This year, the capital had exceptionally heavy rainfall, both stuffy and hot.

On the main streets, citizens holding umbrellas or wearing rain capes hurried along. Shop business was slow, and clerks squatted watching the rain, enjoying the rare quiet in the bustling capital marketplace.

The shop clerk even felt a bit regretful that he wasn’t as learned and talented as the scholars in the teahouse across the street—otherwise he could compose a poem or something to express his feelings.

But soon this tranquility was broken. Hoofbeats splashed up water as a squad of imperial guards galloped by. They wore rain cloths and bamboo hats, but neither the rain cloths nor the rainwater could hide the python patterns flashing on their robes or the swords at their waists.

Dragon Robed Guards.

The shop clerk quickly stood up. Even though he was indoors, he couldn’t help but step backward.

Although Jingzhou scholars had previously praised the Dragon Robed Guards, these soldiers who appeared unpredictably and could break into the homes of high officials and nobles still made everyone afraid.

Afraid yet curious.

After the Dragon Robed Guards galloped past, the shop clerk eagerly leaned out to look, not minding the rain hitting his face.

Who was the unlucky one being arrested this time?

On the second floor across the street, the scholars who had been writing poetry also stopped and stood by the windows, watching the Dragon Robed Guards galloping through the rain.

“It seems the Xiangzhou summer flood case definitely won’t be handled perfunctorily,” one scholar said.

“With the Vice Minister of Revenue personally stepping forward, who can escape?” another scholar sighed softly. “Why is Vice Minister Du doing this? Is he dissatisfied with his share of the benefits? Dragging everyone down to die with him?”

The uproar caused by a Hanlin Academy compiler crying out for justice for his friend in court had not yet dispersed when the Vice Minister of Revenue stepped forward in court, asking the Empress to examine the annual account books for the Xiangzhou summer floods. He even said it should be done quickly to prevent the account books from being altered or destroyed. This immediately caused an uproar in court.

The Empress immediately ordered the Dragon Robed Guards to surround the Ministry of Revenue. She also said something about establishing a Guard Division separate from the City Defense Bureau to manage the Dragon Robed Guards, and set up official positions. That Commander Ding became the Commissioner, and that Hanlin Academy compiler Zhu Yong, though still in Jingzhou and not yet returned, was also reassigned as Vice Commissioner, and so on. At the time, everyone was shocked by Vice Minister Du’s behavior, and then focused on the Ministry of Revenue, having no time to pay attention to the Guard Division or anything like that.

After all, they were all the Empress’s private army—changing the title wouldn’t help.

Problems with the account books were quickly discovered. After the Xiangzhou summer flood relief funds were skimmed layer by layer from top to bottom, there actually wasn’t much money left. So water channels and dikes that could have been properly built in one go could only be repaired year after year, and everyone up and down was happy with this arrangement—that way they could continue dividing the money.

The Empress was furious. The Dragon Robed Guards began arresting people, and the first one arrested was Vice Minister Du.

Vice Minister Du should be considered as having voluntarily surrendered. Not only had he exposed these account books in court, but without waiting for the Dragon Robed Guards to raid his home, he voluntarily handed over private correspondence with others.

With both testimony and physical evidence present, even Grand Tutor Deng Yi could only remain silent.

Ministry of Revenue officials were arrested one after another, each implicating another. Next, Xiangzhou wouldn’t escape either. The newly appointed Guard Division Vice Commissioner Zhu Yong, who hadn’t yet returned to the capital, had already rushed from Jingzhou directly to Xiangzhou with the Dragon Robed Guards. One could imagine that blood and carnage would sweep through there as well. The newly established Guard Division’s prison cells were already insufficient.

This matter shocked all the civil and military officials.

Of course, they weren’t shocked by the embezzlement and misappropriation of flood control funds. Very little of the amounts allocated by the court were actually fully implemented, and corruption was common. Which of these court officials dared say they were completely clean?

What shocked them was: what madness had possessed Vice Minister Du? Clearly he himself was involved—why did he insist on seeking his own death?

Some went to ask Vice Minister Du in prison. Vice Minister Du insisted he had suddenly repented, wanted to be a clean and honest person, and was willing to accept punishment for what he had done.

Listen to those words—if that wasn’t madness, what could it be?

“He’s not mad,” Chu Zhao said softly. “He’s desperate.”

She didn’t understand this matter at first either, but she knew Vice Minister Du wasn’t trying to show loyalty to her.

Chu Zhao examined the register the Dragon Robed Guards had submitted—this was a record specifically investigating officials’ private affairs. “Once at a banquet at Deng Yi’s home, two people exchanged cold remarks over their children’s marriage arrangement. One of them was the father of Ministry of Revenue Principal Clerk Tian Lin, the other was Vice Minister Du’s father—”

From this, she had Ding Dachui investigate carefully. Finally, they learned that the Tian family had once discussed marriage with the Du family—specifically between Master Tian’s son and Vice Minister Du’s youngest daughter. But the Tian family’s young master was worthless, and Vice Minister Du wasn’t impressed, which angered the Tian family.

Last year, Miss Du encountered a horse that bolted during an outing. She fell and broke her leg, becoming lame. The marriage arrangement that had been set was also canceled.

“Did the Tian family do it?” Chu Zhao asked.

Attendant Yin said, “Before Miss Du’s horse bolted, she had encountered Master Tian, but there’s no proof.”

“Although Tian Lin’s official rank is lower than Vice Minister Du’s,” Ding Dachui said, “the Tian family has greater standing than the Du family, and Tian Lin has a closer relationship with the Grand Tutor.”

“Tian Lin probably also threatened him with Vice Minister Du’s corruption,” Attendant Yin said, flipping through the records in his hand. “The Du family’s carriage driver said he once heard Tian Lin and Vice Minister Du arguing by the carriage, mentioning dividing money. The two parted on bad terms.”

So Vice Minister Du saw his daughter’s life ruined, but because the Tian family had greater standing and he himself wasn’t upright, he had no way to take revenge and no way to escape Tian Lin’s harassment.

“If he reported it to Deng Yi, Deng Yi wouldn’t truly punish Tian Lin for his sake,” Attendant Yin said with a smile. “Tian Lin gives Deng Yi much more money than Vice Minister Du does. How could the Grand Tutor abandon the Tian family over matters between children? Even if Tian Lin’s position were removed, the Tian family wouldn’t be ruined by that. Instead, Vice Minister Du would invite even fiercer retaliation from the Tian family—”

A’Le, who had been listening the whole time, suddenly understood. “So Your Majesty, you’re the best enforcer in Vice Minister Du’s eyes.”

Chu Zhao laughed. Whatever it was, being an enforcer didn’t matter. She tossed the register onto the table. She wouldn’t question Vice Minister Du’s heart—she would only question this matter.

This matter, she absolutely could not ignore.

“Vice Minister Du said in prison that he deserves death, and only asks to atone for his crimes in exchange for his family not being implicated,” Attendant Yin said.

So he wasn’t mad after all—he was still seeking a way out for survival. Chu Zhao said, “Investigate thoroughly. Leave not one person. Every bit of money they swallowed, they’ll spit it all back out to me.”

There were plenty of places that needed money.

The Xiangzhou summer floods had to be resolved, and the border regions’ military expenses were also extremely costly.

When Ding Dachui and Attendant Yin took their leave, dusk had enveloped the imperial city. Chu Zhao didn’t wait in the palace for Xiao Yu to finish his studies, but had the imperial kitchen prepare dinner and brought it to the front hall.

Since the Zheng Xia case, Chu Zhao and Deng Yi hadn’t met alone for two months.

When Chu Zhao arrived, she saw the Grand Tutor’s hall was empty, with no crowds of officials.

She knew Deng Yi must have dismissed them.

The imperial guards in the outer hall were under Deng Yi’s control—the news of the Empress’s arrival must have been known in advance.

“I thought I could hear what everyone had to say about the Xiangzhou summer flood fund case,” Chu Zhao said directly.

Deng Yi sat behind his desk with a half-smile. “Everyone is worried about being seen by Your Majesty and arrested as accomplices.”

Actually, Deng Yi had often spoken to her like this before, but back then his eyes were gentle and sometimes even held laughter.

But now his eyes were cold.

Chu Zhao paused slightly and said, “As long as they haven’t committed crimes, I won’t arrest them.”

Without waiting for Deng Yi to speak again, she walked straight over and sat down, sighing softly.

“Grand Tutor, let’s set this matter aside first,” she said. “Let’s have a proper conversation.”

Deng Yi looked at her and smiled. “Your Majesty has never actually been one for proper conversations.”

……

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