29: Chapter 29 Establishing Authority

It was the tenth day since Crown Prince Xiao Xuan was named Crown Prince.

Great Yan Imperial Calendar, the eighteenth day of the sixth month of Yuanchun.

In these ten days, the sky over the capital seemed as if someone had poked a hole in it.

Every day, officials were taken away, mansions were sealed, and news spread—so-and-so Vice Minister had fallen from grace, so-and-so Minister was under investigation, and the residence of so-and-so Marquis had been raided.

Di Renjie sat in command at the Dali Temple, iron-faced, impartial, and showing no favoritism.

The first list he unearthed contained thirty-seven people.

Among them were veterans of three reigns, imperial relatives, and powerful regional governors.

On the night the list was delivered to the Eastern Palace, Crown Prince Xiao Xuan took one look and wrote two words:

"Arrest them."

And so, the capital was in chaos.

Yongan Ward, Seventh Princes Mansion—now it should be called the Crown Princes Mansion.

The first level underground.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan stood before the sand table, looking at the dense markings on it. In these ten days, over fifty officials had been investigated; eleven were imprisoned, twenty-three were suspended pending investigation, and the rest were still being questioned.

"Your Highness," Di Renjie was reporting the latest progress, "Minister of Rites Zhou Yan is involved in the case. During his tenure, he accepted three hundred thousand taels in bribes from the Fourth Prince and arranged positions for seventeen officials for him. The evidence is conclusive."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan raised an eyebrow.

Minister of Rites Zhou Yan? That Minister of Rites who strongly advocated for the Eighth Prince in the imperial court?

"Arrest him."

Di Renjie said.

"Yes. However, Your Highness, Minister of Rites Zhou Yan is a veteran of three reigns and has many students and former associates in the court. Your subordinate is worried..."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan waved his hand.

"Worried about what? So what if he is a veteran of three reigns? Can a veteran of three reigns break the law for personal gain?"

He looked at Di Renjie, his gaze calm as water.

"Minister Di, do you know why I had you investigate?"

Di Renjie said.

"This subordinate understands. Your Highness wants to establish authority."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan nodded.

"Correct. Establish authority. This position of Crown Prince came too easily to me. Those people in the court appear respectful on the surface, but in secret, who knows how many are waiting to see me make a fool of myself. They want to know if I truly have the guts to move against them."

He paused, then said word by word.

"Then let them see."

Di Renjie bowed.

"This subordinate understands."

The news of Minister of Rites Zhou Yan's arrest spread throughout the entire capital that same day.

It is said that when he was taken away, he was still reviewing official documents in the Ministry of Rites office. The Dragon Shadow Guard broke in directly and, in front of his subordinates, forced him into a prison cart.

Minister of Rites Zhou Yan's expression went from shock to anger, and from anger to despair.

When he was locked in the imperial prison, he was still shouting: "I want to see Your Majesty! I am a veteran of three reigns! You cannot treat me like this!"

But no one paid him any mind.

The door of the imperial prison slammed shut behind him.

The second day after Minister of Rites Zhou Yan was arrested.

Morning court.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan stood at the very front of the court ranks for the first time as Crown Prince.

The entire court of civil and military officials was deathly silent.

Emperor Xiao Yuanshan sat on the Dragon Throne, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"If you have matters to report, speak; if not, the court is dismissed."

A censor stepped out and knelt to report.

"Your Majesty, this subordinate wishes to impeach the Crown Prince!"

The hall was in an uproar.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan's expression did not change; he did not even turn to look.

Emperor Xiao Yuanshan raised an eyebrow.

"Speak."

The censor said.

"The Crown Prince ordered Di Renjie to arrest officials on a massive scale. In just ten days, eleven have been imprisoned and twenty-three suspended. Among them are veterans of three reigns, imperial relatives, and pillars of the imperial court. The Crown Prince arrests them all without asking right from wrong; this is disrupting the government! This is harming the nation!"

Before the voice faded, another official stepped out.

"This subordinate seconds the motion! Minister of Rites Zhou Yan is a veteran of three reigns who has served the imperial court for forty years with unwavering loyalty. The Crown Prince arrests him just like that, chilling the hearts of us old officials!"

"This subordinate also seconds!"

"This subordinate seconds!"

More than a dozen officials knelt in succession, all of whom were students or former associates of Minister of Rites Zhou Yan.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan still did not turn around, just listening quietly.

Emperor Xiao Yuanshan looked at him.

"Crown Prince, what do you say?"

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan finally turned around, his gaze sweeping over the officials kneeling on the ground.

His gaze was very calm, so calm that it was as if he were looking at a group of ants.

"You say that Minister of Rites Zhou Yan is a veteran of three reigns and loyal?"

He walked to the first censor.

"Then do you know that he accepted three hundred thousand taels from the Fourth Prince?"

The censor was stunned.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan continued.

"Do you know that he helped the Fourth Prince arrange positions for seventeen officials?"

The censor's expression changed slightly.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan walked to the second official.

"You say this chills the hearts of old officials?"

He smiled slightly.

"Then do you know where the silver that Minister of Rites Zhou Yan embezzled came from?"

The official opened his mouth, unable to speak.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan looked around and said in a clear, loud voice.

"The three hundred thousand taels that Minister of Rites Zhou Yan embezzled was military pay. It was the military pay for the soldiers at the frontier! It was the silver earned with the lives of the soldiers fighting bloody battles at the border!"

His voice echoed in the hall.

"A veteran of three reigns? Loyal? Is this how he is loyal? Putting the soldiers' military pay into his own pockets—is this his loyalty?"

The officials kneeling on the ground were pale.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan turned to look at Emperor Xiao Yuanshan.

"Father, this son requests an imperial decree—to strictly investigate Minister of Rites Zhou Yan's case, and leave not one of the involved officials behind."

Emperor Xiao Yuanshan looked at him, a flash of gratification in his eyes.

"Granted."

Minister of Rites Zhou Yan's case was investigated for half a month.

The result was more astonishing than anyone had imagined.

As many as sixty-seven officials were involved, implicating the Five Ministries and Three Departments, with a total embezzlement amount exceeding eight million taels.

Among them, twenty-three were sentenced to beheading, thirty-four to exile for three thousand li, and ten were dismissed from office, never to be employed again.

Minister of Rites Zhou Yan himself was sentenced to beheading in the autumn.

When the news spread, the court and the public were shaken.

Those who were originally waiting to see Crown Prince Xiao Xuan make a fool of himself all shut their mouths.

Those who thought the Crown Prince dared not move against them were now trembling with fear.

Those who were still secretly campaigning for the Eighth Prince now ceased their activities.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan used half a month to tell everyone—

This Crown Prince is not to be trifled with.

Yongan Ward, Crown Princes Mansion.

The first level underground.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan stood before the sand table, looking at the markings that had been blackened out. Sixty-seven officials, sixty-seven markings, all now turned black.

"Your Highness," Di Renjie said, "Minister of Rites Zhou Yan's case is considered concluded. But there are still many officials in the court who, while not involved in the case, harbor dissatisfaction toward Your Highness. How should these people be handled?"

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan looked at Zhang Liang.

Zhang Liang smiled slightly.

"Your Highness, no rush. These people dare not move now. When they show their flaws, it will not be too late to deal with them."

Strategist Guo Jia said.

"Strategist Zhang is right. What Your Highness needs to do now is not continue arresting people, but stabilize the hearts of the people. Kill a batch, intimidate a batch, and the rest will naturally behave."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan nodded.

"Good. Then we shall slow down for now."

He looked at Xiao He.

"Minister Xiao, how is the investigation into the Ministry of Revenue's accounts going?"

Xiao He said.

"Replying to Your Highness, the Ministry of Revenue's accounts have bigger problems than imagined. In these ten years, just the military pay item alone has thirty million taels that do not balance. This subordinate is still investigating, but too many people are involved, and it will take time."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan frowned.

"Thirty million taels?"

Xiao He nodded.

"Yes. And this is just the military pay. If we add up all other items, I fear it will be even more."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan was silent for a moment, then said slowly.

"Continue the investigation. No matter who is involved, investigate to the end."

Xiao He said.

"This subordinate understands."

That night.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan stood alone in the study, gazing at the moonlight outside the window.

Minister of Rites Zhou Yan's case allowed him to see more things.

Those people do not fear him; they only fear the blade in his hand.

As long as he holds the blade, they dare not move.

But the blade cannot always be held up.

When it is time to withdraw, it must be withdrawn.

As he was thinking, suddenly, Zhao Gao's voice came from outside the door.

"Your Highness, Senior Jiang Ziya has arrived."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan raised an eyebrow.

Master Jiang? He rarely comes to the mansion.

"Invite him in quickly."

Jiang Ziya walked into the study, his expression somewhat grave.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan's heart stirred.

"Master Jiang, what is it?"

Jiang Ziya was silent for a moment, then said slowly.

"Your Highness, those auras that I sensed that day—I have investigated them clearly."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan's gaze sharpened.

"What kind of people are they?"

Jiang Ziya said.

"People from the ten top-tier powers."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan's pupils constricted slightly.

The ten top-tier powers? The four Great Empires? The six top-tier Sects?

"What did they come for?"

Jiang Ziya said.

"To observe."

He paused, then continued.

"For the past half year, the Great Yan Dynasty has been in constant internal turmoil. Five princes have fallen, and a new Crown Prince has been established. This news has already reached the ears of the ten top-tier powers. They sent people to see exactly what kind of person the new Crown Prince of the Great Yan Dynasty is."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan was silent.

Jiang Ziya said.

"Your Highness, these people have come with ill intent. They will not make a move, but they will watch. If Your Highness shows weakness, they will think the Great Yan Dynasty can be bullied. By then..."

He did not finish, but the meaning was already very clear.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan took a deep breath.

"How many people are there?"

Jiang Ziya said.

"At least seven auras. They come from the four Great Empires and three top-tier Sects respectively. There are three more auras that this subordinate cannot currently identify which power they belong to."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan nodded.

"Good. I understand."

He looked at Jiang Ziya.

"Master Jiang, can you keep an eye on them?"

Jiang Ziya smiled slightly.

"Your Highness, rest assured. I can see their every move. As long as they do not make a move, I will not move. If they dare to make a move—"

He paused, a flash of sharp light in his eyes.

"This subordinate's fishing rod does not mind having a few more fish."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan nodded.

"Good. Then I will trouble you, Master Jiang."

Jiang Ziya bowed and withdrew.

In the study, only Crown Prince Xiao Xuan remained.

He walked to the window, gazing at the moonlight outside.

The people from the ten top-tier powers have arrived.

They came to observe, to scrutinize, to judge.

If they think the Great Yan Dynasty can be bullied, they will make a move.

If they think the Great Yan Dynasty cannot be bullied, they will continue to observe.

This is a silent contest.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan suddenly smiled.

"Then let them watch."

He muttered to himself.

"Let them take a good look at exactly what kind of person the new Crown Prince of the Great Yan Dynasty is."

South of the city, Taoist temple.

Jiang Ziya sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, slightly opening his eyes.

He looked toward the east of the city, a hint of a smile appearing at the corners of his lips.

"Seven auras... and three more... interesting."

He raised his hand, his withered fingers gently flicking in the Void Realm.

A ripple invisible to the naked eye spread out, instantly enveloping the entire capital.

A moment later, he withdrew his hand and nodded.

"People from the Great Xia Empire are at the inn in the east of the city. People from the Great Shang Empire are at the villa in the south of the city. People from the Tianxuan Sect are at the restaurant in the west of the city..."

He pointed out the locations of those people one by one.

"They are all watching, all waiting."

He smiled.

"Then let you watch. After you finish watching, you will know—"

He paused.

"The Great Yan Dynasty is no longer the Great Yan Dynasty it used to be."

He closed his eyes again.

That fishing rod with a straight, baitless hook still lay across his knees.

The luster on the fishing rod trembled slightly.

As if saying—

Soon, soon.