The emperor's words made Su Zhi's heart pound with fear!
To supplement?
Who will make up for it?
Every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt its debtor. Shouldn't the person who embezzled the money be held accountable?
Could His Majesty be plotting against their concubine?!
"Thank you for your magnanimity, Your Majesty, for not holding my lady's oversight against you!" Suzhi said hurriedly before her lady could speak.
"Your Highness, this girl of yours is quite loyal to her master!" The Emperor glanced at Suzhi with a half-smile.
“Suzhi and I grew up together since we were little, so our bond is naturally extraordinary!” Ji Wushuang didn’t know what the emperor meant by suddenly saying this and felt a little confused, but she still replied.
"Alright, since the Consort has investigated the whole story thoroughly, consider it as making amends. I will not hold you accountable for your oversight. You may go back now!" The Emperor waved his hand, appearing very easygoing.
"Then, can we change the person in charge of the palace's food supply?" Ji Wushuang asked happily.
"Hasn't the imperial treasury always been managed by the three matrons of the Imperial Concubine? It seems the Imperial Concubine hasn't done anything, has she? The three matrons have done a good job. If the Imperial Concubine really feels guilty, why not wait until I've dealt with those corrupt officials and see how much silver is missing from the Imperial Treasury, then the Imperial Concubine can make up for it!" the Emperor said casually.
"Can--
"Your Majesty, this power to manage the palace's food supplies symbolizes His Majesty's trust and favor towards you. It is an unparalleled honor that others would covet but cannot attain! Your Majesty, you are completely unaware of your good fortune!" Suzhi said with tears in her eyes.
Although their mistress is not short of money, she would never be a sucker!
"Suzhi, what's wrong with you?" Ji Wushuang asked Suzhi in confusion.
Didn't Suzhi agree with her every time she complained about not wanting to take on this hot potato?
"Your Highness, the three matrons are still waiting for you at Weiyang Palace! Let's go back quickly!" Suzhi urged Ji Wushuang.
Although His Majesty's aura was terrifying, she had often faced the head of the Ji family when she was still in the family, and the head of the family's aura was no less than His Majesty's, so she was able to withstand it.
But their mistress is too naive; it would be best for her to leave this place of trouble as soon as possible!
What could those three old women possibly have to deal with?
Ji Wushuang was led out of Chengqian Palace by Suzhi through a combination of coaxing and pulling.
After Ji Wushuang left, the emperor's smile gradually disappeared, and he became expressionless.
"Zhang Shunde—"
"This old servant is here." Zhang Shunde entered cautiously.
With such a problem arising in the Inner Palace, he, as the Grand Eunuch, cannot escape responsibility. He has been living in fear since yesterday, terrified that His Majesty will hold him accountable.
The emperor tossed several confessions to Zhang Shunde, saying, "Investigate them one by one according to the list provided here, and make sure they recover all the money they have embezzled from the private treasury over the years!"
"As for Consort Chen—go tell that old bastard, the Minister of Personnel, that he should make up for the benefits Consort Chen embezzled. Moreover, if he doesn't want me to punish Consort Chen, he should retire!"
Of course he could punish Consort Chen, but even if he banished her to the Cold Palace, what good would it do? It would only alienate him from his father-son relationship with Jingming, and bring no benefit whatsoever!
It would be better to let the Minister of Personnel bear the consequences!
He simply refused to believe that Consort Chen hadn't used the money she had received as bribes and embezzled from her private treasury over the years to support her good father!
This day happened to be the day when Ye Jingchen brought the princes and princesses to Chengqian Palace to pay their respects.
"Why did you suddenly decide to take them outside the palace to survey the prices of goods in the capital?" the emperor asked casually during dinner.
The reason why the procurement department's false price reporting was exposed was because a few days ago Ye Jingchen took these kids outside the palace to find out the prices of goods in the capital.
This made the emperor suspect that Ye Jingchen might have known all along that the purchasing department was falsifying prices and embezzling money!
Ye Jingchen remained calm in the face of the emperor's suspicions.
"Father, there are two advantages." Ye Jingchen made a peace sign at the emperor.
"Firstly, prices reflect people's livelihoods. Understanding prices means understanding people's livelihoods. Although officials from six ministries come to give us lectures every month, we can only truly understand how ordinary people live by actually interacting with them."
"Secondly, understanding these prices will greatly help us learn numerology. And once we master numerology, we can help Father Emperor safeguard the national treasury!"
Ye Jingchen's reasons were convincing and pleased the emperor, who naturally dispelled his doubts.
Because of this incident, the Palace Attendants' Office and the Purchasing Department underwent a complete overhaul, with many people being beaten to death in a single day. Most of the merchants outside the palace who colluded with them were also arrested and imprisoned.
The emperor went on a rampage, even sending people to ransack Yichun Palace, but the collected silver could only make up for 30% of his losses over the years.
Killing and arresting people are just examples to scare others and to vent his anger; what he cares about most is his private treasury.
The loss of 70% is equivalent to a heart-wrenching pain!
The only good news was that the old man, the Minister of Personnel, had finally decided to retire, leaving the position vacant.
The emperor was pleased, and Ye Jingchen was also very pleased.
The Ministry of Personnel was in charge of all official promotions and was the head of the Six Ministries. The position of Minister of Personnel was far more prestigious than that of Prefect of the Capital.
Just in time, the candidate for the position of Prefect of the Capital Region should be decided, and a new round of competition can begin for the position of Minister of Personnel.
However, the position of Minister of Personnel is too important to be used as a fishing rod like the position of Prefect of the Capital. The candidate needs to be carefully considered.
Meanwhile, in Weiyang Palace, Ji Wushuang was not happy.
"Chen Wanrou's actions are undoubtedly robbing His Majesty of his money. Why can His Majesty tolerate her and only confine her to Yichun Palace, never to leave again? He didn't even demote her!"
“Your Majesty, the Second Prince is already eleven years old and can remember things. If His Majesty wants to punish Consort Chen, he must consider the Second Prince’s reputation,” Su Zhi explained softly.
There was also a look of sorrow on her face.
In the past, His Majesty would only come to Weiyang Palace three to five times a month, and he would not necessarily stay overnight. But recently, however, he comes every few days, and even plays Cuju (ancient Chinese football) with the Empress and the Third Prince. This deliberate attempt to get close to him must be for a great purpose.
“You’re right. Perhaps the princes are indeed getting older and are different from before. His Majesty has also been quite attentive to Yu’er lately.” Ji Wushuang smiled as she spoke, pleased with herself for her words.
Su Zhi couldn't help but roll her eyes when Ji Wushuang couldn't see her.
Their mistress has remained as innocent as ever for decades!
Their emperor is extremely selfish and self-serving. This sudden and deliberate attempt to get close to them is probably because he has his eye on their magnificent Weiyang Palace and wants to extract money from their concubines to make up for the deficit in his private treasury.
During the day she could stay by the Empress's side and remind her constantly, but at night when she went to bed, she couldn't possibly stand by the bedside and keep watch, could she?
Those ladies are completely cunning; sooner or later, His Majesty will take advantage of them, and there's no way to stop him!
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