Chapter 15 – Money Get The Wheels Turning

Dengxing Pavilion

Princess Xueyu rushed up to the top floor of Dengxing Pavilion. Spotting Feng Sinan divining on the sun terrace, her face lit up. “Brother Feng, I need to ask you something!”

Feng Sinan stepped back inside, his calm eyes settling on her. “What is it?”

Princess Xueyu handed him the jade bottle Mu Nanjin had given her. “Imperial Grandmother asked me to bring this to you and have you identify what kind of medicine it is.”

Feng Sinan looked at her for a long moment, as though he could see right through her excuse — that she was using the errand as a pretext just to see him.

“It’s true! Imperial Grandmother really sent me here!” she protested, flustered.

She quickly uncorked the bottle, and at once, a faint aura of spiritual energy drifted out.

Feng Sinan’s brows lifted slightly. He poured a single pill into his palm, sniffed it lightly, and his eyes widened. “This is a Rejuvenation Pill.”

Princess Xueyu blinked. “Rejuvenation Pill? But she called it a Jade Beauty Pill!”

“It goes by many names,” Feng Sinan explained evenly, “but the effect is the same — it restores youth.”

Princess Xueyu’s eyes sparkled. “It really can make someone young again?”

Feng Sinan carefully placed the pill back into the bottle. “Yes. Where did you get it?”

“It was from Mu Nanjin — the Jinyiwei officer who offended me yesterday. She said it was an apology gift.”

“Mu Nanjin?” Feng Sinan’s expression flickered with surprise.

She actually had a pill like this!?

Where did she even get it?

And she was willing to give it away?

Princess Xueyu tugged at his sleeve anxiously. “Brother Feng, so it’s safe to take?”

“You can, but since you’re still young, its effects won’t be very noticeable. This kind of pill is precious — it’s best saved for when you’re older.”

“Thank you for the advice, Brother Feng! I’ll take it back and let Imperial Grandmother use it right away.”

Eager to see its effects, Princess Xueyu didn’t linger as usual. She turned and left Dengxing Pavilion in a hurry.

Meanwhile, at the Command Bureau, Captain Liu had brought Mu Nanjin into a secret chamber.

Mu Nanjin frowned in curiosity. “What’s so important that we have to talk in a secret room? You’re acting all mysterious.”

Captain Liu muttered to himself — as if it isn’t because we’re afraid someone might overhear your thoughts.

He cleared his throat. “Do you know the Four Princes?”

“The Four Princes?” Mu Nanjin tilted her head. “I’ve heard of Prince Sheng, Prince Zun, Prince Yu, and Prince Huang… oh, and Prince Bao, Prince Fu — but I’ve never heard of ‘Four Princes.’ Does Great Qian really have that title?”

Captain Liu’s mouth twitched. “That’s what I meant — Prince Sheng, Prince Zun, Prince Yu, and Prince Huang.”

Those four princes had once fought beside the late emperor, helping him win the empire.

Afterward, they were granted princely titles and assigned to guard various provinces. Only after the late emperor’s death did they return to the capital.

But after the new emperor’s ascension, they left the capital once more.

“Oh,” Mu Nanjin said casually, “so why bring them up? Did you find out they’re plotting rebellion?”

Captain Liu’s face went pale. He shushed her in panic. “Shh! Don’t talk nonsense — that kind of thing can get you beheaded!”

Mu Nanjin rolled her eyes. “We’re literally in a secret room. Who’s going to overhear us?”

【And besides, I’m not wrong. They are planning to rebel. Once someone gets a taste of power, they always crave more.】

Captain Liu: “…”

Mu Nanjin looked at him expectantly. “So if they’re not rebelling, what are you telling me this for? You want me to investigate them?”

Captain Liu inhaled deeply. “Yes. Since you’re a woman, they’ll be less guarded around you. It’s dangerous, but will you take the assignment?”

In truth, the Jinyiwei had already been investigating the Four Princes, but they’d uncovered very little evidence.

Deputy Commander Kan and the others had no choice but to use Mu Nanjin’s inner voice to gather intel — hence why they came to her.

Mu Nanjin nodded immediately. “I’ll do it. I’m not afraid of danger.”

【Perfect! I finally get to go on an assignment! Once I’m out, I can just find a quiet spot to nap for a few days. Then, when the investigation ends, I’ll report some gossip I overheard — no risk, lots of reward, plus paid time off! Hehe, two birds with one stone!】

【Yay! I love going on assignments!】

Captain Liu could only stare at her, speechless.

Still, he pressed on. “In a month, it’ll be His Majesty’s birthday. The Four Princes will all return to the capital with their families to pay tribute — it’s the perfect opportunity to investigate them.”

Mu Nanjin fell silent.

【Goodbye, vacation—】

【I’m not happy anymore. I don’t want to do this.】

【I have no motivation.】

【Can those Four Princes just hurry up and rebel already? If they wipe out the Jinyiwei, I won’t have to wake up early every day.】

Captain Liu felt utterly drained.

He coaxed her gently, “If we succeed, there’ll be huge rewards.”

That caught her attention. “What kind of rewards?”

“You’ve heard that when officials’ mansions are raided, we Jinyiwei confiscate a fortune, right?”

Mu Nanjin nodded. Even if she hadn’t seen it firsthand, she’d heard plenty of stories.

Captain Liu continued, “When we raid those estates, it’s common for Jinyiwei to quietly ‘keep’ a few valuables for themselves — as long as no one outside finds out. It depends on how much you can discreetly take.”

Mu Nanjin raised an eyebrow. “So by ‘keep,’ you mean steal, right?”

Captain Liu coughed. “More or less. Just one jade necklace could be worth tens of thousands of taels — more than your entire monthly reward.”

Mu Nanjin looked thoughtful.

【Let’s see how much treasure those Four Princes actually have…】

【Whoa! That’s… a lot!】

Captain Liu instinctively leaned in to listen.

【Prince Sheng alone has a hundred thousand taels of gold, five hundred thousand taels of silver, and more jewels than he can count. His fortune alone equals a third of the national treasury! Combined with the other princes, they’ve got more wealth than the empire itself!】

Captain Liu: “…”

They’d known the princes were rich, but not that rich. No wonder they could maintain private armies.

【And you expect me to sneak out with just one jade necklace? Do I look like a fool? No way — I’m going to find a way to take more without getting caught. I’ll need a perfect plan…】

Captain Liu snorted. “Heh.”

Just dreaming — thinking she could steal treasures while her own thoughts leak out loud?

Impossible.

Mu Nanjin blinked. “Why are you laughing?”

Captain Liu cleared his throat quickly. “I was just thinking — once we confiscate their estates, we’ll be swimming in silver. It’s exciting, don’t you think?”

Mu Nanjin nodded. “I’ll do my best to find evidence.”

“This is a top-secret mission. You can’t tell anyone — not even Tang Jingrui. Understood?”

【Why do they keep bringing up Tang Jingrui around me? Do I look like I have a crush on him? No! I’ll have to clarify that next time.】

Captain Liu: “…”

Mu Nanjin stretched lazily. “If there’s nothing else, I’m going to eat.”

“Nothing else.”

Captain Liu escorted her out of the secret room.

The moment she left the archives, Kan Chaoyan and Tang Jingrui stepped out from a side corridor.

Kan Chaoyan asked, “Did she agree?”

Captain Liu sighed. “Money gets the wheels turning.”

Tang Jingrui frowned. “You bribed her?”

“Of course not,” Captain Liu muttered. “She agreed the moment she heard she could ‘keep’ some valuables during the raid.”

The room fell silent.

Captain Liu turned to Tang Jingrui. “Is she really that short on money?”

Tang Jingrui hesitated. “From what I know, my uncle gives her a hundred taels of silver every month. But since he’s often away, she spends carelessly. Most of it goes toward buying gifts to curry favor with my family. Whatever’s left, my aunt confiscates.”

Kan Chaoyan nodded. “That explains it.”

“Anyway,” Captain Liu said, “she agreed — that’s what matters.”

Just then, Du Zan burst in, breathless. “Bad news! Mu Nanjin’s been taken away by the Imperial Guards!”