Chapter 21: When Lice Multiply, the Itch Fades; When Debts Pile Up, Worries Disappear

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“That’s on you to say…” Ye Xiu looked utterly helpless. “Your official government business doesn’t have any anti-counterfeiting measures yet?”

“In terms of anti-counterfeiting, the prefecture government does have many methods.” Shopkeeper Liu suddenly realized. “I’ll go back and handle this matter right away. But as for this poem, I’m afraid it can’t bear your name anymore. You know, Governor Xu has no children, but he does have a nephew…”

“You mean Xu Zuhui? That good-for-nothing scoundrel who’s completely uneducated—he doesn’t even recognize a character when a pole falls to the ground. Does he deserve it? If someone’s going to make him famous, it’s not going to be like this!”

Ye Xiu became anxious immediately. He knew this man well; they were drinking buddies. But ever since the Ye family fell from grace, this guy seemed to have disappeared, or rather, he was avoiding him.

Shopkeeper Liu sighed. “Then how about this—I’ll hand the poem over to the Governor and let him decide for himself?”

Ye Xiu nodded helplessly. “Xu Yougong’s character is still commendable. I trust him with it.”

After putting away the poem, Shopkeeper Liu was about to leave but stopped and turned back at the door.

“By the way, the Governor asked me to pass a message to you and your son.”

“Is it news about my grandfather?”

“Yes.” Liu nodded. “The Governor says he’s in excellent health and has a hearty appetite!”

“What about the confession?” Ye Xiu’s voice trembled with tension. “How many crimes has my grandfather admitted to?”

“So far, he’s confessed to ninety-nine crimes, eighty-one to be exact. I also heard that the Minister was summoned to the Imperial Study, and His Majesty was so furious he cursed nonstop for an entire hour.

But the very next day after returning to the Censorate, the Minister took responsibility for the financial deficits of both the Imperial Household Department and the Imperial Treasury.

At present, the total amount involved in corruption and fraud has skyrocketed from two million taels of silver to over eight million.

Keep in mind, during the peak of our Great Qian Dynasty, the annual total revenue was barely over twenty million taels.

What’s worth pondering is that among all the crimes the Minister admitted, not a single one involved false accusations or loss of life.”

Shopkeeper Liu leaned close to Ye Xiu’s ear and lowered his voice. “There are rumors in the capital giving the Minister a four-character title.”

Ye Xiu was stunned for a moment and instinctively said, “The Saint of Balancing the Accounts?”

“Hahaha!” Shopkeeper Liu laughed heartily and gave Ye Xiu a thumbs-up. “Young Master Ye, you are truly wise. I shall take my leave now!”

With Shopkeeper Liu gone, Ye Xiu’s heavy heart finally eased.

The Imperial Household Department managed palace finances; the Imperial Treasury was the Emperor’s private coffers.

Taking on the blame for these two departments showed that the Emperor’s anger toward his grandfather was far from trivial.

At least, his grandfather wouldn’t be executed.

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In this world, the only person who can openly take the blame for the Emperor is my grandfather.

What about the Cabinet and the Six Ministries? Which of those ministers is clean?

Being the Saint of Balancing the Accounts is much better than being an official.

At the very least, you won’t be hacked to death by bandits on your way out of the capital after retirement.

Right now, the high officials and even the Emperor fear only one thing — that my grandfather might suddenly die.

How many Saints of Balancing the Accounts have appeared throughout history?

Bad debts, dead debts, rotten debts—finally, there’s no need to claim warehouse fires or lost ledgers to balance the books.

As the saying goes, when you have too many lice, it doesn’t itch; when you have too much debt, you don’t worry.

Whatever tangled issues there are, just pile them all onto my grandfather.

Don’t say things like the more you know, the sooner you die.

If they kill my grandfather this time, who will take the blame next time?

Besides, my grandfather’s reputation was built through elite circles, earning every bit on merit.

Regarding this matter: if anyone talks too much, just look at those three old cabinet ministers—someone will deal with them soon enough!

In the future, if my grandfather needs someone, no explanation is necessary. Just say: “Several years ago, I embezzled over ten million taels of silver, shocking the capital…” What? Reason doesn’t work? No problem, we’ll go to the Cabinet and the Imperial Study to talk it out.

God, if Ye Wuji becomes the top scholar and passes the political review and official selection, who in the Ministry of Personnel, the Cabinet, or the Emperor won’t give him face?

Jinling Prefecture Government.

Shopkeeper Liu respectfully handed the poem to Governor Xu Yougong.

“Is everything that should be said, said?” Xu glanced over the poem, his eyes full of shock and surprise. “Such exquisite poetry will surely be remembered in literature and history.”

“My lord, that’s just the surface.” Liu bowed. “But Ye Xiu is indeed clever—he hit the nail on the head.”

“Now, the matter just needs to be made public. That they can see it shows political acumen.”

Xu laid down the scroll, eyes brimming with admiration. “Since I became Governor of Jinling, I’ve often pondered over my junior brother Ye Wuji. Even I used to look down on him. Now I understand—he truly possesses great wisdom. I fear not the spoiled second-generation officials who slack off, but those who enter politics or start businesses!”

“My lord, may I say a few more words?”

“Only this once.” Xu’s commanding presence nearly crushed Shopkeeper Liu’s breath.

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Shopkeeper Liu’s voice trembled. “Grandfather Ye’s deficits have been covered, but the extra deficit… is it like a fire in the warehouse?”

“You’re talking about after the incident, an unavoidable measure, not the current capital situation.” Xu laughed. “The key isn’t the state’s deficit but how much the Imperial Treasury can cover. If nothing unexpected happens, the day Madam Wei returns to the capital will be the moment to act.”

“My lord, then…”

“Madam Wei will leave Jinling tomorrow. Deliver a letter of introduction with a jar of imperial jade liquor, saying that the Jinling tavern plans to open a branch in the capital and requests her assistance in joining as a partner.”

“I will handle it immediately.”

After Shopkeeper Liu left, Xu Yougong looked toward the back hall, his eyes gleaming coldly. “Useless creature, you’ve disgraced the Xu family’s honor! How can I have such an incompetent nephew?”

A young man emerged from the back hall, nervously scratching his head. “Second uncle, I was afraid of implicating you, that’s why…”

“Right now, take the silver notes to the capital immediately.” Xu scolded with frustration. “Buy back the Ye family’s house there and arrange for the eldest son of our mentor, Ye Wuchen. If Ye Wuchen and his father refuse, just turn around and leave. Then deliver the property deed to Madam Wei. Remember this: your only close friend is Ye Xiu!”

“Second uncle, I tremble at the thought of seeing Madam Wei, I…”

Bang!

Xu slammed the table hard. “Don’t say a word after you arrive. Get the job done and stay in the capital. Wait for Ye You’an to come to you willingly!”

“No, that’s not—” Xu Zuhui’s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Xu Yougong. “Second uncle, the Ye family is doomed to fall. Why do you still protect them like this?”

“Do you think I’m clean?” Xu Yougong’s face darkened. “Those provincial governors, those big shots in the capital, how many of them are clean?”

“Get out of my sight now. You annoy me just by being here!”

“One last question.” Xu Zuhui looked at Xu Yougong cautiously. “Second uncle, before I leave, should I go to Oolong Alley?”

“No need. Going there would only make things worse. Just play the role of a loyal friend who does things but keeps quiet. From now on, no shady business. Confide only in Ye You’an. The peak of the Xu family’s future depends on you!”

Xu Zuhui forced a smile, fully aware of his shortcomings. “Second uncle, you really think highly of me. Besides drinking, gambling, and debauchery, I’m good for nothing.”

“I, I…” Xu Yougong raised his palm but hesitated to strike, then gritted his teeth and shouted angrily, “Then just drink, gamble, and debauch with him…”