Protect Our Chief

"Even if the accounts are meticulously done, the Three Talents Department just needs to scrutinize the scale of various industries, thoroughly verify expenditures and income, and then interrogate the relevant people. Eventually, they won’t be able to escape."

The chief steward of the Prince’s Mansion beside him frowned, saying, "Your Highness, perhaps we should still use the old method. Those tax officers responsible for investigation always have family and desires. We could try to buy off a few, and tamper with the process during the tax check..."

However, before he could finish speaking, Prince Kang interrupted him.

"Foolish!" Prince Kang gave him a cold glance, "Do you know how many eyes are on us now? What’s more, Prince Anjun has been prepared this time, certainly sending people to monitor us in the dark, ready to catch hold of my weaknesses at any moment. Can you believe, if you send someone out, they’ll be caught by Prince Anjun’s men right away, becoming evidence that I tried to bribe the tax officers?"

"Yes, yes, it was my oversight." The chief steward broke into a cold sweat.

"Not only is bribery unworkable, but threats and assassinations are also ineffectual," Prince Kang said coldly, "Wang Shouzhe’s strategy is an open ploy, targeting the fact that the accounts of our ancestor’s mansion cannot withstand scrutiny, stabbing directly at my heart."

"Your Highness, please don’t be anxious." Jiang Zhuyi offered a plan, "On the surface, this incident seems quite unfavorable to you. If discovered to have significant tax evasion, it would greatly damage your prestige."

"But if you think deeply, this matter may not be beneficial to Prince Anjun at all. His strategy is good for the country but has offended most of the Royal Race and Noble Families. Although they might not say it out loud, in their hearts, they must harbor deep resentment towards Prince Anjun and the others. After all, no one wants the meat in their mouth to be forcibly taken out, right?"

"What are the struggles of the Imperial Sons about? Naturally, representing the interests of the Imperial Family and the Noble Families. Although Wang Shouzhe’s strategy is clever, it has cut off Prince Anjun’s goodwill among the Noble Families."

Prince Kang’s expression perked up: "Zhu Yi’s words are reasonable. What should we do next?"

"Outwardly, we must actively cooperate with the tax investigation to avoid leaving any evidence during this critical period," Jiang Zhuyi analyzed, "Secondly, go to Your Majesty and confess proactively, citing ignorance and promising to rectify it."

"Third, secretly report the tax evasion situation of various Prince’s Mansions, noble families, and force the Three Talents Department to investigate, or at least force them to pay supplementary taxes, then have Luo Yuqing publicly emphasize it. Yes, we are indeed in the wrong, but if most people are wrong, we won’t seem that bad... In this case, those who appear clean become too conspicuous and provoke hatred."

"Fourth, actively rope in allies, implying that once Prince Anjun ascends the throne, everyone’s future will be tough. Rather, suggest during the Royal Family’s internal voting to elevate you, at which point the tax for the Royal Family and Noble Families can be overlooked."

"Brilliant! Truly brilliant," Prince Kang exclaimed with joy, "Zhu Yi’s words have cleared my mind."

This time, Wu Mingyuan has offended the majority of the Noble Families and Royal Race in the world. As the saying goes, ’Cutting off someone’s wealth is like killing their parents’. He refuses to believe, after Wu Mingyuan makes such a fuss, how many Noble Families and the Royal Race are still willing to support him!

"Chief steward." Prince Kang seemed slightly rejuvenated.

"Your Highness." The old steward’s eyes lit up, as if spotting a light in the darkness, and he became excited, "How should I proceed exactly?"

"Here’s what you do, go find..."

Prince Kang whispered a few words, and the chief steward nodded repeatedly, going away with an expression of excitement.

As Prince Kang’s trusted family servant, his fortune and disgrace are tied to Prince Kang. If Prince Kang falls, he would definitely be among the first to suffer, so he was naturally very proactive at the moment.

The old steward has been with Prince Kang for many years, his ability to handle matters is beyond question.

...

The tax investigation storm quickly erupted in Gui Long City.

A series of turbulent and chaotic events ensued, bustling with activity.

Amidst the upheaval involving the Noble Families, more than half a month passed without notice. The raucous tax inspection campaign seemed to have no intention of stopping and instead showed signs of escalating, like a wildfire that couldn’t be extinguished.

Every day, a different Noble Family or member of the Royal Race would get caught up in it.

The Three Talents Department was so busy that they were running around the clock, yet they still couldn’t keep up.

However, no matter how tumultuous it became, the common people in Gui Long City still went about their lives as usual. Apart from a small group affected by it, most people were largely uninfluenced and enjoyed discussing the events with great interest.

West of the city.

Since Gui Long City was mainly expanding southward and eastward, the western part was considered the old city, and its prosperity was somewhat inferior to the east. The residents here were mostly members of distant Royal Family branches and some historical but now less thriving Noble Families, who suffered minimal impact from the tax investigation storm.

The streets and alleys weren’t much different from normal days.

On this day, Old Liu set up a herbal tea stand by the roadside as usual, while also selling some snacks. He sat leisurely behind the stand, occasionally swatting away mosquitoes and flies attracted by the food’s aroma.

The profit from the herbal tea stand wasn’t high, as a bowl of herbal tea sold for only two copper coins, and his earnings each day barely covered his personal living expenses. But Old Liu wasn’t doing it for the money.