Chapter 511

Emperor Longqing lowered his brows slightly, coldly gazing at Xiao Yin kneeling before him; the light in his eyes held something inscrutable.

He never imagined that this brother, whom he had almost beaten into the dust, could still make a comeback.

Seeing Xiao Yin now rising against the wind, acting thus, he couldn't help feeling a bit panicked.

"You have returned from Yangzhou this time; you have endured hardship along the way."

Emperor Longqing looked at Xiao Yin before him, his voice light, his words full of concern, yet he did not let Xiao Yin rise from the ground, still keeping him kneeling.

Xiao Yin steadied himself and slowly said: "Your subject, younger brother, managed to return alive from Yangzhou and even thoroughly eradicated the Cao clan and other salt merchants; this journey was indeed perilous."

"However, the imperial grace is vast; your subject, younger brother, relied on your elder brother's protection to eke out a life from Yangzhou."

Emperor Longqing gave a cold snort: "Is that so? It seems this near-death journey has indeed been hard on you."

Xiao Yin lowered his body further: "It is entirely thanks to the emperor's great fortune."

"How goes the investigation of the salt merchants?" Emperor Longqing asked in a different way.

Xiao Yin raised his brows slightly: "How goes the investigation? Don't you have any idea?"

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Originally Gu Kang had calculated those accounts clearly, one by one, and placed them all before you.

Now this is just asking knowingly, isn't it?

Xiao Yin slowly said: "In reply to Your Majesty, this time going to Yangzhou, Minister Gu was an Imperial Envoy, bearing the Imperial Sword, acting decisively."

"Your subject, younger brother, merely assisted from the side, to prevent those villainous petty people in Yangzhou from harming Minister Gu."

"Your subject, younger brother, is a military officer, ignorant of accounting; therefore all the accounts were compiled solely by Minister Gu Kang, and the rest of us younger brothers know nothing."

Suddenly, with a clatter, Emperor Longqing grabbed the accounts from the Dragon Desk and slammed them hard onto Xiao Yin's body.

"What an ignorant fool! Utter nonsense! Take a look at what this is!"

Xiao Yin's brow twitched, and his heart actually grew a bit more curious.

In the Hall of Nurturing Heart he saw Imperial Concubine Cao and the Duke of Cao sitting upright there.

This matter is not something that can be easily brushed aside.

Xiao Yin drew a breath, picked up the accounts fallen to the ground, stared intently, and his pupils flickered slightly.

Indeed, the Duke of Cao's methods were superb; previously, when they kept accounts in Yangzhou, it was done seamlessly.

"Who would have thought that the Duke of Cao actually still held a copy of the Cao clan's accounts?"

"This account book records the Cao clan's finances, large and small, their shopfronts and fields, in clear detail."

"Now the accounts that Xiao Yin and Gu Kang reported to the Imperial Court, when matched against the Cao clan's own books, turn out to be short by seventy percent."

"Thus the Duke of Cao this time is likely risking everything; he would rather have his entire fortune exposed by the court than let Xiao Yin and Gu Kang escape unscathed."

"By rights, out of consideration for Imperial Concubine Cao having borne a prince, the Duke of Cao should at most receive a light punishment; it is unthinkable that he would actually be dragged out and beheaded."

"As long as the Duke of Cao keeps this true account book, he can still have some surplus to support his old age."

"But the Duke of Cao, seeking to avenge his grandson, has overturned the Cao clan completely."

"The Duke of Cao also reckoned with Emperor Longqing's little thought—nothing more than being wary of Xiao Yin?"

"He has now personally handed this knife to Emperor Longqing; it all depends on whether the emperor will act, but unexpectedly the emperor's strike came even faster than he had anticipated."

"Emperor Longqing pointed at Xiao Yin's nose and shouted: 'As an Imperial Envoy, you ought to share my burdens and clear the nation's malpractices.'"

"I never thought you would dare to be corrupt and break the law, privately fabricating these accounts—do you know your crime?"

"They also say you and Gu Kang conspired together at some point to commit such filthy deeds."

"Xiao Yin finally understood why Gu Kang had been thrown into the death cell: it was because the Duke of Cao used the genuine Cao clan's policies and wealth to turn the tables on them."

"Xiao Yin lifted his head, his face betraying no emotion, staring fixedly at the already furious Emperor Longqing before him."

"At this moment he realized that his elder brother seemed even more worn down a bit; although he had become emperor, he did not feel happy."

Emperor Longqing sat on the Dragon Throne, his fingers clenched tight, wondering what money to make; he hated not to order someone to drag this messed-up thing out and kill it right now.

"Your subject, younger brother, has not embezzled the Cao clan's finances, which is why the ledger now in Your Majesty's hand has taken this form."

"That other account book the Cao clan suddenly produced is certainly untrustworthy."

"The Cao clan has occupied Jiangnan for so many years; which second-rank official in the court has not received their favors? Through money, the Cao clan already controls the entire Imperial Court."

"Thus the Cao clan has long been untrustworthy; would Your Majesty rather believe an outsider than trust your subject, younger brother?"

"The Cao clan's situation is already dire, yet they still bring out this account book; who could prove that the ledger in the Duke of Cao's hand is genuine?"

"Beside him, the Duke of Cao's face changed slightly; indeed, aside from this account book, he has no other means to prove anything."

"The Duke of Cao slowly rose, then with a thud knelt before his imperial father."

"Your Majesty, I know my sins are deep; when I went to Qingzhou to spend my twilight years, I never expected those unfilial sons in Yangzhou to commit such shocking deeds; though those people deserve death, I still wish to speak a word of justice."

"The Cao clan's money has obscure origins; ultimately it is the emperor's money, the treasure of our Southern Qi state."

"Who would have thought that now only thirty percent has been returned, while the other seventy percent has gone where?"

"Why do the accounts of Prince Rui and Minister Gu differ so greatly?"

"How can such a corrupt and lawless person hope to stand in Southern Qi?"

"Xiao Yin's lips curled into a smile, then he nodded: 'I have always regarded you as my most beloved younger brother; I never expected you to commit such disgraceful acts!'"

"Emperor Longqing, heartbroken, lightly patted his own chest, gazing at Xiao Yin kneeling before him, and said softly: 'Although you and Gu Kang have achieved merit, you are also corrupt and lawless, disregarding the law.'"

"If I spare you, how could the rest of the world forgive me? Now the evidence is mountainous, yet you still refuse to confess?"

"Emperor Longqing was about to order someone to drag Xiao Yin away; he had already found a few men to administer the beating, telling them that this method would shatter the viscera, shatter them, and that would be fatal."

"Come! Drag him out and give him seventy heavy blows, then throw him into the death cell!"

"Outside, the palace eunuch Wang heard the Emperor Longqing say that, his heart gave a slight tremor, and he entered with the guards."

"The guards stepped forward to seize Xiao Yin, when suddenly an attendant rushed hurriedly toward the Hall of Nurturing Heart, behind him followed a royal secret guard drenched in blood."

"That attendant entered the Hall of Nurturing Heart and urgently reported: 'Your Majesty!'"

Crown Prince brought the Sixth Prince, along with many other princes, to Huangjue Si to burn incense and pray for blessings for all the world's people, but unexpectedly they all disappeared at once on Guan Jing Tai!

What? What did you say? Say it again! Emperor Longqing was somewhat dazed.

He immediately stood up, his face changing somewhat.

What do you mean by disappearance?

The Crown Prince brought the remaining princes to Huangjue Si to pray for blessings for him; these days his health has been getting worse.

Who would have thought his own sons could actually vanish into thin air?

Immediately Emperor Longqing stared fixedly at Xiao Yin before him.