A Mistaken Marriage Match: Mysteries in the Imperial Harem

Chapter 65: Concern

"Xiao Yu." The low voice suddenly rang out in the big hall which made Xiao Yu, who was staring at the withered leaves outside the window, feel a moment of loss. The palace maid standing behind her pointed towards the direction of the Emperor and Xiao Yu quickly replied. "This servant is here."

"Tonight's dinner will be at Qing Feng Hall." Yan Hong Tian was still looking down at the memorandums but there was a hint of pleasure in his deep voice.

Xiao Yu gave an knowing smile and replied, "Yes."

After that it was followed but another long silence. One could only hear the rustle of the wind outside and the flipping of memorandums. Xiao Yu looked at the sky and softly reminded, "Emperor, it is almost Youshi (modern timing: 5 – 7 pm)."

"En." After finishing the batch of memorandums on hand, Yan Hong Tian stood up. He had not gone to see them for quite some days and according to Qing Feng's temperament, even if her lips did not say it, her heart would not be comfortable. Thinking of the look that she would most likely give it to him, Yan Hong Tian's mood went up.

The severe winter was almost here and soon it would be night, thus it was very cold outside. Xiao Yu brought the robe to Yan Hong Tian's side when Gao Jing walked in quickly, "Emperor, Dan Daren request an audience."

Yan Hong Tian's sharp brows slightly wrinkled. The hand that was holding on his robes paused for a moment before he sat back down and replied, "Announce."

"Greeting the Emperor. Long live the Emperor." Dan Yu Lan had a stern expression on his face and a look of concern on his brows as he was carrying a report in his hands. Yan Hong Tian's eyes swept to his hand with the report and asked as he drank the hot tea with a cold tone, "What is it that requires an audience?"

"Regarding... The case of the army rations." Finishing, Dan Yu Lan did not speak more and handed the report to Gao Jing, which Gao Jing then presented it to Yan Hong Tian.

"Commander Su had already did a stocktake of the military granaries and the details are indicated in the report. In the case on Lin Bo Kang conspiring with the southern merchants, the southwest area belonged to the Lin family. They have all along been earning their livelihood through trafficking cloth and food and most of the food were sold at areas with famine or to neighboring small countries. There are at least millions of silver that were entered their accounts and is considered to be quite powerful in the south." As Dan Yu Lan spoke, he was observing the Emperor's expression. As Yan Hong Tian flip the pages of the report, there was not any changes on his face as he stared at the report with his bottomless dark eyes.

"Leave the report and withdraw first. Tomorrow morning after the morning court, then come over with Su Ren to the Imperial Study."

"Yes." Dan Yu Lan's thoughts turned, surprised that why did the Emperor not ask more about the case? That report clearly recorded the shortages and grain varieties of the various military granaries. After the inventory audit, many of the granaries had shortages and most of the newly enlisted soldiers were even supplied with rice from the lowest grade. As most of the soldiers were children of poor families, they were happy to be able to eat from the army rations and naturally would not care about the quality of rice. If it was not because of the investigation, no one would have probably noticed about it.

When Su Ren handed the report over to him, he who was usually good-natured was also jumping in rage and the Emperor actually did not raise any difficult question. This case on the army rations was instructed by the Emperor to dig deep but to dig into how deep, he was unable to guess.

Dan Yu Lan had withdrew earlier on but Yan Hong Tian sat before the case and did not get up again. Xiao Yu and Gao Jing, who wait by the Emperor's side for many years, naturally knew that at this time the Emperor's heart was not as calm as how he looks. Seeing as the skies grew darker, both of them looked at one another but no one dared to go up to remind.