Chapter 38 (2/2)

Yan Hong Tian glared at Lou Xi Yan before he recovered and sternly said, “Announce.”

Dan Yu Lan strode into the hall and perform a greeting, “Paying respects to the Emperor. Long live the Emperor.”

Just now the Emperor and Prime Minister Lou had a private discussion and made everyone leave, that cause her to be unsure if she should send in her already prepared tea and snacks. Taking the advantage of Dan Daren seeking an audience, Xiao Yu quickly served tea to the study table and quickly exited. She was not interested in anything about the governing discussion. Those things that should not be listened, she did not want to hear a single word of it.

“Raise.” Dan Yu Lan seems to be in a hurry with a trace of emotion between his brows. Just what is it that made Qiong Yue’s Tixing Official this excited, lifting the freshly brewed hot tea, Yan Hong Tian laughed, “What does noble Official Dan wants to report?”

En, the temperature of the tea is just right. Xiao Yu, this girl is sometimes crafty a bit but she is indeed detailed in her work.

“Replying the Emperor, this official had found this in the underground caves river where the gold mysteriously disappeared that year.” Dan Yu Lan took something out from the sleeve that is gold in colour. Gao Jing step forward to take it and saw that it was an ingot of gold.

Gao Jing turned and presented it to the Emperor. Yan Hong Tian took the gold ingot and glanced at it. His face turned cold, changing from a relaxed and idle expression, and said in a dignified tone, “Continue on.”

“This official suspects that the gold theft three years ago, was not just a low rank guard colluding with the bandits to rob the treasury storage that simple. Perhaps that year, there are mistaken convictions which has ulterior motives. This official request the Emperor to allow this official to retrial the gold case.”

Handling the gold on his table to Gao Jing so that he will pass it to Lou Xi Yan, Yan Hong Tian picked up the tea cup and his expression quickly restored per usual, “The trial for gold case that year was handled by Ministry of Justice and the Defence provided assistance to oversea the entire case till it was close. With regards to a retrial to such a big case, it will have wide implications. The so-called ulterior motives that lead to mistaken convictions, Official Dan have how much a certainty? Where is the gold currently located at?”

Dan Yu Lan slightly raise his head and looked at the Emperor seated higher up and drinking his tea. For a moment, he is unsure what was the meaning behind the Emperor’s words and turned to Prime Minister Lou who was standing by the side. He saw that he was staring at the gold ingot as if in a trance and he too did not know what he was thinking. Dan Yu Lan thought for a while and replied truthfully, “This official was able to find part of the lost gold in the bottom of the underground river which meant that most important aspect of the determined case, the guard who was colluding with the bandits and covered them to move the gold to another exit, does not match. This is already a wrong conviction and the mastermind who push the blame onto the guards is who and where did the gold went to, needs to be thoroughly investigated before any results can be concluded.

“Good. Go back and prepare a report on the review of the gold case and elaborate the details before submitting it for discussion.”

“Yes. This official… Will retire.” Dan Yu Lan’s heart hesitated. That year the gold case shocked the entire government and it also dealt with the countries finances. It was difficult now to have new information and the Emperor’s attitude is so… Half-hearted? Even though he was puzzled, Dan Yu Lan did not dare to delay, quickly performed the greetings and left.

Lou Xi Yan gently rubbed the four engraved letterings on the back of the gold — National Reserves Official Currency. It was indeed the stolen gold. Today when he left, Qing Mo just arrived at the Prime Minister manor to look for Ling-er and Dan Yu Lan coincidently also found the fifty liang of gold in the cave. It must have been their efforts. He thought that Ling-er was already distinctive enough but recently that little girl by the name of QIng Mo also seems not simple. Not sure if Qing Feng in the Palace is also the same as them being different.

Lou Xi Yan was playing with the gold ingot in his hand and suddenly looked up to him with a trace of ridicule. Yan Hong Tian felt ridiculous being stared by him and asked, “Having a retrial on the gold case, what is your opinion?”

Lou Xi Yan lowered his head slightly and concealed the smile on his lips, he pretended to ponder deeply about it before shaking his hand, “This official finds that the timing is inappropriate.”

“Oh?” Yan Hong Tian questioned as cannot see if that sentence was not appropriate or violated the his intention.

“Official Dan capability in handing the case is obvious to all. By putting the gold case in retrial will set off thousands of waves. Only afraid that a cornered beast will be desperate and create incidents during the ceremony, which would be unfavourable to Qiong Yue.”

With his hands folded in front of his chest, Yan Hong Tian squited his eyes at Lou Xi Yan, “So accordingly to the Prime Minister’s viewpoint, what should be done? Just drop the matter?”

Lou Xi Yan laughed, “That is not required.”

Yan Hong Tian’s brow raised as his back lean against his dragon chair and he look at him calmly and unruffled, waiting for him to continue talking.

“There is still two months till the ceremony, the Emperor can wait and see if Official Dan is able to find more evidence. If Official Dan is able to find more concrete or advantageous evidences, the Emperor would be able to use the opportunity to uproot them.”

“Uprooted them?” Yan Hong Tian laughed loudly, “Do you think it is possible?” If it was that easy to uproot, it would be done that year. Why would he need to be dormant for so many years?

Lou Xi Yan smiled calmly and gave an indifferent reply, “If he can’t then by using this club, it is also worth it as the Emperor can scare some snakes out. After the celebration, the Imperial Treasury must be empty, if it is possible to recover some of the lost ten thousands liang of gold, that would not be better.”

With a satisfied nod, Yan Hong Tian replied readily, “Just do as you meant to do.”

Lou Xi Yan lightly chuckled, the Emperor has long intended for that to happen but he wanted it to come out from his mouth. “Yes.” After putting his hands together to greet, Lou Xi Yan turned to leave.

“Wait.” Yan Hong Tian sternly asked, “Do you really have to marry Qing Ling at this time?”

Lou Xi Yan’s eyes displayed a trace of mischief as he smiled and replied, “This official will deal with the matter well and not dare to trouble the Emperor to clean up the mess.”

“Lou Xi Yan!” He actually dare to use the words he spoke to rebut him!

Yan Hong Tian face changed but Lou Xi Yan did not take it seriously and bowed submissively again with a smile and unenthusiastically replied, “This official retires.” He left in a leisurely and elegant manner.

Yan Hong Tian helplessly shook his head, he has to remind his Empress Mother to find another husband for Xuan-er.  If he did not remember wrongly, during their youth, Xi Yan once said that he will only marry one wife this lifetime. If Xi Yan was able to do it, he would really admire him. It is not that it is difficult to love one female in one lifetime, but it is for people like them, marrying more wives and concubine would more often be pulling and balancing influences and political power. Whether it is his or their family clans’ eyes, females are only but a “tool”, and he was happy to make good use of these “tools”.

His sight settled on the bright fifty-two liang gold on his study table and Yan Hong Tian suddenly spoke, “Gao Jing, summon Ming Jian.”

“Yes.” Gao Jing hurried out of the Imperial Study and after half a sichen (1 sichen = 2 hours), a tall figured appeared in the Imperial Study.

“This official, Ming Jian, greets the Emperor.”