Deep into the still night, all eyes turned heavenward. Beneath the ink-black vault, men deliberated by candlelight.
The Court seemed quiet; deep waters made no sound.
The Capital Region was vast, yet ten thousand hearts could not hide.
The meeting at the Kou residence had barely ended when another began at the Shen Residence.
Two games in one night, each concealing its own sharp moves.
The study in the Shen Residence blazed with light.
At their head, a man sat behind the desk, stroking his beard, his face grave.
Several members of his faction stood to either side, in purple and scarlet robes with jade belts.
Fang Qi had, after all, served under Shen Duan longer than anyone else. Clearing his throat, he spoke first:
"Chief Minister, three million two hundred thousand taels, equivalent to four million five hundred thousand strings of cash.
His Majesty now holds that silver, and has yet to decide where it will go.
But the Upright Officials certainly cannot be indifferent to it."
When Shen Duan offered no response, he added:
"More importantly, ours is not the only lamp burning tonight.
Kou Fu'an has always planned before acting. If his lamp is burning too,
I fear he has already prepared more than one grand proposal for putting this silver to use.
If we do nothing now, we will be handing others this sum from the State Treasury, large enough to settle the balance of power."
"Grand Secretary Fang is right," Zou Mo interjected.
"If this silver enters the Ministry of Revenue, Kou Yuan will have a solid achievement to his name.
He is already the descendant of a distinguished minister. If he gains control over this silver as well, then in the future..."
He stopped there, but what he left unsaid was plain enough.