Light incense threads like thin clouds curled up from behind the sandalwood desk. After the managing eunuchs had secretly raised their arms countless times to wipe the cold sweat from their foreheads, they finally heard Wen Yu, seated above, speak: “The account books the eunuchs sent over—why does this palace see so many miscalculations?”

The lead managing eunuch forced a smile on his face: “These account books… were previously reviewed by the Empress Dowager…”

Before his words fell, he heard a cold rebuke like shattering jade: “Presumptuous!”

The managing eunuch looked up in alarm. Seeing Wen Yu’s face full of dignified authority with hints of anger, yet still stunningly beautiful like celestial jade, his heart pounded wildly. Not knowing whether from shock or fear, when he came back to his senses, his forehead had already “thunked” against the ground, his mouth ceaselessly repeating: “This slave deserves death, this slave deserves death…”

Wen Yu said coldly: “You all used your official positions for private gain, lined your own pockets, falsified accounts, yet still dare to implicate the Empress Dowager?”

The several managing eunuchs were scared nearly out of their wits, hastily begging for mercy: “This slave didn’t, how would this slave dare…”

The palace accounts had always been managed by the Empress Dowager. When Wen Yu took charge of organizing the Mid-Autumn banquet, several managing eunuchs from the Internal Affairs Bureau had received hints from Lingxi Palace and caused her plenty of trouble while she prepared the palace banquet. Either the imperial wine from this year’s tribute that Wen Yu had specified was all gone, or the newly purchased silk and satin were inferior goods that simply couldn’t be used at the palace banquet.

The Mid-Autumn banquet was just days away. Originally thinking this Great Liang Princess should be frantically busy at this time, who could have expected she would suddenly set aside the palace banquet matter and thoroughly investigate the Internal Affairs Bureau accounts of the Chen Prince’s palace from recent years?

Many items purchased for the palace were all bought from the Jiang family’s business chain. The profits were skimmed layer by layer, and what piled up in the Internal Affairs Bureau account books were rotting accounts one after another.

The court practiced frugality every year, and new policies were implemented for tax collection everywhere, yet the national treasury still ran deficits year after year. Every year-end when the Ministry of Finance audited accounts, the court officials could argue until their faces turned red and necks grew thick in the great hall.

Everyone knew what the current situation in Chen Kingdom was like and understood what those rotten accounts meant, but no one dared raise objections, much less conduct a thorough investigation.

These several boxes of account books from the Internal Affairs Bureau were forcibly moved back when Wen Yu, using the pretext that items designated for the palace banquet had been stolen, ordered people to search the Internal Affairs Bureau and break into the accounting room.

When the several managing eunuchs came to Zhaohua Palace, knowing disaster loomed, they brought up the Empress Dowager Jiang’s name, originally thinking Wen Yu would have some misgivings. After all, all this was tacitly permitted by Empress Dowager Jiang. Investigating the Internal Affairs Bureau accounts meant investigating the Empress Dowager’s private treasury and the Jiang family’s external relatives.

Throughout the court and countryside, even those old ministers who prided themselves as pillars of the state didn’t dare clash head-on with the Empress Dowager and the Jiang family.

With what would she, a new Queen Consort who had just arrived in Chen lands with an unstable foundation, challenge the Empress Dowager?

But Wen Yu’s single statement that they falsified accounts and implicated the Empress Dowager changed everything.

These account records didn’t need further deep investigation—cutting it off directly at their level, they would be the masterminds who embezzled through procurement duties. Once the crime was determined, it wouldn’t be excessive to say their nine familial relations should be executed.

Moreover, if the matter got out, not only would Empress Dowager Jiang not protect them, she would go with the flow and firmly pin this crime on them.

After all, as long as these few died, the rotten accounts accumulated in the inner palace and court over these years could all be pushed onto them. A difficult problem that had troubled the Empress Dowager and Jiang family for a long time would also be resolved.

Having understood the stakes behind this, the several managing eunuchs now had cold hands and feet, trembling as they kowtowed repeatedly begging for mercy: “May Your Highness see clearly—even if given enormous courage, this slave would absolutely never dare do such head-losing deeds…”

Wen Yu continued flipping through the account book in her hands, paying no attention.

Tongque presented a cup of clear tea, placing it at Wen Yu’s left side. White mist rose from the cup’s mouth, making her features appear even more coldly aloof and hazy.

From the bronze ice chest, cool air also seeped out in wisps. The hall wasn’t stuffy, but the lead managing eunuch felt if he wrung out the robe on his body, he could wring out water.

As if an invisible blade hung over his head, he swallowed with difficulty, knowing he must take sides and show loyalty.

Betraying the Empress Dowager might mean no place to shelter in this palace henceforth.

But if he continued playing dumb and acting oblivious before Wen Yu, and she handed over these accounts while firmly stating they were responsible, the Empress Dowager and Jiang family would be only too happy to see it happen. With all the civil and military officials not daring to investigate deeply and provoke the Empress Dowager’s wrath, their lives would be immediately lost.

After weighing it again and again, the managing eunuch finally stopped merely crying and begging. After kowtowing until his forehead bled, he pledged loyalty to Wen Yu: “We few in this palace are rootless duckweed. Whatever those above instruct, we do… Many times, we also have no choice. If Your Highness will mercifully spare our lives, then henceforth we will have only Your Highness as our master and will absolutely devote ourselves utterly to Your Highness! Please give us lowly ones a chance to reform!”

Wen Yu still didn’t speak.

The several managing eunuchs exchanged glances dripping with cold sweat, all seeing in each other’s eyes the despair of impending disaster. The lead managing eunuch, thinking of the obstacles they had created during the Mid-Autumn palace banquet preparations, hastily racked his brains to continue currying favor with Wen Yu: “The grape wine Your Highness needs for the Mid-Autumn palace banquet—this slave will definitely find a way to gather it for you…”

Tongque, standing at Wen Yu’s side, asked coldly at the appropriate moment: “Didn’t you say the Internal Affairs Bureau storeroom no longer had any, and purchasing more from neighboring vassal states wouldn’t arrive in time?”

The several managing eunuchs’ faces immediately showed embarrassment. One of them said with an obsequious smile: “The storeroom truly has none left. The remaining one hundred twenty jars were reserved early on by Chu Cui from Lingxi Palace, saying they were needed for the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet. However, there are still several months until the Empress Dowager’s birthday. This grape wine can first be prioritized for the Mid-Autumn banquet. This slave will have subordinates repurchase more and replenish it before the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet.”

After saying this, the several managing eunuchs all looked at Wen Yu with anxious expressions.

By taking the grape wine “originally intended” for the Empress Dowager and giving it to Wen Yu first, they were essentially betting everything, offending the Empress Dowager for Wen Yu’s sake. Henceforth, they would have to completely rely on Wen Yu to find a way to survive in the palace.

After all, the Empress Dowager would not tolerate traitors.

But Wen Yu still showed no intention of speaking. Instead, Tongque standing behind her asked with crossed arms: “What about that batch of silk damask my mistress requested?”

Whether from the ice chest being too cold or the summer heat seeping in from outside being too heavy, the several managing eunuchs’ nerves had been taut the whole time. By now their heads were dizzy and aching, splitting with dull pain. Hearing this, they still immediately scrambled to say: “This slave will also find a way to obtain them before the Mid-Autumn banquet! Also the Ge kiln porcelain cups, Jianning tea tips… Everything needed for food and items at the Mid-Autumn banquet—this slave will definitely arrange everything properly!”

Tongque let out a cold snort from her nostrils, finally getting revenge for the numerous rebuffs at the Internal Affairs Bureau these past days. She looked at Wen Yu, waiting for her to state her position.

She saw Wen Yu put down the accounts in her hands. After picking up the cooled tea beside her and taking a shallow sip, only then did she say unhurriedly: “You eunuchs are all clever people.”

The several managing eunuchs hastily said “we dare not.”

Wen Yu continued: “This palace’s temperament is not particularly good, but I am most protective of my own.”

She raised her eyes slightly, her divine radiance restrained yet containing an air of looking down on others: “Whether or not you can become those this palace protects depends on whether you eunuchs are sincere.”

The several managing eunuchs who had finally waited for Wen Yu’s words were almost moved to tears of joy, hastily saying: “Whatever Your Highness can use these few slaves for, please command freely. We slaves will definitely brave boiling water and scorching fire without hesitation!”

Wen Yu’s eyes were jet black and calm, like the still night before a storm: “I want the secret account books from the Internal Affairs Bureau.”

—

After the several managing eunuchs withdrew, the palace servants clearing accounts in the hall were all dismissed as well.

Tongque couldn’t hide her excitement: “Princess, your move of pulling firewood from under the cauldron was wonderful! Grasping the life-and-death leverage of those Internal Affairs Bureau eunuchs—finally these dogs have been properly leashed!”

If they hadn’t defected to Wen Yu, and Wen Yu submitted these investigated accounts to the court, it would be enough to sentence those eunuchs to death. This would also sever one of the Empress Dowager’s arms within the palace.

Naturally, if they were clearheaded and, after seeing the situation clearly, pledged loyalty to Wen Yu to save their lives—having former confidants become someone else’s running dogs—for the Empress Dowager, this would also be a heavy blow.

Wen Yu stirred the incense threads seeping through the censer’s openings, saying: “Have the Azure Cloud Guards watch the Internal Affairs Bureau closely. If the Empress Dowager learns those eunuchs have defected to me, to protect the secret transactions between the Internal Affairs Bureau and the Jiang family, she absolutely cannot let them live.”

The secret account books she wanted were the true ledgers of the Internal Affairs Bureau eunuchs using procurement as a pretext to purchase all palace items from the Jiang family’s business chain.

A bolt of silk might have a market price of only two taels of silver, but in the account books the Internal Affairs Bureau reported to the palace, it would be at least twenty taels per bolt.

Of the eighteen taels of silver embezzled in between, a small portion would become oil and water in the managing eunuchs’ money pouches, while the bulk flowed to Lingxi Palace and the Jiang family.

Tongque knew the Mid-Autumn banquet was imminent. If those managing eunuchs died, the new eunuchs elevated to replace them might not handle affairs as capably, and Wen Yu would inevitably continue to be troubled. She said: “Sister Zhaobai acts steadily. When she personally goes to retrieve the account books, she will definitely arrange everything properly.”

Only then did Wen Yu prop up her forehead and close her eyes for a brief rest on the couch.

Before long, an Azure Cloud female guard walked quickly toward the inner hall: “Princess, Imperial Physician Fang has been taken away by the Chen Prince’s people!”

Wen Yu, who had been resting with closed eyes, suddenly opened them and asked: “What happened?”

After Imperial Physician Fang worked for her, to prevent Empress Dowager Jiang from secretly assassinating him, Wen Yu had always ordered people to secretly protect him. She had been in the palace for many days now, and nothing had happened at the Imperial Medical Bureau—yet today, so coincidentally, right after she met with the several managing eunuchs from the Internal Affairs Bureau, the Chen Prince’s side summoned Imperial Physician Fang.

No matter how one looked at it, this was the Empress Dowager wanting to give the managing eunuchs of the Internal Affairs Bureau a warning:

—If she couldn’t protect Imperial Physician Fang, naturally she couldn’t protect those Internal Affairs Bureau people in the future either.

That Azure Cloud female guard said: “The Chen Prince suddenly claimed to be unwell. A eunuch from his palace specifically named Imperial Physician Fang to go treat him, but the physicians who usually diagnose the Chen Prince all reside directly in Zhanghua Hall and are not at the Imperial Medical Bureau.”

Tongque’s mind was now turning rapidly. Vaguely understanding that the Empress Dowager and Chen Prince’s side might want to use Imperial Physician Fang to make an example of him to warn others, she hastily asked: “How many people currently know about this?”

That Azure Cloud female guard answered: “The Chen Prince’s people just went to the Imperial Medical Bureau when our people sent back the message. If we hadn’t been intentionally watching the Imperial Medical Bureau, not many people in the palace should know about this matter yet.”

Tongque breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Wen Yu: “Princess, we should find a way to first block the news from the Internal Affairs Bureau…”

But Wen Yu said: “Since the Empress Dowager set up this trap to intimidate those Internal Affairs Bureau people, the Internal Affairs Bureau will definitely know about this before we do.”

Tongque looked at the time, her face showing even greater anxiety. Zhaobai had gone to the Internal Affairs Bureau for so long without returning—retrieving the account books must not be going smoothly.

She looked at Wen Yu: “Princess, then what do we do now?”

Wen Yu rose from the soft couch, saying: “Help me change clothes. We’re going to Zhanghua Hall.”