Chapter 73: Passing the Test

He turned his spearhead toward Ye Xianggao and Han Kuang, and said flatly: "May I ask the two gentlemen, what was the total amount obtained in this purge?"

Ye Xianggao glanced at Han Kuang, stepped forward, and said with a calculating air: "To answer His Highness Prince Hui, from the amounts reported by various offices, though not yet carefully tallied, five million taels should be about right."

Zhu Xu, unhurried, turned his head to look at Second Grand Secretary Han Kuang, and said: "Lord Han, which offices participated this time?"

Han Kuang's face was thin and gaunt, his character upright; he bowed slightly and said: "To answer Your Highness, the Ministry of Revenue, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Shuntian Prefecture took the lead; the other offices merely assisted."

Zhu Xu narrowed his eyes at the two men; the entire Imperial Study could feel the chill emanating from him.

After a long while, he drew a deep breath, pulled an account book from his bosom, and handed it to Zhu Youxiao, saying: "Brother Emperor, take a look at this — it is only a rough calculation; the actual figure may far exceed this."

Zhu Youxiao's expression had been gloomy all along. Now the Ministry of War had brazenly dragged several dukes and princes into this purge operation without cause, and right after that, his youngest brother, Prince Hui, had also charged into the Ministry of War, becoming the center of the greatest vortex — this troubled him most of all.

He looked at the account book Zhu Xu handed over, with the two large characters 'Ministry of War' on it. He took it with a cold expression and began flipping through it.

Ye Xianggao and Han Kuang could not see what Zhu Xu had handed over, but they exchanged a glance, both with some ominous foreboding in their eyes.

Zhu Youxiao flipped through the account book; his already somewhat pale face suddenly showed a faint flush of red.

Zhu Xu knew that was from anger. He quietly retreated a few steps. The next stage of the confrontation belonged to the Emperor Zhu Youxiao, Chief Grand Secretary Ye Xianggao, and Second Grand Secretary Han Kuang.

He secretly gave Empress Zhang a reassuring look; Empress Zhang let out a soft breath, and at the end, gave him a warning glance in return.

Zhu Xu had finished playing the great hero; now he needed to be invisible, so he kept quietly retreating.

"Cough, cough —"

Suddenly, Zhu Youxiao coughed in a low voice, yet still forced himself to endure it, drank a cup of tea, and continued reading while coughing.

Empress Zhang watched with a pained heart, quietly instructing the maidservants in a low voice to prepare something. She walked over gently, stroked his back, and called softly: "Your Majesty."

Zhu Youxiao's chest heaved more and more violently; his whole person was like a small volcano on the verge of eruption.

Zhu Xu also sighed inwardly — anyone in his place would likely be furious to the point of madness. The 'tax silver' that should have been collected, by the time it reached his hands, was not even one-tenth of it. Which emperor could endure that? Moreover, these were the very pillars of the state who usually opposed him yet were devoted to the country?

Thinking of this, Zhu Xu could not help but turn his head to glance at Zhu Youjian not far away, thinking: when he later killed so many ministers, it must have been because he too had seen such truths, right?

Zhu Youxiao was not stupid; on the contrary, he was very clever, always struggling amid the chaotic yet united court. But looking at this account book from the Ministry of War still made his hair stand on end with rage; his coughing intensified and his face flushed red.

Pfft —

Zhu Youxiao's body suddenly stiffened, and a mouthful of fresh blood sprayed out.

"Your Majesty!"

"Brother Emperor!"

It was too sudden; everyone in the Imperial Study was stunned, then hurried forward, watching Zhu Youxiao with alarmed faces.

After spitting out that mouthful of blood, Zhu Youxiao instead became calm. His chest still heaving, his face twitching as he looked at the few people before him, he gritted his teeth and said: "Convey My decree: Zhang Heming is to be thrown into prison; the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review shall hold a joint trial, with Prince Hui presiding. All of you, withdraw."

Ye Xianggao and Han Kuang were both startled inwardly, and could not help but look at the account book Zhu Xu had handed over on the imperial desk.

But Zhu Youxiao, supported by Empress Zhang, had already stood up and was walking toward the rear.

Zhang Guoji, Ye Xianggao, and Han Kuang naturally hurriedly bowed and said: "Your ministers take their leave."

Once the few had left, only Zhu Xu and Zhu Youjian, who had remained silent throughout, were left in the Imperial Study.

Zhu Youjian turned to leave, but then turned back, looking at Zhu Xu with a face full of warning, saying: "Sixth Brother, learn the rules well. Such a thing can be done once, but not twice." Having said that, he gave Zhu Xu no chance to respond, turned, and walked out.

Zhu Xu watched his retreating figure, the corners of his mouth twitching. Those who sit on the dragon throne are no fools — Zhu Youxiao was not stupid, and Zhu Youjian was even less so.

Zhu Xu stood in the Imperial Study, alone in silence for a long while.

According to his script, Zhu Youxiao should at this moment be in a great rage, ordering a thorough investigation of the Ministry of Revenue, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Shuntian Prefecture, and other offices. Zhu Youxiao's sudden vomiting of blood had interrupted his plan — and had also made him the presiding judge.

But thinking carefully over all that had happened today, though there were many flaws, the objective had been achieved.

Zhu Xu confirmed there were no major oversights, turned to retrieve that account book — but in an instant, his gaze locked straight onto the teacup Zhu Youxiao had just drunk from.

The tea lid lay toppled to one side; the tea was a deep red. Zhu Youxiao's blood had been sprayed out just now — no matter how much he spat, it could not possibly have made a cup of tea so thick and dark as this.

Zhu Xu's heart suddenly turned ice cold. His first thought was: run!

And that was exactly what he did — he flew out of the Imperial Study and Jingyang Palace, racing straight toward Jinghuan Palace.

Cao Wenzhao saw this, his expression shifting slightly; he hurriedly followed at Zhu Xu's side, asking urgently: "Your Highness, what has happened?"

"We'll talk when we get back." Zhu Xu wiped the sweat from his forehead, his mind racing, pondering what Zhu Youxiao's purpose was in doing this.

At this moment, in the eastern chamber of Jingyang Palace, Zhu Youxiao, leaning against Empress Zhang while wiping his mouth, said with a smile: "Did you see it?"

Empress Zhang had naturally seen it. After all, they were husband and wife, coordinating to play out the act well — yet she did not understand Zhu Youxiao's purpose, and asked in confusion: "Your Majesty, what exactly did that little monkey give you?"

'That little monkey' — with this form of address, Empress Zhang had clearly already concluded that Zhu Youxiao would not do anything to Zhu Xu.

Zhu Youxiao picked up a teacup, took a gentle sip, then let out a deep breath, and said: "An account book — it is what the Ministry of War brought back from this purge. The total exceeds five million taels, more than what was turned over to the state treasury."

Empress Zhang's expression shifted slightly, and she said: "Your Majesty, are you saying that someone in the Ministry of War embezzled, and Sixth Brother discovered it?"

Zhu Youxiao nodded, a cold glint in his eyes, and said: "All along, I knew they would embezzle — I just never imagined it had reached such a level. A Ministry of War that merely assisted in the purge still collected five million taels; then the other offices must have even more. What was registered into the state treasury is probably not even one-fifth of it."

Empress Zhang had always upheld the principle that the harem does not interfere in politics; hearing this, she did not say much more, merely sitting and keeping Zhu Youxiao company.

Zhu Youxiao had not lost his reason, nor did he seem very angry. After a silence, he said: "I had Sixth Brother preside over this trial precisely to strike the mountain to frighten the tiger — to make them spit out a bit more."

Empress Zhang nodded gently and said soothingly: "Rest assured, Your Majesty. Sixth Brother is quite clever; he will understand Your Majesty's intentions."

Zhu Xu, who had run all the way to Jinghuan Palace, gradually calmed down as well. He roughly understood Zhu Youxiao's purpose in doing this.

First, it was likely a backup plan prepared to save him — if things turned against him, Zhu Youxiao could feign illness and stall for time to find a way out.

Second, having discovered such a truth — he was not Zhu Youjian, lacking that kind of boldness. The offices affected this time were certainly not just one or two. If a true investigation were carried out, pulling up one radish would drag out the mud — probably few officials in the capital were clean.

He could not openly fall out with the Chief Grand Secretary and Second Grand Secretary, or the consequences would be impossible to clean up.