Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 672: The Nail (Part 3)

Five days later.

In Zhaohai Palace, Tang Youyin solemnly reported: "...The Ministry of Revenue has long-standing issues with corruption, entrenched habits are hard to change. No one dares to touch the gold and silver, and there’s indeed a lot of trickery when handling the sale of field manors and land shops."

"The Gao Liang Prince Mansion has a total of seven field manors and nineteen commercial shops, most of which have been sold. Those coming to buy the field manors are mostly relatives or clansmen of officials from the Ministry of Revenue, and the selling prices are far below market prices."

"Take the field manor disposed of today as an example, it has a total of three thousand mu of fertile land and over thirty manor slaves. The market value is at least thirty thousand silver taels, but it was sold for only eighteen thousand taels."

Outside the Capital City, field manors are worth ten silver taels per mu at the market price. Despite this, the demand is still low. After all, good locations with such a large expanse of fertile land are rare; they are top-quality assets. Unless one is forced to give up everything, who would willingly sell their land?

Even if the Ministry of Revenue is in a hurry to sell and liquidate these assets, such a field manor discounted by ninety percent should be sold for around twenty-seven thousand silver taels to be considered appropriate.

Yet, it was sold for eighteen thousand taels. Where did the missing nine thousand taels of silver go? Into whose pockets did it end up?

A chilling look flashed in Jiang Shaohua’s eyes: "Who is responsible for selling the field manors?"

Tang Youyin, who joined the Ministry of Revenue just a few days ago, already knows every official there, showing meticulous attention: "It’s Doctor Wan from the Ministry of Revenue."

The highest position in the Ministry of Revenue is held by Minister Ji, followed by the Left and Right Vice Ministers, and then there are four fourth-rank Ministers of the Ministry of Revenue.

This Doctor Wan, who is fifty years old this year, has always been a Prime Minister Faction official, notoriously greedy and brazen. Despite Minister Ji’s repeated warnings against malpractices, Doctor Wan still dismisses them and greedily extends his hand.

Jiang Shaohua sneered coldly: "Does Minister Ji know about this matter?"

Tang Youyin replied: "How could Lord Minister be unaware of what even I know? This evening, Lord Minister has already secretly summoned Doctor Wan. As for what was discussed, I am clueless. When I entered the palace for an audience, Doctor Wan had not yet come out."

Jiang Shaohua said mildly: "Then let’s wait and see how Minister Ji handles this matter."

If Minister Ji’s handling does not satisfy us, it doesn’t matter, she will intervene herself.

Tang Youyin respectfully agreed.

Jiang Shaohua set the matter aside and asked with a gentle smile: "You’ve been in the Capital City for some days now. Are you accustomed to living here?"

Tang Youyin, feeling both honored and surprised, quickly smiled and replied: "Thank you, Emperor, for your concern. I am quite tough-skinned and accustomed to wherever I am."

Jiang Shaohua nodded slightly: "It’s good if you’re accustomed. From now on, you must live long-term in the Capital City. For the time being, you’ll stay at the Prince Mansion with Chief Historian Chen, and when a better residence becomes available, I’ll provide you with a choice of good places."

Within these few words lie profound implications.

In the Capital City, good residences in prime locations are mostly occupied by high-ranking court officials. Under what circumstances might a "good residence" become available? Naturally, it would be when corrupt officials are disciplined, demoted, or have their assets confiscated, thus freeing up some spaces.

Tang Youyin understood the deeper meaning, smiled and expressed his gratitude: "I thank the Emperor in advance."

Jiang Shaohua further smiled: "Have someone send a message back and bring your family members to the Capital City."

Tang Youyin responded: "I’ve already asked someone to send a message back to Nanyang. The journey is far, and traveling by carriage requires time."

As for other Tang Family members, they are all working hard across the northern states and counties, even Grandmaster Tang. The only ones who can come to the Capital City to reunite with Tang Youyin are his wife and two sons.

Jiang Shaohua has always been approachable with trusted confidants, and she inquired about the current situation of the Tang Family. Tang Youyin responded smoothly and more composedly than those heavyweight ministers.

This is the serenity and confidence that comes from having contributed to the dragon’s prosperity as an old retainer from the residence.

Imperial Guard Qin Hu quickly entered to report: "Your Majesty, Jingyang Palace has relayed a message from the Grand Empress Dowager, inviting the Emperor for dinner when available."

Tang Youyin wisely took leave.

Jiang Shaohua rose and went to Jingyang Palace.

Nowadays, she must attend to official duties every morning and cannot spare time to visit Jingyang Palace. Whenever there is free time at noon or in the evening, she will go there to accompany Grand Empress Dowager Zheng. She visits Empress Dowager Li’s Ning An Palace every two or three days as well.

Having inherited the throne of the Da Liang Dynasty from her cousin Jiang Song, she has to fulfill familial duties towards her cousin’s mother and grandmother and care for her brothers, as expected.

Recently, Grand Empress Dowager Zheng has been quite upset due to the allocation of Gao Liang Prince Mansion’s confiscated assets to the national treasury. On one hand, she reproaches Jiang Shaohua for making decisions without consulting her, and on the other hand, she is pained that such a large sum of money wasn’t distributed partially.

When it comes to greed for wealth, no official in the Capital City can rival Grand Empress Dowager Zheng. Her private treasury is piled high with gold, silver, jewels, and various rare treasures.

After all, Grand Empress Dowager Zheng has risen from a Crown Princess Consort to her current status, managing the harem for decades. Not to mention, she receives a large number of valuable gifts annually during birthdays and festivals.

In past years, Jiang Shaohua was the one who contributed the most respectfully to her.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng was displeased and made a fuss with Jiang Shaohua for several days before she calmed slightly and sent someone to invite Jiang Shaohua for dinner.

Jiang Shaohua entered Jingyang Palace with a smile, as if nothing had happened, warmly calling out to her grandmother.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng couldn’t resist giving a mocking snort: "I don’t have a granddaughter who is so wasteful."

To Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, the national treasury belongs to the Da Liang court while the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ storeroom is for the Imperial Family, akin to her personal treasury.

For which officials don’t stash benefits into their own pockets? The national treasury being perpetually empty, is it truly due to insufficient tax revenue? Isn’t it rather that individuals are too greedy?

Everyone being avaricious has become the norm. Grand Empress Dowager Zheng doesn’t find anything wrong with it, only blames Jiang Shaohua for not securing the Imperial Family’s rightful benefits.

"Prince Gaoliang is an Imperial Prince, and has lived in the Capital City for years. When your granduncle was alive, he favored Prince Gaoliang the most, gifting him field manors, commercial shops, gold, silver, and jade." As Grand Empress Dowager Zheng recalled these, her tone remained fueled by indignation: "Ultimately, these were all assets of our Jiang Family. In my opinion, if they have been confiscated now, they should all be returned to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Allocating two or three parts to the national treasury, that’s acceptable."

"Yet you, so extravagant and generous, just handed everything over."

"This I couldn’t intervene in time, but for the upcoming assets from Prince Dongping Mansion, Prince Huaiyang Mansion, and Wu’an County Prince Mansion, these must be handled according to precedent, with half transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ storeroom. I will not compromise!"

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng spoke sharply towards the end, fully manifesting her unwavering resolve for sharing.

Jiang Shaohua, however, replied: "The Emperor’s words are final. I’ve already promised in court to allocate all confiscated assets from now into the national treasury. I cannot break my word."

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s eyes widened, ready to rebuke.