Chapter 34: Don’t Call Me Miss, Call Me Lord!

Shen Yuezhuang’s luck had been good lately.

First, she became a colleague with Pei Shangyu. Then, when she went home, she happened to be in time to see her old father leave the city to inspect the garrison, so he didn’t have time to discipline her.

In the afternoon, news from the front lines also reached the capital. Soon, the Emperor summoned her immediate superior, Lord Wen, to a meeting.

The next day, when she arrived at the office, Lord Wen gathered the colleagues from the Ministry of Revenue for a brief meeting.

According to Lord Wen’s relay: “His Majesty has decreed that these old debts are to be recovered to replenish the soldiers’ pay and provisions at the front.”

“Considering that these accounts are old, and the lords who borrowed the money have all served the nation meritoriously, no interest will be charged this time. Only the principal needs to be repaid.”

“This money is related to the war effort at the front. Recovering it is a great service. Anyone who refuses to repay shall be deemed guilty of treason!”

His Majesty’s words were a combination of authority and kindness. But for a moment, no one stepped forward.

First, collecting debts was a job that made enemies. It was always said that the debtor is the emperor, while the one collecting is the grandson. Who would be willing to give up the comfortable, lucrative posts in the Ministry of Revenue to play the grandson and make enemies?

The most important point: It was money owed to the national treasury, not their own money!

Second, their immediate superior, Wen Xuanming, was completely opposed to the war with the Xiongnu! The Emperor said this money was for the war. If they rushed to be the one to collect it, wouldn’t they be jeopardizing their own futures?

It was an ungrateful task. No one wanted to be the one to stand out. Not only did they not want to stand out, they were all thinking about how to push the newcomer forward to take the fall.

And who was newer than Shen Yuezhuang? Especially since she had already offended Lord Wen on her first day.

Everyone had their own calculations. But before they could even speak, Shen Yuezhuang volunteered herself!

Her eyes were shining, full of youthful passion! In the slightly silent main hall, her voice was firm and resonant.

“Lord Wen, this subordinate has nothing to do at the moment. Please assign this task to me!”

Everyone looked at her with astonishment, probably remembering their own youthful passion. They felt a pang of melancholy, and couldn’t help but sigh to themselves.

Tsk, tsk. Here comes a volunteer to be the grandson!

So, with everyone else’s polite refusals and Shen Yuezhuang’s enthusiastic self-recommendation, the task fell to her without any surprise.

After the Ministry of Revenue’s small meeting ended, Shen Yuezhuang walked out of the main gate amidst the compliments of her colleagues.

Outside, eight burly, powerfully built men were standing beside the Shen family sedan chair. Chun Rui, dressed in a peach-red spring gown, stood among them, looking completely undaunted despite their intimidating presence!

She was glaring at A Sang, who was standing nearby. As soon as she saw Shen Yuezhuang come out, her tilted eyebrows drooped, and she immediately looked at Shen Yuezhuang with a wronged expression, as if she had caught her mistress cheating!

After saying goodbye to her overly enthusiastic colleagues, Shen Yuezhuang walked over to the sedan chair and told A Sang, “A Sang, I have to go collect some debts. Tell Sister Pei I won’t be having lunch with her today.”

A Sang just nodded in agreement.

This familiar attitude only made Chun Rui’s eyes burn with jealousy. She followed Shen Yuezhuang into the sedan chair, not letting the matter drop. “Miss, how can I compare to that A Sang? You’ve had her with you all month without calling for me! I…”

Shen Yuezhuang stuffed a handkerchief into Chun Rui’s mouth to silence her chatter. She was flipping through an old, well-worn account book.

Her fingertip lightly traced over the name Jiang Yuan, and she gave an order to those outside. “No need to go home. Head to the Court of Judicial Review!”

~~~

On the way, Shen Yuezhuang briefly explained her purpose to Chun Rui.

Hearing that they were going to collect a debt, Chun Rui’s spirits immediately lifted. Her jealousy over A Sang was forgotten, and she asked excitedly, “Miss, are we going to the Court of Judicial Review to sue them? Don’t we need to prepare a complaint or something?”

“…” Shen Yuezhuang let out a dry, humorless laugh. “Not funny at all!”

She opened the account book and pointed to a line of small print, reading aloud: “Twenty-third year of Qian Yuan. Jiang Yuan, Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel, borrowed two thousand three hundred and twenty-four taels of silver.”

“Jiang Yuan?” Chun Rui frowned slightly. “That name sounds familiar. The Jiang family… Is he related to Jiang Heng, the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review?”

Shen Yuezhuang closed the book, a hint of pride on her face. “Other people collecting debts would naturally have to prepare. But me? Thanks to almost becoming their in-laws before, I know their uncles, nephews, brothers, and aunts better than anyone!”

“This Lord Jiang Yuan is the Chief Minister Jiang Heng’s biological uncle. Lord Jiang Heng lost his father as a child and was raised by his uncle. His uncle passed away a few years ago, leaving a worthless son and grandson…”

Before Shen Yuezhuang could finish, Chun Rui had already caught on. “That young Master Jiang who almost married you and then jumped into the moat… the Chief Minister’s nephew… is Lord Jiang Yuan’s own grandson?!”

“…”

There was no need to be so detailed!

But Shen Yuezhuang still leaned back against the carriage, nodded, and said with a tone of profound reflection, “The Jiang family really does have a tradition of uncles helping their nephews!”

Chun Rui: “…”

Their Miss certainly had a knack for summarizing the truth!

Soon, the procession arrived menacingly at the gates of the Court of Judicial Review!

The young attendant at the gate looked familiar. When he saw the official sedan chair approaching, his face was solemn at first. But as soon as he saw Shen Yuezhuang get out, his expression immediately relaxed into a much more practiced and familiar one.

“Miss Shen, if you want to become a nun, the Precious Flower Temple is west of the city. If you want to get married, the Old Man’s Temple is to the east. This is the Court of Judicial Review. We don’t handle nunneries or weddings!”

“…” Shen Yuezhuang said, “I remember now. The first two times I came to the Court of Judicial Review, you were the one who had me carried out.”

The young attendant gave a slight smile. “It was seven times.”

Shen Yuezhuang was speechless.

Hearing gossip about her mistress, Chun Rui immediately perked up her eyes and ears, quietly moving closer. “Huh? What seven times?”

Chun Rui didn’t know about this. It had happened before she came to the mansion. Shen Yuezhuang, driven to despair by Liu Yun’s entry into the palace, had gotten herself completely drunk and stumbled her way to the Court of Judicial Review.

The Court of Judicial Review was the place to beat the drum and cry out for justice. Liu Yun had entered the palace to clear her father’s name. So, Shen Yuezhuang, fueled by alcohol, had beaten the drum of justice for most of the day.

Later, Lord Jiang brought her into the office and asked what was wrong. Although she was terribly drunk, in her heart, she knew this was something she couldn’t easily tell others. The frustration built up layer upon layer. She clung to Lord Jiang, crying and throwing up. When the pressure became too much, all she could manage was to say, incoherently, that she didn’t want Liu Yun to get married.

But what others heard was Shen Yuezhuang saying she wanted to become a nun!

Shen Yuezhuang didn’t really remember what she did when she was drunk. Since that’s what everyone said, she believed it. After causing a ruckus at the Court of Judicial Review seven times, the story spread like wildfire. Shen Yuezhuang always thought she had a profound, otherworldly desire to leave the mundane world deep in her soul.

Later, when she was forbidden to leave the mansion, she invited a whole bunch of monks and Taoists to her home to lecture on scriptures.

Eventually, her father couldn’t stand the chaos in the house anymore, cursed her out, and chased the Taoists away. Shen Yuezhuang then went to the Thousand Gold Workshop, bet her dowry, and ended up winning half a street of shops from the Duan family…

That’s a story for later, though. Right now, Shen Yuezhuang straightened her official hat and robe, shaking her bright vermilion court dress in front of the attendant.

“Don’t call me Miss, call me Lord! This official has official business and needs to see Lord Jiang. Go and announce me!”