Not many days later, the emperor issued an edict to reclaim Donggang under court authority—but rejected Duan Mingxi’s petition.
Mingxi was shocked. She had thought that even if only for the sake of appearances, the emperor would approve it. Moreover, the proposal clearly benefited the court—it would only mean a loss of tax revenue from one shipment of goods at most.
Yet the emperor still rejected it.
With that rejection, Mingxi was thrown into a flurry of anxiety. In contrast, the families that had aligned with the Eastern Palace smoothly reclaimed their silver.
The contrast was too stark—it drove people to desperation.
There had already been rumors that the crown prince had ordered the withdrawal of all liquid funds from Donggang, using them to fill the pockets of officials who backed him. But those court officials who remained neutral, those families who had not pledged themselves to the Eastern Palace—this time, they had suffered heavy losses.
Once Duan Mingxi obtained the evidence confirming that not a single copper coin remained on Donggang’s account books, the already tense situation instantly ignited like a spark in dry grass.
Memorials impeaching the Eastern Palace flooded the Emperor’s desk like snowflakes. Cutting off one’s money is like killing their parents—such a grudge could not be overlooked.
The Crown Prince never imagined these people would dare be so bold. In the past, even if they suffered losses, they would swallow the bitterness in silence. Why was it different this time?
Of course it was different—because someone was backing them now.
Mingxi began leaving early and returning late, working to raise silver for everyone. She publicly declared that everyone had entrusted their money to her out of faith, and no matter what had happened, she would give them an explanation.
While the court was busy taking over Donggang, Duan Mingxi started selling off her shops in the capital. She ended up selling half of the shops bestowed on her by Marquis Zhenhai of Longhu just to cover the deficit.
She personally delivered silver to each household, offering sincere apologies. Her reputation soared.
Families who were close to her, like Fuchang Marquis and Duke Wei, refused to accept the money. Mingxi told them, “If you don’t accept the silver, how can others feel comfortable accepting it? Business comes with profits and losses. Everyone trusted me, and I cannot let you down.
We lost money this time, but the court gained Donggang. With more taxes in the treasury, life will improve even slightly for soldiers on the borders and for countless common folk. This too is a worthy cause.
Besides, while we lost money this time, I’m confident we’ll profit next time. If you still trust me, we can work together again in the future.”
Her words reached the Emperor, just as he held in his hands the first memorial written by the newly appointed Marquis Zhenhai—her Father.
It reported the discovery of a sizeable silver mine on an island and requested the court send more laborers to begin mining.
The Emperor chuckled softly. This Father-daughter pair—one dared to ask for manpower, while the other was playing the role of a benevolent dispenser of wealth.
In comparison, the Crown Prince’s actions deeply disappointed the Emperor.
He had deliberately rejected Duan Mingxi’s request and insisted on reclaiming Donggang by force—he had wanted to see how his sons and officials would react!
Now, the impeachment memorials against the Crown Prince overflowed his desk.
The Emperor brushed his hand across the stack of memorials and then threw them to the ground with force.
This was the Crown Prince he had spent so many years teaching and nurturing!
“Your Majesty, please calm your anger!” Ding Zhao rushed to support the Emperor. “The imperial physician said you must not grow angry.”
“Ding Zhao…”
“This servant is here,” Ding Zhao replied, supporting the Emperor as he sat, still bowed in deference.
“Tell me, have I done wrong?”
“Your Majesty, how could you be wrong? Since your ascension, you have been self-disciplined and diligent. For decades, you haven’t even built a proper garden. Who among the people of Great Chu doesn’t praise Your Majesty as a wise ruler?”
“Is that so?” The Emperor gave a cold laugh. A good emperor doesn’t necessarily make a good Father.
He had once despised how his own Royal Father treated his sons—with suspicion and cruelty, pitting them against each other until they were dead, injured, or ruined, leaving only him standing in the end.
So he had appointed a Crown Prince early on, had carefully instructed him, and had given his other sons noble titles to discourage them from fighting.
But over the past two years, the Crown Prince had become increasingly biased in his conduct. And Donggang was the last straw.
A ruler who cannot uphold fairness—how could he govern a nation?
Even a mere woman like Duan Mingxi had the courage to cut off her own arm, so to speak, selling her assets to cover others’ losses. Even in loss, she praised the court and the officials, saying it was all for the people and the soldiers.
And Old Four? He ran about tirelessly and never once complained about Mingxi selling off their family assets.
In contrast—what had the Crown Prince done? What had the Empress done?
Just the other day, the Emperor visited Consort Shu and discovered her counting her private stash of silver, hoping to send some to Mingxi as emergency aid.
But how much silver could she have? In all these years in the palace, he had given her silks, fine food, and beautiful things—but never gold or silver.
Even the Emperor himself was poor—endless wars, an empty treasury, and bad harvests had left the nation tightening its belt.
Why did a mere merchant like Duan Pingchang become Marquis Zhenhai?
Because he wanted to send a message: if you have the courage and can benefit the court, a marquisate is well within reach.
A silver mine could rescue the court in a time of crisis.
What did a marquisate matter in comparison?
Duan Pingchang had bought it with his life!
The Emperor gave a light cough. Ding Zhao quickly offered him warm water and said cautiously, “Your Majesty, please moisten your throat with some water.”
The Emperor drank and said, “It’s not that I won’t protect the Crown Prince…”
“He just isn’t worthy.”
Ding Zhao’s heart trembled. He dared not say a word, only bowing deeper and stepping aside.
The next morning, at court, the ministers again submitted memorials impeaching the Crown Prince for placing private interests above public duty, forming factions, and accepting bribes. This time, the Emperor did not suppress them.
The imperial edict deposing the Crown Prince was issued.
The Empress went mad—kneeling outside Chongzheng Hall, barefoot and disheveled, in mourning robes, begging for her son’s pardon.
The Emperor refused to see her.
The Crown Prince was stripped of his title and moved from the Eastern Palace to Donghua Palace under house arrest. This time, it was no mere confinement—his title was revoked, and he became a commoner.
Ministers who spoke up for him were dismissed in the Emperor’s rage. Several were demoted in succession, and no one dared plead for him again.
The Empress fell ill—this time, truly ill.
She had always relied on her grasp of the Emperor’s mind. She knew he hated the power struggles between princes under the former Emperor and believed he would never depose the Crown Prince. Even when a huge scandal erupted last time, he had only confined him.
She never expected the Emperor would truly strip the Crown Prince of his title.
She had miscalculated.
Her fury and despair made her physically ill.
The illness struck swiftly, but to the Emperor, it was nothing more than her dissatisfaction over the deposition.
At first, he had no intention of blaming her—but now, even the Empress fell under his displeasure.
If she had properly guided the Crown Prince all along, how could he have ended up like this?
In the end, it was the Empress who had failed in her guidance!
When these words reached the Empress, she fainted once again—driven to that point by the Emperor’s anger!
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ohh are we nearing the end of the novel??? Crown prince and empress down…