Chapter 720 - 498: The Emperor’s Wrath

Chapter 720: Chapter 498: The Emperor’s Wrath

Xie Jinshu’s letter from the Capital City failed to reach Ling Yunhe. The attendant sent to deliver it had rushed back overnight.

"You couldn’t find Mr. Ling?" Xie Jinshu asked, surprised. "Tell me exactly what happened."

"Master, as soon as I left the Capital City, I headed straight south. But Mr. Ling was already traveling south, so I had to chase after him. I lost his trail when I got to Qingzhou City. I paid for information and heard whispers that Mr. Ling only stayed in Qingzhou City for two days before leaving. No one knows where he went."

Xie Jinshu’s expression turned grim. ’Ling Yunhe isn’t an unreliable person. He always leaves letters for me when he travels south. But to not even dare leave a letter in Qingzhou City... that means he must have run into a life-or-death situation.’

He didn’t even dare to consider whether Ling Yunhe was still alive.

’It was my fault for being so careless,’ he thought. ’Procuring grain along this route, no matter how discreetly, was bound to attract attention. Once someone with ill intentions took notice, the consequences would be unimaginable.’

Xie Jinshu didn’t dare send word to the Ling Family either. If they found out something had happened to Ling Yunhe, there was no telling what they might do.

Ling Yunhe had forcefully suppressed some trouble the Ling Family stirred up in the past, earning him the resentment of certain clan members.

If they learned he was in trouble, they would surely try to seize his assets.

Xie Jinshu couldn’t easily meddle in the Ling Family’s internal affairs. Therefore, not only could he not ask them for news of Ling Yunhe, but he also had to act as if everything was normal to prevent them from growing suspicious.

But he couldn’t just do nothing.

’Many ideas flashed through my mind, but I’m not confident I can find him without alerting anyone,’ Xie Jinshu thought. After mulling it over, he concluded that he had to inform Minister Song.

Once Xie Jinshu made his decision, he immediately sent a request for a visit to Marquis Wenxin’s Mansion. Coincidentally, Song Nanzhen had just returned home. He was rather surprised to receive Xie Jinshu’s request.

However, he had a very good impression of the young man, so he had him invited over to speak.

After meeting Xie Jinshu and learning what he and Ling Yunhe were doing, Song Nanzhen was stunned. He never imagined the two could be so audacious.

"Last year, after the new policies were implemented in the south, a significant amount of grain was collected as back taxes. There isn’t much surplus grain available on the market. His going south to procure grain, even if done secretly, was bound to infringe on the interests of local grain merchants. You two have been unbelievably reckless." Song Nanzhen’s brow furrowed.

"Uncle, we knew this would be difficult, so we were extremely careful. We never expected to lose contact with him. I am deeply concerned for Ling Yunhe’s safety, which is why I had no choice but to ask for your help. Otherwise, I would never dare to impose on you."

Xie Jinshu’s words were sincere. Song Nanzhen sighed. ’Young people are still too impulsive.’

"Go home and wait for news. I’ll send people to investigate right away."

Xie Jinshu quickly thanked him, rose, and took his leave.

Song Nanzhen first sent someone to the Ministry of Justice to inquire about any recent major cases. He then wrote a letter and dispatched a messenger to leave the city with it overnight. By the time he finished, night had completely fallen.

Before any news returned from the south, Song Nanzhen received a letter from his eldest nephew. After reading it, he was completely stunned.

’Who would have thought a simple missing person case would unravel a massive conspiracy of collusion between officials and bandits in a border city!’

Song Buran’s letter served two purposes. First, at Ling Yunhe’s request, he was to pass a message to Xie Jinshu, letting him know he was safe. Second, he needed to inform his uncle about the grain issue. He was worried the Ministry of Revenue might be involved and urged his uncle to investigate for a potential mole.

Song Nanzhen first sent someone to deliver the message to Xie Jinshu, then dispatched another to recall the messenger he had sent out earlier. He then immediately summoned his trusted subordinates to secretly investigate the officials in the Ministry of Revenue.

By the time Song Yunzhao received the news, the dust had already settled.

She first saw the Madam, who had come at the behest of her father; it was only then that she learned such an incident had occurred.

The Madam, seeing the Imperial Concubine’s troubled expression, comforted her in a low voice, "Ling Yunhe is a clever man. He made preparations as soon as he saw things were turning sour. He was fortunate, but who could have expected the incident to have such far-reaching consequences."

Song Yunzhao nodded. "Who would have thought? I never imagined the aftershocks of last year’s new policies would still be felt today."

"Yes. Once the back taxes for the new policies were collected in grain, we thought the matter was over. Who knew those people would be so greedy as to illegally resell grain at the border for exorbitant profits, and even stop others from transporting it at a fair price. If Ling Yunhe hadn’t accidentally gotten involved, this likely would have never come to light."

The Madam grew angrier as she spoke. "The soldiers at the border risk their lives to defend the cities, and for what?"

"For some officials to dare to do something so utterly depraved... In my opinion, beheading is too good for them."

"People like that should be subjected to death by a thousand cuts. Only that could quell my anger."

"It was truly a miracle that Ling Yunhe managed to survive this," Song Yunzhao said.

"Indeed. Who would have thought he’d come up with the idea of buying and shipping the grain in batches as he went? That gave him the breathing room he needed to survive."

"If he had hoarded all the grain and tried to transport it in one go, they probably wouldn’t even be able to find his body by now."

After relaying the news and visiting the two princes, the Madam took her leave of the palace. Before departing, she told Yun Zhao not to worry, assuring her that the family would handle matters on the outside.

Song Yunzhao smiled and agreed. ’Ling Yunhe was certainly lucky this time,’ she thought. ’He just happened to run into my eldest cousin, who had been ordered to the border city. If my cousin hadn’t been there, it would have been incredibly difficult for Ling Yunhe to get an audience with the Emperor or find an official to protect him.’

「A day later」

Song Yunzhao received another letter from Feng Yi. Its contents were largely the same, recounting the affair with Ling Yunhe.

In the letter, he praised Ling Yunhe for his courage and insight, and complimented her on her excellent judgment of character. He also mentioned that at least half of the officials at the border had been removed from their posts. Given the enemy’s presence, those whose crimes were less severe were given a chance to redeem themselves through meritorious service.

As for the officials whose crimes were heinous—those who secretly resold military grain and used public funds to buy civilian grain at inflated prices to line their own pockets—they were beheaded in front of the entire army to serve as a warning. Furthermore, even their families and relatives were exiled to serve in the military. Only such harsh penalties could deter such wicked behavior.

From the forceful strokes of his handwriting, Song Yunzhao could tell just how furious Feng Yi was. After reading the letter, she picked up her brush to reply.

In her reply, she offered gentle words of counsel and warm consolation, reminding him that with a great enemy at their doorstep, military matters must take precedence. She also wrote of trivial matters within the palace and about their two children, particularly amusing anecdotes about their sons’ interactions, hoping it would lift Feng Yi’s spirits.

The grain Ling Yunhe had transported bought the Ministry of Revenue time to gather and dispatch another shipment of provisions to the border city. At the same time, the war against Beiming at the border was reaching a critical point.

And as the new year turned, the matter of this year’s imperial selection was brought to the forefront.

Consort Shu came to discuss the matter with Song Yunzhao. "According to precedent, the Emperor should be the one to issue the decree for this," she began, "but with His Majesty away on campaign, the decision falls to those of us in the palace." She let out a cold sneer. "They went straight to the Empress Dowager, you know. They’re afraid you, the Imperial Concubine, would try to stop it."