Chapter 48: The Ministry of Revenue’s Usual Complaints of Poverty

Fu Minglang explained to the Minister, “I have absolutely no improper intentions toward Princess Ning’an.”

“Everything I’ve done is because I found something suspicious. Princess Ning’an doesn’t seem like someone who would kill indiscriminately.”

The two had just reached Imperial Street when Li Ning’an came out from another gate, intending to block the Minister of Revenue.

Coincidentally, she overheard Fu Minglang’s last two sentences.

The autumn winds in the capital arrived slower than at the border.

Fu Minglang, dressed in his official uniform, spoke with a serious expression as he conversed with his superior.

“She acts on impulse, but she has never oppressed the common people.”

“She’s innocent and kind-hearted, and perhaps she had some youthful infatuation with me.”

“But Young Master Yan, being the descendant of a famous general, is the more suitable match for Princess Ning’an.”

“My interactions with Princess Ning’an have shown me that she is a person of propriety, and there must be some misunderstanding about the stabbing incident.”

“I deeply respect Lord Ji, the old imperial censor, for his integrity, and that’s why I wanted to investigate.”

After this, the conversation between the two became unclear.

Li Ning’an didn’t know whether to laugh bitterly or feel hurt.

In the past, hearing Fu Minglang say such things would have made her very happy.

But after everything she’d experienced in her previous life, Fu Minglang’s true face was now all too clear to her.

He felt disgust, even hatred—but there was no love.

Xing’e, who was following behind the princess, noticed how intently Li Ning’an was listening and couldn’t help but whisper a reminder:

“Princess, men always lie. You need to stay calm.”

“We’re here to ask the Minister of Revenue for military pay. Who knows? Maybe this Fu Minglang is just using a ‘handsome man’ scheme against you.”

Li Ning’an snapped back to reality and realized that Fu Minglang and the others had already walked far ahead.

“You’re right. Let’s go demand the military pay from the Minister of Revenue.”

There’s no way she could let Yan Lang suffer at the border.

The Tong family couldn’t be confronted directly, but she’d find a way to cause trouble for Li Ningyi later.

Li Ning’an quickened her pace and caught up with Fu Minglang and the Minister of Revenue.

As officials left the Xuanzheng Hall, they headed toward their respective offices. Several of them were walking with Fu Minglang.

Those walking a bit behind immediately noticed Princess Ning’an heading straight for Fu Minglang.

“Look! Princess Ning’an is going to see Vice Minister Fu.”

“I told you, Princess Ning’an likes Fu Minglang. My wife kept insisting she’s interested in Young Master Yan.”

“I remember a gambling house in the capital that takes bets on this kind of thing. Maybe I should… send my useless younger brother to place a wager.”

“Careful, brother. The censors are always waiting to write someone up, haha.”

“Wait, no. It seems like Princess Ning’an is actually speaking with the Minister of Revenue.”

Li Ningyi, who had also just left the palace through the same gate, happened to see her third sister standing between the Minister of Revenue and Fu Minglang.

The news that the Second Prince of Beiyue wanted to enter the capital had already reached her mother.

In the capital, it wasn’t exactly a secret, though their father had yet to make a decision.

Did the Second Prince of Beiyue want to marry a princess?

Could her uncle return unharmed?

What exactly was her cousin doing at the border, where all the credit had been stolen by Young Master Yan?

Li Ningyi couldn’t help but think of Fu Minglang. Her third sister’s methods of pursuing men were a bit too aggressive and domineering.

No wonder Fu Minglang didn’t like her.

If the Second Prince of Beiyue intended to marry a princess, who would he choose?

Li Ningyi didn’t want to sit idly by. If she could get to know Fu Minglang and gain his help, it would bring peace of mind to both her mother and her younger brother.

She thought about accidentally dropping a hairpin or handkerchief, hoping Fu Minglang would pick it up.

But once again, she ran into her third sister.

How was it that her third sister already had Young Master Yan, yet still wanted to steal Fu Minglang?

“Third Sister, what are you doing here?”

Li Ningyi asked quickly and urgently, stepping right up to Li Ning’an.

Li Ning’an was in the middle of pestering the Minister of Revenue, demanding that the military pay be sent out as soon as possible.

The Minister of Revenue was preparing to put on a tearful show of poverty before Princess Ning’an when he saw the Fourth Princess approaching.

He was baffled.

Why was Princess Ning’an the one asking for military pay for the border? And what was the Fourth Princess doing here?

The Minister of Revenue, thinking quickly, said, “I’ve entrusted this matter to Minglang. Princess, please ask him. I have other matters to attend to.”

The Minister of Revenue quickly slipped away.

Li Ningyi, with a mixture of jealousy and gentleness, blocked Fu Minglang’s path and asked, “What is Third Sister doing here, blocking Lord Fu?”

Li Ning’an retorted, “What are you doing here?”

She looked at Li Ningyi with a puzzled expression.

After all, foreign officials were present on Imperial Street, and it wasn’t a place for princesses like them to linger. If it weren’t for demanding military pay from the Minister of Revenue, Li Ning’an wouldn’t have walked this way at all.

The only person from the Tong family who held a position and could attend court was Li Ningyi’s second cousin, yet Li Ningyi wasn’t looking for him. Instead, she was acting as if she was protecting Fu Minglang.

Li Ningyi realized her presence was inappropriate and explained, “I dropped my handkerchief, and it might have blown here in the wind. I was just trying to retrieve it.”

Li Ning’an still didn’t quite believe her, but she had no time to deal with Li Ningyi at that moment. She brushed past her and turned to Fu Minglang.

“The military pay for the border must be issued on time.”

Fu Minglang finally had a chance to greet the Fourth Princess and then responded to Princess Ning’an, “The Ministry of Revenue truly lacks sufficient funds.”

Five years ago, Beiyue frequently engaged in wars with Daqi, and the military pay expended during that time was no small amount.

Additionally, natural disasters had occurred in some areas, and at times, human error played a part.

The Ministry of Revenue truly didn’t have enough money.

At the end of the day, much of the wealth remained in the hands of high-ranking officials and nobility.

For instance, when mountain floods occurred and the Ministry of Revenue sent disaster relief, the officials responsible for transporting the grain or local authorities might embezzle the funds.

Those without strong moral principles siphoned off the money, and the Ministry couldn’t recover the stolen silver.

There were also issues with hidden fields and unreported head taxes.

With so many forces involved, it was a tangled mess that couldn’t be easily resolved.

Hearing Fu Minglang’s explanation, Li Ning’an realized the situation couldn’t be fixed quickly.

But the military pay couldn’t be delayed indefinitely.

“Beiyue is eyeing us covetously. We can’t let the soldiers who defend our country go hungry or cold.”

Moreover, the truth may not be as Fu Minglang claimed.

Li Ning’an asked to see the Ministry’s accounts, but there was no way Fu Minglang could provide them to her.

“Third Sister, why make things difficult for Lord Fu? Women from the imperial harem aren’t supposed to interfere in politics, and neither should we,” Li Ningyi interjected in support, trying to de-escalate the situation. From a distance, some onlookers even thought the two princesses were vying for Fu Minglang’s attention.

One of the officials sighed, “What a lucky man.”

The official beside him clicked his tongue, “Look at yourself—what could possibly make two princesses fall for you?”

The first official patted his large belly. “It’s all just gossip. Better not say more.”

Still standing near the palace wall on Imperial Street, Fu Minglang noticed that colleagues were starting to glance curiously in his direction.

He stepped back slightly. “I have important matters to attend to and must not inconvenience the two princesses any longer.”

Fu Minglang tried to leave, but both Li Ning’an and Li Ningyi grabbed hold of his sleeves.

Li Ning’an wanted to ask more about the military pay, while Li Ningyi was eager to learn why the Second Prince of Beiyue wanted to come to the capital.

Since Grand Tutor Wen held Fu Minglang in such high regard, he must have shared some information with him.

Fu Minglang stood there awkwardly, caught by the sleeves by two women, unsure whether to stay or go.

Li Ningyi glanced at her third sister, “When did you start caring so much about military pay at the border, Third Sister?”

Li Ning’an released Fu Minglang first and dusted off her fingers. “Naturally, I’m worried about my Yan Lang. I don’t want him to freeze.”

“Your uncle and cousin are useless, so I have to step in and help more. Speaking of, has your uncle gotten used to life in Beiyue yet?”

“He might as well stay there and become Beiyue’s imperial son-in-law. I wonder how your aunt feels about that.”

Li Ningyi was furious. Such insults to her uncle were essentially an attack on her as well.

“You… You’re shameless! How could you say such nonsense?”

“Princess Ning’an, you shouldn’t speak such baseless things,” Fu Minglang added, his face showing disapproval, intending to reprimand her. To Li Ningyi, however, it felt like he was defending her.

Li Ning’an remained unafraid. She had intended to cause trouble for Li Ningyi anyway, and now the opportunity had presented itself.

Concubine Tong had repeatedly obstructed her efforts to seek medical treatment for the emperor. Could she be the mastermind behind it all?

If the emperor passed away, her fourth brother would be the most likely to ascend the throne.

The Tong family dared to neglect the Iron Cavalry Army—that was truly outrageous.

Even if the military pay were released, it probably wouldn’t reach Yan Ziqi’s hands.

Fu Minglang’s deep eyes settled on Princess Ning’an.

When had she arrived, and how much of his conversation with the Minister had she overheard?

She was still interfering with the Ministry of Revenue… all for Yan Ziqi.