Mr. Brooks frowned and said, “Since the silver is fake, then where has the real silver gone?”

The Grace also showed a grave expression upon hearing this: “The tax silver was sent out of the treasury and transported to the capital, passing through many hands. If we are to hold people accountable, a large number of officials would have to be imprisoned. Recovering the silver would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Moreover, this matter is already beyond our authority and must be reported to His Majesty.”

Mr. Brooks nodded; that was exactly what he meant.

The middle-aged man had a different opinion, his voice low: “The tax silver was escorted all the way to the capital, passing through many hands. If it were fake, it should have been discovered long ago. The only possibility is that it was swapped recently.”

Mr. Brooks’s eyes lit up; this greatly narrowed the scope of the investigation.

“Someone, prepare the sedan chair, quickly, prepare the sedan chair, I need to go out.” Mr. Brooks hurriedly rushed out of the inner hall.

The middle-aged man followed closely behind.

Andrew Bennett quickly called out:

“Lord Prefect, please don’t forget your promise to this humble citizen.”

Chapter Six: The Bewildered Second Uncle

“Hey!” The Grace named Emily blinked her beautiful eyes, “Why can salt be turned into silver?”

After speaking, she hesitated for a moment, then pulled out a piece of sugarcane and handed it to Andrew Bennett: “Here, this is for you.”

Is she trying to bribe me...

The two officials had already disappeared. Andrew Bennett withdrew his gaze, thought for a moment, and replied, “I once saw an alchemy manual in an ancient book that described turning salt into silver.”

The Grace widened her eyes: “Which ancient book? Where is it? Who is the author?”

Its name is “High School Chemistry,” as for the author... hmm, People’s Education Press? Andrew Bennett said, “The ancient book has long since been destroyed, but I still remember its contents.”

The Grace’s breathing quickened: “Quick, tell me.”

Andrew Bennett sighed, “This humble citizen is in grave danger and really isn’t in the mood to be a teacher.”

The Grace rolled her eyes at him and said irritably:

“You’re quite the slippery one. Our Directorate of Celestials doesn’t interfere in state affairs. How to deal with you is up to His Majesty. Haggling with me is meaningless.”

“You could just take me in. With the Director’s status at court, it shouldn’t be a problem to ask for a convict like me.” Andrew Bennett said.

He needed to give himself an extra layer of protection, just in case the tax silver couldn’t be recovered.

The Grace’s bright eyes flickered as she looked him up and down: “You’re clearly a martial artist, so why do you want to be a sorcerer?”

Cultivation should start early; most cultivators lay their foundations from childhood. Now switching from martial artist to sorcerer is already too late.

“It’s not about clinging to power, I mainly admire the Director’s demeanor.” Andrew Bennett said sincerely, his expression earnest.

“Then tell me the contents of the alchemy manual first.” she considered. The girl’s eyes were clear and bright, large almond-shaped eyes, jet-black pupils, black and white distinct.

Andrew Bennett had only seen such clean and beautiful eyes in children in his previous life.

“The content is rather abstruse and profound. If I just recite it, I’m afraid you won’t understand. It requires step-by-step teaching to truly take root.” Andrew Bennett was fishing.

Emily Cooper rolled her eyes, unconvinced: “Looking across the whole land, when it comes to alchemy, our Directorate of Celestials’ sorcerers are second to none.”

“Hydrogen, helium, lithium, beryllium, boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, neon, sodium, magnesium, aluminum, silicon, phosphorus...” Andrew Bennett recited fluently.

“???”

What is he talking about? The girl was confused for a long time, her willow brows arching: “You’re messing with me. Our Directorate only accepts child disciples.”

She snatched the sugarcane from Andrew Bennett’s hand.

She walked away lightly, her skirt fluttering.

I’m a child too... Andrew Bennett opened his mouth, then realized that the Directorate only recruited disciples from a very young age.

Well, this path is closed.

......

In a flash, two days passed. Andrew Bennett spent two days in the cell, anxious and fearful.

He was afraid the tax silver wouldn’t be recovered in time. If it was after he was exiled, even if it was recovered, it wouldn’t change his fate.

And what if Mr. Brooks was a black-hearted scoundrel who took all the credit for himself? It would still be a dead end.

But there was nothing he could do; this was as far as he could go. As a prisoner, what else could he do?

Once again, Andrew Bennett felt the terror of feudal society.

“Let fate decide...” Andrew Bennett sighed.

‘Clang!’

The iron door at the end of the corridor opened. A jailer came in holding a torch, took out a key, and opened the door: “Andrew Bennett, you can go!”

Andrew Bennett was overjoyed, clenching his fists tightly: “The tax silver has been recovered?”

“Come sign and put your fingerprint, then you can leave.” The jailer looked him over: “You’re really lucky, kid.”

“What about my second uncle?” Andrew Bennett asked urgently.

“Stop talking nonsense, just follow me.” The jailer was irritable, tapping Andrew Bennett’s rear with the torch, hurrying him out of the cell.

Under the arrangement of a yamen clerk, he signed and put his fingerprint, then got back the clothes he’d been stripped of when thrown into prison.

A yamen runner led him out of the Jingzhao Prefecture office, exiting through the back door.

At this time, the eastern sky was just lightening, and the streets were cold and empty.

......

Clang!

Samuel Clark was startled awake by the sound of the iron door opening. He opened his eyes, bloodshot.

The disheveled Peter Bennett, whose features somewhat resembled Andrew Bennett, while his own son William Bennett was overly handsome and looked quite different from the two of them.