The Demon Prince

The moment the news from the imperial court broke, the scene in front of the Prince of Zhen's mansion changed dramatically.

When the coffin of the Xiao family arrived in the capital, the streets were filled with ordinary people and veterans, but those in the court who were usually the most eloquent and polite were all quick to hide.

It was as if the banners hanging in front of the Prince's mansion were not white banners, but death warrants.

But things are different today.

Not long after the court session ended, the alleyway was already jammed with vehicles, sedan chairs and horse-drawn carriages.

Inside the Prince's Mansion courtyard, white banners fluttered gently, and nine coffins lay quietly in the mourning hall.

The ever-burning light was at the very front, silently shining.

Xiao Xingyue sat on the veranda outside the mourning hall. In front of him was a long table with no tea or fruit, only blank booklets, a brush, ink pads, and a stack of old account books that had just been organized.

Shen Yan sat on the left, his face fair, holding a pen.

Zhao Yuanbao stood on the right, holding an abacus in his hand and a key chain hanging from his waist, looking like a small accountant ready to raid someone's house at any time.

Chen Manfu sat further back, his gaze unsettling as he watched each person enter the palace.

Everyone knows that the old steward, sitting outside the mourning hall today, doesn't look at anyone like they're human.

Xiao Xingyue glanced at the door:

"Is everything arranged?"

Zhao Yuanbao nodded immediately:

"alright.

Upon entering, pass through the mourning hall first, kneel down, then speak. Place the gifts aside; do not bring them directly over.

Xiao Xingyue nodded and said, "Let's begin."

The first group to arrive consisted of five low-ranking officials from the Ministry of War. None of them were very old or of high rank.

They usually ran errands for Cao Bi, getting their share of the kickbacks, but never actually handling the executioner's blade.

These kinds of people are the best at reading the wind.

With Cao Bi dead and the emperor giving Xiao Xingyue the power to investigate, they were more panicked than anyone else and naturally arrived faster than anyone else.

The leader was a minor official from the Ministry of War surnamed Xu. He was not tall and had a sallow complexion. As soon as he entered the courtyard and saw the nine coffins in the mourning hall, his legs went weak.

Zhao Yuanbao reminded him from behind:

"kneel."

Xu, the steward, knelt down with a thud, and the others behind him followed suit, their foreheads pounding against the blue bricks with utmost sincerity and earnestness.

Only after Xu finished kowtowing did he dare to move to the front of the long table, and as soon as he got close, he knelt down again:

"Your Highness, Your Highness, please forgive me. I was wrong, I was guilty."

As he cried, tears and snot mingled together, and his voice cracked.

"But I have never harmed any soldiers' lives."

I've only ever received a few small payments from Lord Cao, nothing more.

"I have elderly parents to care for and young children to raise. If I were to die, my entire family would be ruined."

After he finished speaking, several minor officials beside him also kowtowed:

"Your Highness has shown mercy; I am willing to make amends. I will certainly correct my mistakes in the future."

Xiao Xingyue sat in the chair, his fingers slowly tapping on the edge of the table:

"Master Xu, which department in the Ministry of War do you work for?"

Manager Xu immediately replied:

"Miscellaneous records of the staff, and also in charge of some pension transfers."

Xiao Xingyue nodded:

"The list of wounded veterans from the North, it's been sitting there for four years, were you involved in it?"

Xu, the steward, froze abruptly, his lips trembling uncontrollably.

"It has been handled."

"The death benefits have been delayed for three installments. Did you sign off on them?"

"Signed, signed."

Xiao Xingyue leaned forward slightly:

"How much did you swallow?"

Manager Xu's face turned pale, and he opened his mouth for a long time but didn't dare to say anything.

But upon noticing Xiao Xingyue's expression, he shuddered and finally gave a number:

"Three, three hundred taels, three hundred taels in total."

This is truly all I have; I dare not take more.

Xiao Xingyue hummed in agreement:

"I dare not take more; I'm sorry to trouble you."

Manager Xu broke out in a cold sweat and quickly said:

"This humble official dares not."

Xiao Xingyue raised his hand and pointed at the table:

"If you don't take much, you won't kill anyone."

I'm not being heartless; I'm giving you a chance to reform...

Manager Xu was stunned, as if he hadn't reacted yet.

Xiao Xingyue continued:

"He swallowed three hundred taels, so he must pay three times that amount, nine hundred taels, to be paid today."

Starting today, you will go to the Ministry of War to help Shen Yan audit the accounts. Within a month, you will have to dig out every single old account you handled.

If you can uncover the real truth, consider it a meritorious deed that allows you to atone for your crimes.

If we can't find out, then let's go see Cao Bi.

Manager Xu's eyes first lit up, then turned cold.

Nine hundred taels? That's a lot of money to cut off!

Is it possible for them to survive? As long as they can survive!

He kowtowed several more times:

"Thank you for your mercy, Your Highness. I will hand it over right away."

Zhao Yuanbao turned the abacus around:

"Silver notes? Or cash? A property deed is fine too, at 70% of the original price."

Manager Xu's heart skipped a beat. 30% off? Why don't you just rob me?

But he still trembled as he pulled out the silver notes from his sleeve and handed over the hidden private contract.

Shen Yan lowered his head to record the accounts, each stroke clear and precise.

After handing over the documents, Chief Xu looked completely deflated, his eyes almost bloodshot from the pain, but his face showed relief.

Seeing that he could really survive, the others immediately rushed over as well.

Some cried, saying they had only received twenty taels of silver; others said their families were truly poor and begged for a day's respite...

There was also a minor official surnamed Sun, who was very thin-skinned. While kneeling, he blurted out all the things he had done:

"I have delivered wine to Cao Bi's men and also copied a revised pension account for Vice Envoy Zhou."

I didn't take any money that time, I really didn't. I only received two bolts of silk.

Zhao Yuanbao listened while clicking his tongue in amazement.

Sun Xiaoguan was so frightened that he started kowtowing again.

Xiao Xingyue didn't scold them; he simply asked each of them a question.

For example, who handled the list of the wounded and disabled, who saw Vice Envoy Zhou Heng altering the accounts, and who knew where Cao Bi's old clique usually drank and discussed matters...

Everyone has to give something back. If you can't, you still have to pay, but your life is in danger. If you can, you get the task and keep living.

In less than an hour, the first group of people had been stripped bare.

Some people paid their money with ashen faces, while others held onto the task of auditing accounts as if they were holding onto a talisman to redeem themselves.

Shen Yan handed the notebook she had made to Xiao Xingyue for a look.

There was another commotion outside the door. This time, the footsteps of the group were so chaotic, and they even had an imposing air about them, as if they were there to keep order.

Are they here to maintain order at the Prince's Palace? What an imposing official display!

Zhao Yuanbao peeked out and narrowed his eyes:

"Your Highness, you've arrived."

Zhou Heng, the man now being promoted by Cao Bi's old faction, is the Vice Minister of War and the one who has been the most popular and most eager to temporarily assume the position of Minister of War in recent days.

He was even more particular than Xiao Xingyue had expected.

Two attendants in front carried 50,000 taels of silver notes, two behind carried two boxes of jewelry, and behind them was a man who looked like an accountant, carrying several house deeds and land deeds.

Zhou Heng himself changed into a very neat set of casual clothes, his beard was neatly trimmed, and his face was calm, with a sorrowful expression.

Upon entering the courtyard, he didn't rush to speak. He first looked at the mourning hall, then straightened his sleeves, and finally went inside. Facing the nine coffins, he respectfully lit three incense sticks.

"May the loyal spirit of the King of Zhen live on, and may the heroic souls of all the young generals rest in peace."

After offering incense, Zhou Heng turned around and walked to the long table.

He did not kneel, but simply cupped his hands in greeting:

"Your Highness, please accept my condolences."

Xiao Xingyue gave a faint "hmm":

"Vice Envoy Zhou, you're very kind."

Zhou Heng glanced at the account books on the table, then at the minor officials next to him who had just paid their money, and he already had a good idea of ​​what was going on.

This young prince is indeed still young.

No matter how much trouble he causes or how much he pretends, in the end, he's just someone who recently lost his father and suddenly gained some power.

With the Zhenguo King's Mansion gone, Xiao Xingyue needed to make money to survive.

If you're willing to raise money, things will be much easier.

Zhou Heng felt much more at ease, and his smile became even gentler.

"Lord Cao is dead, the Ministry of War must not be thrown into chaos again."

"If Your Highness is willing to cooperate with us, the former subordinates of the Ministry of War are willing to treat you as an honored guest from now on."

As he spoke, he gently raised his hand, and silver notes, jewelry, and house deeds were all laid out before him.

To make it easier to control Xiao Xingyue, Zhou Heng lowered his voice even further:

"It's just a small token of my appreciation."

We can only hope that the Crown Prince will consider the bigger picture when drafting temporary candidates and compiling the list of those to be investigated.

The translation is just one sentence: I brought the money, you can take it; don't check who you are, just give me the location.

Xiao Xingyue carefully examined these things.

Zhou Heng became even more certain, and he even showed some contempt.

Xiao Junlin, a man of great renown, left behind such a son after his death.

That's good; these young upstarts are actually the easiest to handle.

"Your Highness," Zhou Heng smiled.

"I am just Cao Bi's deputy; Cao Bi is in charge of many things."

Now that he is dead, much filth should be buried with him.

Xiao Xingyue finally spoke: "Are you finished?"