What a scheme! What a perfect way to borrow a knife to kill! Those old scoundrels want us to play the executioners, soaking our hands in the blood of the Six Families of Jiangnan.
Once these three million taels fill the hole in the military provisions and the storm passes, the aristocratic families of Jiangnan and the righteous officials in the court will have every justification to skin our Xu family alive!
Huan'er, this deal—do we take it or not?
We take it. Of course we take it, Xu Qinghuan replied without a shred of hesitation.
She strode back to the desk. Since someone has delivered this blood money right to our doorstep, there is no reason to push it away. If we do not take it, we will not even be able to pass the Emperor's test.
Citing other matters to attend to, Xu Qinghuan took her leave.
Xu Youde was left alone in the main hall. He stood quietly in place, unmoving.
A few breaths later, the trembling fat on his face gradually tightened. The fawning, frightened expression he had worn earlier completely faded from his features.
Xu Youde lowered his gaze, looking at the blue-covered ledger on the table.
In the dim light, he let out a long, soft sigh. The sound of his sigh melted into the dripping of the water clock, vanishing without a trace.
Xu Youde did not immediately go to change out of his green official robes, which were soaked in cold sweat.
Moving his thick, short legs, he walked into the inner room and rummaged around for a moment before pulling out an incredibly tacky piece of red silk. This was the sort of material merchant families used during festivals to wrap lucky money or transport ledgers, and it even carried the distinct powdery scent of Jiangnan embroidery workshops.
He folded the four corners of the cloth over the ledger, his fingers skillfully tying a dead knot.
Dangling the bright red square bundle in his hand, paired with his crumpled green robe embroidered with cloud geese, he truly looked like a rustic landlord who had just returned from collecting rent in the countryside.
......
It was not until the third quarter of the hour of Chou.
The long streets of the capital were submerged in a darkness so thick it could not be dissolved. The sound of the night watchman's clapper, echoing from three streets away, sounded somewhat faint and hollow.
Xu Youde did not bring Li Sheng. Carrying a horn lantern all by himself, he walked straight to the West Prosperity Gate of the Imperial City.
Stepping up to the gates, Xu Youde neither knocked on the ring nor announced his presence. He simply raised his right hand, holding the imperially bestowed Coiled Dragon Gold Medallion high above his head.
The dark golden luster flickered under the dim fire of the horn lantern.
The Imperial Guards on night watch gasped. Amidst the clanking of armor, no one dared to ask a single question.
Several thick arms pushed against a small side door. The muffled friction of the hinges dispersed in the night wind, opening a narrow gap just wide enough for a single person to pass through. Xu Youde turned sideways and squeezed inside, carrying that bright red, tacky bundle.
The Hall of Mental Cultivation.
A very faint scent of ambergris swirled within the hall, carrying a trace of refreshing bitterness.
Without too many candles lit, the spacious hall appeared particularly profound and deep. The ever-burning lamps stretched the shadows of the coiled dragon pillars incredibly long.
Emperor Tiansheng sat leaning against the imperial couch, half-draped in a bright yellow nightrobe. His elderly body sank into the shadows of the soft cushions, his breathing somewhat heavy and cloudy.
The footsteps of the eunuch leading the way into the hall were very light.
Thump.
The sound of knees striking the golden floor bricks was extremely loud, reverberating in the upper reaches of the hall.
Xu Youde threw himself face-first onto the ground, shivering like a lump of green dough.
The old emperor did not speak immediately. His eyes, hidden in the dimness and full of gloom, slid all the way down the imperial steps.
He saw Xu Youde with his rear sticking up in the air, his hands clutching that bright red bundle.
Before the emperor could ask a question, he began to speak, trembling.
Your Majesty! Xu Youde strained his voice, which revealed uncontrollable philistinism, greed, and extreme terror. This humble subject... this humble subject's old acquaintance in Jiangning has sent this subject three million taels worth of bank note stubs!
He made no mention of the Third Prince, no mention of the midnight probing, and did not even mention the aristocratic families.
The shadows on the imperial couch swayed slightly.
The old emperor's shriveled flesh faded in and out of the candlelight. His withered, bony fingers rested on the edge of the couch and tapped twice, extremely slowly.
Bring it up.
The head eunuch kept his head down and bowed his waist as he walked down the jade steps. His gaze fell upon that unimaginably vulgar red bundle, and when his fingers touched the coarse silk surface, his brows furrowed imperceptibly.
The bundle was presented onto the imperial desk.
The red silk was untied, and the blue-covered ledger was exposed nakedly to the Son of Heaven's eyes.
Emperor Tiansheng extended two fingers and flipped open the first page.
The rustling sound of the turning page echoed throughout the hall. The originally faint dripping of the water clock suddenly became extremely piercing. The head eunuch standing in attendance instinctively held his breath, the hairs on his back standing on end.
Emperor Tiansheng's gaze had originally carried a somewhat scattered weariness. But the moment it touched the red seal of the underground bank—missing half a corner—at the bottom right of the page, his pupils abruptly shrank to the size of needles.
The fingers pinching the paper paused.
His shriveled skin clung tightly to his finger bones.
Those densely packed ink characters, bank note numbers, secret codes, and dividend ratios stabbed straight into the emptiness of the Great Qian treasury.
Beloved Subject Xu, your relationship with this old acquaintance is quite deep. Emperor Tiansheng's voice slowed down.
He closed the ledger, his thumb rubbing against the blue cloth cover.
You have done exceedingly well. These three million taels of bank note stubs were delivered at the perfect time. It was not in vain that We bestowed upon you that Coiled Dragon Gold Medallion.
Xu Youde kowtowed at the bottom of the steps, his forehead striking the golden bricks with loud thuds.
The Emperor's grace is vast! This is all due to Your Majesty's awe-inspiring dragon might. Those merchants were blind as dogs to dare embezzle Your Majesty's money! This humble subject will go and collect it back for Your Majesty right now! We will not be short a single copper coin!
A mouthful of vulgar words vividly painted the image of a vicious dog who only recognized money and not people.
Go see to it. The night is late, you may withdraw. The old emperor waved his sleeve.
Xu Youde scrambled up from the ground on his hands and knees, keeping his back bowed as he retreated out of the hall.
The massive space fell back into silence.
A low, cold sneer emanated from the imperial couch, echoing in the empty hall.
An old acquaintance... Emperor Tiansheng turned his head, looking at the head eunuch beside him who did not dare to raise his head. This powdery scent of Jiangning has drifted all the way outside Our West Prosperity Gate.
He casually tossed it aside.
The blue-covered ledger smacked onto the imperial desk with a thud, letting out a muffled sound.
Emperor Tiansheng scoffed coldly, his gaze piercing through the heavy palace curtains outside the hall, as if looking down upon every living creature on this chessboard. Old fox, what an excellent calculation.
