Chapter 380 - 158: Life on the Line

Chapter 380: Chapter 158: Life on the Line

"Your Ladyship, are you aware that something went terribly wrong with the military review?" Song Yunzhao asked, a look of confusion on her face.

Hearing Song Yunzhao’s question, Consort Shu looked back at her, also a bit confused. "I am, but that’s not something you or I should be worrying about. You should just focus on your pregnancy."

"You’re right, Your Ladyship, but I’m just a little curious. The court allocates so much Silver every year, and shipments of provisions and armaments are never delayed. How could those men in the army dare to do something like this?" Yun Zhao’s voice dropped to a near whisper. "I heard that because of the situation with the local officials, the Emperor has already decided to dispatch troops. Your Ladyship, how can soldiers like these be sent into battle? What are they supposed to fight with? Their bare hands?"

As Consort Shu considered Song Yunzhao’s words, she was unwittingly drawn into her line of reasoning and subconsciously blurted out, "These aren’t Prince Zhenbei’s troops. They wouldn’t be the ones sent to fight."

Song Yunzhao looked as if she’d had a sudden epiphany. "Oh, so they dare to fool the Emperor like this because they know they’ll never actually be sent to a battlefield?"

Consort Shu froze. ’That does make some sense,’ she thought. ’If they don’t have to risk their lives, why would they spend a fortune preparing armaments? Just putting on a show is good enough.’

As if not noticing Consort Shu’s reaction, Song Yunzhao continued, "But the announcement about the Emperor’s military review was sent out long ago. Weren’t they afraid of being exposed and punished? How could they dare to put on such a disgraceful display? Your Ladyship, do you think someone is backing them, making them unafraid of the Emperor’s wrath?"

"Unafraid of the Emperor’s punishment?"

"Exactly. If they were afraid, why would they dare let the Emperor see these deficiencies? Wouldn’t that be suicide? But for a matter this serious, who would dare to back them? I really can’t figure it out, and I didn’t know who else to ask, which is why I’ve come to bother you, Your Ladyship." Song Yunzhao offered an apologetic smile.

Yun Zhao’s words sent waves of turmoil through Consort Shu’s heart. ’That’s right,’ she thought, ’who *is* backing them?’

The Emperor today was not the same man His Majesty had been a few years ago. A chill ran down Consort Shu’s spine. She couldn’t help but think of her father, who had been having a run of bad luck for the past year. ’This can’t have anything to do with him, can it?’

Although worried, she dared not show any hint of it in front of Song Yunzhao. "I don’t understand these things either," she said. "You’ve asked the wrong person."

Hearing this, Song Yunzhao knew Consort Shu must be thinking of the Right Minister. Her objective achieved, she sighed softly. "I only heard from Chief Steward Zhang that the Emperor is in a thunderous rage and that he probably won’t let this matter go easily. But you have a point, Your Ladyship. It really has nothing to do with the harem, and we don’t understand these things. I was merely curious."

Consort Shu, however, was in no mood to continue the charade with Song Yunzhao. She desperately wished she could write a letter to her family at that very moment. It was a well-known fact that civil and military officials held each other in contempt. For this matter to be exposed so brazenly before the Emperor, the people behind it must truly not fear punishment. And throughout the entire court, you could count the officials with that kind of influence on one hand.

Her father was one of those very few.

Song Yunzhao changed the subject, exchanging a few pleasantries with Consort Shu about paying their respects to the Empress Dowager the next day, before tactfully getting up to leave.

Consort Shu immediately had Nanny Wen escort her out, not forgetting to add, "See to it that Song Zhaoyi returns to Wangyou Palace safely."

Song Yunzhao was speechless.

She could only accept Consort Shu’s "kindness" and allow Nanny Wen to escort her back to Wangyou Palace as if she were a prisoner under guard.

After sending Song Yunzhao away, Consort Shu immediately started writing a letter home. Halfway through, she stopped. ’This isn’t a trap set by Song Yunzhao, is it?’

But upon careful reflection, she realized Song Yunzhao had only said a few things. She hadn’t asked her to do anything, nor had she even mentioned her father. ’She couldn’t have been setting a trap for me.’

’Still, Song Yunzhao is as cunning as a fox. I should be wary. She wouldn’t have come here without a reason. Perhaps she set a trap that I just haven’t noticed.’

With this in mind, Consort Shu hesitated for a moment before adding a few lines about the conversation to her letter. Perhaps her father would be able to see something she had missed.

「Meanwhile, the Right Minister had just returned home.」

The Emperor’s rage had set the entire court ablaze. Military provisions had always been a serious matter, but it was also an open secret that there were handsome profits to be skimmed.

He had never expected it to go this far, however. Forget the Emperor’s reaction—he himself had felt unsteady on his feet just standing behind His Majesty.

The Right Minister paced his study, hands clasped behind his back. The Emperor would certainly investigate this, but how?

It was like pulling a radish out of the mud; one wrong move and three or four out of every ten officials in the capital could be dragged down with it.

Thinking of this, the Right Minister summoned his trusted confidant. "Go at once and ask the Minister of Revenue to come to my residence for a discussion."

All military spending had to pass through the Ministry of Revenue, so its minister was certain to know something.

But when the Emperor had questioned him today, the Minister of Revenue had shirked all responsibility, which made the Right Minister feel that this matter was not as simple as it seemed.

The Minister of Revenue, Cao Dingwen, arrived swiftly, beads of sweat on his brow. He bowed the moment he stepped through the door. "Chancellor Lu, you have to save me this time!"

The Right Minister’s expression froze. He had a very bad feeling about this.

At that very moment, Consort Shu’s letter arrived.

The Right Minister bade Cao Dingwen to take a seat first. He then sat behind his desk and opened the letter from Consort Shu. After reading his daughter’s words, his expression turned peculiar. ’Song Zhaoyi again!’

Cao Dingwen furtively watched the Right Minister’s face. Seeing his troubled expression and tightly furrowed brow, he began to worry. ’Has something happened to Lady Shufei in the palace?’

Cao Dingwen’s heart filled with unease. ’This really isn’t a good time to be asking the Right Minister for help.’

He thought back to the military review. He had planned on simply watching the drama unfold from a safe distance, but who would have thought he’d be the first one to be thrown into the fire? ’Could I be any more unlucky?’

It was a military matter, yet he was the first person the Emperor had called to account. If he couldn’t produce a satisfactory explanation for the Emperor, losing his position would be the least of his worries—he was afraid his life was on the line.

"Prime Minister, is Lady Shufei doing well?" Cao Dingwen asked cautiously, breaking the room’s silence.

The Right Minister folded his daughter’s letter and looked at Cao Dingwen. "Lady Shufei is perfectly fine. It’s just that word of the military review has reached the palace, and news of the Emperor’s fury has spread even to the harem. What do you say to that, Mr. Cao?"

Cao Dingwen sighed softly. "Prime Minister, I never would have expected this either. The military budget was jointly decided upon by several officials. While it’s true the Ministry of Revenue disbursed the Silver, we were not the ones who decided how much to disburse or to whom. Now that disaster has struck, how can I possibly shoulder such enormous blame all by myself?"

The Right Minister heard the unspoken threat in Cao Dingwen’s words. If no one came to his rescue, he wouldn’t hesitate to drag everyone down with him.

"Prince Zhenbei was adamant about not taking command of the Capital Guard back then. Only now do we see what a shrewd man he is," the Right Minister said pointedly.

What could Cao Dingwen say? The Capital Guard was the army tasked with protecting the Emperor himself. But it was filled with the good-for-nothing sons and grandsons of influential families, men who were skilled in neither scholarly pursuits nor the martial arts. Their families had pulled strings to get them in, and while it sounded glorious to serve in the Capital Guard, it was really just a place for them to coast.

The Capital Guard was all for show. The training wasn’t difficult, but the monthly stipends were generous, and it was no secret that padding the payroll was rampant. These were all open secrets.

Now the Emperor had turned hostile, and he was the first to take the fall. Cao Dingwen felt deeply wronged.