The Empress has abandoned me? I'll support a new emperor and destroy your kingdom!

Three days later, in the dead of night, a biting wind was blowing.

The towering walls of Changpingcang East Warehouse resembled a silent behemoth in the night.

The warehouse doors were tightly shut, with only two dim lights flickering in the wind atop the corner tower.

In the shadows outside the wall, several figures as agile as raccoons silently approached, easily vaulting over the wall with grappling hooks and landing in the courtyard.

Almost at the same time, the guard on night duty inside the warehouse was knocked unconscious from behind, his mouth and nose covered.

The lights were on in Ambassador Cang's office, and the faint sounds of abacuses and whispers could be heard. Yin Wujiu personally led a team, approaching the window like ghosts, listening intently.

"...Sir, this is the 'outgoing' account for this month, totaling two thousand shi of 'aged rice,' which has been transported to the 'Fengtai' grain store in the west city according to the old rules. Here are the silver notes..." a fawning voice said.

"Hmm, keep your hands and feet clean. Things have been a bit tense lately. I heard that the new Princess Zhenguo is investigating the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue..." A slightly slick, middle-aged man's voice was wary.

"Rest assured, my lord, our accounts are flawless. Besides, with Vice Minister Li of the Ministry of Revenue protecting us, what could a mere woman like the princess possibly find out? Even if she did investigate, it would be all bark and no bite..."

Before he could finish speaking, the door was kicked open!

Yin Wujiu rushed in first, followed by several skilled men who swarmed in and instantly subdued the two people inside, gagging and binding them.

"Search!" Yin Wujiu said coldly.

His men quickly searched the area and soon found several genuine ledgers containing funds, as well as a thick stack of banknotes and land deeds, in hidden compartments under the bed and in the lining of ledgers.

The ledgers clearly recorded the quantity, time, people involved, and destination of the stolen government grain over the years, which was completely different from the official accounts.

Meanwhile, another team had already opened several grain storage areas.

A pungent musty smell hit the face. The so-called "stored grain" in the granary had a thin layer of moldy millet on top, and underneath it was all bran and gravel mixed with sand!

Only a few grain bins contained grain of acceptable quality, clearly a "vanity project" to pass inspections.

"Mr. Yin, we've discovered a hidden door along the west wall, leading to the abandoned dye house next door. There are wheel tracks and signs of recent moving there," a subordinate reported.

"Send men to pursue them and take control of the 'Fengtai' grain store and its owner. Take all the people, account books, and evidence here away and keep them under strict guard!" Yin Wujiu ordered, his eyes flashing coldly. The evidence was irrefutable, the case airtight.

……

The following morning, a memorial signed by Princess Yun Jin, the eldest princess of the Zhenguo Kingdom, along with copies of some key evidence, and a detailed report from Yin Wujiu, were placed before Emperor Yun Hong's sickbed.

Despite his illness, the emperor read the memorial and became so angry that he trembled and coughed up several mouthfuls of black blood.

"A parasite! A parasite of the nation! Cough cough... How dare... How dare they do this!"

The emperor roared in fury, "Right here in the capital, the very heart of the nation, these spies dare to steal and sell the life-saving grain from the Ever-Normal Granary! What about the people? What about the laws of the court?! Investigate! Investigate this thoroughly! Punish them severely!"

"Your Majesty, please calm down and take care of your health!" The chief eunuch standing by hurriedly advised.

"Issue the imperial decree! This case will be under the full jurisdiction of the Princess Zhenguo, with the three judicial departments cooperating. Anyone involved, no matter who they are, will be severely punished once verified! Immediately seal off the Changping Granary and the East Granary, and detain all officials and merchants involved!"

The grain involved in the case will be confiscated and turned over to the public treasury! Half of the confiscated funds will be used to replenish the Ever-Normal Granary, and the other half… will be allocated to the residence of the Princess Zhenguo, for… for the purpose of rectifying the fiscal system and investigating long-standing malpractices!

"yes!"

The imperial edict was issued swiftly.

The Princess's personal guards, who were already prepared, quickly took control of the Changping Granary East Warehouse and the "Fengtai" grain store involved in the case. More than 20 people, including the granary manager, warehouse manager, accountant, grain store owner and employees, were arrested and imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice prison.

The confiscated fake grain, account books, bank notes, and land deeds were piled up like mountains.

The news spread like wildfire throughout the capital.

"Have you heard? Corrupt officials have replaced all the grain in the Changping granary with sand!"

"Her Highness the Princess Zhenguo is truly a paragon of justice! She's only just returned to the capital and she's already solved such a major case!"

"Well done! These blood-sucking parasites!"

"His Highness said he wants a thorough investigation, no matter who is involved!"

The people in the city were buzzing with discussion and applauded.

Many scholars and officials who had initially harbored doubts about Yun Jin's involvement in politics, upon hearing this, developed a favorable impression of her courage to confront vested interests and stand up for the people.

However, the storm has only just begun.

The captured ambassador was the brother-in-law of Li Qiushui, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

Li Qiushui is an important ally of the Third Prince Yun Huan in the Ministry of Revenue.

One of the owners behind the "Fengtai" grain store was found to be related to a distant relative of a steward in the Third Prince's residence.

Pressure surged like a tidal wave into the residence of the Princess Zhenguo, and also into the sick emperor.

Li Qiushui requested an audience with the Third Prince overnight.

The following day at court, several officials submitted a memorial impeaching Yun Jin for "overstepping his authority," "abusing punishments," "framing court officials," and "disrupting the order of the capital," demanding that the case be transferred to the three judicial departments for proper trial and that the "innocent" criminals be released.

Furthermore, a eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs of the Inner Court subtly advised the emperor, saying, "Your Highness is young and impetuous, and may be taken advantage of, which could disrupt the harmony of the court," and "The Ever-Normal Granary is a matter of internal affairs; perhaps it would be more appropriate for the Inner Court to investigate it first."

The Third Prince, Yun Huan, also wore a look of worry and concern for the country and its people in the imperial court.

"My sister is righteous and hates evil, which is commendable. However, this matter involves many aspects. Isn't it too hasty? It would be better to hand it over to the relevant authorities for a thorough investigation to avoid wrongful conviction and damage to the court's reputation..."

Faced with the fierce offensive, Yun Jin, under Su Che's instruction, took the most direct and strongest counterattack.

She submitted another memorial, presenting to the Emperor some of the verified accounts, witness testimonies, and copies of correspondence between the Emperor and certain officials of the Ministry of Revenue, which were seized from the "Fengtai" grain store.

It was stated that the evidence in this case was conclusive, the perpetrators and the stolen goods were caught red-handed, and it was by no means a "frame-up".

If anyone feels wronged, they can confront the accused in court during the joint trial by the three judicial authorities.

At the same time, she requested the emperor to hold a public trial and allow the people to attend in order to uphold justice.

On his sickbed, the emperor looked at the thick stack of evidence and Yun Jin's strongly worded yet well-reasoned memorial, and listened to the chief eunuch's report on the boiling public opinion. Finally, with trembling hands, he wrote the word "Approved".

The joint trial by the three judicial departments was conducted in public.