Pei Zhixuan then said slowly, "Your Majesty, I have only been there for a short day, but I have already witnessed the grandeur of this lotus banquet."
"Oh?" Xiao Huaijin asked, feigning interest. "Please describe it to me."
"Your Majesty, the banquet was filled with a dazzling array of delicacies. I am too ignorant to recognize several of the most exquisite dishes. Moreover, the young masters and ladies of noble families went boating on the lake and, after drinking too much, poured out barrels of wine. It was an act of extreme extravagance."
The more Lin Ziyu listened, the more uneasy he felt. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He explained in a panic, "This... Lord Pei's description is rather exaggerated. It was just children's jokes."
“Lord Lin, pouring wine into the lake is a joke, but scattering silver coins is a joke too?” Pei Zhixuan stared coldly at Lin Ziyu.
"Your Majesty, I only went to take a look for a while, and then went home because I felt uncomfortable. But many officials in the court must have gone to this banquet, right?" Pei Zhixuan replied without emotion, his lips straight. "I heard that this Lotus Banquet actually lasted for three whole days and invited many officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Revenue."
"Three days?"
The Prince of Runan, who was standing nearby, was furious. He took a step forward and knelt heavily before the Emperor. "Your Majesty, please be wise! I was on the frontier with many soldiers protecting our country, but I never imagined that the noble families in the capital would be so wasteful and extravagant. I feel this is unjust!"
The Prince of Runan's words caused an uproar throughout the court.
When the Minister of Revenue realized that this was a case of flattery aimed at his downfall, it was too late.
A hint of mockery flashed in Xiao Huaijin's eyes. He said casually and meaningfully, "It seems that Lord Lin is fortunate, but my soldiers are not."
The room fell silent instantly; everyone was stunned, wondering what the new emperor meant.
But Prince Rui knew in his heart that the emperor was about to sharpen his knives and lay his hands on pigs and sheep.
Although he had already handed over the tiger tally to Xiao Huaijin, he still cared about his army and soldiers. Since the emperor wanted to increase military rations and silver, and incidentally give those scoundrels a warning, why didn't he give it a push?
Prince Rui then stepped forward, cupped his hands, and replied, "Why does Your Majesty say such a thing?"
"As you all know, a few days ago the Prince of Runan and the Prince of Rui led their elite troops to meet the Emperor. Although the soldiers were all brave and young, their armor and weapons were already rusty, which pained me greatly."
Xiao Huaijin slowly rose and coldly rebuked, "Today I heard about the Lotus Flower Banquet hosted by the Minister of Revenue's granddaughter. The extravagance and licentiousness of it has truly chilled my heart. Lord Lin, I want to ask you, in raising your granddaughter this time, do you still have the slightest thought of cultivating virtue through frugality?"
Lin Ziyu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "Your Majesty, I know my crime. I will definitely give my granddaughter a good scolding when I get back."
"Is a reprimand enough?" Xiao Huaijin scoffed, his icy gaze fixed on Lin Ziyu. "Lord Lin, as the Minister of Revenue, do you know how many tens of thousands of taels of silver are in the national treasury right now? How much manpower and silver was wasted on the drought at the beginning of the year and the Northern Expedition in April?"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I am not entirely clear."
"Heh, you're just a figurehead as Minister of Revenue." Xiao Huaijin waved his sleeve and sat back down on the dragon throne.
Lin Ziyu was so frightened that his body went limp. He kowtowed fiercely and begged for mercy, "Your Majesty, please calm down, Your Majesty, please calm down."
He was not unaware of how much silver the national treasury held; it was just that the late emperor had squandered it excessively, leaving the treasury empty with only 30 million taels of silver remaining.
Knowing this, he still held a lavish banquet; wouldn't that make the emperor even angrier?
"What use are such frivolous and dissolute officials to Your Majesty?!" Upon hearing this, the Prince of Runan clenched his fists in anger. "Your Majesty must think of the soldiers on the border and must not let us loyal men feel disheartened!"
Upon hearing this, the court officials all knelt down.
After looking around, Xiao Huaijin walked down the jade steps one by one.
He slowly walked past Lin Ziyu, who was kneeling, his gaze sweeping over the group of kneeling civil and military officials, and said indifferently, "Behind the vermilion gates, meat and wine go to waste, while on the streets, the poor freeze to death. Is this the scene you, my esteemed ministers, wish to see?"
Everyone quickly shook their heads, shouting that they did not mean it, and that their lord should calm down.
Xiao Huaijin sneered, "Now that I have become the Emperor of Dayong, I naturally must also properly manage the extravagant atmosphere in the court." After speaking, he glanced indifferently at Lin Ziyu, "Minister of Revenue, do you know your crime?"
Lin Ziyu almost kowtowed until his head bled, repeatedly saying, "Your Majesty, please spare my life! I know I was wrong!"
"Your Majesty, I have a suggestion. Why not donate Lord Lin's family assets to the national treasury to support the soldiers on the border, and also to give Minister Lin a warning?"
Pei Zhixuan raised his voice and spoke loudly.
The other civil and military officials were taken aback at first, but after they realized what was going on, some of the clever ones quickly shouted, "Your Majesty, I am willing to offer a thousand taels of silver to replenish the national treasury."
"Your subject is willing to offer a hundred fine horses to support the soldiers on the border."
"Your subject is willing to offer a thousand acres of fertile land."
Everyone started talking at once, and in an attempt to protect themselves, they practically emptied their savings.
Xiao Huaijin smiled with satisfaction. He raised his hand and ordered Xiao Linzi to write down the list of supplies that the court officials wanted to donate.
He would then carefully screen donations, and he would not accept donations from those who were honest and upright.
As for those corrupt officials who like to exploit the people, he will show no mercy and will wait a few days before coming to demand their money back.
On the dragon throne, Xiao Huaijin sat upright like a pine tree, his face stern and his eyes piercing.
He slowly opened his lips, his voice deep and powerful, carrying an unquestionable authority, "Lin Ziyu, as an official of the imperial court, you do not think of serving the country, but instead do such a foolish thing. You are a great scourge to the country and a scourge to the people."
"I will spare your life because you are a veteran of three reigns, but you will not escape punishment. You have served as Minister of Revenue for long enough. Why don't you retire and go back to your hometown to farm?"
Xiao Huaijin's every word echoed like thunder in the hall. Lin Ziyu slumped to the floor, his face ashen, and could only murmur, "Thank you for your forgiveness, Your Majesty."
"As for the rest, if any of them have come to their senses and are ready to repent, they may come and speak to me." After scanning everyone with his gaze, Xiao Huaijin flicked his sleeves and turned to leave.
After he left, the Prince of Runan stood up, patted his knees, and exchanged a glance with the Prince of Rui. A knowing smile appeared on their weathered faces.
Today's performance was absolutely delightful!
Pei Zhixuan also silently got up. As he followed the officials and was about to leave the main hall, he was stopped by a little eunuch.
"Lord Pei, please wait."
"Hmm?" Pei Zhixuan turned his head and saw the little eunuch bow to him and say in a low voice, "His Majesty is waiting for you in Feihua Palace."
After pondering for a moment, Pei Zhixuan nodded slightly, "Your Majesty, I understand."
The young eunuch hurriedly smiled and said, "Please follow me, sir."
Pei Zhixuan followed the little eunuch to the Feihua Hall of the East Palace, which he had not set foot in for a long time.
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