Deficit

Third Watch, around 1:00 a.m.

Let us set aside the absurdity within Rongguo Mansion for the moment.

Early on the sixth day of the tenth month, the Round Table meeting at Dali Temple finally discussed some proper business.

It was a case of a city gate fire harming the fish in the moat. The Ministry of Revenue had already been auditing its accounts recently, and then the Admonishment Official of the Ministry of Revenue had suddenly died. Naturally, scrutiny of all funds had tightened.

As a result, a sum Dali Temple had applied for was not approved in time and even showed signs of being rejected.

At Shuntian Prefecture, that would not have counted as much of a problem. At most, they could rob Peter to pay Paul for the time being.

But when it happened at Dali Temple, it stirred up no small commotion.

Just yesterday, while Sun Shaozong was on leave, a group of merchants somehow got wind of it and came in droves to demand repayment.

Though they did not make a racket outside and instead went into the hall to state their case, it still sparked plenty of gossip in the streets.

The inner courtyard's flower hall.

Wei Yi, Minister of the Dali Temple, stood with his hands clasped behind his back, pacing back and forth in the small space. After a long while, he stopped and said heavily, "This will not do. We must find a way to suppress it for now. We absolutely cannot let them make trouble before the Longevity Festival!"

Although he spoke with utter resolve, Sun Shaozong and Li Wenshan, seated before him, remained perfectly composed, showing no reaction whatsoever.

Wei Yi could not quite save face, so he simply called on one of them directly. "Vice Minister Li, I hear