Overwhelming

Qi Hongxin considered it carefully, his gaze fixed on Su Ziji as he watched him bow to the heavens. "After racking my brains to no avail, one day, in the early hours before dawn, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck me, and I came up with this idea. Perhaps it was Heaven's Will for Your Excellency to quell this disaster."

"Heaven's Will?" Qi Hongxin's mouth fell open. He stood stunned for a long while before coming back to himself. Doubt stirred in his heart, but on second thought, there seemed to be no other possibility.

Sure enough, even an official like Qi Hongxin looked somewhat better upon hearing this. With a soft chuckle, he said in an unusually gentle tone, "Lord Su need not be so modest. Even if Heaven's Will played a part, it was only through Lord Su's capable handling of affairs that such a result could be achieved. Rest assured, when I return, I will certainly submit a memorial to the court and request recognition for your merits."

Though he said this aloud, unease and suspicion churned in his heart.

For thousands of years beneath this august realm, there had been countless holes in the accounts. Not to mention the previous dynasty—even in the eleventh year of Chengshou, the Emperor had sent a Vice Minister of Revenue to inspect the grain stores. The man discovered shocking fraud, yet before he could report it, a great fire reduced both granaries and grain to ashes. From then on, the deficits could no longer be investigated.

This was the fire dragon burning the granaries. Of course, such a method could not be concealed from either the Vice Minister of Revenue or the Emperor. Thus, those responsible were demoted three ranks—but that was still better than having the matter thoroughly investigated