Chapter Thirty: Pay Up

At this point, Di Ying found it nearly impossible to gather any evidence. Without proof, how could he simply release Qian Fu? Even if he dared, what about the other party—after spending years in prison, with nothing resolved, his home lost, and his daughter ill? How could anything be well? It was tantamount to driving someone to despair.

Thinking of this, Di Ying set down his teacup, stood, and motioned for Peng Liang to follow him outside. Watching Peng Liang emerge from the shadows, his strikingly handsome face revealed, Di Ying felt a pang in his teeth.

“You’re a fifth-ranked bodyguard, not a shadow guard. Stop lurking in the darkness—you’re wasting that good looks,” Di Ying said.

Peng Liang blinked. “Sir, I only worry about interfering with your work. Besides, I’m here to protect you with my martial skills, not my face.”

Di Ying sighed. “In the future, drop the formalities when you speak with me. It makes things feel distant.”

“Yes, sir—I, I’ll obey.”

Di Ying was speechless. That command didn’t quite fit the informal “I.”

He thought Peng Liang was straightforward enough, just a bit slow-witted.

Without looking at him again, the two walked onto the main street. Di Ying watched the pedestrians and carriages, then glanced down at his own legs. He thought of Quxian, sixty miles away, and couldn’t help but click his tongue.

He patted himself inside and out, sighed, and resignedly lifted his foot to walk.

Suddenly, he realized just how poor he really was.

After a few moments, Di Ying turned and headed toward the imperial palace.

“Sir, where are you going?” Peng Liang asked curiously, his star-like eyes blinking as Di Ying abruptly changed direction.

“I’m not a clean-handed official—I need funds,” Di Ying replied offhandedly.

Peng Liang grew even more curious. Was the lord going to ask for silver in the palace? From whom? The Ministry of Revenue? Would they give it?

With these questions in mind, he followed closely behind as Di Ying entered the palace.

To his surprise, Di Ying went straight for the emperor’s study.

Peng Liang was speechless. Was the lord’s neck a bit stiff? Did he always want to invite trouble?

The old emperor, reviewing memorials, heard Di Ying had come to see him and summoned him inside.

Upon hearing Di Ying’s purpose, the emperor too felt that this fellow was courting trouble.

“Do you know what you’re saying? Why are you coming to me for silver?” the old emperor looked at Di Ying, feeling the urge to slam the table.

There were countless officials in the empire; none dared to request personal funds straight from him.

Why call it personal funds? Because Di Ying had said, “Your Majesty, I need to investigate a case, travel far and wide, but I don’t even have a carriage. You must give me silver.”

Listen to that—so bold and upright.

Di Ying himself felt justified. He was investigating “on official expenses,” wasn’t he entitled to them? Reimbursement was out of the question—he couldn’t spare a coin now.

When the emperor questioned him, Di Ying straightened his back and replied earnestly, “When I was appointed assistant magistrate, it had only been a month—I hadn’t received my stipend before being falsely accused and imprisoned. After Lord Yan cleared my name, another month passed and I was sent to Bingzhou, still without receiving my monthly silver. After three months in Bingzhou, no one paid me, and I was knocked out and taken away, even my coins stolen by bandits. All along the way to the capital, I used Peng Liang’s silver.”

At this point, Di Ying turned to Peng Liang, standing behind him, and asked, “Weren’t you fleeing for your life? Where did your silver come from? You didn’t rob anyone, did you?”

Peng Liang was speechless. The old emperor was speechless.

Peng Liang answered, “Even on the run, I needed money. I wasn't always fleeing—when I stopped, I took on high-paying bodyguard jobs.”

“Oh,” Di Ying nodded. That made sense.

He continued, “Your Majesty raised my rank, but the land and gold I should have received as rewards never arrived. Moving house and setting up home exhausted all my savings, and things aren’t settled yet. Today, I want to handle a case in the county—it’s sixty miles away, and I truly can’t walk there. I can’t keep relying on Peng Liang’s silver, can I? He probably doesn’t have much left. Your Majesty, I am serving the empire; I can’t always make Peng Liang pay, can I? That isn’t right, is it?”

The old emperor was speechless.

For a moment, he didn’t know what expression to wear.

Yes, by regulation, a promotion should come with rewards.

But was Di Ying promoted as a reward? Not holding him accountable for his past “offenses” was already generous enough. Now he wanted rewards?

Yet, he had indeed promoted him.

What a mess...

To give? It felt stifling. To refuse? Judging by Di Ying’s stance, if he couldn’t come up with a convincing reason, it would be a headache.

Forget it.

The old emperor thought: He probably couldn’t out-argue Di Ying.

“Very well, all the wages and rewards owed to you will be given. Follow Eunuch Su to collect them.”

When he finished, seeing Di Ying immediately bowing in gratitude, his phoenix eyes squinting with a smile, the emperor felt a twinge of annoyance.

He couldn’t help but add, “Don’t come to me again for trivial matters like this. Next time, I’ll mark you: you may not see me unless summoned.”

Just as Di Ying was bowing, he paused at those words.

Straightening up, he responded, “Your Majesty, I am your subject and also one of the people. Calling the affairs of the people trivial—that’s not quite right, is it? What counts as important in Your Majesty’s eyes? Is my case trivial? Are natural disasters and enemy armies the only big matters? Then…”

“Get out... If you don’t go collect it now, I’ll revoke the order. If you need silver, go ask the Ministry of Revenue yourself.”

The old emperor was getting a headache and waved him away.

Di Ying fell silent.

If he argued further, he’d have to wrangle with the Ministry of Revenue.

He bowed again and hurried out.

Before leaving, he turned back and asked, “Please grant a little extra—I need to repay Peng Liang’s silver. Also, Zhang Jiafu’s case has been settled; Peng Liang deserves compensation. It must not be short.”

The old emperor replied, “One hundred taels of gold each—go weigh it yourself!”

Di Ying was satisfied, and Peng Liang was equally pleased, so they left.

The old emperor let out a long breath.

Among officials ranked fifth and above—some were slick, some upright, some cunning, some idle...

All sorts, really.

But someone like Di Ying…

Like Di Ying…

There wasn’t anyone else.

The key was...

He didn’t even dislike her.

How odd.

Unable to make sense of his strange emotions, the old emperor paced several circles in the hall.