Gu Zhixing squeezed in from outside, and Xinghui immediately bowed respectfully: "Your Highness."
Gu Zhixing casually waved his hand, signaling Xing Hui to step back.
His gaze immediately fell on Shen Jintang, his tone carrying a hint of reproach: "Didn't I tell you yesterday that we were going to the East Palace today? We're going the same way, so why did you leave so quietly?"
He raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone full of helplessness: "If I hadn't gotten up early today, I would have almost missed you."
The morning light streamed in through the gaps in the carriage, adding a soft glow to the interior.
Shen Jintang smiled slightly, her voice soft and sincere: "It's my bad memory; I actually forgot His Highness's instructions."
Her apology was sincere, leaving no room for criticism.
Hearing this, Gu Zhixing, already in the wrong, didn't say anything more.
He lowered his eyes slightly, concealing the slight embarrassment in them.
After all, he hadn't specifically instructed Shen Jintang yesterday, and according to common sense, Shen Jintang did go to the palace an hour earlier than he went to the East Palace, so the two shouldn't have been able to catch the same carriage.
He deliberately moved the time earlier because he wanted to ride in the same car as Shen Jintang.
Shen Jintang raised her head, her gaze appearing exceptionally clear in the morning light.
Gu Zhixing met her gaze and his heart skipped a beat.
He cleared his throat, trying to hide his embarrassment, but his tone softened involuntarily: "In that case, you must remember this in the future, and you are not allowed to leave this young master behind again."
He deliberately emphasized the words "this young master," his tone carrying a hint of domineering yet also revealing a touch of arrogance.
Shen Jintang is very perceptive; how could she not know the intricacies in Gu Zhixing's mind?
It's just that we don't expose it.
She nodded slightly, her smile widening: "Your Highness, rest assured, I've remembered."
The carriage fell silent for a moment, with only the morning light casting dappled shadows on the two of them, as if even time itself had softened.
The carriage headed towards the palace.
The morning light spilled onto the palace road like a thin veil, and the wheels of the carriages gently rolled over the bluestone pavement, making a soft rustling sound.
Upon reaching the palace gates, the two parted ways.
Gu Zhixing turned slightly to the side, his gaze falling on Shen Jintang, his tone carrying a hint of unnatural forcefulness: "Remember to pick me up tonight."
He deliberately put on a stern face, trying to hide his subtle emotions, as if he were just giving an order, so as not to admit that he just wanted to go back with Shen Jintang.
Shen Jintang nodded slightly, a hint of doting smile in his eyes, but his tone remained respectful: "Yes, Your Highness."
After saying that, she turned and walked towards the Imperial Study with firm steps.
She knew that today's mission was of utmost importance; she had to do what the princess had entrusted to her perfectly, without making the slightest mistake!
Seeing her leave so decisively, Gu Zhixing was slightly taken aback, but quickly regained his composure, sighed, and turned to walk towards the East Palace.
At the third quarter of the hour of Yin (3:45 AM), the morning bell of the Bell and Drum Tower resounded throughout the imperial city.
In the Golden Palace, the golden pillars with coiled dragons gleamed coldly in the morning light, and civil and military officials lined up on both sides of the jade steps, casting long shadows on the blue brick floor.
"Speak if you have something to report; otherwise, the court may adjourn."
The high-pitched voice of the eunuch in charge of ceremonies echoed in the hall, carrying a unique rhythm, setting the stage for this grand court drama.
The eldest princess sat upright on a gilded Sumeru pedestal, the pearls hanging from her nine-phoenix court crown covering half of her face, revealing only a section of her white jade-like chin.
She lightly tapped her fingertips on the dragon pattern on the armrest, her gaze seemingly sweeping over Shen Jintang to her right, as if conveying some kind of signal.
Shen Jintang understood, stepped forward, and gave a wink to those below.
A moment later, a young man stepped forward from below, holding an ivory memorial. His voice was clear and firm: "Your subject has a memorial to present."
The hall fell silent instantly, and even the clanging of the iron bells on the eaves could be heard clearly, as if time had frozen at that moment.
Wang Jian, the Minister of Revenue, unconsciously turned his ceremonial tablet in his hand. Upon seeing the person who had arrived, he immediately sensed something was wrong, and even the shoulders under his court robes tensed slightly.
The young man was the head of the Ministry of Revenue, named Li Lang, who was responsible for handling specific administrative tasks such as account reconciliation and document drafting.
The chief clerk was a basic official in the Ministry of Revenue, mainly responsible for the work at the executive level. All matters, large and small, of the Ministry of Revenue had to go through the chief clerk.
"I wish to report that Wang Jian, the Minister of Revenue, underreported 7,000 hectares of falsely reported military farmland during last year's land survey in Jiangnan Circuit." Li Lang's voice was clear and bright, like shattered jade.
He knelt down, holding the account book, and said, "This year, the official silver reserves should have increased by 480,000 taels, but the Ministry of Revenue's account books show that only 300,000 taels were deposited into the treasury. Furthermore, a large number of account books were destroyed by Wang Jian, and there were countless instances of embezzlement during this period!"
Shen Jintang went down and brought up the account book, respectfully presenting it to the Princess. His movements were fluid and natural.
The eldest princess flipped through the account books, her face suddenly darkening. She roared angrily, "Wang Jian, how dare you!"
"Your Highness, please forgive me."
Wang Jian's Adam's apple bobbed, and he nervously swallowed. "You may not know this, but the losses incurred in the canal transport are enormous, and the account books are also..."
"Your Excellency is indeed eloquent, but I have a few questions that I would like to ask you to answer."
Shen Jintang opened the memorial, the vermilion annotations were as glaring as blood, and his voice carried a hint of coldness: "The Rites of Zhou says: 'The granary official is in charge of storing grain and distinguishing the nine kinds of grains for the use of the state.' If the loss has reached a huge amount of 180,000 taels, as the consul, do you dare to say that you were completely unaware of it?"
The soft clinking of jade pendants echoed in the hall, and several officials in scarlet robes instinctively reached for their belts, appearing somewhat uneasy.
Wang Jian's cloud-patterned shoes left a shallow mark on the blue bricks, and fine sweat seeped from his forehead, making him look somewhat disheveled.
"This is the first matter."
"I recently consulted the 'Discourses on Salt and Iron,' and found that Sang Hongyang established the Equalization of Transportation Office to stabilize prices, and all silk, hemp, and grains were converted into silver at market prices."
Shen Jintang lightly flicked his wide sleeves, his voice carrying an undeniable air of authority: "The Ministry of Revenue has converted 100,000 shi of disaster relief grain into silver, but the price is 30% higher than the market price. I went to check yesterday, but the Ministry of Revenue's account books were nowhere to be found. If the Minister cannot explain why, why not check the procurement records of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices?"
"This is the second matter."
Someone in the Censorate gasped in shock. Wang Jian's official tablet fell to the ground with a clatter.
Shen Jintang slowly unfolded the silk account book, her voice carrying a hint of coldness: "Last year, when the Yellow River breached its banks, the 300,000 taels of silver for disaster relief were released from the treasury as snowflake-patterned silver, but by the time they reached Chenliu County, they had become lead-plated silver. Coincidentally, the beams and pillars of the newly built Listening to the Rain Pavilion in Minister Wang's mansion were all made of golden nanmu imported from Siam."
"This 7,300 taels of official silver used to buy the nanmu wood, was it paid from the Gongchang Prefecture military pay account?"
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