Chapter 98
Wei Chenmu, the Minister of Punishments, lowered his eyes, his face showing displeasure, but he didn't say anything.
As for the Minister of Personnel... well, she admits she didn't dare look at him.
All I know is that he sat there, motionless and silent.
Why is he here, having not come to the council since losing his memory? He's always been clinging to her, chattering and acting cute around her, yet he hasn't uttered a single word of comment on the newly appointed woman, as if his memory had returned overnight, and he'd seen through and let go of all the mess between them.
"Is this ledger the evidence used by Lord Nian to impeach Lord Zhu for embezzlement and bribery?"
Her thoughts were pulled back by His Your Majesty's voice. She looked down and saw His Your Majesty bending down to pick up the book that had left a red mark on her cheek and examining it closely.
As he watched, Nian Youyu frowned and meticulously listed her crimes. "The Library Pavilion was burned to the ground. The reconstruction plan was prepared by the previous Commander Mansion, and he only needed to copy what others had written. But he still tried to embellish it and skim off the top. The sand, bricks, wood, and even the labor costs were all at least three times the market price. Isn't the difference going into the pockets of this new favorite, Commander Mansion Zhu?"
His Your Majesty carefully examined each page of the account book, finally closing it. His gaze shifted to her; her slapped cheeks still throbbed faintly. "Lord Zhu, just as Lord Nian said, do you have an explanation?"
Zhu Bafu frowned. She had long known that once one became a court official, one's career was inextricably linked to one's position; one's head and official hat were tied together, rising and falling together. She just hadn't expected that she, a mere rookie official, would be tricked so badly before she could even stand up. She picked up the ledger of evidence and flipped through two pages. All the prices had been circled by Nian Youyu in ink, and the market prices were written next to them.
Well, this really is a ledger with irrefutable evidence. But--
"I have not embezzled a single penny. Not a single cent in these ledgers has been touched by me. Please, Your Majesty, see the truth." Even if it was the most simplistic defense, she had to say it.
"Yes. I believe you."
"Huh?!" A closing statement even more pointless than her shallow defense appeared?
"Your Holy Emperor! The evidence is irrefutable. How can he be dismissed simply because he says he didn't?" Nian Youyu argued angrily, his hands gripping the Desk.
"This isn't the first time Your Emperor has protected someone, but this time you haven't even bothered to cover it up. Are you expecting us to turn a blind eye because of your favor?" Long Ang, the Minister of Rites, spoke again.
"Then—in the opinion of the Minister of Rites, how should I handle Lord Zhu's embezzlement?" The two men, one a smiling tiger and the other a smiling tiger, spoke with a smile but their tone was tense.
"Lord Zhu's matter concerns the Dongxu Mansion. It is the right thing to hand it over to Lord Wei of the Minister of Punishments to investigate thoroughly." Long Ang raised his hand and slightly clasped his fist towards Wei Chenmu.
"Ha, in my opinion, it would be better to have Lord Longyang of the Ministry of War give him a good beating, force him to confess, sign the document, and send him out for execution. Wouldn't that be more efficient?"
"If Your Emperor is willing to do so, this is a good solution."
"I'm so sorry, but I can't bear to."
The room fell silent as soon as he finished speaking.
His Your Majesty smiled quietly, his expression unchanged from beginning to end, except for a moment when his eyes glanced in the direction of the Young Master, his brows unconsciously twitched slightly.
"If any of you gentlemen here intend to launch an unjustified attack on Lord Zhu for official or personal reasons, you should first observe how Lord Zhu lives his daily life." He lowered his eyes, his gaze devoid of any probing, his trust evident in her eyes. "Lord Zhu currently resides in a wooden hut on the most secluded street in the Chengnan Garden. It's not even a proper residence. There isn't even a pair of matching porcelain pieces in the hut; just one bed. He sleeps with his younger brother in the same bed, and they wash and groom themselves at the communal well outside the courtyard. He has been granted his title for quite some time now, yet he has never asked me for any reward. On the contrary, he has declined official positions many times. Given his humble and ungreedy nature, I trust him and am reluctant to punish him."
"Tch. Of course, an act has to be performed completely. How can you ask for things before you've even gotten your footing? Besides, he's so poor he doesn't dare ask the Holy Emperor directly, so he steals from the funds for repairing the Library Pavilion. That makes sense, doesn't it?" Longyang glanced at him disdainfully. "The Holy Emperor's perception of him may not be the real him. You treat him like a treasure, but have you ever considered that he's done things like sending love letters to men for a few taels of silver, right, Grand Secretary Li?"
"About what?" Li Chenjing had remained silent, parted his lips slightly, his tone full of impatience.
"What?" Longyang nodded with a half-smile, lightly twirling the braid hanging over his shoulder. "That's right. I almost forgot, our Grand Secretary Li's brain has been damaged in the fall, he doesn't remember anything, how could he remember that brat used to follow you around like a puppy, delivering love letters to you, and even taking them to a brothel?"
A single sentence reminded her of their first encounter, and brought her back to reality: his heart belonged to someone else. Even if his memory was fragmented, the emotions welling up from his heart would not stray from the right path. That's human nature—humans who let their emotions guide their actions and words... His feelings for Liu Rongrong had never changed. He was deeply hurt by Miss Liu's attitude towards His Your Majesty; the wound festered within him, unable to heal even with the loss of his memory. Therefore, even his blame towards Miss Liu was projected onto her.
She shouldn't have taken this wrong turn, thinking she could steal a moment of peace and selfishly led him in what he thought was the right direction. When he finally realizes what's happening and turns back, he'll surely be filled with regret.
He had already been hurt by Miss Liu, and the wound still ached; she shouldn't hurt him again.
"Please hear me out," Zhu Bafu said respectfully, bowing with his hands clasped together. "I have fully understood what you gentlemen mean. The account books are the best evidence; the amount of money spent on repairing the Library Pavilion is incorrect, and I have no intention of defending myself..."
"Pig Kid-- " Seeing that she was about to confess her sins, His Your Majesty tried to stop her, but she interrupted him by raising her hand.
"Your Majesty, please allow me to finish." Her eyes showed no fear as she raised her head to face the assembled Commander Mansion. "By Your Majesty's favor, I have been appointed to the position of Minister of Works. However, my appointment was rushed, and to be frank, I know nothing about building materials on the market. When subordinates entrust me with tasks, I only know how to refer to blueprints to determine the quotas. As for prices, I have indeed left them to their own devices. Therefore, the shortage of funds mentioned by Lord Nian is indeed my fault. I am willing to take responsibility. I ask Your Majesty and my colleagues to decide how to punish me."