Chapter 107: Ministry of Revenue Affairs

Chapter 107: The Incident at the Ministry of Revenue Affairs

Madam Pei couldn't help but admire Zheng Shanci upon seeing him.

"Lord Zheng, there's no need to stand on ceremony."

Yu Lanyi stood up from his seat, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Zheng Shanci.

"Today was supposed to be a day for Young Master Yu to enjoy the flowers, but the rain has spoiled the occasion," Madam Pei explained.

Zheng Shanci smiled gently, his voice calm and unhurried, "Madam, you flatter me. If it weren't for this rain, I would have had to wait a bit longer before coming out to fetch Lan Yi. For me, this is a blessing in disguise. After all, I was just sitting at home with no plans to go out. Listening to the rain in such weather is quite soothing. The sound of rain hitting the banana leaves, leisurely passing the time—it's quite serene."

Madam Pei's admiration grew even more, and the other ladies couldn't help but marvel at Zheng Shanci. Such a young gentleman, handsome and eloquent—if he were still unmarried, he would surely capture the hearts of many young men and women.

Moreover, he was a man of genuine talent.

Now, braving the heavy rain to come and pick up Yu Lanyi, it was clear how much he cherished his husband.

Madam Pei and the others looked at Zheng Shanci with the appreciation of elders for a younger generation, but the younger husbands and wives felt differently. The young men who had seen Zheng Shanci three years ago were now married, and in their memories, Zheng Shanci wasn't unattractive, but now he was clearly exceptional.

A gentleman of noble character, refined and cultivated.

Such a man, like an orchid or a jade tree, had matured over the past three years as an official in the capital. His features had matured, exuding a calm and gentle aura. His figure was tall and well-proportioned, unlike their own husbands, who had become careless after marriage, indulging in drinking and socializing, their bellies protruding as they aged, their faces marked by weariness. With their families' influence, they didn't need to work hard, and it seemed they spent their time idling about.

They indulged in food and drink without restraint, neglecting their appearance.

A man like Zheng Shanci, whom some might call a 'mud-legged commoner,' was someone they would gladly take as a son-in-law or even marry into their families. Talented, handsome, and kind—what more could one desire? Such a man was truly exceptional. It was said that he still hadn't taken a concubine, having only Yu Lanyi at his side. Thinking of this, they couldn't help but feel envious.

Zheng Shanci made sure he remained composed.

"Madam Pei, my husband has come to fetch me, so I'll take my leave now. I'll visit the Pei residence another day," Yu Lanyi said, his voice rising with joy.

The young husband of the Minister of the Imperial Ancestral Temple was rendered speechless upon seeing Zheng Shanci.

Zheng Shanci politely bid farewell to Madam Pei. Holding an umbrella in one hand, he gently rested the other on Yu Lanyi's shoulder, and the two walked into the rain.

The younger wives and husbands focused their attention on Zheng Shanci and Yu Lanyi, one wife deeply moved.

She noticed that Zheng Shanci's umbrella was tilted toward Yu Lanyi, letting some raindrops fall lightly on his own shoulder. When sharing an umbrella, it was inevitable that one person would get wet, but it was a matter of who bore the burden.

Tilting the umbrella toward the other person was an instinctive act of protection and care.

"They are truly a wonderful pair."

"Lord Zheng is so young, probably only in his mid-twenties, and he's so dashing."

Some of the young men felt a pang of jealousy as they praised Zheng Shanci. Such a husband—even if his family background wasn't the best, he was already a Vice Director at the fifth rank, a significant achievement for his age. Besides, these young men and women all came from good families. If only... if only Zheng Shanci treated them so well, their families would surely support him.

They couldn't help but feel envious.

The young husband of the Minister of the Imperial Ancestral Temple felt a pang of envy as he looked at Zheng Shanci's figure. Such a fine young man as a husband would surely be the envy of all. Young and strong, he would be a credit to any family.

"Madam Pei, it's raining, so I've come to fetch my husband," the Minister of the Imperial Ancestral Temple finally arrived, late as usual. He wasn't holding his own umbrella but had a servant hold it for him. His beard was already graying, and his face bore the marks of age, his skin wrinkled. He looked at his young husband with cloudy eyes.

The young husband felt utterly humiliated. Such a comparison was unbearable—it was a complete mismatch, and he was clearly at a disadvantage.

Being young, the husband stamped his foot and ran off into the rain.

The Minister of the Imperial Ancestral Temple sighed, feeling both annoyed and angry, thinking that his husband had embarrassed him. Maintaining his dignity, he bid farewell to Madam Pei and walked away slowly, not bothering to chase after his husband.

Today was supposed to be a day off, and with a beautiful companion at home, Lord Hu was feeling a bit impatient when his husband asked him to come pick him up. Now that he had arrived, his husband was acting spoiled, which was truly infuriating.

It's fine to act spoiled when they are alone at home, but to behave so improperly in front of others shows poor manners.

Everyone watched as Lord Hu and his husband left, and they no longer cared about the husband coming to pick him up. Such a husband coming to take him home was no better than having a servant hold an umbrella for him.

A young woman sighed softly.

...If only a young, handsome, and promising man came to pick her up, that would be something to be proud of and happy about.

With this comparison, the young women's moods sank, and they half-heartedly said goodbye to Madam Pei.

After the young ones left, Madam Du and a few other older women remained. Madam Pei smiled, "We didn't get to enjoy the flowers much, but with this rain, we ended up observing people instead."

"This rain has made many of the ladies and gentlemen quite sad," one lady joked.

Madam Pei smiled, nodded, and chatted for a while before seeing the other ladies off.

"Madam, all the guests have been safely escorted home," a maid respectfully reported.

"That's good. Otherwise, any accident would be a headache," Madam Pei said, pinching the bridge of her nose. The maid immediately went to massage her legs and shoulders.

"Madam, you put so much effort into hosting the flower-viewing party, but the weather didn't cooperate, ruining your plans."

Madam Pei sighed, "As long as the purpose of inviting them to chat was achieved, it's fine. I just didn't expect Yu Lanyi and Zheng Shanci to stir up so much envy."

The maid laughed, "I think Madam is quite happy."

Madam Pei smiled, "What do I have to be happy about? I just think they are fated. It's a genuine connection."

She then chatted with the maid about other matters.

...

Zheng Shanci and Yu Lanyi returned home, and a servant brought in a pot of hot tea.

Yu Lanyi opened the window, and the rain drifted in. Each autumn rain brings a bit more chill, and winter is approaching. The rain felt cool and refreshing on his face. Yu Lanyi opened the window a crack and sat in a chair, sipping hot tea.

"Zheng Shanci, you're so good," Yu Lanyi said happily.

"I promised to pick you up, so of course, I had to follow through," Zheng Shanci said, having just returned and changing out of his boots.

"Handsome, young, and with so much potential, you're the kind of husband everyone loves," Yu Lanyi praised loudly.

"Stop saying such silly things. Only you see me that way," Zheng Shanci chuckled.

Yu Lanyi pinched his arm, "Your arms are strong too."

He clung to Zheng Shanci, who indulged him. Days off were reserved for Yu Lanyi, and sitting together like this, chatting, was beautiful.

"Next month, I'll open a perfume shop," Zheng Shanci said. The Zheng family's food shop, snack shop, and fabric store had earned a lot of money. After settling the accounts this month, they could start setting up the perfume shop.

Yu Lanyi knew the perfume shop would be profitable. He kissed Zheng Shanci's neck, "I want to invest too. Share the profits with me."

"The profits go straight to the accountant. It's not something you can just share," Zheng Shanci explained, his ears slightly red.

"So, the accountant is the richest in our family?" Yu Lanyi calculated.

That wasn't wrong, Zheng Shanci nodded.

"However, with the household accounts settled, we can receive more silver each month," Zheng Shanci said.

Yu Lanyi's eyes lit up, but then his mood soured, "If I talk to the steward, he will definitely disagree."

After returning to the capital from Xinfeng County, the steward had increased his monthly allowance. His monthly allowance was fifty taels, barely enough to buy a single piece of clothing. Zheng Shanci's ten taels stipend added to it, making a total of sixty taels.

"I'll go talk to the steward," Zheng Shanci said.

Yu Lanyi nodded eagerly, "You're persuasive; he'll listen to you."

Zheng Shanci took the freshly baked cakes from Jin Yun and placed them on the table, "Have some cakes."

Yu Lanyi nibbled on the cakes while recounting his experiences at the flower appreciation banquet to Zheng Shanci, including the incident with Mr. Wei.

Zheng Shanci thought for a moment and then laughed, "Lan Yi, you're quite something."

Yu Lanyi puffed out his chest proudly, "So, how are you going to reward me?"

He took a book without a cover from the bedside table and pointed to a page, "This pose."

Zheng Shanci glanced at it, realizing it would be a test of his strength.

"Alright."

On their day off, it rained again, so they stayed indoors, each occupied with their own activities. Yu Lanyi went to read a storybook, while Zheng Shanci read a book beside him, keeping each other company.

The night was naturally eventful.

...

Prince Zhennan's Mansion

Yu Shiyan, feeling weighed down, had been lying in bed. Ye Yunchu returned from outside, bringing a gust of cold wind that made Yu Shiyan shiver. He quickly closed the door.

"It's too cold outside; I've already closed the door."

"My mother said that since I'm pregnant, I can't attend to you anymore, so she found a few people from decent families for you to choose from," Yu Shiyan said, clutching the blanket.

"Not this again," Ye Yunchu thought impatiently. He had duties in the palace every day and didn't want to deal with household matters when he returned at night.

"I'll go talk to my mother; you rest well."

After a while, Shi Xia helped Yu Shiyan up and said, "The prince and the princess had a quarrel, the princess fainted from anger, and the court physician is still taking her pulse."

Yu Shiyan acknowledged. Ye Yunchu was the princess's pride and joy, but he had already defied her multiple times, causing a rift in their relationship.

He wasn't a petty person, but the princess now couldn't meddle in his affairs.

Seeing his mother lying pale on the bed, Ye Yunchu felt a pang of regret.

Prince Zhennan said, "It's normal for a man to have multiple wives and concubines; your mother is doing this for your own good. You only have a Side Consort and no principal wife, and now a child from a concubine is on the way. Who would want to marry you as a principal wife now?"

"I'll just make Shiyan my principal wife. Father, you only have me as your legitimate son, and my children will be well-trained to stand out. Why would I need more children?"

This had been discussed many times, but the son never changed his ways, so Prince Zhennan let it go. The son was favored by the emperor, and doting on a young man wasn't a major fault.

The princess, angered by her son and then scolded by Prince Zhennan for interfering in the couple's private matters, felt humiliated.

She clenched her teeth and agreed.

After the son and the prince left, the princess consort calmed down.

"Your mother has a strong temperament. In the future, you should take the Side Consort to see her less often. Focus on taking care of your pregnancy and avoid any mishaps. Just concentrate on giving birth safely."

Ye Yunchu lowered his head and agreed.

As the heir of the mansion, he had to live with his father and mother. After three years of this, Ye Yunchu felt exhausted. When he returned to his room, he saw Yu Shiyan had just finished drinking his pregnancy-preserving medicine. They bowed to him and then closed the door as they left.

Ye Yunchu drank a cup of hot tea. Yu Shiyan had become pregnant after Ye Yunchu left, and now it was already autumn. The child was expected to be born in winter.

"Shiyan, I want to discuss something with you."

Yu Shiyan looked up at Ye Yunchu, "What is it?"

"The manor has a villa in the suburbs. Since you and my mother don't get along, I think it would be best for you to stay at the villa for now. I've already replaced the staff there with my own. You can command them as you see fit. After you give birth and recover, I will bring you back."

"This means it will be inconvenient for me to see you after my duties. I'll probably only be able to visit on days off." Ye Yunchu smiled bitterly. This was the best solution he could think of. Since Shiyan and his mother didn't get along, it was better to separate them for now. Otherwise, their mutual dislike would affect the child.

"I know this is a hardship for you. As for your daily needs..." Ye Yunchu continued to explain.

Yu Shiyan's eyes brightened as soon as he heard he would be staying at the villa. With the servants being Ye Yunchu's people, he could manage things as he saw fit without having to worry about others' opinions. He could focus on giving birth peacefully.

"Yunchu, I think this is a great idea," Yu Shiyan said softly, his gaze gentle as he looked at Ye Yunchu.

"Then it's settled," Ye Yunchu said, slightly taken aback. He sat by the bed, rubbing his hands together to warm them before reaching under the blanket to touch Yu Shiyan's belly.

He wasn't a man driven by lust, so his mother's suggestion of finding someone to serve him was unnecessary. Ye Yunchu calmed his thoughts. If a man couldn't control his own desires, how could he achieve anything great?

Emperor Wuming had entrusted him with the task of reforming military finances, and recently, he had been pouring all his energy into it, even at the palace. It was an unpopular task that no one wanted, but Ye Yunchu had to step up.

This was for the best. Once Shiyan gave birth, his mother's attitude would likely change.

...

Zheng Shanci continued his duties at the Ministry of Revenue. Secretary He, seeing Zheng Shanci's leisurely appearance, sighed, "Director Jin has given me so much work, I'm on the verge of collapse. I envy you, Lord Zheng, for having so little to do."

Zheng Shanci smiled faintly, "You seem quite energetic, Secretary He, even daring to challenge your superiors. While I am a fifth-rank Vice Director, you are a sixth-rank secretary in the Ministry of Revenue. You seem to have forgotten your place in the official hierarchy."

Secretary He's face turned red, realizing Zheng Shanci was speaking the truth. In the official world, a higher rank could crush you. Zheng Shanci had ignored him before, but now he was calling him out directly. If he didn't reprimand Secretary He, the man would become too arrogant.

"Lord Zheng, you're just joking. Why so serious?" Secretary He muttered discontentedly.

"Let's keep our distance," Zheng Shanci said, then ignored Secretary He.

This incident reached Director Jin's ears, and he began to feel some dissatisfaction toward Secretary He. One should focus on their work and not talk too much. Originally, he had assigned Secretary He tasks meant for Zheng Shanci, and he had been uneasy about it. If Zheng Shanci had just shown some humility, even a simple greeting, he wouldn't have treated him this way. After all, Zheng Shanci was the son-in-law of the Marquis of Changyang, and his brother-in-law served in the imperial court. Such a family background was not to be trifled with.

But subordinates must be kept in line, or they would become unruly.

However, Zheng Shanci didn't come to him. After completing the tasks assigned to him without complaint, he simply went about his own business. This left Director Jin both confused and annoyed. Was Zheng Shanci expecting him to bow his head?

Neither the Marquis of Changyang nor Yu Zhangxing came to confront him, so Director Jin gradually calmed down, even feeling a hint of disdain.

Every day at noon, Zheng Shanci would go to the archives after his duties. Emperor Wuming occasionally visited and would often see Zheng Shanci there, except on days off.

Emperor Wuming smiled slightly, "Feng De, what is this man's name?"

On the first day Emperor Wuming met Zheng Shanci, Feng De had already sent someone to gather information about him. Hearing the emperor's inquisitive tone, he quickly snapped, "Silence!"

Feng De reluctantly closed his mouth, feeling aggrieved.

"If you had told me, where’s the fun in that?" Emperor Wuming returned to the Panlong Hall to sleep.

Zheng Shanci had been working in the Ministry of Revenue until winter. When he saw the snowflakes falling, he realized how long he had been there. He had gradually studied all the materials he had brought from the Ministry, and now he could answer any question asked of him.

He exhaled and returned to his desk to continue reading.

The perfume shop opened in the capital and quickly attracted the favor of many noble ladies. With no shortage of resources, the shop firmly established itself in the capital. He and Yu Lanyi returned to the Marquis's residence for a meal.

Yu Zhangxing looked up at the sky and remarked, "This winter feels colder than usual."

Zheng Shanci also looked up at the sky, puzzled. "The weather is indeed cold."

Yu Zhangxing: "When it gets this cold, some places become unbearable."

"Zheng Shanci, come quickly and build a snowman," Yu Lanyi called out.

Zheng Shanci went to build a snowman with Yu Lanyi.

The Marquis of Changyang brought up Yu Shiyan's pregnancy to Mr. Yu, who replied, "I know how to handle this properly. As soon as the news came out, I sent gifts in the name of the Marquis's residence."

Large families value their reputation, so even though Mr. Yu disliked Yu Shiyan, he wouldn’t cause a scene. Mr. Yu looked down on the Zhennan Prince Consort, whom he saw as undignified, sometimes even acting like a madwoman with no regard for propriety.

Mr. Yu watched Zheng Shanci and Yu Lanyi building a snowman, his gaze softening with affection. Now both of his children were doing well, and that was enough.

Yu Lanyi said, "Brother, you and your wife should build a snowman too, right next to ours."

Yu Zhangxing, off duty, wasn’t wearing a sword at his waist. He was dressed in dark clothes with a black cloak, his fingers clearly defined. Hearing this, he glanced at An Geer, whose cheeks flushed pink as he shyly lowered his head.

Yu Zhangxing's fingers moved slightly. "Let’s go build a snowman."

Without asking An Geer, he made the decision himself. An Geer, however, liked Yu Zhangxing's decisive nature and softly agreed.

Yu Lanyi and Zheng Shanci finally finished building their snowman. He pulled Zheng Shanci to warm themselves by the fire, leaving Yu Zhangxing and An Geer to build their snowman.

Zheng Shanci held Yu Lanyi's cold hands over the charcoal fire, rubbing them to warm them up faster. Snowflakes melted into droplets on their brows.

Yu Zhangxing and An Geer were still building their snowman in the snow. There was no one else in the courtyard. An Geer’s face and nose were red from the cold. Yu Zhangxing quickly finished the snowman. Noticing An Geer staring, he walked over, took his hand, and transferred his internal energy to him.

This was the first time An Geer felt the effects of internal energy. He instantly felt warm and light.

"The snowman is done."

An Geer found some twigs and teased, "It still needs arms."

Now that the snowman had arms, An Geer was visibly delighted. This was the first snowman he had built with Yu Zhangxing, and the feeling was different.

Seeing no one nearby, he tugged Yu Zhangxing’s cloak and ducked underneath it. Martial artists radiate warmth, even in winter. An Geer loved being with Yu Zhangxing in the winter.

...

After dining at her parents' home, Yu Lanyi returned with Zheng Shanci. Yu Lanyi happily leaned on Zheng Shanci in the carriage. "Now that it's the New Year, you'll have more time to spend with me."

Zheng Shanci smiled. "I'll spend the New Year holiday with you."

Yu Lanyi's eyes curved into a smile. "Zheng Shanci, you better not lie to me."

Zheng Shanci agreed, squeezing Yu Lanyi's palm and wrapping her hand in his.

The next day, Zheng Shanci attended the court session. Due to an unnoticed error in a ledger, a major mistake occurred within the Ministry of Revenue. Emperor Wuming severely reprimanded Minister Lei during the court session in the Golden Luan Hall.

"If it weren't for the discovery of only five carts of provisions during the supply retrieval, we wouldn't have known about such a huge blunder. One hundred and fifty carts were recorded as only five carts. What will the frontier generals think of me? Am I pushing them to rebel?!"

Upon hearing this, Minister Lei quickly begged for mercy, "Your servant is at fault! Please calm your wrath, Your Majesty."

"Take a good look at this for yourself!"

Minister Lei held the ledger, his forehead drenched in sweat. The other court officials remained silent, not daring to speak or provoke Emperor Wuming's wrath.

Vice Minister Mei's expression was stern. Director Jin wiped his face with his sleeve, visibly nervous. Zheng Shanci could feel Secretary He trembling behind him, noticing his official robe quivering.

After the court session, Zheng Shanci saw Secretary He's body go slack, his face drenched in sweat, as if he had just emerged from water, pale as if he had encountered a ferocious beast.

Zheng Shanci connected this with Emperor Wuming's reprimand of Minister Lei and began to form a suspicion.

Cui Ziqi tapped Zheng Shanci's shoulder, "Lord Lei will undoubtedly investigate this matter. Such a minor oversight nearly caused a major disaster, provoking His Majesty's anger and embarrassing Minister Lei in front of the court."

Zheng Shanci expressed his gratitude to Cui Ziqi for the reminder.

Upon returning to the Ministry of Revenue, the atmosphere was palpably tense. All the officials sat at their desks in silence, holding documents but clearly preoccupied. Only a minor official arrived to summon Director Jin.

Seeing Director Jin leave, they secretly sighed in relief, though their ears remained alert.

Not long after, the minor official returned to the doorway and announced, "Lord Lei summons Lord Zheng and Secretary He."

Zheng Shanci responded and stepped forward, while Secretary He followed behind with a nervous gaze, soon drenched in sweat.

The minor official led them to Minister Lei's office. Minister Lei sat in the main seat, with Vice Minister Mei sitting to the side, his expression calm. Director Jin stood nearby, head bowed, lacking his usual composure and sharpness.

"Your humble servant greets Lord Lei, Minister Mei, and Director Jin," Zheng Shanci saluted with clasped hands.

Secretary He followed suit, but seeing Director Jin's dejected state, he was greatly alarmed and unsettled.

"No need for formalities. I have questions for you," Minister Lei said.

Minister Lei continued, "A while ago, Minister Mei and I were reviewing the Ministry of Works' documents and entrusted the calculation of provisions for the frontier to Director Jin. However, Director Jin said he handed the task to Lord Zheng, and then claimed it was Secretary He who handled it. This has left me utterly confused. The matter of provisions is crucial, yet you two managed to botch it, causing me to be scolded by His Majesty. You both hid behind me, content and carefree!"

Director Jin had initially tried to shift blame onto Zheng Shanci, but immediately regretted it. Fearing that Minister Lei would discover he hadn't assigned the task to Zheng Shanci but to Secretary He, he quickly implicated Secretary He. This aroused Minister Lei's suspicion, leading him to summon both of them.

Secretary He couldn't hold his composure. His Majesty had erupted in anger during the morning court, nearly dragging Minister Lei to the dungeon for a beating. Someone like him would likely be dealt with without much consideration.

Now that Minister Lei had been scolded, he needed someone to clarify the matter and offer them up to appease His Majesty's anger.

Secretary He knew he had messed up. Trembling, he said, "This matter was not handled by your humble servant. As the secretary, all tasks assigned by Director Jin were given to Lord Zheng."

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope rose in Director Jin's heart. Zheng Shanci had made a name for himself before His Majesty, having been promoted from the local level and being new to the officialdom. Making some mistakes would be understandable. If he took the blame, Minister Lei and His Majesty might not be too harsh. Realizing this, Director Jin looked at Zheng Shanci with a pleading gaze.

"Zheng Shanci, did you handle this matter?" Minister Lei asked.

Zheng Shanci looked bewildered, "Lord Lei, are you referring to the military provisions? If it weren't for His Majesty mentioning it in the morning court, your humble servant would have no knowledge of it. I have never handled this matter. I beg Lord Lei to investigate clearly."

Director Jin closed his eyes, knowing it was all over.

Minister Lei immediately sensed something amiss and sneered, repeatedly saying, "Well done."

"You all are truly remarkable, playing tricks under my nose."

Secretary He wanted to say more, but Director Jin was overwhelmed with regret. He shouldn't have acted on impulse and handed the task to Secretary He. Having not made any mistakes for years, he hadn't carefully reviewed the documents, leading to this blunder.

"That's enough, the other officials are also aware of this matter. Lord Lei, Vice Minister Mei, it was my narrow-mindedness that made me assign Lord Zheng's task to Secretary He. Only now, after the mistake, do I feel regret." Director Jin wept bitterly, wiping his tears with his sleeve.

Zheng Shanci watched Director Jin's tears fall and remained silent.

"So, Secretary He is the one who made the mistake," Minister Lei said coldly, ordering someone to take him away to face the Emperor.

"Vice Minister Mei, I entrust this matter to you."

Vice Minister Mei accepted the order.

He glanced at the two men and let out a deep sigh.

"Director Jin, you were far too careless. Now that Secretary He has taken the blame, you must tread carefully."

Director Jin: "Vice Minister Mei, what about me..."

Vice Minister Mei replied, "Minister Lei will present this matter in full detail to the Emperor."

Thinking of this, Vice Minister Mei raised an eyebrow and said, "You got him scolded in front of the Emperor, and now he has to deal with your stupidity. The scholars at the Hanlin Academy are itching to prove themselves in the Ministry of Revenue. Your foolishness doesn’t just hurt you—it drags me and Minister Lei down with you. What goes around comes around."

Director Jin's body went limp.

"The Vice Director was wronged, but you’re too timid. You should have come to me about this bullying. As your superior, it’s my duty to defend you." Vice Minister Mei spoke gently to Zheng Shanci, lightly scolding him.

Zheng Shanci clasped his hands and bowed slightly, "It was my oversight."

"Go back and focus on your work," Vice Minister Mei said. He glanced at Director Jin, still slumped on the ground, and snorted, "Today, you’ve learned that the Ministry of Revenue’s affairs demand precision. Thankfully, this was caught in time, or it could have been catastrophic. This isn’t just about you—it could drag your family down too. Remember, every detail matters. Be thorough and careful."

Zheng Shanci acknowledged.

Vice Minister Mei dismissed him.

When Zheng Shanci returned to his desk, the room fell silent. Gone was the usual casual atmosphere.

A colleague quietly asked, "Lord Zheng, what happened? Are Director Jin and Secretary He going to be punished?"

Zheng Shanci only said, "Minister Lei spoke to me briefly and dismissed me. I don’t know the full story."

The colleague's face showed disappointment, but he understood. It was appropriate not to disclose such matters, and he could only hope for news later.

After the minor officials escorted Director Jin and Zheng Shanci away, they quickly connected it to Minister Lei’s scolding in the morning court. Now that Zheng Shanci had returned, the blame fell on Director Jin and Secretary He.

It made sense; Lord Zheng had not been assigned any significant tasks recently. Poor Lord Zheng—it looks like his luck has finally changed.

The afternoon brought the verdict. Secretary He was dismissed permanently, given fifty lashes, and sent home. Director Jin was fined five months' salary and demoted two ranks. Minister Lei and Vice Minister Mei were also fined six months' salary.

Such punishment was severe. Officials' mistakes could usually be offset by fines and demotions, or at worst, by flogging, caning, or imprisonment. Secretary He's permanent dismissal meant his career was over, with no chance of reinstatement.

As for Minister Lei and Vice Minister Mei, they also bore responsibility for oversight, which was a shared liability.

Today, Minister Lei of the Ministry of Revenue was scolded in the Golden Hall, and all the officials of the Ministry were crestfallen, no longer strutting like proud roosters but now cowering with their tails between their legs.

Officials from the Six Ministries and other departments, like the Hanlin Academy and the Imperial Hospital, were eating in the canteen, all aware of Minister Lei’s scolding in the morning court.