Confronting Both the Government and the Opposition

He first gave Gu Chengyin a way out, acknowledging that his motives were good, even if his methods were inappropriate.

"Furthermore," Cui Shifan shifted the conversation, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. "During the morning assembly, His Majesty did explicitly decree, granting Her Highness... well, a ten-day limit."

"To investigate the relevant matters within such a tight timeframe brings immense pressure. As the Marquis bears this responsibility, making some extraordinary moves out of anxiety, while improper, is somewhat excusable."

Cui Shifan paused slightly, his expression turning stern. "However, no matter the reason, in a vital government office like the Ministry of Revenue..."

"...to engage in a physical altercation, even coming to blows with the Minister, is ultimately highly inappropriate. It strips the imperial court of its dignity and is completely beneath both of your stations."

He looked at Gu Chengyin and Shangguan Yuan with sharp eyes. "A brawl, especially one between a Marquis and a Minister—if word of this spreads, where will the court's face be? How will the officials view it? And how will the commoners of the world discuss it?"

Cui Shifan did not favor either side. Instead, he dealt them both an equal metaphorical lashing, defining the nature of the conflict as an undignified mutual brawl.

Having laid the groundwork, Cui Shifan proposed his preliminary solution, his tone carrying the air of a mediator:

"This matter, at its core, is merely a misunderstanding and an impulse arising from official duties."

"Both of you are pillars of our Great Luo. Now, as the nation faces difficult times, it is precisely when we need everyone to unite and weather the storm together. It is truly unwise to damage harmony and delay crucial matters over a moment of temper."

His gaze swept past Xiao Song, Hu Juzheng, and Yuan Zhengqing before returning to Gu Chengyin and Shangguan Yuan. Softening his voice, he advised,

"In my view, why don't you two do me and the Grand Secretaries present a small favor."

"Set aside your dispute for now, shake hands, and make peace. Exercise restraint and do not escalate the situation further. As for the matter of auditing the accounts..."

Cui Shifan looked at Gu Chengyin. His meaning was obvious: the specific technical issues could be coordinated and resolved between the Ministry of Revenue and the Heir's estate; there was no need to remain deadlocked here in such a manner.

This proposal was a classic, seasoned, and prudent strategy.

First, quell the surface-level conflict and temporarily freeze the fierce contradiction, preventing the situation from escalating and causing irreversible political fallout.

As for the core dilemma of the missing accounts, that could be left for private, more amicable communication and resolution.

This was the safest approach to maintaining the court's superficial stability and dignity.

If Gu Chengyin were merely a young official who knew how to read the room, he would have taken this out.

He would have given the Grand Secretaries face, ended the storm over the brawl, and then privately resolved the auditing issue.

However, Gu Chengyin was not such a person.

Hearing Cui Shifan's proposal, Gu Chengyin only smiled politely.

"Every word Grand Secretary Cui has spoken is perfectly reasonable. This junior has benefited greatly from your wisdom."

"You and the other Grand Secretaries are of high moral standing and great prestige. Since you have personally stepped forward to mediate, I naturally must give you face."

"This junior is not an unreasonable person who blindly pesters others. Regardless of the cause of today's conflict, the method was indeed inappropriate."

"As long as the account issues can be resolved and Her Highness's audit can proceed smoothly, let alone shaking hands and making peace..."

Gu Chengyin looked at Shangguan Yuan sitting opposite him, speaking with a sincere and earnest tone:

"...even if I must apologize to the Minister on the spot, and later prepare generous gifts to visit his residence and beg for forgiveness, I would not utter a single word of complaint!"

These words were spoken beautifully, with his posture lowered, making him look exactly like someone willing to admit his faults.

However, just as everyone thought he was going to concede...

Gu Chengyin's finger tapped lightly on the Heir Apparent's token resting in front of him.

The contact between his fingertip and the token produced a faint, rhythmic tapping sound.

"But, Grand Secretaries, there is one point this junior must make absolutely clear. This matter is not my private affair, nor is it an ordinary official dispute!"

His gaze was like lightning, sweeping across the face of every Grand Secretary present. Word by word, he spoke with absolute clarity:

"This is a promise that Her Highness personally made during the morning assembly, before His Majesty and the entire civil and military court."

"It is the vital task of investigating the national treasury's revenues and expenditures and clearing up long-standing corrupt practices!"

"It is a monumental matter concerning Her Highness's prestige as the Heir Apparent, and even more so, His Majesty's expectations!"

Gu Chengyin directly elevated the nature of the matter to the level of the Heir's prestige and the Luo Emperor's expectations.

"As long as the account issues can be resolved and the investigation can continue, I will apologize in whatever way you wish."

"But if..."

Gu Chengyin's voice suddenly turned sharp, his eyes revealing a ruthless determination willing to fight to the bitter end:

"If the problem cannot be solved, the accounts remain missing, and the audit cannot proceed smoothly..."

"...causing Her Highness to lose face and bear the reputation of incompetence..."

Gu Chengyin paused, his gaze slowly sweeping over the varying expressions of the Grand Secretaries, and said decisively:

"Then, as Her Highness's subject, this Marquis will absolutely not sit idly by. When that time comes, let alone the face of you esteemed gentlemen..."

"...even if I must take this uproar right before His Majesty! This Marquis will still fight fiercely for the truth and definitely seek justice for Her Highness!"

"Unless..."

Gu Chengyin spoke these last two words incredibly slowly. His gaze intentionally or unintentionally glanced toward the direction of the imperial palace before quickly withdrawing:

"His Majesty personally issues a decree, explicitly stating that the matters of the national treasury need no longer be investigated."

"Otherwise, as long as it remains unresolved for a single day, this Marquis will not slacken for a single day."

"Nor will I allow anyone, for any reason, to delay, evade responsibility, or affect Her Highness's grand undertaking!"

These words employed both the carrot and the stick, leaving no loopholes whatsoever.

He first gave the Grand Secretaries tremendous face, and then revealed his hardest bottom line.

This was a military pledge made by the Heir Apparent, concerning the Heir's face and prestige.

Unless the Luo Emperor personally called a halt to it, no one should even think about blustering their way through!

The Cabinet's face? Before the Heir Apparent's grand undertaking, it was not worth mentioning.

Moreover, this was not a personal grudge or a trivial matter open to bargaining, but a political mission that had to be completed.

His goal was clear, his attitude resolute, without any room for compromise.

Either solve the problem and everyone remains amicable, or he would flip the table and bring it directly before the Luo Emperor and the people of the world, to see who would ultimately be unable to step down.

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere within the council hall suddenly grew even heavier.

The smile on Grand Secretary Hu's face, which had been beaming all along, faded slightly. His eyes grew profound as he began to truly and seriously size up the young man before him.

Everyone in the imperial court knew that Her Highness the Eldest Princess was cold, arrogant, and isolated. Aside from her natural disposition, there was another extremely important reason for this.

She had no capable people by her side.

There was no ruthless individual who could stand up for her and clash head-on with the court and the public.

But now, it was obvious that such a person had appeared.

This style of holding the Heir's will high above his head, showing absolutely no fear of the Cabinet's authority, and even faintly using the Heir to suppress the Cabinet...

...was extremely rare in his many years navigating the sea of officialdom. Not only was he bold, but he also knew very well how to utilize the cards in his hand within the boundaries of the rules.

Xiao Song, whose eyes were half-closed, slightly opened his eyelids a crack. A glimmer of light flashed in his cloudy old eyes, only to quickly vanish, returning to his drowsy demeanor.

Cui Shifan's complexion, on the other hand, turned even more gloomy.