Yan Li and Yan Lin had a discussion in the carriage and proceeded towards the Ministry of the Revenue together.
Only when they got there did they find out that the Emperor had already handed over the Ministry of Housing to the Crown Prince to manage.
This news nearly blew their minds, they saw pure shock and confusion in each other’s eyes. What had happened in these two days they were unaware of? How did the Emperor’s attitude towards the Crown Prince change so abruptly? He even entrusted such an important department as the Ministry of Revenue to the Crown Prince?
You see, the Crown Prince has always been down upon; though he is the heir to the throne, he was only in charge of the Ministry of Rites.
The two brothers seized Minister of Revenue Feng Chang and questioned him.
With a bitter expression, Feng Chang bowed, "Your Highnesses, this old minister is in the dark too. I was nearly dismissed by the Emperor. The fact that I could retain my official hat is already quite a feat. I beg the two of you, since the Emperor has sent you here, you must think of a solution quickly!"
Yan Li and Yan Lin glared at him with furious faces, "You can’t possibly be ignorant?"
Feng Chang could only reveal a little detail, "After the Duke of Defence had a disagreement with the Emperor, the Emperor reflected on it for quite some time."
The brothers immediately believed this, they had heard that the Duke of Defence left the Imperial Palace angrily, the imperial palace guards noticed his faces turning dark with fury, which was unlike his usual demeanor. If the Emperor wanted to mobilize troops, he couldn’t bypass the House of the Duke of Defence, after all, the Duke controls three hundred thousand troops of Daliang. But once the regiment is mobilized, the national treasury needs to be adequately prepared. Now the treasury is out of silver, so the Duke of Defense was understandably enraged."
With this thought, it seemed understandable that the Duke of Defence, out of anger, directed his fury towards the Emperor, who in turn took it out on them. After all, over the past three years, all the silver has been flowing into their father-in-law’s pocket, and of course, everyone knows that some of the silver has also indirectly ended up in the pockets of the two brothers from their father-in-law.
After all, cultivating secret guards, courting court officials, and fostering power, these all require money. The support of the Emperor alone is not enough, they need a large amount of their own spending as well.
The brothers didn’t pester Feng Chang anymore, instead they asked about the Crown Prince, "What about the Crown Prince? What did he say?"
"The Crown Prince said he’s merely assisting. The real work relies on this old minister and the two of you." Feng Chang quickly replied: "After all, over the past three years, the Emperor’s favor towards the two of you, the Marquis Nanping Residence, and the Pingxi General Residence is visible to all."
Although Yan Li and Yan Lin had grim expressions, they didn’t say anything more.
The constant pleas for silver from the national treasury have been incessant, and now that the treasury is short of silver, they couldn’t claim ignorance. Apart from the Emperor being aware, the court officials are watching them too.
Although the two brothers were holding in some resentment, they had nothing to say. All they had in mind was that the silver naturally couldn’t be spat out, but they have to think of a way to deal with this current situation.
Although Yan Huisheng had received the imperial decree to co-manage the Ministry of Revenue, he did not go there, instead he handed all authority over to Feng Chang. He wanted to see what the Emperor’s next move would be? How would Crown Prince Yan Li, second Prince Yan Lin act? What would Marquis Nanping and General Pingxi do?
After Rui’an King had another thorough investigation of the Buddha Temple, he was attacked by a large number of assassins on his way home.
Rui’an King was prepared and did not let the assassins succeed, but he was severely injured in the process.
Upon his return to the Capital city, he had the imperial doctor attend to his wounds, and then he headed directly for the palace, escorted by his bodyguards.
The Emperor was concerned about the lack of silver in the Ministry of Housing. After entrusting the Ministry of Revenue to the Crown Prince, he did not see the Crown Prince take any action, which dissatisfied him. Without reprimanding the Crown Prince yet, he waited another two days, and noticed that the Crown Prince Yan Li and second Prince Yan Lin were not sharing the concerns for the national treasury, which infuriated the Emperor.
However, before the Emperor could vent out his anger, he saw King Rui’an, afflicted with wounds, enter the palace.
King Rui’an’s face was pale and somewhat haggard; after seeing the Emperor, without speaking a word, he took a scroll from his sleeve, "Your Majesty, please see."
The Emperor took the scroll and as he continued reading, his expression grew increasingly displeased until it turned completely dark, "Such audacity of the Crown Prince’s Concubine, she dares!"
The scroll detailed that since Concubine Ning Yao married into the Capital City, she bribed several monks of the Buddha Temple and exploited the sacred Buddhist grounds to commit numerous atrocities. The most grievous of all was her framing of an official by falsely claiming that he had violated his daughter and gaining leverage on him, manipulating him to work for her. The official’s daughter was later coerced into committing suicide.
She did not stop there. She even colluded with her brother, intending to harm Su Rong. When they failed to do so, they sent an assassin to kill Su Rong.
The Emperor was greatly astonished and angered, as he looked at Rui’an King and asked, "Are all the major crimes in the Capital City her doing? What a audacious woman!"
Rui’an King was silent.
The Emperor gripped the official paper, "Did she really do it?"
Rui’an King remained silent.
"Has Yan Li’s handiwork been found here?" The Emperor asked again.
"It hasn’t been identified yet," Rui’an King shook his head.
The Emperor’s expression slackened slightly, but he was still furious. "A woman, yet she could wield such power? Her heart is truly ruthless!"
Rui’an King paused for a moment, sighing, "Your Majesty, are you bewildered by anger? The Crown Prince’s wife has only married into the Capital City for two years. No matter how formidable she is, could she infiltrate the Imperial Guard? There must be someone else behind her."
The Emperor was, of course, not confused. He gritted his teeth, his pupils darkening, "Have you found out who it is?"
Rui’an King shook his head, "I dare not continue the investigation. Your Majesty, are you sure you want me to continue? It’s not just about the Crown Prince’s wife, as you’ve seen. It’s not only about a few monks from the Buddha Temple, but also a long list of names from inside and outside the Imperial Court. If we continue to investigate, I fear..."
The shaking and probing of the court proceedings!
The Emperor didn’t hesitate, "Investigate! Just as I said before, investigate thoroughly!"
In the past, the Emperor would have stopped Rui’an King from continuing the investigation. He would have taken over and disposed of the matter slowly. However, now, if Su Rong’s lineage were to come to light, and Dawei were to invade, if the court and the country were not united, they might repeat past mistakes.
Especially, the audacity of the person involved who even dared to infiltrate the Imperial Guard while he was guarding against the Eastern Palace and the Duke Residence. This could not be tolerated.
Having received the Emperor’s permission, Rui’an King silently heaved a sigh of relief. He also hoped the Emperor would investigate. He bowed and said, "Your servant obeys."
He looked at the Emperor and suggested, "I suggest you interrogate the Crown Prince’s wife in secret, but she must not be placed in the sky prison. Whether it’s the Ministry of Justice, the Dali Temple, or the Zongren House, I don’t feel they are safe. The other suspects involved in the case should be arrested and brought to trial."
The Emperor was both angry and exasperated, yet helpless. The existence of three offices was like a mockery of him as the ruler of a country. He waved his hand, "Have her secretly interrogated in your Rui’an King Residence!"
Rui’an King bowed, "Yes!"
It was crucial to ensure the complete safety of important individuals.
Upon leaving the Imperial Palace, Rui’an King carried the Emperor’s decree and also took the Yulin Guards, heading straight for the Crown Prince’s Residence.
At the same time, the housekeeper of the Crown Prince’s Residence hurried to the Ministry of Housing to find the Crown Prince, saying that the Crown Prince’s wife had urgently requested him to return home immediately.
Upon hearing this, Yan Li frowned, "What’s the rush?"
"Your Highness, it’s an absolute emergency," the housekeeper urgently urged in a low voice, "You must return quickly! The consort said that after Rui’an King returned from the Buddha Temple, he went straight to the palace."
Yan Li’s face changed. He immediately left his work and hurried back to the Crown Prince’s Residence.
In the Crown Prince’s Residence, Consort Ning Yao, the wife of the Crown Prince, listened pale-faced to the news that Rui’an King had returned to the capital safely. Moreover, the secret agents embedded in the Buddha Temple had all been arrested by him. Rui’an King had used extreme punishment and the monks had confessed. She was afraid she had been implicated.
Ning Yao felt it was over for her!
It wasn’t only her that was finished. It was also her brother, her family at the Marquis Nanping Residence. When she sent a message to summon Crown Prince Yan Li, she immediately sent someone to notify Ning Ze. He needed to leave the capital immediately. Now. Without delay. Otherwise, it would be too late.
As for herself, she touched her lower abdomen. She was carrying the imperial grandchild.
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