Meanwhile, the Emperor also ordered someone to count the items in his private collection and the long-sealed private collection of Zhenmin, which only ever received items and never gave them out.
He didn’t concern himself with his own collection, only asking others to count the items. He, himself, personally went to Zhenmin’s private collection.
Yu An was by the Emperor’s side, holding account books in his hand, "Your Majesty, since Princess Zhenmin left Capital City of Daliang seventeen years ago, her property has gained at least a hundred thousand taels every year. According to my calculations, there are a total of two million two hundred thousand taels of gold and silver these seventeen years. As for other valuable items besides gold and silver, quite a few are added each year. They are all in this account book. I have also kept a detailed record of what is added each year."
The Emperor turned his head and looked at him, "You haven’t been embezzling, have you? I haven’t audited you these years."
Yu An hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, even if I were to embezzle from anyone, I wouldn’t dare to from Princess Zhenmin. Have you forgotten? My life was saved by the Princess, and I was essentially given to you by her."
The Emperor nodded, "Hmm, that’s why I’ve let you off the hook for so many mistakes you’ve made. That’s why I’ve let you serve me."
Yu An quickly added, "I’m not so ungrateful to have no conscience. I am a man with no roots. What’s the use of amassing money? I do have a bad habit of indulging in luxuries, but I dare not do that anymore."
Ever since the incident with that palace maid, his courage was truly broken. If it weren’t for Su Rong, if it weren’t for Your Majesty’s mercy, he would’ve been done for.
He sincerely added, "I did not embezzle so much as a single penny from Princess Zhenmin."
Even though she passed away so many years ago, even when he didn’t yet know she was alive and had descendants, he didn’t embezzle a thing. Not just that, he wouldn’t let anyone con him just because the person was no longer there. He would audit every account that came from the properties.
In his heart, the princess had always been alive, just like how the Emperor kept her private collection, probably thinking that she was alive within his heart.
Zhenmin’s private collection was huge. Originally, she never left the palace to establish her own residence because the Empress Dowager didn’t want to let her go. The Empress wanted to keep her around for a couple more years. But then, the invasion by Dawei happened. She sought help from Chu Rong, went to Nanchu, and then got married into Dawei.
Therefore, her private collection had always been within the Imperial Palace. These years, the Emperor ordered it to be properly managed by someone, and every year, the contents were checked and questioned. Yu An personally supervised this.
When the warehouse was opened, it was filled to the brim with a dazzling array of items, enough to fill the huge warehouse.
Even when the national treasury was out of money, the Emperor didn’t deign to use the assets in this warehouse, whether it was the silver or anything else.
The Emperor stood at the entrance, dazedly looking inside. He seemed to see the young Zhenmin from all those years ago, coaxing him into her private collection and telling him, "Brother, don’t be upset. If you don’t like the items that the uncles gifted you, feel free to pick something you like from my private collection. Whatever you choose, I’ll give it to you."
Later, he didn’t choose much. He only chose a tea set with a Buddha bell flower design that she loved the most. She was heartbroken but still reluctantly gave it up.
For many years afterward, he used that tea set to make tea for her.
In comparison to his blood sister, Qingping, he felt that he was closer to his cousin as if they shared the same mother.
Over the years, he indulged Qingping quite a lot, not only because they shared the same bloodline, but also because he still remembered what his cousin said when she left Daliang.
Back then, with a somber face, she straightened his collar, her eyes reddened, and said, "In this generation, I am the only princess from the Imperial Family who is shouldering this heavy responsibility. I hope there won’t be more after me. Even if it’s for power, I hope you won’t sacrifice them in the future. Especially Qingping, she is selfish by nature. It isn’t so much that the Empress Dowager spoiled her as I did. She’s the only sister I have, and you have only one sister too. I plant trees so she can enjoy the shade, what’s wrong with that? If I can’t be willful, let her be willful. What harm would that do? Please be more tolerant of her in the future."
Seventeen years have passed.
So when Qingping fell in love with a son-in-law and wanted to marry him by force, he let her.
So when Qingping came crying to him with grievances every time, he let her.
So when the court officials impeached Princess Qingping for her unbridled behavior and her arrogant nature, he let her.
So when Qingping’s daughter, Duanhua, was causing headaches for people, he also let her.
...
If it were the dying wishes of his cousin or if it were what she wanted in her heart, he who owed her so much naturally had to fulfill them.
Qingping hasn’t squandered away all her painstaking efforts either. Look, she has come to ask about the property left behind by the princess for her daughter, Su Rong.
The Emperor stood at the door for a long while.
Yu An cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, there are too many items. Would you like to go in and take a look?"
"No need to go in. You summon the Crown Prince over. Let him arrange for people to count, pack, and have someone sent to Nanchu with them." The Emperor rubbed his brows, "In any case, this place is in his hands now. Since these belonged to Princess Zhenmin, tell him that I said that everything should be sent to Su Rong."
Yu An responded in affirmation.
The Emperor turned around and left.
Yu An watched him go. The footsteps of His Majesty seemed somewhat staggering, and his leaving figure seemed exceptionally solitary and desolate.
He ordered someone, "Go, summon the Crown Prince."
Yan Huisheng was in the Council Hall. The court officials who had given him a headache arguing yesterday were much quieter today. They all tried to gauge something from his face, tentatively trying to make sense of what happened yesterday when he left them to return to the Eastern Palace to meet Duanhua Princess.
Is this something the Crown Prince could do? Certainly not, but it happened just the day before yesterday.
Everyone was guessing in their hearts. It seemed that they couldn’t treat Duanhua Princess the same way they used to. Everyone should change their perception and recognize that the princess is not the princess they used to know. She’s now the Crown Princess who can influence the decisions of the Crown Prince.
The person Yu An sent came to relay the message. A eunuch whispered something into Yan Huisheng’s ear, and Yan nodded in acknowledgment. He asked the court officials to continue refining the plan they were discussing, leaving them yet again.
After he left, someone whispered, "Could it be the princess calling for him again?"
"Shouldn’t be. The one who just arrived serves in the Emperor’s presence."
Hearing this, the court officials breathed a sigh of relief. If it were the Emperor’s presence, then it didn’t need saying. If the princess were to call him away again, they really would consider writing a remonstrance to impeach the princess. What kind of behaviour was this, causing the prince to step out all the time?
After leaving the Council Hall, Yan Huisheng asked the person who had come for him, "Has Father opened Aunt Zhenmin’s private collection?"
"Yes, His Majesty said that everything in the private collection was in fact stored on behalf of Princess Zhenmin. Now, everything is handed over to you. Arrange for someone to count everything, pack it, and send it to Nanchu for the princess." The eunuch respectfully answered.
Yan Huisheng nodded, not asking further.
Upon arriving at Zhenmin’s private collection, Yan Huisheng was stepping in for the first time. He was surprised at the sheer volume of items in the large collection. "This much?"
Yu An responded, "Yes, we might have to pack an entire fleet of carriages and even send troops to escort the convoy."
Yan Huisheng nodded, "I’ll have the housekeeper from the Eastern Palace come over and help you count everything and pack."
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