Chapter 190 The Crown Prince is Not Feeling Well
The sky in the capital was gray and covered with dark clouds.

Emperor Yongchang walked out of Yuqing Palace with his hands behind his back. After less than three or five steps, Emperor Yongchang stopped, turned around, looked inside the deep palace gate, closed his eyes, turned around and walked towards Qianqing Palace again.

As soon as he entered the upper study, Emperor Yongchang asked Dai Quan, who had been waiting there, “Has the secret report from Huai’an arrived?”

Dai Quan: “Your Majesty, I just arrived.” He pointed with his hand.

Emperor Yongchang looked at the imperial desk.

There was a locked box on the imperial desk.

Emperor Yongchang nodded, walked to the cabinet on the side of the hall, took the key from his waist, unlocked it, opened the cabinet, and there were many keys hanging inside.

Emperor Yongchang glanced at the list on the note attached to the key, then he reached in, took out a key, locked the cabinet, and then walked towards the imperial desk.

Walking to the dragon throne and sitting down, Emperor Yongchang opened the lock on the box, took out the secret report inside and showed it to him.

Emperor Yongchang raised his head and thought silently. After thinking for a moment, he continued to look down.

After reading it, Emperor Yongchang closed the secret report and stood there in a daze.

Dai Quan lowered his head, but was feeling the emperor’s movements.

After a long while, Emperor Yongchang came back to his senses and turned his gaze to Dai Quan: “I suspect that the grain from Jinling, Yangzhou, Zhenjiang, Suzhou and Huai’an has not been stored at all. It is even possible that there is no grain in Changying Warehouse, but there is grain on the books, but it is an empty account!”

Dai Quan was surprised: “No, no way”

Emperor Yongchang placed his palm on the imperial desk, stood up, and paced back and forth rapidly.

Dai Quan: “If this is true, then it is not just the problem with the Canal Transport Office, but the officials in Jiangsu who are colluding to deceive the court!”

Emperor Yongchang stopped in his tracks, his eyes flashing with a faint light: “If this is true, I will never let you off easily!”

Dai Quan: “But, one transport office is difficult enough to handle. If we investigate so many officials again, I am worried that it will cause unrest in the area.”

Emperor Yongchang: “Turbulence? You mean the gentry in Jiangnan dare to rebel? Well, I am worried that I have no excuse to cleanse Jiangnan!”

Dai Quan’s expression suddenly changed, and his voice trembled a little: “Your Majesty, it is not the right time yet. Jiangnan is the source of most of the court’s finances, and we cannot make a fuss! Let’s wait until the treasury is full.”

With a humph, Emperor Yongchang said: “No matter what, this matter must be investigated thoroughly.”

Dai Quan paused and said, “We must take precautions in advance to avoid unrest in Jiangnan.”

Emperor Yongchang: “Go on.”

Dai Quan: “Move the elite infantry battalion south to garrison Yangzhou, Jinling, and Suzhou.”

Emperor Yongchang said angrily: “Can I still trust him?”

Dai Quan smiled bitterly and said, “I am not speaking for Li Hu. Li Hu cannot be blamed for this matter. The prince is the heir to the throne, and Li Hu is the confidant sent by His Majesty to be by his side. Without His Majesty’s will, he will naturally act according to the prince’s instructions.”

“How much money did you take from him?!” Emperor Yongchang suddenly asked.

Dai Quan was stunned for a moment, then replied: “Your Majesty, we servants are all people with no roots, what’s the use of asking for money? We are just keeping it for Your Majesty temporarily.”

Emperor Yongchang was delighted: “So, you hid a money box for me?”

Dai Quan quickly replied, “I will give you the account book right away.”

Emperor Yongchang raised his hand and said, “I don’t need your little tricks.”

At this moment, the voice of the eunuch on duty came from outside: “Your Majesty, the secret report from Lin Ruhai, the Imperial Censor of Lianghuai Salt Inspection, has arrived.”

Dai Quan hurried to the door: “Quick! Express delivery!”

The eunuch on duty hurriedly handed a locked box to Dai Quan.

Dai Quan walked quickly to the imperial desk holding the box and handed it to the emperor who had already taken the key.

Emperor Yongchang unlocked the cabinet, took out the secret report and read it. His face turned ugly as he read it. Then, he put Lin Ruhai’s secret report on the imperial desk, turned around and walked to the cabinet again, and opened the door in the middle.

The cabinet was filled with boxes with labels on them. Emperor Yongchang searched among the boxes and stopped at the box with a label that read “Wang Ziteng”.

After taking down the box, Emperor Yongchang walked back to the imperial desk.

A thick secret report was taken out and placed next to Lin Ruhai’s secret report. Emperor Yongchang took a look at it and a cold light flashed in his eyes.

Dai Quan was startled.

Emperor Yongchang closed his eyes and said to Dai Quan, “You can also take a look.”

Dai Quan: “Yes.” He answered and leaned his head forward, quickly looking all the way down, his face suddenly became serious.

The two secret reports were from Lin Ruhai and Wang Ziteng, who investigated the property of Jiangsu gentry. The two people found very different information. For some families, the number of acres of land recorded by Lin Ruhai was more than double that of Wang Ziteng. It was clear who was telling the truth and who was lying.

Emperor Yongchang gritted his teeth and said: “It’s fine if you’re greedy for money, but now you dare to deceive me!”

Dai Quan’s heart suddenly tightened and he held his breath.

Emperor Yongchang said coldly: “Let the cabinet draft an edict. Prince Teng will be promoted to the Governor-General of Liangjiang and given the title of Minister of War!”

Dai Quan was shocked and responded loudly: “As you wish!”

Emperor Yongchang: “The soldiers of the Ruishi Battalion will not be transferred. When the case in Huai’an breaks out, hand it over to Wang Ziteng to deal with. This is the last chance I will give him.”

Dai Quan: “Yes.” He replied, bowed and walked out.

Dai Quan just left, and the eunuch on duty walked in quietly and said softly, “Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince is here to see you.”

Emperor Yongchang’s eyes flashed with a gleam of light: “Ask him in.”

The eunuch on duty responded and walked out.

“Your son pays his respects to the Emperor.” The Fourth Prince walked to the imperial desk, knelt down and kowtowed.

Emperor Yongchang looked at him, closed the secret report on the imperial desk, and then said with a smile: “Get up, get up and talk.”

“Thank you, father.” The fourth prince kowtowed again and then stood up.

Emperor Yongchang: “Have you been chanting Buddha’s name all this time?”

The fourth prince: “Father, I fast and chant Buddha’s name on the first and fifteenth day of every month. When I feel sad, I also recite the Diamond Sutra and the Universal Door of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.”

Emperor Yongchang’s eyes flashed with a deep and dark light, and he said, “Reciting the Buddha’s name is good! Reciting the Buddha’s name can stop evil and increase good, eliminate the three poisons of greed, anger and ignorance, and increase blessings and wisdom.”

At this point, he sighed deeply, “In fact, among the four of you brothers, you are the only one who is a bit like my father. When he was your age, he was also like you. He devoted himself to practicing Buddhism and never wanted to get involved in conflicts. Later, in order to protect himself, he did not want to see the country and society of his ancestors destroyed. That’s why he did it reluctantly.”

The fourth prince was startled and knelt down, “I am the son of the emperor, and I am like my father.” He kowtowed again and again, “I dare to say something taboo. I am different from my father in the past. I am loved by my father and mother, and I am cared for by my elder brothers, the crown prince, the second emperor, and the third emperor. I am not living in dire straits.”

Emperor Yongchang: “Yes, you are different from me! Well, let’s not talk about it. The crown prince is not in good health, the second son is still lying in bed, and the third son also looks sick. Only you can shoulder the burden and share the worries for your father.”

The fourth prince was shocked again: “Father, I really can’t do the job well. The Ministry of Rites was recommended by the Crown Prince, Jia Yucun.”

Emperor Yongchang interrupted him directly: “I only have four of you brothers, I can’t count on the three of them. If you are no longer willing to share my worries, won’t I be very pitiful?”

The fourth prince was confused: “Your Majesty, I am willing to share your worries. But, Your Majesty…”

Emperor Yongchang: “I have been watching you all the time. You have performed well in this mission of the Jurchen envoys. I have thought about it carefully. You should take charge of the Ministry of Revenue.”

The Fourth Prince: “I dare not obey your order, please take back your order!”

Emperor Yongchang: “When have I ever taken back what I said?”

The Fourth Prince dared not say anything more and could only kowtow.

Emperor Yongchang: “The grain in Jiangsu has been burned. Find a way to collect it from other places. Don’t let the important matters of the court be delayed. Go.”

The fourth prince kowtowed heavily on the ground and replied, “Yes.” He stood up, bowed and walked out of the hall. Then he raised his head, no longer concealing his excitement, and walked out of the Qianqing Palace with his head held high.

(End of this chapter)