Quick Transmigration: Underdog Turns out to be Untouchable

Chapter 1261: Chapter 1170: Lady Chancellor 109

Although everyone was worried about Shuangshuang’s health, they had been following her for quite some time and knew her temperament, understanding that their words would be in vain, so they remained silent.

Sure enough, after hearing Yang Yixuan’s words, Shuangshuang shook her head, insisting on not going back: ”Lord Yang, you need not say more. I appreciate your kindness. My body is not so fragile that a day of toil will break me down.

Lord Yang, go ahead and investigate. I will wait here for your news. Don’t worry, I will be fine.”

Yang Yixuan tried to persuade her a few more times, but couldn’t change her mind. In the end, he only managed to have more firewood brought over and lit a large bonfire for Shuangshuang to keep warm.

Then he had people around Shuangshuang erect a windbreak in the shape of a semicircle using shields before he felt reassured enough to leave.

Yang Yixuan moved quickly; he needed to speed up to locate another vein quickly so that Shuangshuang could return to the county sooner.

Shuangshuang had been out since the morning, and after much trouble, it was now afternoon. Due to her busyness, she hadn’t eaten lunch yet and instructed her people to bring out the jerky, buns, and water for a meal.

The water was kept in water pouches carried close to their bodies, which kept it warm and prevented it from cooling too quickly.

So even now, the water in everyone’s pouch was still warm and not cold. Everyone roasted jerky and buns over the fire, softening them until the surface turned crispy and fragrant, then began eating.

Due to Shuangshuang’s poor stomach, Luo Linlang specifically prepared several bamboo tubes for her filled with various soups and porridges.

Wei Yingnan took out a bamboo tube with pumpkin millet porridge and another with soup, placing them into the fire to heat.

Once the porridge and soup were heated, he took out a roasted bun and poured the porridge and soup into a bamboo cup for Shuangshuang to eat.

Feeling upset and with little appetite, Shuangshuang barely ate any, then instructed Wei Yingnan to share the remaining soup and porridge with everyone.

However, everyone only took one sip from the bamboo tube, which had been roasted once already and couldn’t be used again; the rest remained untouched.

Considering the situation, no one knew how long they would stay outside, their bodies strong enough to catch wild animals to roast and eat when hungry.

But Shuangshuang was different; her stomach too weak to handle intense roasted meat without suffering. These provisions must be reserved for her.

Shuangshuang waited until darkness fell before seeing Yang Yixuan returning with a large group of bedraggled common people carrying torches.

Alongside many common people resembling lifeless figures from the previous gold mine, Yang Yixuan’s subordinates dragged over nearly a hundred bound individuals.

Luckily, Yang Yixuan had a substantial force with about two thousand county soldiers, and he brought fifteen hundred with him this time, ensuring enough manpower.

Perhaps recalling the previous gold mine disaster, although Yang Yixuan was furious, he remained calm, looking at the bound individuals as if dead.

Approaching Shuangshuang, Yang Yixuan sighed deeply, his expression heavy as he looked at her.

”Mr. Yin, just as you predicted, it’s an enormous iron mine, where most of the common people were confined to work, heavily guarded.

Without your warning, we nearly fell victim to the traps set by them.”

Shuangshuang nodded: ”Thank you, Lord Yang, for your hard work today. Time is tight, and I won’t inspect the iron mine for now, as I expect Hu Bingchen and Xu Huirong to be anxiously waiting in the county.

I will return to the county immediately to dispatch people to arrest these two, and afterward, I will need Lord Yang’s men to help lock down Qinglin County to prevent their escape.”

”Rest assured, capturing these corrupt officials for the people’s justice is my duty,” Yang Yixuan promptly assured.

Shuangshuang returned to the county immediately, sending people overnight to arrest Hu Bingchen and Xu Huirong, seizing their homes simultaneously, determined to confiscate the embezzled money, and record it systematically.

Hu Bingchen and Xu Huirong were anxiously waiting at home for news, as there was no sign of Chai Pengfei’s success, causing their anxiety.

As they could no longer remain seated at home, preparing to meet and discuss if something went wrong with Chai Pengfei, suddenly, their homes were invaded.

Hu Bingchen and Xu Huirong were surprised and enraged, bounded securely with no chance to protest before they were gagged, while their homes were ransacked thoroughly, even digging deep into the ground.

Very soon, their private stores were discovered, with Shuangshuang’s careful planning, not only inspecting their main residences but also all their private properties.

Sure enough, the bulk of their illicit wealth was hidden in other residences, not their primary homes.

Half-human-sized wooden boxes were carried like a flood into the county government, filled with shiny gold, silver, and many precious jewels.

No matter which box it was, such wealth was beyond the means of a mere County Magistrate or secretary from a poor family.

Wang Ruiqi sat behind a table, setting up accounting books with a pen, meticulously recording the seized gold and silver treasures.

These records needed to be prepared for submission to the Emperor, and the confiscated treasures awaited the Emperor’s decision for disposition, likely placed into the National Treasury.

Meanwhile, Shuangshuang focused on searching for documents. Among them, a Buddhist Scripture found in Xu Huirong’s study felt unusually thick.

Using a small knife, Shuangshuang patiently split open each excessively thick page, initially with difficulty, but once a crack opened, it grew easier.

As the pages separated, Shuangshuang found papers tucked amongst them; each page concealed a sheet, including letters linked to the Zhou Family from the aristocracy.

These letters discussed purchasing ore from the iron mine and accounts detailing how much iron was sold and how much Silver they received, each transaction meticulously recorded.

Shuangshuang smiled, feeling satisfied with such definitive evidence of wrongdoing. These aristocratic families skillfully hid their faults, avoiding substantial charges that could topple them.

Despite the Emperor’s strength, he had been unable to act against aristocratic families due to lacking critical evidence. Now, the Zhou Family had delivered the incriminating evidence directly, an opportunity too good to miss.