AMLFS Chapter 28

Chapter 28 Empty Treasury

Upon hearing Lord Song’s words, Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district turned his head, somewhat surprised at the person kneeling on the ground.

He hadn’t expected that in such a tense situation, the first person to stand up and speak for him would be the Minister Song, who held no real power in the court.

The atmosphere in the great hall suddenly became tense.

Seeing Zhao Fangye standing in the hall and Song Zigen kneeling on the ground, Song Huaixi grew anxious and uneasy. With slightly reddened eyes, he called out in a trembling voice, “Father…”

Though soft, his voice was loud enough for everyone present to hear.

Upon hearing the sound, the Crown Prince Zhao Jingshuo cast a malicious glance at Song Huaixi’s beautiful face.

He strolled over to Minister Song, and said mockingly, “Oh! Minister Song, how long has it been since you married your son into the Ning Wang Mansion? Are you already starting to favor Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district?”

The Crown Prince’s words undoubtedly categorized Song Zigen directly into the camp of Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district, coupled with the Emperor’s original intention to reclaim military power.

Song Zigen’s standing out now would only incur the Emperor’s displeasure; it would not help Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district in the slightest and would only drag himself down.

Song Zigen had been an upright and honest official all his life, never participating in factionalism. Therefore, he had no real power in the court.

Hastily looking at the Emperor on the high platform, Song Zigen explained, “Your Majesty, I am merely stating facts as they are, with no other intentions…”

“Enough!”

The Emperor slammed his palm on the dragon throne, clearly angered. His gaze fell upon Zhao Fangye of the Ning district, who was standing below the platform, unmoved.

“Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district, what the Crown Prince and the ministers have said is not without reason. Now that the battles in the Northwest have ended, the military power in your hands should be returned to the Imperial Court.”

Zhao Fangye of the Ning district looked at his hypocritical appearance and scoffed. “Heh.”

“Let this prince hand over military power? Certainly. I fear there is no one in the court capable of taking over.”

His cold and stern gaze slowly swept over the ministers in the court. Zhao Fangye of the Ning district’s face was full of contempt. The current dynasty had already become a decaying shell.

The courtiers were usurping power, forming cliques, the Emperor was muddle-headed, and deceived by villains. The Crown Prince was licentious and knew only how to manipulate power. The entire court was full of hypocrisy, disregarding the suffering of the common people.

They even dared to overestimate themselves and wanted to take back military power. Zhao Fangye of the Ning district was too lazy to watch them feign civility.

“What do you mean by that?”

An old minister of the Crown Prince’s faction immediately attacked him: “Does this mean that among the many capable and ambitious people in our court, none can compare to you, Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district? Don’t be too arrogant because of your military achievements, Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district.”

Seeing that the situation was unfavorable to Zhao Fangye of the Ning district, the ministers of the Chancellor’s faction all looked towards the Chancellor.

If Zhao Fangye of the Ning district really lost his military power, it would be no small loss for them.

Although the Chancellor’s power in the court overshadowed that of the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince was, after all, the heir apparent and was favored by the Emperor, holding the power to oversee the country. In terms of real power, Zhao Fangye of the Ning district, as a Prince, had many constraints.

“Chancellor, aren’t we going to say a few words for Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district?”

Putting down his wine cup on the table, the Chancellor said contemptuously, “No need. This is just a small squall; the Crown Prince’s faction can’t make waves.”

Zhao Fangye of the Ning district ignored them and walked straight to the Crown Prince, standing still before him: “So, the court can come up with the military pay to settle this prince’s troops? Then why was it that when the battles in the Northwest were frequent, the court’s military pay was delayed?”

“This prince sent several memorials from the post station to the capital, but they were never heard from. This prince’s soldiers fought bravely on the front lines, sacrificing their lives without hesitation. But the court allowed them to freeze and starve to death. May I ask, Crown Prince, what do you mean by this?”

Zhao Fangye of the Ning district’s words caused the Crown Prince’s expression to change drastically, visibly panicking. The expressions of the ministers also gradually became serious.

When the battles in the Northwest were frequent, the Emperor entrusted the task of allocating military supplies entirely to the Crown Prince, intending to train his leadership skills in coordinating resources from all sides.

But Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district’s words meant that the Crown Prince had not sent any military pay to the front lines at all. And the ministers did not dare to think about where so much expenditure had gone.

At this moment, the Emperor also became suspicious, gripping the armrest of the dragon throne: “Crown Prince, what is going on?”

“Father! This is all Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district’s sophistry. With the battles in the Northwest so intense, how could this son possibly embezzle military pay? He must be framing this son.”

Zhao Jingshuo’s eyes flashed with guilt, but thinking that Zhao Fangye of the Ning district had no evidence, he immediately calmed down and made a counter-charge.

Having long known the Crown Prince’s ways, Zhao Fangye of the Ning district could not have returned to the capital without making preparations.

The departed souls of the soldiers who died on the battlefields of the Northwest should also be given an explanation by the Crown Prince.

Taking out from his sleeve a list of the Crown Prince’s private collusion with courtiers over the years, as well as the expenses he himself had paid for the soldiers in the Northwest over the years.

All the soldiers in the Northwest had been supported by Zhao Fangye of the Ning district over the years. The Wang family not only had the Chancellor holding power in the court, but also the Wang family’s youngest son, a wealthy merchant, who controlled a quarter of the country’s economy.

The reason why Zhao Fangye of the Ning district was able to recover the Northwest was inseparable from their support.

“Your Majesty, take a good look at what good deeds your good Crown Prince has done.” Zhao Fangye of the Ning district threw the list into the arms of the eunuch in charge. “Crown Prince, you embezzled military pay back then; it seems that there is not much money left in the national treasury now, is there?”

“You!” Zhao Jingshuo did not expect that he had hidden this trick. The mocking expression from just now immediately turned into panic.

During these years when he oversaw the country, the money in the national treasury had long been embezzled by him to win over courtiers and indulge in extravagant pleasures.

He acted extravagantly and without restraint; the military pay for the Northwest had long been pocketed by him. How could he possibly take out half of it to send to the front lines?

Disregarding his dignity, he immediately stepped forward to snatch the list from the eunuch’s hand: “Father! Do not listen to his slander. This is all fabricated by him!”

At this moment, the Emperor was furious, his incredulous eyes filled with disappointment and anger. His son, whom he had always trusted, had actually done such a thing. His eyes were stern and imposing, as if flashing with two cold rays.

He said coldly, “Bring it over!”

The eunuch in charge hurriedly presented the item to the Emperor, who took it and looked at it. All the names on it were those of courtiers trusted by the Emperor. Looking at the military expenditures, it was indeed a considerable amount over the years.

The Emperor covered his chest with a trembling hand and said sternly, “Minister of Revenue! Come out! How much money is left in the national treasury now! Speak!”

The Minister of Revenue scurried out from the rear in a panic, prostrating himself on the ground, trembling uncontrollably: “Your Majesty… Your Majesty. It’s all the Crown Prince! The Crown Prince threatened this minister… Your Majesty, spare me!”

The Emperor’s face completely darkened, and he swept all the items on the desk onto the ground.

The Son of Heaven was enraged, and all the ministers were shocked.

“Speak!”

The Minister of Revenue’s face was ashen, and he stammered, “The national treasury… the national treasury is empty. Expenditures exceed income! Your Majesty…”

The Emperor’s whole body seemed to have been drained of strength, and he sat down on the throne in despair. Noble Consort Xiao’s face was pale, and she wanted to step forward to plead for mercy, but was pushed to the ground by the Emperor.

“Look at your good son! Look at what he’s done!”

Kneeling on the ground, Noble Consort Xiao’s exquisite and beautiful face was ashen. How could it be like this when everything had been planned so well?

Watching the farce before him with cold eyes, Zhao Fangye of the Ning district looked indifferent and was too lazy to waste words with them.

“This prince would like to hand over military power, but can Your Majesty afford to support it?”

Having said that, he turned around and led Song Huaixi out of the great hall.

Song Huaixi turned his head and looked at Song Zigen kneeling on the ground, grabbing his sleeve in panic: “My father…”

“Don’t worry,” Zhao Fangye of the Ning district touched his hair. “Your father will be fine.”

Seeing that things had been completely exposed to the Emperor, the Crown Prince kowtowed repeatedly. The sounds of pleading reached Huaixi’s ears.

“Father, this son was confused for a moment, Father, spare me…”

“What are they doing inside?” Embraced by Zhao Fangye of the Ning district, Song Huaixi asked curiously.

Zhao Fangye of the Ning district said mockingly, “They’re putting on a play called ‘Filial Piety’.”

Even if he exposed the Crown Prince’s crimes in public today, the Emperor would still not punish him severely. It was ironic to think about it. As long as Noble Consort Xiao whispered in his ear, everything would be written off immediately.

It had always been like this since he was a child.

Song Huaixi did not understand the meaning and blinked in confusion. There was no acting inside.

Taking his hand, he walked out. “Did you eat your fill in the palace?”

“I did!” Song Huaixi touched his stomach, very satisfied. “The food in the palace is so delicious!”

Looking at his satisfied appearance, the look in Zhao Fangye of the Ning district’s eyes was no longer full of coldness, but rather filled with doting. It was as if he was a completely different person from the one who had been confronting them in the great hall.

He said gently, “If you like it, should I ask the palace chefs to come to the Ning Wang Mansion to cook for you?”

“Okay!”