The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 063 Real Ledger
It was unclear when the rain had stopped.
Chou shi (1-3am) had not yet arrived, the time that should have been after curfew, yet the city of Cizhou was brightly lit. Armored Imperial Guards, carrying torches, marched in unison through the city. They resembled bandits, banging on doors, flashing their gleaming swords as they barged in to search houses.
In the night, the torches lit up the sky, casting a blood-red hue over the city of Cizhou.
By dawn, the Imperial Guards had raided the residences of Cizhou’s governor Zhang Feng and his associates. Zhang Feng sat disheveled on the stone floor of the government office, his expression dazed, hearing nothing, muttering incoherently. Someone leaned closer to listen, but they couldn’t understand a word.
Shao Wenzhao, the Left Commander of the Imperial Guards, ordered crates of gold, silver, and jewels to be carried into the office. The wooden boxes containing silver filled the entire courtyard. These were ill-gotten goods confiscated from Zhang Feng’s residence, and the boxes were still covered in dirt.
Shao Wenzhao reported, “Daren, we’ve thoroughly searched the premises. These were dug up from the back courtyard of the Zhang Residence.”
Wang Zhen glanced at the stolen goods before lifting his gaze to the other confiscated items already lined up outside the office gate. His voice was distant, “That will suffice for now.”
“Yes, daren.”
By the third quarter of yin shi (3-5am), Zhang Feng and several officials of Cizhou had been arrested, shackled with iron chains, and made to stand in the center of the office.
Seated at the head of the hall was Censor Ji Zhi. Ji Zhi had originally wanted to yield his seat to Wang Zhen, but Wang Zhen smiled and said, “Ji daren, I am merely His Majesty’s temporary envoy to observe the progress of this embezzlement case. You are the rightful chief of this jurisdiction.”
Ji Zhi, a straightforward censor, couldn't out-argue Wang Zhen even if he had ten mouths. Reluctantly, Ji Zhi took the main seat. To his left sat Wang Zhen, while on his right were Xie Cheng, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, and Su Wenyun, Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. As for Xu Linghou, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and Qin Si, the Right Vice Minister, they sat on the same side as Wang Zhen, clearly aligning themselves with the Minister’s authority.
In the Song Dynasty, official ranks were strictly hierarchical. Even those who had committed crimes were not required to kneel before sentencing. Over a dozen officials from Cizhou stood below the hall, all of them looking as though they were mourning their parents. Just yesterday, they had been full of vitality, but now they appeared withered, as if they had one foot in the grave.
Ji Zhi struck the gavel. “Zhang Feng, Governor of Cizhou, do you acknowledge your crimes?”
A loud buzzing filled Zhang Feng’s ears, making it impossible for him to hear what Ji Zhi was saying. He raised his head in a daze, his vision blurring, unable to clearly see the high-ranking officials seated before him. His mind conjured scenes from his past: the day he first entered a private school at the age of seven, and the nine long years he struggled through before passing the xiangshi, and finally earning his tong jinshi title at the dianshi.
In his forty-some years, he had once held the prestigious rank of fourth-rank official, governing the entire prefecture of Cizhou.
But now, he stood here, and soon he would kneel on the cold stone floor of the Court of Judicial Review in the capital of Shengjing. After that, he would kneel on the execution grounds, where an executioner would sever his head with a single stroke.
A deafening roar filled his mind, and everything went blank.
Zhang Feng collapsed.
Ji Zhi wasn’t about to let him escape by feigning unconsciousness. He ordered the bailiffs to splash cold water on Zhang Feng, and began enumerating his crimes: “Zhang Feng, Governor of Cizhou, the two assassins who attempted to attack the posthouse today—why were they your household guards? How do you explain that? Furthermore, the gold and jewels unearthed from your courtyard—where did they come from? And what is your connection to the collapse of the Jing River Bridge? Speak the truth!”
Zhang Feng felt a bitter taste rise in his throat, yet he couldn't utter a single word.
Not that Ji Zhi needed him to.
When Ji Zhi interrogated the other Cizhou officials, they were all terrified and confessed to their embezzlement and bribery.
As long as the stolen goods were found, Zhang Feng’s guilt was certain. They had used the assassination attempt as a pretext to forcibly raid Zhang Feng’s residence and uncover the treasures. Though this was confusing the cause and effect, the logic flawed, with the Imperial Guards backing them, no one dared to object.
Ji Zhi lamented, “To eat the monarch's salary is to share the monarch's worries, yet this is how you repay the court, Zhang Feng?”
These words struck Zhang Feng like a thunderbolt, jolting him awake. His eyes flickered toward a particular spot, and before he could do anything else, his expression changed. The next moment, he fell to his knees with a thud, crying, “This guilty official confesses, I confess!”
“Take them away and throw them into the dungeon to await further judgment.”
Once Zhang Feng and the others had been taken away, Ji Zhi let out a sigh of relief, though his expression quickly darkened. He remained silent, but others were not as quiet. A cold laugh suddenly rang out. “The collapse of the Jing River Bridge—could such a large embezzlement truly be the work of a mere fourth-rank official?”
All eyes turned toward Su Wenyun.
Su Wenyun sat lower down the hall, his smile not quite reaching his eyes as he said, “Do the darens here actually believe this?”
Wang Zhen quietly sipped his tea. Seeing that Wang Zhen remained silent, the Left and Right Vice Ministers of the Ministry of Revenue followed suit and ignored Su Wenyun. Xie Cheng, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, appeared lost in thought. Only Ji Zhi responded, “Oh? Does Su daren have any other insights?”
Just as Su Wenyun was about to speak, a slender figure quietly slipped in from the corner of the office’s main gate and joined the ranks of the officials. Pausing momentarily, Su Wenyun continued, “I wouldn’t dare call them insights. Governor Zhang is truly loyal, shouldering all the responsibility alone without implicating any accomplices. But little does he know, once he reaches Shengjing, he’ll be at the mercy of the Court of Judicial Review.”
Everyone thought: He’ll be in the ruthless hands of you, Su Wenyun!
Su Wenyun continued, “Faced with all that gold and silver, he had no choice but to confess. But his accomplices, hiding in the shadows, are much harder to catch. However...” Drawing out his words, Su Wenyun glanced mockingly at Ji Zhi and Wang Zhen.
Ji Zhi’s face darkened, but Wang Zhen merely smiled.
Su Wenyun concluded, “However, if we can find the embezzlement ledger, the whole truth will come to light!”
Ji Zhi’s smile faded completely.
The ledger was the key evidence needed to prosecute the embezzlement case.
Even though they had seized the stolen goods from Zhang Feng’s residence, that alone couldn’t prove that the funds had been embezzled from the construction of the Cizhou official road. Government silver was numbered, but jewels were not, so the only way to connect the stolen goods to the missing funds was to find the ledger. Without it, they would have to rely on torture at the Court of Judicial Review to pry open Zhang Feng’s mouth.
Whoever found the ledger would be the true hero of the Cizhou embezzlement case.
The previous night’s attempt on Tang Shen’s life had involved two groups of assassins—one sent by Zhang Feng, the other by Ji Zhi. As the imperial inspector, Ji Zhi had been assigned a high-profile case and was unwilling to let others claim the glory. He had initially suspected the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Xu Linghou, but soon turned his suspicion toward Zhang Feng. Despite his efforts, he hadn’t been able to locate the ledger. Observing Zhang Feng’s interest in Su Wenyun, he suspected that Su Wenyun had stolen the ledger and hidden it in Tang Shen’s room.
With Wang Zhen and the Imperial Guards arriving the next day, Ji Zhi could no longer wait. Thus, the two groups of assassins had clashed at the posthouse.
Yet, despite all his calculations, Ji Zhi hadn’t anticipated that the ledger wasn’t in Tang Shen’s room, nor that Wang Zhen would arrive early in Cizhou!
Ji Zhi’s assassin had also been caught, but everyone knew that the Cizhou embezzlement case had nothing to do with Ji Zhi. He had been stationed in Shengjing and was only a minor sixth-rank official. His sole connection to the collapse of the Jing River Bridge came after the fact. In truth, Wang Zhen hadn’t even suspected him and had allowed Ji Zhi’s assassin to be released.
Ji Zhi sat in the hall, looking at Wang Zhen on his left and Su Wenyun on his right. He suddenly felt that he was truly getting old and couldn’t keep up with these young people anymore.
Ji Zhi mocked himself, “From what Su daren is saying, you already know where the ledger is?”
Su Wenyun was about to speak when a crisp clink interrupted him. Wang Zhen placed his teacup on the table. He raised his head slightly and smiled at Ji Zhi, saying, “Naturally, Su daren knows. A few days ago, Su daren privately found the ledger, and to prevent any mishaps, he secretly hid it in the room of Chamberlain Tang Shen, Tang daren.”
Su Wenyun watched Wang Zhen as if enjoying a spectacle, waiting for him to continue.
Ji Zhi asked, “Tang daren, is this true?”
Tang Shen stepped forward, clasping his hands in a salute: “It is true.”
Ji Zhi asked, “Where is the ledger?”
Tang Shen replied, “I have already given the ledger to the Minister of Revenue.”
Wang Zhen extended his hand, and the officer behind him handed him a ledger.
Ji Zhi sighed deeply, knowing that the great credit for solving this embezzlement case would go to Wang Zhen, Tang Shen, and Su Wenyun, leaving him with no part in it.
However, a scoffing sound suddenly rang out. Su Wenyun, with a smile, said, “Wang daren, are you sure the ledger in your hand is the one related to the collapse of the Jing River Bridge? You are the Minister of Revenue, overseeing the national treasury, so naturally, such a small ledger wouldn’t escape your discerning eye. But this is a significant matter, and I advise you to open the ledger now and take a careful look. If something is amiss, there’s still time to correct it before we report to His Majesty in the capital.”
Wang Zhen’s elegant face showed a serious expression. He pretended to ponder for a moment before saying, “Su daren is right. It’s never too cautious when presenting evidence to His Majesty. Qin daren, Xu daren, why don’t the two of you review this ledger and verify its accuracy?”
Qin Si and Xu Linghou: “Understood.”
The two officials took the ledger and began cross-checking it together.
Tang Shen stood silently below, eyes downcast, not saying a word.
Su Wenyun watched Wang Zhen with an expression of amusement, but when he looked at Tang Shen, his attitude was no longer so mocking or disdainful. Despite Su Wenyun’s ruthless mind and heartless methods, he wouldn’t kick Tang Shen when he was down at this moment. He knew he had used Tang Shen and had never intended to share any credit with him. He had made Tang Shen the scapegoat, but he would never have left the real ledger in Tang Shen’s room. If it had been found by the enemy, everything would have been for naught.
Su Wenyun had coldly calculated and used Tang Shen, even placing Tang Shen’s life in danger to shield himself. He felt no guilt or remorse, but he wouldn’t deliberately mock him either.
Half an hour later, Qin Si and Xu Linghou exchanged glances. Qin Si spoke, “Reporting to the Minister, Xu daren and I have reviewed the ledger, and it is indeed the correct one.”
Su Wenyun’s expression suddenly changed, while Wang Zhen said warmly, “Thank you both for your hard work.”
Qin Si and Xu Linghou were both Vice Ministers of the Ministry of Revenue, dealing with ledgers daily. It was impossible for them to make a mistake, nor could they lie, because if a fake ledger were presented to the emperor in Shengjing, it would be exposed immediately.
Su Wenyun’s normally beautiful face was now drained of color. His eyes widened in shock, staring at Wang Zhen. After a long while, he gritted his teeth and forced out a few words: “It really is… the real ledger?”
Qin Si, puzzled, asked, “How could there be any mistake?”
Wang Zhen smiled, “Why doesn’t Su daren take a look for yourself?”
Everyone knew Wang Zhen’s suggestion was just a polite remark, but Su Wenyun actually stood up, walked over to Wang Zhen, and picked up the ledger to examine it. He carefully read through each page, word by word. The more he read, the colder his heart became. By the time he finished, he could no longer maintain his smile.
A myriad of thoughts flashed through Su Wenyun’s mind. Suddenly, he turned his head to look at Tang Shen, who stood below.
Unexpectedly, at that moment, Tang Shen also raised his head and quietly gazed back at him.
Vice Minister Xu Linghou, noticing Su Wenyun’s reactions, began to sense something strange. He observed Wang Zhen’s expression and decided to speak up to help clarify things: “What’s this? Su daren can’t recognize the ledger now that we’ve confirmed it’s genuine? Or are you saying this isn’t the ledger you hid in Tang daren’s room? Didn’t you give this ledger to Tang daren?”
Su Wenyun felt trapped. He desperately wanted to say that this wasn’t the ledger he had given to Tang Shen, that the real one was hidden in a compartment of his wardrobe, but he couldn’t say it! If he did, how could he explain the existence of two ledgers? How could he justify hiding a fake ledger in Tang Shen’s room? Was he supposed to admit that he had made Tang Shen a scapegoat to draw attention away from himself?
After a long pause, Su Wenyun finally said, “Of course, this is the ledger I entrusted to Tang daren.”
Su Wenyun descended from the high platform and walked to stand in front of Tang Shen, staring intently at him.
He smiled, curling his lips, and his eyes also curved slightly, but the words he spoke were laced with anger, as if they were squeezed out through gritted teeth.
“Tang Shen, Tang daren. Tang Jingze, Tang daren… You’ve really worked hard, safeguarding this ledger for me.”
Tang Shen bowed and replied, “I dare not disobey Su daren’s orders.”
Su Wenyun looked at Tang Shen and suddenly laughed: “Jing Ze.”
Wang Zhen raised his eyes slightly.
Tang Shen looked calmly at Su Wenyun.
Su Wenyun said, “I really must thank you… and Wang daren!”