Ren family who asked me to ask about the young master. The head of the Ren family also wants to meet the young master."

Chen Shao raised his hand and tapped the armrest gently: "What do you want to see me for?"

Lei Dehou carefully looked at her expression and said, "She should be asking for apology."

"Ask for the crime?" Chen Shao sneered twice, "In other words, he also knows that what they did was a crime?"

Lei Dehou didn't dare to answer.

"Tell him that apologizing cannot wash away the crimes they have committed." Chen Shao did not make things difficult for him. "If you want to protect yourself, the only thing you can do is to return what you should return as soon as possible. Otherwise, after I finish dealing with the Wen family, he will be the next one!"

Lei Dehou considered the meaning of her words, and after confirming that it was the answer he wanted, he looked at Quan Shuyu again before turning around and leaving.

Chen Shao also stood up and motioned to Quan Shuyu to work in the study. He said to Chan Yi, "Take the box of evidence from the Wen family with you. After dealing with the students, go directly to the Wen family."

Chan Yi went out with the box, and when she saw Li Tianliu at the door, she stuffed it into his arms without hesitation.

Li Tianliu looked at the box, then looked at her, "Do you know..."

"I don't know." Chan Yi didn't give him a chance to speak.

Li Tianliu sighed and slowly followed her steps, "If it were in the army..."

Chan Yi glanced at him and said, "This is not the military."

Listening to the two people's bickering, I walked slowly along the shade of the trees to the second hall, just as Fu Jiu came over with the students.

Compared to Liu Deming's group of students who often followed her to do things, this group of students seemed more excited. Chen Shao had been sitting at the desk for a while, and they were still chattering endlessly. Chen Shao did not stop them, just wait and see how long they could talk. After about half a cup of tea, the voices of the students gradually became quieter until there was complete silence. Chen Shao looked at them and asked without a smile: "Are you done?"

All the students lowered their heads in shame.

"Now that I've finished talking, you should listen to me next." Unlike what the students imagined, Chen Shao did not criticize them. He slowly glanced at everyone and went straight to the point, "Who are the doctors of medicine and medical students? Stand separately on the left."

A doctor of medicine in his forties, accompanied by ten medical students, walked out one after another and stood on the left.

Chen Shao asked the doctor of medicine, "How should I address you respectfully?"

The doctor of medicine bowed and said, "Your humble servant Xu Shifang greets you, sir."

Doctors of medicine are officials below the ninth rank. Chen Shao looked at him for a moment, then set his eyes on the ten medical students behind him, "What are you studying, and how many years have you studied?"

Xu Shifang replied: "Seven of them studied acupuncture and have studied for five years; three of them studied massage and have studied for two years."

"They are almost out of school." Chen Shao asked with satisfaction, "Does it have a family inheritance, or did they marry a commoner?"

In ancient times, studying medicine was not an easy thing. When enrolling in academies, priority was given to those with a family heritage, followed by those with talent among the common people, and the number of people admitted was extremely small.

Xu Shifang said: "There are eight people who have inherited the tradition in their families, six of them are good at acupuncture, and two are good at massage."

Chen Shao looked at the ten medical students again, "After studying for so many years, do you have any experience in treating patients?"

Xu Shifang glanced at her and said, "I'm not an apprentice yet, so I don't dare to treat patients without permission."

"The academy has not been peaceful recently," Chen Shao did not explain his doubts and continued to ask, "But are the classes still going on?"

Xu Shifang lowered his eyelids, "Since Luo Jianyuan was detained, he has not taught again."

"That's great." Chen Shao said quickly, "I think Master Xu has also heard about my plan to run an official pharmacy. The official pharmacy will open tomorrow, and we are short of staff. Since the academy doesn't have any classes, then Master Xu can take them over to help. It will be a good opportunity to test what they have learned over the years."

Xu Shifang refused, "I'm afraid that won't work. They haven't even started their careers yet, how can they treat patients?"

"Then Master Xu, please supervise them more during their treatment." Chen Shao said without hesitation, "Fu Jiu, take Master Xu and the medical students to Huimin Pharmacy."

Xu Shifang wanted to refuse, but when he met Chen Shao's calm eyes and thought of the fate of Luo Zhengxin and others, he had no choice but to bow to her and follow Fu Jiu.

After watching them walk away, Chen Shao retracted his gaze and looked at the remaining students: "I need to find ten people who can understand the account books. Those who can read the account books, are willing to help, and are not afraid of hard work can step forward on a voluntary basis."

Thirty people took a step forward in unison.

Chen Shao raised his eyebrows slightly, "Can you read the account books?"

Someone said with less confidence: "We can learn."

Although the others didn't say anything, their expressions showed the same meaning. Chen Shao thought, "Thirty people are too many. I only need ten... How about this, ten people will look after the account books, and twenty people will go to Huimin Pharmacy to help tomorrow. You guys should discuss among yourselves who will look after the account books and who will help. If you can't come to an agreement, I'll make the appointment."

Less than half a cup of tea had passed since the discussion when ten people came out one after another. Chen Shao asked their names one by one and gestured to Chan Yi: "Take them to the east wing of Qingfeng Courtyard first, and let Quan Shuyu teach them how to read the account books. When we come back later, find another courtyard for them, and let them stay in the prefectural governor's mansion for the time being until they finish reading the account books."

When Chan Yi was about to take them away, Chen Shao emphasized: "Tell Quan Shuyu that anyone who disobeys discipline can be kicked out directly."

The other twenty people who had originally envied them for being able to live in the prefect's mansion no longer dared to envy them after hearing this.

"Alright," Chen Shao turned around and looked at them, "You can go back and prepare. Huimin Pharmacy opens at noon, so you just need to go there a quarter of an hour in advance."

After they left, Chen Shao waited for a while, and when Chan Yi came back, he took a carriage to the Wen family.

The Wen family lived on Taiping Street, about three cups of tea away from the prefectural government.

...

The carriage slowly stopped in front of the Wen family's gate.

Chen Shao got off the carriage and first looked up at the Wen family's plaque, then looked left and right. The Wen family's mansion almost occupied half of Taiping Street, with green tiles and white walls, and it looked very magnificent. Retracting his gaze, Chen Shao looked at the vermilion lacquered gate in front of him, "Open the door."

The guarding bailiff pushed open the door and Chen Shao walked in.

On the day when Wen Zhongtian brought Wen Shengwu and Wen Ting to Dashu Village, he specially called all the children of the Wen family back home. Wen Zhongtian's original intention was not to give her the opportunity to catch them and interrogate them. But unexpectedly, it helped her catch them all.

Without Wen Zhongtian and Wen Shengwu, the Wen family is indeed as vulnerable as Mr. Qi Sanye said.

Upon hearing the news that she was coming, the nearly two hundred people in the Wen family either came out immediately to distance themselves from Zhuangzi, or hid in their own rooms to deceive themselves.

Chen Shao walked slowly past the people who had distanced themselves from the matter and walked to the main hall of the Wen family. After taking a quick glance at the layout of the main hall, Chen Shao sat down at the main seat and said, "Bring everyone from the Wen family up here."

The Yulin Guards followed the order.

Soon, everyone in the Wen family knelt in the main hall.

Chen Shao's eyes only took a quick glance and she saw Master Wen, who was kneeling in the second row. Master Wen, who happened to meet her gaze, quickly lowered his head and hid himself behind his nephews and nieces in the front row.

Can you just hide and escape? Chen Shao curled his lips and called out deliberately, "Master Wen San."

Master Wen's body froze, and he quickly knelt and crawled out, saying earnestly: "Master, if you have anything to ask, just tell me. No matter if it means climbing mountains of swords or diving into seas of fire, I will never refuse!"

"That's perfect." Chen Shao motioned for him to stand up first, and then ordered, "Here is a box of evidence of your Wen family's crimes. Read it and see if it is true."