At the table, another Man in Black, who was in charge of the accounts, moved the abacus and reported quietly, "My lord, in just three days, we've made over two hundred thousand taels of silver from selling grain. The Eastern Palace's treasury must be nearly empty."
"Nearly empty?" Gu Chuan laughed. In the dim candlelight, his smile seemed unfathomable. "No, we've barely begun."
He stopped rolling the iron balls in his hand and looked up at the window.
"I've studied the Crown Prince. His greatest strength is his confidence. His greatest weakness is that he's too confident."
"He's convinced this is the perfect chance to bring down the Second Prince, so he'll do whatever it takes. When he realizes he doesn't have enough money, he won't stop. He'll only grow more desperate."
Gu Chuan tapped the table lightly with his index finger, making a steady tok, tok sound, as if tolling the death knell for Crown Prince Liu Chengan.
"He'll start using money he has no business touching."
"For instance, diverting funds meant for the Ministry of Works to repair the river channels. Or borrowing a sum in 'tribute' from the salt merchants he's in league with. He might even start selling official posts."
With every sentence Gu Chuan spoke, Wang Hu's eyes brightened.
Those were all capital crimes! If even one of them reached the emperor's ears, the Crown Prince's position would be in grave danger!
"My lord, you're brilliant!" Wang Hu exclaimed sincerely. "The Crown Prince is walking straight into a dead end!"
"No. I've pointed him toward what looks like the shortest path," Gu Chuan corrected him, his tone as casual as if he were discussing some trivial matter.
He turned to the Man in Black in charge of the accounts. "Pass down the order. Starting tomorrow,