Qin Zhaoyue is the sixth child. Her memories of the late emperor's reign are very vague. These memories come from her early childhood education in the palace.
It was either my third sister or someone else who pointed out that the Empress's calligraphy was incorrect; the character "泰" was missing a dot.
Later I learned that it was the Empress Dowager's habit to avoid using the late Emperor's name.
So, this letter was written by the Queen Mother?
Qin Zhaoyue was completely stunned. No wonder her elder sister looked so pale; she had recognized this at a glance.
But... isn't that a bit far-fetched? The emperor secretly ordering people to mint inferior coins or something...?
Could her hardworking and devoted mother really do something so self-destructive? Who would believe it if word got out?
Qin Zhaoyue was in a state of immense absurdity.
Even if it was a frame-up, why pick the least likely person? Was Prince Rui stupid?
How could someone be a fool to run Bailu Prefecture like a miniature Fengjing and secretly oversee the minting of inferior currency?
"Your Highness, do you think you can convince me with a forged letter that the minting of inferior currency was at His Majesty's behest? That's utter nonsense!"
Faced with the questions laid bare, Prince Rui smiled calmly and even sat down.
"Can't you recognize His Majesty's handwriting?"
"Find someone skilled at imitating handwriting, and forging it isn't difficult."
“If that’s how you put it, then there’s nothing I can do,” Prince Rui shrugged. “Why don’t you go back to the capital and ask His Majesty?”
Tsk... Qin Zhaoyue curled her lips, how could she hear the tone of an old scumbag in those words?
"I want to hear what you have to say."
Prince Rui raised an eyebrow. "Young lady, are you sure you can handle this?"
Qin Zhaoqiong showed no sign of backing down, "Speak!"
From a very young age, her mother was the person she admired most, so how could she allow others to smear her?
"In the first year of the Taiwei era, His Majesty ascended the throne."
A woman becoming empress violated propriety and law, and even if it was unavoidable, it still met with strong opposition from the officials…
Qin Zhaoqiong pursed her lips tightly and remained silent.
She didn't know much about her younger siblings, but she already had memories of those times.
In my memory, that winter in Fengjing was blood-red, with glaring scarlet stains falling on the white snow.
Countless officials in the court died, and the Meridian Gate was filled with heads rolling.
There were no executions in the autumn; most were serious crimes that resulted in the confiscation of property and the extermination of the entire clan.
"Not only that, but the following spring, as if they had planned it together, war broke out in both the northern and southern borders."
Because the construction of the imperial mausoleum has emptied the national treasury, His Majesty, in order to maintain the people's hearts, would never increase taxes after ascending the throne.
Even military pay couldn't be paid. What methods do you think could have turned the tide at that time?
Prince Rui pointed to the letter in Qin Zhaoqiong's hand, "This is the solution His Majesty came up with."
Otherwise, why would I, a leisurely prince, drag that old fox Pei Xuanyun into this mess?
Would a high-ranking official of the imperial court, the only prime minister to enter the Phoenix Pavilion, really hand over such a deadly secret to me for a mere sum of money?
The room fell into a deathly silence.
Qin Zhaoyue pursed her lips. If the situation was really as Prince Rui said, it wasn't entirely impossible.
I guess the mass killings back then weren't just about defending the throne; there was always some income from confiscating property.
However, with the new emperor's ascension to the throne, the lack of cooperation from officials, and the inability to raise taxes, all other avenues for fundraising were blocked.
Even if the Empress Mother had great abilities and a brilliant mind, she wouldn't have the time to put them to use.
With war on two fronts, it's obvious that war is a test of national strength.
Between two evils, choose the lesser; minting inferior currency... ugh...
At this moment, Qin Zhaoqiong spoke coldly, "No, if letters can be forged, what about account books?"
That makes sense. Prince Rui's statement sounds reasonable, but there's a premise: the account books are genuine, and Prime Minister Pei really did receive the money.
But since the ledgers and letters are all together, who can vouch for whom?
"In the fifth year of Taiwei, the northern and southern borders remained locked in a stalemate, and troops withdrew one after another."
Your Majesty's many national policies have been successfully implemented, and the court is stable and the world is at peace.
Even if what you say is true, how could His Majesty allow it to continue to this day?
Prince Rui's smile widened. "Of course not, my dear girl. Didn't you notice anything else in that ledger?"
He didn't mince words and continued, "Five years before Taiwei, only two names received dividends in the court; the rest were officials of all ranks in Bailu Prefecture."
The two people in the court were Prime Minister Pei and the Director of the Bureau of Civil Affairs.
The matter of counterfeit currency cannot be hidden from everyone. Even if it is His Majesty's intention, someone in the court still needs to cover it up.
The Fengge Pavilion uses the imperial seal, and the Wanmin Division manages the national treasury; these two are inescapable.
As for Bailu Prefecture, they were risking their lives to do this. Even if Prince Rui used ruthless methods to drag them all down with him, he still had to offer some benefits before they would reluctantly accept it.
However, starting from the fifth year of the Taiwei era, the number of people sharing the benefits in the ledger began to increase.
Besides Bailu Prefecture, there are several neighboring prefectures, but they are not many in number.
After all, they don't need to take any risks; it's just a hush money payment.
However, the number of officials in the court is also increasing rapidly, and they are now deeply entrenched. To truly purge them would be like throwing a boulder into a lake in the officialdom.
"Some things, once started, can't be stopped just because you want to."
He didn't elaborate on the specific difficulties involved, but anyone could guess what they were.
Prince Rui pointed to the booklet and said, "Has the eldest daughter considered how much turmoil it would cause if the account book were made public?"
This is a big enough matter, not to mention there are sorcerers plotting behind the scenes.
To cover it up? I'm afraid it's impossible to cover it up now.
Qin Zhaoqiong flicked her sleeves, making a loud rustling sound, "Prince Rui still hasn't explained it clearly. There's no use saying more about things that can't be verified."
After the initial shock, she was now frighteningly calm.
Any conclusion drawn from an uncertain fact is not worth scrutinizing.
Prince Rui shrugged, displaying an air of nonchalant composure, as if he were a dead pig unafraid of boiling water.
"For such an important matter, do you really expect His Majesty to issue a decree through the Phoenix Pavilion?"
I was able to keep this letter because I risked my life to get it back then.
I'll say it again: if you don't believe me, go ask them yourself.
Whether you ask His Majesty or Old Man Pei, there will be a conclusion.
Qin Zhaoqiong's chest heaved. Even though she was unwilling to admit it, seeing Prince Rui's calm demeanor made her waver.
Even if Liu Yan, who has the fastest foot speed, were to return to the capital, it would still take at least a day for him to go back and forth.
She couldn't wait for this day!
The sorcerer's plans will not wait; who knows how things will develop within a day.
Moreover, their forces were already stretched thin, and with Liu Yan gone, only Yin Zhe would remain.
If another assassination attempt is carried out, it may not be possible to protect them.
If either of them dies, Bailu Prefecture will inevitably rebel.
For their own safety, they should evacuate immediately, which would be tantamount to handing over the battlefield to others.
For a moment, my mind raced through countless thoughts.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't come up with a perfect solution.
This situation... is perilous!
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