Imperial Edict

Gu Chengyin's words completely blocked his retreat of trying to smooth things over.

Either resolve the missing accounts issue immediately, or prepare to face a political storm that would reach the ears of the Emperor.

This made him feel incredibly troubled, especially since the other Grand Secretaries remained silent.

Cui Shifan knew he had to adjust his strategy, so he turned his gaze to the other party involved in this storm.

"Minister Shangguan."

Cui Shifan used his formal official title: "You heard what the Marquis of Bingjian just said. Since this matter has been brought before the Grand Secretariat and concerns His Highness's vital affairs, what do you have to say?"

He kicked the ball to Shangguan Yuan, both to give him a chance to defend himself and to hear the Ministry of Revenue's official stance, hoping to find a breakthrough to resolve the deadlock.

Shangguan Yuan had been holding in a bellyful of grievances and was just waiting for this opportunity.

Hearing Cui Shifan's question, he immediately exploded like a lit firecracker, slamming his hand on the table.

With his other hand still covering his bruised right eye, he indignantly complained:

"Grand Secretary Xiao! Grand Secretary Cui! Grand Secretary Hu! Grand Secretary Yuan! You are all here, so please judge this for me!"

He pointed at Gu Chengyin, his finger trembling. "I say this Gu Chengyin is simply being unreasonable! Making a scene out of nothing! Seizing on a pretext to make a fuss! Relying on His Highness's trust to act lawlessly!"

A string of derogatory terms burst forth, venting his anger.

"Yes! The Ministry of Revenue does have some old accounts. Due to the limited conditions of the storehouses and the passage of time, some attachments are indeed missing, and the paper is damaged!"

"But so what?! Is this some heinous, unforgivable crime?!"

"Those old accounts are ancient history! Times have changed, personnel have rotated, and the people who handled them back then might not even be around anymore."

"The relevant receipts and vouchers might have been lost or destroyed long ago! Where am I supposed to find complete data for him now?! Is that realistic?!"

"Oh! According to him, as long as we can't find those trivial old accounts, our entire Ministry of Revenue, hundreds of people, can't do any real work for a single day?!"

"We all have to drop all pressing official duties, ignore the money, grain, and taxes of the two capitals and thirteen commanderies, and go dig through moldy piles of old paper for him?!"

"This is simply absurd! Nonsense!"

Finally, Shangguan Yuan threw out what he considered his most powerful counterargument, his tone carrying a sense of grievance and injustice:

"Grand Secretaries, please see clearly! Our Ministry of Revenue's accounts for this year! The core revenue and expenditure summaries from past years! They are all complete, clearly organized, and available for inspection at any time!"

"We are already too busy with this year's proper business, so why must he cling to those old accounts that are bound to have some flaws due to their age?!"

"Isn't this neglecting the essentials for the trivial, and deliberately finding fault?!"

Having been immersed in the imperial court for decades, Cui Shifan instantly grasped the core of Shangguan Yuan's rhetoric.

Shifting the focus, dodging the heavy to take the light.

The fact that the old accounts were incomplete was an objective reality, but this did not directly equate to there being a problem with the contents of the accounts themselves.

In this way, even if the Grand Secretariat ultimately determined that the Ministry of Revenue was negligent in its safekeeping and needed to be held accountable.

Compared to the major crime of unclear accounts and suspected embezzlement, poor safekeeping was much lighter; at most, it would result in a fine, a reprimand, and an order to rectify.

This old fox shifted the blame cleanly and neatly, even cloaking himself in the guise of a victim.

However, the problem was that Gu Chengyin was not here to pursue the secondary responsibility of poor safekeeping.

Shangguan Yuan's defense seemed reasonable but actually completely bypassed Gu Chengyin's core demand.

It merely tangled endlessly over a minor issue.

How could Gu Chengyin possibly accept such an evasive explanation?

The arguments of both sides were like two parallel lines; they seemed to be arguing about the same thing, but in reality, they were not on the same wavelength at all.

Cui Shifan saw this clearly, and his heart grew increasingly irritable.

So he cast his gaze toward Xiao Song, who was sitting opposite him.

"Grand Secretary Xiao."

Cui Shifan weighed his words and probed, "In your view, how should this matter be handled?"

He needed the opinion of Xiao Song, the Senior Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, even if it was just to provide a line of thought, it would relieve a lot of pressure.

Hearing Cui Shifan's inquiry, Xiao Song, whose eyes had been half-closed as if his mind was wandering beyond the heavens, slowly opened a slit in his eyes.

In those cloudy old eyes, a sharp light that saw through the ways of the world flashed, as if he had long seen through the essence of this dispute.

He did not answer immediately; his gaze lingered for a moment on the Crown Prince's token in front of Gu Chengyin.

It then slowly swept over Shangguan Yuan's bruised eye socket, before finally landing on Cui Shifan's face.

"This matter..."

"It's not up to me to decide."

"It's not up to you, either."

"Only His Majesty has the final say."

After saying these few short words, Xiao Song closed his eyelids again, returning to his drowsy appearance.

However, these words plunged everyone present into deep thought.

Only His Majesty has the final say.

What did this mean?!

Was it implying that this matter had exceeded the scope of the Grand Secretariat and required His Majesty's personal ruling?

Or did Xiao Song see that this matter could not be resolved peacefully, and simply kicked the ball to Emperor Luo, letting the highest decision-maker bear the responsibility and potential consequences?

Cui Shifan's brows furrowed even tighter.

Reaching the ears of the Emperor.

This meant that the Grand Secretariat's initiative would be greatly weakened, and it also meant that the matter would be completely publicized, leaving no room for maneuvering.

This ran entirely counter to his initial idea of trying to smooth things over.

But he also had to admit that, facing someone like Gu Chengyin, who was impervious to reason and held high the banner of the Crown Prince.

And Shangguan Yuan's evasive defense, the conventional methods of the Grand Secretariat had indeed failed.

Did they really have to disturb His Majesty?

Just as the council hall fell into an even deeper silence.

Tap, tap, tap.

The sound of unhurried footsteps approached from the corridor outside the door.

Everyone in the hall unanimously turned their gazes toward the door.

A subordinate official of the Grand Secretariat rushed in first, reporting urgently and rapidly:

"R-reporting to all Your Excellencies... Eunuch Lyu Fang has arrived!"

Before his voice had faded, a crimson figure had already appeared at the door of the council hall.

Lyu Fang.

He was still wearing his signature crimson python robe. His pale, beardless face bore his customary gentle smile, and his eyes were calm and placid, as if he were just dropping by for a visit.

But just standing there, he naturally brought an aura of imperial authority into this already solemn council hall.

Lyu Fang stepped slowly into the hall. His gaze first lingered for a moment on Gu Chengyin and the Crown Prince's token.

Then it swept over the Grand Secretaries present, before finally landing on Shangguan Yuan, his eyes devoid of any ripples.

Standing still and facing the crowd, he skipped any unnecessary pleasantries and spoke directly:

"An imperial edict."

These few simple words exploded like thunder.

Clatter.

Aside from Gu Chengyin, the three Grand Secretaries all sprang up from their seats as if by reflex!