「Midday.」

「Within the Six Gates headquarters.」

Top Divine Hunter Guo Zifei stared blankly at his desk. Atop the pile of files for the "Zheng Clan’s assault cases" lay three new, empty case dockets.

’It’s over!’

These three newly added cases were:

The Fugui Tea House Case: Duan Cai Found Dead;

The Ten Thousand Li Salt Transport Case: Gou Fugui Poisoned;

The Hidden Soldier Casting Pavilion Case: Zhang Wushuang Assassinated;

Three deceased.

Duan Cai, owner of the Fugui Tea House, was once the richest person in the Imperial City. However, since the rise of the Zheng Clan, he had been relegated to second place. His family was also involved in banking, textiles, taverns, paper crafts, and land transport. He was beaten to death in his home late at night.

Gou Fugui was the owner of Ten Thousand Li Salt Transport. He died while his concubine was frantically riding him, suddenly foaming at the mouth. It was initially assumed to be a heart attack, but a forensic doctor conducted an urgent autopsy and suspected poisoning.

Zhang Wushuang, owner of the Hidden Soldier Casting Pavilion, was the largest weapons supplier for the Divine Martial Hall’s Imperial Guard. He held a near-monopoly on the private iron trade in the north and had close ties to the Official Iron trade. As the Zheng Family had not entered this market, Zhang Wushuang was, for all intents and purposes, the weapons king of the Imperial City. That same night, he was assassinated in his home, a small, bloody hole pierced through his throat.

Three murders, seemingly unrelated, with completely different causes of death.

But for them to happen in the same period was too much of a coincidence.

As the Imperial City’s Top Divine Hunter, Guo Zifei’s years of investigative experience and his Intuition told him there was more to this than met the eye; these were no ordinary murders.

’This is very likely beyond what a mere Top Divine Hunter like myself can handle.’

So, he reluctantly packed up the three empty case files, ordered them sent to the Ministry of Justice, and left it for the higher-ups to decide.

Only then did Guo Zifei breathe a sigh of relief, feeling the weight on his shoulders lighten somewhat.

...

Three bloody murders in one night shook the entire Imperial City.

As the stories spread among the common people by word of mouth, they grew more and more exaggerated and bizarre.

It had been many years since such bloody cases had occurred in the Imperial City.

Usually, the cases Six Gates handled were minor offenses at most—assaults, public disturbances, theft, and adultery.

Soon, the Ministry of Justice issued an order forbidding the public from spreading rumors. Anyone caught doing so would be heavily flogged sixty times.

Instantly, the people dared not speak of it again, not even in idle chatter after meals.

「Inside the palace.」

A handsome young man, his clothes trimmed with gold and silver, lounged on a luxurious couch, a vicious glint hidden in his eyes.

Before him were dazzling arrays of fruit platters and exquisite, delicious pastries.

Beside him, women of all types posed in various ways, their robes open to half-reveal their chests, their bodies alluring, their expressions seductive.

"What? They’re all dead? Ridiculous!"

Upon hearing of the bloody murders of Duan Cai, Gou Fugui, and Zhang Wushuang, the young man angrily pushed away the seductive women beside him.

Zhou Ji, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, was in the prime of his life with a full head of dark hair. The moment he received the files from Guo Zifei, he knew something was amiss. Disregarding protocol, he used the pretense of an investigation to enter the palace’s Wenlin Garden to "check records," but took a roundabout route to have a secret audience with His Highness the Second Prince.

As the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, holding a high position and having connections inside, it wasn’t difficult for him to issue himself official documents.

Seeing the irrepressible savagery in the Second Prince’s eyes, Zhou Ji couldn’t help but shudder. He immediately knelt, lowered his head, and continued his report.

"Damn it! What about their businesses?"

"According to Daqian law, if the three families have no legitimate sons, adopted sons, living parents, or live-in sons-in-law, their assets are to be temporarily sealed. If no heir is found, they will be absorbed into the national treasury. If Your Highness wishes to leverage their wealth, I’m afraid it will not be easy... at least, not right away."

The Second Prince’s face darkened.

"Also, there is another matter. It is a small thing, but Your Highness might be interested."

"Speak."

The Second Prince sank back onto the couch and viciously kneaded the soft, warm flesh of the women beside him. His movements were rough, making them wince in pain, yet they dared not protest. They forced smiles and actively pressed themselves closer.

"News came from the Ministry of Revenue. There’s been a development in the Zheng Family’s tax evasion case."

"A development? What development could there be? If Marquis Zhonglie of the Zheng Clan wanted to amass wealth, he wouldn’t need to resort to a childish trick like tax evasion. Hmph. But the common folk don’t need to know that. Have your men spread the rumor that the Zheng Family evaded a huge amount in taxes. I want the entire world to know about this within three days. Once it’s accepted as fact, Marquis Zhonglie won’t be able to save himself. Even if that Shi Wentong is dead, I still have backup plans at the Ministry of Revenue. If that man surnamed Ke doesn’t know what’s good for him and still sides with my *dear* Elder Imperial Brother... Heh heh."

"Your High..." Zhou Ji opened his mouth, about to say something, but the Second Prince waved a hand, cutting him off.

The Second Prince said, "Even if Duan Cai, Gou Fugui, and Zhang Wushuang are dead, as long as the Ministry of Revenue succeeds, I have a brilliant plan to acquire the Zheng Family’s assets on the cheap. Even if my Elder and Younger Imperial Brothers notice, there’s nothing they can do to me!"

"Your Highness, I must report..."

"As they say, speed is paramount in war! For now, suppress these three murder cases. Don’t let the Ministry of Revenue seal the three families’ assets! Even without an investigation, it must have been my cunning Elder Imperial Brother who made the move!"

The Second Prince waved his hand impatiently. ’Speed is paramount in war, after all.’

The Emperor was critically ill. Barring any surprises, the throne would pass to one of the three Princes. Now was the time to choose a side. The earlier one committed, the greater the final reward.

Although the Second Prince was violent and ill-tempered, he was ruthless and decisive in his actions—a man of formidable ambition.

In contrast, the Eldest Prince was indecisive and overly cautious, while the Third Prince was a meek yes-man. That was why Zhou Ji sided with the Second Prince.

He admitted to himself that he was making a gamble.

So Zhou Ji braced himself and called out loudly, "Your Highness, this subject dares to make a report."

The Second Prince’s eyes narrowed. "Speak!"

"It concerns the Zheng Clan. The matter of Marquis Zhonglie’s tax evasion... might be slightly different from Your Highness’s brilliant calculations."

The Second Prince’s eyes snapped open.

A strange expression appeared on Zhou Ji’s face. "The Ministry of Revenue thoroughly investigated the Zheng Clan’s account books and finally discovered... the Zheng Clan did indeed evade taxes."

"What?" The Second Prince’s gaze sharpened, his breath catching. "How much did they hide? Don’t tell me it was really fifty million?"

"Not fifty million." Zhou Ji held up five fingers and said with a sigh of resignation, "Fifty thousand. A mere fifty thousand taels. According to the law, evading fifty thousand in taxes is punishable by thirty strokes of the cane and imprisonment pending trial. I’m afraid Marquis Zhonglie... won’t be getting out for a while!"

The Second Prince: "???"

...

「Earth No. 1 Prison Camp.」

「A Cell.」

"Master Zheng, this... isn’t right, is it?"

Scarface Liu was holding an arm-thick club, raised high, about to bring it down.

The Ministry of Revenue had first delivered the ironclad evidence of Zheng Xiu’s "fifty-thousand-tael tax evasion" to the Ministry of Justice. An Order Officer from the Ministry of Justice arrived, and before the Minister could even review it, the sentencing document was stamped and dispatched to the Prison Camp.

After all, the crime was backed by irrefutable evidence. All Six Ministries were watching; the beating had to be carried out.

When the Order Officer from the Ministry of Justice arrived and saw the cell’s furnishings, he was so angry his beard trembled wildly. But as soon as he remembered Zheng Xiu’s status, understanding dawned on him. Cursing, he declared he would send men from another Prison Camp to administer the flogging.

Hearing this, Scarface Liu’s eyebrows shot up as he roared, "This is my turf, and you want to bring in outsiders to do the beating? Are you saying you have no respect for me, Scarface Liu?"

"Hmph, a lowly prison guard. How laughable! Who do you think you are?"

Sixth Brother gave a cold smirk. "Heh. That’s an easy one! I, Scarface Liu, happen to be a distant cousin of Consort Zhen from the palace! A *close* distant cousin! What’s that saying? Blood is thicker than... something or other! Hmph! Broadly speaking, that makes me practically royalty! If you’ve got the guts, go ahead and send someone to the palace. Ask them how many times the Holy Emperor has chosen Consort Zhen’s tablet this month!"

The Order Officer was left speechless. Forcing a smile, he said, "...In that case, I’ll have to trouble Sixth Master to handle it personally."