Is Xiao Huayong gentle?
He believed himself to be gentle.
He had merely discreetly informed several ministers of the treasury's depletion before the Dong Biquan case came to light.
These officials would panic over the treasury's emptiness, and when Dong Biquan's deeds were exposed, they would naturally unite in demanding an audit of the Ministry of Revenue.
Would His Majesty dare to allow such a sudden investigation into the Ministry of Revenue and verification of the treasury?
He would not. Even if he eventually compromised and agreed to the audit, he would first try to absolve himself. But with the entire court and public outraged, even His Majesty's own supporters, unaware of the truth, would want to clarify how much remained in the treasury.
What else could His Majesty do?
He had no choice but to follow Xiao Huayong's example and feign illness.
"Your Highness, Duke Cui and others are still kneeling at the palace gates, pleading for His Majesty's permission to audit the Ministry of Revenue," Tianyuan reported, relaying the information gathered by his subordinates.
"No rush. Let them keep pressuring His Majesty. Has Dong Biquan not yet confessed?" Xiao Huayong peeled a pomegranate and tasted it. "Refreshing and sweet. Tomorrow, pick some fresh ones to send to Youyou."
Tianyuan glanced at the bright red pomegranates nearby, which looked quite festive. "Understood."
After acknowledging the order, Tianyuan added, "Dong Biquan is showing signs of relenting. In a couple of days, if he still cannot see His Majesty, he will surely talk."
"Hmm, His Majesty will remain 'ill' these days, but Cui Zheng and the others cannot kneel forever. Get Dong Biquan to confess as soon as possible," Xiao Huayong instructed.
Dong Biquan was imprisoned in the Celestial Prison, with no visitors allowed. Even Xiao Huayong could not enter. The prison guards were His Majesty's trusted aides, and one or two individuals dared not act recklessly.
Dong Biquan awaited His Majesty's summons, while Xiao Huayong's men relayed every detail of the outside events to him.
"Lord Dong, confessing early is the only way to protect your family."
"Your master has not shown himself nor sent any message. Why should I believe you?" Dong Biquan sat expressionless.
"Lord Dong, do you have any other recourse?" the jailer asked. "You must understand that His Majesty has been pushed to this point and can no longer protect you. The treasury's deficit and the Ministry of Revenue's corruption will inevitably fall on you."
At these words, Dong Biquan was startled. How did this person know he was acting as His Majesty's vanguard?
"Lord Dong, if you confess, you will still die, but my master might spare your family," the jailer coaxed. "If you refuse, consider the fate of the Kang Prince's household."
"You—" Dong Biquan's mind reeled with shock. How did he even know the Kang Prince was also His Majesty's man?
Ignoring him, the jailer continued, "The Kang Prince's sons survived only because they were of royal blood. The Dong family has no such ties."
Dong Biquan thought of the Kang Prince's third son, and his thoughts grew chaotic.
"How will your master protect my family? How will he ensure my wife and children live without want?" Dong Biquan asked.
"That depends on whether you believe us or not," the jailer said, merely conveying the message. "Believe, and there is a sliver of hope. Disbelieve, and it will mean execution for your entire clan."
To avoid suspicion, the jailer did not linger and left without delay.
Two days passed. His Majesty had claimed illness for two days. Cui Zheng and Xue Heng led the officials to leave the palace before the curfew each day, only to return at dawn to kneel and plead for an audience.
On the third day, Xiao Huayong finally obtained what he wanted. He flipped through the documents casually and stood up. "I will see His Majesty."Liu Sanzhi looked at the Crown Prince, who appeared frail and weak, his face deathly pale and seemingly even thinner than before. He dared not stop him, for if the Crown Prince were to kneel outside the palace gates as well, he could not bear the responsibility.
Liu Sanzhi entered the hall to report, and Xiao Huayong was the first prince permitted to enter and visit.
"Qilang has arrived. Take a seat." The Youning Emperor truly had dark circles under his eyes, and red rashes had broken out around his lips.
"Father... cough cough cough..." Xiao Huayong erupted into a violent coughing fit, barely managing to perform the ceremonial bow before sitting down. "Father, what exactly has happened in the Ministry of Revenue?"
The mere mention of the Ministry of Revenue made the Youning Emperor's head ache. Rubbing his temples, he said, "There is a deficit in the Ministry of Revenue. Tax silver from the past five years has vanished without a trace. If the civil and military officials were to learn of this, no one would be able to rest easy."
Xiao Huayong was so shocked that he began coughing rapidly, his eyes reddening from the strain. "Dong Biquan... he... he is utterly audacious!"
"It is my fault for appointing the wrong person," the Youning Emperor sighed, hanging his head in self-reproach.
"Father... I believe... cough cough cough... the ministers may have caught wind of this..." Xiao Huayong struggled to speak. "If we delay any further... I fear it will only make them more uneasy..."
"I have already devised a plan, Qilang. Do not worry." With that, the Youning Emperor instructed Liu Sanzhi, "Summon Cui Zheng, Xue Heng, Tao Zhuanxian, and the ministers of the Six Ministries."
After spending two days auditing the Ministry of Revenue, the Youning Emperor had formulated a strategy. He summoned only eight individuals.
These men had been thoroughly exhausted in recent days. The Youning Emperor spoke calmly, truthfully informing them of the situation in the Ministry of Revenue. The ministers were so horrified they nearly fainted—the corruption in the Ministry of Revenue was far more severe than they had imagined. To balance the accounts, the Youning Emperor had even added some fictitious entries elsewhere.
"It is my failure to oversee appointments that has led to this catastrophe. Yet, this news must not leak, or the barbarian tribes from all directions will surely seize the opportunity to wage war." The Youning Emperor directly shifted the problem to the ministers. "Gentlemen, devise a plan."
The group was stunned. The prosperous and powerful nation they had envisioned was nothing but an empty shell. Cui Zheng asked, "Your Majesty, are there any leads on the embezzled funds?"
"I will order Dong Biquan to be interrogated," the Youning Emperor replied. "The immediate concern is how to conceal this matter."
Indeed, this matter could not be exposed, or it would mark the beginning of the nation's collapse.
"Your Majesty, if we are to conceal this matter, we must deal leniently with the Dong family," Xue Heng suggested.
At this, the Youning Emperor's face darkened. Unaware of the full story, the court ministers assumed His Majesty was displeased. For the sake of the greater good, the Emperor had to clean up after such an audacious criminal and could not mete out punishment as he wished, which naturally left him discontent.
No one dared speak lightly, fearing that if they pleaded for Dong Biquan today and gave His Majesty an excuse to relent, only for Dong Biquan to be implicated in other crimes later, they would gain nothing but trouble.
Xiao Huayong glanced at the others and, supported by Tianyuan, slowly knelt. "Your Majesty, the crime should not extend to the wife and children. Let Minister Dong bear the consequences of his mistakes alone... cough cough cough..."
Xiao Huayong coughed as if his heart and lungs were tearing apart. The Youning Emperor strode forward and personally helped him to his feet.
Grasping his shoulders, he felt that Xiao Huayong had grown even thinner since the last time.
Cui Zheng and the others watched Xiao Huayong with both admiration and pity. The Crown Prince had a strong sense of responsibility—it was a shame his health was so poor.In the final outcome, Dong Biquan was sentenced to execution after the autumn assizes. The Ministry of Revenue underwent a joint audit by the five ministries alongside the Zhongshu and Shangshu provinces, which calculated the exact deficit amount, finally appeasing the officials. Although Dong Biquan's embezzlement was massive, the Crown Prince interceded on his behalf, sparing his wife and children from prosecution. The Youning Emperor only confiscated the Dong family's assets and barred Dong Biquan's descendants for three generations from holding public office.
Upon learning this, all officials praised the Crown Prince for his benevolence.
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