The Crown Prince was scolded, the scope of the investigation narrowed, the Ministry of Revenue was temporarily safe, and the Supervisory Council straightened its back again. The interesting thing was that whether the Supervisory Council's First Bureau could stand tall now depended on the angle between the Minister of Revenue's body and the ground.

Grand Secretary Hu slammed the table in the Department of State Affairs, pointing at the faces of the six ministers and scolding these officials for their corruption. Anyway, he was still young and hot-tempered, and he didn't need to put on the airs and demeanor of an elder statesman like Shu Wu all the time. What His Majesty needed was Grand Secretary Hu's reputation and drive, but on the matter of investigating the Ministry of Revenue, Grand Secretary Hu had not fully met His Majesty's requirements.

Because in his opinion, at least from the situation revealed by the investigation, the Ministry of Revenue... was really not easy. And what angered Grand Secretary Hu the most was that even now, some officials in the court still couldn't forget trying to find evidence in the Ministry of Revenue's accounts that was related to Jiangnan.

Another table-slamming sound rang out. Grand Secretary Hu frowned deeply, stared coldly at the officials beside him, and said in a deep voice, "Transfer silver to Jiangnan? Where's the silver? Isn't it still in the Ministry of Revenue's treasury? In the future, without evidence, don't talk nonsense about these groundless things, lest you chill the hearts of the officials."

He looked at these officials with pale faces and snorted coldly, "Gentlemen, take care."

After saying this, Grand Secretary Hu flicked his sleeves and walked out of the small room next to the palace, leaving many officials in the room looking at each other.

Everyone felt deep regret and embarrassment. They investigated the Ministry of Revenue, but the Ministry of Revenue was clean. On the contrary, countless problems were found in the factions of these people. The backers behind these officials had countless connections with Jiangnan. From the situation in Jiangnan, these big figures determined that the silver that Fan Xian used to confront the Ming family through Xia Qifei must have been transferred from the national treasury.

It was because of this judgment that these people dared to launch such a determined offensive against the Ministry of Revenue. Since so much silver was still in the Inner Treasury Transportation Department, it must be impossible to cover it up in the national treasury.

But... there wasn't even a trace!

These officials were so angry that their teeth itched. They didn't dare to talk back after being scolded by Grand Secretary Hu. Who told them to shout so loudly, but in the end, they couldn't find any problems!

The Fan family, father and son, were too insidious.

It was dawn, the eastern sun had not yet risen, and the Department of State Affairs was only drafting the memorials for today's court meeting. The officials looked a little tired. Most of them had not slept all night, but thinking of the struggles at the court meeting, they had to brace themselves. The first stage of the investigation of the Ministry of Revenue had clearly ended with the complete failure of the Princess and Crown Prince factions, but... how could they salvage the situation?

Intentionally or unintentionally, these officials turned their eyes to a young official who had been sitting in a dark corner.

This young official, named He Zongwei, was a rising star in the court, with some previous connections with the Princess and Crown Prince, and now deeply appreciated by His Majesty.

Because Grand Secretary Hu didn't want to make a big deal out of the Ministry of Revenue, His Majesty had many unspoken intentions that could not be smoothly handled by the officials, so he transferred He Zongwei, the newly appointed Left Censor-in-chief of the Censorate, into the investigation team of the Ministry of Revenue.

The officials looked at He Zongwei, naturally wanting to know from this young official what the palace was going to do.

This person had been specially ordered to listen to affairs in the Department of State Affairs for three days, always stable and dutiful, respectful and cautious towards Grand Secretary Hu and the ministers, speaking little, acting prudently, deeply understanding the essence of composure.

But being stared at by these officials, He Zongwei knew that he had to show some ability, not only for himself but also for His Majesty.

"What a mess." He sighed and said gently to the officials, "It seems that this matter will have to be slowly dealt with. Grand Secretary Hu was a little anxious before, so please don't worry too much, gentlemen."

Slowly dealt with meant the attitude of the palace. The Fan family's response was clever and tough, making it difficult for the palace to find a good way to remove the Minister of Revenue for a while. They could only wait for another opportunity.

The officials fell silent, feeling some unwillingness and some hidden worry.

Since Fan Jian's position remained unchanged, these leading officials who had launched the attack would naturally have to pay the corresponding price.

……

……

At the subsequent court meeting, the officials belonging to the Princess and Crown Prince factions launched a final offensive, not to kill the enemy, but to protect themselves. Even if the Ministry of Revenue was clean, the investigation team still found some problems, especially under the guidance of He Zongwei, who had joined later. The ministers abandoned those horrific charges and only focused on some small problems in the Ministry of Revenue, such as some unclear accounts, such as... a small sum of silver that had gone missing.

Although they were all small problems, at least it showed that these people were investigating the Ministry of Revenue not for grudges and revenge, but to really find the problems in the Ministry of Revenue.

At the court meeting, listening to the impassioned accusations of the ministers, Grand Secretary Hu smiled coldly in the first position on the left. Shu Wu beside him was full of worry, and Minister of Personnel Yan Xingshu said nothing.

The Emperor sat on the dragon throne, looking at a person in the civil official ranks with a somewhat complicated gaze.

Today, Minister of Revenue Fan Jian also came to the court meeting.

The Emperor looked at Fan Jian's slightly graying hair below and sighed in his heart, asking, "Where did the 180,000 taels of silver go?"

Fan Jian stepped forward, without defending himself or explaining, looking old and tired. He saluted and directly pleaded guilty.

This 180,000 taels of silver had already been sent to the Grand Canal Commissioner's Office!

……

……

The court was in an uproar. The Ministry of Personnel and related officials who advocated investigating the Ministry of Revenue showed a flash of joy on their faces that quickly disappeared. They didn't understand why the experienced Minister of Revenue would openly admit in court, in front of His Majesty, to privately transferring treasury silver to the Grand Canal Commissioner's Office. But they knew that this was an opportunity they couldn't miss!

For a time, officials stepped forward one after another, righteously accusing the Ministry of Revenue, and even more pointed the finger at Fan Jian.

In this world, only His Majesty's edict could authorize the transfer of national treasury silver. No one else could. Fan Jian ordered the Ministry of Revenue to transfer silver to the Grand Canal Commissioner's Office without an imperial decree in hand, which, from any point of view, was the crime of deceiving the Emperor.

The Emperor stared at Fan Jian's tired face, a faint light flashing in his eyes, but he didn't seem to hear the voices of these courtiers demanding punishment for the Ministry of Revenue.

The Emperor didn't hear, but some officials heard clearly, their hearts filled with anger!

The deficits in the Ministry of Revenue were closely related to those officials who attacked it, and Minister Fan's transfer of treasury silver to the canal works, even if improper, was commendable, as it was done for the court and the people, yet it became the pain point for those shameless villains to attack!

Shu Wu's eyebrows twitched anxiously, his eyes filled with anger as he glared at the civil officials who had stepped forward.

In fact, these elders in the Department of State Affairs knew that the procedures for the court to allocate silver were really complicated. If they really had to slowly request an edict before transferring silver to the canal works, the riverbank would probably have already collapsed. And in the deep winter, Shu Wu had complained to the Emperor about this matter. Although he didn't know the details of Fan Jian's transfer of silver from the Ministry of Revenue to the Grand Canal Commissioner's Office, he dared to assert that it had nothing to do with private interests.

Nonsense! He was transferring silver to repair the river. His old Fan family didn't have any fields on either side of the river. What benefits could he gain!

Shu Wu suppressed the anger in his chest, stepped forward, and bowed to the Emperor on the dragon throne.

Seeing this highly respected grand secretary step forward, the officials who were attacking the Ministry of Revenue stopped speaking and returned to the ranks.

The Emperor looked at him and said, "What is the crime of privately transferring treasury silver?"

The old Academician Shu raised his head and said directly, "Your Majesty, asking about the Qing laws should involve the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Revision. This old minister works in the Department of State Affairs, but is not very familiar with the Qing laws."

The Emperor said with a half-smile, "Then what does the old academician want to say?"

Shu Wu saluted again, glanced contemptuously at the petty people in the court, and then slowly said, "This old minister believes that Minister Fan is not at fault in this matter."

"How so?"

"The canal works have always been tight. Fortunately, this year's spring floods were not as strong as in previous years, but the summer floods are coming soon. As for the Ministry of Revenue transferring silver to the canal works office."

Shu Wu took a deep breath and said with utmost respect, "It was this old minister who approved the memorial in the Department of State Affairs and directly forwarded it to the Ministry of Revenue, so this old minister is actually aware of the Ministry of Revenue's transfer of silver."

As soon as these words came out, the court was in an uproar again!

Grand Secretary Shu was actually taking a great risk, tying himself to the Fan family? Why was that?

Minister Fan seemed a little surprised as well, looking at the old grand secretary in front of him.

The Emperor frowned slightly, but after a moment, he suddenly smiled and said, "Oh? Why don't I know about this matter?"

"This old minister is muddle-headed, please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Grand Secretary Shu was not muddle-headed. Earlier, the court was full of heated discussions, and he couldn't bear it anymore. Furthermore, the last bit of conscience in his old and firm heart stirred up, and his blood rushed, causing him to stand up and vouch for the Ministry of Revenue. But after regaining his senses, he realized that His Majesty definitely didn't like someone in his Department of State Affairs vouching for the Six Ministries. He smiled bitterly and lowered his voice, saying, "Your Majesty, please pity this old minister's old age. I had two more drinks last night and felt a bit like a reckless youth. Now I want to take back my words, but I can't."

Seeing the dignified grand secretary acting like a clown, the Emperor couldn't help but laugh, and the trace of displeasure from being contradicted gradually dissipated.

He couldn't possibly strip the Minister of Revenue and a grand secretary of their positions just because of 180,000 taels of silver.

"Hu Xuzhi," the Emperor asked with a smile, "In your opinion, what crime should the Ministry of Revenue be charged with in this matter?"

Grand Secretary Hu stepped forward, pondered for a moment, and then said softly, "The crime of deceiving the Emperor."

The court buzzed.

The Emperor raised his eyebrows, asking with great interest, "Then how should it be punished?"

"No punishment," Grand Secretary Hu lowered his body extremely low.

"Why?"

"The Ministry of Revenue's transfer of silver to the canal works was for the public good, and it was a sign of loyalty to serve Your Majesty. Although it was deceiving the Emperor, it was a deception of love for the Emperor." Grand Secretary Hu said lightly, "The Qing laws define people by their crimes, emphasizing understanding the principles and determining the situation. By understanding the heart, one can know the principles and understand the situation. The officials of the Ministry of Revenue and Minister Fan have a sincere and open heart, as Your Majesty clearly sees."

"Oh?" The Emperor seemed very interested in this statement, smiling and saying, "But the law is here. If we don't act according to the law, how can we appease the mouths of the people, and how can we appease the minds of the officials who abide by the law?"

"There is no need to block the mouths of the people." Grand Secretary Hu responded softly, "As long as the long embankments of the river can be blocked, the people can see with their eyes and hear with their ears, have food to fill their bellies, and have a place to live in peace, they will naturally know Your Majesty's painstaking efforts."

The Emperor was moved and nodded.

Grand Secretary Hu continued, "As for the officials..." A faint bitter smile suddenly appeared on the corner of his lips. "If the officials really abide by the law, that would be fine. In this old minister's opinion, although the Qing laws are important, they are not as important as the words of the sage Emperor. If Your Majesty is considerate of the hardships of the Ministry of Revenue and leniently punishes them, all the officials in the court will be grateful for your sacred heart."

He finally said softly, "Your Majesty, it has been raining continuously recently."

This last sentence was spoken in a very low voice, and no one could hear it except for the officials close to the dragon throne.

The Emperor fell into deep thought, knowing that his closest grand secretaries in the Department of State Affairs were standing on the side of the Fan family today for the sake of the court and for the sake of the wealth of his Great Qing Dynasty. He frowned, thinking that Hu and Shu did not know his true intentions, and were provoked by the river repair incident, so they came forward to protect the Fan family. But... was his approach this time really inappropriate?

Did the conscientious officials in the court think that Fan Jian should stay?

The frown on his face gradually relaxed as he looked at Fan Jian below the hall, asking softly, "I don't want to hear what others are saying. You tell me, why did you transfer the silver to the Grand Canal Commissioner's Office without my permission?"

Fan Jian sighed, took a few steps forward, bowed deeply, and answered simply, "Your Majesty, I was afraid it would be too late."

This sum of money was actually a portion of the money that the Ministry of Revenue was sending to Jiangnan that was intercepted. The Emperor knew it, and Fan Jian naturally knew that the Emperor knew it. Today, in the court, being attacked by the officials for this, Fan Jian insisted on not defending himself, and did not even try to have the Emperor share the responsibility for him.

For the benefit of the people, he dared to privately transfer treasury silver to repair the Great River. He was truly a rare righteous minister in the Great Qing Dynasty, no wonder he moved the two grand secretaries, Hu and Shu.

For the sake of the Emperor's face, he dared to face serious crimes without defending himself. He was truly a rare loyal servant in the Great Qing Dynasty, no wonder the Emperor was also somewhat moved.

The Emperor pondered, then slowly nodded.

After the court meeting, an explicit decree was issued. The Ministry of Revenue had a serious deficit, and His Majesty was furious, ordering the investigation to continue. The problems that had already been investigated were handed over to the Supervisory Council and the Court of Revision for handling.

Minister of Revenue Fan Jian was stripped of his second-class title, fined his salary, and allowed to retain his position.

It was funny to say that the second-class title was an imperial decree that was added after Fan Xian saved the Emperor at the Hanging Temple. As for the fine of his salary, adding it to the previous fine, Fan Jian should not receive his salary for a full two years.

But... he still sat firmly in the position of Minister of Revenue.

Correspondingly, the deficits that had already been investigated in the Ministry of Revenue involved many officials, and a vigorous investigation work began. Various forces were forced to cut off their limbs to avoid having their heads chopped off by the deficits that had been suppressed by the Ministry of Revenue for so many years.

The Crown Prince's 400,000 taels of silver were filled by the Empress Dowager's private silver from the palace.

And the officials of the other factions did not have such a good grandmother. Whether it was the Crown Prince faction or the Princess faction, a large number of officials fell from power. Some fresh blood, such as young figures like He Zongwei, began to gradually enter the court.

Last autumn, because of the war between Fan Xian and the Second Prince, a group of courtiers had already been purged.

This deep spring, because of the war between the Ministry of Revenue and the Princess, another group of courtiers were purged.

Abandonment and giving up became the main themes in the court for a time.

The source of this story was in Jiangnan. Because Fan Xian created such a false situation, the people on the Princess's side thought they had caught the Fan family's biggest crime, so they dared to throw so many pawns into this muddy water, intending to pull the Fan family in Kyoto down from their horses.

But no one expected that the silver came from Northern Qi, and the Fan family did not touch the silver in the national treasury.

Of course, the Emperor thought he knew that the Fan family had moved it, and that it was done with his permission.

The Emperor thought he knew everything in the world, but he was wrong.

In short, the Fan family stood firm with extraordinary difficulty, and the Emperor... strengthened his control over the court officials by another point, making the palace more stable as well.

Everyone was happy.

From the current situation, at least on the surface, there was no force in Kyoto that could threaten that chair, and for a time, the spring was bright and the scenery was beautiful, and everything was peaceful.

But in the dark, the Crown Prince and the Second Prince were forced to form a temporary alliance. Although the Fan family also lost some vitality because of this incident, everyone knew that if Fan Xian, who was far away in Jiangnan, returned, certain major events would still happen.

……

……

Being able to force the two Dragon seeds, who were originally irreconcilable enemies, to unite closely together, this kind of power and this kind of strength was enough to make everyone feel proud and elated.

But Fan Xian, who had brought all of this about, did not feel the slightest bit of pride.

On the one hand, because the news from Kyoto had no way of reaching distant Jiangnan so quickly.

On the other hand, because in Kyoto, he could beat the princes until they didn't dare to breathe loudly, but in this Jiangnan, far away from Kyoto, facing the Ming family, which was only retreating, he was shocked to find that it was surprisingly difficult to defeat that Ming family.

It was even more difficult than defeating his imperial brothers!

……

……

(Happy weekend, if you have monthly tickets, please cast one.)