The work of the household department has made great progress, and the officials of the three divisions are advancing step by step, seeing that the diggings are getting deeper and deeper, and His Royal Highness the Prince's expression is becoming more and more self-contained, and occasionally there is a little sigh in the conversation with Scholar Hu. I don't know if he's lamenting the impending purge that Tobe is facing, or if it's a growing chūn day.

The snowball is a very appropriate description, in Cangzhou, where there is snow all the year round in the north, the winter jackets worn by tens of thousands of soldiers are not too much to bring to the household, but from this point on, to the Beijing to recourse, and a few old stories have been turned out one after another, all the clues have converged to the Kyoto household.

And the deficit in the account that was found out was getting bigger and bigger, and the wound of Qingguo, which had been carefully covered up by the officials of the household department, was torn open bloodily and exposed to the officials' appreciation.

After the investigation team entered the palace and reported it once, it strengthened the investigation. Now even Scholar Hu knows that the household department can no longer be protected, if Fan Jian resigns quickly at this time, the court will see Fan Xian's sake, and may save some face for Fan Mansion, if the confrontation continues like this, Fan Jian will not only be robbed of office.

Although the scholars and civil officials of Hu University were also frightened by the deficit of the household department, after all, they did not want the imperial court to make too much trouble, and they did not want the temporarily balanced imperial court to have some kind of tilt, so through some channels, they conveyed a wave of goodwill to the Fan Mansion.

As long as Fan Shangshu resigns, Scholar Hu and Scholar Shu are willing to jointly guarantee his safety.

But this is just the wishful thinking of these ministers, for an old minister like Fan Jian, who has followed the emperor for nearly 30 years, once he has made up his mind, the response he makes is really stubborn. Fan Fu expressed his gratitude for the kindness secretly conveyed by the various governments, but Fan Jian himself never came up with a specific response to the kindness itself.

He did not enter the palace to cry bitterly to His Majesty, nor did he write a letter to resign, and even he was still sick, and his condition did not seem to improve.

All the officials knew that Fan Shangshu was not sick, and the palace also knew it, but this time the emperor did not send the imperial doctor and Gonggong Hong to visit the Fan Mansion, and the palace also knew that this matter was that the palace was sorry for the Fan family, so they tolerated Fan Jian's behavior of complaining about his illness.

After a few rì, the prince sat in the household department, staring at the people below to investigate the case, this time, the trouble was so much that Scholar Hu had to come and watch in person, and those who investigated and were investigated were actually a little hard.

At this time, there was another breakthrough in the work of checking the household department, and the amount of silver in the account did not coincide with the treasury, and the huge deficit pointed to four directions, and four inconspicuous officials.

Finally found out the specific executor, found out the specific deficit matter, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince smelled the return, his eyes lit up, but his face was extremely calm, thinking in his heart, dig up along those officials, don't you Fan Jian eat to death?

And when Scholar Hu heard the name of the four officials, especially the name of the last person, his eyes lit up, and his face was extremely calm, thinking in his heart, Fan Lao Shangshu's methods were so wonderful, it seems that his worries about himself and Lao Shu these days are a little redundant.

After all, the prince is young, not as thoughtful as Scholar Hu, and he does not have the ability of Scholar Hu to forget, so he does not see the trap in this. Guided by the idea that Yi Jiang Yong was chasing after the poor, he happily and without any name ordered the officials of his faction to launch a general offensive on this issue.

Although Yan Xingshu, the secretary of the ministry, was faintly standing on the side of the eldest princess and the second prince, but in this good situation, there was the prince as the pioneer, of course, he was happy to help, holding a small flag and shouting beside the prince, although he did not draw the knife himself, but the sound of shouting was non-stop.

Scholar Hu watched from the sidelines, smiling secretly.

............ The inventory of the household department was carried out at a certain critical moment, and in the lobby in the deep compound, the prince's smug laughter sounded, holding the official's confession in his hand, the tiger's body was shocked, the king was angry, and the cold light in his eyes gradually appeared, forcing the household official kneeling in front of him:

"Say, Where did the four hundred thousand taels of silver go?"

In the deep chūn season, the weather was already hot, and the head of the household department who knelt miserably in front of the ministers was already soaked with sweat, and the face of the official uniform turned black, this person listened to the fierce drink of His Royal Highness the Prince, yù cried without tears, thinking that he was just a handler, how did he know where this silver was transferred by Lord Shangshu?

Seeing the official's confused expression, the prince glanced at him in disgust, but immediately thought of his purpose, so he had to say softly: "The transfer of this silver was signed by you, and the way out behind it always has to be explained, and the silver of the court can't be used out like this." ”

The official couldn't stand the pressure of forced confession, and muttered: "It's Jiang Zuoqing's secretary Wailang...... Confessed hand tail. ”

There are seven divisions under the household department, and Lang Zhong and Juwai Lang are responsible for management, and they are the officials of the five products. Jiang Zuoqing's secretary Wailang's surname is Fang Mingli, and he is already a relatively senior official in the household department.

This name, along with the other three Hubu Langzhong, are all objects that the prince's group of investigation officials have already mastered, and now they just have to be tried in court, so that the people of the Hubu can no longer deny it.

The prince was a little satisfied with the appearance of the six-rank master, but his face sank, and he said coldly: "Go down and wait to listen to the ginseng." ”

The principal exited the lobby in a panic, crying and not knowing what he was up against.

"Spread the word Fang Li in. ”

When the crown prince was in high spirits, he didn't feel that his behavior at this time had gone a little overstep, and he didn't even ask the opinion of the nominal consul general, Scholar Hu.

After a while, the household member named Fang Li walked in and saluted the officials of the various departments around him, looking proud, as if he didn't know what was about to happen.

The prince looked at this person's face, and suddenly chuckled in his heart, feeling that he was a little familiar, and then took a closer look, and found that the name of this official seemed to have been heard of.

But at this time, the people had already come to the hall, and there was not much time for him to think more, Scholar Hu and Yan Xingshu still maintained a cunning silence, and gave the entire stage to His Royal Highness the Prince, just letting him play alone.

The prince looked at the two big officials beside him, and snorted secretly, thinking that the queen of the world is his own, what is the point of judging a few household officials? As long as he can climb Fan Jian, he can connect the deficit in these four places with the silver taels in Jiangnan, even if the appearance is ugly at this time, and he loses the dignity of the East Palace, he can't control it so much.

So he slapped the board and asked in a cold voice: "Report your name and rank." ”

Fang Li, the left road member of the Hubu River, was stunned for a moment, his lips trembled twice, and he looked at His Royal Highness the Crown Prince with a stunned face, he didn't expect His Royal Highness the Prince to be so strict with himself, his face turned red, and he replied with great difficulty: "The lower official Hubu Jiang Left Road member Wailang, Fang Li." ”

The crown prince frowned, and asked the official of the Supervision Yuan to hand over the file he had found in the past few days and the confession of the previous official who signed the silver transfer, and asked in a deep voice, "Tell me, where did the 400,000 taels of silver go?"

Fang Li was struck by lightning, looking at the prince like an idiot, or maybe it was ...... Looking at the prince like an idiot?

He trembled for a long time before he said in a trembling voice: "Your Highness, the lower officials really don't know. ”

The prince frowned, looking worried about the country and the people: "I don't know these two words...... 'M afraid...... I can't say it......"

Fang Li was really dumbfounded now, especially when he heard the word "only afraid" said by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, one of his hearts fell into the ice cellar, and he understood and understood this master...... It seems that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has not only forgotten who he is, but even the 400,000 taels of silver!

He was sad in his heart, laughing, helpless, yes, what is he? It's just a petty official of the household department, who has done things for the prince in the past, and drank wine at the same table with the prince, how can the prince still remember his plain face now?

What is the 400,000 taels of silver? Who is the prince who likes women, likes to spend money on women, likes to build gardens for women to play with, and likes to reward confidants? The prince is the future master of the country, and the money in the world will be his, and he will use it as soon as he uses it, so why not waste his noble mind to remember where the money came from?

Fang Li's tongue was dry, and he looked at the prince dumbfounded, hoping that the other party would remember something, lest the current absurd and incredible situation continue to develop and develop to a point that is out of control.

Unfortunately, the crown prince did not seem to be aware of the hukou official's flirtation.

The trial work is still continuing, and Fang Li, a member of the household department, knows that this matter is too big, and in front of the judges, once he spits the truth, he will never be able to take it back, so he insists on gritting his teeth and refuses to say a word when he dies.

The prince already felt a little strange, frowned and looked at this somewhat familiar official, not understanding where the other party had the courage to come from, but he didn't say a word before he confessed...... Could it be that the other party ...... Do you want to carry everything for Fan Jian? Or rather, there is something hidden in this matter.

At this moment, Yan Xingshu, the official who had been watching silently, slapped the table and shouted: "This guy is so bold! Someone! Drag me down and ask me a good question!"

He turned his head and asked, "Master Hu, can you use torture?"

Scholar Hu, who had been staring at the ants fighting in front of his shoes, seemed to understand what was happening at this time, opened a pair of somewhat godless eyes, and said, "Ahh

There was no tone in the last word of the sentence, and it was not clear whether it was a question or an answer. Yan Xingshu was already impatient and said, "It's all up to the adults' arrangements." ”

An official from a place in the Supervision Yuan received the order and prepared to step forward and drag out the dead official Wailang. At this time, Fang Li, who had been stubborn, heard that he was going to be imprisoned, and even heard the word torture, and in addition to being frightened, he finally couldn't control his nerves anymore, and shouted in a screaming voice: "Wronged, this official is a jinshi in the first year of Qingli, and he will be an official in four years, and he will be a member of the outside of the country, all thanks to the emperor's grace, how dare he do such a bending thing?"

A series of words erupted, but this person really had some ability, and at such a tense moment, he still only looked at Scholar Hu for himself, and refused to look at the prince when he died.

When Yan Xingshu was silent and jumped out to be tortured, the strangeness in the prince's heart became deeper and deeper, and when he heard Fang Li's self-defense, he felt a chill in his back, piercing the depths of his bones!

The son of Guo Shangshu, the former minister of rites, and Guo Baokun, the editor of the palace who has always been good friends with the prince, was born in the first year of Qingli - Fang Li and Guo Baokun were in the same year!

The prince was shocked, countless things from previous years resurfaced in his heart, and in an instant, he remembered a lot of things, because of Guo Baokun's recommendation, he deigned to have a meal with this small household official named Fang Li, and through the arrangement of the eldest princess, the other party was promoted twice in the household department.

Later, the prince hinted to Guo Baokun that his henchman and Fang Li secretly transferred a batch of silver taels to themselves in the household department.

It's just that a few years have passed, and the money has long been spent, and Guo Baokun has long been unaware of where he died, and the prince has forgotten about this matter, and he has forgotten this little official named Fang Li.

Don't...... Did the 400,000 taels of silver go to his purse?

The crown prince looked at Fang Li who was dragged out of the hall by the officials of the Supervision Yuan with a shocked face, his mouth began to feel bitter, and his heart began to tighten, he knew that he must not let this official be interrogated by the Third Division, otherwise there would definitely be a big problem! He understood that he had made the most stupid mistake, and he could not let this mistake continue.

He stared fiercely at Yan Xingshu, the smiling official next to him, and shouted angrily: "Slow!"

The Shangshu Mansion of the Ministry of Rites, which was overthrown by Fan Xian, is nominally a neighbor of the East Palace, but in fact it is the confidant of the eldest princess, a fact that the prince has discovered on the night that His Royal Highness recites poetry. Since the other party is the eldest princess's person, Yan Xingshu will naturally be able to know about Guo Baokun's borrowing of silver from the household department...... His Royal Highness the Crown Prince thought hatefully, this old horseman didn't remind himself, he actually wanted to fall into the well before!

"His Royal Highness the Prince, what's wrong?" Yan Xingshu looked at him with a smile.

The prince was speechless for a while, he was already riding a tiger at this time, he single-handedly caused such a large-scale investigation of the case, and finally found himself, but how did it end?

He frowned, narrowed his eyes, and said, "Seeing that this official seems to have something to say, it doesn't hurt to ask first." ”

Yan Xingshu smiled and nodded, and Scholar Hu naturally had no objections.

Fang Li escaped death, and was relieved to know that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince finally remembered him, but with the worried eyes of His Royal Highness the Prince, they knew that today's matter was really difficult to deal with.

The prince's heart flashed ruthlessly, and suddenly he thought that Guo Baokun had already disappeared, as long as he refused to admit it, and then found a way to make this person called Fang Li shut his mouth, he would be able to wash it away.

Thinking of this, he said mildly: "Fang Li, where is the silver tael, you have to think carefully about it, this palace came to investigate the case by the holy order, of course it will not let go of a corrupt official, but ...... Nor will any good official be wronged. ”

Fang Li's eyes flashed with a hint of hope, knowing that the prince was hinting that he was indiscriminately biting others, since the account of the 400,000 taels of silver had been turned out, in front of Scholar Hu, Yan Shangshu and the officials of the Dali Temple Supervision Yuan, of course, there was no way to close it again. Fang Li knew that this was the only way, he lowered his head and turned his eyes, and made up his mind, but it was only for a while, but he didn't know who to push it to, after going to the account back then, he secretly destroyed the account book, but with such a large amount of silver, it was extremely difficult to find another name.

Yan Xingshu glanced at the crown prince, sighed in his heart, knowing that the other party was ready to give up his pawn, and this pawn seemed to be ready to sacrifice, he couldn't help but be a little surprised, how could such an incompetent person as the prince make this petty official named Fang Li so convinced? Obviously, the prince couldn't remember this person before.

He didn't understand that in Fang Li's heart, the crown prince would inherit the throne in the future, as long as he could not die in this incident, then there would always be a day to turn over in the future. But...... For the sake of 400,000 taels of silver, how could His Majesty take the life of a small member of the Wailang? Fang Li obviously didn't expect this.

............ Without letting Fang Li think for too long under the scrutinizing gaze of the officials, a slightly tired voice had already answered for him, helped him out of the siege, and at the same time put a rope on the body of His Royal Highness the Prince.

"I remember it. ”

"At that time, the Ministry of Rites issued a document that because the Holy Majesty ordered the repair of all the autumn houses and school houses, it was necessary to transfer silver from the ministry, and a total of 14 times before and after, a total of 400,000 and 700 taels of silver. ”

"The money has been sent to the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Rites should have a receipt, but the official has not personally taken care of these things, so it will be clear when I check it later. All matters are done in accordance with the rules of the Qing Dynasty, and you adults should not be embarrassed by these poor officials under their own officials. ”

"As for whether there is a problem with this money, I only need to send a document to various states to take a look at the status of the renovation of the academy in the autumn of the past two years, and it will be clear. ”

Fan Shangshu, who was sick a lot, finally supported his weak body and came to the household yamen, which was much violated. He propped himself up by the door and explained weakly to the adults in the hall.

An official of the Supervision Yuan hurriedly stepped forward to help, and Scholar Hu led Yan Xingshu and a group of investigation officials hurriedly got up and saluted.

When Lord Shangshu, who had been in charge of the household department for nine years, first arrived at the Yamen, as soon as he opened his mouth, he was arguing for his subordinates, but he pointed out the whereabouts of the silver word by word, as long as he checked it, this matter would come to light, so the prince's face turned pale and his eyes wandered.