Chapter 51

Chapter 51

When the hall fell silent, most of the officials finally came to their senses.

At this moment, Vice Minister of War Hu Buyu stepped forward, breaking the silence: "Your Majesty, I can immediately send a message to the post stations in Jiangnan, and at the right time, mobilize silver from the three prefectures' treasuries to provide relief."

When Hu Buyu stepped forward, the Emperor's gaze fell on him as he asked, "If the message reaches the three prefectures, will it be in time?"

If the news is true, then mobilizing the official silver from the three prefectures would be enough to solve the snow disaster in the region.

If this were accomplished, it would actually save the court the loss from transporting grain—nothing but benefits, no downsides.

"Since the snow disaster, I have ordered all post stations to be on high alert, alternating between merchant routes and official roads to ensure delivery before the situation in the three prefectures worsens!" Hu Buyu said methodically. "This matter can be entrusted to the Ministry of War. Additionally, I would like to request a secret decree from Your Majesty to have each prefecture and county suppress the news about the court's official grain supplies."

The fact that this time grain merchants were allowed to sell at low prices was largely due to the information lag caused by heavy snow. If the court wanted to purchase this batch of grain to relieve the immediate crisis, word from the court must not leak.

"This matter is entrusted to your Ministry of War. Issue an order for the prefectures and counties in Jiangnan to assist." The Emperor said coldly.

"I accept the decree!" Hu Buyu bowed and immediately turned to leave.

The other officials in the hall lowered their heads in silence. As Hu Buyu accepted the post and the Emperor's orders, the Eldest Prince faction watched. The Emperor's gaze swept across the hall: "Furthermore, appoint the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review as imperial envoy, with the same authority to go to Jiangnan to handle this matter, and grant him the authority to mobilize treasury silver to purchase grain. If anyone disobeys, grant him the authority to act first and report later."

The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was startled by the temporary appointment: "I accept the decree!"

When the words "act first and report later" were spoken, a chill ran down the backs of several officials.

The Emperor never wanted departments to shift blame onto one another, but rather for those who could get things done and solve problems. The snow disaster had been delayed and shifted between the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works, nearly causing a catastrophe. If not for the Sixth Prince's move to have a wealthy merchant go to Jiangnan, which prompted grain merchants to sell at low prices, the snow disaster in Jiangnan might not have been resolved so well!

At this moment, Eunuch Rong had already come over to help Ying Fusheng to his feet: "Your Highness, rise."

The Crown Prince's mind had been thrown into chaos from the moment the grain prices fluctuated wildly. Now, seeing the Ministry of War take over the task, he came back to his senses from his panic. When he looked up, he saw the Emperor's grim expression. "The Crown Prince."

"I am here." The Crown Prince quickly stepped forward.

The Censorate supervised the hundred officials. Not long ago, the Ministry of Revenue had been harshly scolded by the Emperor for delaying progress, and the Censorate had uncovered the details. As the Emperor looked at the Crown Prince, Grand Secretary Xu's gaze swept toward the Minister of Works. Minister of Works Zhou Bingjun immediately said, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is young. Regarding the snow path repairs by the Ministry of Works, His Highness the Crown Prince even used his own silver to have the craftsmen work day and night..."

"Minister Zhou, did I ask you?" said the Emperor.

Zhou Bingjun fell silent immediately. The Emperor looked at the Crown Prince: "You speak."

Ying Fusheng, supported by Eunuch Rong, stood steady, his peripheral vision already fixed on the Crown Prince.

But the Crown Prince's mind was in turmoil. Faced with the Emperor's interrogation, he could only recount everything he had done in the Ministry of Works recently. However, the Emperor's expression toward him grew icier. "Xiao Yan, show it to him."

As the Emperor spoke, the officials turned their eyes to Xiao Yan beside him.

Since the purge last year, Xiao Yan had been in charge of the Censorate, investigating old cases from the previous year. Now he stepped forward and handed a memorial to the Crown Prince.

When Grand Secretary Xu saw Xiao Yan come out, a coldness had already settled in his eyes.

After taking it and seeing the contents, the Crown Prince's expression changed slightly. "I do not know!"

"The procedures in the Ministry of Works are cumbersome. What could be done in half a day often takes an extra four hours." The Emperor looked at him, his eyes seeming to see through everything. "You were appointed supervisor—where did you supervise?"

The Crown Prince knelt down. He understood now. If his father could find out about the Ministry of Revenue, of course he could also find out about the Ministry of Works.

He had used the Eldest Prince to slow down the project, thinking that a delay of two to four hours would go unnoticed. Little did he know, his father had seen it all. Initially, he could have blamed his elder brother, but after dragging it out again and again, the problem lay with him.

The strategy provided by the Xu family had seemed foolproof, and he thought he had victory in hand—only to be caught off guard by Ying Fusheng's sudden intervention.

Ying Fusheng stood to the side, remaining silent from the moment the Emperor began to question the Crown Prince.

With such a golden opportunity before him, he didn't even need to speak—his elder brother's faction would not let the Crown Prince off easily.

The Minister of Works said, "Your Majesty, this matter in the Ministry of Works has nothing to do with His Highness. It is indeed..."

"Let's not talk about the Ministry of Revenue. Approving official silver is easy, but the procurement is your Ministry of Works' responsibility." said the Minister of Revenue.

The Emperor glanced coldly, and all the courtiers around fell silent.

Even the Sixth Prince could find a wealthy merchant to go to Jiangnan to buy grain and distribute porridge. Yet the vast apparatus of the court's Ministry of Works was stuck on just snow path repairs without finding another way, and only sent someone to Jiangnan to mobilize the treasury silver of various prefectures to purchase grain after the disaster had already struck.

The officials remained silent. The Crown Prince had just arrived at the Ministry of Works, and the clearing of snow paths had repeatedly stalled. The old foxes in the court knew that the Crown Prince was hoping to establish his reputation by handling the disaster relief. If resolved in time, it would be fine, but the grain price issue had thrown everything into disarray. The Crown Prince was overwhelmed, and a perfectly good assignment had backfired.

Some officials from the Crown Prince faction wanted to speak further, but Grand Secretary Xu voluntarily stepped forward: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has failed to maintain proper measure. This matter was handled with insufficient stability."

The Crown Prince still wanted to say more, but the Emperor looked on coldly, surrounded by watching officials. The Emperor had always been lenient toward the Crown Prince. When had he ever treated His Highness this way? Even when Grand Secretary Xu spoke, the Emperor showed no intention of listening. Some officials wanted to step forward, but the Emperor rebuked the Ministry of Works officials in succession.

Before anyone could offer an explanation, the Emperor waved his sleeve, spoke coldly, and turned to walk into the side hall.

From beginning to end, the Emperor did not say another word to the Crown Prince.

Eunuch Rong said, "Now the snow disaster in Jiangnan is the top priority. Please, everyone, draft a plan. The grain procurement must not be delayed."

With that, the other officials respectfully bowed.

As Ying Fusheng was about to leave, Eunuch Rong stopped him: "Your Highness, His Majesty asks you to stay."

In the side hall, the scent of sandalwood lingered. When Ying Fusheng arrived with Eunuch Rong, his father was approving memorials. Having not seen him for several days, he noticed up close that his father seemed much wearier. Over the past two years, many things had happened at court, easily leading to overwork and illness.

He did not disturb him, waiting quietly for his father to finish reviewing the memorials.

"Going to Jiangnan—though it seemed rash, it was a clever move. Was this your idea?" the Emperor asked, not lifting his eyes from the desk, only glancing up. It sounded like a question, but the pressure was immense.

"It was not solely my idea. I consulted Lord Shen on this. Yunfei and I had initially wanted a wealthy merchant to help with disaster relief, but worried there wasn't enough time, so we sought Lord Shen's advice." Ying Fusheng lowered his head, then continued, "Liu Dafu is a wealthy merchant from Jiangnan. I heard that snow path repairs would take time, so I thought if we could arrange grain procurement early, it could alleviate the immediate crisis."

Thanks to the help of Shen Changcun from the Ministry of War, Liu Dafu was able to go to Jiangnan quickly.

Ying Fusheng stood without speaking further. The Emperor put down his brush and fixed his gaze on him. Ying Fusheng stood there with his head bowed, looking obedient, but when he spoke, he lacked the usual frankness, as if weighed down by worries, afraid to speak rashly.

The Emperor was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Why won't you speak?"

"I am afraid that speaking too much will cause mistakes." said Ying Fusheng.

Accustomed to the child speaking bluntly, now he was like treading on thin ice, cautious at every step.

The Emperor's expression softened slightly, knowing that the disaster had frightened the child. Seeing him standing so far away and thinking of recent gossip in the court, he said, "Come closer."

When Ying Fusheng approached, the Emperor reached out a hand to touch him, but saw the child flinch away from contact.

"I am fine here." Ying Fusheng avoided the Emperor's touch and said softly, "There are strange words in the court. I carry misfortune, so I cannot be too close."

"It is true that my mother met with an accident and grandmother’s health has been poor. Whether true or false, it is better for me to stay farther from Father, at least that is right."

Ying Fusheng firmly refused to come closer. The Emperor's expression shifted. Since the omen of calamity came to light, the Jinyiwei had investigated the palace lantern, finding that it might have been tampered with, but it was only a possibility—no concrete evidence, more like an accident.

After the matter came to light, other courtiers took aim, trying to firmly establish the claim, those party factions scheming to trample him down. The child said nothing, only the Empress Dowager spoke a few words for him.

He never seemed to think of defending himself, not even when facing the real possibility of being deemed a bringer of misfortune.

The Emperor had no choice but to say, "Regarding this matter in Jiangnan, what reward do you seek?"

Ying Fusheng replied, "I wish to have Lord Shen recognized."

Again, just like before—first for the Court of Judicial Review, now for Shen Changcun. The Emperor looked at him. "If it were your two elder brothers, by now they would already be asking for official posts, wanting to contribute to the court."

"I am frail and ill, unable to hold a key position." Ying Fusheng's voice grew weaker as he spoke. "Moreover, I did not do much in this relief effort. The people of Jiangnan are also subjects of Dayuan. As a prince, it is my duty to give my all; this is my responsibility, and I need no reward."

"Rather, it is Lord Shen and the other officials of the Ministry of War, as well as Liu Dafu and others, who should be rewarded."

His stance was firm, seeking rewards only for others.

The Emperor had no choice but to comply and ordered someone to draft the decree.

Ying Fusheng thanked him for the decree, and the Emperor dismissed him. Only then did he take his leave with a solemn bow.

After he left, the hall fell silent for a moment. The Emperor lowered his eyes to his palm, staring at it for a long while, listening to the report from Eunuch Rong beside him.

Eunuch Rong reported, "The Secret Guard said the Sixth Prince had visited Lord Shen's residence, and afterward, Lord Shen had gone to the Ministry of War to see Lord Hu. Regarding this matter, it seems the Prince genuinely sought merit for Lord Shen."

"He truly did send a wealthy merchant down to Jiangnan, but the idea likely came from Hu Buyu." The Emperor had seen Hu Buyu's memorials. These days, Hu Buyu appeared to be serving the First Prince, but in reality, he was using the First Prince's influence to accomplish many practical tasks. Shen Changcun had informed him of this. "This former Prefect of Anlong is quite shrewd, working both sides to get things done. To create such a situation—the news of official grain, the merchant's purchases—there is someone pulling the strings behind it."

Among the six ministries, the fastest channel for information was the Ministry of War.

If Shen Changcun wanted to pass information, he had to go through the Ministry of War. Hu Buyu was using the Sixth Prince's relief efforts to create this situation.

The Emperor actually disliked Ying Fusheng's recklessness, but the way the child had just shied away from him left him with an indescribable feeling.

Everyone was using him or using him as a stepping stone, yet he only remembered others' contributions.

This child had a simple heart and an honest nature, but at times he could be unusually stubborn... It was a double-edged sword.

...

The Ministry of Works' snow-clearing project was halted. The court focused its full efforts on purchasing grain and providing disaster relief, with the Censorate supervising and the Court of Judicial Review sending an imperial commissioner. Some officials had harbored secret intentions, but with such a show of force, who would risk their head for improper actions?

Initially, the three prefectures lacked sufficient treasury funds, but fortunately, the Emperor had issued orders in advance. The Ministry of War acted swiftly, dispatching fast horses to Jiangnan for relief. With the court's decree and an imperial commissioner, no prefecture dared to delay, and all offered support.

When the disaster victims in the three prefectures of Jiangnan saw that the Liu family's congee kitchens could no longer sustain them, they were surprised that, after only three days of interruption, the prefectural governments opened their gates wide for relief. This scene worried the fleeing families, who feared this might be their last meal—until an official shouted, "Grandma, don't worry! There's plenty of grain!"

Outside the government office, the Chen family general, who had been summoned, observed the situation. The leading general, his hair white with age, looked into the distance. He wore no armor, his clouded eyes fixed on the common people. Beside him, a keen-eyed Secret Guard officer whispered, "General Chen, the Junior General said this matter was greatly aided by you. Being in the capital, he could not come in person and sends his regards."

Since the military pay case, Old General Chen had been transferred to Jiangnan. For this incident to relay messages so quickly, the troops under Old General Chen, skilled in traveling on snow-covered roads, had played a crucial role.

"It was the Junior General who took the risky move. I merely did my duty. The Chen family's troops once galloped across the northern border; sending a few messages is nothing." Seeing the people settled, General Chen felt at ease. He had been transferred from the northern border to Jiangnan two years ago, and he saw no difference between the people of Jiangnan and those of the northern border. "By the time those civil officials argue to a conclusion, it's the common people and soldiers who suffer. The Junior General is too polite."

"The Junior General said this must remain hidden. If anyone inquires, it has nothing to do with the Chen or Qi families." The Secret Guard officer then took his leave.

Watching him leave, Old General Chen waved for his men to follow the Secret Guard's instructions. His strategist said, "General, should we inform General Qi in the northern border about this?"

"A risky move. Hanzhou has only recently left the northern border and is unfamiliar with the Jiangnan situation, yet he precisely located me and understood the layout of multiple prefectures, knowing how to stir things up." Old General Chen thought for a moment. "This is not entirely his idea. Someone is advising him."

This Sixth Prince, who had enlisted a wealthy merchant to go down to Jiangnan, likely had more than just a simple charitable act in mind.

Storms were brewing in the capital.

...

In the capital, the two major factions locked horns, resulting in the First Prince being punished and the Crown Prince being reprimanded. Particularly for the Crown Prince, his expenditure of personal funds on road repairs contrasted sharply with the Sixth Prince's relief efforts.

Soon, news from Jiangnan arrived.

The snow disaster was alleviated; the people of each prefecture were safe. News spread through various channels and gradually surged into the capital.

The Emperor decreed a grand reward for the wealthy merchant Liu Dafu and promoted Vice Minister of Imperial Stud Shen Changcun to Minister of Imperial Stud.

When the news from Jiangnan reached the common people, they learned what had happened. It was said that the Sixth Prince had the wealthy merchant purchase grain at high prices and then distribute congee for relief, his original intention merely to help. Unexpectedly, grain merchants, driven by profit, came in, and due to the news of official grain, they had to sell. Finally, the court purchased this privately held grain, sparing the three prefectures from the disaster.

At this point, some still brought up the matter of the Sixth Prince being a jinx. Many common people became displeased. The Sixth Prince's actions, though unintended, had led to good results.

For the common folk, it didn't matter who did what—whoever did good deeds for the people was a blessing.

The people spread word that the Crown Prince cared for his subjects, but in reality, the road repairs had been halted, funds had been wasted on clearing snow, and many officials from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue had been held accountable. Clearly, there was much hidden behind the scenes!

In contrast, the Sixth Prince had not mobilized civilian labor but worked with a kind-hearted wealthy merchant to go down to Jiangnan, easing the disaster in Jiangnan. When the people of Jiangnan learned of this, the capital's citizens actively refuted the jinx rumors, spreading instead the 'Lucky Star' narrative. The earlier political maneuvering by court officials failed to suppress the rumors and only spread the 'Lucky Star' narrative further.

"The very first task I undertook in court has turned out like this! What are the people saying about me now?" The news from the people reached the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince could not understand why a good task had gone so wrong, and why it was so strangely tied to Ying Fusheng. "Who is backing him? How did he even manage to turn the jinx matter around?"

The Xu family just managed to suppress the snow-clearing funds scandal, but public opinion was hard to control. Once news from Jiangnan arrived, the claim that Ying Fusheng was a jinx collapsed on its own. Now, not only among the people but also within the court, many praised him.

"Father Emperor obviously dislikes such matters. Yet when the people spread things about Ying Fusheng, he tacitly allows the 'Lucky Star' narrative..." The Crown Prince's voice suddenly stopped. He saw someone arriving at the Eastern Palace.

The newcomer wore only a female official's attire, but as she stood there, the surrounding sounds quieted. She stepped out of the shadows, revealing herself to be the Empress's trusted lady-in-waiting, named Shuang Yue.

Seeing her, the Eastern Palace attendants withdrew.

Shuang Yue spoke, "Your Highness knows to remain calm in court; blowing off steam once you're back in the palace is still acceptable."

The Crown Prince saw her and quickly explained, "I was just—"

"This matter, Grand Secretary Xu already knows. The Xu family handled it well this time. Without the Sixth Prince, the plan would have succeeded. Your current status is the Crown Prince, the only son of Empress Xu. The Xu family can only help you." Shuang Yue's voice was steady. "But if Your Highness cannot hold your temper, that old fox, Grand Secretary Xu, may have other ideas. There is more than one prince in the palace."

"But this matter—the Xu family—" the Crown Prince said urgently.

"Empress Xu is still at the Huguo Temple. The Xu family has lasted this long in His Majesty's eyes not by accident. Grand Secretary Xu conducts affairs with his own reasoning. Your Highness should play dumb." Shuang Yue said. "As for the Sixth Prince, no matter how high his reputation, as long as he is physically weak, he will never sit on that throne... Grand Secretary Xu has already made other arrangements."

"Who's there!" With a shout, Shuang Yue raised her hand, and a hidden weapon pierced through the wall!

The weapon passed through, but there was no one outside the window.

...

Outside the Eastern Palace, as the Empress's trusted lady-in-waiting disappeared, Ye Xuanjiu, hidden in a corner of the eaves, narrowly avoided the hidden weapon and turned, disappearing around a corner. The moment he left, several secret guards appeared at the Eastern Palace. Seeing no one there, they vanished.

Ye Xuanjiu moved swiftly, using his skills as a northern border scout to dodge surveillance and finally hid in a Secret Guard's secret outpost within the palace.

Qi Hanzhou turned at the sound and heard Ye Xuanjiu's breathless voice—

"Junior General, something's off at the Eastern Palace."

Ye Xuanjiu wasted no time and said directly, "There is a squad of assassins hidden there."