RWNEFE -Chapter 28 The Missing Wei Family Military Payroll Archives!

Although the pond was nearly dry, it was still enough to provide several meals’ worth of drinking water for both people and horses.

Early in the morning, Qiushuang and Chunxue were given orders to stop anyone rushing forward to drink. They pulled out two large black cauldrons from the carriage and began boiling water.

“Our young master said to boil the water before drinking it. If we use unclean water in the wilderness and get diarrhea, even the gods can’t save us!”

Most of the exiled prisoners were former officials and understood this principle. They held back and waited for the water to boil.

Some were commoners who thought unclean water wouldn’t harm them and drank immediately, secretly mocking the others for being so fastidious.

Liu Yanhui coordinated with the constables and came over to help boil the water.

Shen Lanxi watched calmly, saying nothing.

Soon, Shen Yuanjing and a few siblings also came over to help. Seeing everyone industriously gathering firewood and tending the cauldrons, Shen Lanxi decided to indulge a little: “Nanny Li, set up a few more cauldrons for porridge, add extra rice, and make it thick!”

Nanny Li quickly took her son and daughter-in-law to unload the large cauldrons from the carriage.

“Chunxue, give everyone ten peanuts each!”

“Qiushuang, take two of the dried chickens, chop them, and cook a soup with some dried vegetables.”

Liu Laohu had been watching all morning. Seeing everyone working in an orderly manner, he grabbed the prisoners’ rations to heat and help.

By evening, the aroma of the food spread through the mountains. This was the most abundant and delicious meal the exiled prisoners had ever eaten.

Everyone was too busy eating to speak, heads buried in their bowls.

Liu Yanhui carried his bowl over to Shen Lanxi and, copying her, sat on a large rock.

“Master, I see wolf tracks nearby. Wolves are nocturnal—we must be prepared at night!”

Shen Lanxi ate slowly and deliberately: “Go tell Liu Laohu. I’m sure he’ll reward you!”

Liu Yanhui knew Shen Lanxi didn’t fully trust him yet, so he offered a soft spot: “Once he delivers the prisoners to Dongchuan, he’ll return to the capital. Flattering him won’t benefit me much. I don’t mind hardship, but my mother and sister have no one to care for them—they won’t survive the journey to Dongchuan!”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes flickered: “You have a mother and a sister?”

Liu Yanhui looked ashamed: “I studied hard hoping they’d live well. I didn’t expect that after only a few good days, my actions would drag them into hardship.”

A man’s tears were hard to draw, but Liu Yanhui’s eyes were already wet.

Shen Lanxi didn’t trust tears; she trusted that someone with family ties would act carefully. She spoke directly: “You’ve been implicated by my Shen family. You don’t hate us?”

Liu Yanhui sensed she disliked empty words; she preferred sincerity.

“At first, I did. But once I realized the Shen family weren’t the true culprits in the military payroll theft, I stopped hating. The Shen family gained nothing—they were exiled along with me. My hatred has ended.”

Shen Lanxi lifted her head, meeting his gaze.

“How did you know the Shen family weren’t the real thieves? You were in charge of the payroll archives. Did you notice something?”

Her eyes locked sharply onto Liu Yanhui.

“I judged it from the assassination attempts on the road, and from the missing documents. I manage records very strictly; every access is logged. The archive room has two locks—only a few Ministry officials and I have keys. During the period the documents went missing, none of the officials entered the archive room, and the locks were intact.”

Shen Lanxi said: “So the person holding a key—was automatically blamed?”

Liu Yanhui opened his mouth to explain but didn’t know how. Instead, he channeled his frustration into eating more voraciously.

“Did you look at the files carefully?” Shen Lanxi asked.

Liu Yanhui swallowed quickly: “Yes, they were just normal documents, with your father’s handwriting and seal.”

Shen Lanxi didn’t believe him. Before the incident, the archives were insignificant. After the theft, they disappeared. The only explanation was that the archives contained evidence of the stolen payroll.

“You want to clear your name,” she said decisively.

Liu Yanhui nodded: “As long as you help me, young master, I will be loyal to you for life, serving you in every way!”

Shen Lanxi studied him and smiled lightly: “I don’t have that much power. You’ve asked the wrong person.”

Liu Yanhui’s voice was firm: “Even if the case can’t be overturned, as long as you keep my mother and sister safe, my life will belong to you.”

Shen Lanxi considered for two seconds: “This deal doesn’t benefit you much. Even when we reach Dongchuan, hiring an accountant costs at most half a tael of silver per month. Paying you and supporting your mother and sister? I could hire four accountants for that!”

Liu Yanhui gritted his teeth and knelt before Shen Lanxi, forehead pressed to the ground in submission: “Master, I can not only be your accountant, I can also serve as your retainer. I was the third-ranking scholar in the Renxiao eighteen-year examinations. If not astronomy, I know geography!”

“If I’m correct, we’re rerouting toward Jinmen, then taking a boat to Xiguan, and finally traveling overland to Dongchuan,” he added.

Shen Lanxi raised an eyebrow—he had guessed correctly.

“Ten taels of silver per month, and I’ll ensure your mother and sister survive to Dongchuan!”

Liu Yanhui bowed respectfully: “Thank you, young master!”

Now officially the accountant, Qiushuang went back to scoop a full ladle of chicken for Liu Yanhui from the soup pot.

He shamelessly took two more ladles, filling his bowl before returning.

Chunxue watched from the side, barely suppressing a smile: “Has a scholar ever been so shameless?”

Nu Bai said: “Master, he’s taking the chicken and soup back to share with his mother and sister!”

Shen Lanxi told Chunxue: “Shamelessness is perfect for an accountant!”

Chunxue thought for a moment: “Seems true!”

At night, Shen Lanxi and Liu Laohu arranged four people to take turns keeping watch, promising they could sleep in the carriage the next day.

Some exiles tried to volunteer but the constables snatched the spots. Nighttime was cool, and after such a hot day, sleeping in the carriage was a luxury.

Late at night, distant howls reached them.

The four on watch immediately became alert.

“Wolves?”

“The sound is far off.”

Before they finished speaking, Shen Lanxi jumped down from the carriage with her staff.

“Wake everyone! Wolves are coming!”

The four constables were startled by her sudden movement. Hearing her shout, their faces froze in hesitation.

“Master Lan, the wolves are still far away. What if they don’t come?”

Shen Lanxi’s gaze pierced the darkness: “They’ll be here in the blink of an eye!”

Chunxue and Qiushuang woke the others and called everyone to arms.

Thirty meters… twenty… fifteen…

There was just enough time for everyone to be alert and ready with weapons.

“Awoooo…”

The wolves had arrived!