This year, the capital experienced exceptionally heavy rainfall, making the weather both stifling and hot.
On the streets, people hurried along under umbrellas or straw raincoats, while shops saw little business. Clerks squatted idly, watching the rain and enjoying the rare tranquility in the bustling capital.
One clerk even lamented his lack of literary talent compared to the scholars in the teahouse across the street—if only he were learned enough to compose a poem expressing his mood.
But the peace was soon shattered. Hooves splashed through puddles as a contingent of imperial guards galloped past. Clad in rain cloaks and bamboo hats, neither the downpour nor their coverings could conceal the shimmering python patterns on their robes or the swords at their waists.
Dragon Cloak Guard.
The clerk hastily stood up, instinctively retreating further indoors despite already being inside.
Although scholars from Jingzhou had recently praised the Dragon Cloak Guard, these soldiers—who could appear unpredictably and break into the homes of high-ranking officials—still evoked fear in everyone.
Fear and curiosity.
As the Dragon Cloak Guard raced away, the clerk leaned out eagerly, ignoring the rain pelting his face.
Who would be the next unlucky soul arrested?
Across the street, scholars on the second floor, who had been composing poetry, set down their brushes and gathered by the window to watch the guards vanish into the rain.
"It seems the Huazhou summer flood case will not be brushed aside lightly," one scholar remarked.
"With the Vice Minister of Revenue personally involved, who could escape?" another sighed softly. "Why would Vice Minister Du do this? Was he dissatisfied with his share of the benefits? Does he intend to drag everyone down with him?"
The uproar caused by a Hanlin Academy compiler pleading for his friend’s innocence had barely subsided when the Vice Minister of Revenue stepped forward in court. He urged the Empress to review the account books for Huazhou’s summer flood management over the years, adding that it should be done swiftly to prevent tampering or destruction of the records. The court was thrown into chaos.
The Empress immediately ordered the Dragon Cloak Guard to surround the Ministry of Revenue. She also announced the establishment of the Garrison Guard, separating it from the City Guard Office to oversee the Dragon Cloak Guard for efficiency. New positions were created: Captain Ding was promoted to Commander, and Hanlin Compiler Zhu Yong—though still in Jingzhou—was reassigned as Associate Administrator. At the time, everyone was too stunned by the Vice Minister’s actions and too focused on the Ministry of Revenue to pay much attention to the Garrison Guard.
After all, they’re just the Empress’s private troops—fancy titles change nothing.
The account books quickly revealed the truth: funds for Huazhou’s summer flood control had been embezzled layer by layer from top to bottom, leaving little for actual repairs. As a result, canals and embankments that should have been fixed permanently required annual maintenance—a scheme officials at all levels gladly perpetuated to continue lining their pockets.
The Empress was furious. The Dragon Cloak Guard began making arrests, starting with Vice Minister Du.
In a way, Vice Minister Du had turned himself in. Not only had he exposed the accounts in court, but he also voluntarily surrendered incriminating private correspondence without waiting for the guards to raid his home.
With both witnesses and evidence firmly in place, Grand Tutor Deng Yi could only remain silent.
One after another, Ministry of Revenue officials were arrested, each implicating more accomplices. Huazhou would not escape scrutiny either. Zhu Yong, the newly appointed Associate Administrator of the Garrison Guard, had already led the Dragon Cloak Guard from Jingzhou directly to Huazhou. It was certain that a storm of bloodshed would follow. The cells of the newly formed Garrison Guard filled up in the blink of an eye.
The entire court was shaken by these events.Of course it wasn't the embezzlement of flood control funds that shocked them—it was rare for the full amount allocated by the court to actually reach its intended destination, and corruption was commonplace. Which official in the court dared claim they were completely clean?
What shocked them was Minister Du's sudden madness. Clearly, he was involved himself, so why was he seeking his own destruction?
Someone had visited Minister Du in his prison cell, where he insisted he had repented and wanted to become an honest man, willing to accept punishment for his actions.
Hearing this, they thought he must have gone mad.
"He's not mad," Chu Zhao said softly. "He's desperate."
At first, she hadn't understood either, but she knew Minister Du wasn't doing this to prove his loyalty to her.
Chu Zhao flipped through the records submitted by the Dragon Cloak Guard—documents specifically investigating officials' private activities: "During a banquet at Deng Yi's residence, two guests exchanged sarcastic remarks over a marriage arrangement between their children. One was the father of Tian Lin, a secretary in the Ministry of Revenue, and the other was Minister Du's father—"
This led her to order Ding Dachui to investigate thoroughly, eventually uncovering that the Tian family had once proposed a marriage alliance with the Du family—specifically between Tian Lin's son and Minister Du's youngest daughter. However, Minister Du rejected the match due to the Tian young master's incompetence, angering the Tian family.
Last year, Miss Du encountered a startled horse while out, broke her leg, and became crippled. The previously arranged marriage was subsequently called off.
"Did the Tian family orchestrate this?" Chu Zhao asked.
Yin Canshi replied, "Miss Du encountered Young Master Tian before the horse incident, but there's no evidence."
"Although Tian Lin holds a lower official rank than Minister Du," Ding Dachui added, "the Tian family has greater influence, and Tian Lin is closer to the Grand Tutor."
"Tian Lin likely threatened Minister Du with evidence of his embezzlement," Yin Canshi said, reviewing the records. "Minister Du's coachman reported overhearing Tian Lin and Minister Du arguing by the carriage about money distribution. They parted on bad terms."
Thus, Minister Du watched as his daughter's life was ruined but could neither seek revenge—due to the Tian family's power—nor escape Tian Lin's harassment, burdened by his own corruption.
"If he appealed to Deng Yi, Deng Yi wouldn't genuinely punish Tian Lin for his sake," Yin Canshi remarked with a faint smile. "Tian Lin has given Deng Yi far more money than Minister Du. Why would the Grand Tutor sacrifice the Tian family over a personal feud? Even if Tian Lin were dismissed, the Tian family wouldn't collapse, and Minister Du would only face fiercer retaliation—"
A Le, who had been listening nearby, suddenly understood: "So, Your Highness, you are the best enforcer in Minister Du's eyes."
Chu Zhao smiled. Enforcer or not, it didn't matter. She tossed the records onto the table—she didn't care about Minister Du's motives, only the facts of the case.
And this was a matter she absolutely could not ignore.
"Minister Du said in prison that he deserves death but hopes to atone for his crimes by protecting his family from implication," Yin Canshi reported.
So it wasn't madness but a plea for survival. Chu Zhao declared, "Investigate thoroughly. Leave no one untouched. Whatever funds they swallowed, they will vomit back in full."
There were plenty of places in need of money.
The summer floods in Hu Zhou had to be addressed, and military expenses in the Border Commandery were immense.
As Ding Dachui and Yin Canshi took their leave, dusk enveloped the Imperial City. Instead of waiting in the palace for Xiao Yu to finish his studies, Chu Zhao had the Imperial Cuisine prepare dinner and brought it to the front hall.
Since the Zheng Xia case, Chu Zhao and Deng Yi had not met alone for two months.When Chu Zhao arrived, she found the Grand Tutor Hall empty and devoid of bustling officials.
She knew Deng Yi must have dismissed everyone.
The imperial guards stationed in the outer hall were under Deng Yi's control, so news of the Empress's arrival must have been known in advance.
"I had hoped to hear everyone's opinions on the Huazhou summer flood relief funds case," Chu Zhao said directly.
Deng Yi sat behind his desk, wearing a faint, ambiguous smile. "Everyone was worried that if Her Majesty saw them, she might consider them accomplices and have them arrested."
In truth, Deng Yi had often teased her like this in the past, but back then his eyes were gentle and sometimes even held a hidden smile.
Now, however, his gaze was cold and detached.
Chu Zhao paused briefly before responding, "As long as no one has committed crimes, this consort will not make arrests."
Without waiting for Deng Yi to reply, she walked over and sat down, letting out a soft sigh.
"Grand Tutor, let's set this matter aside for now," she said. "Let us have a proper conversation."
Deng Yi looked at her and smiled. "Your Majesty has never actually been one for proper conversation."
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