TGPSAC – Chapter 97

The affair at the Ministry of Revenue caused a huge stir and was deliberately leaked by certain individuals.

Someone wanted the outside world to know the central government was out of funds. The soldiers would then know that this year’s military pay was a lost cause. Once hope is given and then snatched away, resentment is born.

The central government already owed the soldiers back pay. The promised funds were about to vanish into thin air again, and dissent was already stirring among the troops.

The mastermind behind the leak spread the news precisely to sow discord, creating an opportunity for them to plot from within the chaos.

According to reports from all sides, morale in the various armies was already plummeting, discipline was lax, and there were even signs of mutiny. If these men were to cause trouble, it would be a disaster.

If chaos erupted on the borders, leading to foreign invasion, or if the armies began to plunder the common people, it would only pile chaos upon chaos.

The instability of Great Zhou’s government, if it directly threatened the central authority, would trigger uprisings across the land.

Throughout history, these were all signs of a dynasty in its final years.

Yu Jiuzhou had been very busy recently, and Chi Wan’s Imperial City Division had been fully mobilized. Thirty million taels of silver could not have simply vanished into thin air. No matter where it went, even if they couldn’t find all of it, there had to be clues left behind.

The Minister of Revenue, Liu Kuo, was the breakthrough point. Li Bao had already taken men to the Grand Court of Revision to retrieve him, but Sun Yuzhuo there refused to release him. She had some information in her possession and needed to shift the blame elsewhere.

Although the Imperial City Division coming to take the man was the best opportunity, she had to drop a hint about the intricacies involved. Otherwise, her dream of a peaceful retirement would likely remain just that—a dream.

While the Imperial City Division reported directly to the sovereign, under normal circumstances, it was a department on the same level as the Grand Court of Revision. It was impossible to take a person without any proper procedures.

Sun Yuzhuo had made it clear: she would release the man if they had an edict—be it from the Emperor or a command from the Grand Princess—or if the Commander of the Imperial City Division, the Fuma Chi Wan herself, came in person. But Li Bao showing up with his men was not acceptable.

If any problems arose, Li Bao wouldn’t be able to handle the fallout, and the responsibility would fall on her, the Grand Minister of the Grand Court of Revision. That was out of the question. She had consulted a fortune-teller about her retirement date, and the divination had shown a calamity awaiting her. She had to be cautious, no matter what.

Inaction was the key to a long life. But if one must act, one must be thorough and ensure no trouble could be traced back to oneself.

Chi Wan didn’t know Sun Yuzhuo very well. Technically, Sun Yuzhuo was the Grand Minister of the Grand Court of Revision, and Chi Wan was the Vice-Minister—her direct superior.

In reality, a superior’s worst nightmare was a subordinate like her—one with a higher rank, a deeper background, who not only couldn’t help with work but was also a constant source of trouble.

The Grand Court of Revision had many cases, and with one Vice-Minister being a figurehead, she, the Grand Minister, had much more work to do.

Sun Yuzhuo thought to herself that she needed to find a way to get this Vice-Minister, Chi Wan, out of her court. She couldn’t stay for too long, or she would just keep making trouble. Or perhaps, after she retired, she would even support Chi Wan becoming the next Grand Minister.

But when Chi Wan stood before her, she found herself unable to voice some of those thoughts.

Chi Wan said only one thing, “Grand Minister Sun, when do you plan to retire?”

She looked as if she would grant Sun Yuzhuo’s retirement the moment she named a date.

Sun Yuzhuo was at a loss for words. If she retired now, things would become difficult. It was wise to retreat at the peak of one’s career, but this was not the time. If she dared to retire, evidence of her Sun family’s crimes would be presented before the throne within two days.

Whether the accusations were true or not was unimportant. What mattered was whether the Emperor believed them.

No, wait. The Grand Princess was regent now. It would depend on whether the Grand Princess believed them.

Sun Yuzhuo believed the Grand Princess was not the type to pass judgment rashly, but what if the charges were framed cleverly?

She thought for a long time before finally replying, “When does the Fuma think it is appropriate for this minister to retire?”

The way of interacting with colleagues was a constant push and pull. Whether one could obtain truly useful information depended on oneself.

But Chi Wan was not one to beat around the bush. Her question about Sun Yuzhuo’s retirement was sincere. If Sun Yuzhuo just gave her a date, she would inform Yu Jiuzhou, and a successor would be arranged immediately. There was no need to dither and delay matters.

She had no interest in the so-called art of officialdom. She understood some of it but rarely used it. What she wanted was the fastest way to achieve her goal and complete her mission.

As long as the mission could be completed, she would use whatever method was quickest, be it the art of officialdom or a direct approach.

Chi Wan’s face was full of sincerity. “That is up to Grand Minister Sun. I am certain Her Highness will not force you to stay.”

Sun Yuzhuo’s heart skipped a beat. See? This was indeed what Her Highness and the Fuma were thinking.

“Fuma, this minister will humbly obey Her Highness’s command,” she said, unsure how to continue the conversation.

Chi Wan tilted her head. “Her Highness? Her Highness only wants a capable Grand Minister of the Grand Court of Revision. She has been very satisfied with your loyalty and diligence recently, Grand Minister Sun. So, as soon as you submit your resignation, Her Highness will not make things difficult for you.”

But things were already very difficult for her. Sun Yuzhuo was speechless. She understood now. Her recent efforts had been noticed by Her Highness, but if she continued to drag her feet and shirk responsibility, she might as well just leave.

But she couldn’t leave. She knew the saying, “the tea cools as soon as the person leaves.” The moment she retired, the Sun family would be finished.

Right now, her only option was to investigate the case together with the Fuma.

No, that wasn’t right. She could also choose Prince Bao’an. Given her position as Grand Minister, Prince Bao’an would surely protect her.

So she still had to pick a side. As expected, as a high-ranking official of Great Zhou, it was impossible to avoid taking a side. It had been no small feat for her to navigate the conflicts among the three princes for so many years without choosing one.

Now, with only Prince Bao’an left, she was finally forced to choose.

As for which of the two to pick, Sun Yuzhuo knew that even if she chose Prince Bao’an, the Grand Princess would not do anything to her. But if she didn’t choose Prince Bao’an, the Sun family would definitely be targeted.

Of course, if she chose the Grand Princess, Her Highness would also protect her completely.

Viewed this way, choosing Prince Bao’an seemed better, but she didn’t want to.

A ruler like him would just be the next Emperor Shengyuan.

In truth, Sun Yuzhuo didn’t really want to retire. It was just that she looked down on all three princes. Rather than pledge allegiance to any of them, she preferred to retire.

But had she not studied the classics for so many years for the sake of ordering the family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world? With her ambitions unfulfilled, was she truly content to retire? Her long hesitation had only put her in this predicament.

Sun Yuzhuo’s wavering heart suddenly became firm. “Since the Grand Princess needs someone to get things done, then this old woman will stay and do them. I seek no merit, only the chance to fulfill the ambitions I hold in my heart.”

Chi Wan gave her a deep look. No wonder Yu Jiuzhou had said that Sun Yuzhuo had the nation and its people in her heart. It was just that Emperor Shengyuan had broken that heart, making her feel that a monarch without virtue was just that and nothing more.

Even with her inner disappointment, she still held out hope for the Emperor, thinking that one day he might see the error of his ways and become a good ruler.

So she aimed for faultlessness. By being faultless, she could hold on until the Emperor improved. But as she grew older, she realized more and more that counting on the Emperor was impossible. And the three princes, who were potential heirs, were even worse than Emperor Shengyuan. She had lost hope in Great Zhou.

If she hadn’t been dragged into this situation recently, she would have left long ago.

Looking at Chi Wan before her, she thought that perhaps the Grand Princess would be a good monarch.

Sun Yuzhuo thought to herself, if she had to choose someone to be emperor, she would rather choose the Grand Princess.

She was waiting for an answer, an answer she didn’t know if the Fuma would give her now, or if she would have to wait for the Grand Princess to give it.

Chi Wan was also thinking. If Sun Yuzhuo had been like this earlier, she would certainly have been forced into a corner. It was her inaction that had allowed her to survive so long in the Great Zhou court and rise to such a high position.

Before, Sun Yuzhuo had been forced to take on responsibility. Now, she was making an active choice.

“I trust Grand Minister Sun knows what this choice means.”

She still felt that some things had to be made clear. She had no desire to force someone on the verge of retirement to make any choice.

Sun Yuzhuo nodded firmly. “Fuma, I have made up my mind.”

This was the difference. Prince Bao’an and the others had only given her two choices: pick a side or die. Only the Grand Princess would respect her decision.

Chi Wan nodded. “I will speak with Her Highness.”

“Thank you, Fuma.”

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When she returned to the Princess’s Residence that evening, Chi Wan told Yu Jiuzhou about the matter. Just then, An Yizhi happened to visit. Not only did she come, but she also brought many of Yu Jiuzhou’s favorite foods.

What was the meaning of this? Was she, the Fuma, incapable of buying them?

Chi Wan let out a soft huff as she passed An Yizhi. “Shouldn’t the Marquis of Pingliang be preparing to welcome Princess Lin’an? What are you doing here?”

The Imperial Astronomical Bureau had already chosen an auspicious date for the departure to welcome Princess Lin’an. The first day of the fifth month was a good day. On that day, the Marquis of Pingliang, An Yizhi, would lead a delegation to Beining to escort Princess Lin’an back.

An Yizhi bumped Chi Wan directly. “This has nothing to do with the Fuma. The Fuma should be thinking about how to properly train the troops of the Capital Camps.”

Chi Wan had her own plans for training the troops. She had dispatched a thousand Embroidered-Robe Guards to the military camps to act as trailblazers—or rather, as devilish drill instructors.

From then on, the Capital Camps would enter closed-door training. Chi Wan would personally cover the costs for all the meat and other expenses to train them, and she had no intention of letting the Emperor know.

To train a good army, one first had to make sure the soldiers were well-fed.

The recent uproar about the deficit at the Ministry of Revenue had already affected training in the camps. It was only when the soldiers saw that their daily rations of meat and rice continued uninterrupted that things calmed down.

Thirty million taels of silver. Just thinking about it, one couldn’t imagine how to make up for such a shortfall.

In response to An Yizhi’s words, Chi Wan snatched the food from her hands and prepared to put it in her mouth. An Yizhi, furious, reached out to grab it back.

Both were skilled martial artists. Chi Wan didn’t use her internal energy; she didn’t need to when fighting An Yizhi.

Without internal energy, An Yizhi, who had been in and out of battlefields, had more practical fighting experience.

But even without internal energy, Chi Wan had superior stamina and strength. The two were evenly matched.

Yu Jiuzhou happened to be passing by. She rolled her eyes at the two of them and walked past as if she hadn’t seen a thing.

Chi Wan: “?”

An Yizhi: “?”

“Your Highness, Chi Wan hit me!!!”

“My wife, An Yizhi hit me.”

Only then did Yu Jiuzhou turn back with a helpless look. “You two can continue fighting. Let’s see who wins.”

As soon as she said this, the two of them immediately stopped. Chi Wan quickly walked to Yu Jiuzhou’s side, wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and leaned her head against her. “Your Highness, you must stand up for me.”

An Yizhi was speechless. The villain was the first to complain. What was a villain? This was a villain. By any measure, it was a mutual fight, not one where either had the upper hand.

However, the one with the upper hand was definitely Chi Wan, without a doubt. Who else but her would dare to hug the Grand Princess’s arm, act cute, and complain so shamelessly?

“My wife~” Chi Wan drew out the word, leaning even closer to Yu Jiuzhou. She was like a triumphant peacock, her tail fanned so high it could touch the sky.

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