Early morning at Mok-ho's canal road. Mist, reed roofs, and a watch bell. Khanate riders approach before expected.

Inside the prefecture workroom, Wen and Saeryeon are still working through the unfinished index when the bell sounds.

The khanate audit party enters the prefecture courtyard with three officials and armed guards.

Wen and Saeryeon meet the auditors at the prefecture hall entrance. Borchu translates between the khanate auditors and Pyung officials.

The unfinished index is placed on the main audit table. Wen must admit that shipments are still in motion.

Sorgan starts with the upriver shipment records, the first formula blade the false poverty must survive.

Wen explains the route shift plainly: the audit sees upriver wealth, not downriver hunger on paper.

The upriver record check passes because the low numbers are backed by real movement.

Temur begins the grain quality test. The lie depends on the cargo being genuine.

Temur burns the grain dust. The test checks whether the cargo was substituted or diluted.

Temur finds no substitution. The second formula blade passes.

The room expects the audit to continue smoothly, but Borchu stops at the salt-grain ratio column.

Borchu asks why salt is cheaper than last spring. The question exposes the most fragile part of the index.

Borchu explains why the salt price matters: if the ratio is unnatural, the whole poverty pattern can be rejected.

Wen answers with the true fact inside the lie: two villages refused to ship with the coordinated route.

Wen explains the glut in concrete terms so the auditors can see how the price fell without a fake mine or route change.

The named refusal becomes visible in the room. Ma Duksu and Seo Biran react as their private choices are used as evidence.

Borchu tries to turn the explanation against Wen by asking why refusal does not prove hidden wealth instead.

Borchu writes down Wen's explanation, not as an acquittal but as a note he can use later. No later plot secrets are revealed.

The three auditors confer. Sorgan and Temur cannot disprove the records, while Borchu recommends a pending status.

Borchu translates the audit verdict: Mok-ho is not condemned today, but the case remains pending until the next full moon.

The verdict spreads outside. Villagers feel relief and dread at the same time.

The auditors prepare to leave the prefecture for now. Borchu leaves Wen with a mild warning about the full moon.

After the auditors leave, Wen and Saeryeon face the pending mark and the unfinished work ahead.