Chapter 939: Chapter 937: That Would Be a Calamity for the Nation
Duke An was not wrong. Although Zheng Pengfei’s source of silver taels for survival appears controversial to many, within the Jianghu, his actions are not despised. On the contrary, because he is skilled yet knows restraint and has a proper way of profiting, he is praised by some.
Really letting Zheng Pengfei engage in all disreputable acts without any limits is indeed somewhat difficult.
Ye Xinyan returned home, and for the next few days, he was tirelessly writing.
......
Xing Yuyue never expected to be targeted. That afternoon, assembling two temporary assistants, he led a small number of investigation soldiers and officials to the Crown Prince’s Mansion.
By the time Xing Yuyue and others arrived at the Crown Prince’s Mansion, the Crown Prince had just recently awoken from the effects of the sleeping pills.
Gazing at the soldiers from the Imperial Guard Camp stationed at corners within the mansion, and thinking about why he had slept almost the entire day, the Crown Prince felt both furious and intimidated, smoldering with anger.
How could this happen when he merely spent some of his own silver? He was the Crown Prince, and not long after, the whole world would be his. Why couldn’t he spend his own silver coins?
If it weren’t for the Imperial Father’s stubbornness in insisting on constructing some rail track that coincided with a drought, wouldn’t the world still be stable and prosperous?
He hadn’t done anything so outrageous, so why was the Imperial Father treating him like this?
When Xing Yuyue met the Crown Prince, he had just sat down when he first heard the Crown Prince’s complaints.
Xing Yuyue was quite taken aback and instinctively wanted to advise him. However, remembering the task he had received and the hints the emperor had shown regarding the heir, he swallowed the words back down.
"Does the Grand Tutor know what the Imperial Father intends?" The Crown Prince complained for a while before remembering those two account books, which indeed made debating difficult, "I have already confessed to the Imperial Father my mistakes. Would Grand Tutor please plead for me again? Presumably, the Imperial Father, thinking of father-and-son feelings, will give me a chance to reform."
It was at this moment that Xing Yuyue had the opportunity to explain his purpose, "It’s good that Your Highness has the determination to reform. His Majesty also hopes Your Highness will do well in the future. Therefore, he sent me here to assist Your Highness in reforming."
Assist him in reforming? How is this assistance? The Crown Prince was stunned.
The Crown Prince sat high in the luxurious guest pavilion. Both the armchairs with carved acidwood arms and the nearby eight immortals table with similar patterns reflected the Crown Prince’s still noble status.
He looked at Xing Yuyue in confusion regarding his claim to help him reform, feeling quite baffled.
Xing Yuyue cleared his throat lightly and said, "We all know that the Crown Prince’s mistakes were caused by the malicious guidance of those around him. I am here on the emperor’s orders with officials from the Ministry of Rites to verify personnel at the Crown Prince’s Mansion. All who are not essential must be cleared out of the mansion."
"What? How dare you!" The Crown Prince jumped up. Those who are not essential, aren’t they referring to clearing out all his beloved concubines?
"No! I absolutely will not agree!" The Crown Prince declared resolutely, extremely firm in his stance. He was still the Crown Prince; how could he be humiliated?
When Xing Yuyue came to meet the Crown Prince, the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard Camp and the Assistant Minister of Rites were waiting outside, partly for convenience in performing their duties later and partly to avoid facing the Crown Prince’s temper directly.
The affairs of the royal family are unpredictable. The Crown Prince might seem to be losing power now, but who knows what the future holds. Acting on the sidelines without confronting the Crown Prince directly was the best approach, something agreed upon by their superiors.
Xing Yuyue internally cursed Duke An severely. The Crown Prince disagreed, and he, holding the imperial decree, had to carry out his task regardless of how forceful the Crown Prince was, meaning he would unavoidably offend the Crown Prince.
"Didn’t Your Highness say he wants to reform? This is the first decision Your Highness will make to show His Majesty. For the future, Your Highness must handle this first task well." Xing Yuyue bowed and began persuading the Crown Prince.
"No way, I disagree! I want to see the Imperial Father!" The Crown Prince lifted his foot and started to walk outside.
With the Imperial Guard Camp keeping watch over the Crown Prince’s Mansion, no one stopped him. But as the Crown Prince stepped out of the pavilion, the Captain of the Imperial Guard Camp outside followed closely, reminding him: "The Crown Prince is currently recuperating and can stroll around the mansion. To leave the mansion requires the emperor’s permission."
The Crown Prince was in such a hurry that upon hearing this reminder, he almost stumbled and fell.
Xing Yuyue also stood up and quickly walked forward, whispering: "Your Highness, the emperor’s commands must still be heeded."
The Crown Prince looked ahead, seeing not far away several officials and what appeared to be a group ready to search the mansion, causing his heart to skip a beat, dampening his momentum.
Not only concubines and singing concubines needed checking in the Crown Prince’s Mansion, but gathering these people revealed that the rooms they occupied were filled with possessions.
Especially for those favored or once favored women, their jewelry and valuables were abundant and precious.
Some influential servants and the performers kept in the mansion for recreations were also quite wealthy.
All these people and possessions were itemized and consolidated by the Assistant Minister of Rites, applying seals to all belongings outside of the normal furnishings and staffing of each courtyard and room in the Crown Prince’s Mansion, awaiting further handling.
As for the women brought into the mansion over the years, they were sent back to their original places according to their specific origins. Those willing to return home were provided travel expenses and sent back home.
Among them were a few women introduced by Hu Jing, who, after being sent back, would undergo additional arrangements, changing identities to live elsewhere, leaving no further mention.
Under the emperor’s directive, the investigation of the Crown Prince’s Mansion was conducted discreetly, concluding in just two days without causing much commotion.
Other than the Crown Princess Consort, concubines, and ranked consorts, all other women were cleared out.
The Crown Prince, aware of the severe situation although unable to prevent it, still flew into a rage, wrecking almost everything in his bedroom but daring not to show any outward resistance.
When Xing Yuyue returned to report after clearing the Crown Prince’s Mansion, his expression was quite displeased. This was the heir he strongly supported, yet he held an accounting book of little weight but with a burden heavier than gold.
The emperor had previously thought the Crown Prince was only a little too vain upon knowing his extravagance. Seeing the two account books a few days ago had already startled him greatly.
Although mentally prepared, holding the investigation account, the emperor was still furious.
This foolish thing was so careless, so oblivious to priorities. The women and entertainers in the Crown Prince’s possession probably had more wealth in their hands than senior court officials and esteemed gentry families.
If this fool were truly given the throne, it wouldn’t take long for the entire realm to be schemed away by treacherous individuals.
Xing Yuyue, with no face left to stay, handed over his task and returned home, deeply reflecting on whether his judgment was truly flawed, not noticing the Crown Prince’s stupidity to this extent.
After Xing Yuyue left, only the emperor, accompanied by palace maids and senior eunuchs, and Han Yanhui seated below remained in the Imperial Study Room.
Han Yanhui glanced at the emperor’s grim face and counseled, "Your Majesty, please quell your anger. Being able to promptly prevent the Crown Prince from erring further can also be seen as a fortunate thing."
Han Yanhui’s underlying meaning was: If the Crown Prince were more cunning, showed patience, and hid his nature longer until after ascending the throne, then the true threat to the nation would emerge.
Understanding this, the emperor handed Han Yanhui the account book, saying grudgingly: "Plan accordingly. We’ll need to use the silver soon enough. With these on hand, it can relieve the pressure somewhat."
Han Yanhui took the account book, and the emperor continued with his previous thoughts, asking: "How are the monk doctors bound for Yuanzhou and other regions settling down, and when can they depart?"
Han Yanhui replied, "Guangsha Construction reported they have a batch of idle wooden prefabricated houses. They can briefly resolve the accommodation issue for the monk doctors before the monastery construction is complete. Everything will be packed within a day or two, allowing for departure along with the monks."