Chapter 109
"Your Majesty, since Liu Zongcheng was originally from the Ministry of Revenue, let the investigation begin with my ministry," Tang Xiuyong sighed and quickly stepped forward to propose.
He knew this fire would eventually spread—sooner or later, it would reach the Ministry of Revenue. Better to face it sooner rather than later. Besides, he was confident that the ministry’s records were clean. After all, in recent years, the Ministry of Revenue had been so impoverished that there was little room for discrepancies.
"Since Minister Tang has proposed it, we shall begin with the Ministry of Revenue. First, the Six Ministries will be audited, followed by other government offices."
Zhu Jingchen’s decree settled the matter.
It seemed this accounting would require thorough scrutiny—not just the official ledgers of the ministries, but also the personal finances of key officials.
"Tang Xiuyong, Li Tianyou, Xiao Guozhi, and Prince An, accompany me to the imperial study after the court is dismissed." Zhu Jingchen’s voice carried a note of exhaustion as he spoke.
The ministers withdrew uneasily, their hearts heavy with apprehension.
Imperial Study
"This audit will not only examine the ledgers of the ministries but also investigate the financial situations of the officials’ households." Zhu Jingchen’s words left the men stunned.
Auditing the ministries was one thing, but probing into the private finances of officials? That would be no simple task.
Even Li Tianyou frowned at the thought. If someone suddenly arrived at his home demanding to inspect his family’s accounts, he would hardly welcome it.
"Perhaps we need not frame it as an audit," Xu Heming interjected, quickly grasping Zhu Jingchen’s intent. "Instead, we could simply visit their homes to check for any extravagance or items exceeding their official allowances."
"Minister Xu speaks my thoughts precisely." Zhu Jingchen nodded, relieved that Xu Heming understood him so well.
"Your Majesty, regarding the inspection of the officials’ households—should this be done openly or discreetly?" Tang Xiuyong asked nervously.
"Minister Li and Minister Xiao will find ways to visit the households under some pretext. We can discuss further based on what they uncover." Zhu Jingchen laid out his plan calmly.
Li Tianyou and Xiao Guozhi exchanged uneasy glances. This was no easy assignment—yet neither could refuse.
Later, Zhu Jingchen detained Li Tianyou for a private conversation.
"Your Majesty." Li Tianyou’s heart pounded. The emperor’s decision to keep him back surely meant additional matters.
"Minister Li." Zhu Jingchen studied him, hesitating over whether his request might seem too abrupt.
"Your Majesty, your command?" Li Tianyou braced himself, uncertain whether the emperor’s summons boded well or ill.
After all, while he had suspected Liu Zongcheng’s corruption, he had never imagined the scale of the embezzlement.
"Minister Li, you must know individuals skilled in accounting, correct?" Zhu Jingchen tapped his fingers idly against the desk, his tone deliberately casual.
"Indeed, I do." Li Tianyou hesitated before answering truthfully.
As a merchant, he naturally had connections with experts in arithmetic. His own family’s businesses employed many capable accountants. But he suspected the emperor sought someone beyond an ordinary bookkeeper.
"Could you recommend a few such individuals to me?" Zhu Jingchen pressed.
Skilled accountants?
The emperor wanted him to recommend arithmetic experts? Li Tianyou pondered for a moment before recalling someone—someone who happened to be in the capital at present.
But whether that person would agree to serve was another matter entirely.
"Your Majesty, I do have someone in mind. However, I must first seek his consent." Li Tianyou replied honestly.
"Then I shall await your good news." Zhu Jingchen sensed that Li Tianyou had a suitable candidate in mind.
With the court currently short on talent, Zhu Jingchen was eager to recruit capable individuals—especially after witnessing how swiftly Li Tianyou had identified discrepancies in Liu Zongcheng’s ledgers.
Li'an County
Li Zhiwei returned to Li'an County without notifying Lady Yao in advance, hoping to surprise her mother.
But when she stepped into the main hall and saw Yao Shuheng, she froze.
Had she been away for only a few months?
Had the family estate already changed hands?
Why hadn’t her father mentioned that their ancestral home had been sold?
Yao Shuheng, in turn, was startled to see Li Zhiwei standing there with a child in tow.
Yet the way she moved so familiarly through the house suggested she was no mere guest.
"Mother, is this really your home?" Xu Qingshi asked, puzzled.
They had entered without being stopped—even the gatekeeper had greeted Li Zhiwei joyfully as "the young mistress returned."
Li Zhiwei had instructed everyone not to announce her arrival, wanting to surprise Lady Yao.
But now, faced with this unfamiliar man, she wasn’t sure whether to be delighted or alarmed.
"May I ask whom you are looking for?" Yao Shuheng coughed lightly under the young woman’s intense gaze, feeling inexplicably familiar with her striking features.
"Who are you? Why are you here?" Li Zhiwei demanded, displeased.
Had her father, believing she would soon marry, taken in an adopted son?
"You silly child, why didn’t you send word before coming home? This is your cousin, Shuheng." Lady Yao emerged with a smile, her eyes brimming with joy at the sight of her daughter.
"Mother, I’ve missed you so much!" Li Zhiwei threw herself into Lady Yao’s arms, bursting into tears.
Earlier, Lady Yao’s maid, Chuntao, had rushed to inform her that the young mistress had returned, leading her here in excitement.
Lady Yao wept as well, overwhelmed by emotion.
The thought of how the Ruan Marquis Residence had deceived them about her daughter’s marriage still filled her with dread.
Now, seeing Li Zhiwei safe and sound, her heart swelled with relief.
Yao Shuheng stood dumbfounded—this was his cousin?
"Mother, is this pretty lady my grandmother?" Xu Qingshi asked timidly, watching Li Zhiwei’s tearful reunion.
"Wei’er, who is this child...?" Lady Yao finally noticed Xu Qingshi, bewildered.
Her daughter had been in the capital for less than two months—there was no way she could have a child this old. Yet the boy had just called her "mother."
Lady Yao knew nothing of Li Zhiwei’s betrothal to Prince An, let alone that this child was the prince’s son.
Yao Shuheng frowned. Had his cousin already married?
When had this happened? Why hadn’t his aunt mentioned it?
The boy looked to be about four years old.
Had Li Zhiwei been married for years?
He had countless questions but no suitable opportunity to ask.
After all, his parents had sent him to Li'an County specifically to marry Li Zhiwei.
He had even prepared himself to become a live-in son-in-law for the Li family.
