Chapter 908: Chapter 906: Not Leaving Anymore
In June, the case of the railway materials was concluded.
Iron from iron mines has always been strictly controlled by the court. To the rulers, once such materials flow into civilian hands and exceed control, it introduces instability among the regions and people, and in severe cases, poses a significant threat to royal authority.
The starting point of Prince Fu’s involvement in this matter did not have any intent of rebellion or profiteering by flooding the market. He only intended to use the court’s influence to develop iron mines and manufacture iron materials, aiming to secure some benefits during the production of railway tracks.
The current situation arose only because he thought he was making preparations ahead of time. However, the court’s sudden switch to wooden tracks completely disrupted his plans.
Furthermore, after the fact, he had no opportunity to dispose of these materials to the civilians. As Lih Mian said, this case of concealed iron mines did not cause any severe consequences.
However, daring to conceive such a notion and having the courage to hide a large amount of iron materials is in itself highly reprehensible. Once signs of such actions appear, they must be dealt with seriously to thoroughly warn future generations that the court’s controlled materials are an untouchable forbidden area.
Prince Fu is an imperial offspring; without rebellious intent, he has the privilege to be excluded early and spared from being prosecuted. But others can only be dealt with according to the facts.
The Ministry of Justice handled the case entirely in accordance with the court’s laws regarding unauthorized mining and selling of prohibited materials. Except for Prince Fu and Wang Xian, who were behind the scenes and did not participate actively, all directly involved officials, stewards, and craftsmen were sentenced.
Due to the private hoarding and selling of the iron mines and iron materials strictly controlled by the court, and given the vast quantities involved, starting with the Director of the Ministry of Works, a total of four officials from various levels in the Ministry of Works were involved. Two were sentenced to execution after the autumn, and three were exiled.
The remaining insignificant clerks in charge of specific affairs and several stewards under the Ministry of Works received sentences ranging from execution to exile.
Minister of Works Wang Xian and Vice Minister of Works were held accountable for their neglect in managing the Ministry, and were allowed to voluntarily resign and retire to their hometowns.
The four elders of the Cabinet were penalized with half a year’s salary for inadequate oversight, awaiting the results of future observations.
In the capital and its surrounding areas, five workshops, including the Iron Workshop, had deep involvements in private dealings with iron materials. Two of the stewards were sentenced to execution, already imprisoned, awaiting execution after the autumn. The other three had less involvement, and along with some craftsmen directly engaged in the matters, were each sentenced to exile and military service.
It can be said that this case in the Ministry of Works had a significant impact on the court’s situation. Astute individuals could see that the source of all these issues lay with Prince Fu.
However, Prince Fu is the emperor’s son, and since ancient times, except for rebellion, the emperor’s son generally wouldn’t be put in chains. But secretly concealing and trading a large amount of iron materials is a grave crime that shakes the court’s foundations and naturally must be handled with the utmost severity to serve as a warning for the future.
Wang Xian and the Vice Minister of Works held high-ranking positions and followed Prince Fu’s orders, so allowing their resignation was a way to save face for Prince Fu.
The Ministry of Works, one of the Six Ministries, was thoroughly cleansed in just a few months.
This thunderous action genuinely made the officials tighten their tails and even made everyone feel anxious.
As the saying goes, "When the water is too clear, no fish can survive." Truly honest and upright officials in the Imperial Court are not absent, but they are very few. If one were to dig deep, who wouldn’t have some unspeakable matters at hand?
Due to the Crown Prince being truly incompetent in recent years, many officials chose sides. As long as they take sides, they must heed someone’s orders, hoping for a chance to gain favor and secure a future.
Once trouble arises, a prince can somehow remain safe, but those who took sides might not be so fortunate. This case is a bloody precedent.
Especially for Minister of Revenue Yu Shiqing, these days have been sheer torment. Organizing disaster relief supplies has already left him frantic, and the outcome of Minister of Works Wang Xian also terrified him.
These people took great risks to help their masters execute things against the court’s laws to achieve a glorious future for themselves and their families.
However, Wang Xian, despite his efforts over many years, ended up as a scapegoat for Prince Fu. If Prince Fu eventually has a chance for a comeback, it would be fine; if not, after returning to his hometown, Wang Xian could only spend the rest of his days content as a country gentleman.
But what about him? What would his end be? At least Prince Fu was a rational master, while the Crown Prince had already gone mad. The court’s situation was already tense, and organizing money and food for disaster relief was difficult, yet the Crown Prince was still urging the use of the eight thousand taels privately.
Can this task really be done?
......
The Iron Workshop’s case came to a complete end, and Wong Qiao was also formally preparing to set off and leave the capital.
Originally, all the luggage was packed and ready, and just as he was about to set off and board the carriage, Xiuqin stopped walking, informing Lady Zhao that she would stay, not leaving with her aunt.
Lady Zhao had already been utterly defeated by the Iron Workshop’s case; the once high-ranking official there had indeed been sentenced to execution after the autumn. Similarly involved at the workshop were two official craftsmen, like Wong Qiao, who were sentenced to exile.
She never imagined that when she insisted on Wong Qiao working at the Iron Workshop to curry favor with Prince Fu’s Mansion, she’d almost send her son to his death.
With her strong will, she simply couldn’t accept that she had made such a mistake. Plus, with Wong Qiao acting as the ungrateful child, directly accusing her of ingratitude and even biting the hand that fed him.
This made it even more difficult for Lady Zhao to accept.
A series of changes caused Lady Zhao to fall seriously ill. Even now, she hadn’t spoken a word to Wong Qiao.
Now facing Wong Qiao’s complete ruin, and even the possibility that the entire family might return to poverty in their hometown, Lady Zhao submitted and chose to go to Clear Water Village, to continue living with the Qi family.
And at this departure point, Xiuqin, who had been serving her all along, unexpectedly said she wouldn’t go and would stay behind.
Lady Zhao was shocked, and a sense of foreboding arose in her heart.
Ten carriages ready to set off, along with the escorts sent by the Zhou family and several guards from a security bureau, were all waiting in the alley. Besides a few familiar families seeing them off, there were many others watching the spectacle.
Lady Zhao stared at Xiuqin for a long time and shouted, "What did you say?! You’re not going back? Are you dreaming? This is the capital; where would you find a place here?"
Xiuqin’s expression was calm. She stepped back several steps, creating a safe distance from Lady Zhao, before kneeling on the ground: "Xiuqin is grateful to Aunt for bringing her out from that impoverished and desolate place. Originally, she should return with Aunt. However, Xiuqin doesn’t know what she could do after returning. She previously asked someone to find something else to do in the capital. Xiuqin apologizes to Aunt; please forgive your niece."
"You, you!" Lady Zhao was furious, her face pale, clenching her fists tightly.
This ungrateful wretch! She brought her out from that barren, poor home where there wasn’t even enough food, and she returns the favor like this?
Seeing Lady Zhao trembling with anger, Wong Qiao really couldn’t bear it. If his mother knew that he and Biyao had long been aware of this, she might indeed be driven to death by anger.
He exchanged a look with Zhou Biyao, and both quickly put on a surprised act and stepped forward.