Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

Before he could finish speaking, a beam crashed down.

Zhu Han pulled the boy aside, and when he turned around, Gu Yin had already been engulfed by flames.

The fire spread extremely quickly.

While ordering his men to put out the fire, Zhu Han coldly watched the burning eaves.

The sound of the wooden beams cracking was as if the secrets of the paper mill had turned to ashes in the flames.

"Your Highness," the boy gasped, "the person can't be saved."

Zhu Han squinted and turned to look at the night sky: "He died quickly, and he died cleverly."

He raised his hand and pointed to a corner of the ground that had not been burned—the bronze seal lay in the dust, its base blackened, but the words "Gathering Righteousness" were still faintly visible.

"Take it away and seal it up."

"Yes."

The following day, at the Eastern Palace.

Gu Qingping, dressed in plain clothes, sat by the window.

Her expression was colder than usual, and she held a newly delivered letter in her hand.

The letter was slightly charred, with burn marks along the edges. It contained only a few words:
"The debts of the Juyi Granary were not yet settled, and the seal and the people perished."

"Fire rises, paper is made; dust returns to dust."

Her hand trembled slightly, and a hint of coldness flashed across her lips.

There were footsteps outside the door.

Zhu Biao pushed open the door and entered. Seeing her dazed expression, he frowned and asked, "Qingping, the paper shop caught fire last night. Were any members of the Gu family injured or killed?"

Gu Qingping raised her eyes, her gaze calm: "Second Uncle Gu Yin failed to escape."

"Please accept my condolences." Zhu Biao sighed. "I have ordered the Ministry of Justice to investigate this matter. If anyone is found guilty of arson, they will not be let off lightly."

Gu Qingping gently shook her head: "Your Highness need not trouble yourself. This matter may be the will of Heaven."

She slowly stood up, folded the charred letter, and hid it in her sleeve.

"The will of Heaven?" Zhu Biao was taken aback.

“Yes,” she said softly, “some fires will burn sooner or later.”

At the same time, at the Jing'an Prince's Mansion.

The boy placed the copper seal and the burnt account books on the table. Zhu Han sat upright to one side, his gaze cold and indifferent.

"Your Highness, the fire started at such a convenient time," the boy said in a low voice. "It looks like someone is trying to destroy evidence."

"Hmm." Zhu Han nodded. "Gu Yin died cleanly, the printing plates were all destroyed, and the paper shop's accounts were empty. If I'm not mistaken—this fire was not set by the Gu family."

"Who is that?"

Zhu Han slowly raised his eyes, his gaze passing through the window lattice towards the distant East Palace.

"Who else but the Crown Prince himself could use the Gu family's fire to burn all the evidence without alerting the palace guards?"

The boy was stunned: "You mean—the Crown Princess?"

Zhu Han did not answer, but simply reached out and unfolded the charred page of paper.

The ink on the paper is blurred, but a fragment of text can still be discerned:
"Crossing the Dongcang River at night, the internal approval was printed."

He said softly, "Go to the East Granary at dawn tomorrow night. If I'm not mistaken, the real accounts are there."

The night was deep, and the wind blew through the outskirts of the capital, causing the flags outside the granary to flutter loudly.

Dongcang is located ten miles east of the city. Built along the river, it was originally a military supplies depot. In recent years, due to the convenience of water transportation, it has been converted into a transshipment point for paper goods and medicines.

It appears peaceful on the surface, but is actually heavily guarded, and outsiders rarely get close.

Zhu Han, dressed in night clothes, stood under the withered willow.

A chill swept in from the river, the mist rising and falling, seemingly concealing and hiding. The boy followed closely behind, a short crossbow slung over his back.

"Your Highness, this place is heavily guarded, with no fewer than ten hidden sentries."

Zhu Han nodded and said in a low voice, "There must be an inside man who crossed the Dongcang River at night. Although the Gu family destroyed the evidence, they failed to silence them. The letter mentioned 'internal approval for printing,' which means that the real account books have not yet been transferred out."

He looked up and saw torches flickering outside the warehouse gate, with patrols taking turns.

A fleet of work vehicles was slowly driving in from the north gate. The vehicles were covered with thick cloth, and stacks of wooden crates could be vaguely seen.

Zhu Han's eyes sharpened: "Let's go, follow the car inside."

The two men stealthily made their way along the river, using the shadows of the willows for cover. Once the wheels had rolled over the stone steps at the riverbank, they leaped into the water and, following the current, swam to the base of the warehouse wall.

There are drainage holes at the base of the wall, large enough for a person to crawl inside.

The boy held his breath and crawled in, the sound of water mixed with the smell of mud.

When they finally poked their heads out, they were already in a dark ditch at the bottom of the warehouse. A faint light shone through the wooden planks above the ditch, and they could vaguely hear human voices.

"The last batch tonight will be sent to the palace accounting office at 7:00 AM tomorrow."

"Are those boxes of printing plates all sealed properly? His Highness gave the order, so there must be no mistakes."

Zhu Han clenched his fists, his expression cold and stern.

"Your Highness—" the boy almost cried out, but was stopped by him raising his hand.

He said softly, "It seems this batch of goods is indeed related to the Crown Prince's Palace."

The two slowly waded up the canal and pushed open a corner of the fence.

The warehouse was filled with wooden crates, and an oil lamp illuminated the figures of several porters.

At the very front, a middle-aged man who looked like a palace attendant was giving instructions in a low voice.

The man wore a gold-threaded waist tag—the very token of the Crown Prince's seal.

Zhu Han narrowed his eyes, his chill deepening.

Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves came from outside, and a group of people came galloping in.

The leader was a young man in brocade robes, with handsome features, but with a sinister air about him.

The boy recognized him at a glance and whispered, "Your Highness, it's Zhao Chengsheng, the head of the Eastern Palace guards."

Zhao Chengsheng dismounted and coldly ordered, "Seal the granaries! No one may enter or leave without an imperial edict!"

Everyone inside the warehouse was startled and immediately stopped what they were doing.

The middle-aged eunuch hurriedly stepped forward: "Commander Zhao, His Highness just now..."

"I will obey Your Highness's orders." Zhao Chengsheng interrupted coldly, then whispered to the people behind him, "Search according to the map and check if there are any outstanding accounts."

Zhu Han and the boy exchanged a glance, and they both understood—this was a clearance operation.

He took out a small talisman from his sleeve, lit it, and whispered, "The guards should already be on the outer perimeter. Boy, prepare the crossbows."

Just as Zhao Chengsheng stepped into the depths of the warehouse, a soft sound suddenly rang out—the wooden box burst open, paper scraps flew everywhere, and a whole stack of sealed account books was revealed inside!

Zhao Chengsheng's expression changed drastically, and he roared, "Who goes there!"

Zhu Han stepped out from the shadows, his figure reflected in the firelight, cold as an iron sculpture.

"Prince Jing'an has been ordered to inspect the granaries. Commander Zhao—do you have any complaints?"

Zhao Chengsheng's face turned pale. He cupped his hands but did not bow his head: "Your Highness is acting on imperial orders? We have not heard of any imperial decree."

"Then I will personally escort you to His Majesty."

Zhu Han chuckled coldly, flicked his wrist, and a signal arrow flew out from his sleeve, piercing straight into the top of the warehouse.

The arrows exploded, and a red star lit up the night sky—that was the secret signal from the Jing'an Prince's Mansion.

Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves thundered outside the warehouse as Prince Jing'an's personal guards broke through the fog and entered.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Zhao Chengsheng drew his sword and charged forward.

Swords clashed, sparks flying. The boy fired several arrows, forcing back two guards.

Zhu Han stepped forward, his sword pointing directly at Zhao Chengsheng's throat.

After several rounds of fierce fighting, Zhao Chengsheng was finally forced back, and his long sword clattered to the ground.

Zhu Han kicked over the lid of the box, revealing the ledgers underneath.

The paper was covered with dense notes and annotations about the silver entering and leaving the "Gathering Righteousness Granary" and its seals. "It really is here."

He bent down and picked up one of the books, glancing at it coldly: "The accounts of the Crown Prince, the seal of the Gu family, the silver of the imperial treasury... What a fine game."

Zhao Chengsheng's face was deathly pale, and blood was spilling from his throat, but he still smiled and said, "Your Highness—you don't understand. This is not the Gu family, nor the Crown Prince's Palace...it's a scheme for the whole world."

Zhu Han's gaze darkened: "Whose world is it?"

Zhao Chengsheng raised his eyes, a blood-red light reflecting in them: "The new ruler's empire."

Before the words were finished, a loud bang erupted outside the warehouse—the entire row of oil drums were ignited, and flames swept into the sky.

Zhu Han grabbed the boy and shouted urgently, "Take the accounts and leave!"

Flames engulfed the warehouse, and scraps of paper flew like snowflakes.

Zhu Han turned around and saw Zhao Chengsheng standing in the fire, still smiling, a smile that was eerie and cold.

The night wind carried a scorching smell, lifting a corner of a tattered page, on which was written:

"In the first month of spring, the Imperial Household Department of the Eastern Palace approved 70% of the silver to be transferred to the Juyi Granary, with the secret mark of 'Phoenix Seal'."

Zhu Han narrowed his eyes, his expression solemn: "Feng Yin... it's her."

The firelight illuminated half of his face, casting a cold, sharp light.

"Return to the manor," he commanded in a low voice. "Starting tonight, investigate—Feng Yin."

The next morning, a light gray fog shrouded the capital.

The flames from last night had not yet dissipated, and amidst the ruins of the East Warehouse, smoke and ash intertwined to form a chilling shadow.

Inside the study of Prince Jing'an's mansion, the curtains were half-rolled up, letting in the morning light, but it couldn't brighten the gloom on Zhu Han's face.

He had read through the ledgers spread out on the table many times, and every page was stained with smoke and blood.

The boy stood by, not daring to utter a sound.

“Phoenix Seal…” Zhu Han repeated softly, tapping lightly on the line of annotation with his fingertips.

That phoenix seal was the exclusive seal of the empress, who controlled the palace's finances and was used only for "procurement of supplies for the inner palace" and "allocation of silver to the imperial concubines' palaces" throughout history.

—If it is true that 70% of the silver approved by the Emperor's seal went into the Juyi Granary, it means that the largest silver vein in the court is directly connected to the Eastern Palace.

"Your Highness," the boy whispered, "could this debt... really have originated from the Empress?"

Zhu Han remained silent for a long time before saying in a low voice, "The Phoenix Seal comes from the inner palace and cannot be easily passed on to outsiders. There are only three people who can use this seal to approve accounts: the Empress, the Crown Princess, or... the head nanny who is authorized to approve on behalf of the Empress."

He closed the ledger, his tone icy: "To investigate the Phoenix Seal, we must first investigate the imprint."

Before noon, Zhu Han entered the palace in plain clothes.

The Imperial Seal Office was located behind the Chengde Hall and was in charge of all imperial seals and documents in the palace.

The one in charge was the old eunuch Lin Yuan—a veteran official who served three dynasties, known for his caution and strict adherence to rules.

"Prince Jing'an?" Lin Yuan arrived after being summoned, bowing respectfully, his voice hoarse. "I wonder what brings Your Highness to summon me so urgently in the middle of the night?"

Zhu Han handed over a tattered page: "This is an account page recovered after the fire at the East Warehouse, bearing the imprint of a phoenix seal. Can Manager Lin verify its authenticity?"

Lin Yuan took it, glanced at it, and his expression changed slightly.

"This seal does indeed resemble a phoenix seal, but—"

He paused, then sighed softly, “The ink lines are not straight. The original Phoenix Seal used a silk tapestry base, and the wax color was more gold, but this seal is more vermilion. If I’m not mistaken… this was made using a ‘re-engraved seal’.”

"Re-engraving?"

"Yes." Lin Yuan lowered his voice. "In the past, when the palace made seals, there was a method for carving replicas. This seal is a replica of the original seal, cast in the mold, then coated with wax and sealed. Upon close inspection, one can see the reversed dark patterns. This method was not allowed to be circulated."

Zhu Han's gaze sharpened: "Who can subdue it?"

Lin Yuan bowed: "Only the head craftsman of the Seal Bureau can do it. But... the Seal Bureau changed its head last year, and the new head craftsman is named Li Hu."

“Li Hu?” Zhu Han murmured, chewing on the name, and suddenly remembered what Gu Yin had said last night—“The Crown Princess will review and approve it.”

He slowly rose to his feet: "Chief Lin, if this matter leaks out, it may implicate the palace. You have not seen me."

Lin Yuan bowed respectfully, shaking his head, "This servant...understands."

As night fell again, Zhu Han changed into black clothes and entered the Imperial Seal Bureau alone.

The Imperial Seal Office was located near the Imperial Calligraphy Office, and it was always brightly lit at night.

Inside the room, several craftsmen were grinding copper molds. One of them, with a thin back, was meticulously tracing the imprint of the character "凤" (phoenix).

Zhu Han quietly approached, his palm tightening. The mold was still wet, the mud still warm.

"Good craftsmanship."

The man was startled and turned around, but Zhu Han had already pressed his pulse point.

"Prince Jing-An?" The man's face turned pale.

"Li Hu," Zhu Han said coldly, "whom do you serve by forging the Phoenix Seal?"

Li Hu's face twitched, and he gritted his teeth, remaining silent.

Zhu Han pulled out the ledger page and said coldly, "Is this your seal, or your life?"

Li Hu spoke in a trembling voice: "Your Highness, I was merely ordered to make a mold... The sample was sent from the palace, and the messenger was—Liu Ruo, the female official in charge of internal affairs of the Eastern Palace."

"Liu Ruo?" Zhu Han's heart skipped a beat. This person was none other than the Crown Princess's most capable maid, who could enter and leave the palace accounting office as if it were her own.

"The Phoenix Seal mold, was it submitted by her?"

“Yes,” Li Hu said in a low voice. “She said that the Crown Princess wanted to keep a spare copy in case the old seal was damaged.”

Zhu Han's gaze turned cold, and with a loosening of his grip, Li Hu immediately knelt on the ground, panting.

"If what you say is false, your corpse will be outside the Meridian Gate tomorrow."

Li Hu prostrated himself on the ground and kowtowed, daring not to speak again.

The rain had been falling incessantly since Chenshi (7-9 AM), and the eaves of the palace were swallowed by the mist, the green tiles were soaked, and from a distance it looked like a silent iron forest.

The gates of the East Palace were opened early. Maids and servants bustled about, their footsteps and splashes creating a low, rhythmic sound.

Zhu Han stood beneath the steps, draped in a blue cloak, gazing at the two characters "Chengqian" hanging high above, his heart filled with coldness.

After last night, the Crown Prince requested an imperial decree to "investigate the Juyi Granary case," ostensibly to distinguish right from wrong, but in reality, to remain calm and observe.

If the Crown Princess truly holds the Phoenix Seal, then today's self-investigation is nothing more than an attempt to bury all the evidence under a curtain she herself has laid out.

He walked slowly up the steps, his footsteps echoing on the stone steps in front of the hall.

Incense smoke curled in the hall, and the golden lotus lamp flickered.

Crown Prince Zhu Biao sat upright before his desk, his face serene, yet the weariness between his brows was undeniable. Gu Qingping stood beside him, dressed in plain white robes, her eyes as cold as ice.

"Prince Jing'an," the Crown Prince began, his tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable air of authority, "I heard that you entered the East Granary without permission last night and led troops to surround and search it. Did you have any orders?"

Zhu Han bowed and said, "Your Highness is wise. The flow of funds in Juyi Granary is unclear. I have been ordered by His Majesty to investigate the accounts. The imperial edict is sealed in the central government and can be presented for verification at any time."

The Crown Prince frowned and tapped the table lightly with his fingers: "The secret edict... I have not heard of it."

"Your Highness's silence does not mean there was no imperial edict," Zhu Han replied calmly.

His gaze swept over Gu Qingping, who was standing to the side.

She remained calm, her lips slightly pursed, as if watching a play that had nothing to do with her.

"Uncle Wang, you've come here slowly," Gu Qingping said, her voice gentle yet cold, "to inquire about the Phoenix Seal?"

Zhu Han's eyes flickered slightly: "It seems the Crown Princess already knows."

"Of course." Gu Qingping lightly touched the corner of her sleeve, her tone indifferent.
"The Phoenix Seal is of utmost importance to the inner palace; how can outsiders be allowed to speak of it recklessly? Yesterday, a fire broke out and the granary was destroyed. This morning, I was ordered to audit the accounts and found that the account pages were indeed forged. That seal—was not made by the Empress, but was a forgery by a craftsman. Someone is using the name of the Phoenix Seal to tarnish the reputation of the Crown Prince's Palace."

"Forgery?" Zhu Han chuckled coldly. "If it's forged, why is it recorded in the inventory? Why is the accounting document issued by the Crown Prince's accounting office?"

Gu Qingping raised her eyes and looked at him calmly: "Your Highness, do you have any proof?"

The air inside the room seemed to freeze.

Zhu Han's fingers tightened slightly. At that moment, he suddenly realized that the other party had been prepared all along.

In the case of Feng Yin, although the account books he possessed were genuine, they were destroyed by fire.

The only discernible mark had already been dismissed as a "fake." If he pressed her for more information, it would only make him appear guilty. (End of Chapter)