Chapter 21 Breaking Up the Partnership

The Emperor slammed the table with such force that the Little Eunuch shrank his neck in fear, while Li Dequan stood dumbfounded, unsure what expression to wear.

“Y-Your Majesty,” Li Dequan forced a smile and spoke cautiously, “You are absolutely right, but Young Master Yuanbao… wouldn’t this expose the plan?”

Not to mention the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince—the Emperor had been keeping accounts, and none of them would escape once this matter was settled. The Emperor wanted to see the two princes panic and beg for forgiveness. If the plan was revealed prematurely, not only would debt collection be delayed, but where would the fun in watching the show be?

Li Dequan was right—the Emperor was indeed being hypocritical.

Yuanbao had his tacit approval. Though the Emperor wasn’t entirely satisfied with the inscription on the plaque, the results spoke for themselves, and he couldn’t be prouder. But Yinreng and Yinzhen? The two of them stuck to Yuanbao like shadows every day. Hiding the truth was one thing, but as elders, they couldn’t even offer proper advice!

The mere thought of the words “Heroic Demeanor” made the Emperor furious. He mentally noted a heavy strike against the Crown Prince before calmly retracting his earlier statement: “You’re right. If Yuanbao’s duties were delayed, I couldn’t bear his complaints.”

Li Dequan wiped cold sweat from his brow, murmuring in agreement. Complaints? Unlikely.

The Young Master hadn’t visited the Hall of Heavenly Purity in two days. You’ve been so engrossed in guessing the plaque’s inscription—didn’t you even notice?

Hong Yan did feel a twinge of guilt, thinking he’d wait until this phase passed and the plaque was no longer in use before showing his face before the Emperor. After all, “Heroic Demeanor” was too exaggerated—he truly owed his dear grandfather an apology.

Young Master Yuanbao repented for a second, calmly planned his next steps, and before he knew it, evening arrived—the banquet prepared under the Fourth Uncle’s name was about to begin.

With an invitation from the Fourth Prince, which low-ranking officials below the fifth rank in the capital would dare refuse? Far removed from the center of power, attending such a banquet was an immense honor, even if only to make a fleeting impression.

Most understood the Fourth Prince’s intentions, though among the officials were a few staunch supporters of the First Prince. They were reluctant to repay their debts but had no means of escape.

With the Crown Prince backing the Fourth Prince, who among them would dare refuse?

In the imperial capital, high-ranking officials were a dime a dozen. The Crown Prince might show restraint toward Mingzhu or the First Prince, but he certainly wouldn’t spare them. If accused of disrespect toward the heir apparent, they’d have to plead their case at the Court of Judicial Review—dying without even knowing how, with no guarantee their superiors would protect mere underlings.

Thus, after three rounds of drinks, when the Fourth Prince stepped forward to speak a few words, the officials eagerly complied. Amid the lively atmosphere, debt collection proceeded smoothly.

In the front hall, cups clinked and laughter flowed. Hidden behind a screen, Hong Yan sat with one leg crossed over the other, occasionally scrutinizing the attendees.

Yang Bai stood beside him, furiously jotting down notes. Soon, the roster was filled with dense black characters:

Lord Li, a minor official in the Ministry of Personnel, had hidden silver amounting to 100,000 taels—all embezzled. Lord Xitala, a clerk in the Shuntian Prefecture’s judicial office, curried favor with the powerful and oppressed commoners, with countless wrongful cases under his belt…

Yang Bai had never witnessed such things before. The more he recorded, the more his heart pounded in terror, his face paling as if his blood had frozen.

The embezzlement and hidden silver listed were the least of their crimes!

Trembling, he cursed, “They—they’re nothing but wolves in sheep’s clothing.”

“Only a minority. There are still more good people in this world,” Hong Yan sighed in response.

All officials harbor selfish motives—some seek to glorify their ancestors, others to leave a mark in history. Truly selfless individuals are few and far between. Living in the capital is no easy feat, and those who remain incorruptible are rare. Thus, he understood well, only targeting the irredeemable moths, much like when he reformed the Imperial Household Department.

Each of these individuals deserved the death penalty, having reveled in their freedom for so long. It was time for their dreams to end.

Upon hearing this, Yang Bai swallowed hard, nodded solemnly, and suppressed his anger as he continued writing. When the crowd ahead had mostly dispersed, He Zhuer came to summon them. At the sight of his father, Hong Yan grinned and said, “Father, it’s time to get to work.”

The Crown Prince had not made an appearance that evening, choosing instead to play chess alone in the side chamber. He had intended to drag Hong Yan along, but the little rascal had slipped away.

With Yuanbao under the Emperor’s watch, he had no worries, so he sat calmly and even ordered fine tea to be served.

His peace was short-lived. At those words, the Crown Prince’s brow twitched. Work? What work?

Just then, the Fourth Prince pushed the door open, his eyes lighting up as he asked, “Yuanbao, have you come up with a new idea for debt collection?”

Hong Yan remained silent, handing over the ledger Yang Bai had compiled. The Crown Prince motioned for his Fourth Brother to join him in examining it. Before long, both their expressions darkened, and they could no longer sit still.

“Outrageous!” the Crown Prince exclaimed, while Yinzhen’s eyes burned with fury. That these men were corrupt and wicked was one thing, but among their crimes were offenses related to the Yongding River embankment—a major project set to commence next year!

The Emperor had placed great importance on this, convening discussions more than once and even personally reviewing the blueprints. The Crown Prince pinched the bridge of his nose, not doubting the ledger’s authenticity for a second. After a long pause, he said, “The connections in this ledger run too deep and wide. To resolve this, we must report it to the Emperor and proceed through official channels.”

The Fourth Prince nodded gravely. “Second Brother speaks wisely. Should I enter the palace tonight—”

“It’s too late. We’ll go together tomorrow,” the Crown Prince said with a faint smile, shaking his head. “With them still in the yamen, won’t it be easier to act?”

The Fourth Prince considered this and relaxed slightly. “As you say, Second Brother.”

Hong Yan was eager for the confiscation but preferred to delay the palace visit. So he asked obediently, “Father, can I sleep in tomorrow morning?”

For a moment, the Crown Prince forgot about the plaque incident and refused outright. “The Emperor hasn’t seen you in days. He must miss you.”

In truth, with Yuanbao around, the Emperor’s temper softened considerably. After years of observation, the Crown Prince had figured this out. If the Emperor flew into a rage upon seeing the ledger, Yuanbao’s presence might temper it slightly, sparing his health from the fury.

Except for that time Consort De was demoted, when the Emperor had berated him mercilessly—that was definitely an exception!

Had the Emperor known of the Crown Prince’s filial considerations, he would surely have praised his thoughtfulness.

Meanwhile, Suo’etu remained unaware that his precious plaque had nearly been lost. He was too busy contributing to Hong Yan’s debt collection efforts.

Suo’etu had been unusually active lately, having completely changed his stance. Those unwilling to repay their debts had become his enemies.

After waiting in vain for days without news of the nobles settling their debts—let alone Mingzhu and Tong Guowei, those old foxes—Suo’etu was livid. What, were they defying the imperial decree? Was the Crown Prince’s authority not enough? Did the Emperor himself need to step in?

Driven by a creditor’s mentality, Suo’etu seized the cover of night to knock first on the Tong Family’s side gate.

When Tong Guowei heard the purpose of the visit, he nearly tugged his beard off in shock. His face twitched as he said, “Minister Suo certainly has… refined tastes.”

Demanding repayment in the dead of night—and for National Treasury funds at that—was nothing short of madness. Tong Guowei scrutinized Suo’etu from head to toe, his gaze deepening with growing wariness. For “Never Spits Out” to be this enthusiastic, there had to be a scheme afoot!

The silver absolutely must not be repaid early.

Mingzhu’s words resurfaced in his mind once more. Maintaining his composure, Tong Guowei skillfully deflected, and Suo’etu ultimately left empty-handed.

Moments later, his subordinate reported that the carriage had headed toward Minister Ma Qi’s residence. Even with his renowned patience, Tong Guowei was at a loss for words—Suo’etu and Mingzhu truly were of one mind.

After his initial astonishment came fury. What had the Tong family ever done to deserve becoming the battleground for these two? With a flick of his sleeve, Tong Guowei coldly ordered his attendants, “From now on, keep the side gate shut. No visitors. Is that clear?”

Early the next morning, in the Hall of Heavenly Purity.

The First Prince and Eighth Prince arrived together to present another secret report. The Emperor felt instantly vexed at the sight of his eldest son and merely waved them off with a dismissive “Noted.” The Eighth Prince’s expression dimmed, his lips pressing into a tight line.

That report had cost him a sleepless night…

Had his elder brother said something improper yesterday to anger their father?

As his thoughts spiraled, an attendant suddenly announced the arrival of the Crown Prince, Fourth Prince, and the Emperor’s eldest grandson.

The Emperor’s face visibly brightened. “Let them in.”

The stark contrast in their father’s attitude made the eldest prince clench his fists, his jealousy sour enough to ferment a vat of vinegar. When the Crown Prince’s party paid their respects, Hong Yan’s exceptional treatment became even more apparent—the Emperor personally ordered fruit syrup served and granted him a cushioned stool to sit on, claiming it was for him to “observe.”

“Observe”? More like the Emperor couldn’t bear to see him tired. The eldest prince took a steadying breath, reminding himself to remain calm, when the Crown Prince clasped his hands and declared, “Father, my fourth brother and I have an urgent matter requiring your immediate decision.”

Without regard for the others present, he presented a ledger with both hands.

The Emperor studied him for a long moment, silently resolving to address the plaque matter later, then flipped through the ledger, skimming its contents.

His expression revealed nothing, but upon closer observation, Hong Yan could clearly sense the shift—the Emperor’s good mood plummeted like a dropped plate.

The eldest and eighth princes held their breaths, each lost in speculation. Then the Emperor spoke calmly, “What do you propose?”

The Crown Prince bowed slightly. “I request your permission to investigate and confiscate the moths’ assets alongside Fourth Brother.”

The Fourth Prince echoed firmly, “Father, I am willing to undertake this duty.”

The Emperor neither approved nor refused. Instead, he turned to the eldest prince, Yin Zhi. “Half the names listed here match exactly what you presented yesterday. Eldest Son, have you truly decided to entrust this entire investigation to the Fourth Prince?”

His words sent shockwaves through the room. The eldest prince’s pupils constricted, momentarily stunned.

What did this mean? Had the Crown Prince and Fourth Prince also targeted the Ministry of Revenue officials?

They already had their own duties—why steal his assignment? Wasn’t this overstepping?

The thought made his blood run cold. Beside him, the eighth prince stood frozen.

His handsome face drained of color, lips trembling as if to speak, yet no words came out.

If his eldest brother didn’t want this task, why wouldn’t he let him take it?

Yes, investigations bred enemies—but they were also opportunities for merit. He wasn’t afraid.

“Imperial Father,” the Crown Prince took a deep breath, thinking to himself that this couldn’t go on. After careful consideration, he finally spoke, “This matter involves Li Wenbi, who, as the father of Princess Li, is practically Fourth Brother’s father-in-law. As your son, I find it extremely inappropriate to intervene. If Fourth Brother resents me for this, as his elder brother, I’ll be caught in a dilemma. Yet, if Fourth Brother handles it himself, who knows how long it will take? I truly cannot bear to see that.”

This was practically pointing fingers at Yinzhen, accusing him of favoritism and shielding Li’s father.

The underlying message was clear: Imperial Father, this matter absolutely cannot be entrusted to Fourth Brother—he lacks the capability.

Hit with this unexpected accusation, Yinzhen’s face turned ashen, caught off guard and at a loss for words.

He had no knowledge of Li Wenye’s misdeeds, and Li Wenbi was certainly not his father-in-law!!

But the Crown Prince clung to the charge of negligence… The Fourth Prince rarely found himself in such an awkward position. The Crown Prince was anxious but couldn’t openly defend him.

Hong Yan, who had been quietly observing the drama, sat to the side.

Just as he was studying his less familiar Eighth Uncle, Fourth Uncle suddenly came under attack. Without hesitation, he called out, “Uncle,” and said with deep emotion, “Uncle’s brotherly love has moved even the heavens.”

The Crown Prince was startled but inwardly scoffed—what did a child know?

After his display of emotion, Hong Yan offered a heartfelt suggestion: “You’re afraid Fourth Uncle will resent you and worried he’ll overwork himself. There’s a simple solution. Eighth Uncle is upright and incorruptible, unafraid of offending Fourth Uncle. When it comes to confiscating property, Eighth Uncle is an expert! Let him work with Fourth Uncle, and everyone will be happy.”

He sighed and added, “Brave Eighth Uncle fears no hardship, and Uncle won’t need to exhaust himself—just give your mind a little rest. Free from worries, you’ll be so carefree even my Father would envy you. How wonderful.”