At 7:45 a.m., at the round huanghuali wood table in the Lu Mansion’s main hall, Lu Jingyuan spread out the directory of Capital officials. With a brush dipped in Zhusha, he circled three names: the Prefect of Shuntian, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and the Chief Clerk of Prince Zhenbei's Estate. Jiang Wan handed him a cup of Biluochun tea, her fingertips skimming the edge of the register. "The Prefect of Shuntian just closed the old Yan Family case, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue oversees commercial taxes, and the Chief Clerk has access to the Imperial Clan Court archives. You certainly know how to pick your targets."
"Choosing the right people is less important than choosing the right connections," Lu Jingyuan said, finishing his tea. "If a branch of Prince Zhenbei's Estate dared to collude with the Remnant Plum Pavilion, there must be traces in the old files of the Imperial Clan Court." He suddenly took her hand. "What about you? You’re going to the Marchioness Jingnan’s flower-viewing banquet today—are you afraid?"
"Afraid of what?" Jiang Wan flicked the sleeve holding her Poison-Detecting Hairpin, which was now inlaid with a new pearl. "The Marchioness loves gossip. As long as I bring enough candied fruit and melon seeds, I’ll be able to extract anything I need."
Chapter 264