The Forbidden City.
The Nine Gates Commander looked haggard. After taking a few steps along the imperial avenue within the Imperial City, he suddenly stopped.
He declared in a firm, ringing voice:
"Your humble servant Wang Ziteng has carelessly failed in virtue, brought shame upon the State and Altars, and betrayed imperial grace. I beg to be punished."
One stone stirred a thousand waves!
The High Ministers hurried over upon hearing the news. Officials from every department immediately abandoned their paperwork and flocked to the imperial avenue.
The ministers exchanged bewildered looks. The man at the helm of the Capital Camp was voluntarily confessing his crimes against the State and Altars?
After a quarter of an hour of silence, a distinguished imperial carriage slowly approached beneath the officials' deferential gazes.
It was the Retired Emperor!
"What crime have you committed?" the Retired Emperor demanded angrily.
Wang Ziteng closed his eyes and prostrated himself on the ground without a word.
Behind him, a broad-shouldered, thick-waisted noble strode forward and dropped to his knees with a thud.
It was Wang Ziteng's most trusted confidant, Count of Xiuwu Song Xiong!
Under those piercing gazes, Song Xiong's lips quivered as he said in a trembling voice:
"Several years ago, the commander painstakingly reorganized the Capital Camp and investigated corruption and missing funds, only for the investigation to lead to me. Greed clogged my heart like congealed lard. Over three years, I embezzled a total of four hundred thousand taels of silver."
"This guilty servant knelt before the commander and pitifully begged for mercy. Remembering our past friendship, the commander softened his heart. Not only did he shield me, he personally wrote to the former Beiliang Governor-General Wei Yuan, demanding the enormous sum of four hundred thousand Silver Taels to cover the Capital Camp's shortfall."