Chapter 43: Resolution
The Second Princess, Di Xingwan, entered the bedchamber and bowed. “Your daughter greets you, Mother.”
The Empress gestured for her to sit and speak.
“Your elder sister has audited the Ministry of Revenue’s accounts and uncovered a massive deficit. This involves last year’s drought in Cao Prefecture, where one hundred and twenty thousand people starved to death. The Prefect, Zhao Min, has already been detained in the City of Daughters. You shall preside over this case.”
The Empress spoke calmly, and Di Xingwan showed not the slightest surprise, as if all had unfolded precisely as she had foreseen.
“What result does Mother hope I will reach in this trial?” Di Xingwan replied in a cool, detached manner.
The Empress sighed helplessly. “First, ascertain the facts. We shall speak of everything else afterward.”
Di Xingwan rose. “I understand.”
Yingfeng promptly transferred Zhao Min into Di Xingwan’s custody.
...
Grand Ming Palace.
The Empress sat atop the phoenix throne. Below, the ministers were arrayed in two neat ranks—civil and military.
Long Chen stood among the civil officials, with Jing Heng ahead of him, for the Ministry of Revenue ranked before the Ministry of Works.
The First Princess stood at the very front, followed by Di Xingwan. Di Luoxi occupied the foremost position among the military officers.
The ministers wore uneasy expressions, none daring to speak. All had heard a rumor or two: the Prefect of Cao Prefecture, Zhao Min, had been arrested, and the case touched upon the Ministry of Revenue’s disaster relief funds.
The Ministry was under Jing Heng’s oversight; the Jing clan had controlled it for years. If the Ministry was implicated, then so was the Jing family.
Tensions between the court and the Grand General’s mansion were rising.
Everyone sensed a storm brewing, the court suddenly unsettled.
Jing Heng, Minister of Revenue, remained composed, as if the matter did not concern him. Behind him, Deputy Minister Chen Hanying trembled in fear, as though his life hung by a thread.
The Empress’s expression was grim, her tone cold. “If there is business to report, speak. If not, court is dismissed.”
Di Yuwei stepped from the ranks and bowed. “Mother, the Ministry’s accounts have been thoroughly examined.”
With her words, all murmuring ceased; the air grew tense, silent enough to hear a pin drop.
“Speak,” the Empress said, voice calm.
Di Yuwei announced, “Upon investigation, the Ministry of Revenue has a deficit of seven million taels.”
A hush fell—then the court erupted!
The ministers had anticipated a shortfall under Jing Heng, but never imagined it would be so vast.
“Seven million taels? How can it be so much?”
“That makes no sense. Isn’t the treasury’s income and expenditure surplus every year?”
“How did the Ministry’s management fall to this state?”
“Careful! Mind your words!”
Unable to contain themselves, the ministers’ gazes converged upon Jing Heng.
Jing Heng himself was stunned; the deficit far exceeded his own calculations.
He recalled only pocketing two million taels—where had the remaining five million gone?
Jing Heng glanced sidelong at the bowing Chen Hanying.
The Empress’s expression darkened. She looked at the ministers, especially Jing Heng, and said icily, “Minister of Revenue, explain yourself. How did such a massive deficit occur?”
Jing Heng forced himself forward, bowed, and said, “Your Majesty, it is due to my poor management and failure to oversee my subordinates, which resulted in this huge loss to the treasury. I cannot shirk responsibility.”
He admitted only to mismanagement, not to embezzlement.
Di Luoxi sneered. “Is it merely mismanagement, Minister Jing?”
Jing Heng replied irritably, “Fourth Princess, do you mean to imply that I personally siphoned funds from the Ministry?”
Di Luoxi snorted and said nothing.
Di Yuwei continued, “I have further matters to report.”
The Empress said, “Speak.”
Di Yuwei pressed on: “While auditing the Ministry’s accounts, I discovered that last year’s transport expenses for relief in Cao Prefecture—ten thousand taels—were falsified. Prefect Zhao Min, under the guise of disaster relief, sold official positions and embezzled relief grain, causing the starvation of one hundred and twenty thousand people.”
A roar swept the court—not mere whispers, but an uproar.
“How audacious!”
“One hundred and twenty thousand dead!”
“Sold the grain meant for relief, pocketed the money, and even claimed transport expenses from the Ministry?”
Corruption was rife among the officials, but such monstrous depravity left even them speechless, scarcely able to believe it.
Bang!
“Scoundrel!” The Empress shattered the armrest of the phoenix throne with a single blow, sprang to her feet, and shouted, “Where is Zhao Min?”
Di Xingwan stepped forward and bowed. “Your daughter reports: Zhao Min has been thrown into the imperial prison. Upon interrogation, he confessed fully and named his accomplices. Here is the written confession.”
She presented the document.
The ministers had long heard of Zhao Min’s arrest; today’s session was for his formal punishment.
The Empress read the confession and raged, “Look at this! They even dared to steal disaster relief grain!”
“One hundred and twenty thousand lives lost to starvation—such villainy cannot go unpunished! Justice must be served!”
“Let the Censorate apprehend all named in Zhao Min’s confession. Execute without mercy!”
Censor Bai Anning bowed. “I obey Your Majesty’s command!”
Yingfeng handed Bai Anning the confession.
The Empress settled herself atop the ruined phoenix throne and looked coldly at Jing Heng. “Minister of Revenue, have you nothing more to say?”
Jing Heng again stepped forward, bowed, and said, “I mismanaged the Ministry and request punishment.”
The Empress said coldly, “So be it. You shall investigate how these seven million taels disappeared, especially the transport expenses for Cao Prefecture’s relief. Find out who authorized them!”
Jing Heng felt a weight lift from his heart.
Being tasked with the investigation meant he could find scapegoats; the Empress, after all, dared not go against the Grand General’s mansion.
The ministers understood this too: the Empress needed Jing Tianlie to hold the Eastern Zhou together and would not turn against the Jing family.
“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace,” Jing Heng bowed deeply.
The Empress rose and dismissed the court.
Throughout, Long Chen said not a word, watching coldly.
After court, Long Chen and Di Luoxi returned together to the Western Palace.
Jing Heng left the Grand Ming Palace and returned to the Ministry of Revenue, where Deputy Minister Chen Hanying stood before him, pale and drenched in sweat.
“Seven million taels? I only took two million. Where did the other five million go?” Jing Heng squinted, his plump face twisted into a mock smile, resembling a sly tiger.
“Sir, there are so many people in the Ministry. If they don’t get their share, we can’t cover it up.”
“The Ministry must reconcile accounts with local offices; if they don’t get their cut, they won’t sign off.”
“Money disappears inside and out.”
The Ministry’s reconciliation meant local officials reported their collections, and the Ministry confirmed what was received. Likewise, allocations had to be acknowledged by the local offices. Falsifying accounts required everyone to be complicit—all up and down the chain needed their share.
Smack!
Jing Heng emerged from behind his desk and slapped Chen Hanying hard. “Nonsense! Do you think so much is needed to grease the wheels? You think I’m stupid?”
“Return whatever you took! Remember, you’re no better than my house slave!”
“This mess is so big—you won’t survive. Go home and say your goodbyes to your wife and children. Tomorrow, turn yourself in!”
“Don’t even think of anything else—otherwise, your parents and children will join you!”
Chen Hanying’s heart sank. He was doomed.
His parents and children would be killed, his wife spared?
Jing Heng was notoriously lecherous, long coveting Chen Hanying’s wife but restrained by appearances. Now, with Chen Hanying dead, his wife would be violated, his child beaten, and his home lost to others.
“Have mercy, Sir...” Chen Hanying knelt, begging for his life.