The residence of the Grand Chancellor of Dayue.
"Grand Chancellor, are we truly going to take action against the envoys of Dayue?" an official asked nervously. "After all, not long ago, Daqi sent us provisions."
If this were discovered, Dayue would face widespread condemnation.
"His Majesty has made up his mind. We can only obey his orders."
Cheng Guang sighed inwardly. "Fortunately, the Emperor's plan is easy to execute. Send your most trusted men to handle it, and ensure no word leaks out."
Seeing that Cheng Guang had no better solution, the officials left his residence in low spirits—all except one, who lingered behind.
"Do you have something else to say to me?" Cheng Guang asked, his mind already troubled.
"Grand Chancellor, though Yu Fan holds no official position, the other envoys from Dayue seemed to defer to him. If something were to happen to him in Dayue..."
"Accidents happen. No one wishes for them." Cheng Guang's eyes darkened. "We will simply offer Daqi proper condolences afterward."
Cheng Guang had served in court since the previous emperor's reign. His loyalty during the succession earned him the title of Grand Chancellor. Over the years, he had dealt with Daqi's people before.
As long as they didn’t provoke the Gu family of Daqi, no major issues would arise.
As for the reason...
Cheng Guang twitched his lips. No one in their right mind would willingly deal with unreasonable people—especially when those people wielded blades.
"If the Grand Chancellor says so, then this official can rest assured."
......
As the Lunar New Year approached, red lanterns adorned every corner of Daqi.
Zichen Palace.
"Another year has passed, and the imperial treasury must be overflowing with silver, yes?"
Emperor Yuanyou stretched contentedly as he looked at Song Yu and Shen Qingping seated below. Since these two had taken charge of the Ministry of Revenue, he hadn’t needed to worry about the treasury.
Old Shen’s son was truly reliable!
Beside him, Song Shihuan trembled slightly at the Emperor’s words. "Eunuch Wu, I’d like to go outside and see the snow."
"This servant will escort you."
Wu Qi, ever perceptive, quickly led Song Shihuan out of Zichen Palace.
The moment they stepped outside, they heard Emperor Yuanyou’s incredulous voice:
"What? The treasury is empty?"
How could this be?
His private coffers were empty, and now the national treasury too?
"Father, you truly have no idea how expensive daily necessities are," Song Yu muttered resentfully.
"How dare you say I don’t manage the household?"
"Your Majesty, allow this minister to explain," Shen Qingping interjected before the father and son could argue further. "This year, the flood in Laijin Prefecture required extensive funds to rebuild homes for the people."
"Sending provisions to the northern frontier cost a great deal."
"Laijin had no harvest this year, so supplying them with food also drained resources."
"And then there’s..."
As Shen Qingping listed one expense after another, Emperor Yuanyou deflated like a punctured balloon. "Well, the silver was spent where it was most needed."
What was taken from the people was returned to them.
Still... his heart ached.
"Will the treasury be fuller next year?" Emperor Yuanyou asked hopefully.
"Your Majesty, most likely not."
"Why is that?" The Emperor clutched his chest.
"Next year, His Highness will top the imperial exams, be named Crown Prince, and inevitably decree a general amnesty and tax reductions," Shen Qingping reminded him gently. "Moreover, the war next year will demand vast military expenditures."
The opposite of frugality and revenue growth.
How could the treasury possibly fill?
Tears welled in Emperor Yuanyou’s eyes. He was surely the poorest emperor in history.
"No matter," he forced out. "Spend what must be spent."
Never mind him—he could endure.
......
Five days before the New Year, Dayue made its move against Yu Fan.
As the envoy’s carriage passed through a narrow mountain path, a group of black-masked men wielding curved blades emerged, their killing intent palpable. They surrounded Yu Fan’s party.
"Don’t you know whose territory this is? Hand over your silver if you want to pass!" the leader bellowed.
"Outrageous! We are envoys of Daqi! Harming us will jeopardize relations between our nations—you’ll be traitors to Dayue!" one envoy snapped before Yu Fan could speak.
"Ha! Daqi envoys? And I’m the Emperor of Daqi!"
At those words, Yu Fan clenched his fists inside his sleeves.
The carriage window slid open, revealing Yu Fan’s sickly appearance as he studied the so-called bandits. "How... how much do you want?"
"Ten thousand taels of gold."
"That’s outright robbery!" The other envoys erupted. What envoy carried such wealth on a diplomatic mission?
Was Dayue worth it?
"No silver? Then leave your lives behind. Take them!"
Though Yu Fan had brought elite guards, they were swiftly overpowered. Within half an hour, he was bound and dragged away.
The captors didn’t mistreat him, merely tossing him and the others into a cave, its entrance heavily guarded.
"Master Yu, these men don’t seem like ordinary bandits," one envoy whispered.
Yu Fan’s gaze darkened. "They’re highly trained dead soldiers. The Emperor of Dayue must be behind this."
Silence fell.
Then a voice broke it: "Master Yu, we agreed—we’re not afraid to die. If our intelligence saves even one soldier’s life, our names will be honored in the clan records!"
A separate entry in the ancestral registry—the ultimate glory!
"Right! We fear nothing!"
Yu Fan smiled. He wasn’t afraid either. That was why he hadn’t fought back earlier. He couldn’t risk exposing his feigned illness and leaving Daqi vulnerable.
But... he still had Mingliu and their child...
Pushing the thought aside, he steadied himself. "We can’t give up yet. Search the surroundings for another way out."
......
The palace of Dayue.
"Your Majesty, the Daqi envoys are imprisoned in the cave. We’ll release a tiger to devour them. Once their remains are returned, Daqi will have no grounds for accusation," Cheng Guang reported.
Emperor Mingde was pleased.
"Well done."
But his joy was short-lived. A eunuch rushed in, panic-stricken:
"Your Majesty, disaster! The young general of the Gu family has led troops to Yong'an County!"
"What? Did he state his purpose?" Emperor Mingde paled. If Daqi marched on Dayue now...
The consequences would be catastrophic.
"He said... he’s here to fetch his brother-in-law."
"His brother-in-law?" The Emperor was baffled.
Cheng Guang, however, shuddered, his voice trembling:
"His brother-in-law... could it be Yu Fan?"
