Chapter 381 - 159: The Emperor’s Fury

Chapter 381: Chapter 159: The Emperor’s Fury

"Prime Minister, you know how it is. The court has always turned a blind eye to a place like the Capital Guard." Cao Dingwen sighed helplessly. He was the one managing the funds, not the one spending them. For him to be the first one made a scapegoat when trouble erupted... it was a true injustice.

"That was in the past." The Right Minister had been bested by the Emperor last year, and he vaguely sensed that the Emperor was doing this intentionally.

’How could the Emperor not know what the Capital Guard is like?’

’Even if he didn’t know the full extent, he must have known at least half of it.’

The recent unrest with the local officials in the south gave the Emperor the perfect opportunity. The Emperor had rarely concerned himself with military authority in recent years, so these people had grown careless. Now, his sudden move had caught them completely off guard.

The decree for the military review was indeed issued in advance, but it gave them less than a month. Did they think the Capital Guard was made of immortals? How could they possibly replace all their equipment with new gear? And who would be willing to spit out the silver they had already pocketed?

They had originally planned to just muddle through, but who could have known the Emperor would be so uncompromising? He had pinned Cao Dingwen, the man holding the purse strings, to the chopping block as a show of force.

The Right Minister was worried as well. Ever since he had used the snow disaster to stage a comeback, he had been exceedingly cautious these past few months. But now, he couldn’t be certain that none of the officials who followed him were deeply entangled in this mess.

When these people were reaping the benefits, they were full of pleasantries. But if real trouble arose, they would surely sell others out to save their own skin.

"Prime Minister, what on earth should I do now?" Cao Dingwen asked, his brow furrowed with worry.

"Are the Ministry of Revenue’s ledgers all accounted for?" the Right Minister asked.

Cao Dingwen immediately nodded. "Of course they are."

This was his lifeline. Cao Dingwen had guarded them well; every single transaction of silver was recorded with perfect clarity.

"The Capital Guard is rotten to the core. I fear the Emperor has wanted to clean house for a long time. Highlighting your case now is his way of forcing you to declare your allegiance." The Right Minister thought of his daughter’s letter. ’That Song Zhaoyi is a shrewd one. Last time, thanks to her advice, I managed to stage a comeback.’

Now that this incident had occurred, Song Zhaoyi had once again taken the initiative to see his daughter. ’Asking for advice’ was merely a pretext.

’Song Zhaoyi is using my daughter to convey the Emperor’s stance to me. Is she subtly telling me to be the vanguard for the Emperor?’

The Right Minister didn’t know whether to laugh or be angry. ’That Song Zhaoyi... she truly has the nerve to think of such things, and the audacity to act on them.’

The Right Minister and the Left Minister had been rivals in the court for decades. But despite being opponents, they shared a certain unspoken understanding. At the very least, when it came to matters concerning the new Emperor, the two had cooperated rather harmoniously in recent years.

’Now, if I were to switch sides and pledge my allegiance to the Emperor, the risk would be immense.’

Cao Dingwen’s heart sank. "Prime Minister, if I dare to take a stand under these circumstances, isn’t that just courting death?"

’Even if I don’t understand military strategy or tactics, I know how deep these waters run. One wrong move, and I’ll be beyond redemption.’

The Right Minister looked up at Cao Dingwen. "Mr. Cao, you’re half-dead either way. You might as well go for broke."

Cao Dingwen froze, instantly sensing a deeper meaning in his words. "Prime Minister, I am slow-witted. I beg you for more guidance."

"I am no military officer, so how could I possibly guide you? However, I find Prince Zhenbei to be a reasonable man. Mr. Cao, perhaps you should seek his counsel."

At the thought of Prince Zhenbei’s temperament, the color drained from Cao Dingwen’s face.

"Prime Minister, I fear I’ll be thrown out before I can even set foot in the Prince Zhenbei Mansion," Cao Dingwen said with a sense of resignation. "With Prince Zhenbei’s foul temper, he doesn’t give anyone face. Is there a single civil servant in the court who hasn’t been berated by him over the years?"

How could the Right Minister not understand the implication in Cao Dingwen’s words? He gave a helpless smile. "I have no solution either. You’ll have to rely on yourself, Mr. Cao."

Cao Dingwen: ...

’The Right Minister’s methods have changed drastically. Ever since he took that fall last year, he’s become increasingly cautious.’

’Still, he felt he had a faint grasp of the Right Minister’s meaning. He knew he was the chicken being killed to warn the monkeys. And who were the monkeys?’

’The Left and Right Ministers, of course.’

’The Right Minister is planning to back down and yield to the Emperor.’

Cao Dingwen returned to his residence, his mind heavy with anxiety. Gritting his teeth, he wrote a formal calling card and had it sent to the Prince Zhenbei Mansion. Just as he expected, Prince Zhenbei had it thrown out. With no other choice, he brazenly took the card and went to call on the prince in person.

Though summer was fast approaching, he felt as if he were trapped in the dead of winter.

After dismissing Cao Dingwen, the Right Minister immediately ordered an investigation into which of his subordinates were involved and just how deeply. He would save those he could, but those beyond saving would have to be abandoned.

’Thinking back, it was a good thing I looked down on the Commander of the Capital Guard and refused his invitation for drinks. If I had gone, I wouldn’t be able to talk my way out of this even if I had a thousand mouths.’

’How will I ever repay this favor to Song Zhaoyi?’

The Right Minister’s head throbbed. After much thought, he concluded he could only repay the favor through Song Nanzhen. ’But Song Nanzhen is currently at home, recovering from an injury... ’

The thought of Song Nanzhen recovering at home reminded him of the previous incident with the Military Supply Officer, and a chill went down the Right Minister’s spine.

’Everyone knew there was something suspicious about Song Nanzhen’s injury, but to refuse a post as lucrative as Military Supply Officer, and to go so far as to deliberately injure himself to avoid it... his methods were identical to those of Song Zhaoyi in the palace.’

’First, Song Nanzhen feigns an injury to avoid an assignment. Now, she uses my daughter to inform me of the Emperor’s attitude. The Emperor is determined to see this investigation through to the end. I certainly can’t follow this path to its grim conclusion and dash my own head against a wall.’

The Right Minister’s feelings were incredibly complex. ’That father and daughter from the Song Family... neither of them is to be underestimated.’

’Making a painful sacrifice requires more than just courage. If I side with the Emperor this time, I will inevitably lose a number of my followers. It would be like cutting off my own arm.’

The Right Minister stood before the window, hands clasped behind his back, and did not move for a long, long time.

’The Capital Guard is weak and disorganized. The Emperor intends to whip them into shape, and now that he’s seized this opportunity to act, he surely won’t stop until his goal is achieved.’

’I need to think this through very carefully.’

Meanwhile, Feng Yi was in a furious rage at Wangyou Palace.

Song Yunzhao’s study had become a disaster zone. Brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were strewn across the floor, and the incense burner in the corner had been kicked over. Song Yunzhao didn’t try to calm him. The moment he had entered the study, she had dismissed the Palace Attendants, sending them far away.

The study looked as if a typhoon had torn through it. The sight was truly devastating—a complete wreck, almost too painful to look at.

Song Yunzhao didn’t say a single word to stop him. She knew Feng Yi was bottling up a storm of fury. He had to maintain his imperial majesty before the courtiers and preserve his dignity before the other concubines. The only place he could vent his rage was here, with her.

Once his anger had mostly subsided, she saw the Emperor sitting there in silence. Only then did she quietly summon Xiangxue and Shizhu to clean the study with the utmost speed.

Not daring to even breathe too loudly, Xiangxue and Shizhu tidied up the mess on the floor as fast as they could, then backed out of the room.

After they had left, Song Yunzhao closed the door securely. Only then did she walk over to Feng Yi, pull a brocade stool to his side, and sit there, quietly keeping him company.

An unknown amount of time passed before Feng Yi finally let out a long breath. He grasped Yun Zhao’s hand and said, almost through gritted teeth, "I knew the Capital Guard was inept, but I never imagined they were this disgraceful."