Dong Biquan had failed in his dealings, and with His Majesty having loyal supporters, there would surely be those speaking for him. His Majesty knew well the size of the deficit in the Ministry of Revenue – it couldn’t be investigated. Once investigated, the unexplained disappearance of large sums could be pinned on Dong Biquan.

But an empty treasury would cause panic among court officials and common people alike – a crime that would shake the nation’s foundation. If foreign tribes learned of this, it could trigger warfare. Wasn’t that why His Majesty had to faint from anger amid the unanimous outcry?

This would first help him avoid the ministers’ counsel, and then…

“Elder Brother, you’ve been too rash this time.” In Prince Xin’s mansion, Xiao Langying looked disapprovingly at Xiao Langqin in his plain white attire.

After the autumn grain was stolen, His Majesty had sent him to investigate secretly. He never imagined his investigation would lead to his own elder brother – the withheld military funds and the stolen autumn grain had all been orchestrated by Xiao Langqin.

“You can report to His Majesty that I’m responsible,” Xiao Langqin watered the flowers and plants in the courtyard, appearing as casual as if discussing something trivial.

Xiao Langying’s expression darkened. He truly despised his brother like this – that spirited, passionate brother was gone. He had become bland, silent, and lifeless. Especially now as he watered flowers, he looked exactly like his former fifth sister-in-law.

The same indifference, the same disregard for anything and anyone.

Creating such an enormous mess yet remaining unconcerned, unafraid even of death – it was infuriating!

“Elder Brother, do you realize what unimaginable consequences will follow if the Ministry of Revenue is investigated?” Xiao Langying strode before Xiao Langqin, his eyes mixing reproach, blame, and deep concern.

“I merely want everyone to see our Emperor’s hypocritical face,” Xiao Langqin didn’t look up, gazing tenderly at an orchid before him. “What consequences could there be?”

“Elder Brother, don’t you understand what an empty treasury means? This isn’t just about His Majesty’s face – it affects the common people, soldiers, and foreign relations!” Xiao Langying felt for the first time that his brother had gone mad. “One misstep could shake the realm, trigger warfare, and leave people destitute!”

Xiao Langqin laughed softly: “Brother, why is the treasury empty?”

Xiao Langying remained silent.

“It’s the private army. These years have been peaceful and prosperous, with good harvests. His Majesty never increased taxes – shouldn’t the treasury be abundant?” Xiao Langqin paused, raising his eyes to look calmly at his brother. “If the accounts weren’t so ugly, His Majesty wouldn’t be feigning illness to avoid them.

Therefore, the private army wasn’t built in just the past two years – it must have long been formed, a sword waiting to be drawn.

If His Majesty is willing to admit it, he has plenty of reasons to reveal his private army as reinforcement for the imperial forces. Would foreign tribes dare move then? Though I hate His Majesty, I haven’t lost my humanity – how could I allow foreigners to bully our people and seize our Great Xing’s territory?”

Yes, this move only targeted His Majesty. If he would admit it and bring the private army into the open, everything could be resolved.

But putting the private army in the open, regardless of his excuse, would damage his reputation.

Moreover, once the private army was officially recognized, who would control it? Who would command it? It wouldn’t be His Majesty’s decision alone. Even the rewards and pay wouldn’t withstand scrutiny. If frontier soldiers learned that this army, which had done nothing, received better treatment than those who guarded cities day and night through wind and rain, blade and blood, His Majesty would completely lose the military’s heart.

If the soldiers were dissatisfied, they would surely challenge the private army. If they won, fine, but if they lost, His Majesty would have to disband this private army and perhaps even issue an edict of self-blame for emptying the treasury to maintain them, just to quell the anger!

The private army was His Majesty’s greatest trump card. No one knew who commanded it or its true size. Destroying this shield would take half His Majesty’s life.

Xiao Langying felt deeply troubled: “Elder Brother, must it be this way?”

Xiao Langqin’s eyes were calm but determined: “It must.”

“Elder Brother… he is our father,” Xiao Langying said softly.

“Hehe…” Xiao Langqin laughed lightly. “He is my father, and whatever he does to me is fine, but he cannot break his word to me. He cannot use the life and death of my beloved to deceive me.

If that day he had been willing to show mercy to the Gu family, even if just exiling Minister Gu’s family of three thousand li as criminals, I could have accepted it.

But he didn’t. He broke his promise.”

Because of his broken promise, he lost his beloved and his flesh and blood.

He could have been a father too, but his father had destroyed his faith and what little tenderness remained in his heart.

The incompatibility between noble families and imperial power – he hadn’t been naive enough to think he could protect both sides alone. There had to be a winner and a loser. His Majesty shouldn’t have given him hope. If from the beginning His Majesty hadn’t promised to spare the Gu family, he wouldn’t have had any expectations.

He wouldn’t have hated His Majesty either, only fate for being born into the imperial family while she was born into a noble house.

He wouldn’t have killed so desperately for His Majesty, nor would he have gone mad from Qingqing’s coldness under extreme mental pressure, doing many regrettable things that gradually drove them apart.

If His Majesty had told him from the start that if the Gu family fell, their fate would be complete annihilation.

He would have accepted fate, and done his best to mediate, and even if they still failed, at least he would have had more time with her. She wouldn’t have left him so cruelly.

Now looking back, his heart was full of regret. He had worked tirelessly in the shadows for His Majesty, staying out of the open and hidden conflicts between His Majesty and Minister Gu, only hoping that after the outcome was decided, His Majesty would keep his promise.

Had he known His Majesty never intended to show mercy, he wouldn’t have been constantly away after their marriage, sometimes not seeing her for half a month or a month. He would have stayed in the prince’s mansion, talking with her, growing flowers, drinking tea.

Even if she ignored him, it would have been fine – he could have spoken to her.

Now in retrospect, at least he would have had beautiful memories to sustain him…

Now, he had nothing, nothing at all…

Xiao Langying stepped back involuntarily, stung by the increasingly cold light in his brother’s eyes.

“This matter is no longer in my control,” Xiao Langqin looked away. “Someone stole the autumn grain from my hands. Though I also intended to frame Dong Biquan and use the Ministry of Revenue to drag down His Majesty, he has different intentions.”

“Who is he?” Xiao Langying knew someone had interfered, and Xiao Langqin had later refrained from pursuit, instead withdrawing at the right moment to wait for developments.

Xiao Langqin’s gaze grew deep, and after thinking for a moment, he shook his head gently: “I’m not certain either.”

“Then what will he do?” Xiao Langying considered whether to report to His Majesty.

“Don’t worry. Though I’m not sure of his identity, he’s more moderate than I am.”