Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 341 Lord He's Prescription
Everyone who was kneeling trembled, and Shen Bo also stood up.

The pain inflicted by the rosewood kang table was unimaginable; Yan Shu nearly fainted from the pain. Even so, he endured the agony of falling to the ground, cried out "Your Majesty!", and then collapsed to the ground.

"I am guilty! But there are reasons for this, and I have my own difficulties!"

“When I was young and ignorant, I was foolish and deceived by that old fox Jin Huai. He said that he had been to the Northwest several times, that the Grand Commandant was good at governing the army, and that there were garrison farms in the north, which were very prosperous and did not lack military pay.”

"Instead of sending it to the Northwest, it would be better to use it in a more useful place. For example, the South is suffering from floods, and the people are displaced and in greater need of money."

He said that since his father held the position of Grand Secretary, only the Yan family could accomplish this task. He was of low status and his words carried no weight, so he had no way of reaching the emperor's ears.

"I think what he said makes sense. However, because my father was concerned about the country's financial difficulties, he was worried that sending troops to the northwest would cause trouble for the emperor. Therefore, he advised against sending troops to the northwest."

"If I were to ask my father to bring this up to the Emperor at this point, it would be seen as a blow to morale. So, although I felt that Jin Huai's words made sense, I dared not speak out, and instead took it upon myself to intercept that sum of military pay..."

"Nonsense! He's talking complete nonsense!"

Jin Yun couldn't bear it any longer after hearing half of it and interrupted him in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, please be wise! This was all his doing! My father's official rank is low, how could he possibly have the ability to command him? If he hadn't taken the initiative to find my father, we wouldn't have even been able to see him!"

"Your Majesty, this sounds utterly fake!"

"Your Majesty!" Yan Shu also rushed to answer, "Your Majesty, I have made a mistake, but my heart is for the sake of the people! You have watched Yan Aqing grow up, and you know Aqing's nature better than anyone else. My father has devoted himself to the court all these years and always thinks of Your Majesty. How could he tolerate me going against Your Majesty?"
"I was truly young and careless, and made a moment of foolishness!"

He cried out loudly, crawled forward two more steps on his knees, and clutched the emperor's robes tightly, sobbing softly. A dignified seven-foot-tall man, yet at this moment he displayed only obsequious weakness!
None of the people in the hall had ever seen such a situation before.

Officials in the court who were not of the second rank rarely even saw the emperor's face all year round, but Yan Shu not only acted coquettishly and shamelessly in front of the emperor, but even grabbed the emperor's robe and cried!
The Yan family is the emperor's mouthpiece; the prestige they've earned in front of the emperor is truly remarkable!
Shen Bo frowned: "Lord Yan's words seem to indicate that he has admitted to embezzling the 300,000 taels of military pay."

"It was him! He's the one who embezzled!" Jin Yun, who was stunned by the scene, seemed to be reminded and immediately shouted angrily, "Even if he made up a story that was as eloquent as possible, he still took the money! The Jin family didn't get a single penny!"

"Your Majesty!" Shen Bo bowed to the emperor, following the end of his words: "The case is clear. Yan Shu's crimes against the country are unforgivable! I implore Your Majesty to issue an edict to execute Yan Shu, to present his head to uphold Your Majesty's wisdom, and to console the more than 20,000 soldiers who died in battle!"

Yan Shu panicked and said, "Your Majesty! Aqing will repent..."

"Shut up!" The emperor kicked him to the ground, glaring angrily. "Drag this scoundrel into prison and hand him over to the Three Judicial Offices for strict punishment according to the law!"

He Ping led his men in, and four hands grabbed Yan Shu.

Yan Shu cried out as he left, "Your Majesty! Aqing still wants to be loyal to Your Majesty!..."

The emperor gritted his teeth and looked at the Jin family father and daughter again: "Take them away as well. Within one day, confiscate all the property from the Jin family! Imprison the entire household and await further judgment!"

Gao Hong stepped forward and said, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

The emperor sat back on the couch, propped his forehead with one hand, furrowed his brows, and closed his eyes.

Seeing this, Shen Bo silently withdrew from the palace.

Upon stepping outside, he saw Yan Song under the eaves. Their eyes met briefly in mid-air before he looked away, lifted his foot, and descended the steps.

A light drizzle began to fall from the sky.

It's almost August.

Grain from all over the country, both north and south, is about to be stored in granaries.

Colluding with court officials to embezzle military funds is a crime punishable by immediate execution under any dynasty's laws.

However, the emperor decreed that the three judicial departments should act according to the law, which allowed for execution after the autumn harvest. Yan Aqing's fate, like that overturned rosewood kang table, was still tough enough.

"Grand Commandant."

After passing through the Meridian Gate, He Ping stopped in front of him.

Shen Bo stopped and cupped his hands in greeting: "Commander."

He Ping slightly raised his lips and took out a piece of paper from his pocket: "I have long heard that the young master suffers from a deficiency. I have a folk remedy that may be of benefit to the young master."

Shen Bo took the medicine with a puzzled look in his hand. He couldn't help but be surprised when he looked up. When he looked up again, He Ping had already cupped his hands in front of him: "If you are unsure about how to use the medicine, my lord, I will be at your service at any time."

After saying this, he bowed slightly and then calmly left.

Suppressing his shock, Shen Bo gritted his teeth, put away the paper, and strode out of the palace gate.

……

Gao Hong brought a cup of tea and gently placed it in front of the emperor.

The emperor said in a deep voice, "Take it away!"

Gao Hong held his breath and placed the tea back on the tray.

The emperor opened his eyes, turned his head to look out the window, stared at Yan Song, who was still bowing and standing under the corridor, for a moment, and then picked up the divination tablet on the table and knocked heavily on the windowsill.

Yan Song looked up upon hearing the sound, glanced at the person, then bowed even lower and hurried to the window, stopping there: "This sinful subject is here."

The emperor gritted his teeth: "You still intend to plead for that beast?"

"How dare this sinful subject dare to do so?" Yan Song looked at the ground. "This sinful subject has failed in educating his son and has committed a grave error. I wish I could atone for my sins with my death!"

The emperor sneered: "Then why don't you just die now?"

Yan Song knelt down: "I have raised such a rebellious son. My heart is breaking. It would be my honor if Your Majesty would grant me death!"

"Your Majesty, I will return to the Cabinet to hand over my duties immediately. I will repay Your Majesty's grace with my life before nightfall!"

The emperor roared, "Are you trying to blackmail me? Do you think I wouldn't dare?!"

"Your Majesty!" Yan Song cried out in anguish, tears streaming down his face. "I am over seventy years old. Even if I do not die today, my days are numbered!"

"I have served Your Majesty for many years. We have gone through thick and thin together. Only Your Majesty understands my merits and I am also the one who knows Your Majesty's difficulties best!"
"At present, the southeast is not yet settled, and the south of the Yangtze River suffers from floods every year. On the one hand, we are waiting for supplies from the rear, and on the other hand, due to natural disasters, there is a shortage of food. There is not a single day of rest in the cabinet!"
"It is fortunate that the Emperor is in charge, otherwise there would be no major chaos in the world!"

"I do not intend to shirk my responsibilities to threaten Your Majesty. I only regret that my rebellious son is not learning to behave properly. I would never want to put Your Majesty in a difficult position!"

He lay prostrate on the ground, his words filled with anguish, and under the silent eaves, only his sobs could be heard.

The emperor's eyes were bloodshot. After a long while, he threw the two divination blocks out the window and yelled, "Get out!"

Yan Song trembled as he bowed again before getting up and stumbling out. As he descended the steps, his foot slipped and he staggered, but fortunately, a eunuch beside him caught him and prevented him from falling.

The emperor glared at his retreating figure, then slammed his fist on the window.

"Serve me tea!"