Chapter 94: Knocking

Minister Wang’s face instantly turned pale. How could he not understand the implications of what Tie Butian was saying?

"The son of the Right Chancellor was originally sentenced to military service, but he died mysteriously in prison. Afterwards, although the Flowing Emerald Lake appeared to be unclaimed, it secretly became the property of your Wang family."

Tie Butian said coolly, "Minister Wang, there are dozens of shops around the entire Flowing Emerald Lake, a total of sixty-eight, but thirty-seven of them are surnamed Wang. The court has never managed this matter for two reasons: first, the country has been plagued by internal and external troubles in recent years, leaving no time to deal with it; second, three officials from the court’s Censorate also have properties in the Flowing Emerald Lake, though not many, just enough to divide the remaining thirty-one shops equally. Heh, the annual income is quite substantial and very considerable!"

"Thirdly, I have been counting on you to turn things around. After all, it’s not easy to cultivate a minister for our Tieyun. Your abilities are just one aspect; there’s also the support of the court, public opinion, and past political achievements. You have made contributions to the country and the people! Heh heh..."

Tie Butian’s tone was already tinged with a chill. The two officials trembled all over, sweat pouring down their faces, feeling as if their heads were spinning.

"It’s this Flowing Emerald Lake that has become a place for you and six other officials to enrich yourselves and divide the spoils! Now, when the court needs to requisition it, you actually come to me talking about public outrage? Where does this public outrage come from? Is this so-called public outrage just the anger of a few families?"

"To manipulate public opinion in an attempt to influence my decision!" Tie Butian’s eyes turned cold, and he shouted coldly, "Wang Zhi! Do you really think I am young and easy to deceive?!"

With a thud, the two officials trembled like sieves, feeling their legs go weak, and finally could not stand, kneeling on the ground.

Tie Butian said sternly, "What, do you think I need your approval to requisition the Flowing Emerald Lake?"

"We dare not!" The two officials bowed their heads like pounding garlic, at this moment almost regretting their decision. They never imagined that the Flowing Emerald Lake was truly the intention of the Crown Prince, and that the Crown Prince was so resolute!

"Hmph! The Flowing Emerald Lake is a state asset, a scenic spot in Tieyun City, but you have used it to enrich yourselves; this is simply absurd! As officials of the court, you receive your salaries from the court, yet you... it pains me deeply!" Tie Butian said sorrowfully, "Enough, you are old ministers, and I don’t want to be too harsh. Minister Wang, you inform the other families to hand over half of the income from the Flowing Emerald Lake to the state treasury. Go back."

"Yes, yes, thank you, Your Highness, for your leniency." The two officials bowed repeatedly, sweat pouring down their faces, as if they had just escaped from the gates of hell.

"Do you think these families need me to send them a ledger to compare?" As the two officials thanked him profusely and left, Tie Butian seemed to be talking to himself, which immediately made the two officials stumble and roll down the steps in a sorry state.

Watching the two officials leave in a sorry state, Tie Butian’s eyes were cold. He had been waiting, waiting for Chu Yang’s news, but he had also been waiting for these people to tell him the truth.

Now, after confirming Chu Yang’s capabilities, Tie Butian made his decision. If there were no results by now, Tie Butian had planned to keep those two people for another day...

"The Replenishing Heaven Pavilion is finally taking shape." Tie Butian looked at the hazy moonlight outside the window and finally sighed. Since the establishment of the Replenishing Heaven Pavilion, it was just a gimmick, a framework. As the Crown Prince, he was actually the ruler of the country, and had no time to manage the Replenishing Heaven Pavilion.

Now, with Chu Yang’s arrival, this void was truly filled.

"Uncle Shadow, do you think Chu Yang will bring the Replenishing Heaven Pavilion to what level?" Tie Butian seemed to be talking to himself.

The air in front of him suddenly rippled, as if the space itself had twisted, and a shadowy figure appeared, like a ghost, with a dry, low voice, "You shouldn’t ask me about this."

"I’m not asking you, but... I want to see you." Tie Butian said softly, "You are my greatest support, yet you are so unwilling to appear. I always want to talk to you after a few days of not seeing you. Only by confirming your existence do I feel I can sleep soundly at night... heh heh..."

The shadowy figure’s eyes seemed to ripple, and it said hoarsely, "Your Highness, rest assured. With the two of us here, no one can kill you in the Lower Three Days."

Tie Butian smiled lightly and nodded, muttering, "So tired." He took a few steps back and fell onto the bed, murmuring, "Uncle Shadow, you two rest as well."

The air rippled again, and the shadow slowly dissipated and disappeared.

Tie Butian on the bed had already closed his eyes. With the shadow around, he felt very at ease. Although he did not know what level the Shadow brothers were, one thing was clear: if it weren’t for the Shadow brothers, the Fifth Qingrou would have probably taken his head long ago.

When Cheng Ziang returned from Tie Butian, it was already late at night. Walking to his room, he was about to push the door open when he suddenly paused and shouted in a low voice, "Who’s in my room?"

"It’s me." A clear voice said, and then the candlelight in the room suddenly brightened.

"It’s you, Your Excellency." Cheng Ziang sighed in relief and pushed the door open. Inside, Chu Yang was sitting upright in the middle of the room, his eyes cold and clear.

"I didn’t know you would come at this hour, what guidance do you have for me?" Cheng Ziang felt his heart pounding for some reason.

Cheng Ziang clearly felt that the other party was weak, and he could easily kill him with one hand, yet he felt a deep sense of caution towards this seemingly weak young man. This was truly unimaginable for him.

"I dare not give guidance." Chu Yang smiled, "It’s just that in the afternoon, my words were a bit inappropriate, and I didn’t consult Captain Cheng about the change in position, which makes me feel uneasy."

"Not at all, Your Excellency’s methods are excellent. You caught the traitor, cleared the隐患 for the Replenishing Heaven Pavilion, and with your decisive actions, the entire Replenishing Heaven Pavilion has formed combat capability in the shortest time. I am extremely admiring." Cheng Ziang said with a smile.

"Ah, so Captain Cheng approves of my actions?" Chu Yang smiled.

"Of course, of course, I approve greatly." Cheng Ziang nodded repeatedly. He was still guessing Chu Yang’s true intentions, feeling somewhat uneasy and guilty.

"Good, the Crown Prince didn’t say anything, right?" Chu Yang said with a smile.

"Um, no, no... ah?" Cheng Ziang stopped mid-sentence, suddenly coming to his senses, staring at Chu Yang in shock, as if he had seen a ghost.

"That’s good." Chu Yang stood up, nodded lightly, and said, "Actually, I hope he would say something, heh heh. Captain Cheng has been working hard, and you are quite old, so don’t overwork yourself, heh heh. Get some rest." He pushed the door open and left.

Cheng Ziang was drenched in cold sweat, his body icy cold.

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