Chapter 0008: The Untrustworthy Second Prince, Xie Chengze Nearing His End

Xie Chengze swiftly withdrew his hand, executed a carp’s leap to sit upright.

A flicker of regret passed through Wuji’s eyes.

“Sick visit?”

Xie Chengze belatedly remembered he had indeed taken sick leave.

Recalling past illnesses, the original host would never refuse visitors, even receiving ministers while bedridden to collect valuable visitation gifts…

These gifts served as entry tickets – those who gave more were subtly indicating their support for the Second Prince.

Factionalism and corruption gradually began from here.

Just as Xie Chengze was about to lie back down, he spotted Wuji’s grape plate approaching again from the corner of his eye. He immediately rose from the bed, slipped into his shoes and hurried toward the bedchamber.

Waving his hand while walking briskly, he said, “No visitors, send them all away! Tell them this prince is gravely ill and cannot receive guests! Have them take their gifts and get lost!”

His hurried retreating figure carried a somewhat flustered air.

The guard could only accept the order, saluting before withdrawing.

Wuji licked the remaining grape juice from his blade, saying to Wuhen beside him, “Did you notice?”

Wuhen nodded slightly.

“His Highness ate the top lychee.”

“He used to hate it most when people mentioned his beauty. Last time I said it, he had me beaten with twenty rods.”

Wuhen and Wuji spoke simultaneously. After a moment, Wuji rolled his eyes, “Lychees, all you think about are lychees!”

However, Wuhen was indeed correct. In the past, the prince would deliberately overturn the neatly stacked lychee tower Wuhen prepared, then randomly select one to eat. He would never obediently take the top lychee like just now.

No… or perhaps, he hadn’t for a long time…

“Do you think His Highness is…” Wuji’s expression showed a hint of anticipation.

Wuhen looked up, his voice cool, “Next time, could you use your own sword to peel grapes instead of taking my knife?”

Wuji grinned, “No, I don’t want to clean my sword.”

Wuhen: …

…

The guard returned to the entrance of Cheng Huan Palace, addressing the waiting ministers, “Gentlemen, His Highness says he cannot receive guests today. Please return.”

“What about these visitation gifts…” The ministers instinctively extended their gift boxes.

“His Highness says he won’t accept any gifts.”

The ministers immediately looked at each other in surprise.

Whenever the Second Prince fell ill before, he would always accept visitation gifts. Why was he refusing today?

Could it truly be – that he’s nearing his end and feels accepting gifts is useless?!

“What should we do?” one minister asked anxiously, holding his gift box. “Could the Second Prince really be this ill?”

“Hard to say, might he just be in a bad mood?” another minister speculated.

“Ah? Censor Chen is here!” A sharp-eyed minister spotted Chen Yushi approaching with a food container and greeted him, “Censor Chen, what have you brought?”

Chen Yushi never visited to deliver gifts or form factions. Unexpectedly, having received the Second Prince’s favor yesterday, even he couldn’t avoid following convention by bringing a gift.

“Just some specially prepared dishes from home. What are you all crowded here for?” Chen Yushi asked, puzzled.

Hearing that Chen Yushi had only brought some simple dishes, the other ministers lost interest, then gossiped, “The Second Prince won’t see anyone and won’t accept gifts. What scheme is he plotting now?”

Imperial Censor Chen couldn’t understand – what was so strange about simply refusing gifts?

Since the Second Prince wasn’t receiving visitors, Imperial Censor Chen planned to return home and visit again when the prince’s health improved. But just as he was about to leave, he saw a minor official from the Ministry of Revenue approaching.

“What are all you esteemed officials doing here?” the minor official asked in confusion, holding donation slips in his hand.

These high-ranking officials certainly wouldn’t carry much silver when attending court, so yesterday they had all written donation slips at the Ministry of Revenue. The ministry officials would then take these slips to collect the money from the officials’ residences.

Some officials had pledged small amounts that didn’t require time to gather funds, so the minor official had already collected from them yesterday. Today he was visiting the homes of officials who had pledged larger amounts. As for Cheng Huan Palace…

Actually, he had come yesterday but was told the silver wasn’t ready and he should return today.

But judging by the current situation… were they planning to withhold payment again?

The minor official grew anxious. “Is the gate closed? What about these donation slips? I came yesterday and was told to collect the money today.”

“What? You came yesterday and the Second Prince didn’t pay you?”

“That’s right,” the minor official said with a distressed expression. “It’s only forty taels. I don’t understand why the Second Prince insisted on delaying payment until today.”

Now that he thought about it, forty taels of silver was nothing to Cheng Huan Palace – why would they need time to gather such a small amount?

The Second Prince was clearly unwilling to part with even forty taels of silver!

“Really? He won’t pay even forty taels?” Some officials couldn’t help but glance at Imperial Censor Chen with complicated expressions. “So he gained a good reputation without spending any money at all…”

Hearing this, Imperial Censor Chen’s expression darkened.

He stepped forward and questioned the guard of Cheng Huan Palace, “What is the meaning of this? If His Highness doesn’t wish to contribute, he shouldn’t have gone through all these pretenses. Though my position is humble, I am not someone to be toyed with or used!”

“Your Excellency must have misunderstood…” The guard was merely a gatekeeper who knew nothing about the matter. Especially since the Second Prince had seemed in a foul mood earlier, he didn’t dare go in and risk angering him further. “Perhaps you should all come back tomorrow…”

“But these funds need to be transported to Yi Province tonight…” the minor official said despairingly. “If we can’t collect the full amount, we’ll have to… we’ll have to…”

They’d have to make up the shortfall themselves.

But their monthly salaries were even lower than Imperial Censor Chen’s. How could they possibly cover forty taels? With their lives?

“Sigh, the Second Prince is being quite unreasonable. It’s only forty taels.”

“Indeed. His Majesty has bestowed so many treasures upon him, yet he only takes and never gives…”

“Yesterday in the main hall he spoke so nobly, but now he won’t even part with this small amount. Tsk tsk, and I thought His Highness had matured…”

As the officials gossiped, Imperial Censor Chen grew angrier. He stepped forward angrily and said, “Enough! I’ll pay the forty taels! Consider it a lesson learned – now I see the Second Prince for who he truly is!”

“Tomorrow I will definitely submit a memorial criticizing the Second Prince! He’s utterly untrustworthy and unfit for royal responsibilities!”

“Come with me!” Imperial Censor Chen picked up his food box, grabbed the minor official’s arm, and turned to leave. But after taking just two steps, they heard someone ahead shout, “Oh my, why are there so many people here! Please make way, esteemed officials – we’re in a hurry!”

The ministers turned their heads to see a dozen palace servants dressed in eunuch uniforms hurrying over, each pair carrying a rosewood chest that appeared quite heavy, straining under the weight.

“Which palace do these people belong to?” a minister inquired, craning his neck.

“They seem to be from Jade Lotus Palace.”

“Isn’t that Rou Fei’s people? Why are they here, and what are they carrying?”

“Ah, we’ve finally made it!” Once the six chests were carried to the entrance of Cheng Huan Palace, the eunuch from Jade Lotus Palace urged the guards at the door, “Quickly inform the Second Prince! I’ve brought the silver. Please send the Yun Duan Jin and Cang Hai Zhu to Jade Lotus Palace as soon as possible!”

Hearing this, the guard immediately entered the palace and soon returned with the storeroom manager. The manager lifted the lid of a rosewood chest, and the ministers were astonished to find it filled with gleaming silver!

Good heavens, what was going on?

“Someone, count it,” the storeroom manager, who clearly had a calm and steady demeanor, ordered. Two young eunuchs behind him promptly stepped forward and, after a quick tally, reported, “Manager, the amount is correct—three thousand taels of silver in total.”

Three thousand taels?! So much!

Why would Rou Fei suddenly send the Second Prince such a large sum?

“Oh dear, why are there so many people here? Make way, we’re in a hurry!” A familiar line echoed, and the ministers turned to see another group rushing over with chests. “Step aside! If you delay Xi Fei’s items, you’ll regret it later!”

“Quickly inform the Second Prince! I’ve brought enough silver. Xi Fei wishes to purchase two more bolts of Yun Duan Jin and is willing to pay a higher price than Rou Fei!”

“What?” Rou Fei’s side was immediately displeased. Yun Duan Jin was extremely rare, with only a few bolts produced every few years, making it practically priceless and unavailable on the market. The only three bolts in the palace were all in Cheng Huan Palace.

It had been agreed earlier that all three bolts would be sold to Rou Fei.

Who would have thought Xi Fei would suddenly jump in, offering to raise the price and demanding two bolts at once!

“Hmph! We always knew you from Chonghua Palace were untrustworthy. Clap, clap!” The eunuch from Jade Lotus Palace clapped his hands, and several more people emerged from behind the bushes, carrying silver chests and shouting loudly, “Our lady instructed us to bring extra silver, just to guard against scoundrels like you blocking the way!”

“You’re the scoundrels! A mere merchant’s daughter dares to monopolize Yun Duan Jin? If you know what’s good for you, step aside—” The people from Chonghua Palace grew furious. Just as the two sides were about to clash, a third group suddenly appeared. “Make way! How dare you block Da Guiren’s path—?”

The ministers: ?

Again?

Not only again, but again and again. Nearly every one of the dozen or so consorts in the rear palace had sent someone—those with money brought it, while those without came to watch the spectacle and report back to their mistresses.

The storeroom manager stood at the forefront, seemingly detached from life and death, unperturbed by honor or disgrace. He said calmly, “There’s no need to argue any further. The previously agreed prices and exchanges are fixed and will not change. If Xi Fei truly desires the Yun Duan Jin, she may go to Jade Lotus Palace and request it from Rou Fei.”

He cast a faint glance at the palace servants gathered there. “Causing a disturbance at the entrance of Cheng Huan Palace—if you startle His Highness in his illness and provoke him into recalling all the treasures, the loss would far outweigh the gain.”

At these words, the crowd immediately fell silent, not daring to make another sound.

Who didn’t know how unpredictable the master of Cheng Huan Palace could be? If they truly disturbed him, they would lose any chance of obtaining these rare treasures.

As denizens of the inner palace, they understood better than anyone how deeply Emperor Jian cherished the occupant of Cheng Huan Palace. Anything associated with that palace—even a single Cang Hai Zhu—could prompt His Majesty to linger in a consort’s chambers, engaging in earnest conversation late into the night. Where he would eventually rest his head went without saying.

Therefore, these treasures had to be secured.

Seeing that everyone had quieted down, the storeroom steward turned his gaze to the crowd. “Which of you is the official from the Ministry of Revenue?”

Suddenly addressed, the minor clerk from the Ministry of Revenue was taken aback but quickly stepped forward. “That would be me.”

The storeroom steward gave the clerk a measured look before speaking calmly. “Return to the Ministry of Revenue at once and arrange for these silver taels to be taken away.”

The clerk was bewildered. “Huh?”

“These funds are His Highness’s donation silver for the disaster victims in Yi Province,” the steward replied with a faint smile, his eyes holding a meaningful glint. “His Highness said the Minister of Revenue will understand where this silver should be directed.”

The clerk was momentarily stunned but quickly grasped the underlying message. He promptly raised his hands in acknowledgment. “This humble official understands! The Second Highness, with his benevolent heart, pities the suffering people of Yi Province. Despite his illness, he still strives to raise funds for the people—truly a model for all civil and military officials! We had deeply misunderstood him and are utterly ashamed!”

Other officials, catching on, wore expressions of astonishment and chimed in, “We are indeed ashamed! Who would have thought the Second Highness possessed such profound righteousness?”

Chen Yushi, standing to the side, stared blankly at the scene. When the realization dawned on him, his aged face flushed bright red.

Had he misunderstood the Second Highness?

He deserved to die!

The storeroom steward waved his hand again, and a servant behind him stepped forward carrying a silver tray. On it lay precisely thirty-nine taels, nine mace, and ninety-nine copper coins. The steward stated impassively, “This is the donation silver His Highness promised earlier.”

The clerk hastily accepted it. The donation receipt was taken back by the storeroom steward, and the gates of Cheng Huan Palace closed once more, barring all visitors.

The officials watched in a daze until the very end, when the clerk finished counting the chests and announced in a trembling voice, “A full ten thousand taels of silver!”

Who could have imagined that the Second Highness—notoriously stingy and never one to part with his wealth—would donate ten thousand taels of silver, plus thirty-nine taels, nine mace, and ninety-nine coins, for the disaster victims in Yi Province?

In the past, such a thing would have been sheer fantasy!

Second Highness, could it be that you—

Are nearing your end!

In no time, rumors swept through the palace like a raging storm.