Chapter 120

The sound of carriage wheels rumbled on, moving cautiously through the snowy mist. After a long while, the carriage finally came to a halt.

A servant spoke outside the curtain, “My lord, we’ve arrived.”

Lu Wensheng softly acknowledged, “Hmm.”

The carriage curtain was lifted, letting in the wind and snow, which dispersed the green incense smoke from the Boshan censer.

Lu Wensheng alighted from the carriage. Snow covered the ground, vast and cold, like a silvery moonlight. The scene reflected in his gentle eyes, faintly tinged with a chill. Having been delayed on the road, he found King Jing, Xiao Xun, had been waiting for some time.

“Uncle! What took you so long?” Xiao Xun turned towards the people in the hall, saying, “Explain the situation again to Duke Fu.”

Though just of age, Xiao Xun carried an air of authority and iron-blooded resolve. Yet, his impatience revealed a hint of hostility in his gaze.

“The Salt Commissioner of Lianghuai has been replaced. The new commissioner, Rong E, discovered discrepancies in the salt tax accounts for the advanced permits of Lianghuai salt. He reported the former commissioner, Jian Jun, for colluding with salt merchants and engaging in corrupt activities. Now, Censorate Deputy Inspector Pei Jian has issued an order for Jian Jun’s arrest.”

Salt was a state monopoly. The government issued permits, recording them in a ledger. Each permit consisted of two parts: the records stub and the holder’s certificate. Salt was packed in bags, each representing a permit with a fixed weight. Merchants paid the salt price, including taxes, to receive the permit, which they then used to procure and transport salt from its production site. The profits from the salt permits were significant, often involving hundreds of thousands or even millions of silver taels in corrupt dealings.

What Pei Jian is investigating relates to the leftover interest silver paid over the years by merchants for advance salt permits and the salt tax accounts submitted to the Ministry of Revenue.

The Vice Minister of Revenue, Zhang Hongzhe, was also present. Amid the bitter winter, the charcoal fire in the room was not particularly warm, yet Zhang Hongzhe kept wiping the cold sweat off his forehead.

The Censorate had been urging the submission of the salt tax accounts for several days, and Pei Jian, being a tough character, left him with no room to delay further. Even His Majesty had been alarmed by the matter.

Lu Wensheng sat upright with his eyelashes lowered, lost in thought.

Xiao Xun, impatient by nature, turned his head to ask him, “Uncle, what should we do now?”

He pressed his lips together, his clear voice tinged with suppressed agitation and anger. If the corruption case involving salt permits exploded, it would implicate him, with unimaginable consequences.

But Lu Wensheng remained as calm and composed as ever, further frustrating Xiao Xun and making his emotions harder to settle.

“Uncle, don’t forget that we are bound by blood and cannot separate ourselves from this!”

Blood relatives share both honor and disgrace.

With an unruffled expression, Lu Wensheng’s gentle face betrayed no emotions. In a low voice, he instead spoke of something else, “I mentioned Pei Jian, the Deputy Inspector, to your mother. Have you tried to establish a connection with him?”

“Uncle, what’s the point of bringing this up now? It’s already too late,” Xiao Xun snapped, his frustration hardening his expression further. “Once this storm blows over, I will not let him off!”

Lu Wensheng then realized Pei Jian had not accepted King Jing’s overtures. His nephew possessed intelligence and ambition but lacked composure, acted impulsively, and never understood the principle of progressing steadily and carefully.

The salt tax was a major source of the dynasty’s revenue. Now, the country was at war with Northern Liang, incurring massive expenditures and leaving the treasury empty. If it were exposed that officials were colluding with merchants to embezzle tax money, especially with a king involved, the emperor would be furious, and the court would undoubtedly be thrown into chaos.

“Are you aware of the accounts of Jian Jun’s collusion with the salt merchants?” Lu Wensheng asked Xiao Xun with a piercing gaze.

Xiao Xun did not respond, but Zhang Hongzhe hurriedly wiped his sweat and stepped forward, bowing low. “Minister Jian Jun kept private accounts of receiving silver from several major salt merchants during his time in Lianghuai.”

“Do you have them on you?”

“No, but they are at my residence. If the Duke requires them, I can fetch them immediately.”

Lu Wensheng nodded and raised his hand to cover his mouth as he coughed softly. “This is a serious matter. Please go and retrieve them personally.”

Zhang Hongzhe quickly agreed.

Lord Lu was a man of great composure. If he had agreed, this disaster could be avoided.

After being oppressed and fearful under Pei Jian for over a month, Zhang Hongzhe finally felt some relief at this moment.

When King Jing took his leave, Zhang Hongzhe braved the snow and wind to return home.

Lu Wensheng rose to wash his hands. He slightly raised his eyebrows at the guards without saying a word. The guards understood, straightened their posture, and silently left the hall.

Lu Wensheng possessed well-proportioned and slender hands, with fingers as fair as silver and snow—delicate and elegant. Soaking them in water made them appear especially clean. Yet, being in a position of power, how could one genuinely remain untainted and untouched by the world’s grime?

He was a man of extreme composure, bordering on pessimism, always preparing for the worst in any situation. He would always prioritize protecting his family first.

“Your Highness, please sit down.”

This was a villa he had purchased in his early years. Though it was not often inhabited, everything was well-maintained by caretakers.

Lu Wensheng called for someone to bring tea utensils and began grinding tea leaves into fine powder.

At this moment, Xiao Xun lacked patience and composure, pacing restlessly in the hall.

Regarding the salt license issue, Lu Wensheng had previously advised him not to get involved. Yet, driven by greed, Xiao Xun had been obstinate. Now, he had to rely on his uncle to clean up the mess. Feeling guilty and anxious, Xiao Xun eventually sat down reluctantly on the other side.

Even then, he couldn’t calm himself. “Uncle, how should this matter be resolved?”

And after obtaining the account books?

Over the past few years, Jian Jun had presented him with more than a million taels of silver. Was he now expected to fill this gaping hole?

Not to mention, it was fundamentally impossible to fill. Could this matter truly be covered up?

Lu Wensheng maintained his calm and unhurried demeanor. Hearing the words, he did not lift his gaze but instead took out a teacup and poured water into the tea powder.

“Your Highness, do not act rashly when faced with challenges.” His fair and immaculate hand held the tea whisk, frothing the tea into a cloud of white mist that overflowed the cup. The aroma of the freshly brewed Qingfeng Sui tea lingered in the air.

After seven infusions, he placed the teacup before King Jing. The milky froth floated on the surface of the tea like sparse stars against a faint moon.

Xiao Xun forced himself to calm down and drank the bowl of tea in one gulp. However, weighed down by worries, he swallowed it without savoring any taste.

Lu Wensheng rested one hand on the armrest and held a green jade cup in the other. The lamps in the four corners of the hall cast light on his serene and enigmatic face, making him even more unfathomable.

“Why did Censor Pei suddenly start investigating the salt licenses?” His clear and pleasant voice broke the silence, speaking slowly.

Xiao Xun set down the teacup, aware of the cause behind it: “Wasn’t it because of Zhang Hongzhe’s reckless son? At the teahouse entrance, he fought with a court official. It seems his surname was… Wen? Pei Jian blocked that strike, and from there, the thread unraveled, exposing Zhang Hongzhe’s involvement in the corruption of salt licenses.”

Lu Wensheng felt something was amiss. However, another matter tugged at his heart. “Wen?”

His translucent, glass-like eyes finally revealed a ripple of emotion.

Xiao Xun was puzzled.

One of his attendants responded, “Reporting to the Duke, it is Wen Yuanqiao, the head of the Imperial Academy.”

“Uncle, is there something wrong with this person?”

“Nothing.” Lu Wensheng remained silent after that.

However, Xiao Xun kept note of his earlier reaction.

Half an incense stick’s time later, as Xiao Xun finally exhausted his patience and was about to speak, a guard entered and reported that due to the slippery roads in the snow, Minister Zhang Hongzhe had fallen off his horse and died at the base of the eastern city wall.

Lu Wensheng sighed softly upon hearing this, “Unfortunate timing. Minister Zhang served the nation loyally. Offer more condolence gifts at his funeral.”

Xiao Xun was first shocked, then realized Zhang Hongzhe had been silenced, and immediately stood up in a panic, asking: “And the account book? Was it obtained?”

The guard bowed and presented it with both hands.

Xiao Xun, his face pale with anger, roughly skimmed through it and then handed it to Lu Wensheng.

Without even glancing at it, Lu Wensheng threw the account book into the furnace. The flames leaped up, swiftly consuming the book. After the black smoke dissipated, only ashes remained.

“Uncle…” Xiao Xun muttered hesitantly.

The firelight illuminated Lu Wensheng’s incomparably elegant face, his brows showing a hint of compassion. Yet, his refined demeanor remained untouched by even a trace of dust.