Chapter 57 Confiscation
"By the way, send some capable people to keep an eye on the area around the pickle jar's house. Her house looks very flimsy; don't let any stray cats or dogs disturb it."
Ru Chun smiled and agreed.
Inside the warm pavilion of the princess's residence.
Pei Mingyue leaned against the chaise lounge. Ever since she was humiliated at the flower viewing banquet, mocked at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, and now Xie Sangning came to her door to warn her, Pei Mingyue was like a volcano that had been suppressed to the extreme.
The Empress's stern warning still echoed in my ears: "A small act of impatience can ruin a great plan! Xie Zhenting is about to return to the capital. To harm his daughter now would only cause trouble for your father, the Emperor! Stay put and behave yourself!"
Behave yourself?
Pei Mingyue's lips curled into a twisted, cold smile.
As the most favored princess of the Qing Kingdom, how could she have ever suffered such a humiliation?
He was publicly humiliated by a court lady, and now, because of her, he's like a coward, unable to even leave the house!
How could she swallow this insult?
He couldn't possibly touch Xie Sangning now, but there were some clueless people in the capital who were getting close to Xie Sangning, so he called Xie Rubao over to teach her a lesson.
But unexpectedly, Xie Sangning was protecting her child.
If you can protect them this time, what about next time?
Pei Mingyue remembered the family of Xie Ji, the Vice Minister of Revenue. They had a beautiful and talented eldest daughter, whom she had arranged to become a nun.
Now that his second daughter is on good terms with his enemy, it's really infuriating...
"Spring Peach!"
"This servant is here."
"Go and deliver a message to Qian Yong, the Minister of Revenue, that I invite him to my residence for a chat."
When Qian Yong, the Minister of Revenue, received the summons from the Princess's residence, his heart sank.
This Second Princess is a prominent figure in Jinling City, and is notoriously difficult to deal with.
He dared not be negligent, much less fail to go. He hurriedly changed into his official robes and stepped into the princess's residence with trepidation.
Pei Mingyue sat upright at the head of the table. She didn't even offer him a seat, but instead looked Qian Yong up and down, until the second-rank official was covered in cold sweat.
"Minister Qian," Pei Mingyue finally spoke, "I've heard that Xie Ji, the Vice Minister of Revenue under your command... seems to be behaving rather improperly lately?"
Qian Yong's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly bowed: "Your Highness, Vice Minister Xie has served as an official for many years and has always been quite diligent. I wonder what Your Highness is referring to?"
He cautiously probed, his mind racing with alarm bells.
“Diligent?” Pei Mingyue scoffed, her fingertips lightly tapping the armrest. “So diligent that… even his daughter, who’s as fat as a pig, managed to climb the social ladder to the Zhenguo General’s Mansion and win Xie Sangning’s favor?”
Qian Yong instantly understood! The princess was after Xie Sangning!
Xie Ji's daughter, Xie Rubao, has indeed been getting very close to the eldest daughter of the Xie family recently, and it is said that she has received many valuable gifts, which has spread throughout the circle of young ladies.
Is the princess... using Xie Ji as a scapegoat to show her master how to punish a dog?
"Your Highness is wise," Qian Yong said, cold sweat beading on his forehead, "While Vice Minister Xie's upbringing may have had shortcomings, he himself..."
"I don't want to hear this nonsense!"
Pei Mingyue abruptly interrupted him, her voice suddenly rising, "I'll only ask you one question, Qian Yong, are you still holding onto your position as Minister? Can the mess in the Ministry of Revenue withstand scrutiny?"
Qian Yong's legs went weak, and he almost knelt down.
The princess's words were a blatant threat!
The Ministry of Revenue was in charge of the nation's finances and grain; how could it truly be spotless?
He himself wasn't exactly clean either; if you really delved into it... his face instantly turned deathly pale.
"Your...Your Highness..." Qian Yong's voice trembled.
Pei Mingyue was very satisfied with his terrified look. She slowly stood up, walked over to Qian Yong, and looked down at him.
"I'll show you a way out. There's a vice minister, whose position isn't high or low, but he's a real eyesore. He's recently climbed the social ladder, and his ego has gotten too big. Who knows, one day he might try to oust you?"
Qian Yong suddenly looked up and met Pei Mingyue's eyes.
Was she implying that he... framed Xie Ji?
"I will make Xie Ji disgraced and imprisoned."
Pei Mingyue enunciated her demands clearly, word by word: "As for the charges... you are in charge of the nation's finances, is it so difficult to accuse him of accepting bribes and embezzling military supplies? As for evidence... I believe that with Minister Qian's abilities, if he has it, he will definitely have it."
Qian Yong felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head!
Frame a colleague, or fabricate such a serious crime!
This could be a capital offense!
His lips trembled as he stammered, "Your Highness...this...framing a court official, this is..."
"What is this? Qian Yong, listen carefully. If you handle this matter well, I guarantee your position as Minister of Revenue will be as secure as Mount Tai, and you might even be promoted further. If you fail, or even the slightest leak..."
"Then I wouldn't mind having the prosecutor's office thoroughly investigate the disaster relief funds allocated for last year's floods in the south!"
Qian Yong was struck dumb, and his whole body trembled violently!
The princess knew all his secrets!
She's trying to drive him to his death!
He either does as she wishes and frames Xie Ji, or he himself will be ruined and even lose his head!
His face was ashen, cold sweat soaked through his undergarments, and finally, he bent over deeply, deeply:
"Your Majesty, I understand. I will do my utmost to live up to Your Majesty's expectations."
Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.
Pei Mingyue smiled.
"Very good. I'm looking forward to this good show."
As Qian Yong walked out of the princess's residence, the cold sweat on his body had dried.
I had no choice but to participate in this framing.
He admitted that some of the money allocated for the flood relief had indeed been embezzled, but he couldn't be sure if the Second Princess had any evidence. If she did, he would lose his head!
Xie Ji... If Heaven is going to destroy you, there's nothing this official can do.
Just three days later, a devastating disaster struck the residence of Xie Ji, the Vice Minister of Revenue, without any warning.
It was afternoon, and the sunlight was lazy.
Xie Ji was in his study, looking at the empty inkstone, shaking his head and sighing helplessly.
Sudden!
The mansion gates were violently kicked open!
Heavy footsteps and fierce shouts came from the doorway, instantly shattering the tranquility of the Vice Minister's residence!
"By imperial decree, we are conducting a raid! All bystanders, kneel and await orders! Anyone who disobeys will be executed without exception!"
The lead eunuch's shrill voice was like a death knell.
The fierce Imperial Guards, armed with swords and spears, surged in instantly, brutally driving all the servants in the mansion to the front yard and forcing them to kneel on the ground.
Cries and screams immediately filled the air.
Xie Ji's expression changed drastically, and he rushed out of the study: "Insolence! I am an official appointed by the imperial court! Why are you trespassing on my private residence! Do you have an imperial decree?!"
The eunuch, with a forced smile, unfurled a roll of bright yellow silk: "Xie Ji, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, colluded with salt merchants to embezzle salt taxes! The evidence is irrefutable! The Emperor is furious! The Imperial Household Department, the Ministry of Justice, and the Censorate are hereby ordered to conduct a joint trial and immediately confiscate his property! Xie Ji and his family are to be imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice's prison to await trial! This is the imperial decree—!"
"Innocent!!"
Xie Ji's eyes were bloodshot with rage. He knelt down with a thud, his grief-stricken voice echoing throughout the courtyard: "I am innocent! I have been loyal and devoted, and have never embezzled a single penny! This is a frame-up! A frame-up!"
He pointed at the eunuch, his fingers trembling violently with rage: "Someone must have framed me! I demand an audience with the Emperor! I demand an audience with the Emperor to plead my case!"
"Hmph! You dare to argue even when you're about to die!"
The eunuch snorted coldly and shouted in a shrill voice, "Search! Search thoroughly! Don't miss anything suspicious, not even a single piece of paper!"
The imperial guards rushed into each room like wolves and tigers.
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