Chapter 67: Growing Stronger, Reaching New Heights of Glory

Office of Transmission Administrator Xu Jingchang, leading a thousand tax constables in a grand and imposing manner, marched straight for the Prince of Han's Mansion... The news spread with the speed of a winged bird.

Everyone already knew that the Prince of Han had been dodging and evading taxes, and even that the Ministry of Punishments intended to prosecute him was no secret.

After all, secrets do not exist within the imperial court; this was an accepted fact.

However, the confrontation between Xu Jingchang and the Three Judicial Offices had transpired so swiftly that those lacking diligence were unaware of the specific details... For instance, Prince Consort Wang Ning.

In the past, he had served as the vanguard under the Prince of Han's command, but as the Prince of Han rapidly fell out of favor, Wang Ning found himself in an awkward position. Subsequently, his attempt to seize the landed estates of fellow Prince Consort Mei Yin left him in a miserable state orchestrated by Xu Jingchang's civilian gazette.

Wang Ning had remained in seclusion for some days now.

When he suddenly heard that Xu Jingchang was descending upon the Prince of Han's Mansion, and realizing his own residence was separated from Zhu Gaoxu's by merely a single street—facing each other from afar—

Wang Ning rushed to his courtyard gate and looked outside, catching sight of soldiers gleaming in armor and bright helmets.

He even spotted the grand and imposing Marquis of Jing'an, Wang Zhong, alongside Zheng Ci, the Minister of Punishments.

It is over!

The Prince of Han has completely collapsed.

That grandson Xu Jingchang truly strikes with ruthless cruelty!

The Prince of Han has fallen so swiftly.

Such is the merciless nature of the imperial family: brothers turning against one another, father and son slaughtering each other... Yet, upon reflection, it was nothing new. Over the past four years, first Zhu Yunwen had destroyed several of his uncles, only to be overthrown by his fourth uncle, Zhu Di.

Could it be that the grand drama of the Great Ming was shifting from a struggle between uncle and nephew to a grand tragedy of father and son?

The more Wang Ning thought, the more terrified he became. He had deeply entangled himself with the Prince of Han and had even visited Xu Jingchang's home back then; how could that brat possibly let him go?

No, I must save myself!

What should I do?

Wang Ning suddenly recalled that during the recent Lunar New Year, Zhu Gaoxu had bestowed upon him numerous gifts, including gold, silver, and currency, as well as silk and furs—all valuable treasures.

If he kept them in his home, would they be treated as illicit spoils of corruption?

Should Xu Jingchang seize upon this handle against him, he would be utterly doomed.

With no other choice, he could only betray his friend and launch a counterattack.

"Quickly, bring out every single gift the Prince of Han gave me!"

Wang Ning had his men load fully ten chests onto carriages.

The estate steward looked on with profound anguish.

"Master, these are all valuable treasures. Where on earth are you taking them?"

A flash of reluctance crossed Wang Ning's eyes before he hardened his resolve. "Stop talking nonsense and follow me!"

Accompanied by his family and hauling Zhu Gaoxu's gifts, he marched out of his estate in a grand procession, heading straight for Zhu Gaoxu's residence.

At that moment, the tax constables of the Office of Transmission Administrators were in the midst of moving things out.

Gold, silver, and silks from the Prince of Han's Mansion, all manner of treasures, and even several thousand-work carved alcove beds were being hauled out... Witnessing this scene, Wang Ning's vision went dark.

It is over!

It is completely over!

Zhu Gaoxu has fallen.

Thinking to this point, he threw caution to the wind and charged straight inside.

"Administrator Xu, I wish to denounce the Prince of Han! I have evidence!"

He roared at the top of his lungs, parting the crowd of tax constables, and burst all the way through.

Yet, upon running inside, the atmosphere felt somewhat abnormal. Xu Jingchang and the Prince of Han, Zhu Gaoxu, stood side by side, smiles gracing both of their faces as they chatted happily.

Even the Marquis of Jing'an, Wang Zhong, and the Minister of Punishments, Zheng Ci, wore amiable expressions, conversing and laughing. When had one ever witnessed such a harmonious scene of confiscating an estate?

Shouldn't Zhu Gaoxu be bound in ropes?

This was a fierce tiger!

While Wang Ning stood frozen in stupefaction, the gazes of several individuals landed upon him.

Xu Jingchang smiled and said, "Prince Consort Wang, what was that you were shouting just now? I didn't quite catch it."

Startled, Wang Ning stammered, "I, I said the Prince of Han gave me ten carts of gifts, and I wish to present them to the court as evidence."

"Evidence? What evidence? You mean the fine, right? Are you here to help the Prince of Han pay his fine?" Xu Jingchang asked with a frown.

Wang Ning was utterly dizzy and disoriented. "A fine? Administrator Xu, y-you aren't here to arrest the Prince of Han?"

Xu Jingchang chuckled. "The Prince of Han profited approximately two hundred thousand taels. Taxed at twenty percent, he owes forty thousand taels, plus a triple fine of one hundred and twenty thousand taels, making a total of one hundred and sixty thousand taels. As long as the money is paid in full, there is nothing else."

Wang Ning was utterly dumbfounded. They just wanted money?

Why make such a massive, thunderous spectacle of it?

And why haul out these thousand-work carved alcove beds, chairs, and benches?

To claim this wasn't an estate confiscation was sheer deception!

Zhu Gaoxu gave a light cough. "All my funds were tied up in money lending, leaving my household short on cash. These pieces of furniture are old items left behind by the former residence, so I simply handed them over to Administrator Xu to settle the debt... Prince Consort Wang, are you carrying gifts here to help me pay off my debts?"

Wang Ning was struck speechless, his entire being falling apart.

If this wasn't an estate confiscation, why create such a tremendous commotion?

It had completely ruined his calculations. After freezing for a moment, Wang Ning could only manage, "Y-Yes, indeed. I am here to help the Prince of Han settle his debt. The Prince of Han has had a difficult time; I ask that the Prince accept this."

With a thoughtful expression, Zhu Gaoxu cast a meaningful glance at Wang Ning before addressing Xu Jingchang, "Administrator Xu, do you reckon these gifts can be discounted toward the fine?"

Xu Jingchang smiled and nodded. "Certainly. We might as well load everything onto the carriages, carry whatever can be lifted... Circle the city of Yingtian, beat the gongs and drums, and inform all officials and commoners that the Prince of Han has paid his arrears on loan interest taxes and fines, totaling one hundred and sixty thousand taels. Even a prince who breaks the law is punished the same as a commoner. Whoever dares to ignore the tax law and evade taxes shall face the merciless sway of state law!"

With that, Xu Jingchang nodded to Wang Zhong. The Marquis of Jing'an immediately led the tax constables, hauling the property and furniture removed from the Prince of Han's Mansion amid the clamor of gongs, drums, and wind instruments. They headed first toward the Jubao Gate, then circled the entirety of Yingtian, before finally proceeding to the Ministry of Revenue to be entered into the imperial treasury...

The entire procession shook the heavens with gongs and drums, and some even set off firecrackers that exploded intermittently... Anyone who knew better understood the Prince of Han had been fined and was being paraded through the streets of Yingtian; those who didn't would have thought the Prince of Han, Zhu Gaoxu, was taking a bride and delivering betrothal gifts!

Was this supposed to be a punishment or a reward?

It was utterly impossible to make sense of it.

Wherever the procession passed, it immediately sparked heated discussions.

Zhu Gaoxu was right there amongst the crowd, holding brush and ink, recording observations from time to time. There was no help for it; his assignment had come down, and the civilian gazette under his charge had to ramp up its efforts and vigorously propagate the event.

If the results were poor, no one else needed to act—his second elder brother would skin him alive.

Having spent so much money without producing promotional results, he would have no way to answer for it.

The entire procession was immensely vast, stretching over ten miles from front to back, truly resembling a grand royal tour.

As they passed the estates of the titled nobility, Duke of Qi Qiu Fu, Duke of Cheng Zhu Neng, and various other nobles residing in the capital, even Li Jinglong emerged.

"What in the mother's name is going on here?" Qiu Fu cursed aloud.

Not long after, his steward returned and reported to Qiu Fu, "The Prince of Han engaged in money lending and tax evasion, resulting in heavy penalties from the court. These things were all hauled out of the prince's mansion to be paraded through the streets as a warning to others. The Prince of Han has suffered a massive loss this time."

Qiu Fu rolled his eyes. "You call this suffering a massive loss? Look at them, beaming with joy! They weren't even this happy during the Lunar New Year! By the way... what on earth are they so happy about?"

Indeed, what were they celebrating?

Qiu Fu spotted Zhu Neng not far away and immediately called him over, demanding, "I say, Duke of Cheng, your boy serves as a thousand-household officer in the Office of Transmission Administrators; there's no way you don't know what's happening."

Zhu Neng's expression was unsightly as he gave a cold huff. "Old Qiu, is your neck harder than the Prince of Han's?"

Qiu Fu was baffled. "What do you mean?"

"What do I mean? Even the Prince of Han couldn't escape this; can we possibly be exceptions? Take a good look around your own household to see if there are any money-lending operations left, or the next one hauled out will be us!"

"Ah!" Qiu Fu let out a strange cry, his eyes wide with fury, grinding his teeth in bitter hatred. "Who is it? Who stirred this up? If I find out who it is, I'll crush his skull!"

Zhu Neng sneered, "Old brother, do you have any idea of your own weight?"

Qiu Fu froze for a moment before suddenly asking, "Could it be Xu Jingchang?"

At that moment, Li Jinglong ambled over with a beaming smile. "You mustn't wrong Administrator Xu like that. I just heard that it was sentenced by Zheng Ci, the Minister of Punishments... Tsk tsk, that man is truly a great loyal minister and a fierce warrior!"

Hearing this, Qiu Fu's face turned as dark as charcoal. *If I can't finish off Xu Jingchang, I'll surely finish off you, Zheng Ci. Let's wait and see!*

Wherever the grand procession walked, it left a wave of commotion in its wake.

Upon hearing that even the Prince of Han had paid his taxes and fines, ordinary commoners naturally rejoiced, praising the state law as strict and impartial and proclaiming the Emperor as wise.

However, those possessing even a modicum of wealth—whether civil and military officials or wealthy merchants and nobility—felt dark clouds gathering overhead and trembled with anxiety.

A major crisis was about to descend.

Zhu Zhengci, from this day forth, the scholarly circles of Great Ming will hold no place for you!

Returning the focus to the Prince of Han's Mansion, it took Wang Ning quite a while to finally comprehend what had transpired, and he felt like slapping his own face.

He had actually considered coming here to denounce the Prince of Han, failing to realize the man had become the prime exemplar of promoting tax law.

To have his name broadcasted far and wide like this—how could such renown ever be bought with ten thousand gold?

He subconsciously sized up Zhu Gaoxu, wondering if this fellow was about to stage a miraculous comeback.

Would he harbor a grudge against him because he had just declared an intention to denounce him?

This was terrible! He had brought money here on a silver platter only to reap zero goodwill; wasn't this acting like a complete fool?

He stealthily peeked at Zhu Gaoxu, only to find that Zhu Gaoxu couldn't care less about him, instead engaging in an enthusiastic and heated conversation with Xu Jingchang.

"Your Highness the Prince of Han, having lost so much money this time, surely your heart doesn't ache?"

Zhu Gaoxu laughed heartily. "It's nothing. Had it not been for my cousin's guidance, I fear I would have lost even more. Besides, wealth scattered will return once more; it's nothing remarkable. Money? Once it's gone, it can always be earned back!"

"Hahaha! Well said! Like a true imperial prince, possessing the grand demeanor of a great general! How about this: I plan to invest one million taels, and together we shall expand and grow, creating new brilliance!"

Wang Ning was even more stupefied. Having surrendered over one hundred thousand taels, he had instead unlocked an investment of one million! It turned out Zhu Gaoxu wouldn't even suffer a net loss of funds!

"Prince of Han, I, I also wish to go into business with you. I beg the Prince to grant permission."

Zhu Gaoxu replied coldly, "There is no need. My commercial association intends to be called the Single-Minded Commercial Association; we do not accept those of divided loyalty."