Qin Yuan hesitated for a moment before saying, "This really is... truly a great opportunity. Thanks to Brother Cheng for his suggestion. Without his guidance, we would never have thought of this."

Being able to follow the Five Cities Military Department’s investigation is truly a blessing.

Mrs. Dai immediately joined in,

"There’s still much to discuss here. No one expected that the Emperor would suddenly celebrate the Empress Dowager’s birthday. Previously, he always talked about being frugal every five or ten years. Who knows why he wants to do it this year?"

Qin Yuan didn’t understand either.

In her previous life, both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager were extremely frugal.

On one hand, it’s because the Emperor and Empress Lin wanted to be wise rulers.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Revenue often cried about a lack of silver at this time, and advisers would petition the Emperor to emulate the holy emperors, who first restrain their own desires to become great rulers of all time.

Qin Yuan said, "It indeed makes sense to re-examine the census and merchants’ registrations. How many years have passed without a cleanup? Just consider how many officials from outside provinces have come to serve in the Capital City over the years. Their relatives and clansmen all follow them to live here. These people will set up families and have children, bringing along endless connections from back home. Retired officials don’t return to their original homes, they continue to reside here. Not to mention those who leave their hometowns to make a living in the Capital... there are truly too many of them."

Mrs. Dai nodded.

"Exactly, my husband said this time they must put in a lot of effort to investigate. I remember the last time they checked was more than a decade or two ago."

Qin Yuan and Mrs. Dai agreed to discuss further once Marquis Gu returned, planning the details, and would rely on the Marquis Mansion for money and manpower when needed.

Mrs. Dai laughed and said, "You say you can’t make decisions for the Marquis Mansion, but it seems you can even make decisions for the Marquis."

Qin Yuan laughed lightly, "This matter just happened to be entrusted to me by the Marquis."

Mrs. Dai laughed as she shook her head, "We all come from being new brides, I won’t believe it."

After some joking, Mrs. Dai stood up to say goodbye.

After seeing Mrs. Dai off, Qin Yuan spread out paper and ink, recalling various events from her past life, meticulously jotting them down for future reference.

She secretly reminded herself never to assume things blindly, thinking that living one more lifetime makes her infallible.

For instance, she almost missed the opportunity to investigate the census during the Empress Dowager’s birthday this time.

After Hong Ye and the stewards balanced the accounts, Hong Mian and Mo Zhu checked them, finally returning for lunch. Knowing this matter, she said, "You really don’t understand the intricacies of a profession until you’re in it. Without the connection to Mr. Cheng’s family, who would have thought of this method?"

In a city as vast as the Capital, Mrs. Zhao and others were like clay oxen entering the sea.

No matter how resourceful the Marquis Mansion is, there are still limited human and material resources, only waiting for her to reveal herself.

Cui Ming seemed thoughtful.

"You could say, if Zhao had the patience to wait another ten or twenty years to recognize her son, it wouldn’t be impossible."

Hong Ye was so startled she clapped her chest, "Amitabha Buddha, Boundless Heaven, may this wicked woman never harm others again. It’s best to catch her quickly."

Qin Yuan said leisurely, "She might have planned to do this, which is why she left two children behind."

Hong Ye asked, "I’ve been wanting to ask, why does she have to come and take the children now? Why not just wait?"

Qin Yuan said, "You see how her actions are all linked together. If one link breaks, the subsequent moves might not be useful. By entering the mansion with the Marquis, she created the illusion that she was to be included in the mansion, playing mind games at every turn."

Hong Ye nodded.

Thinking of their situation when they first entered the mansion and their various suspicions of the Marquis, they couldn’t help but feel resentment towards Mrs. Zhao.

Qin Yuan said, "Her conduct was so arrogant then, who could have imagined she brought clothes of smallpox patients from the Northern Border years ago? This move was planned at least for a few years."

It’s not like you can get clothes of smallpox patients easily.

Hong Ye shivered, feeling a chill down her back.

"This woman is not only vicious but also very calculating."

Cui Ming nodded in agreement.

"Fortunately, fortunately we won."

Qin Yuan further said, "She wanted to use smallpox to disrupt the Marquis Mansion, so that when the mansion and even the Capital are sucked into the vortex, it would be the right time for her to make her appearance. Indeed a good move, predicting Marquis and others’ thoughts accurately, and decisively ruthless."

Cui Ming smiled and said, "It’s a pity she encountered our Miss."

Hong Ye clapped her hands and laughed, "This is what they call ’brine tofu meets line-drawing,’ there’s always one thing to curb another. She was destined to lose when she faced our Miss."

Qin Yuan chuckled, saying, "Cui Ming just said it was a lucky win, there’s no outsiders here, why are you flattering me?"

Hong Ye replied earnestly, "Every word is from the heart. Though Miss was clever in the chamber, she wasn’t this adept. Ever since the marriage was settled, it seems like she’s been divinely assisted. I believe Miss is blessed and shielded by the heavens."

Cui Ming said, "This is what they call ’evil can never prevail over the righteous.’

Qin Yuan continued, "Don’t interrupt, I’m not finished yet, let’s all analyze together."

Hong Ye and Cui Ming sat up straight, ready to listen intently.

Qin Yuan said, "But now this move is already ruined, and the two children were sent out of the mansion, recognized as adopted children of Sister-in-law Cheng’s family. Mrs. Zhao is afraid that if she doesn’t take them back, they’ll grow to be someone else’s children, isn’t she?"

"Isn’t there the Fake Yang to consider?" Cui Ming reminded.

Qin Yuan nodded, "You’re right, with Fake Yang there, they definitely won’t become closely bonded. Previously, with Marquis and the mansion treating them kindly, it was still like this... so why didn’t she make a move before?"

"Then why take the risk to take them now?"

Qin Yuan said, "This is worth analyzing. With the Sixth Madam gone, everyone is busy with her funeral, and the mansion’s defenses are lacking, plus the rumors about the Marquis are everywhere..." At this point, she couldn’t help but smile, "This is when she decided to take the children away. It’s because leaving the kids at the mansion is already a failed move. If Marquis remains childless, he will surely adopt Sixth Master’s son instead of caring for an adopted child. Besides, Brother Cheng is now the son of Sister-in-law Cheng’s family, not the Marquis’ adopted son."

"What’s wrong with staying in Mr. Cheng’s family?" Hong Ye was puzzled, "It’s better than a woman wandering four countries with children. Why not recognize them when they’re grown? I still find it perplexing."

Cui Ming said, "Isn’t it because she got tied up with the Yelv Clan! Maybe she got a fortune? If Xu Zhen disappeared because of her, it’s hard to say what this woman did. Also, I have a question: the Yelv Clan has an enmity of killing her husband, isn’t she taking the two children to recognize a traitor as father?"

Qin Yuan remained silent, her fingers gently tapping the table, before finally saying, "Could the two children have another secret? Sounds reasonable, Pang Hai’s background was mysterious, and only because he died saving the Marquis that people didn’t ask more... Mrs. Zhao suddenly striking hard was due to Marquis sending Sixteen to Jizhou to find Pang Hai’s relatives... But when Marquis sent people to visit Pang Hai’s old colleagues, they found nothing significant, what could be wrong here?"