Prince Yong remained completely unaffected by others, continuing to do as he pleased and saying whatever came to mind.
"Actually, I didn't have to be so poor. It's all the fault of those corrupt officials. Your Majesty, you must help me and do justice for me. Your Majesty, my father is gone, and my mother is just a woman. You are all I have left."
The ministers: ...
Emperor Mingde wanted to laugh, but he held it in; there was something even more important he hadn't said yet.
"Oh? What makes you say that?"
"Your Majesty's grace is boundless. Your Majesty's kindness to your younger brother is known to all. Not to mention the daily rewards that flow like water, your younger brother's fiefdom is much larger than that of your younger brother and uncles. Your younger brother is deeply grateful and will never forget your kindness. However, the corrupt officials in your fiefdom take advantage of the fact that there are only my younger brother and I left in my household. They have been withholding the gold and silver that should be sent to our household every year, to the point that we can hardly afford to eat. Today, I beg Your Majesty to do justice for me. I don't even want my fiefdom anymore. I only beg Your Majesty to allow me to do some small business to make a living. I can earn more by working hard and not have to put up with those corrupt officials."
After he finished speaking, he seemed extremely angry. From Emperor Mingde's perspective, his nineteenth brother was still a child. When he was bullied, he would only sulk and would not fight back. Look, today he even gave up his fiefdom in a fit of pique.
The ministers felt the same way. Who was so blind to greed? They were greedy, but didn't they know the limits? Look how angry they made the most favored prince of the dynasty, to the point that he didn't even want his fiefdom anymore.
However, those few ministers who remained clear-headed changed their expressions drastically. How could this be! How could the absurd Prince Yong possess such audacity!
Ten prefectures! Ten prefectures!
They couldn't help but wonder, do you know what returning the ten prefectures means? Yes, Prince Yong never interfered in court affairs, but his unprecedented attendance at court shook the entire court.
Returning the fiefdom! Do you know what that means, Your Highness? It could mean endless war, rivers of blood, or a change of dynasty.
Although it was bound to happen sooner or later, it was said by a lazy prince who only knew how to live absurdly.
This made those high-ranking officials, who considered themselves able to influence the fate of the world, feel utterly ashamed!
Everyone was stunned. Among them, the Hui King's expression was the best. Just now, he had been advising Emperor Mingde with the appearance of being loyal to the emperor and the country, saying that "the way to summon the people depends on what the emperor likes and dislikes."
Now, the Prince Yong, whom he said should not be favored by the emperor, actually doesn't want his fiefdom anymore. Yes, he doesn't want it anymore. There are corrupt officials in his fiefdom, so he doesn't want it.
The key point is not the corrupt officials, but the fact that they no longer want the fiefdoms.
The entire court of officials even forgot to ask, "Your Highness, do you have any evidence?" Without evidence, it's a false accusation. Falsely accusing an official of the court, even if you are a prince, you will be punished the same as a commoner!
But no one even thought to ask about it; they were all stunned by the words "the fiefdom is abandoned!"
Prince Hui roughly calculated that he had five fiefdoms. Although they were not as prosperous and fertile as Prince Yong's, they still contributed a million taels of silver to his household every year. Prince Yong, on the other hand, possessed ten of the most prosperous fiefdoms, yet he wanted to return them on the grounds of poverty.
It wasn't that he hadn't brought his head to court, but no matter how you looked at it, poverty was not a reason to return his fiefdom!
Could it be that Prince Yong was using this to satirize Emperor Mingde? Granting him a fiefdom, yet inciting the officials there to embezzle annual taxes? The more he thought about it, the more likely this seemed, so he began to await Emperor Mingde's thunderous wrath.
Before anyone could react, Emperor Mingde, who was already prepared, reacted the fastest. He suddenly stood up from his dragon throne, his thunderous rage descending as expected, and shouted sternly, "Insolence! Where is the Imperial Guard?"
“Your subject is here.” Wei Tingsi immediately stepped forward.
"I hereby appoint you as Imperial Envoy. Go immediately to Prince Yong's fiefdom and investigate! Find those corrupt officials and execute them all. I grant you the authority to execute first and report later!"
The contrast is too great. Instead of confronting Prince Yong, they believed him—believed Prince Yong's absurd reasons? This is unacceptable! This fact is unacceptable!
Emperor Mingde reacted too quickly; no one could keep up. Instantly, the entire court fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
When an emperor is angry, blood flows like a river. Although this emperor is often controlled by his ministers, punishing corrupt officials is perfectly justified. If anyone dares to utter a word of dissent, well, what are you trying to do? Could it be that a family that has produced several prime ministers and imperial tutors is now a family that protects corrupt officials?
For aristocratic families, heads may be severed and blood may flow, but face must not be lost. For a time, even when they realized what was happening, no one stood up to advise Emperor Mingde.
Yang Zhong finally realized what was happening and hurriedly stepped forward, thinking quickly, "Your Majesty, I request permission to share your burdens!" He couldn't stop him now, but there would be plenty of time in the future!
As soon as he spoke, everyone's minds started to stir. What about the ten prefectures? Could they really send Wei Ting Si to all of them? Many of the local officials in their fiefdoms were their relatives.
The crowd stepped forward, shouting, "Your Majesty, we request permission to share your burdens!"
Qiu Tangshi's lips curled into a sarcastic smile. He slowly stepped forward, his voice lagging behind the other ministers, and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to say."
"Granted." Emperor Mingde's face was ashen, but he remained rational. His ashen face was just an act; today he was determined to silence everyone quickly and decisively!
Everything was going according to plan, and he remained calm.
Qiu Chengshi was thirty-eight or thirty-nine years old. He was of average appearance, but his temperament was outstanding. He was a second-rank official, which was quite remarkable for his age.
"Your Majesty, to avoid suspicion, none of the officials are suitable to go to the princes' fiefdoms. I believe that Lord Wei is the most suitable. However, Lord Wei is only one person after all. As the saying goes, two fists can't fight four hands. I'm afraid that before Lord Wei can investigate them all, the local people will have already covered their tracks. May I ask Lord Wei, do you have any good ideas?"
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