Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

Yang Song, Qiao Yuan, and other minor officials in charge of the warehouse were all trembling like leaves, standing silently beside Shen Lang.

Inside the warehouse, Zhen Yi's abacus beads were moving loudly, and she would stop every now and then to glance at the silk brocade on the shelf before taking out a notebook to write something down.

Soon, one finished silk quilt after another was brought to Shen Lang.

In just a quarter of an hour, there were already more than four hundred bolts of silk laid out on the table.

And this number is still increasing.

Yang Song witnessed firsthand that whenever Zhen Yi waved her hand, someone would take the brocade from the display case and place it in front of the official desk.

Zhen Yi didn't say anything, but continued to move the abacus beads and casually instructed someone to record the accounts.

Unable to bear the atmosphere any longer, Yang Song whispered to Shen Lang, "Duke Zhenguo, how about I have someone assist me?"

Shen Lang held the teacup that he hadn't drunk from and kept gently stroking the lid.

Upon hearing Yang Song's suggestion to help, he shook his head expressionlessly: "No need. Let your people do what they're supposed to do. Manager Zhen will be able to handle these matters."

This made Yang Song feel like the sky was about to fall.

Shen Lang's refusal to let his own people help him suggests that he may have already noticed the inventory problem?

Qiao Yuan, who was standing to the side, had been sweating profusely ever since he came to Shen Lang's side.

At this moment, his whole body was soaked as if he had been immersed in river water, with not a single dry spot to be found.

About half an hour later, when the last piece of silk was moved to the table, Zhen Yi came to Shen Lang with a frown, holding the booklet.

"Reporting to the Duke of Zhenguo, after two reconciliations, the total amount of silk on the shelves is 22,800 bolts, which is significantly different from the 58,000 bolts mentioned by Lord Yang."

In addition, 4,622 bolts of silk brocade were made with problematic silk materials, either due to uneven dyeing and color fading, or because the raw silk was of poor quality; these were substandard products and absolutely could not be put into storage.

Upon hearing this, Yang Song immediately deflated like a punctured balloon, losing all his energy and spirit.

Zhen Yi continued, "Furthermore, of the 1,400 bolts of fine brocade, 500 are crudely embroidered and cannot be considered rare."

Especially the floral pattern on that light gauze, judging from my humble experience, doesn't resemble the work of the embroiderers in the workshop I just saw; it looks more like the practice work of a street apprentice.

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang's lips curled up slightly, revealing a half-smile.

That smile was like a sharp blade, piercing straight into Yang Song's heart.

Yang Song felt a wave of dizziness, as if he saw himself kneeling on that gloomy and terrifying execution platform, surrounded by his relatives in prison clothes, crying and screaming.

Their cries, like a tidal wave, enveloped Yang Song, making it hard for him to breathe.

The crowd below the stage hurled insults, throwing rotten leaves, rotten eggs, and cotton wool at his face.

Yang Song's legs went weak, and he knelt on the ground with a thud. It was as if an invisible hand had pressed his head hard to the ground, and he couldn't lift it up no matter what.

"The Duke of Zhenguo..."

He let out a weak cry, unable to utter another word.

Qiao Yuan and the other minor officials were all so frightened that they knelt on the ground, their faces filled with fear and their bodies trembling like leaves.

"Very good, absolutely excellent."

Shen Lang slowly stood up and said something meaningful.

After glancing at Yang Song, Shen Lang immediately left the warehouse. Zhen Yi and the others glared at Yang Song and his group before quickly following him.

In the end, only a large group of people kneeling on the ground were left to experience this sudden and cold violence alone.

"Lord Yang, what should we do now?"

Qiao Yuan asked, trembling.

"Don't worry, let me think of another way..."

Yang Song tried his best to remain calm.

Upon closer reflection, the fact that Shen Lang did not explicitly state his position suggests that there is still a chance to salvage the situation.

If I can resolve the problem before Shen Lang makes a move, I might be fine.

"Lord Yang, I'm just the one in charge, and I don't want to be implicated. You must help me."

For the first time, Qiao Yuan experienced what fear truly meant.

This Emperor of Great Chu said nothing, yet it seemed he had said everything.

This unique aura made him a hundred times more nervous than when he saw King Jiang Chong of Shu.

"Mind your own business. I'm going to find Xiaozhi and ask him if he has any ideas."

Yang Song left with a single sentence, deciding to immediately go find Fa Xiaozhi to resolve the immediate problem.

……

After noon, inside the official residence, Shen Lang fanned himself with a palm-leaf fan, chatting and munching on fruit with Zhen Yi, while lying comfortably in a rocking chair.

Zhen Yi smiled and said to Shen Lang, "Your Excellency, I truly didn't expect that this silk weaving workshop would be so bold as to try to fool you with those inferior silks."

Don't they know that the Duke represents the royal family? Don't they think they have a death wish?

Furthermore, I took a look at the goods from the Guanzhong merchants; both the color and the silk were of high quality, and there couldn't be more than ten bolts of inferior goods.

So, in the hearts of these lowly officials in the silk weaving workshops, even those supplied to the imperial court were less valuable than those from local powerful families?

Shen Lang smiled upon hearing this: "Manager Zhen, there are some things you should keep to yourself, but please don't go around making a fuss about them."

"Please rest assured, Your Excellency, serving His Majesty is a blessing that my Zhen family has accumulated over hundreds of years, and we will naturally take it upon ourselves."

After expressing his loyalty, Zhen Yi tentatively asked, looking embarrassed.

"But, if I may be so bold as to ask, once this matter is resolved, will His Majesty truly grant my Zhen family an official position?"

Shen Lang accurately tossed the melon rind into a bamboo house ten paces away, grabbed a piece of cotton cloth to wipe his mouth, and replied, "Don't worry, the Ministry of Revenue is just about to expand a few government offices."

With factories springing up across the south, every industry needs someone to liaise with the imperial court. Once we return, the position of head of the Commerce Bureau will be yours.

In terms of rank, let's tentatively call him a seventh-rank official. He was only under the jurisdiction of the local Ministry of Revenue, a completely independent official position, on par with a local county magistrate.

"Then thank you very much, Your Majesty and the Duke." Zhen Yi immediately put on a grateful expression. "Please rest assured, Your Majesty and the Duke, after assuming office, I will definitely abide by the law and perform my duties well."

Shen Lang waved his hand with a smile: "Alright, stop with the formalities. We don't want to lose face when someone comes to visit later."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Ma Guocheng, who was accompanying him, came to report: "Reporting to the Duke, that grandson Yang Song is asking to see a fellow with a shifty-eyed look outside the official residence. Should I throw them out?"

"Alright, let them in."

"Yes."

After Ma Guocheng left, Zhen Yi also made a gesture as if she was about to take her leave.

"No need to avoid it, stay."

"Yes."

Zhen Yi was very excited. Shen Lang's attitude showed that he wanted her to learn how to be an official.

Before long, Fa Xiaozhi entered the courtyard with his hands clasped and said to Shen Lang with a smile, "Duke Zhenguo, it's been several months since I last saw you. I didn't expect to see you again today. You are still as charming as ever."

Shen Lang stood up and greeted him with a smile: "Fa Xiaozhi looks quite energetic. It seems you've been having a good time lately."

"It's all thanks to the Duke of Zhenguo."

The two were like old friends, and they were very warm to each other.

At this moment, Yang Song, who was following behind Fa Xiaozhi, walked over with his head down.

"Oh, isn't this Lord Yang, who prepared 58,000 bolts of silk for the palace? What brings you here?"

These words made Yang Song blush with embarrassment, and his body began to tremble with fear.