The next day, Ning Qin Wang personally exposed the Imperial Horse Bureau’s corruption—misreporting numbers, substituting inferior horses, and overstating supplies. The matter immediately diverted everyone’s attention, shifting the firepower entirely onto the Imperial Horse Bureau.
Xiao Muchen and the other Wangyes all displayed shock. While Xiao Muchen’s reaction was feigned, the others’ were genuine.
The Emperor had always valued the Imperial Horse Bureau, allocating massive funds each year. Now, such a scandal had erupted.
Huang Shao was the first to be summoned by the Emperor to court for questioning.
Meanwhile, at home, Mingxi was meeting with her sister-in-law, Madam Xiao.
Madam Xiao, her face filled with worry, looked at Mingxi and said, “My Father has been investigating Duke Wei’s case and found that the accusations are true. What should we do now?”
Mingxi glanced at her. “Is it because of Xiao Ling and Xu Heng’s engagement?”
Madam Xiao nodded slightly. “Yes. Little Sister, our family is not one to abandon morality for gain, but in this situation, we can’t just watch my younger sister jump into the fire pit.”
Understanding the concern, Mingxi asked, “What does the Marquis and Marquis Madam think?”
Madam Xiao frowned. “My mother, naturally, loves her daughter and thinks that if Duke Wei truly committed a crime, the engagement should be annulled. But my Father refuses. The marriage is already settled—how can we break our word and become untrustworthy people?
“But this is about my sister’s lifelong happiness. I can’t help but worry. That’s why I came to you, Little Sister. You’ve seen the world—you can help us think of a way.”
Mingxi couldn’t make the decision for them, but she could tell that Madam Xiao was genuinely concerned for her sister.
This was a complicated matter, and until the dust settled, nothing should be leaked prematurely.
That being said, it was clear that Fuchang Marquis was a man of integrity.
Fuchang Marquis Madam, too, was not wrong for wanting to protect her daughter.
After a moment’s thought, Mingxi told Madam Xiao, “Sister-in-law, things are still uncertain. It’s too early to make any decisions. I understand Fuchang Marquis Madam’s love for her daughter, but I think it’s best to wait and see.”
Madam Xiao forced a smile. “You’re right. My mother and I are just too anxious.”
“How does Xiao Ling feel about this?” Mingxi asked.
Madam Xiao sighed. “You know her temper. She refuses to break off the engagement, saying she won’t be an ungrateful person. Do you hear that? The way she says it makes it sound like my mother and I are the ones lacking integrity. it’s not that we want to be dishonorable—we just want what’s best for her.”
imagining Xiao Ling’s tone and expression, Mingxi’s eyes held a trace of amusement. She said to Madam Xiao, “Xiao Ling is a good girl. I believe she will have good fortune.”
Madam Xiao was momentarily stunned. Her eyes flickered, then brightened slightly as she immediately said, “You’re right, little sister. I’ll listen to you and send a message to my mother right away.”
With her belly slightly protruding, Madam Xiao rose to take her leave, hurrying toward the door. Mingxi quickly called in her maid, Bai Qing, to support her.
Holding onto Bai Qing’s arm, Madam Xiao thought to herself—Mingxi was not one to speak without confidence. Since she had said so, there was a chance that Duke Wei’s predicament was merely a false alarm.
Losing the title wouldn’t be the end of the world. Xu Heng was capable in his own right, and a good man did not rely on inherited wealth. As long as he remained competent, he would eventually rebuild his family’s standing.
What worried her and her mother the most was that if Duke Wei truly fell, the entire Xu family would collapse with him. The hardship her younger sister would endure in her marriage would be secondary to that—what was truly terrifying was the possibility of never seeing a way out.
Madam Xiao’s steps became lighter. If there was a chance for a turnaround in Duke Wei’s situation, then her Father might be able to intervene and offer some help.
Just as Madam Xiao left, Mingxi received word that Ning Qin Wang had submitted an impeachment against the Imperial Horse Bureau.
She was utterly shocked—she never expected Xiao Muchen to persuade Ning Qin Wang to take action.
There had to be a reason for Ning Qin Wang to personally get involved. instinctively, she thought of Xiao Lin. Had something happened to him in Qinan?
Otherwise, Ning Qin Wang would never have taken such a step.
Huang Shao had already prepared a countermeasure. The moment he was summoned by the emperor, all of Lu Zhiliang’s past misconduct would be exposed in court.
Lu Zhiliang had once received strong support from the Empress, even she couldn’t erase every trace of it. Moreover, someone like Huang Shao would always leave himself a backup plan.
This time, the imperial court was bound to be in turmoil.
Mingxi’s prediction proved correct. The emperor summoned Huang Shao, who, in the presence of all the civil and military officials, laid bare every offense committed by Lu Zhiliang. Some evidence had been destroyed, but Huang Shao had discreetly preserved key pieces.
Being a shrewd man, Huang Shao never once mentioned the Empress or the Crown Prince during the hearing. Instead, he acted as if he were entirely unaware of any connection to Kunde Palace, merely urging the emperor to conduct a thorough investigation and pledging his full cooperation.
As long as the investigation into Lu Zhiliang proceeded, it would inevitably lead back to the Empress. This approach was far more effective than Huang Shao personally implicating her.
***
Yuxian Tower
Mingxi gazed through the window at the bustling street below, then turned back to meet Xiao Muchen’s eyes. only then did she speak. “Huang Shao truly is a clever man.”
“He’s not just clever—he’s bold and decisive,” Xiao Muchen replied. “You should have seen it for yourself. In court today, he revealed everything about the imperial horse bureau, along with all the evidence he had gathered, including years of secret financial records. Some of the accounts were incomplete because Lu Zhiliang had destroyed them. But that won’t matter. Every single expenditure from the imperial horse bureau can still be traced and reconstructed, given enough time.”
Xiao Muchen then looked intently at Mingxi. “You have a keen eye. Huang Shao is indeed a valuable asset.”
Mingxi smiled. “I was surprised too. I never expected Huang Shao to still have secret financial records in his possession. Even my third uncle wasn’t aware of them. it seems he never fully trusted him and kept some things to himself.”
Xiao Muchen’s gaze softened slightly. “People like him will always keep an escape route for themselves. Rising from obscurity to hold power over the imperial horse bureau—how could he be anything but formidable?”
Mingxi agreed wholeheartedly. Looking at Xiao Muchen, she asked, “Now that Ning Qin Wang and Huang Shao have gone head-to-head, the emperor will have to send someone to investigate, won’t he?”
Surely he wouldn’t turn a blind eye this time, as he had when shielding the Crown Prince before?
Xiao Muchen nodded. “Of course. Guess who my Royal Father appointed to handle the case?”
Mingxi couldn’t even begin to guess and shook her head.
Xiao Muchen chuckled lightly. “You’d never expect it—it’s Zhong Yuqing.”
“Isn’t he a Censorate official?” Mingxi was genuinely surprised. “Since when do Censors investigate criminal cases?”
“In the previous dynasty, it was common for Censors to oversee investigations, though it’s rare in this era.”
Rare, but not unheard of.
Mingxi’s eyes brightened slightly. “Zhong Yuqing is known for his unwavering integrity. if he’s leading the investigation, then the Empress and the Crown Prince are in serious trouble this time.”
Finally, some satisfaction!
For the first time in a long while, Mingxi felt as though she could breathe freely. Every encounter with the Empress and the Crown Prince had ended in frustration, but this time, she might finally turn the tide.
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