"Oh?" Han Ye became interested and asked.
"Why?"
"Doubtful people are not to be employed, and those who are employed should not be doubted. since I believe in Your Highness, I will naturally defend and protect Your Highness to the end."
After the voice fell, Ren Anle held her long sword horizontally and walked away with big strides. In a moment, the imperial guards downstairs disappeared into the inn along with Ren Anle's footsteps.
"Jian Song, how many guards are left in the inn?"
"Your Highness, less than fifty."
Han Ye looked up and glanced at Wen Shuo who was standing beside him.
"Wen Shuo, do you still remember the gift we received yesterday at Linjiang Tower?"
Wen Shuo nodded repeatedly, with a pleased expression on his face.
"Yesterday, I changed into the attire of a servant and stood behind His Highness. I remember all the gifts clearly. There was a box of pearls from the Li Family in the west of the city, a hundred-year Lingzhi mushroom from the Zhang Family, and an ancient famous sword from the He Family in the south of the city."
"Alright, just remember it clearly," Han Ye waved his hand.
"Gu is entrusting these things to you. Before noon, retrieve the relief grain for the common people on Gu's behalf."
Wen Shuo paused for a moment, his eyes widened, and he said, "Your Highness, the entire city is suffering from famine. Where can I obtain food?"
"Mu Tian Prefecture accumulates a large amount of grain every year. Do you really think that Zhong Liwen has used all of it for the benefit of the people?" Han Ye put down his brush and gazed out the window, his voice slightly cold.
"Your Highness said that Prefect Zhong embezzled these grains, but there isn't even a single grain of rice in the granary!"
"Zhong Liwen doesn't want food, he wants silver. You tell me, in the Mu Tian prefecture, where is the place he stores his grain?"
Wen Shuo's expression changed, and he exclaimed, "The granaries of the prominent merchants in the Mu Tian Prefecture!"
In Mu Tian Prefecture, natural disasters occur year after year, resulting in poor harvests. However, the local merchants have a large surplus of grain and are selling it to the people at high prices. This is clearly abnormal. Zhong Liwen, the official in charge, did not distribute the grain reserves from the court for disaster relief. Instead, he colluded with the merchants in Mu Tian Prefecture to profit from the grain. Under such circumstances, it is natural that there is not a single grain left in the granary, and he is not afraid of the court inspecting the grain stores!
"Your Highness," Wen Shuo's face turned pale with anger, but he still maintained his composure.
"We have no evidence. The grain in the Mu Tian prefecture is more precious than gold. These treacherous merchants won't easily hand over the grain. Moreover, surrendering the grain would mean offending Zhong Liwen and Mu Wang."
"So gu wants you to bring the thing you received last night. Remember, there's no need to say much, just tell them two sentences."
"What words?" Wen Shuo leaned forward and asked.
"You ask them on behalf of gū, can you remember the value of last night's offering, and the person...who was offered?" Han Ye's lips slightly pursed, and he spoke in a deep voice, word by word.