The Hidden Beauty

Chapter 54: Are my people thieves?
In order to prevent a certain department from monopolizing power, the emperor wants to set up three departments to check and balance each other.

During this period, the Ministry of War, the Dali Temple, and the Governor's Office have been following up with each other in the market. They need to confirm that there are no omissions in the three departments before summarizing the situation and reporting it to His Majesty.

Jiang Shiwan followed behind Meng Tingzhou, carefully observing the layout of the Dali Temple.

Meng Tingzhou walked in front and said, "All the case files from previous years are in the West Hall. Pei Qing will take you there later. Be careful inside."

Jiang Shiwan responded with a “Yes.”

Pei Qing had been with Meng Tingzhou for a long time, so naturally he was feared by others.

Some low-ranking officials he met on the way would nod to him and say, "Master Pei."

Pei Qing looked ahead, but he kept looking around with his peripheral vision. When he reached the side door of the West Palace, he leaned sideways and gestured, "Madam, we're here."

Jiang Shiwan walked in sideways.

She looked at the huge West Hall and couldn't help but check the reign title.

Meng Tingzhou said that she had half an hour.

In the third year of Zhaoping, she followed her gaze and checked them row by row.

When she saw the words "Ministry of War Case", her breath stopped.

"Huining, are you here today to check the case files or to meet Meng Tingzhou?"

Liu Yuhai's voice came from outside.

Jiang Shiwan looked around and saw that there was no place to leave, so he took the case file and hid it behind the innermost bookcase.

Liu Huining followed behind her father and said, "The emperor wants to set up a three-court trial. I am a little worried and want to come and see if there are any loopholes."

In fact, she has gradually become Liu Yuhai's behind-the-scenes writer since she was thirteen years old, and has experienced hundreds of cases, big and small, over the years.

In fact, what worried her most was Jiang Xingyuan's case.

After all, this case involves a lot of people, and only I and my father know about the conflicts.

Liu Yuhai sighed: "Are you worried about the case involving the surname Jiang? Don't worry, this case was handled very well, and there are no clues at all."

"I'm just afraid Jiang Shiwan will investigate one day."

Liu Yuhai raised his eyebrows: "Investigate? What right does she have to investigate? Not to mention that it is difficult to enter the Dali Temple, even if Meng Tingzhou is willing to help her, this matter involves so many people, can he afford to offend?"

Liu Huining's finger fell on the empty space of Zhaoping Year Three.

Liu Yuhai thought he had seen it wrong: "Who took it? It was clearly there yesterday!"

Liu Huining felt uneasy, and she tried her best to calm herself down: "Someone took Jiang Xingyuan's case file before us."

"Father, send someone to lock up the Dali Temple immediately and don't allow anyone to enter or leave. Say that a thief has entered and is disturbing the case files."

Liu Yuhai finally reacted: "You are right, I will go right away... Come..."

As soon as the door opened, I saw Meng Tingzhou and Pei Qing were about to knock on the door.

"Why is the governor here?"

Meng Tingzhou peered inside and said, "I heard that Miss Liu also came to the Dali Temple today, so I thought of coming to take a look."

When Liu Huining heard his voice, her stiff face relaxed a little, and she walked out: "Mr. Governor."

The sun shone on her face, revealing a hint of uneasiness and anxiety.

Meng Tingzhou seemed not to notice her strangeness and smiled slightly: "It just so happens that your father is here too. I was just thinking of asking about some case files at the Dali Temple today. I wonder if Miss Liu is interested in sitting in?"

He is here and cannot make any noise for the time being.

After weighing the pros and cons, Liu Huining nodded: "That's great."

Seeing her father winking at her, she shook her head quietly. Sealing off the Dali Temple was inevitable, but it was obviously not appropriate now.

Sure enough, when the three of them sat down to discuss the case files, a warning voice came from outside: "A thief has stolen the Dali Temple case files. Close the door immediately and no one is allowed to enter or leave."

Hearing this, Meng Tingzhou frowned slightly: "How could there be a thief in broad daylight?"

Liu Yuhai could no longer hold back, and hurriedly said "Excuse me" and went out to deal with some business.

Meng Tingzhou was not in a hurry: "So, I need to stay in the Dali Temple for a while today."

"Please forgive me, Governor," Liu Huining nodded. "The theft at the Dali Temple is a serious matter, and father does not want to cause any more trouble at this critical moment."

"Of course." Meng Tingzhou put one hand behind his back and glanced outside from time to time.

Liu Huining poured him a cup of tea and asked, "Are you in a hurry to go back?"

Meng Tingzhou did not comment.

Liu Huining felt like he was possessed. Whenever something involved Jiang Shiwan, he couldn't suppress his inner disgust and jealousy.

"Governor." Pei Qing's voice came from outside.

"Ok?"

"My subordinates have checked everything and everything is in order."

Hearing the words "everything is fine", he knew that Jiang Shiwan had left safely, and he breathed a sigh of relief silently.

Liu Huining held the teacup in both hands: "Sometimes I envy Jiang Shiwan, she has been with you earlier than me."

There was already a lot of commotion outside, but Meng Tingzhou looked at her meaningfully.

"Do you really want to marry into the Governor's Mansion?"

Liu Huining put down the teacup and said, "This idea has been in my mind for three years."

"Three years ago, when I heard that you had returned triumphantly, His Majesty wanted to reward you, but you asked for His Majesty to grant you a marriage."

"That day, you came out of the palace full of vigor and vitality, with a bright light in your eyes." Liu Huining recalled the afternoon when he first met Meng Tingzhou, with an unconscious smile on his face.

"At that moment, I thought that my future husband should be this great."

"I admit that I am a little jealous of Jiang Shiwan. Which noble family would go to the battlefield to kill the enemy for a woman and ask the emperor to grant him marriage?"

Liu Huining murmured to himself: "She is unique."

Meng Tingzhou reached out and gently lifted her chin: "Do you know why I must have her?"

"Thanks to her father's teachings since she was young, she does not hide her ambitions and does not care about the outside world's views. She is a living person, a person of flesh and blood."

Meng Tingzhou had an unfathomable look on his face: "If she wants love, I will give it to her; if she wants hatred, I will indulge her."

Just when he could no longer bear the disgust, he suddenly let go of her hand and said with a smile: "Huining, you are so different from her, why bother comparing? It will only cause trouble for yourself."

"What about me? How do you see me?"

Seeing her sad eyes, Meng Tingzhou laughed: "This governor has said that you are a famous lady from a prestigious family. As long as you can enter the gate of the governor's mansion, you will be my wife, Meng Tingzhou."

He pushed the door open and walked out, the sunlight shining on his face. He squinted his eyes slightly and saw Liu Yuhai asking questions with a serious expression.

Seeing him coming out, Liu Yuhai walked over and cupped his hands, "Commander-in-chief, someone just saw you bringing two followers into the Dali Temple. One is Pei Qing. Where is the other one?"

Meng Tingzhou stared blankly ahead: "Lord Liu, do you suspect that my people are thieves?"

"I dare not, but this concerns the reputation of the Dali Temple. I hope the governor will tell me the truth."

(End of this chapter)