204: Jianping presents evidence to the Emperor, and Fang Yi investigates the case to uncover the traitor.

In the early morning, the aroma of porridge wafted through the Zhuang family courtyard. Shuanger was squatting in front of the stove stirring millet porridge, while Mu Jianping stood beside her holding a small porcelain bottle. She sprinkled some stomach-nourishing herbs into the porridge—herbs she had brought from Prince Mus Residence, saying that drinking it would give the brothers more strength for fighting. "Sister Shuanger, is it alright to sprinkle it like this? My mother used to put it in like this when she made porridge for me." Mu Jianping stared at the pot, her eyes full of earnestness.

Shuanger smiled and nodded: "Yes, that amount is just right; any more and it will be bitter. Where is Miss Fang Yi? Why hasn't she come out?" Just as she finished speaking, Fang Yi walked out of the inner room, having changed into a clean green dress. She held a slip of paper with secret signals drawn on it: "I just sent a message to the brothers of Green Wood Hall. They said the Minister of Revenue's men are already scouting near the Censorate, looking to steal our Secret Letter."

Xie Hui had just finished practicing the palm techniques of the Nine Yin Manual, and the back of his hands were still damp with sweat. Hearing this, he immediately frowned: "It seems this Minister was prepared. Jianping, when you go to see Lord Li, take two more brothers from the Heaven and Earth Society with you. Also, take the medallion of Prince Mus Residence. If anyone stops you, show the medallion to intimidate them."

Mu Jianping nodded quickly and pulled a gold medallion engraved with the character 'Mu' from her bosom: "Don't worry, my brother gave this to me. All the officials in the capital recognize it; no one will dare stop me." Wei Xiaobao also ran out of the room at this time, clutching a brocade box containing candied fruits for the Kangxi Emperor—last time Kangxi said he loved candied fruits from Jiangnan, so he had specially asked Shuanger to buy some. "Brother Hui, I'll go with Miss Jianping! I'll wait at the palace gate. If she runs into trouble, I'll go inside and call the Emperor!"

Xie Hui thought for a moment and nodded in agreement: "Alright, you follow her. Don't wander off. If something really happens, protect Jianping first, then find a way to send word. Long'er, come with me to Altar Leader Hei's cell to interrogate him again and see if we can get more secrets of the Divine Dragon Cult out of him. Fang Yi, go to the Green Wood Hall's stronghold and watch the Minister of Revenue's house with the brothers. Don't let him move the embezzled funds."

Everyone quickly divided the tasks. Mu Jianping and Wei Xiaobao headed toward the Censorate. Just as they reached the entrance, they saw two men in official robes blocking the way, holding sabers: "Halt! The Censorate is not open for business today. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter!"

Mu Jianping did not panic and took out the gold medallion from Prince Mus Residence: "I am Mu Jianping of Prince Mus Residence. I have urgent business with Lord Li. Do you dare block me?" When the two saw the gold medallion, their expressions changed instantly, and they quickly stepped aside: "So it is Miss Mu. Our apologies, please enter!"

Inside the Censorate, Lord Li had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Mu Jianping enter, he stood up quickly: "Miss Mu, where is the Secret Letter you mentioned? I have already prepared the memorial and am just waiting for the evidence." Mu Jianping took the Secret Letter from her bosom and handed it over: "Lord Li, this is the evidence of the Minister of Revenue's collusion with the Divine Dragon Cult. It says they intend to frame the Heaven and Earth Society. Please submit it to the Emperor quickly so they don't succeed!"

Lord Li took the Secret Letter, and after one look, he slammed the table in anger: "Preposterous! This Minister dares to commit treason! I shall go to the palace to face the Emperor immediately!" Wei Xiaobao chimed in: "Lord Li, I'll go with you! I happen to be delivering candied fruits to the Emperor, so I can speak up for you!"

Just as the three reached the palace gate, they saw the Minister of Revenue coming out from inside, followed by several guards. Seeing Mu Jianping and Lord Li, the Minister's expression changed, and he hurried over: "Lord Li, where are you going? The Emperor has just finished discussing matters with me and said he will not see any outside officials today."

Lord Li ignored him and walked toward the palace holding the memorial: "I have urgent matters to report to the Emperor. If state affairs are delayed, can you take the responsibility?" The Minister tried to block him but was stopped by Wei Xiaobao: "Lord Minister, why are you blocking Lord Li? Do you have a guilty conscience?" The Minister glared at Wei Xiaobao but did not dare to forcibly stop them, only able to watch helplessly as they entered.

Inside the palace, the Kangxi Emperor was sitting in the Imperial Study reading memorials. Seeing Lord Li enter, he put down his brush: "Minister Li, what is so urgent?" Lord Li quickly presented the Secret Letter: "Your Majesty, the Minister of Revenue has colluded with the Divine Dragon Cult to frame the Heaven and Earth Society and has also hidden poison smoke cannons. Here is the evidence!"

The Kangxi Emperor took the Secret Letter, and the more he read, the angrier he became. He slammed the table: "What a bold Minister! To dare deceive the Emperor! Issue an edict! Summon the Minister of Revenue to the hall!" As soon as the Minister entered the hall, he saw the Secret Letter in Kangxi's hand and knelt down with a 'thud': "Your Majesty! This subject is being framed! This was forged by the Heaven and Earth Society to frame me!"

Wei Xiaobao quickly stepped forward: "Your Majesty, I can testify! Last time I went to the Minister's manor, I saw him meeting secretly with people from the Divine Dragon Cult and even taking their silver!" The Minister glared at Wei Xiaobao: "You're talking nonsense! When have I ever met people from the Divine Dragon Cult?"

At this moment, Long'er suddenly entered the hall holding a brocade box: "Your Majesty, this was searched from Altar Leader Hei's cell. Inside is a secret letter from the Minister of Revenue to the Divine Dragon Cult, and it even has his seal on it. Look!" Kangxi opened the box, and upon seeing the seal, he trembled with rage: "You dog of an official! The evidence is conclusive, yet you still dare to quibble! Men! Take him away and throw him into the celestial prison!"

The guards quickly stepped forward and dragged the Minister away. Kangxi looked at Mu Jianping and Wei Xiaobao and sighed: "Fortunately you discovered this in time, otherwise the Heaven and Earth Society would have suffered. Miss Mu, your Prince Mus Residence has done a great service. I reward you with one hundred taels of gold. If you have any needs in the future, just tell me."

Mu Jianping quickly thanked him: "Your Majesty is too kind; this was my duty. However, the Divine Dragon Cult still has remnant forces. I ask Your Majesty to send more troops to wipe out their strongholds." Kangxi nodded: "I know. I will have the Imperial Guard handle it. Wei Xiaobao, tell the Heaven and Earth Society that I will continue to support their opposition to the Qing, and they should contact me whenever they need anything."

Coming out of the palace, Mu Jianping and Wei Xiaobao both breathed a sigh of relief. Wei Xiaobao held the gold rewarded by Kangxi, smiling so much his mouth wouldn't close: "Miss Jianping, we've achieved a great feat! The Emperor rewarded so much gold, it's enough for us to buy lots of candied fruits!" Mu Jianping smiled and nodded: "It's all thanks to Big Brother Xie. Without him, we wouldn't have gotten the evidence."

On the other side, Fang Yi was watching the Minister of Revenue's house from the Green Wood Hall stronghold when she suddenly saw several Servants carrying a large chest, acting suspiciously as they headed toward the back door. "Not good! They're trying to move the embezzled funds!" Fang Yi quickly said to the brothers beside her: "You guys watch here; I'll go stop them!"

She quietly circled to the back door, and when the Servants came out with the chest, she suddenly rushed forward, her short sword pressed against the neck of the leading Servant: "Don't move! Put the chest down! Or I'll cut you!" The Servants were so scared they quickly dropped the chest. Fang Yi opened it and saw it was full of gold, silver, jewelry, and many banknotes. "These are all embezzled funds. If you dare to move them, just wait to go to prison!"

In a short while, Xu Tianchuan arrived with the brothers, tied up the Servants, and carried the chest back to the stronghold. Looking at the gold and silver in the chest, Fang Yi felt much more at ease: "Now the evidence against the Minister is even more complete. Let's see how he quibbles now!"

In the evening, everyone returned to the Zhuang family home. Mu Jianping recounted the events at the palace, and Fang Yi reported the interception of the embezzled funds. Xie Hui was very pleased to hear this: "Good! Having dealt with the Minister of Revenue, we have one less trouble. Long'er, did you find out anything more from Altar Leader Hei?"

Long'er sat nearby, holding a slip of paper: "He said the remnants of the Divine Dragon Cult still have strongholds in Yunnan and are in collusion with Wu Sangui's old subordinates. When we go to Yunnan to get the forty-two chapter sutra, we must be careful of them." Xie Hui nodded: "Understood. We'll take this opportunity to clear out the Divine Dragon Cult remnants in Yunnan as well, and meanwhile unite with Wu Sangui's old subordinates to prepare for the future overthrow of the Qing."

Mu Jianping suddenly spoke up: "I've contacted my brother. He said Prince Mus Residence has many old subordinates in Yunnan. When we go, he can send some people to help and even lead the way to find the location of Prince Pingxis Mansion." Fang Yi also said: "Green Wood Hall has a branch in Yunnan as well. I can contact the branch leader and have them prepare provisions and armaments in advance."

Xie Hui was delighted. With the help of Prince Mus Residence and Green Wood Hall, the journey to Yunnan would be much smoother. He said to everyone: "Then we will set out for Yunnan in three days. Everyone, prepare well during these three days. Shuanger, prepare more wound medicine and dry rations. The weather in Yunnan is hot, so make some thin clothes for everyone. Long'er, contact the former members of the Divine Dragon Cult and have them wait at the Yunnan stronghold; we'll rendezvous when we arrive. Wei Xiaobao, go bid farewell to Kangxi and say we are going to Yunnan to wipe out the Divine Dragon Cult remnants, and ask him to send some Imperial Guards to help."

Everyone responded in unison. Shuanger quickly went to pack things, while Mu Jianping and Fang Yi came over to help. Jianning pulled Mu Jianping aside, asking her to teach her how to identify herbs: "Sister Mu, teach me to recognize this one. Is this for stopping bleeding? I want to go to war with Xie Hui in the future and help treat his wounds!"

Mu Jianping smiled and nodded, picking up a herb: "This is Blood-Stanching Grass. Crush it and apply it to a wound, and it will stop the bleeding very quickly. If you want to learn, I will teach you slowly." Jianning was so happy she clapped her hands, clutching the herb and going to show off to Shuanger: "Sister Shuanger, look! I can recognize Blood-Stanching Grass now! In the future, if Xie Hui gets hurt, I can help treat him!"

Looking at the scene before him, Xie Hui felt completely at ease—having dealt with the Minister of Revenue and secured helpers in Yunnan, the next step was to get the last forty-two chapter sutra. With the help of girls like Mu Jianping and Fang Yi, and the support of brothers like Wei Xiaobao and Long'er, he had the confidence to handle even the greatest difficulties.

Late at night, the courtyard was quiet. Xie Hui sat on a stone bench and took out the seven forty-two chapter sutras from his inner universe. The moonlight spilled onto the sutras, casting a yellow glow. He knew that once he got the last one, he could find the Treasure Trove and be one step closer to the goal of toppling the Qing Dynasty and establishing the New Dynasty. And on this journey, with so many people accompanying him, it was worth it no matter how hard or tiring it might be.