At the end of the year, as soon as the script for Journey to the West was released, it became an absolute sensation in the capital.

Because it was close to the New Year, the common folks had all idled down.

The grand theater, which usually ran three shows a day, increased to five, making a huge profit.

They kept performing right up until the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, when Li Zhiyue gave everyone time off.

Over the past half-year, not only had the people at the teahouse and theater worked hard, but the Xiangyang Marquis Manor was also stretched thin because part of its staff had been sent to manage the shops.

Since it was the New Year, Li Zhiyue wasn’t stingy — she handed out red envelopes to everyone, roughly equivalent to three months of their wages.

Bai Ruzhu was busy preparing New Year’s goods.

Li Zhiyue, rare to have a few days of rest, filled her free time with morning martial arts practice and afternoon calligraphy, keeping herself occupied and fulfilled.

Before they knew it, it was New Year’s Eve.

The Li family had no extended branches, so every year on New Year’s Eve, there were only five people.

But this year, because Li Muyun had gone north to provide disaster relief, there were only four people at home — extremely quiet compared to other aristocratic families.

The old Marquis raised his wine cup and said, “It’s only lively in a household with children. Hurry up and find Muyun a wife so I can have a plump little grandchild to play with.”

Bai Ruzhu gave a bitter smile. “That only works if he’s willing. We had an arranged engagement, but he insisted on breaking it off. Tangtang was such a good girl, but he refused to marry her… sigh, I heard my mother has already started arranging suitors for Tangtang. She’ll probably marry next year.”

Li Zhiyue was quite happy with this outcome.

Although Bai Tang would have made a good sister-in-law, in the end, she and her brother were maternal cousins.

From a modern scientific perspective, cousin marriages carried a high risk of producing children with genetic problems — even if not in the first generation, perhaps in the next or the one after that…

In short, something that could be avoided should be avoided.

“As long as Muyun is ambitious, there’ll be plenty of girls willing to marry him,” Li Suiwen added. “Come, let’s have a drink, bid farewell to the old year, and hope the new year brings more prosperity to the Li family.”

The four of them raised their cups, about to drink.

Suddenly, the gatekeeper ran in hurriedly, shouting, “Marquis, Madam, the young master has returned!”

The old Marquis was stunned. “Wasn’t he supposed to be up north comforting the disaster victims? Why’s he back in the capital?”

Bai Ruzhu quickly said, “Maybe since it’s New Year’s, Yun-ge wanted to come home and visit.”

Just as she spoke, Li Muyun strode in, travel-worn, his eyes sunken, and visibly thinner.

“You’ve only been gone a month — how have you lost so much weight?” Bai Ruzhu’s heart ached. “Yun-ge, come sit, have something to eat, quickly tell us what’s going on up north?”

Li Muyun was truly starving.

He picked up a meatball, but just as he brought it to his mouth, he suddenly thought of the situation in the north, sighed deeply, and lost his appetite.

His voice was hoarse: “The people there can’t even get a mouthful of moldy, spoiled grain. It’s heartbreaking…”

In the homes of the wealthy, there was wine and meat at every meal.

But among the common folk, many couldn’t even fill their bellies.

It was his first time facing such brutal reality.

Li Suiwen frowned. “The court initially allocated fifty thousand taels of silver, and the second time the imperial court raised another 120,000 taels. By reason, that should be more than enough for disaster relief — why do the people still have no food?”

“Hah.”

A mocking smile curled on Li Muyun’s lips.

“I don’t know about the first batch of relief funds.

“But the second batch, once it reached the local magistrate, only two thousand taels remained. These two thousand had to cover the people’s food and clothing, and in such cold weather, shelter too — it was simply not enough… So many starved, froze, or died from untreated injuries or illness…”

“How could this happen!” The old Marquis was furious. “They dare to embezzle disaster relief funds? This must be reported to the court!”

“Useless — it’s useless!” Li Muyun gave a bitter smile. “The envoy in charge of the relief effort is from the Chen family, the family of the current empress. He alone took fifty thousand. His deputies — all sons of prominent court families — each pocketed ten thousand. The remaining minor officials each took a bit, leaving only two thousand taels…”

The faces of everyone in the Li family darkened.

The chief embezzler was from the empress’s family — this really wasn’t something they could touch!

Li Zhiyue pressed her lips together.

First, there was the corrupt concubine; now, it was the empress.

Was there no one clean in the Great Wei court?

She spoke softly, “From top to bottom, practically every official has dirty hands. The court truly can’t investigate, nor dare to. Touching this would disturb too many people’s interests, even the emperor wouldn’t have peace.”

“I don’t want to do this job anymore.” Li Muyun hung his head. “I have no ability to stop their corruption, nor to save those poor people. I… I’ll just be a carefree young lord, spending my days with idle pleasures. That seems better.”

Bai Ruzhu forced a smile. “Today’s New Year’s Eve, let’s eat our reunion dinner happily. We can think about these things after the holidays.”

“Yes, yes,” Li Suiwen nodded. “Eat well, drink well — we’ll deal with everything after the New Year.”

However, the next morning, the main gate of the Xiangyang Marquis Manor was kicked open, and censors from the Court of Judicial Review flooded in.

The chief censor spoke coldly, “Where is Li Muyun? Hand him over!”

Li Suiwen staggered and nearly fell, quickly stepping forward to quietly ask, “My lord, it’s the New Year — what has happened?”

“Marquis, don’t play dumb. Last night, Li Muyun fled back to the capital from the north — do you know why?” the censor sneered. “Over a hundred thousand taels in relief silver have all been taken by Li Muyun. It’s said he believed, since this money was donated by the Xiangyang Marquis Manor, it was his to use as he pleased… Because he embezzled relief funds, the disaster victims went hungry, and just yesterday, there was a revolt — many people died. What, does your Xiangyang Marquis Manor still hope to walk away unscathed?”

“What?!”

Li Suiwen was shocked.

Clearly, someone had seen Muyun return to the capital and deliberately dumped the blame on his head!

This was simply intolerable!

His voice trembled. “My lord, please see clearly. Since our Xiangyang Marquis Manor donated one hundred thousand taels, how could we possibly touch that money ourselves? This is a deliberate framing. Please…”

“Enough, Marquis! Hand over Li Muyun at once!”

Just then, Li Muyun stepped out from behind.

He said, “Father, the innocent will remain innocent. Once the Court of Judicial Review investigates the full truth, they will naturally release me.”

Two guards came forward, pressed down on Li Muyun’s shoulders, and led him away.

“Yun-ge…”

Bai Ruzhu burst into tears, terrified.

The old Marquis straightened himself with effort. “Don’t panic. I’ll go find out what’s happening. Everyone stay put, wait for me to come back!”

He grabbed a horse and quickly rode out.

Bai Ruzhu collapsed into a chair.

Li Zhiyue furrowed her brows deeply.

This matter was clearly orchestrated by the Chen family.

Because her elder brother had refused to join in their corruption, the Chen family, fearing he’d report them to the emperor upon returning to the capital, preemptively struck first.

The Chen family represented the power of the empress and the crown prince — facing them head-on was definitely not the best move.