Volume 3, Chapter 34: Hole (2/2)

Breaking out from the inner palace was a serious crime that meant capital punishment at times. And if she was a high ranked consort, the crime was all the more heavy.

It was like a runaway prostitute, the pharmacist girl had said before. Going to the pleasure quarter together when the next emperor was born was, as a matter of fact, just like that girl. Jinshi gave a bitter smile.

That girl is still missing too.

He guessed that it was likely that she had left the inner palace together with Rouran.

In Maomaos case, considering her personality, there was the possibility of her following on her own accord. However, the girls physical strength was weakened with her strong reaction against buckwheat. The possibility of her being taken away without her consent was higher.

Just, for what reason?

And how did she go outside?

The question remains.

Even though he cross-examined the head maid, he could only tilt his head. There was also the option of torture, but that is pointless too, Jinshi thought. The head maids eyes were not lying.

The maids of the Pomegranate Palace, maidservants, eunuchs, all the people related to Consort Rouran were all shut up in one place. The auditorium where that inner palace lesson was held was just the right size.

Just in case, using eunuchs, they straightforwardly worked through the court ladies in the inner palace one by one, but they havent yet found a court lady who was like Rouran at present.

He wasnt in the condition to witness Consort Gyokuyous childbirth at all. Although the back of his hair was being pulled[note], painfully reluctant. Explanation: like how you cant easily move forward when the hair on the back of your hair is being tugged, you cant easily let go of the regret/reluctance left in your heart and move on.[/note], he decided to leave it to Gaoshun.

Jinshi clutched his head in his office. Perhaps they were in the state of emergency, Basen was with Jinshi.

He didnt have the free time to sell oil[note], to dawdle. Explanation: From the Edo period, hair oil peddlers gossip with female customers as they sell their wares. Passing time while neglecting your work.[/note] in such a place. He was brimming with the impatience to rush out and look for Rouran even now.

However, there was too little information. And even if he were to rush out now, it would only amount to finding a needle in the sands of the desert. Therefore, Jinshi could only pace around aimlessly in his office.

Amid that, Basen glanced at Jinshi. It seems there was a guest in front of the office. He must want to tell him to stop looking so shameful.

Nothing he could do. He sat down in his chair and feigned serenity.

The person who entered was a short man with fox eyes. Rahan.

Did you discover something?

Rahan, with the cost of repairs of the inner palace wall destroyed by his uncle and adoptive father, Rakan, as a collateral, was undertaking work from Jinshi. He was quite the miser. Along with having Jinshi take on half of the cost of repairs, he had the ability to get a thirty percent discount on the quote with a negotiation with the wall repairers.

Rahan squinted, his eyes somewhat like a nasty someone, and spread out a map on the table.

This is from around these fifteen years. Its gradual, but there is certainly an area where the circulation of stone, lumber, metal and etc has increased.

Rakan pointed to the north of the capital. Crossing the plains, it was on the ridge of the mountain range.

That area didnt have a large city worth speaking about. And if there were, there was only a fortress that was used as an army garrison from the era of the previous emperor. Additionally, he remembered it was a place that was abandoned to decrease maintenance costs. It wasnt a place where enemies would invade, and he heard that dealing with the fallen snow and so on in winter since it was on high-ground was dreadful.

Did you know about it? The area nearby used to prosper as a health resort in the past. It is now, being distanced from the trade route, a depopulated area known for the secret hot springs though.

And what about it?

Basen, who was slightly quick-tempered, interrupted Rahan who spoke in a roundabout manner.

Im saying theres a sulfur spring. The quality and quantity are inferior compared the southern volcanic range, but I wonder if they can take the amount throughout the year.

Hearing sulfur, Jinshis ears pricked up. It was a typical raw material for gunpowder.

The abandoned fortress. Stone. Lumber. Metal. And sulfur.

And speaking of the further north, it was close to Shishous territory. Even considering where the territories of the officials who were pointed out by Rakan were situated, it wasnt that bad of a location.

It was more suspicious.

How was it? Should I prepare more reliable numbers?

Jinshi could only sigh. The response was more than he had expected. Instantly, Basen held the map and sent out a lower official as a messenger.

It seems that this small man can see some shape from the numbers, but it must be like that. The members of the Ra family were truly terrifying.

While youre at it, can you investigate whether there is a secret passage in the inner palace?

He inadvertently spoke of it.

The inner palace? If I remember correctly, the largest construction work was the expansion from forty years ago. The current outer wall should have also be built then, so if there is a possibility of there being one made, it would have to be there?

really?

He knew that Shishou instigated the empress and enlarged the inner palace like it is now. Perchance, the possibility of him participating in the construction was also high.

However, if it was forty years ago, it was quite old. Theres no way he would have thought to have his own daughter use that to escape forty years later.

If we look at the materials in those days, the contractors who were used then will know. The possibility of them being used several times is high, so shall we pick out the ones that make suspicious numbers?

Ill leave it to you.

Well then.

Saying that, he took out the other half of the invoice for the cost of repairs of the what Rakan destroyed. Jinshi was to pay for half. The other half should have been in Rakans possession though.

I get it.

Jinshi, hanging his head, promised to pay for the entire sum. The sight of Suiren condemning him with an indescribable smile, saying Oh my my, and the wrinkles on Gaoshuns brow being even deeper afterwards came to his mind vividly.

It was dreadful to have Rakan as an enemy. But I dont want to have his adopted son as an enemy either, Jinshi thought.

While having that much ability, it was a mystery why he holds an abacus as an insignificant official. He found himself asking that question.

If you have that much ability, cant you promote to a higher rank?

At those words, Rahan flashed him a smile while shaking his head.

In that case, I wouldnt be able to correct the distorted flow of money then, would I?

Numbers are beautiful because theres no obscurity.

He once again felt that this man was Maomaos cousin. It seems he has a peculiar aesthetic.

T/N: Chapter title: Hole  Missing person, faults, hidden passage, hole in a certain someones pocket

And thats it for Jinshis POV. Were going back to Maomao next.

See you guys next year (-) Happy new year~!

(I admit Im kinda miffed that I didnt reach my target of finishing this arc this year But oh well, one more month then.)