Chapter 979: Chapter 815: Seeking a Patron

If this matter is reported, Qian Hui Chun could naturally avoid part of his guilt, and might even make amends by doing meritorious deeds. Perhaps the court would be lenient and spare his life.

However, this matter is deeply entangled, and he actually has a hand in it. Those silvers, even if he only had a taste, he still stretched out his hand.

If the court investigates, he himself will have to bear the blame!

At that time, what difference would it make? Plus, due to the flood disaster, more crimes would be piled on, and he would face multiple charges!

Moreover, if he were to speak out, those officials would not spare him.

There’s a fear that the court hasn’t had time to pursue it, he might already be dead by others’ hands.

To expose it means death; not to expose it, he might still die.

Chen Zhao is close to Qian Hui Chun, and he naturally understands what the master is hesitating about.

Because back then when the master was colluding with those people, he also followed and received benefits.

"Master! You must think it over carefully! If we don’t expose it, our blame will be even greater!"

Chen Zhao was somewhat anxious, and he couldn’t help but remind.

"And if we expose it, can we then be exempted? This matter involves those court officials in the Capital, and if we really expose it, those ministers won’t let us go, we might die even faster!"

This word made Chen Zhao suddenly realize, breaking into a cold sweat.

Yes! He was still thinking too simply.

He had always thought that the master was timid back then, didn’t dare go too far, and that the silvers he gained were insignificant compared to those people.

But he overlooked one point, those people are ruthless and vicious.

If they spoke, could they survive?

Chen Zhao was just about to speak, but suddenly thought, "No, master, even if we don’t say anything, there’s no guarantee that those people won’t spare us!"

Chen Zhao was extremely anxious, staring at Qian Hui Chun as if he were his lifeline.

"I certainly understand, once the Capital knows about this, they will be on pins and needles. As long as we’re alive, they can’t sleep at night. So, we must find someone to back us up."

Qian Hui Chun had a plan, but he was currently caught in the matter of the flood, who among those officials in the Capital would dare back him up?

No one would dare to take such a big risk to back him up! And there’s no benefit in backing him now, instead it would bring trouble.

"Master, have you already found someone to back you up? At this critical moment, who will support us?"

Chen Zhao felt relieved immediately, he knew the master would surely come up with a solution.

"You also understand our current situation, without paying some price, how can we find a way out? A backer? Whoever can be our backer, it’s naturally because we have something they can use."

Qian Hui Chun said earnestly.

He originally wanted to keep these things for a future promotion, but now he had to bring them out.

In the deep night, there was a fluttering sound of wings. Ming Yan hurriedly went forward to check.

Now, if there was a message coming via carrier pigeon, it could only be from Ding Shiliu and the others in Jiangnan.

The master ordered Ding Shiliu and the others to go to several prefectures in Jiangnan to handle the Tianya River.

A few days ago, the master had already ordered Ding Shiliu and the others to draw a map of Lijiang.

The master was originally waiting for urgent use, but Jiangnan is more than two thousand miles from the Capital.

The mountains and rivers are rugged, effectively more than two thousand miles.

Moreover, the difficulties and dangers on the road are immeasurable, hence they had to use carrier pigeons for communication.

Even the pigeon has to fly for three days to reach the Capital.

He took the bamboo tube from the pigeon’s leg, fed the pigeon water and food.

Upon opening the bamboo tube, Ming Yan found it was indeed a map of Lijiang.

"Master! There’s a message from Jiangnan!"

The master had said that any message from Jiangnan should be reported to him immediately, no matter how late.

Ming Yan lit all the candles, and the room instantly became much brighter.

Gu Chengyu unfolded the paper in his hand and found it was a map of Changtian Prefecture.

Changtian Prefecture is near the lower reaches of the Tianya River. If anywhere is most prone to a breach, it would be none other than Changtian Prefecture.

Gu Chengyu compared the map carefully with the one the Crown Prince had, drawing on it as he went.

Although the one he previously saw with the Crown Prince was quite detailed, it was not as comprehensive as the one in his hands now.

This one, after all, was copied on-site, naturally more accurate than the Crown Prince’s.

On the third day, after official duties, Gu Chengyu had just returned to his residence when Ming Yan rushed into the study.

"Master! Another one!" Before long, Ming Yan came over holding a slip of paper.

Gu Chengyu thought it was a map of another prefecture, and quickly took it.

Upon opening the paper, Gu Chengyu’s face suddenly changed.

On it was written: "Downstream of Changtian Prefecture breached, flooding several villages, hundreds of people died in the flood!"

It was only a few words, but the content shocked Gu Chengyu. He didn’t expect his worries to come true.

Gu Chengyu frowned in contemplation, wondering if the Emperor had received the news yet.

He only received the map yesterday and today there is news of a flood, indicating there was not much time between the two communications.

It was delayed on route; although it was sent by carrier pigeon, it still took three to four days.

Perhaps the palace has already received the news because the magistrate of Changtian Prefecture should have reported it to the Capital first thing.

"Quickly prepare the carriage, to Yin Mansion!" He had to go to Yin Mansion to inquire for information, he couldn’t enter the palace now. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Because the palace locks down at a certain hour, unless summoned by the Emperor, one cannot enter.

Even if there are urgent matters, they must wait for notification.

And given Gu Chengyu’s low rank, just going to deliver a card at the palace gate, those people would surely delay, wasting a lot of time.

Might as well have Yin Kun deliver the card, since the matter has occurred, officials must be sent to Changtian Prefecture to take charge of the situation.

He was eager to enter the palace to live up to his conscience!

The carriage was heading to Yin Mansion, but halfway, Gu Chengyu suddenly changed his mind.

"To the palace gate, I need to deliver a card to enter the palace!"

Gu Chengyu squinted his eyes, finding Yin Kun would require some persuasion.

Ming Mo drove the carriage cautiously through the crowd, as there were quite a few people in the workshop at the moment.

After a quarter of an hour, the carriage finally stopped at the palace gate.

As soon as the carriage stopped, Gu Chengyu jumped off.

He held the tooth card in his hand, stepped forward, and said in a deep voice, "Please report, I have urgent matters to report to the Emperor!"

The two guards at the palace gate exchanged glances.

One of them took the tooth card and found it read Hanlin Academy Assistant Lecturer Gu Chengyu, with an official title of Chancellor of the Chamberlain’s Office.

Gu Chengyu was polite to the two, but don’t underestimate these two guards.

If you have no background, it’s not easy to enter the Capital Guard Commander’s Department.

Though these two are merely guards, they might very well be collateral descendants of some aristocratic family in the Capital.