Recaps

Wei Nisheng entered the Ministry of Revenue, uncovered discrepancies in its accounts, and was appointed to investigate tax arrears in Suzhou. As he prepared to face Shen Duan’s allies, Emperor Jing of Zhou entrusted him with the mission and Feng Ci’s family traveled to the Feng Residence.

• Feng Yan warned Wei Nisheng that his Revenue and Expenditure Bureau appointment placed him under the Emperor’s scrutiny, and Wei accepted the post as trusted service to his Ruler-Father.
• Wei Nisheng checked the ministry’s ledgers, found suspicious discrepancies in remittances and grain records, and continued his audit after Kou Yuan allowed him to proceed.
• Wang Kan impeached He Yanming, Xie Lin, and Li Jin over Suzhou’s accounts, and the court agreed to investigate despite Shen Duan’s objections.
• Feng Yan told Wei Nisheng to investigate Suzhou thoroughly and explained that the assignment could help him gain the Emperor’s trust while challenging Shen Duan’s influence.
• Cui Shi asked Wei Nisheng to plead for Wei Mingde, but he refused to interfere with the court’s investigation and said Wei Mingyuan was his father.
• Emperor Jing of Zhou appointed Wei Nisheng Imperial Commissioner for the Suzhou arrears investigation, recalled Zhang Zai as his deputy, and gave him imperial authority to protect the mission.
• Wei Nisheng told Wang Kan that Shen Duan could obstruct him from the capital, and Wang promised to defend him at court while Zhang Zai accompanied him to Suzhou.
• Feng Guan, Jiang Shi, and Feng Ci arrived at Dragon River Wharf and traveled toward the Feng Residence as Feng Ci prepared to meet his grandfather.

Wei Nisheng secured an imperial betrothal to Fu Niang and assembled allies for his mission to investigate Suzhou’s unpaid taxes. He left the capital with the emperor’s authority after Wang Kan challenged the ministers who tried to shield He Yanming.

• Feng Yan challenged Feng Guan for neglecting Feng Ci’s education, while Jiang Shi reunited with Fu Niang and promised to prepare her dowry.
• Wei Nisheng visited the Fengs in his Scarlet Robe, explained his approach to the Suzhou accounts, and appealed to the emperor as his Ruler-Father to oversee his betrothal to Fu Niang.
• Emperor Jing of Zhou granted Wei Nisheng and Fu Niang an imperial betrothal and instructed officials to help complete the rites.
• Wei Nisheng recruited Shen Yi as Suzhou’s prefectural judge and reunited with Zhang Zai and Wang Kan to prepare for the investigation.
• Xie Lin advised He Yanming to request removal from office, using the resignation to complicate Wei Nisheng’s investigation whichever way the court ruled.
• Emperor Jing of Zhou summoned Wei Nisheng, accepted his pledge to pursue both men and silver, and authorized Wang Kan to speak at court after Wei Nisheng left the capital.
• Wang Kan denounced the use of public support to pressure the court, and Song Jing and the Censors defended the right to investigate the accounts and speak freely.
• Emperor Jing of Zhou rejected He Yanming’s resignation but gave Wei Nisheng exclusive authority over the Suzhou investigation and ordered He Yanming to hand over the records.

Wei Nisheng secured imperial authority to investigate Suzhou and began unsettling its powerful officials through patience and calculated restraint. Xie Lin and Li Jin resisted his approach, while He Yanming grew suspicious and Shen Mingxuan sought to delay the inquiry.

• Wei Nisheng used the emperor’s support and Wang Kan’s remonstrance to overcome Xie Lin’s memorial, while Feng Yan warned him that Suzhou’s leaders still posed a threat.
• The emperor appointed Wei Nisheng Imperial Envoy to investigate arrears in Suzhou, and Wei Nisheng presented a memorial urging caution toward the Tangut and Khitan before departing.
• Feng Yan advised Wei Nisheng to build a new political arrangement in Suzhou rather than try to destroy He Yanming’s network by force.
• Wei Nisheng departed for Suzhou with Zhang Zai, then instructed him to wait for Xie Lin to make the first move instead of immediately examining accounts or questioning officials.
• Wei Nisheng met He Yanming, Xie Lin, and Li Jin, sent Zhang Zai to inspect the accounts and granary, and played Go with Xie Lin before arguing that law and conscience both mattered in opposing corruption.
• Zhang Zai found no problems in the granary, while He Yanming grew uneasy that Xie Lin had kept his escape route secret and Li Jin chose to wait before taking sides.
• Li Jin hosted Wei Nisheng and Zhang Zai on his boat, but Wei rebuked Li’s indulgence and refused to entertain his advances, forcing Li to recognize Wei’s imperial backing.
• Li Jin ordered the Imperial Silk Bureau to avoid the Imperial Envoy’s people, while He Yanming warned Shen Mingxuan that Wei’s inaction was wearing down their alliances and Shen urged delaying the investigation.

Wei Nisheng used the investigation of Suzhou’s temples to gain authority and expose their abuses, while the court debated whether to send in the Hangzhou Guard. The emperor approved a limited troop deployment and a review of temple assets, leaving Xiong Hui to decide how the Suzhou Guard would respond.

• Li Jin warned Shen Mingxuan that Wei Nisheng’s powerful allies could not be reached directly, and told him to keep Wei Zi from slipping through the gap.
• Wei Nisheng revealed that his temple inquiry was a pretext for auditing accounts, then used the temples’ abuses to request Hangzhou Guards for Suzhou.
• Xie Lin realized Wei Nisheng’s moves had led toward the temple investigation, and Wei offered him a chance to amend his memorial before it went to the Capital.
• He Yanming and Xie Lin organized opposition to the troop deployment, while Li Jin delivered Xie Lin’s warning to Xiong Hui.
• At court, Wang Kan defended Wei Zi’an’s memorials and presented evidence of temple abuses, then fought Fang Qi and triggered a brawl between the Censorate and the Shen Faction.
• Emperor Jing of Zhou fined the officials involved, approved an investigation of the temples, assigned eight hundred Hangzhou guards to protect Wei Nisheng, and ordered the Ministry of Revenue to examine temple assets.
• Wei Nisheng planned to preserve the Suzhou Guard by offering not to prosecute its officers who stayed away from the temples.
• Xiong Hui burned Chancellor Shen’s letter and sent Zhou Hu to meet Wei Nisheng, telling him to be courteous and bring no weapons.