Feeling the vicissitudes of life, when the horizon is as far as the eye can see.

The evening sail is as light as an arrow, and the setting sun is as big as a dustpan.

The wind is tired and the flag is gone, and the horses and horses are rushing in the wild.

The big dream returns to the river and the moon, jumping out of the golden scale pool.

In the sixteenth year of Tianji, the twenty-second day of the first lunar month.

If there are records in history books in the future, today will be a day that will be recorded in the history of Daning.

But for Wei Changtian at this moment, today may be a little different, but that's all.

At sunset, Li Huaizhong slowly walked out of Wei's house alone.

Wei Changtian stood in front of the window and watched his leaving figure, tapping the window edge slowly with his fingers, his expression thoughtful.

Everything went smoothly...or too smoothly.

Li Huaizhong has revealed the Liu family's conspiracy without reservation, and what he said has a nose and an eye, and it doesn't sound like a lie no matter how hard it sounds.

Is this old eunuch so eager for a way to make up for the yin and yang skills?

Or is there another purpose?

Wei Changtian wasn't sure, so he glanced through the window lattice at Xu Qingwan and You Jia, who were sitting and talking in the front yard.

As if they were aware of his gaze, the two women quickly turned their heads and looked back in unison.

There was a slight smile on their lips.

It's just that one is very simple and the other is somewhat meaningful.

...

...

Daning Palace, Ziluan Hall.

"Wei minister pays homage to the emperor!"

In the empty hall, a man wearing a purple robe embroidered with cranes bowed respectfully to Ning Yongnian.

He is the head of the Xu family in Daning, the Minister of Household Affairs, Xu Shixing.

"Well, Xu Aiqing, please take a look at this first. Let me approve these notes before I talk to you."

Throwing a pamphlet on the table, Ning Yongnian continued to read through the long and smelly memorials with his head down, seemingly unhappy.

"..."

Seeing this, Xu Shixing did not dare to say anything, so he hurriedly stepped forward and took the pamphlet into his hand.

And when he opened the first page of the book and read a few lines...like cold water pouring on his head, a chill instantly exploded from head to toe.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty! This..."

"I told you, wait!"

Ning Yongnian did not raise his head, but there was an invisible force of oppression in his words.

"Yes Yes......"

Xu Shixing's body trembled suddenly, and he trembled for a long time before returning his gaze to the pamphlet in his hand that was soaked with sweat.

One by one, they are all the shady things that the Xu family has done.

The Xu family is the richest family in Daning and is involved in countless businesses, among which there will inevitably be some unclean things.

Xu Shixing knew some of these things, while some even he, the head of the family, had never heard of.

But just the part he knew, if it were to be strictly investigated, would be enough to seriously damage the Xu family's vitality.

Xu Shixing, who has been serving as the Minister of the Ministry of Finance for more than ten years, is not a businessman who only makes money.

He is also well versed in the ways of the court.

So what really frightened him was not what was written in this booklet, but why Ning Yongnian showed this booklet to him...

"Liu, Wei, Xu, and the people of Daning all know these three surnames. There is even a joke that the power of these three families is far greater than mine..."

Suddenly, Ning Yongnian spoke.

"Xu Aiqing, what do you think?"

"Plop!"

Xu Shixing didn't even think about it. The next second he fell to his knees tremblingly.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty! The loyalty of the ministers to the Emperor can be seen from the sun and the moon! What is said in this book..."

"I didn't ask you this!"

Ning Yongnian slammed the memorial in his hand onto the table and narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Answer the question I just asked! Are the three families of Liu, Wei and Xu really so powerful?!"

"emperor......"

Xu Shixing suddenly raised his head, with tears streaming down his face: "The Liu and Wei families are humble and dare not say anything, but the Xu family is definitely not like that!"

"Is it?"

Ning Yongnian stared at Xu Shixing and suddenly asked: "Xu Qing, since you are the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, you should know how much silver is currently in Daning's treasury."

"Go back, go back to the emperor..."

Xu Shixing felt bad, but he still answered bravely: "Nearly, almost fifty million taels."

"Okay, after excluding the salaries of big and small officials, military pay, relief and other expenses, how much money do I have left at my disposal?!"

"Bad, almost...ten thousand taels."

"Ten thousand taels..."

Ning Yongnian slowly stood up, walked around the desk, and walked step by step to Xu Shixing.

He leaned down slightly and asked softly with a half-smile:

"Xu Aiqing, how much money is there in the Xu family's treasury?"

...

How much money does your family have?

Xu Shixing may know the answer, or he may not really know the specific number.

But whether he knew it or not, there was no answer to this question.

"..."

There was silence in the Ziluan Hall for a while. Looking at Xu Shixing who was shaking like chaff, Ning Yongnian did not ask any more questions, but silently reached out and took the booklet back.

"Xu Qing, I am not the kind of person who doesn't miss old feelings."

"I was able to ascend the throne because the Xu family had contributed a lot. It is precisely because of this that I have repeatedly tolerated and condoned the actions of the Xu family..."

"But this time, I really don't know what to do... Why don't you tell me?"

"..."

The afterglow of the setting sun shone into the main hall and reflected on Ning Yongnian's robe, seeming to give the golden dragon with its teeth and claws a layer of blood.

After a brief period of panic, although Xu Shixing still looked trembling and formidable, his mind was no longer stagnant.

Obviously, Ning Yongnian's move was to test his bottom line.

The Xu family has been rooted in Daning for hundreds of years and has been prosperous for more than a hundred years. Such a complicated and entrenched force cannot be overthrown by just a few words and a piece of evidence.

Ning Yongnian knew this, and Xu Shixing knew it even better.

Then the key lies in how much the Xu family has to pay to satisfy Ning Yongnian's appetite.

"Your Majesty, my clan has committed such a disaster, and I know that I cannot escape my involvement."

"I no longer have the dignity to assume the important role of Minister of Household Affairs... I am willing to resign and return to my hometown!"

"I beg the Emperor to grant your permission!"

"Boom!"

After kowtowing heavily, Xu Shixing decided to hand over power first.

According to his judgment, Daning's treasury is currently abundant and there is no shortage of money, so what Ning Yongnian did must be his right to control money affairs.

Under normal circumstances, this idea is correct.

But what Ning Yongnian has to do this time is far more than that simple.

"Resign and return to your hometown?"

Ning Yongnian sighed softly and said in a calm tone: "Xu Qing, do you really think that you can wear the flower feathers on your head and pick them off when you want? Do you really think that this capital is for you to come and go as you please?

Isn’t it possible?”
To be continued...