His Majesty was in a bad mood.

Everyone in the palace and the court knew that His Majesty's mood had been sour these past few days. He had even suspended his regular bi-weekly visits to the Empress Dowager to watch operas. Aside from the daily court sessions, very few people had the opportunity to see him. Eunuch Yao, Eunuch Hou, and now Eunuch Dai, who had been reinstated, were constantly surrounded by ministers outside the palace gates, all eager to know what had happened.

His Majesty hadn't even summoned his close ministers to the palace, suggesting that he wasn't troubled by any particular issue.

But everyone just knew His Majesty was in a bad mood. During the court sessions, most of the memorials submitted by the various provinces were rejected. The Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review was severely reprimanded, and even the venerable Qin, of the Military Affairs Department, was given a dressing down. The Qin family was among the Emperor's most trusted confidants, prominent figures in the military. Normally, the Emperor would show them some face in front of the civil and military officials, but now he was treating them so harshly…

Qin Heng, the Kyoto garrison commander, and his son, the young General Qin, remained impassive. They still wore bright smiles when entering and leaving the Central Secretariat, seemingly unfazed by the Emperor's rebuke of their family.

Seeing this, the assembled ministers understood that the Emperor was using the criticism of his own confidants to send a message to certain others in Kyoto.

It was a rather ambiguous approach. No one could guess who the Emperor was trying to warn, but everyone knew that a warning had been issued. Sure enough, on the third day, Ye Zhong, far away in Dingzhou, sent another tearful memorial to His Majesty, stating that since the realm was now at peace, Dingzhou no longer needed to maintain such a large military force and should reduce its numbers.

Requesting to downsize the army was a sign of the Ye family's deep anxiety. The Emperor nonchalantly approved, not even allowing the court or the Military Affairs Department to debate the matter. The ministers, including the newly appointed Grand Secretaries Hu and Shu, all believed this was merely a follow-up to the Suspended Temple incident of the previous year and didn't connect it to anything else.

After the Ye family requested the downsizing, His Majesty's mood seemed to improve slightly. He resumed his daily greetings to the Empress Dowager and allowed the Eldest Princess to move back into the palace, opening the doors of Guangxin Palace for her once again.

Distance breeds beauty, distance breeds danger. A family living together… must be much safer.

The Emperor must be thinking that, the old man in Chen Garden thought.

He sighed, knowing that things hadn't gone entirely according to his plan. He still needed to do more. But since the seed had already begun to sprout, nurtured in the black soil of people's hearts, one day it would inevitably grow poisonous vines, irresistibly breaking through the hard stone layer above.

————————————————————————

Only those who lived in the palace knew that His Majesty's mood hadn't truly improved. A trace of worry and a subtle sadness still lingered on his face.

The Emperor was the master of the realm, the master of the palace, the object of everyone's attention, the hope for everyone's life and fortune, and their future. Therefore, everyone in the palace was cautiously and nervously trying to guess what His Majesty was still hiding in his heart.

The few senior eunuchs who attended closely to him in the Taiji Hall and the Imperial Study had long become astute and worldly. They naturally wouldn't utter a word in response to the probing questions from the various palaces. Moreover, under the formidable influence of Eunuch Hong, the palace maids and eunuchs of the various palaces didn't dare to ask too overtly.

After moving into Guangxin Palace, the Eldest Princess, who had been feeling melancholy, quickly regained her usual radiant beauty. She spent her days accompanying the Empress Dowager, chatting, and occasionally visiting the Empress and the Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace. However, she herself was somewhat puzzled, unsure of what the Emperor was thinking.

At this time, a head eunuch in the Eastern Palace became a very important figure.

His name was Hong Zhu, and he had been working by the Emperor's side, earning His Majesty's favor. Rumor had it that he was related to Eunuch Hong. He was also familiar with the personnel of the Taiji Hall and the Imperial Study, making him the most suitable person to inquire about information.

Hong Zhu had been serving as a fourth-rank head eunuch in the Eastern Palace for three months. With the status of being sent by the Emperor and his own attentive service, he had gained the Empress's approval… though, of course, he hadn't been fully accepted yet. Nevertheless, the Empress had given Hong Zhu enough benefits. This time, she wanted to see if Hong Zhu was truly useful and to what extent.

The Empress smiled as she looked at Hong Zhu kneeling before her. She was somewhat fond of this little eunuch's understanding and discretion. He was handsome and bright. She said softly, "His Majesty is concerned about state affairs, and this Empress naturally wants to share some of his burden. Although the harem cannot interfere in state matters, knowing His Majesty's mood will allow me to prepare some nourishing soup for him to enjoy."

Hong Zhu flattered, "Her Majesty the Empress is so thoughtful."

"Go and inquire," the Empress sighed. "If His Majesty finds out, do not deceive him. It is not a shameful matter, and you must not harm yourself."

Hong Zhu looked moved and departed to carry out his orders.

Soon, this newly favored person in the palace made a few rounds in the vast imperial palace. After being showered with compliments, he didn't dare to continue basking in the praise and quickly returned to the Empress's palace.

He leaned close to the Empress's ear and whispered a few words.

The Empress frowned slightly. Her noble face revealed a hint of worry. She sighed, "So it's about the emptiness of the national treasury. This Empress is also aware of the dike repair project on the Great River. It has been delayed from early winter last year until now, and it's all because of lack of funds… Alas, if this Empress could conjure silver out of thin air, she could also relieve His Majesty's worries. It's a pity…"

Hong Zhu chuckled, "Her Majesty the Empress is the mother of the realm. Why should you worry about such matters? As for the national treasury, isn't it being managed by Minister Fan of the Ministry of Revenue?"

Hearing the words "Ministry of Revenue," the Empress's eyes lit up. She asked casually, "Minister Fan has been managing the Ministry of Revenue for many years and has worked hard. This emptiness of the national treasury… is a matter of income. What methods does he have?"

Hong Zhu hesitated, stopping mid-sentence.

The Empress saw his expression, smiled disdainfully, and said, "You're just a child, yet you have so many secrets."

Hong Zhu was startled and quickly knelt down, saying with a distressed expression, "This servant wouldn't dare. It's just that in the Imperial Study… I heard that His Majesty threw a great fit yesterday, saying that the Ministry of Revenue was incompetent, and also…" He lowered his voice and said, "I heard… that some officials in the Ministry of Revenue have embezzled funds and secretly diverted national funds. The amount is very large, so His Majesty… was enraged."

The Empress's heart skipped a beat, but she immediately masked her expression. She said with a smile, "Don't tell me about these court matters. How has His Majesty been feeling recently? Which places in the palace does he frequent?"

Hong Zhu glanced around, knowing that this was a palace taboo. He bit his lip, crawled closer to the Empress, and whispered a few words.

The Empress's eyebrows rose, then softened weakly. Her lips trembled slightly, and her cheeks were pale. She said coldly, "Xiaolou… it's Xiaolou again."

……

……

After Hong Zhu left the palace gate, filled with unease and fear, a young man emerged from behind the screen. This young man was wearing a light yellow robe, with soft facial features and clear, bright eyes. In the palace, only the Emperor, Empress Dowager, Empress, and the Crown Prince could wear this color.

The current Crown Prince of Qing Yu Nian was much healthier than he had been two years ago. At least the unhealthy pallor on his face had faded considerably. This was partly due to the Empress's strict discipline, preventing him from spending too much energy on matters of the flesh, and partly due to his growing age and the complex situation he faced, with his imperial brothers pressing in on him… forcing him to change.

For the Crown Prince, his biggest enemy in the past had been the Second Prince. But after Fan Xian successfully crippled the Second Prince, he was stunned to discover that Fan Xian, whom he had originally believed to be his greatest ally, was actually the Emperor's son, and the son of that bewitching star!

The Eastern Palace and the Ye family had long forged an irreconcilable enmity. Therefore, the person the Crown Prince was most wary of was Fan Xian, far away in Jiangnan.

Everyone knew that once Fan Xian's parentage was revealed, if the Crown Prince ascended the throne, Fan Xian would not have a good end. And if Fan Xian gained power, he would definitely… not allow the Crown Prince to ascend the throne!

"Mother, it seems we can make a move regarding the Ministry of Revenue," said the Crown Prince, who had been listening to the conversation between the Empress and Hong Zhu from behind the screen.

The Empress closed her eyes and thought for a while, then said, "How much can we trust this eunuch, Hong Zhu?"

"Seventy percent."

The Empress smiled. "That's what I think too. Hong Zhu was originally serving in the Imperial Study, by your father's side. Soaring to great heights was within reach. Although he has been transferred to the Eastern Palace and promoted by two ranks, becoming the head eunuch, his power is far less than it was before."

The Crown Prince said, "If Fan Xian hadn't reported Hong Zhu's bribery to Father… Father wouldn't have been angry and kicked Hong Zhu out."

This matter was well known in the palace. Everyone knew the story of that day in the Imperial Study and believed that Hong Zhu had left the Imperial Study because he had offended Fan Xian, the Commissioner of the Supervising Bureau.

The Empress sighed and said, "Judging by how His Majesty handled it, he truly likes this little eunuch, Hong Zhu… The problem is, this Empress isn't sure whether this matter is true or false."

The Crown Prince frowned in thought and said, "Hong Zhu's resentment towards Fan Xian should be genuine. The eunuchs and palace maids in the palace have all heard him gnash his teeth and talk about that matter. As for Father's side… even if he's using Hong Zhu to monitor me, I believe I haven't made any mistakes in the past half year."

The Empress nodded. A hint of murderous intent flashed in her phoenix eyes, and she said coldly, "As long as the reason for His Majesty's anger is genuine… the matter of the Ministry of Revenue can be investigated. Fan Jian cannot be allowed to remain in the Ministry of Revenue, or Fan Xian will control the Internal Treasury in Jiangnan, and Fan Jian will control the National Treasury in Kyoto. Your future will be difficult."

The Crown Prince nodded in agreement. "I always remember Father's teachings and only do what Father wants me to do."

The Empress frowned and said, "I'll go to Guangxin Palace later and ask for your aunt's opinion."

Hearing the Eldest Princess's name, a strange light flashed in the Crown Prince's eyes, but he quickly concealed it and said hesitantly, "Are we asking Aunt to step in again this time?"

The Empress shook her head and said with a cold smile, "She's not easy to deal with either… Besides, now that His Majesty has allowed her to live in the palace, isn't he also intending to monitor her closely? It's not easy for her to contact those ministers in the court while she's confined to the palace. Although your father's actions always seem simple, his mind is actually very subtle. You need to learn more in this regard… Alas, it's really inconvenient for your aunt to make any moves lately."

The titular mother of the realm sighed, but a hint of undisguised schadenfreude showed between her eyebrows. The Eldest Princess was too dazzling among the women of Qing Yu Nian, and had always subtly overshadowed the Empress's elegance. How could she be happy about that? Now that her husband was increasingly displeased with his younger sister, although the Empress knew rationally that it wasn't a good thing, she couldn't help but feel a sense of joy emotionally.

That shameless little hussy!

……

……

"I'm just going to inform her," the Empress sighed, patting the Crown Prince's shoulder. "You need to tolerate your aunt's relationship with the Second Prince for the time being and not dwell on the past. As for the investigation into the embezzlement in the Ministry of Revenue, I'll find someone to do it… Don't worry."

A faint chill welled up between her brows. "Although my family has been slaughtered by those damned people, there are still some people hidden in the court. As for Fan Jian… he transferred so much silver from the National Treasury to Jiangnan. Did he think he could hide it from the world? Did he think he could hide it from His Majesty? Even if His Majesty likes Fan Xian, he can't allow such a thing to happen right under his nose!"

The Crown Prince was slightly startled. No wonder the Ministry of Revenue was so severely depleted. It turned out that Fan Jian's courage was so great! Only then did he realize that his mother and aunt had already grasped the root of the problem in the Ministry of Revenue, and no wonder they were so confident.

The Empress smiled and said, "After the Ministry of Revenue matter, the realm will be peaceful for a few more days, and Fan Xian won't be able to jump around as much as he does now. Think about it carefully. In His Majesty's heart, as long as you don't do anything out of line, even if you fight with those people, he'll just pretend not to see it. Ultimately, you are the Crown Prince, and that's something everyone knows."

The Crown Prince sighed, "Perhaps I'm the most useless Crown Prince in all of history."

The Empress sneered, "Countless crown princes throughout history have lived worse lives than you before they ascended the throne! What are you afraid of? As long as you make it to the day you ascend the throne, you'll have plenty of time to show your true colors."

She then said coldly, "The reason why I'm certain that His Majesty still intends for you to inherit the throne is naturally because I have my reasons."

The Crown Prince said anxiously, "But… although the Second Prince has fallen, the Third Prince has gone to Jiangnan and is being guided by Fan Xian."

This was the most discussed topic in secret within the palace recently. The Third Prince, at a young age, had gone to Jiangnan with the imperial envoy to observe and learn, but was it really to learn how to govern the country? As a result, the Third Prince's birth mother, Consort Yi, became the center of discussion. However, this woman from the Liu family had remained silent and reserved.

The Empress glared at the Crown Prince and said through gritted teeth, "You're afraid of even a child like that? What kind of future do you have?"

The Crown Prince said sullenly, "I really can't see… that Father has that intention you mentioned."

"If he didn't have that intention, wouldn't he have abolished you long ago!" The Empress's tone was laced with disappointment.

The Crown Prince said with a wry smile, "Perhaps Father is just looking for an opportunity."

The Empress shook her head and said calmly, "You're wrong. Compared to your other brothers… you have one great advantage, and you… have never understood it."

The Crown Prince asked in surprise, "What advantage?"

The Empress's face was calm with a touch of desolation. She said slowly, "The First Prince has ties to Dongyi, the Second Prince's birth mother, Consort Shu, also has considerable influence in Kyoto, the Third Prince's birth mother, Consort Yi, comes from the Liu family, which is a large clan in Kyoto, and he also has Fan Xian to rely on… Of all the princes, only you… only you and I are alone, without any family power to draw upon."

"After all, I've lived with His Majesty for so many years," the Empress said with a contemptuous smile. "Your father is good at everything, but he's too suspicious. He's afraid that the Li clan's imperial power will fall into the hands of outsiders when the Qing Kingdom's throne is passed down… Therefore, he can't accept that the person chosen to inherit the throne is backed by an excessively large family force."

"That's why the Second Prince won't do, and the Third Prince… even less so!" The Empress's cold gaze, like two knives, cut into the Crown Prince's heart. "Only you… that old cripple had your mother's family killed, partly for that damned bewitching star, but also to clear the way for you in the future!"

"Don't be afraid, my child," she said softly, stroking the Crown Prince's cold face, sighing. "If there are no major problems, no matter how many methods His Majesty uses, he's actually helping you grow stronger. He chose you many years ago, and he will never doubt his own choice."

The Empress chuckled nervously and said, "Even if his choice was wrong from the start."

Suddenly, her expression turned fierce, and she said through gritted teeth, "So do you understand? The reason you have the position of Crown Prince and can ensure your future position… is all because your mother's family paid for it with more than three thousand lives! They were your elders, your relatives! They all died, using their blood and their bodies to pave this path to the imperial chariot for you! So you must endure, until the day you succeed!"

The spring breeze was blowing in the palace, but it was so cold and chilling.

The Crown Prince couldn't help but shiver. Because the Empress Dowager strictly controlled the harem, he had only learned the truth about the night of bloodshed in Kyoto from his mother's mouth in recent years, knowing that his maternal grandfather and uncles had all died in that political upheaval.

So… Father Emperor wanted to get rid of the powerful relatives on my mother's side…

His heart began to tighten, and he didn't know how to react. If his mother's analysis was correct, then as long as he behaved steadily enough and there were no major problems in the world in the future, that dragon throne would ultimately… still be his!

The Crown Prince of Qing Yu Nian's gaze gradually hardened. He looked at his mother and nodded heavily.

The two of them seemed to have forgotten the sentence they had said in the conversation - that the prerequisite for the Crown Prince to inherit the throne was that there should be no major problems - and everyone in the world knew that both Chen Pingping and Lord Fan were sinister and ruthless figures who were best at discovering major problems from non-existent ones.

————————————————————————

The palace and the court were actually two entities that were one. Through the indispensable role of the Emperor, the two power fields were perfectly and harmoniously united. Courtiers who wanted to curry favor with the Emperor had to curry favor with the nobles in the palace, and the nobles in the palace who wanted to extend their reach outside the palace needed to rely on the courtiers outside to do things for them.

That was how so-called interest groups were formed.

Therefore, when the news of the Emperor's outburst in the Imperial Study about the embezzlement in the Ministry of Revenue spread outside the palace through countless channels, the entire officialdom began to stir. The highest principle of being an official was that if His Majesty didn't like something, the officials had to follow suit quickly, even if the person standing opposite the Emperor was a legendary figure like the Grand Tutor. The officials still had to bravely take the lead and not be outdone.

Because there was the Emperor's mood as an indicator, such things were always correct.

But this time, there was a noticeable time lag between the news from the palace and the reaction at the court. The officials were more composed and cautious than usual.

One reason was that investigating the embezzlement in the Ministry of Revenue would inevitably involve Minister Fan Jian, and everyone knew that Fan Jian was not only extremely cunning but also had a close relationship with Prince Jing, and also had the friendship of a sworn brother with His Majesty. The officials didn't know what affection the Emperor still had for Fan Jian.

The second reason why the officials were cautious was simple - because Fan Jian's son was named Fan Xian, styled Anzhi, and was the Commissioner of the Supervising Bureau, now serving as the Imperial Envoy with full powers on the Jiangnan Road.

Although everyone knew that Fan Xian was the Emperor's illegitimate son, everyone also knew that Fan Xian's loyalty and filial piety were famous throughout the Qing Kingdom. There were countless stories circulating among the people, such as how he refused to acknowledge his father in the palace and how he was willing to risk his life to enter the Fan clan's ancestral hall at the year-end banquet…

If they investigated Minister Fan, no one knew how Fan Xian would react. The officials only knew that the Second Prince had once thought of using the Second Young Master of the Fan family… and had angered Fan Xian. Fan Xian had used countless ruthless and insidious methods to defeat the arrogant Second Prince, who had already gained considerable power, leaving him in a state of disarray and utter disgrace.

In the end, Fan Xian had successfully placed the Second Prince under house arrest… This glorious victory was enough to deter most officials who wanted to engage in political speculation.

If Lord Fan didn't care about the Second Prince, how much less would he care about these officials?

But the pressure from the palace was increasing, and news from all sides confirmed that His Majesty indeed intended to target the Ministry of Revenue. The real source of His Majesty's displeasure these days was also in the Ministry of Revenue. Therefore, the restless officials finally suppressed their nature and began to go home to write memorials.

Among these officials were upright and righteous officials who sincerely wanted the court to investigate the embezzlement in the Ministry of Revenue for the sake of the country. There were also ministers who had been instructed by the nobles in the palace to use this matter to bring down the Fan family, playing a trick of attacking from afar to discredit Fan Xian, who was far away in Jiangnan. But more were political speculators who had long been trying to gauge the Emperor's intentions in order to climb the ranks.

In short, for many different reasons, the officials in Kyoto surprisingly reached a consensus. They demanded that the court thoroughly investigate the rumored embezzlement in the Ministry of Revenue, to give an explanation to the people of the world and to give an explanation to His Majesty.

……

……

(The update time is basically in the afternoon. It is really difficult to guarantee it within a certain hour, such as twelve o'clock, or one o'clock. I hope everyone understands. Thank you.)