Chapter 491 - 269: This Deception of the Emperor is Too Much, There Can Be No Leniency

Chapter 491: Chapter 269: This Deception of the Emperor is Too Much, There Can Be No Leniency

The Emperor was furious. He worried his daughter would be caught in the crossfire. An old father’s heart was instantly plunged into a wok of boiling oil, all traces of his earlier composure gone.

When Meng Jiuchang saw Song Zhaoyi, it was as if he’d seen his savior. He bolted over, his mouth split in an almost frightening grin. "Zhaoyi, the Emperor is waiting for you."

Song Yunzhao’s heart skipped a beat. ’He’s waiting for me?’

Meng Jiuchang couldn’t care less about Song Zhaoyi’s mood. He immediately led her inside, personally escorting her into the inner chamber. After announcing her arrival, he beat a hasty retreat.

Song Yunzhao was left speechless.

Song Yunzhao first had her maids set down the meal box, then motioned for them to withdraw.

’Feng Yi wouldn’t take his anger out on her, but the same couldn’t be said for her attendants.’

Once her attendants had withdrawn, Song Yunzhao finally stepped forward. She looked at Feng Yi, who stood with his back to her at the window. She composed herself, put on a perfectly measured smile, and softened her voice as she slowly approached. "Your Majesty, what are you looking at? The view?"

Feng Yi recognized her familiar scent but didn’t turn. In moments, Yun Zhao was at his side. Before he could say a word, she took his hand. He heard her laugh and say, "Any view that can so captivate Your Majesty must be a beautiful one. I want to see it, too."

At the sound of Yun Zhao’s cheerful chatter, the heavy silence in the room was instantly broken. Even the gloom and fury in his heart began to subside.

He tightened his grip on her hand. "How are you not afraid?"

’Anyone who saw me like this would be afraid.’

"Why should I be afraid? It’s not as if I’ve done anything to make Your Majesty angry," Song Yunzhao said with a laugh.

"There are so many people kneeling outside, and your father is one of them. You’re not afraid?"

"If they’re kneeling, they must have done something wrong. To anger Your Majesty and only be made to kneel is a sign of Your Majesty’s mercy," Song Yunzhao said firmly. "My father always said that a daughter, once married, is like water splashed from a basin. I am Your Majesty’s woman now, so I will naturally stand on your side. If my father truly did something to anger Your Majesty, I would absolutely not plead his case. I would make him kowtow and admit his guilt to you."

’Step one to putting out this fire: stand firmly in his camp. Let him know that my heart and efforts are with him.’

Sure enough, Yun Zhao saw Feng Yi’s expression soften considerably.

’Men,’ she thought with a snort. ’You always have to smooth their feathers.’

"And what if your father committed a capital offense, and I wanted his head?" Feng Yi asked, turning to look at Yun Zhao.

’Song Yunzhao resisted the urge to curse inwardly. This question was on par with "If your mother and I were drowning, who would you save?" How utterly foolish.’

But she answered without a moment’s hesitation, "If it is a capital offense, then naturally, he must be handled according to the law."

Feng Yi was left speechless.

’That’s her own father.’

"However, I know my father’s character well enough. He would never do such a thing," Song Yunzhao quickly added. "Your Majesty, you must investigate this clearly. Please don’t wrong an innocent man."

Her words gave him an out, and strangely, Feng Yi’s mood improved considerably.

It was because Yun Zhao was always on his side. She never questioned or blamed him. She always had such faith in him.

Even with her own father kneeling outside at this very moment.

Feng Yi found himself squeezing Yun Zhao’s hand.

’Song Yunzhao could sense that Feng Yi was in a truly awful mood. She had no intention of testing the Emperor’s "true love" for her right now. That would be a death wish.’

’She just wanted to lie low, bide her time, and save her father.’

"Your Majesty, did my father really make a mistake? Tell me about it, and I’ll scold him for you later to help you vent." Song Yunzhao pulled the Emperor to the dining table. She smiled as she ladled a bowl of congee for him and placed some side dishes in a small bowl. "It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it. But you can’t let the actions of others harm your health. Managing state affairs all day is so exhausting. You should eat something first. You’re the father of my child, the most important person to me. If you go hungry, I won’t be able to eat a bite."

Feng Yi immediately latched onto the most important part. "You haven’t eaten yet?"

"I wanted to eat with Your Majesty." Song Yunzhao put on an expectant look, her large eyes blinking, making her seem exceptionally pitiful.

Feng Yi couldn’t resist that look. Besides, her appetite had increased during her pregnancy, and as her belly grew, she needed four or five meals a day. Hearing she hadn’t eaten yet, he set his anger aside, making her meal the top priority.

Then he remembered what she’d called him: *the father of my child*. Feng Yi glanced at Yun Zhao, who looked so sweet and obedient. The corners of his mouth quirked up. ’Not bad at all.’

Song Yunzhao swore to herself that this was the most demure meal she had ever eaten since entering the palace. For her father’s sake, she was giving the performance of a lifetime.

Once they had nearly finished their meal, Song Yunzhao, seeing that Feng Yi’s expression had softened considerably, finally asked softly, "Your Majesty, I thought the issue with the government treasury was wrapping up? And Prince Zhenbei has returned victorious. What could have happened to make you so furious?"

Feng Yi’s anger had subsided. With a full stomach, his mood was much calmer. Hearing Yun Zhao’s question, he finally explained, "There’s a problem with the tax silver the Ministry of Revenue deposited into the treasury."

Song Yunzhao didn’t quite understand. "Was some of it missing?"

’She couldn’t imagine what else it could be.’

Missing some. As if they were merchants selling grain.

Feng Yi explained to Yun Zhao, "Any treasury silver that enters the National Treasury must be counted, and the amount must be registered and reported."

Song Yunzhao nodded. That much she understood.

"If it were entering my inner treasury, my own trusted men would oversee it, and there would be no mistakes. But when it enters the National Treasury, it’s a different story."

Song Yunzhao was shocked. "So the problem is with the silver going into the National Treasury? Who would be so audacious?"

’That’s the National Treasury we’re talking about!’

’The Ministry of Revenue is responsible for the National Treasury... No wonder Father is kneeling outside.’

A heavy weight settled in Song Yunzhao’s heart. This was indeed a life-or-death matter.

"Real gold and silver enter the treasury, and they have to be counted before being deposited. That’s where the trouble starts. Every hand the treasury silver passes through skims a layer off the top. From the top to the bottom, from high-ranking court officials to the most insignificant clerks, they’re all in it together. Their greed is insatiable, their audacity boundless. It might be a few pieces of silver here, or hundreds, even thousands, there. The scale of the embezzlement is immense."

Song Yunzhao’s vision swam. ’This is a truly deadly trap.’

’Getting Father out of this is going to be incredibly difficult!’

’But she was certain of one thing: her father was a cautious man. He would never have gotten mixed up in this. As she thought about it, she suddenly recalled the time her father had "broken his leg" and stayed home to "recover" back in the Capital City. She suspected there was something fishy about that incident as well.’

"Your Majesty," Song Yunzhao began, not realizing her own voice was trembling slightly, "the treasury silver that was skimmed from the National Treasury... is it from the recent collection of tax silver meant to replenish the coffers?"

’If that’s true, then Feng Yi has every right to be this furious.’

’Cao Dingwen is the Minister of Revenue. Whether he was involved or not, he’s inescapably responsible.’

’The Emperor himself was personally overseeing the treasury silver investigation, and yet these people still dared to act so brazenly. Their nerve is unbelievable.’

’If it were me, I’d have them all flayed alive!’

But her father was among them. Song Yunzhao carefully chose her words and tone, feigning a shared sense of outrage. "This matter must be investigated thoroughly!" she declared angrily. "Your Majesty, these people show no respect for the throne. Their deceit is an outrageous affront to you. They must not be let off lightly!"