Chapter 4: Mutual Benefit

Lin Yuan turned a corner and entered the East Market. He stood for a while in front of a shop selling paper and brushes, bought two bundles of cheap hemp paper, and then spent three copper coins on two cold steamed buns from a nearby stall.

Munching on the bun as he walked, he pondered a problem.

At court, it was now extremely difficult to die in a manner that met the requirements. The evidence he had at home was completely insufficient. So, the fastest way was still to go to Huainan.

Huainan was definitely not clean. There, he could certainly find clues to a major case. And then, someone would definitely become restless and want his life.

So the question arose: how could he go to Huainan in a legitimate and justifiable way?

The court's plan had already been decided: the silver would go through the Provincial Administration Commission, a supervising censor would follow, and troops would escort it. Not one of these three lines had anything to do with him. As a mere eighth-rank Reminder, if he wanted to go to Huainan, someone needed to pave the way for him.

If he couldn't pave it himself, then he had to find someone who could.

Among all the civil and military officials at court, who would help him?

The Second Princess would not. She had just secured the supervising censor position and was delighted. One more person in Huainan meant one more pair of eyes not under her control.

The Third Princess even less so. She probably didn't even remember who he was.

Zhao Chong? Don't even mention him.

That left only one option—the Eldest Princess, Jiang Lingyi.

This Eldest Princess had no faction of her own in court. During today's court session, she had been squeezed from both sides by the Second and Third Princesses, reduced to a mere rubber-stamp tool.

She needed her own people, and he needed an order transferring him to Huainan.

Mutual benefit.

The problem was, how to see her?

For a lowly eighth-rank minor official to request an audience with a princess through normal channels, he could wait until spring next year.

Lin Yuan stuffed the last bite of steamed bun into his mouth, brushed the crumbs from his hands, and decided to take a less-than-normal path.

---

That afternoon, at the Chancellery.

Lin Yuan submitted a formal document on the grounds of "supplementing evidence for the Jibei famine relief case." The document was written properly, and the content was indeed supplementary material. But at the end, he added one line:

"Your subject has additional important matters concerning Huainan to present in person. The matter involves confidentiality and is unsuitable to be put in writing. Humbly beseeching Your Highness to spare some time for an audience."

These words were written very boldly. For an eighth-rank Reminder to directly request an audience with the Eldest Princess, who was acting as regent, would normally be considered presumptuous and overreaching.

But he was betting that Jiang Lingyi would see him.

The reason was simple: that memorial on the Jibei famine relief case was still in her hands. She had withheld it and not returned it, which meant she cared about this matter. Someone who cared about this matter would not refuse someone who had more evidence.

After submitting the document, Lin Yuan went home to wait.

But he didn't expect the reply to come so quickly.

That very evening, a palace maid in court attire appeared at his doorstep and handed him a wooden token.

"Tomorrow, at the third quarter of the mao hour, at the side hall of Changle Palace. Her Highness gives you only the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn."

Having said that, she turned and left without even entering the door.

Lin Yuan took the token, turned it over in his hands a few times, and placed it in his sleeve pocket.

From next door came the sound of a courtyard gate opening and closing, followed by Shen Huan's voice.

"Reminder Lin, was that someone from the palace who just came?"

"Yes, to deliver a message."

"A message?"

"The Eldest Princess has summoned me for an audience tomorrow."

Shen Huan's smile froze for an instant before returning to normal.

"Reminder Lin is truly a busy man with important affairs."

"Busy or not, it's just how things are."

Lin Yuan closed the door and paid him no further mind. The Second Princess's informant reacted quickly enough. He estimated Shen Huan would relay the message back first thing tomorrow morning.

It didn't matter. Let her know.

---

The next day, at the third quarter of the mao hour.

The side hall of Changle Palace was small, with simple furnishings: one desk, a few chairs, a landscape painting hanging on the wall, and no superfluous decorations.

Jiang Lingyi sat behind the desk, with several memorials spread out before her. Only the palace maid who had delivered the token yesterday stood beside her.

Lin Yuan entered, performed the ritual bow, straightened up, and glanced around.

No guards. No other people.

The Eldest Princess's entourage was indeed meager.

"Speak."

Jiang Lingyi didn't look up, flipping through the memorial in her hand.

"Has Your Highness reviewed the evidence regarding the Jibei famine relief case that this subject submitted?"

"I have."

"What does Your Highness think of it?"

Only then did Jiang Lingyi look up and glance at him.

"You specifically requested an audience just to ask me this?"

Lin Yuan smiled slightly.

"Your Highness is right. This subject will be direct. This subject wishes to go to Huainan."

"The court has already deliberated and decided on the relief plan. There is no position for you."

"That is why this subject has come to seek Your Highness."

Jiang Lingyi put down the memorial and leaned back in her chair.

"What position do you think I can give you?"

"Your Highness can dispatch an additional inspector to accompany the relief team, specifically to investigate the use of relief funds along the route. This position is not in the original plan, but it does not violate any regulations. Your Highness has the authority of regent and can directly issue an edict to establish it."

The side hall fell quiet for a moment.

"You've thought it through quite thoroughly."

Jiang Lingyi's tone gave no indication whether it was praise or sarcasm.

"But have you considered why I should help you?"

"Because Your Highness also needs a pair of eyes to watch Huainan."

Jiang Lingyi said nothing.

Lin Yuan continued.

"The supervising censor is the Second Princess's person. The troops are the Third Princess's people. The silver follows Zhao Chong's channels. The pie that is Huainan has been divided three ways, and Your Highness hasn't gotten a single bite."

"You speak too harshly."

The palace maid beside her couldn't help but speak up.

"Zisu."

Jiang Lingyi gently stopped her, then looked back at Lin Yuan.

"Continue."

"If this subject goes to Huainan, whatever is uncovered will be truthfully reported to Your Highness. With solid evidence in hand, Your Highness will have the confidence to speak in court. That is more useful than anything."

"You report your findings to me. What benefit does that bring you?"

"This subject can go to Huainan in a legitimate and justifiable manner."

"That's all?"

"That's all."

Jiang Lingyi stared at him for several breaths. Her gaze was calm, but it carried weight.

"Lin Yuan, do you know what it will cost me to establish this inspector position?"

Lin Yuan, of course, knew.

Establishing an additional inspector position wasn't a big deal in itself. But this would be the first time Jiang Lingyi actively inserted her own person into a relief plan. Both the Second and Third Princesses would become alert, and Zhao Chong would be even more displeased.

Given Jiang Lingyi's current situation at court, doing this was equivalent to exposing herself. She no longer wanted to continue being a harmless rubber-stamp tool, but to become a participant with her own ideas.

"Your Highness will attract the simultaneous attention of the other two Princesses and Zhao Chong."

"You are quite clear about it."

"That is why this subject said the findings would be truthfully reported. Your Highness is taking this risk; it cannot be taken in vain."

Jiang Lingyi fell silent.

In the side hall, only the faint sound of cooling tea remained.

After a long while, she spoke.

"I have one condition."

"Your Highness, please speak."

"Regarding the Jibei famine relief case, you should still have subsequent evidence in your possession."

Lin Yuan did not deny it.

"Hand it all over to me."

This condition was not unexpected. The Jibei famine relief case was something Lin Yuan himself had exposed. Submitting the memorial was equivalent to giving Jiang Lingyi a knife. But the knife wasn't sharp enough; it needed more evidence to hone it.

"Agreed. But this subject has one request."

"Speak."

"When and how to use the evidence is for Your Highness to decide. But when using it, please do not leave this subject's name out of it."

Jiang Lingyi was slightly taken aback.

"You're not afraid?"

"What is this subject afraid of?"

He said it too lightly.

Jiang Lingyi looked at his expression, seemingly judging whether he was truly unafraid or just putting on a brave front.

In the end, she did not press further, merely nodding.

"Very well. It's settled then."

Lin Yuan cupped his hands in salute.

Jiang Lingyi picked up a brush, wrote a few lines on a blank official document, stamped it with her seal, blew on the ink to dry it, and handed it to Zisu beside her.

"This afternoon, the Chancellery will issue an edict establishing one Huainan Famine Relief Inspector position, to be held by Reminder Lin Yuan, who will accompany the relief team and has the authority to review the income and expenditure ledgers of relief funds along the route."

Lin Yuan took the letter of appointment, glanced at it, and put it in his sleeve pocket.

"Your Highness, this subject takes his leave."

He turned to leave. When he reached the doorway, Jiang Lingyi's voice came from behind.

"Lin Yuan."

"Does Your Highness have further instructions?"

"The waters in Huainan are indeed deep. You truly don't know how to swim?"

Lin Yuan turned back, momentarily stunned.

He had muttered those words to himself two days ago at the palace gate. There shouldn't have been anyone around then. It seemed that although this Eldest Princess was isolated and without support at court, she still had a few useful ears and eyes within the palace.

"Your Highness is quite well-informed."

"This subject truly does not know how to swim."

He smiled.

"But this subject knows how to thrash about. As long as I don't drown, it's fine."

Jiang Lingyi said nothing more, lowering her head to continue reviewing memorials.

Lin Yuan left Changle Palace and walked out along the palace path.

The sun had already risen, shining brightly on the red walls and yellow tiles, glaring to the eyes.

He touched the letter of appointment in his sleeve pocket, feeling quite pleased.

Inspector, seventh-rank. One rank higher than Reminder. Although it was a temporary assignment that would end once the task was completed, it was sufficient.

With this identity, he could go to Huainan legitimately, investigate the accounts legitimately, and offend people legitimately.

And then, legitimately—

"Hmm, no hurry."

He cut off his own train of thought and strode towards the palace gate.

By the time he returned to Chongyi Ward, Zhou Zheng was already waiting at his doorstep, his expression not good.

"Where were you last night? I knocked for a long time, but no one answered."

"I went to the Chancellery to submit a document. Came back late."

"What document?"

"Requesting an audience with the Eldest Princess."

Zhou Zheng's eyes widened.

"What did you do?"

"Made a deal with her."

"What deal?"

"She helps me go to Huainan. I help her keep an eye on Huainan."

Zhou Zheng's mouth opened, but no words came out for a long time.

"Do you think your life is too long?"