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墨書 Inktalez
In the Western Chu, the emperor, princes, and princesses were numerous, and the intricate web of forces behind them was as complex as a vast and shadowy spider's web.
The emperor harbored ambitions to cleanse the entire court, but being in a high position meant he was bound by too many concerns, like ropes constraining him.
When he received the report that his daughter, Yun Qingyu, intended to raid the Minister of Revenue's residence that night, and that her actions were swift and decisive, his hand paused abruptly over the documents he was reviewing.
A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes: she had chosen to target the Ministry of Revenue first.
The emperor fell silent, his brow furrowed.
The power dynamics within the court were deeply intertwined; pulling one thread could affect the entire tapestry. The position of Minister of Revenue was too critical, controlling the National Treasury's finances and backed by the Empress Dowager. Over the years, the Hong Family had profited immensely from this arrangement.
Even he had never dared to act rashly against the Minister of Revenue. He recalled Yun Qingyu's earlier request for a promise from him to turn a blind eye to whatever she did.
Seeing the emperor lost in thought, the Imperial Guard Commander quickly spoke up, "Your Majesty, should we send someone to stop the Princess Consort's actions?"
The emperor snapped back to reality, his gaze becoming deep and resolute. He commanded in a low voice, "Immediately arrange for the Imperial Guards to secure all nine gates. No one from within the palace is allowed to leave tonight, and no one from outside is permitted to enter."
"Yes," replied the Imperial Guard Commander respectfully. "I will make arrangements at once." With that, he turned to leave, already understanding that the emperor was supporting the Princess Consort's actions; it seemed the winds of change were blowing through the court.
After the Imperial Guard Commander departed, the emperor sat alone behind the Dragon Table, lost in profound contemplation.
A hint of helplessness flickered in his eyes as he pondered: he had been aware of the Hong Family's actions over the years; they were blatantly lining their own pockets. Yet he had never found an opportune moment to act against them. The various factions within the court balanced each other out; even as emperor, he could not act freely. Every decision required careful consideration of numerous factors.
He had to maintain the delicate mother-son bond with the Empress Dowager while balancing the power dynamics among the prominent families and court officials. Every decision he made required careful consideration of the potential consequences that would follow.
In short, sitting in this supreme position meant that many things were beyond his control, and many of his desires felt unattainable. Thinking of his daughter, Yun Qingyu, the Emperor murmured, "Qingyu might truly be my lucky star."
There was a hint of melancholy in his tone; perhaps only she could act without hesitation to do those things he had longed to do but never dared to attempt, like a sharp sword cutting through the thorns that bound the court.
The Third Prince watched helplessly as several large boxes of gold and silver were moved out of Yun Qingyu's residence. The look in his eyes was as if he were watching his lifeblood being taken away, his heart bleeding with despair.
These treasures had been meticulously accumulated by him to support assassins and bribe officials, paving the way for his future ascension to the throne.
Now, they had been completely stripped away. Not only that, but he had also lost the Ministry of Revenue, a crucial stronghold overflowing with wealth. This was a devastating blow to his plans.
What troubled him even more was that the person he had sent for help returned with the worst news. The messenger rushed before the Third Prince, panic written all over his face. "Your Highness, the palace gates have been locked! No one can get in! We can't seek help from the Empress Dowager anymore. Should we return to the manor and summon the guards?"
"We can't!" The Third Prince's heart sank suddenly, a glint of malice flashing in his eyes. He wished he could tear Yun Qingyu apart, piece by piece, to vent his anger.
Yet deep down, he understood that it was too late to turn back now.
Yun Qingyu leading three thousand Imperial Guards to raid his residence was clearly sanctioned by his father. Before there was any evidence, perhaps he could find an excuse to obstruct her; but if he were to recklessly summon guards to stop Yun Qingyu now, she could easily accuse him before their father of plotting against her. In that case, he would have no way to defend himself.
For now, he could only sacrifice a pawn to protect the king—his best strategy was to safeguard himself and stay out of trouble.
Initially, the Third Prince had hoped to mend the relationship between Lu Mingzhan and Yun Qingyu, allowing him to continue using her as leverage in his quest for succession.
After tonight's ordeal, such thoughts were officially shattered. His heart was filled with countless feelings of hatred and helplessness. Gritting his teeth, he mounted his horse, lashed it fiercely, and rode away without looking back.
From this moment on, he and Yun Qingyu became sworn enemies.
Meanwhile, boxes upon boxes of gold and silver were being hauled out from the secret chamber. The Minister of Revenue, Hong Chenghai, stood pale as a ghost, as if his soul had been drained. He stood rigidly to the side, muttering to himself, "It's over, all is lost..."
According to the laws of Western Chu, officials found guilty of embezzling more than two hundred taels of silver would face severe punishment.
Though it is said that clear waters have no fish, very few officials in the court were truly clean and law-abiding. Generally speaking, as long as one did not go too far, the emperor would turn a blind eye.
However, the amount of gold and silver seized from the Hong Family tonight was so staggering that it was beyond comprehension. Even executing the entire Hong Family ten times over would not be excessive!
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