Chapter 11 Stealing Bamboo Shoots

Desheng’s residence was located in Zhu Lane in the western part of the city, consisting of three courtyards with a deep and wide central courtyard. As the elder brother of Consort De, Desheng’s status was slightly inferior to that of genuine imperial relatives, yet his home was lavishly decorated, flaunting wealth at every turn.

As the Crown Prince and heir apparent, he was naturally entitled to personal guards. Upon arrival, they swiftly surrounded the estate, their gleaming swords hanging at their waists. The commotion sent the women of the household into panic, fleeing with children and valuables—not a single one among them was plain in appearance.

Desheng collapsed to the ground, trembling and rolling his eyes in terror at the memory of the earlier raid, rendered utterly speechless!

With Hong Yan’s “casual” guidance, the Crown Prince quickly grasped the essence—first encircle, then confiscate. The Fourth Prince acted decisively, personally leading teams into several rooms. Among the three stewards who had protested their innocence, every single one was found with embezzled silver and stolen imperial products.

The bulging-eyed steward had hidden over a hundred thousand taels of silver in the latrine, stashed at an impossibly tricky angle—who would normally notice it? The guards suppressed their nausea as they prepared to hand the wooden box to their master, only to be met with the Crown Prince’s furious glare. Sheepishly, they placed it on the ground, resolving to scrub themselves a hundred times later to rid themselves of the foul luck.

At first glance, the bushy-browed steward’s quarters seemed bare, with nowhere to hide silver. But with Yuanbao’s friendly guidance, they finally discovered a hidden door. Pressing the mechanism revealed a space that left everyone stunned.

Not only was there glittering gold, but also an abundance of silk fabrics—all premium materials the Imperial Household Department had presented to the imperial consorts. Among them was a roll of smoked-sand cloud-patterned silk, a luxury even the four highest-ranking consorts couldn’t access!

The deeper they searched, the colder the Fourth Prince’s gaze grew.

The next steward, grotesquely ugly, kept seven or eight delicate mistresses, each housed in separate courtyards, indulging in left and right embraces. A rough estimate suggested the land deeds alone were worth tens of thousands of taels.

Before Hong Yan could even glance at them, the Crown Prince swiftly covered his eyes, gritting his teeth. “Yuanbao mustn’t learn the ways of these wretched servants…”

Hong Yan nodded obediently, sighing inwardly. Not only had he never seen such a spectacle, but neither had his father.

Then came Uya Desheng’s turn.

With Lingpu’s whispered explanation, the father and son learned this man was Yinzhen’s maternal uncle—Consort De’s own brother. The Crown Prince paused mid-step, and Hong Yan thought, *This is complicated.*

As they proceeded, Hong Yan cast cautious glances at Fourth Uncle, while the Crown Prince seemed hesitant. Yinzhen was initially puzzled but soon understood, offering a faint smile. “Second Brother and Yuanbao needn’t hesitate. State and family come first, then kinship.”

At these words, Desheng’s courage finally shattered.

His imperial nephew showed no intention of shielding him—instead, he spoke of righteous justice, disregarding even his own mother’s face. What wretched luck had brought him to this?!

Desheng’s proud reliance vanished. Sobbing weakly, he wailed, “Lord Prince, this servant is your only uncle! De Fei Niangniang was closest to me in her youth—I’m truly innocent!”

The Fourth Prince didn’t so much as frown. Calmly, he entered Desheng’s home, leaving not even a fly unchecked.

After a long while, they dug out several iron boxes from the half-dried pond’s mud. Inside were banknotes, several account books, and an exquisitely crafted, extremely valuable nine-tailed phoenix hairpin.

At the sight of the hairpin, Yinzhen froze completely.

The design of the phoenix hairpin was all too familiar—it often appeared in his dreams. Trembling, he took it in his hands, lips moving slightly as he swallowed three words: “…Imperial Mother.”

This was the favorite piece of jewelry of Empress Xiaoyi Tong Jia Shi during her lifetime. The nine-tailed phoenix hairpin was a symbol reserved for empresses, yet the Emperor had once been so pleased that he exceptionally bestowed it upon her when she was still a noble consort.

Yinzhen had thought the hairpin had been buried with his Imperial Mother in the imperial mausoleum. Yet now, it had appeared outside the palace, in a small pond, locked away from the light of day and trampled by mud and water!

The last trace of hesitation vanished without a trace. He slowly closed his eyes, his aura turning icy and severe.

Desheng was merely a steward—how could he have stolen the Empress’s phoenix hairpin? As for other possibilities, Yinzhen dared not think of them, nor did he wish to.

Meanwhile, the officials carefully examined the retrieved account books, then exchanged glances, their eyes filled with shock.

“Your Highnesses…” Their voices were slightly hoarse as they forced themselves to remain composed. “These records detail the annual expenditures of the Department of Extensive Storage. They appear to be genuine.”

The moment these words were spoken, an uproar ensued.

The Crown Prince’s breathing hitched for a moment, unable to believe their success had come so easily. He glanced at his son, then turned back and said, “Let me see.”

Hong Yan shivered under the gaze that seemed to mix praise, pride, and reproach, quietly stepping back as he pondered Desheng’s account books.

The genuine account books were of utmost importance, and hiding them here wasn’t without reason. Firstly, Desheng had connections to Consort De, making his position secure. Secondly, Desheng was a hopeless, incompetent fool—who would have guessed the most critical evidence would end up in his hands?

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Even with his system, Hong Yan had only noticed the phoenix hairpin and the banknotes, nearly overlooking the account books.

The Fourth Prince, having steadied his emotions, threw himself into the task with even greater diligence.

Every corner, every beam was meticulously searched. By noon, the confiscated items were neatly arranged together, a dazzling sight. After such an exhaustive search, Desheng’s residence was left with no hidden remnants.

“Fourth Brother, I will take Yuanbao to the Hall of Heavenly Purity for an audience. You should return and rest,” the Crown Prince said in a low voice as they left the residence, rubbing his temples. “As for De Fei Niangniang… I will explain it to her myself.”

At that moment, the Fourth Prince was shrouded in a heavy aura, yet he still felt a warmth in his heart at these words.

He gently touched Hong Yan’s cheek and did not refuse the Crown Prince’s kindness. “Thank you, Second Brother.” After a pause, he added softly, “My nephew is still young. These merits…”

“Do you think I don’t know?” The Crown Prince chuckled, patting his shoulder. “Don’t worry.”

Hall of Heavenly Purity.

When word came that the Crown Prince and the eldest grandson requested an audience, the Emperor immediately granted it.

The commotion outside the palace had grown, but news had yet to reach the inner court. Thus, when the Crown Prince reported their findings, not only was Li Dequan stunned, but the Emperor was also taken aback.

—In just half a day, they had uncovered the genuine account books of the Department of Extensive Storage and caught the ringleader of the corruption?

One moment, the Emperor was smiling warmly at Hong Yan; the next, he sat up straight, scrutinizing the Crown Prince inside and out until the latter’s heart trembled under the gaze. After a long silence, the Emperor sighed, “I underestimated you.”

Crown Prince: “…”

What, did his father think so little of him?

Seeing the conversation taking a wrong turn, Hong Yan quickly interjected, praising enthusiastically, “Hanmafa, my father is amazing! He sees everything clearly and only arrests the big corrupt officials. And Fourth Uncle—Fourth Uncle looks so dashing when confiscating properties!”

The Emperor burst into laughter, clearly delighted. The Crown Prince, however, felt no joy, only a sour resentment. *I haven’t even settled accounts with you, brat, and you’re already praising Fourth Prince? Am I not dashing enough?*  

Swiftly changing the subject, the Crown Prince’s expression grew serious. “Hanmafa, those treacherous slaves have all been bound and await your judgment. The stolen gold and silver have been seized, and the account books are being thoroughly examined. Among them is De Fei Niangniang’s elder brother, Desheng…”

The Emperor let out an intrigued “Oh?” and asked with interest, “Wuya Desheng—was it Fourth Prince who personally led the raid? What crimes did he commit?”

Relieved that the Emperor showed no displeasure, the Crown Prince cupped his hands and replied, “Embezzlement, concealment of account books, and… the theft of Xiao Yi Huanghou’s phoenix hairpin.”

The moment the words “phoenix hairpin” were spoken, a eunuch hurried in and whispered outside the curtain, “Your Majesty, De Fei Niangniang requests an urgent audience.”

Hearing the name of his long-deceased cousin and now De Fei Niangniang seeking an audience, the Emperor froze momentarily before regaining his composure, his eyes glinting with amusement. As if changing his mind, he said coolly, “Summon her.”

De Fei Niangniang arrived in haste, barely having time to smooth her hair. Taking a deep breath, she entered with measured steps.

To her surprise, both the Crown Prince and his eldest grandson were present. She pinched herself discreetly, her smile strained as she greeted them one by one, forcing herself to remain composed. Then, lifting her eyes slightly, she choked back a sob and said, “Your Majesty, this humble consort would never dare overstep, but my brother has suffered an unjust calamity—this time, even his home is at risk! I beg Your Majesty to see the truth clearly and restore my brother’s innocence.”

Seeing De Fei Niangniang, the seasoned victor of palace intrigues, Hong Yan couldn’t help but admire how well she had maintained her grace and beauty. But as he listened, he realized something was off—she was here to plead for Desheng’s mercy.  

*The Palace of Eternal Harmony’s intelligence network is truly efficient. But does De Fei Niangniang know Fourth Uncle was involved in this?*  

The Emperor remained silent, signaling the Crown Prince with a glance.  

Understanding, the Crown Prince cleared his throat and recounted Desheng’s crimes matter-of-factly. De Fei Niangniang’s face grew paler with each word, until she swayed unsteadily on her feet.  

“Your Majesty,” she finally whispered after a long pause, tears streaming down her face as she knelt trembling, “it is my fault for failing to discipline him. I deserve death ten thousand times over! But Desheng is my only brother, and for Yinzhen to act this way… I…”  

“De Fei Niangniang,” Hong Yan suddenly cut in, his round face scrunched up pitifully, his eyes reddening, “Desheng may be your only brother, but isn’t Fourth Uncle also one of your only two sons? Fourth Uncle went to great pains for your sake. Think about it—the crimes of stealing the phoenix hairpin and insulting the late Empress would warrant the execution of nine generations at the very least. Now, only one person is being removed, yet you and the entire Uya clan are spared. What a bargain! Fourth Uncle did it all for your benefit!”  

The Crown Prince had little interaction with De Fei Niangniang, but her plea for her brother’s sake inexplicably stirred some dislike in him. Watching the scene unfold with amusement, he suddenly choked at his son’s words.  

*This demeanor… feels oddly familiar.*

The Emperor also found it strangely familiar. He glanced suspiciously at Hong Yan, then at Consort De, but before he could figure it out, Consort De, who had been frozen for a long time, stopped her tears.

Her smile grew even more strained as she forced out a sentence through gritted teeth: “Young Master Hong Yan speaks wisely. Yet, this concubine and her elder brother have been close since childhood…”

Hong Yan sniffled and said with naive sincerity, “Fourth Uncle’s filial piety is truly heaven-shaking! Knowing full well how vast Deshun’s embezzlement was, he still volunteered to repay the debts. But who would have thought that Her Ladyship’s maternal love runs even deeper? Fearing Fourth Uncle might be implicated by Deshun, she admitted to being close to him since childhood, willing to shoulder all the burden.”

He added, moved by his own words, “Though it’s only 125,000 taels, hardly comparable to years of saved-up private funds. If Her Ladyship is willing to repay it on behalf of others, how could Hanmafa possibly refuse?”

Consort De: “…………”

125,000 taels?!  

Her words twisted beyond recognition and suddenly saddled with an enormous debt, Consort De was caught completely off guard, thrown into utter disarray, wishing she could faint on the spot.

Yet she stubbornly held on, trembling as she cried out, “Your Majesty!” Meanwhile, the Emperor and the Crown Prince had remained silent for a long while.

“So that’s how it is,” the Emperor finally spoke.

He nodded approvingly. “Good! This Emperor shall grant your motherly devotion. Guards, take Desheng and the others to the Prudence Punishment Department. Also, record this debt of 125,000 taels under the Palace of Eternal Harmony. The account shall be cleared once it is fully repaid!”