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Just now, the tussle with the nightingale was merely a bit of sisterly play, but she truly couldn’t understand where she would lose to the nightingale.
In terms of looks, figure, talents... the nightingale wasn’t her equal in any aspect.
If she had to point out one thing where she was inferior to the nightingale, it would only be archery.
Her archery indeed wasn’t as good as the nightingale’s; after all, she didn’t have a Divine Archer as a teacher, and there were too many things she needed to learn to possibly spend several "hours" each day practicing archery.
If that guy had unique tastes and preferred women who were skilled in archery, then she had nothing to say.
While Phoenix was feeling downcast, Yuan Yang walked into the room and said, "Phoenix, people from the Chang’an County government office have come; they say they want to inspect the accounts of the Jade Sound Pavilion."
Phoenix didn’t think much of it and said, "If they want to inspect, let them."
Every merchant in Chang’an, at the start of each month, had to pay taxes to the court; during this period, the court would send officials to check the accounts at any time, but this was nothing more than a routine procedure; Jade Sound Pavilion had neither evaded nor underpaid taxes, and could withstand scrutiny.
She didn’t take the matter to heart and started pruning the several bunches of flowers on the table.
Less than half an "hour" later, Yuan Yang entered the room again and said, "Phoenix, the officials from the accounting room haven’t left yet."
Phoenix put down the scissors in her hand, looked up, and her expression showed suspicion.
There were so many merchants in Chang’an; the accounts examined by the accounting room couldn’t be too detailed. Generally, they would leave after checking a couple of summary accounts. If they hadn’t left after half an "hour," there must be a problem.
Could it be that someone was targeting Jade Sound Pavilion?
The rapid rise of Jade Sound Pavilion had indeed touched the interests of some in the same trade. They had been quiet for a while; perhaps they had figured out Jade Sound Pavilion’s situation during this time and had started to scheme against them again.
As Phoenix was descending the stairs, she saw a short-bearded official pointing at an account book and saying, "In June of this year, you should have paid 3065 "taels" of tax, but you only paid 3015 "taels," 50 "taels" of tax "silver" are missing. Who here is in charge? Come with us to the County Magistrate’s Office."
When the nightingale saw Phoenix coming down, she approached her and said, "For June, we missed counting 500 "taels" of "silver" in the accounts, which led to 50 "taels" of tax "silver" being unpaid."
Phoenix looked at the accounting room official and said with a smile, "My lord, I’m truly sorry for the oversight of 50 "taels" of tax "silver." It was our negligence. We will make it up tenfold if that’s acceptable to you."
The official glared at her and said righteously, "What do you mean by that? You are first-time offenders; when you get to the County Magistrate’s Office, just repay the missed 50 "taels" of tax "silver." If it happens again, you would only have to double the amount. Do you think I am trying to extort you?"
Phoenix hastily replied, "I wouldn’t dare..."
The short-bearded official from the accounting room said, "Alright, seeing as this is your first offense, go with us to the County Magistrate’s Office, repay the missed tax "silver," and then write a self-critique. Make sure to pay more attention and avoid such mistakes in the future..."
His gaze swept over the people from Jade Sound Pavilion, recalling the words that County Magistrate Pei had told him; his eyes quickly locked onto one person.
Tall and with a flat chest.
Among all the women present, only she had a flat chest.
He looked towards the nightingale and asked, "Are you in charge of the accounts at Jade Sound Pavilion?"
The nightingale nodded.
The accounting room official pointed at her and said, "Then you are also responsible; come with us to the County Magistrate’s Office."
Although the official in front of her appeared to be handling matters by the book, Phoenix still felt there was something fishy. She gave Yuan Yang a meaningful look and then said to the nightingale, "Let’s go. The lord here says it’s just a small matter..."
...
Song Residence.
Song Jiaren was teaching Li Nuo archery, hands-on. Suddenly, Song Yu ran in, looking anxious, and said, "Brother-in-law, let’s stop the archery practice for now; Miss Phoenix and Miss Nightingale have been taken away by the County Magistrate’s Office..."
Li Nuo put down the bow, looked at Song Yu and Miss Yuan Yang, and said, "Don’t worry; I will go see what’s happening at the County Magistrate’s Office."
Moments later, a carriage stopped in front of the County Magistrate’s Office; Li Nuo alighted from the carriage and entered the government office.
Before long, Li Nuo walked out of the Chang’an County Government Office, followed by Phoenix and Nightingale.
The business environment in Daxia was actually acceptable; not to mention an unintentional underpayment of taxes, even a deliberate evasion would not result in too harsh a punishment the first time around.
As long as the omitted taxes were paid and something akin to a written guarantee was submitted, that would suffice.
Even if he hadn’t come, they would have been released.
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But to Phoenix, it wasn’t like that at all.
She and Nightingale had been locked up in the prison cell ever since they arrived at the Chang’an County Government. The guarantee letter was written inside the cell; had Li Nuo not come, she wouldn’t have known what might have happened.
Without any backing, even the pettiest official could trample on them.
She gave Li Nuo a curtsey and said, "Thank you for your troubles, young master."
Li Nuo waved his hand and replied, "It’s a trifle. Just remember to pay your taxes in full and on time from now on, and this won’t happen again."
"I understand," Phoenix sighed with relief, then added, "Would the young master care to stop by the Jade Sound Pavilion for a while? I’ll cook personally to thank you for your rescue."
Li Nuo waved his hand again and said, "There is no need for a meal, besides, aren’t you only good at cooking noodles..."
The tax evasion of the Jade Sound Pavilion was real, and the lawbreaking by Nightingale and Phoenix was real too.
Two more portraits had been added to the Law Code.
Li Nuo was anxious to get back to test something, he had no time to go to the Jade Sound Pavilion for a meal.
Phoenix watched Li Nuo’s carriage disappear into the distance, and let out a long, frustrated breath. 𝔫𝖔𝔳𝔭𝔲𝔟.𝖈𝔬𝔪
He had praised her noodle cooking last time.
Was he now finding fault with it?
How quickly a man’s heart changes.
...
By the time Li Nuo returned to the Song Residence, his wife was not in the courtyard.
He picked up the bow on the table and, for the first time, felt that his arm and the bow were one.
Li Nuo took out an arrow, drew the bow, and shot.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
He fired several arrows in succession, the target was empty, save for a tiny hole in its center.
Li Nuo finally breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t need to worry about mathematics; except for a small portion of the Book Department, the abilities in rites, music, archery, and riding were all collected. All that was left was to wait for the Imperial Examination.
At the entrance of the courtyard, Song Jiaren stood quietly.
She had seen everything as Li Nuo fired several arrows consecutively and hit the bullseye at the same point.
This superb archery skill, without relying on True Qi, was something she couldn’t achieve herself.
He didn’t need her to teach him.
He clearly knew everything but pretended to know nothing in front of her.
These days, she had also heard many rumors.
The son of the Minister of Justice was never a fool.
All that before was just a ruse by the Minister of Justice to protect him.
Housekeeper Wu had said his riding skill was excellent.
His archery was also superb.
So why did he still ask her to teach him?
She suddenly thought, the times when he was afraid of thunder and wanted her to coax him to sleep, was that also...
Li Nuo, suddenly sensing something, turned back to look but saw nothing at the doorway.
