RPAGF Chapter 32 Showdown in the Funeral Hall
Chapter 32 Showdown in the Funeral Hall
The air in the mourning hall seemed frozen.
Everyone was watching Yin'e and Yinzhen (the Fourth Prince), these two brothers who had always been at odds.
Before Wei Dongting's spirit tablet, in front of the entire court, they confronted each other head-on.
No one dared to speak, no one dared to cough, and even their breathing was kept to a minimum.
Yinzhen faced Yin'e directly.
Although he wasn't tall, his imposing presence made him seem superior.
"Tenth Brother, what do you mean by that?"
"It's nothing," Yin'e shrugged. "I just wanted to ask Fourth Brother, is Fourth Brother's reasoning only applicable to others and not to his own people, or is it impartial?"
Yinzhen's gaze grew even colder.
His lips twitched slightly, a habitual gesture he made before getting angry, as those who knew him well knew.
But his voice remained calm: "Of course. I am ordered by my father to collect debts, so naturally all those who owe money must be collected, without discrimination based on kinship."
That was a perfectly eloquent and watertight statement.
Yin'e was not silenced by those words.
That's exactly what he was waiting for.
"Okay, I'll treat them all the same." He nodded, his smile fading slightly. "Then, little brother, ask the first question."
He turned around, his gaze passing over Yinzhen and landing on Tian Wenjing standing behind him.
Tian Wenjing was hunched over, her small eyes darting around, seemingly plotting something.
"Lord Tian."
Tian Wenjing had no choice but to step forward.
He took two steps forward, bowed, and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture: "What advice does Tenth Master have for me?"
"I dare not presume to offer my guidance." Yin'e waved his hand. "I just want to ask Lord Tian, if you're going to collect a debt, then collect the debt. Why do you have to torment and humiliate Lord Wei?"
So many officials owe money, why don't you go to court every day or visit them in person to collect debts?
Why is Wei being given such special "care"?
Tian Wenjing's expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained her confident demeanor.
He straightened his chest and said in a businesslike tone, "Tenth Master, you are mistaken. I am acting on imperial orders to recover the debts, and I treat everyone equally."
Lord Wei owes the most, so I naturally have to put in more effort.
As for the court hearings and door-to-door collection of payments, those are procedures stipulated by the imperial court; I was merely following the rules.
"Follow the rules?" Yin'e repeated the four words, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Fine, 'follow the rules' indeed."
He took two steps forward and looked down at Tian Wenjing.
He was more than half a head taller than Tian Wenjing. As he approached, Tian Wenjing had to look up at him, which made her look even more sleazy.
"Then let me ask you, with so many people owing money, why are you focusing on Lord Wei? In the Ministry of Revenue's records, Lord Wei isn't the only one who owes more than 300,000."
Third Master owes 300,000, why don't you go to court one day and visit him the next?
Fifth Master owes 50,000, and Twelfth Master owes 30,000. Why don't you go and urge them to pay?
Why did they specifically target Lord Wei?
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Tian Wenjing's forehead.
"This...this is because...Lord Wei's debt has been outstanding for the longest period and is the largest in amount, therefore..."
"So you're using him as a scapegoat?" Yin'e interrupted him, his voice suddenly turning cold. "Tian Wenjing, do you even believe the reasons you give?"
Tian Wenjing opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but was forced to swallow it back by Yin'e's gaze.
Yin'e gave him no chance to argue and said bluntly, "You're eyeing Lord Wei not because he owes you the longest amount or the largest amount, but because you have a past grudge against him."
Tian Wenjing, do you think I don't know?
The entire audience erupted in uproar.
All eyes turned to Tian Wenjing, some with surprise, some with curiosity, some with schadenfreude, and some with an air of knowing "I knew it."
Tian Wenjing's face turned completely pale.
His lips trembled slightly, and his voice changed tone: "Tenth Master... what makes you say that, Tenth Master? I have no grudge against Lord Wei, how could I..."
"No enmity?" Yin'e sneered. "Then let me ask you, when you were the magistrate of Jiangnan, Lord Wei was the Governor-General of Liangjiang."
You were accused of dereliction of duty while in office, and Lord Wei impeached you, almost resulting in your dismissal. You've held a grudge about this, haven't you?
This matter was discovered by Yin'e from the original owner's fragmented memories.
Although the original owner was a good-for-nothing, he had at least spent more than twenty years in the court and knew some old stories.
Tian Wenjing served as an official in Jiangnan in his early years. He was impeached by Wei Dongting for embezzlement. Although he was not dismissed from office in the end, his career was greatly affected.
This person is vindictive and has held a grudge against this debt. It makes perfect sense that he would use the opportunity of collecting the debt to settle a personal score.
Tian Wenjing's face turned a deep liver color.
He wanted to argue, but when he opened his mouth, he found that he couldn't utter a single complete sentence.
Because this story is true, it's just that it happened so long ago that not many people know about it.
The officials in the mourning hall began to whisper among themselves.
"So that's how it is... No wonder Tian Wenjing kept staring at Lord Wei."
"Using public office for personal revenge, that's utterly despicable."
"Lord Wei is also pitiful. He's been targeted by this kind of person. Even if he doesn't die, he'll be skinned alive."
Although the voice wasn't loud, each word drilled into Tian Wenjing's ears like a series of soft knives, leaving him nowhere to hide.
Just then, Yinzhen stepped forward.
He took a step forward, standing in front of Tian Wenjing, blocking the gossip and stares from her.
His face was ashen, his gaze sharp as a knife as he swept over the whispering officials, silencing all the chatter in his wake.
"Enough. Tian Wenjing is my man. I will take responsibility for his actions."
He was acting under orders and according to the rules; he wasn't seeking personal revenge.
"If you have any complaints, come at me, Your Majesty."
This statement was very comprehensive, effectively protecting Tian Wenjing.
Seeing Yinzhen's protective attitude, Yin'e couldn't help but smile inwardly.
This was exactly what he was waiting for—to corner Tian Wenjing and force Yinzhen to step forward and take the bullet for him.
Now that the gun is pointed at Yinzhen, the show can begin.
"Since Fourth Brother has said so," Yin'e said slowly, "then let me ask the second question."
He paused, looked around, and his gaze swept across the faces of the officials.
Those people held their breath, waiting for him to say next.
"Fourth Brother said to treat everyone equally and to pursue all those who owe money. So, I'd like to ask, when does Fourth Brother plan to pursue the 500,000 taels owed by Huang Tiren and Xiao Guoxing?"
The air in the mourning hall seemed to freeze completely at that moment.
Everyone knows who Huang Tiren and Xiao Guoxing are: the Vice Minister of Rites and the Vice Minister of Justice, respectively, and the two most trusted protégés of Crown Prince Yinreng.
The fact that they borrowed 500,000 taels of silver from the national treasury has been widely known in the capital, but no one has ever publicly revealed it.
Because everyone knows that this money wasn't borrowed by them, but by the Crown Prince.
He only dared to cause trouble in front of Tian Wenjing, but now Yin'e directly exposed him to Yinzhen (the Fourth Prince).
This is a complete breakdown in relations, tearing away the fig leaf.