Chapter 197 Slapping My Face

It seemed the Emperor initially intended to stay in the city for two days. Therefore, Consort Jing and her entourage, along with their children, were settling in at the post station. After all, aside from strolling in the garden, they didn't get much exercise, and the long journey was bound to be tiring.

It was quite a coincidence. Just as they finished tidying up and hadn't even had a chance to rest, Hong Xihai rushed to the inn, leaving behind only one sentence.

"Please, ladies and concubines, pack your things quickly. His Majesty's instructions are that we will begin our journey back to the palace in another hour."

Nian Shilan couldn't hold back any longer, or perhaps she didn't intend to hold back at all, and rolled her eyes at him with a blatant glare.

Consort Jing, busy with the daily needs of several children, was covered in sweat. Just as she had settled down and had a moment to sit down and have a drink of water, she heard Hong Xihai's words and it seemed as if the sky was falling. In a trembling voice, she asked Hong Xihai, "What's going on? Didn't His Majesty say he would stay for two days? Why is he in such a hurry to leave?"

Hong Xihai looked around with difficulty, took two steps forward, bowed to Consort Jing, and said in a low voice, "This servant doesn't know much more, only that His Majesty got angry, and I'm afraid someone will suffer when we get back."

Upon hearing this, Consort Jing didn't ask any more questions. She simply nodded wearily and turned around to begin a new round of busy work. Hong Xihai was just relieved and turned to leave when he suddenly heard a sharp voice coming from the side.

"A bitch is just being pretentious."

Hong Xihai turned his back to the hall and quickly closed his eyes tightly. In fact, if he had that ability, he would have preferred to close his ears as well. He walked out as fast as he could, as if someone was chasing him from behind.

There are some things he really shouldn't hear.

This incognito visit, which came and went in a hurry, finally came to an abrupt end. Yinzhen never expected that this trip, which was decided on a whim, would leave him with such a heavy and angry mood as he embarked on his return journey.

Since the Emperor has said we are traveling, the journey must be fast enough that the Emperor doesn't feel any bumps along the way. Finding the right balance is not easy. If something goes wrong, especially if the Emperor is in a bad mood, then even a miracle won't save us.

Amidst this tense atmosphere, the imperial procession returned to the capital.

Hongzhao, who had just sat on his couch and had not yet fully recovered from the long journey, looked at Su Peisheng, who had come to invite him to the front hall as soon as he returned to the palace, and gave a helpless bitter smile.

Su Peisheng had been following along every day, so he naturally knew that the journey back was far from easy. The Emperor was furious, and in the past few days, the Crown Prince had been trying every possible way to comfort him, talking until his lips were sore and he hadn't had a proper rest. The environment and atmosphere on the road also made it impossible for anyone to get a good rest.

“Your Highness, you should go first. The Thirteenth Prince and the Fourteenth Prince have been waiting outside for a long time. His Majesty sent me to invite you to join us for a discussion. He looks very serious.” Su Peisheng wiped the sweat from his forehead and stepped forward to help the Crown Prince up. “I’ve had water prepared. Once the discussion is over, I’ll have Xiao Dezi serve you so you can wash up and relax.”

Hongzhao naturally knew the importance of things, but he thought that at least he could rest for a while after returning. His father, being a workaholic, really couldn't keep up without good health.

“Your Majesty, I have fulfilled my mission and defeated the Dzungars. Yue Zhongqi was stationed here to guard the area, and today I am returning the military command.”

Prince Xun handed the box to the eunuch with both hands. He thought his elder brother would do a superficial job of giving him a reprimand and then a compliment, a slap followed by a sweet treat. Now that he was old enough, he had long lost his former arrogance. As long as it didn't offend him, he would listen to a few words. After all, he was the emperor's brother.

But to everyone's surprise, Yinzhen didn't even glance at him, but just nodded seriously and said, "Okay, thank you for your hard work."

Hmm? Yun Ti tilted his head in confusion.

He had heard his thirteenth brother mention before he came that the Emperor had discovered embezzlement by the Imperial Household Department during his incognito visit. But seeing his elder brother looking so worried and neglecting even himself, was it really that serious?

As Hongzhao entered from outside, he happened to run into Xiazi, who was walking hurriedly. Xiazi was carrying two stacks of papers and bowed to him. It seemed that this was what his father had asked him to investigate.

Xia Zi was absolutely qualified to understand prices, and his progress was extremely rapid; he even returned to the capital a step faster than the Emperor.

"Hongzhao, read this passage aloud to me and your two uncles." Yinzhen's voice was deep, and his eyes were filled with hidden emotions.

Hongzhao took the few pages from Xiazi's hand, stood up straight in the hall, and read them aloud in a clear voice.

"Outside the palace, the average price of rice is 7 wen per jin, while the Imperial Household Department quotes it at 8 taels of silver per jin. Outside the palace, the average price of cabbage is 2 wen per jin, while the Imperial Household Department quotes it at 2 taels and 3 mace per jin. Outside the palace, the average price of a duck is 2 mace, while the Imperial Household Department quotes it at 18 taels of silver per duck."

..."

The list on the paper was very clear, including food, writing brushes, ink, cotton cloth, and furniture—all the most commonly used items in daily life. Just listing these items was enough to make anyone's jaw drop, not to mention the exorbitant profits from expensive consumables, which were an unknown sum.

Although Yinzhen had mentally prepared himself under Hongzhao's daily brainwashing, he clearly hadn't done enough. The more Hongzhao read, the tighter Yinzhen clenched his teeth, and the throbbing of his forehead made his face look as black as the bottom of a pot.

Thirteen and Fourteen exchanged a glance, both realizing the seriousness of the matter.

As he listened further, the Fourteenth Prince's casual demeanor faded. He had initially thought it was just ordinary embezzlement and had even been somewhat amused by it. However, given the extent to which the Imperial Household Department had gone, they knew that either they wouldn't investigate at all, or if they did, it would inevitably have far-reaching consequences. Judging from the oppressive atmosphere surrounding his elder brother, he knew that this matter was bound to end badly.

"New house, small trees, unantique painting; this man must be from the Imperial Household Department." Yinzhen wanted to grab a memorial from the table and throw it down to vent his anger, but his thirteenth brother stood to his left and his eldest son to his right. Helpless, he could only clench his fists tightly—"Even children can sing such folk songs; how laughable that I, in my self-satisfaction, claim to have a clean and honest government under my rule."

"They are slapping me in the face!"