The other ministers, hearing the inner thoughts of Yu Hua, could only whisper quietly and pinch their thighs to keep from laughing.
Even Emperor An Yi struggled to suppress his amusement. After all, the prime minister was a senior statesman; he could not publicly disregard him.
“So, is this prime minister a good man or a bad one?” Yu Hua wondered.
“Essentially, Cai Heshan is loyal and dutiful. He has no great achievements but also no major faults. He’s a fairly standard, by-the-book official,” the system explained.
Hearing this, Cai Heshan finally relaxed. “Thankfully, thankfully! If His Majesty heard that I’d done anything heinous, my retirement—and possibly my family—would be at risk!”
Yu Jinghong wiped his forehead. “Luckily, she didn’t reveal anything worse.”
The other ministers quietly swallowed, realizing that the “little Anshun Envoy” could easily expose any misdeeds they had committed.
Emperor An Yi had a sudden thought: “I am poor, the treasury is empty… perhaps this little girl could help resolve our financial crisis.”
He shot a meaningful glance at Li Shun, who immediately understood and presented an urgent memorial:
“Your Majesty, this is an eight-hundred-li express document. The treasury is empty, and we urgently need funds for grain and military pay.”
The ministers’ hearts sank, understanding the emperor’s hint, yet a tremor of fear ran through them.
“Ministers, with an empty treasury and urgent frontier reports, do you have any solutions?”
They whispered among themselves, consulting quietly.
“No wonder Father said that the treasures the emperor gifted me were cobbled together from the harem. Now it makes sense—he really is that poor!” Yu Hua thought.
“The emperor is not just poor—he is extremely poor. Yet many ministers are ‘fat with riches,’ meaning they are wealthier than their employer,” the system explained.
“The employees are richer than the boss… I wonder what the emperor would think if he knew?”
The ministers, overhearing her thoughts, grew even more nervous.
“I’m not very wealthy… my daily expenses are high, and my family’s savings aren’t much.”
“My family’s wealth is substantial… I hope the Anshun Envoy won’t expose me. I’ve done nothing to her. Prayers won’t help now… please, don’t say anything about me!”
Emperor An Yi flushed at hearing Yu Hua. “Yu Ai Qing! I gifted your daughter treasures, and now you’re revealing my own plight? Truly, you are impossible.”
Yet, realizing that many ministers were richer than him, he felt a subtle sting of failure.
“Am I not a wise ruler? Living frugally while my ministers indulge, and I wonder if the Anshun Envoy will expose them?”
“Tell me, who among the ministers is the wealthiest? I want to enjoy their gossip too!”
“The wealthiest is Prince An, father of your friend Gu Zhizhi. Their fortune is legitimate.”
The emperor nodded. “I know about Prince An’s wealth, but tell me whose fortune is illicit so I can confiscate it and replenish the treasury!”
The prince himself was initially alarmed but relaxed hearing that it was legitimate. “I may be rich, but my wealth is lawful. No need to worry.”
“Then tell me whose fortune is illegitimate, so we can eat that gossip.”
Emperor An Yi smiled. “The top corrupt official? That would be Prince Jing. You wouldn’t know… his pet kennels are lined with gold, and his backyard has a vault full of treasure. All of it extorted from the common people. Moreover, he secretly communicates with the Eastern Turks, waiting for the right moment to rebel and claim the throne.”
The ministers trembled. They knew all too well that if Prince Jing attempted a coup, only his loyalists would survive; the rest of them would be ruined.
Prince Jing wanted to intervene, but the second and third princes suddenly appeared behind him, covering his mouth and dragging him aside.
“Any more juicy gossip? Any more outrageous scandals?”
“The Jing Prince has over a dozen concubines, taken by coercion or threats. Though in his fifties, he still abducts girls around fifteen years old. Shameless, isn’t it?”
“Indeed shameful… if he becomes emperor, he’ll be far more tyrannical than the current one. The people will have no good days.”
“Not only that, any beautiful young married woman he desires is taken into his household. Those who resist may be killed and fed to dogs. Truly a tragic fate.”
“Do the other ministers not know this? Doesn’t the emperor?”
“Any official bold enough to expose him is secretly eliminated. The emperor, isolated from the common people, has no way to know their suffering.”
This revelation silenced the court.
“The Anshun Envoy is bold indeed. Who knows if ten heads would suffice for punishment?”
“A child speaks without restraint. Hopefully the emperor does not punish her. She only thought it, not said it aloud. Otherwise, where could we get such juicy gossip?”
Yu Jinghong trembled, worried that the emperor might hold them accountable, but seeing the golden pardon token, he felt a small sense of security—then immediately worried again. “I didn’t expect to use the golden pardon on the first day. What will we do in the future?”
Emperor An Yi’s face darkened. He glanced at the second and third princes, who quickly understood, pulling Prince Jing away quietly.
Then, with lightning speed, the Jing Prince’s mansion was searched. As Yu Hua predicted, countless treasures and treasonous letters were discovered.