Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

Chapter 89 Prime Minister Shen Returns! The Emperor Angrily Tears Up Salt Tax Ledgers, and the Tyrant Secretly Orders a Thorough Investigation of the Liu Family.

February 18th.

Beijing.

Several months later, Shen Anbang finally stood before the Wenhua Hall once again.

The third quarter of the Yin hour.

It was still dark.

Officials were already waiting outside the palace gates for the court session.

When the small blue sedan chair came to a stop.

Everyone looked over.

The sedan curtain was lifted.

Shen Anbang came out.

He wore a faded, second-rank scarlet official robe.

His hair was completely white.

Body shape was thin.

But his back and waist are as straight as a pine tree.

"Lord Shen?!"

Someone exclaimed in surprise.

"Prime Minister Shen is back?!"

"Haven't you been sick all this time?"

"this……"

Whispers arose.

Liu Chengzong stood at the head of the civil officials.

He squinted at me.

Shen Anbang didn't look at anyone.

He straightened his clothes.

Leaning on the dragon-patterned staff bestowed by the late emperor.

Step by step.

They walked toward the palace gate.

His steps were very steady.

Every step felt like stepping on everyone's hearts.

"Brother Shen," a respected senior official couldn't help but step forward, "Are you feeling much better?"

Shen Anbang stopped.

Turn your head.

He revealed a very faint smile.

"Thanks to you all, I'm still alive."

The voice was calm.

But it sent a chill down the spines of everyone present.

Liu Chengzong's face darkened.

But things quickly returned to normal.

He took the initiative to go to meet him.

"The return of Grand Secretary Shen to the capital after recovering from his illness is truly a blessing for the court."

That's well said.

But his eyes were cold.

Shen Anbang looked at him.

Looked for a long time.

So long that the smile on Liu Chengzong's face became somewhat stiff.

"Prime Minister Liu," Shen Anbang finally spoke, "I've heard that your son is doing very well in Jiangnan."

Liu Chengzong's heart skipped a beat.

"It's just childish mischief."

"Nonsense?" Shen Anbang laughed. "To be able to 'act nonsense' enough to alarm the Censorate is quite an achievement."

That's all.

Ignore him.

He walked straight into the palace gate.

Liu Chengzong stood still.

The hand hidden in the sleeve slowly clenched.

-

Chen Shi (7-9 AM).

Court meeting.

Nangong Ye sat high on the dragon throne.

His gaze swept downwards.

He paused on Shen Anbang.

"I am greatly pleased that Minister Shen has recovered from his illness and returned to court."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Shen Anbang stepped forward, his voice steady. "During my illness, I was deeply grateful for Your Majesty's compassion and consideration."

That was all the polite talk.

The atmosphere grew increasingly somber.

Everyone knows.

Shen Anbang returned.

That's definitely not what I'm trying to say.

really--

"Your Majesty," Shen Anbang spoke again, "During my illness, I came across an account book. It concerns the salt tax of Jiangnan, and I dare not conceal it, so I present it to Your Majesty for your perusal."

He took a blue booklet out of his sleeve.

The eunuch took it.

Presented to the Emperor.

Nangong Ye opened it.

I only read three pages.

His expression changed.

"Shen Qing, where did this account book come from?"

"Your Majesty, it was anonymously sent to my residence by 'righteous merchants' from Jiangnan." Shen Anbang raised his head. "According to the account books, from the sixth to the eighth year of Jinghe, the salt tax revenue from Jiangnan was 3.2 million taels, but the actual amount received was... 1.7 million taels. The whereabouts of the difference of 1.5 million taels is unknown."

One million five hundred thousand taels!

The entire court was in uproar!

"Your Majesty!" Liu Chengzong immediately stepped forward. "This account book is of unknown origin and may be a frame-up by treacherous individuals! The salt tax accounts of Jiangnan over the years are clear and have been archived by the Ministry of Revenue—"

"Archived?" Shen Anbang interrupted him. "Is this the one Prime Minister Liu was referring to?"

He then took out a yellow booklet.

"This is a copy from the Ministry of Revenue's archives. It records that the actual salt tax collected in the sixth year of the Jinghe era was... 2.9 million taels."

Two account books.

The difference is 1.2 million taels.

"Which one is true?" Shen Anbang stared at Liu Chengzong. "Prime Minister Liu has been in charge of the Ministry of Revenue for many years, so he must know the answer."

Liu Chengzong's face turned ashen.

"What does Lord Shen mean by this? Do you suspect that I am lying?"

"I wouldn't dare," Shen Anbang said calmly. "It's just that the discrepancy is too great; there has to be an explanation. One and a half million taels of silver is enough to support one hundred thousand border troops for a year. If it's been embezzled..."

He paused.

"That would be a grave crime that shakes the very foundation of the nation."

Every word is like a knife.

Liu Chengzong gritted his teeth: "Lord Shen! Without evidence, don't make baseless accusations!"

"Without any evidence?" Shen Anbang laughed.

He reached into his sleeve for the third time.

This is what was taken out this time.

There were several letters.

"This is a letter written last year by Wang Huan, the Salt Commissioner of Jiangnan, to Zhao Wenkang, a protégé of Liu Xiang and the current Prefect of Yangzhou. In the letter, he said, 'Of the profits from salt tax, 30% goes to the public, 40% is used for bribes, and the remainder... is distributed according to the old rules.'"

He held up the letter.

"What are the old rules?"

"Forty percent was bribed—who was bribed?"

"The remainder...to whom were they distributed?"

Each question.

Liu Chengzong's face paled a little.

"This letter is definitely a forgery!" he shouted. "Wang Huan died last year; there's no way to verify it!"

"Yes, he passed away from illness." Shen Anbang put away the letter, his voice suddenly lowering.

"Coincidentally, three days before Wang Huan's 'death,' he submitted a memorial to the court, saying that he wanted to 'implement new laws and eliminate long-standing abuses' in the salt tax."

Even more coincidentally, three days after his death, his wife and children, who remained in their hometown... also "accidentally" caught fire, and all thirteen members of the family perished.

He looked up.

He looked at Liu Chengzong.

"Prime Minister Liu, what do you think of this world...?"

Are there really that many coincidences?

Dead silence.

The Wenhua Hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone held their breath.

He looked at the emperor on the throne.

Nangong Ye looked at the two account books and the letters.

a long time.

"Minister of Justice"

"Your subject is here."

"There are doubts about the salt tax accounts in Jiangnan."

Nangong Ye's voice was devoid of emotion.

"Your department is to send people to conduct a thorough investigation. Verify all the account books, witnesses, and physical evidence."

The Minister of Justice broke out in a cold sweat: "Your Majesty, this... involves important officials of the court, shouldn't we...?"

"Investigate thoroughly," Nangong Ye repeated.

His eyes were cold.

The Minister of Justice's legs went weak: "Your subject... obeys the decree!"

Liu Chengzong wanted to say something more.

Nangong Ye had already stood up.

"Dismiss the court."

Walk away.

After the court session ended.

Liu Chengzong did not return to his residence.

He went directly to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

They knelt outside the hall for half an hour.

It was only then that it was passed in.

"Your Majesty!" he cried, prostrating himself. "I am innocent! Shen Anbang framed a loyal official in his quest for revenge for his daughter. I beg Your Majesty to investigate!"

Nangong Ye was reviewing memorials.

He didn't even look up.

"Is Minister Liu saying... that Minister Shen made a false accusation?"

"Exactly!"

"What about the account books?"

"It's definitely a fake!"

"Where's the letter?"

"It's a forgery too!"

Nangong Ye put down his vermilion pen.

Look up at him.

"Wang Huan's entire family of thirteen died in a fire. Was that also a fabrication?"

Liu Chengzong paused.

"That...that was an accident..."

"So many unexpected events," Nangong Ye laughed, "and Liu encountered them all?"

Liu Chengzong broke out in a cold sweat.

"Your Majesty, I am utterly loyal to the court—"

"I know," Nangong Ye interrupted him, "so I ordered the Ministry of Justice to investigate. Once the matter is cleared, Prime Minister Liu will be exonerated."

He paused.

"If we can't find out..."

The rest was left unsaid.

But Liu Chengzong understood.

He kowtowed heavily.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your trust!"

When leaving the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

His back was soaked with sweat.

The news reached Jiangnan three days later.

Qihuang Garden.

Ye Huang is watching Bao'er play with the cat.

Mo Shisan rushed in.

"Young lady, news from the capital."

"explain."

"Lord Shen has returned to court. He has been reinstated to his original position as Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall."

Ye Huang paused.

"Anything else?"

"In the imperial court, Lord Shen publicly presented the salt tax ledgers and questioned Liu Chengzong. His Majesty ordered... a thorough investigation."

Ye Huang remained silent for a long time.

Suddenly he laughed.

That smile contained a multitude of emotions.

Glad.

Feeling emotional.

And... a lingering pain.

"Father..." she whispered, "We're finally back."

Jinshu's eyes reddened as she stood beside her.

"Master must be really bored these past few months..."

"Yes." Ye Huang looked north. "We've been holding back for months, enduring for years. Now... it's time to collect the debt."

She stood up.

Walk up to the map.

His fingers traced a path from Jiangnan all the way to the capital.

"Liu Chengzong must be very panicked right now."

"Girl, shall we add more fuel to the fire?"

"No need," Ye Huang shook her head. "Father's fire is already burning bright enough."

She paused.

"But we on our side...should start preparing."

"What are you preparing?"

Ye Huang turned around.

Watching Bao'er playing in the yard.

His eyes were gentle.

And it's sharp.

"Preparing to return to Beijing."

"Father has gone back."

"I...should go back too."

At the same time.

Liu Chengming also received an urgent letter from his father.

The letter contained only eight words:

"The matter is urgent; return immediately. Delay may lead to unforeseen circumstances."

He held the letter in his hand.

My hands are shaking.

My father had never written a letter in this tone.

"Young Master..." the confidant said cautiously, "We..."

"Let's go." Liu Chengming gritted his teeth, "But before we go..."

He looked towards the direction of Qihuang Garden.

A madness flashed in his eyes.

"I want to take something with me."

"What?"

Liu Chengming did not answer.

He simply went into the dark room.

Open a jade box.

Inside lay a pitch-black Gu worm.

It's still wriggling.

The "Mother-Child Gu" of the Witchcraft Granny of Xiling.

The mother Gu is in his hands.

Zi Gu...

"Night Phoenix," he said softly, "you've ruined so much for me."

"I always need to... collect some interest."

outside the window.

Spring breezes are gradually warming.

But some people's hearts...

It had already turned to ice.