Did Miss become a nun today?

Pei Changyu left Shifang Courtyard and went straight out of the mansion.

On the carriage, Guanyun told him all the news she had received that day.

"The Ministry of Revenue sent word that our ship was being watched when it passed through Yuzhou. They said there were contraband items on board and wouldn't let it pass no matter what. They insist on investigating."

"The accompanying officials produced documents from the Ministry of Revenue, and only then were they allowed to pass. However, just after leaving Yuzhou, they were entangled by river bandits, and two of their boats sank."

"But rest assured, young master, there were no birthday gifts for the Empress Dowager on the two sunken ships."

This shipment included not only the Empress Dowager's birthday gifts, but also New Year's gifts from various regions before the Lunar New Year, as well as the tax ledgers from Jiangnan that he had checked over the past two years. The other items were fine, but the ledgers absolutely could not be lost.

Pei Changyu stroked the ring on his finger. "Were any ordinary merchant ships that traveled with the Ministry of Revenue's merchant ships implicated?"

"We also investigated, and although everyone was treated equally, we can't rule out the possibility that the investigation was just a cover-up."

"Who investigated the Ministry of Revenue documents in Yuzhou?"

"Xue Fu, the prefect of Yuzhou, was recommended by the Duke of Ying's government."

"The Duke of England's mansion, isn't that the Crown Prince's maternal grandparents' home?"

"That's right. Our ship was directly dispatched by the Ministry of Revenue. In principle, once it passes through the checkpoint, the local prefects will not inspect it again. This Prefect Xue is an upright and honest man. He has never sent gifts to the Duke of Ying's mansion, not even during festivals. Many people say that the Duke's mansion and the Crown Prince have elected a thankless wretch."

Prefect Xue was always honest and upright. In recent years, his memorials were either about local disasters or taxes. Because of his unyielding nature, he offended many people.

Pei Changyu didn't care about any of that. What he cared about was that the Ministry of Revenue's merchant ships hadn't used the imperial name this time, and their whereabouts were only known to his close associates. How did those mountain bandits know about it?

If it wasn't an accident, then someone did it intentionally.

If the Empress Dowager's birthday gifts cannot be delivered on time, the Ministry of Revenue will definitely be punished. If both the New Year's gifts and the account books are wrong, someone will have to take responsibility.

Pei Changyu is in charge of this matter, so the responsibility will inevitably fall on him... This is aimed at him.

The carriage stopped at the Ministry of Revenue. Pei Changyu frowned. "Investigate who leaked the merchant ships' whereabouts."

"Yes."

*

Meanwhile, Pei Changyu's appearance reminded Xie Yun Chu that she could no longer delay and had to find a way to leave the capital.

She originally planned to find someone to fake a marriage, but if she actually did that, it would inevitably implicate others.

After much thought, there was only one way to get her aunt to agree to let her leave the mansion.

The next morning, she went to the main courtyard to pay her respects to Cen Jingyan. She had breakfast in the main courtyard, then accompanied her aunt to look at the account books for a while and had some tea and snacks before getting down to business.

"Aunt, there's something I'd like to tell you."

Cen Jingyan, who had been smiling, suddenly became alarmed. "You want to become a nun? Don't even think about it. Let me tell you, if you dare to become a nun, I'll break your legs."

It was that same phrase again, so she simply said, "If Aunt really wants to break my legs, then go ahead and do it. I'll just crawl on my stomach."

"You!" Cen Jingyan was so angry that her head ached. "It's all because I spoiled you too much that you developed such an unruly personality."

Xie Yun Chu pursed her lips. That's not necessarily true. Her own mother was even more lawless than her. Compared to her mother, she was already considered obedient.

"Aunt, I haven't told you what it is yet."

"I know you too well. Still not giving up? Aren't you afraid I'll break your legs? Well then, I'll die right here!"

Xie Yun Chu chuckled. "Aunt, what are you thinking? I'm not thinking of becoming a nun."

"So what do you want to do?"

She took Cen Jingyan's arm and said, "Aunt, I want to leave the capital."

"Leaving the capital?" Cen Jingyan immediately sat up straight, her voice rising several decibels. "Why do you suddenly want to leave the capital? Did someone bully you? Your eldest cousin or your second cousin?"

Before she could speak, Cen Jingyan was about to leave, saying, "Auntie will go and get revenge for you."

She quickly pulled the person back, "Auntie, you've misunderstood. My two cousins ​​didn't bully me."

"So, it was someone from outside who bullied you? Was it that brat from the Wei family?"

Xie Yun Chu pulled the person back to sit down. "Aunt, I want to leave the capital. It has nothing to do with anyone else. I just... want to go find my mother."

She had thought about it yesterday. If she insisted on becoming a nun, her aunt would cry and scream and would never let her go, but if she went to her mother, her aunt would definitely be moved.

My aunt has been talking about her mother all these years. I even heard her arguing with my uncle before. My uncle complained that my aunt only thought about her mother and that he, as her husband, had to take a backseat to her mother.

Sure enough, upon hearing this excuse, Cen Jingyan patted her head and softened her tone, "Aunt knows you miss Mother, but if you want to find her, you can just send someone. Why go yourself?"

"Aunt, I've already spoken with Sister Zhao. I'll be traveling with her, so nothing will happen."

"But I heard that the child recently joined the army. Will he be able to spare some time to accompany you?"

"She happens to have some business to attend to recently, and I can go that way anyway."

"really?"

She nodded, hugged her aunt's waist, and buried her face in her arms. "Of course it's true. When have I ever lied to you, Aunt? Please, just let me go. If I can find my mother sooner, you and she can be reunited sooner, wouldn't that be better?"

Cen Jingyan was still worried, so she patted her hand and said, "You don't need to go yourself. I'll send people from the Marquis's mansion to look for him, or you can send your second cousin. Anyway, he's idle all day and doesn't have anything to do."

"Aunt, that's my mother, not someone else's. Of course I have to go in person."

"Aunt, I really miss Mother..." Her eyes reddened, and she hung her head pitifully. "I just want to see Mother as soon as possible. Aunt, please let me go."

Cen Jingyan was easily swayed by gentle persuasion but not by force. Seeing her crying so pitifully, her heart melted. She hugged her and wiped away her tears, saying, "You've always been like this since you were little. You'll throw a tantrum if I don't agree."

She chuckled, "But I can't stand seeing you cry. Tell me, how many times have you used this trick since we were little?"

Xie Yunchu smiled through her tears, "It doesn't matter how many times I ask, what matters is that my aunt loves me and will definitely agree."

Cen Jingyan sighed, raised her hand to rub her temples, and then looked down at the little girl in her arms who was looking up at her expectantly.

His eyes were wet, and his nose was red, just like when he was a child.

She's such a good daughter; she's used all her little bit of wisdom on her.

Oh well, what can we do if she doesn't have a daughter? What else can we do but spoil her?

Cen Jingyan sighed, unable to persuade her otherwise, and could only nod.

"That's good. Your mother must have suffered a lot outside. It would be a good thing if she could be found sooner."

Xie Yun Chu was stunned for a while, too embarrassed to say anything.

My aunt probably had some misunderstanding about her mother, even though neither of them had ever experienced hardship before she was six years old.

The hardest time of her life was the period on her journey from Jiangnan to the capital.

Back when they lived in Jiangnan, their family had the best food and supplies, but her mother was still very picky.

She brings back many good things every day, and there are so many people who like her mother that whenever she goes to a new place, someone will come to her door wanting to marry her within two days.

Unfortunately, her mother didn't like any of them, saying they weren't good-looking enough for her.

Although she couldn't find anyone, she knew that her mother could live a good life on her own, and that without her as a burden, her life would probably be more comfortable.

She didn't dare say these words. Judging from her aunt's appearance, how gentle and considerate her mother must have been in front of her aunt before.