After ten years of accompanying me in my studies, the entire court begged me to shut up.

Zhu Houzhao looked up, his eyes urgent yet frank.

Although his face was full of resentment, there was no hint of cunning or slyness.

Emperor Hongzhi suddenly felt that this son seemed somewhat unfamiliar.

Just now, this kid said it was Yang Shen's idea, and I thought he was just making excuses. But now it seems that the profound meaning behind it is something he really couldn't have imagined.

His tone softened slightly, but remained serious: "It's commendable that you have this intention. However, as the crown prince, you must consider the overall situation and act with thoroughness. Building a biogas digester is a good thing, but if it causes widespread resentment, wouldn't that be putting the cart before the horse? Besides, Minister Wang..."

Speaking of this, thinking of Wang Ao's miserable state, I suddenly feel a headache coming on.

Zhu Houzhao asked curiously, "What's wrong with Master Wang now?"

Xiao Jing quickly explained, "Today, Vice Minister Wang was attacked by a latrine at the Court of State Ceremonial. This incident has caused quite a stir and unrest among the people. His Majesty's intention is to temporarily suspend the biogas digester project and discuss it again after the storm has passed."

"Was Master Wang bombed again?"

Zhu Houzhao's eyes widened suddenly, and then he revealed a look of great regret.

"Oh dear, I missed such a lively scene!"

Emperor Hongzhi: ...

Xiao Jing: ...

After a long pause, the Hongzhi Emperor waved his hand weakly: "No matter what, return the silver. Even if my national treasury is tight, it won't miss your little bit of money! Alright, go now!"

"Very well, I shall take my leave!"

Zhu Houzhao, looking utterly unwilling, turned and left.

Just as he reached the entrance of the palace, he seemed to remember something and turned back.

"Father, I almost forgot about the important matter!"

"Is there anything else?"

The Hongzhi Emperor, his mouth dry, held up his teacup, about to put it in his mouth.

Zhu Houzhao lowered his voice mysteriously and said, "Your subject just said that he wanted to give Father Emperor a great gift."

"Isn't it just those twenty thousand taels of silver?"

The Hongzhi Emperor blew away the foam: "I said, send them away!"

"It's not silver! It's...it's a person!"

"A person? What person?"

As the Hongzhi Emperor spoke, he took a small sip.

"A spy from the Northern Yuan! The one who leaked information about the border town's defenses!"

Zhu Houzhao puffed out his chest, his face beaming with praise.

"Pfft! Cough cough cough..."

The Hongzhi Emperor choked on his tea and coughed loudly.

Zhu Houzhao hurriedly stepped forward and gently patted the Hongzhi Emperor on the back.

"Father, slow down!"

"What did you say? A Northern Yuan spy? You caught him?"

The Hongzhi Emperor suddenly grabbed Zhu Houzhao's hand, his voice changing tone.

Zhu Houzhao nodded vigorously: "We've caught them!"

The Hongzhi Emperor asked incredulously, "How were they caught?"

Zhu Houzhao truthfully replied, "Actually, it was thanks to Yang, the attendant. I need to build a biogas digester and purchase a large amount of materials. There's a company called Xinglong Trading Company, whose manager is surnamed Ma. They offer prices that are several times lower than the market price, and they're especially enthusiastic, personally leading people to deliver the goods and running around doing everything. But Yang, the attendant, felt that this person was a bit strange, because Manager Ma was overly enthusiastic and asked all sorts of questions, unlike an ordinary merchant. So he asked Li Chun to keep an eye on him secretly."

"As Yang Bandu predicted, that was exactly right! This guy surnamed Ma secretly drew up detailed blueprints for a biogas digester last night, and before dawn this morning, he sent someone to deliver the blueprints to the Court of State Ceremonial! Li Chun has already apprehended him, catching him red-handed!"

Zhu Houzhao took out a confession with the ink still wet from his bosom and presented it with both hands.

"Father, look, this is the confession. This Manager Ma is actually the biggest spy that the Northern Yuan planted in the capital! He uses his trading business as a cover, traveling between the northwestern border towns year-round to transport goods. In reality, he uses money to pave the way, bribing the border town garrison commanders to obtain information on troop deployments and the strength of the defenses! This time, the intelligence about the border town was leaked by him!"

The Hongzhi Emperor grabbed the confession and quickly scanned it.

The more he looked, the more ashen his face became, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged.

The confession clearly states how Manager Ma used his status as a merchant to bribe border town officers with large sums of money, and how he obtained details such as troop numbers, grain reserves, and troop rotation times from various camps and fortresses...

Every single incident is shocking!

"He's a merchant!"

The Hongzhi Emperor was extremely agitated, his chest heaving violently with anger.

The Imperial Guards searched the entire city, causing chaos and arresting a large number of displaced people to make up the numbers.

The real rats were brazenly doing business right under our noses.

They even almost stole the Ming Dynasty's technique for taming the heavens!

He slammed the confession onto the imperial desk, roaring, "What are the Embroidered Uniform Guards good for! What are the Ministry of War good for! The court pays them to work, and they're completely unaware of such a huge incident, yet they come to me to complain over a few hundred taels of silver? They have no shame whatsoever!"

Xiao Jing was so frightened that he knelt down on the ground and dared not utter a sound.

Zhu Houzhao cautiously approached: "Father, then... should the silver be returned?"

The Hongzhi Emperor waved his hand: "Retreat? What retreat! I have already shown them immense grace by not punishing them for colluding with unscrupulous merchants and aiding the enemy and harming the country!"

Xiao Jing whispered a reminder: "Your Majesty, it's getting late, the Court of State Ceremonies..."

The Hongzhi Emperor's eyes suddenly sharpened, and his voice regained its calm as he said, "Issue my imperial decree! The signing of the treaty is suspended. The Minister of Rites is promoted... no, the Crown Prince is sent to the Court of State Ceremonial to renegotiate!"

-----------------

The Northern Garrison Office.

Li Chun escorted the prisoners to the entrance, and seeing people coming and going, he grabbed a captain at random.

"Is Commander Mou here?"

Upon recognizing Li Chun, the captain quickly replied, "Reporting to Commander Li, Commander Mou is in the imperial prison."

Li Chun asked, "Still busy with the trial?"

"It's not a trial, it's choosing a cell for myself. I said I'd like a spacious one that I'll be more comfortable in."

"what……"

Li Chun was completely bewildered and led his men to the imperial prison after many twists and turns.

A person walked out of the door, looking hurried, and the two almost bumped into each other.

Li Chun looked closely and realized it was Zheng Qianhu, who was in charge of criminal justice.

"Commander Zheng, it's been a long time!"

Upon recognizing the visitor as Li Chun, the other person said, "Commander Li, aren't you on duty at the Eastern Palace? What brings you here today?"

Li Chun said, "I've arrested someone and brought him here to you."

Commander Zheng quickly pulled him back, saying, "You'd better go back right away, Commander Mou is furious!"

Li Chun asked, "Then where should I lock him up? There's no imperial prison in the Eastern Palace..."

"What time is it? You still have the leisure to arrest people!"

Commander Zheng shook his head, his face full of worry, and said, "This time, we are all in grave danger! Fortunately, you are on duty at the Eastern Palace, so even if His Majesty punishes you, it won't fall on you."

Li Chun asked curiously, "What exactly happened?"

Commander Zheng said, "I heard there are Northern Yuan spies in the capital who have leaked our border garrison deployment maps! His Majesty gave Commander Mu three days to arrest them, and now the three days have passed without them being caught. The entire Northern Garrison Command is doomed; no one will escape!"

Li Chun glanced at Manager Ma behind him and said, "A Northern Yuan spy? Here he comes!"

Commander Zheng glanced at it and said with displeasure, "Stop fooling around! I'm talking to you about serious business!"

Li Chun nodded: "We're talking about serious business, who has time to mess around with you?"

Commander Zheng looked at Manager Ma with suspicion and asked, "Him? A Northern Yuan spy?"

Li Chun pulled out a file and said, "The confessions are all here, and there are many accomplices! Let me tell you, you can go and arrest the people on the list yourselves; I don't have that much free time!"

Commander Zheng took it and glanced at it, still disbelieving: "You didn't just grab someone from somewhere to take the blame, did you?"

Li Chun was immediately displeased and said, "Catching spies is your job, it has nothing to do with me. If anyone needs a scapegoat, it's you who should find one! I'm just helping you catch people as a favor. Do you want it or not? If not, I'll release them!"

"No, no..."

Sensing that the other party wasn't joking, Commander Zheng quickly said, "I'll go report to Commander Mou. You wait here, don't leave!"

A moment later, Mu Bin rushed out from inside.

He held the case file, glanced at Manager Ma behind Li Chun, and then looked at the case file again.

"Did you arrest this person?"

Li Chun nodded: "Yes!"

Mu Bin then asked, "How did you catch it?"

Li Chun briefly explained how this person sold goods at low prices and how enthusiastically he helped others. Yang Shen became suspicious and asked Li Chun to follow him, which led to Li Chun catching him red-handed.

Mu Bin was so excited he was almost crying. He grabbed Li Chun's shoulders tightly and said in a trembling voice, "Good brother, you've helped me a lot!"

Li Chun quickly declined, saying, "Commander Mou, please don't do this. You are my superior..."

"You saved everyone's lives! I wish I could put you in command right now!"

"It can't be that bad, it can't be that bad..."

Li Chun quickly handed over the man and said, "This subordinate must return to his duty. Farewell!"

Mu Bin immediately ordered, "Listen up, everyone! Arrest them according to the list!"