Chapter 60

Chapter 60

This is just the tip of the iceberg in the court factional struggles. Regardless of what actually happened at Riverside Slope, the result presented to the court was that the Crown Prince had pushed hard to build the Riverside Slope official road, but due to the Ministry of Revenue's negligence and other factors, the nearly finished road ended in failure.

With this conclusion reached, the people in the private room fell into silence.

The Crown Prince's fondness for grand projects, the Xu family's behind-the-scenes maneuvering—the result was the lives of the Riverside Slope craftsmen.

"Leak the news about the corruption in the Ministry of Works," Shen Yunfei said angrily.

Ye Xuanjiu shook his head. "If you expose this, it won't touch the Xu family."

"If they had done this beforehand…" Weng Yanqing said. Having seen how thorough the Xu family was, he continued, "Wouldn't the Xu family be on guard against something you could so easily ask about? If the labor broker can't be silenced, the Xu family is certainly well aware of it."

The information gleaned from a labor broker on the street was unreliable. It only suggested such a situation existed but couldn't be used as evidence. This matter went through the Ministry of Works. If corruption within the ministry were uncovered, those old foxes would, at worst, sacrifice another Vice Minister or Chief Attendant. The Ministry of Works was still there; they could simply appoint someone else to fill the position.

Moreover, with their prestige—the prestige of the Xu family among civil officials and among the common people—accumulated over two dynasties, they had become a family whose power network spread across both court and countryside.

Shen Yunfei caught on: "We can look for the craftsmen. Their testimonies should hold up, right?"

Ye Xuanjiu frowned. "Which craftsmen? None survived at Riverside Slope."

The Ministry of Works had every reason to prove the Riverside Slope project could be completed.

But the ones truly on the ground were the craftsmen. Their bones might never be recovered; how could they question them about it? The Xu family's move was ruthless. With the dead, some things couldn't be investigated at all.

"We can still expose the truth," Ying Fusheng said, watching the common people coming and going outside the tavern. "Also, go investigate other craftsmen cases. Combine these cases and refer them to the Court of Judicial Review to investigate. The bigger the uproar, the better."

Shen Yunfei turned and left. Ye Xuanjiu looked puzzled.

Weng Yanqing hesitated, then looked at Ying Fusheng. "The Ministry of Works will be cautious about those cases."

"Inspect all craftsmen cases under the Ministry of Works, not just those related to the road," Ying Fusheng said, looking at Weng Yanqing. "Especially cases that have left traces in the Ministry of War."

Ying Fusheng stood up, instructed the tavern staff to take care of the old woman, and prepared to return to the palace.

Before he even reached the palace gate, rumor was already spreading among the people: the Emperor had invited Grand Secretary Xu back to the Grand Secretariat to handle the Riverside Slope matter. Hearing this, the common people rejoiced. In their eyes, Grand Secretary Xu's return would surely move the civil officials to act in the people's interest, and the villages near Riverside Slope would be saved.

"As it stands, Grand Secretary Xu's return is unstoppable," Song An said.

Ying Fusheng lowered his eyes. Destroying Riverside Slope had also given the Xu family a prime opportunity to gain fame and merit. When the Crown Prince had boasted in court about building the Riverside Slope road, the Xu family had already calculated all the interests behind it. No doubt the Xu family had already quietly dispatched people to handle the Riverside Slope situation.

As soon as he entered the palace, Chen Xuqiu was already waiting for him.

She had heard some rumors in the palace.

Chen Xuqiu performed acupuncture to extract the poison, avoiding the imperial physicians. Black, poisonous blood dripped from his fingertips, drawn from deep inside his internal organs, only a few drops at a time. Ordinary people would struggle to endure such pain during detoxification, but this prince, though young, endured it all without flinching.

She carefully collected the poisoned blood, sneaking a glance at Ying Fusheng. The latter didn't even furrow his brow.

Just then, a sound came from the window. She turned to see Qi Hanzhou climbing in the window.

Qi Hanzhou had received a message from Ye Xuanjiu. When he arrived at the side hall of Cining Palace late at night, the candles were still burning. He saw Chen Xuqiu looking up and only then remembered there was a Jianghu figure in the hall.

Chen Xuqiu silently withdrew her needle and left. "Your Highness should rest quietly for the next two days."

Those two always communicated by climbing through the window late at night. One might think they were holding a secret rendezvous.

Hearing a sound, Ying Fusheng finally looked up. He had been in poor spirits recently, his pulse blocked by Chen Xuqiu's needles, and even the things he hid under his pillow had been found by Song An. So when Chen Xuqiu was around, he had no choice but to be obedient.

As soon as he saw Qi Hanzhou, he knew why the man had come.

"Father had no choice but to recall Grand Secretary Xu to the Grand Secretariat. He will be suspicious about the Riverside Slope matter and will have you investigate it," Ying Fusheng said, looking at him. "You need to investigate, but don't start with the Xu family. With his abilities, he won't let you find anything. Only by investigating according to Father's wishes can the power of the Embroidered Uniform Guard truly fall into your hands."

Though he was not on the court, he seemed to know everything.

"What do you want the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate?" Qi Hanzhou asked.

Ying Fusheng smiled. "I thought the Junior General would ask if I was trying to use the Embroidered Uniform Guard to fan factional strife."

"Shuang Yue's death has made the shadow player cautious. He doesn't dare act, but others do," Ying Fusheng explained clearly. "So far, it seems he's using the Xu family's hands. Do you think this Riverside Slope matter was within his expectations?"

Qi Hanzhou's expression changed. He looked deeply at Ying Fusheng.

"This person's pieces might be strewn across the court, but his pace has slowed," Ying Fusheng's eyes glinted coldly. "The Crown Prince's promise to build Riverside Slope in court was beyond his expectations."

On the surface, Riverside Slope helped the Xu family, but it also had a downside: it made the Emperor more wary of them.

Given the shadow player's strategy, if he had wanted to build Riverside Slope, it would have been executed flawlessly. The Crown Prince's promise exceeded what the Xu family and the shadow player had calculated, so the Xu family could only push it forward, and the shadow player behind them couldn't stop it.

Against an opponent skilled at lying low, patience was key.

"Which means his plans have gone off course due to the loss of Shuang Yue and other moles. He's spread too thin."

So much so that the Crown Prince's unplanned move upset his strategy.

Ying Fusheng said, "Junior General, the moment has come."

These past few days, Chen Xuqiu had been extracting poison from him every day, leaving Ying Fusheng's complexion even worse than before, showing obvious weariness. He leaned against the bed, speaking a bit slower than usual, but his smile remained unchanged. He always wore that hollow smile, the smile never reaching his eyes, his obedient face hiding thoughts no one could read.

Just like now, revealing his rawest malice.

As if in his eyes, transactions and interests had to be calculated clearly to avoid any burden.

Some people would be desperate to associate with the Qi family and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the closer the better. But every time Ying Fusheng cooperated with the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he would give them convenience in return, strictly adhering to the principle of reciprocity.

"Who should we investigate?" Qi Hanzhou simply asked.

Ying Fusheng said, "The Eastern Palace."

Those sacrificed in the Ministry of Works case were just pawns on the chessboard.

Only the Eastern Palace could lead to the Xu family and the shadow player's schemes.

"The Xu family's current status is built on layers of tangled relationships. We need solid, indisputable evidence," Ying Fusheng said with a smile, but suddenly caught Qi Hanzhou's gaze and his smile froze. He said something wrong? What was that look on his face?

"How old are you now, Your Highness?" Qi Hanzhou suddenly asked.

The question was so abrupt that Ying Fusheng was somewhat surprised. He looked at Qi Hanzhou, trying to read something in his eyes, but only saw his own reflection there.

He thought for a second. Another year was coming to an end. Soon, after the New Year, he would be almost thirteen.

"Twelve? Thirteen?" Ying Fusheng looked puzzled

"You need to rest," Qi Hanzhou said.

The candlelight flickered, and a few strands of Qi Hanzhou's hair fell, shading the darkness in his eyes. Ying Fusheng's gaze flickered slightly, not avoiding those eyes, as he watched him gently pull the quilt up to his neck, the movement carrying a hint of unyielding force, more than usual.

Just like before.

Seeing the man quiet down, Qi Hanzhou moved the calming incense closer. The fatigue on Ying Fusheng's face was impossible to hide; before he could finish speaking, the scent of the incense, when brought near, seemed to cover the nightmares deep in his memory. Overlapping shadows appeared by the bed, and his words were trapped in his throat, unspoken.

Whether it was the man or the laced incense.

The stubborn drowsiness finally broke through his defenses. Ying Fusheng's eyelids drooped, and he fell into a deep sleep.

"Thank you, Junior General," Chen Xuqiu said as she entered. "The Sixth Prince's mind is heavy with thoughts, and he keeps the calming incense far away, often resting very late."

Qi Hanzhou didn't respond, only looking down at the sleeping figure. He had lit the incense for so long, yet the man still hadn't fallen asleep—just how long had he been forcing himself to stay awake?

Noticing Qi Hanzhou's glance, Chen Xuqiu's expression steadied slightly, then she said, "The toxin from Suihongzi has been extracted. It's also a toxin from a previous dynasty, and as the Junior General expected, it appears to be a congenital toxin."

"It seems the Sixth Prince's lifelong frailty is deeply connected to this congenital toxin," Chen Xuqiu added.

"Is it unrelated to premature birth?" Qi Hanzhou asked.

As he spoke, his gaze was as sharp as a northern wolf's. In an instant, Chen Xuqiu felt as if she were being seen through. Her heart tightened. "If I couldn't distinguish between premature birth and congenital toxin, I wouldn't be qualified to enter this palace."

Qi Hanzhou withdrew his gaze, his eyes lingering briefly on the resting Ying Fusheng before he turned and left.

As soon as he was gone, Chen Xuqiu's expression relaxed slightly.

When Qi Hanzhou asked about the premature birth, she recalled what her grandmother had said before leaving for the south: Empress Xu had once brought the current Crown Prince to a cottage for consultation, and the pulse diagnosis then indicated a birth deficiency. The Empress had a difficult labor, and the Crown Prince's pulse matched. So, neither she nor her grandmother had ever doubted it—until she felt Ying Fusheng's pulse, and after entering the palace, she learned that the Crown Prince and the Sixth Prince had been born on the same day.

A bizarre and chilling thought emerged in her mind.

She suppressed her shock and quietly withdrew.

Long after she had left, Ying Fusheng opened his eyes on the bed. He glanced at the burning calming incense nearby, stared for a long time, then reached out and snuffed it out.

Chen Xuqiu's medicine—he had known it well since his past life. "Even the methods haven't changed,"

"Then again, they are not people from the past life."

Ying Fusheng rose, still dressed; it was not yet time to rest.

On the chessboard not far away, the pieces belonging to the Xu family were scattered in disarray.

He stared deeply at this chaotic board. The Xu family led a network of civil officials spread across various government posts. The court and country had just been through a corruption scandal and the imperial examinations; the court's civil governance depended on these scholar-officials, so even his father the Emperor was constrained by this vast web.

The Xu family might once have been pure streams, but the higher they climbed, the denser their network became.

With mere connections as upright officials, families like the Xu could never amass such immense power... There must be other hidden ties and exchanges. The Xu family's protégés and former subordinates were scattered across the six ministries. Empress Xu entered the central palace as empress, female relatives married into the imperial clan, and the Xu sons and nephews held key positions in the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Personnel. The Xus were no longer a family reliant solely on their scholarly reputation; they were a vast network woven with the bait of interests, shaking the very foundations of the court at the slightest move.

A coldness crept into his expression.

He wanted to move against the Crown Prince; with this, even his blood ties could not lead to a peaceful end.

Moreover, some roots were rotting through and through.

He had originally intended to observe for a few more days, but then the Heshuipo incident erupted.

"Too clever for one's own good..."

What he intended to investigate was not the treasury accounts of the Ministry of Works.

-*

Grand Secretary Xu returned to the Grand Secretariat and set people to handle the Heshuipo pipeline. The Crown Prince showed particular concern for the disaster at Heshuipo, repeatedly discussing with the Ministry of Works' artisans how to reorganize the pipeline.

Ying Fusheng tacitly allowed this matter to make as much noise as possible. So, the affairs of the craftsmen and the human traffickers were spread by Shen Yunfei and others, along with several cases of craftsmen, all submitted to the Court of Judicial Review.

Seeing this situation, the Court of Judicial Review promptly forwarded the cases to the Censorate for joint trial.

As the accumulated cases of craftsmen piled up before the Censorate, the censors stirred. Xiao Yan, the head of the Censorate, looked at these files, hesitated for a moment, and then ordered a full investigation.

The Ministry of Revenue was repeatedly impeached over household registration issues. The Eldest Prince's faction did not sit idle; after waiting for some time, the case of the brutal murder of a craftsman in the Shuntian Prefecture was presented before the throne. The Court of Judicial Review submitted it, and the Eldest Prince seized the opportunity, directly exposing irregularities in the Ministry of Works' standby fees, accusing them of corruption.

"How do you, the Ministry of Works, explain this?" the Eldest Prince accused in court.

Eyes from all directions turned to Grand Secretary Xu, who remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Your Majesty, you may not be aware: the hiring costs for civilian labor naturally fluctuate with the season. Those merchants are quite shrewd, and the hiring fees change accordingly. The fees the Ministry of Works collects from craftsmen are fixed. These are the accounts; Your Majesty can verify them clearly."

The accounts clearly recorded the destination of every sum.

When labor wages increased, the hiring fees for the Ministry of Works also increased.

Conversely, when they decreased, the surplus was kept in the Ministry of Works for future needs.

The Xu family came prepared, with ledger books ready to counter the accusations. With these clear accounts presented, anyone who wanted to make an issue of this matter would have to bypass this point. Moreover, the Ministry of Works used this to explain why the standby fees had recently risen: they had always been covering the shortfall from their own pockets, truly forced by circumstances. This time, because the project was rushed and the Ministry of Revenue was being difficult, the standby fees had changed.

"Father said the Ministry of Works' accounts are clear, personally verified by Lord Xiao of the Censorate," Shen Yunfei relayed the news from the court. "The funds in the Ministry of Works' treasury have also been checked item by item."

Upon hearing this, Ying Fusheng asked, "Everything, down to the last detail?"

"Yes," Shen Yunfei hesitated. "Is there a problem with that?"

"Then that's right," Ying Fusheng said, turning to Weng Yanqing and speaking softly. "After a hundred precautions, there's bound to be one oversight. That case can be submitted to the Court of Judicial Review now."

...

In the Eastern Palace, news of the Ministry of Works' clean hands reached the palace.

Hearing about it, the Crown Prince was in a good mood: "Big Brother thought he could crush me; for this time, the Ministry of Works' accounts have been flawless. Now he's at a loss for words, which further proves that the Ministry of Revenue tried to crush the Ministry of Works."

Empress Xu listened, watching the Crown Prince's confident demeanor, her expression darkening. "You handled this wrongly."

"Mother, I originally wanted to complete the construction of Heshuipo, and the Ministry of Works' designs were flawless," the Crown Prince tried to soothe Empress Xu. "If Big Brother hadn't messed around and falsified the numbers, how could it have come to this?"

Before he could finish, a palace attendant rushed in to report—"Your Highness, a message from the Grand Secretary: he asks about the Jade Beast Statue."

"What statue?" the Crown Prince hesitated.

Empress Xu frowned. "The gift you gave the Empress Dowager a few years ago."

The Eastern Palace's Jade Beast Statue—that gift was from years ago. At the time, he had secretly arranged for the Ministry of Works to find a jade carver to make it, but it turned out quite ordinary. Mentioning it still annoyed him. "What about it?" he asked.

Empress Xu's expression changed slightly as she suddenly realized something. "You said at the time that you found the jade carver privately?"

The Crown Prince had never handled such arrangements himself; he was used to delegating matters to others. Carving jade, especially a jade beast, required experts from the Ministry of Works. "I tasked the Ministry of Works with it..."

"And which treasury paid for it?" Empress Xu asked. "Not from your own?"

The Crown Prince was momentarily at a loss. "I gave the order; I don't quite remember."

A jade carving that large—when the Eastern Palace's order reached the Ministry of Works

The jade carver was a craftsman of the Ministry of Works. Where did the jade come from, who carved it, and how much did the labor cost?

Such a large expenditure naturally couldn't be put on the books openly. Moreover, when the Crown Prince issued an order, which official would dare to ask the Crown Prince for money?

How could the Ministry of Works, known for its integrity, have the resources to cover such a huge bill?!

The Crown Prince realized the problem and hurriedly ordered, "Hurry, go fetch that ledger—"

Before he could finish, a voice came from outside the palace:

"Your Highness, it's bad! The Imperial Guard has arrived with the Emperor's decree—their leader is Qi Hanzhou!"