Chapter 143: How Is the Imperial Treasury Empty Again?

Seeing the Emperor fly into a rage, the Imperial Officials in the hall dropped to their knees and bowed their heads, crying out in unison.

"Your subjects are incompetent, please calm Your Majesty's anger."

"Calm Your Majesty's anger, calm Your Majesty's anger!"

"Besides those few words, can't any of you say anything else?!"

The Imperial Officials switched to another line.

"Your subjects are dull-witted, please forgive us, Your Majesty."

The Shunhe Emperor felt a lump of breath stuck in his throat—unable to come up or go down—utterly wretched.

He drew a deep breath, too lazy to look at those fools any longer.

Looking at them hurt his eyes, upset his qi, pained his heart and liver—every part of him was miserable!

The Shunhe Emperor swept his gaze around twice but did not see the person he was looking for, his brows knitting slightly.

"Why are Beloved Ministers Sun and Meng not here?"

The Eunuch Chief standing to one side answered in a low voice.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Minister Sun and Vice Minister Meng have caught a chill and have taken leave these past few days."

Hearing this, the Shunhe Emperor pressed his lips into a straight line, a hint of displeasure in his eyes.

Taking leave again?

At that moment, Censor Lin suddenly spoke up.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this Old Minister believes that the pressing matter at hand is still to stabilize the emotions of the disaster victims in the capital as quickly as possible."

"At the same time, allocate funds and grain, and send people to the disaster areas for Disaster Relief."

Hearing these words, the Minister of Revenue's face twisted with conflict, but he gritted his teeth, straightened his trembling body, and with a long face began to plead poverty.

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Treasury is empty!"

Censor Lin glared, beard bristling.

Don't think he didn't know—the Imperial Treasury had money; it was just this iron rooster who refused to pluck a single feather!

"What does Minister Qian mean by this? Are we to let those disaster victims fend for themselves?!"

The Shunhe Emperor's brow also creased slightly, his face full of displeasure.

He had still been planning to build several more Taoist temples this year, and the pleasure palace that the Cheng Family had tried so hard to stop him from building last year—he meant to put that on the agenda this year too.

How had the Imperial Treasury run empty again?

The Shunhe Emperor shot a cold glance at the Minister of Revenue.

Sensing that gaze, Minister Qian instantly felt as if thorns were on his back—he truly had grievances he could not voice, this was…

Aggrieved!

Aggrieved as hell!

These people really didn't know how hard it was to run a household!

Disaster Relief had to be carried out, but the Imperial Treasury truly didn't have much silver!

If they hadn't raided the Cheng Family, they would have been strapped for cash long ago.

Moreover, Da Yin already suffered from external threats and internal troubles, and now on top of that came the blizzard—after this blizzard, there might well be floods in spring and summer this year…

And then there were other countries stirring restlessly—not to mention others, just take Xiyue and Dongxun, watching like tigers all day long.

If anything went wrong, didn't they have to set aside silver and grain for war?!

But these things, he did not dare say before His Majesty and the whole court.

The key was, everyone knew these things perfectly well—each of those people had mirrors in their hearts—so why should he be the one to spell it out?

Why did he have to be the one to speak those blunt truths that would earn His Majesty's displeasure?!

He really had it too hard!

The Crown Prince's eyes shifted, and a scheme came to mind.

"Father Emperor, your son has a plan."

The Shunhe Emperor's expression softened, and he nodded slightly.

"Let's hear it."

The Crown Prince spoke confidently and at length.

"Your son believes that half of the silver and grain can come from the Imperial Treasury, and the rest should be raised by the officials in each disaster area themselves. Moreover, to ensure the disaster victims all receive the Disaster Relief silver and grain, the amount raised by each locality must equal what the Imperial Treasury provides."

The silver in the Imperial Treasury—wouldn't it all be his in the future anyway?

Naturally, the more he could save, the better.

If not for the long view, he wouldn't even want to give that half!

The moment the Crown Prince said this, many Imperial Officials exchanged glances, shook their heads secretly, faces full of worry.

But the Shunhe Emperor actually nodded and agreed!

"The Crown Prince's method is indeed not bad."

"Then carry it out as the Crown Prince has said."

Censor Lin bowed and spoke again.

"Your Majesty, this Old Minister believes that the Disaster Relief matters in the capital should be entrusted to the Imperial Prince the Crown Prince to oversee."

"First, it can display the vastness of imperial grace and put the disaster victims at ease; second, with the Imperial Prince the Crown Prince holding the fort, those below won't dare slack off, and the resettlement of the disaster victims can certainly be resolved faster."

Hearing this, the Crown Prince instinctively wanted to refuse, but before he could open his mouth, he heard the Shunhe Emperor say.

"Granted!"

The Crown Prince instantly seemed to lose all his spirit.

"Your son obeys the Imperial Decree."

It had just finished snowing heavily — in weather this cold, who would want to go look at those filthy disaster victims?

He shot a covert glare at the culprit who had brought this trouble on him.

It's all your fault!

Noticing his gaze, the elderly Imperial Censor Lin, whose eyesight was failing with age, returned a look that said, "No need to thank me — good luck to you."

What a wonderful opportunity to win the hearts of the people!

Your Highness the Crown Prince, you absolutely must seize this chance!

After assigning all the tasks, the Shunhe Emperor waved his hand impatiently.

"Court dismissed!"

The heads of the civil and military officials had barely lifted the entire time, and now they chorused once more.

"We respectfully escort Your Majesty!"

Only after the Shunhe Emperor had left did the Imperial Officials slowly rise to their feet.

Some rubbed their knees, others rubbed their foreheads.

A few Imperial Officials even gathered together.

A middle-aged official with triangular eyes walked over to the group.

"Gentlemen, my sedan chair has broken down — might you give me a lift?"

Hearing this, a gleam flashed through their eyes, and they nodded with smiles.

"Of course, let's go."

Seeing them clustered together, several Imperial Officials looked even more troubled, shaking their heads and sighing in helpless unison.

A young official stared at their retreating backs, his face showing indignation.

"Those black sheep of the civil service—"

"Ahem!"

An elderly Imperial Official beside him coughed heavily, cutting him off, then clamped a hand over his mouth, shot him a stern look, and rebuked him in a low voice.

"How many times have I told you — when you're out and about, you must watch your tongue!"

The young man from earlier muttered unhappily under his breath.

"I just can't stand it! Who knows what schemes those people are plotting now."

The elderly Imperial Official from earlier sighed softly.

What else could it be?

They're just eyeing the Disaster Relief silver again, aren't they?

But this wasn't the place to discuss such things.

Thinking of this, he dragged the young man outside, afraid his junior might blurt out more uncomfortable truths and earn their enmity.

……

Inside a certain residence in the Capital.

In the Sun Family's Study.

After hearing what had happened at the Imperial Court, Vice Minister Meng slammed the table hard, his face dark as iron — clearly furious.

"Foolish!"

"That incompetent monarch actually agreed to such a plan?!"

Vice Minister Meng had always been hot-tempered, and now he paced the room in even greater agitation.

"In my view, Da Yin will be finished off by that incompetent monarch within two years!"

Minister Sun's expression wasn't much better either.

It sounded nice — the Imperial Treasury puts up half, and the rest is to be raised locally through donations.

But after all these layers of exploitation, how much Disaster Relief silver would actually reach the disaster areas?

They called it soliciting donations, yet there wasn't a single related policy. For example, if you want wealthy merchants to donate silver and grain, you have to give them something in return, don't you?

Otherwise, what merchant would willingly part with silver for such a thankless, costly task?

In the end, when those officials are pushed to the wall, won't they just snatch it from the mouths of the common people?

This so-called Disaster Relief silver will probably truly become 'taken from the people, used for the people'!

"Sigh!"

Minister Sun let out a long sigh.

"I'm afraid there won't be any peaceful days ahead."

Vice Minister Meng returned to his chair and sat down, about to say something.

Suddenly, a knock came at the door.

"Master, someone asked one of our shop assistants to deliver a large box to you."

Hearing this, Minister Sun frowned slightly.

During festivals, many people did send him gifts openly or secretly, but he had already given strict orders — no one in the residence was to help forward any of them, on pain of being thrown out!

That shop assistant not knowing the rules was one thing, but how could the steward have joined in such nonsense?

With an unhappy expression, he walked to the door, and the moment he opened it, he saw a large box.

Hmph!

Looks like there's quite a lot inside!

"Who sent it?"

The steward waited until the young servants helping carry the box had left before replying.

"The shop assistant said it's from a relative of yours back in your hometown."

Relatives from your old home?

Minister Sun's brow furrowed even tighter.

All his relatives back home had died out — where would anyone still be?

Just as Minister Sun was about to say something, he saw the steward hand up a slip of paper.

"Sir, please look at this first. This old servant only went to the shop to check the accounts, and it was only after seeing this slip that I brought the thing back. According to the shop assistant, the young man who came to deliver the item knew our household's situation very well."

Hearing this, Minister Sun's expression grew even worse, and he snatched the paper from the steward's hand in one pull.

The moment he unfolded it, his breathing turned rapid, and the hand holding the paper trembled.

"This, this is…"

Seeing him in such a state, Vice Minister Meng leaned over to look.

"Who gave it?"