"That scoundrel Fu Jinsong, he kept the ill-gotten silver at a manor. After the matter was exposed, the silver was likely moved elsewhere!"
Qin Yun approached Wei Gen, crouched down, and asked softly, "Where is that manor?"
"South of the city, in the western suburbs!"
"What is the name of the manor!"
Wei Qing honestly replied, "That manor has no name! But I can take all you lords there!"
"Good!" Qin Yun turned, knelt on one knee, and clasped his hands in a salute. "Your Majesty, I request to take Wei Qing to the western suburbs!"
Xie Qianmo naturally sided with Qin Yun!
He nodded. "Good, I grant your request!"
Qin Yun walked up to Fu Jinsong and smiled, "Lord Fu, would you like to accompany us?"
Fu Jinsong trembled.
Then he closed his eyes. "There's no need to go! The silver is indeed at the manor in the western suburbs, I have not moved it!"
Not moved?
Qin Yun was undeniably pleased to hear this!
Su Tai, hearing this, cursed Fu Jinsong as a fool in his heart!
"Are you admitting to it?"
Fu Jinsong knelt respectfully on the ground, his forehead touching the floor, tears and snot streaming down his face as he said, "This subject is guilty!"
Xie Qianmo sneered. "Lord Fu, tell us, how much silver have you embezzled over the years!"
Fu Jinsong looked up! His gaze swept towards Su Tai!
His grandson was in Su Tai's hands, so he could only bear this alone!
"The tax revenue from the three towns was all embezzled by this subject! A total of approximately 1.2 million taels!"
Fu Jinsong was much more honest now.
Compared to the beginning, his attitude had done a complete 360-degree turn!
"What, do you feel the court's salary is too low, so you began embezzling through your position?"
Fu Jinsong really wanted to defend himself!
He never intended to embezzle at first!
If not for Su Tai's instigation, he wouldn't have done it!
"This subject was blinded by greed. This subject knows his crime!"
"Fu Jinsong, do you know the crime of embezzlement?"
Fu Jinsong lowered his head, frowning. "One person's actions, one person bears them. I beg Your Majesty to spare the others in the Fu manor!"
"I will ask you one more time, was anyone instigating you in the matter of embezzlement?"
"No."
"Very well. If that is the case, I will send people to the western suburbs to verify! If you are found to be lying, everyone in the Fu manor will be beheaded!"
Upon hearing this, Fu Jinsong's spirit could not take it.
He rolled his eyes and fainted.
Fu Jinsong fainted, and no one paid him any mind!
Nor did anyone dare to step forward to help him!
"Guards, take Wei Qing to the western suburbs to verify the amount of silver!"
"Officials from the Ministry of Personnel, step forward and verify the account books in the wooden boxes three times. No mistakes are allowed! Other officials, remain where you are and do not leave the hall during this period!"
After Xie Qianmo spoke! The guards took Wei Qing to the manor in the western suburbs to verify, led by Leng Feng and Leng Ye, the two great bodyguards!
The account books were to be verified within the hall. The eunuchs brought forward wooden tables to facilitate the verification of the numbers by the officials from the Ministry of Personnel!
Seeing this situation! Su Tai, standing nearby, became anxious!
He desperately wanted to send someone to check the broken temple to see if the hostages were still there, but in the current hall! No official could leave without the Emperor's permission!
He could only stand there, stunned!
This was a critical juncture, and speaking too much would lead to more mistakes. He had to remain calm!
Qin Yun also stood to the side, giving up her position in the hall!
Her gaze was constantly on Su Tai!
To be so calm at this point, this fox was truly not simple!
However! No matter how cunning, it was useless!
The one in the high position was a wolf! How could a fox be his match!
Three hours later!
Leng Feng and Leng Ye returned to the hall with Wei Qing!
The officials from the Ministry of Personnel had also just closed their account books!
Then, the leading official wrote down the calculated amount and handed it to Qin Yun!
Looking at the amount in her hand, Qin Yun nodded in satisfaction!
"Your Majesty, the amount in the account books is indeed as Fu Jinsong stated, 1.2 million taels!"
Xie Qianmo looked at Leng Ye. "Is the amount of silver at the manor correct?"
Leng Ye knelt on one knee and said respectfully, "The amount at the manor is only fifty thousand taels!"
Fifty thousand?
Qin Yun and Xie Qianmo exchanged a silent glance! They both knew what was going on!
"Wake up Lord Fu!"
An official closest to Fu Jinsong crouched down and pinched his philtrum. Fu Jinsong quickly woke up again!
"Lord Fu, are you awake?" Qin Yun approached Fu Jinsong, looking down at him!
Upon seeing Qin Yun, Fu Jinsong quickly came to his senses!
He hurriedly got up and knelt on both knees!
"Your Majesty!" Fu Jinsong's scalp tingled. He didn't know how long he had been unconscious, nor what had happened during that time!
"Fu Jinsong, I sent people to the manor in the western suburbs to verify, and there were only fifty thousand taels inside. You stated 1.25 million taels, and there is still 700,000 taels missing. Where is that 700,000 taels now?"
Fu Jinsong lowered his head!
He didn't know how to answer this question!
"Your Majesty, actually, that 1.2 million taels was not all taken by this subject alone! The town masters of the three towns also had a share!"
Qin Yun smiled. "This subject is aware of this matter! However, the three town masters only took one-tenth, a total of about 120,000 taels! And the remaining 580,000 taels, their whereabouts are now unknown! Lord Fu, can you explain what happened?"
Fu Jinsong naturally knew what had happened!
That 580,000 taels had been taken by Su Tai, but he dared not say it!
"Over the years, the Fu manor's expenses have been very large! This subject bought several houses and shops, and those silver coins were haphazardly spent!"
Unexpectedly!
After hearing about the spending, Qin Yun burst into laughter! "Lord Fu, I have already had people verify the shops and houses you purchased!"
"You have three houses and ten shops, totaling about 100,000 taels! According to the statistics from your manor's account books, your manor's expenses are about 30,000 taels per year, and there was no extravagant waste!"
"Lord Fu, now you should tell the truth!"
Fu Jinsong looked at Qin Yun in disbelief!
Did this person know all about the affairs and expenses of his manor?
How did she know?
"Don't look at me like that. I know far more than that!"
Qin Yun crouched down!
She whispered something in Fu Jinsong's ear!
Then she quickly moved away!
The two's small actions were seen by the officials at close range! Xie Qianmo also saw it clearly!
Fu Jinsong looked at Qin Yun with confusion!
Then he looked in the direction Qin Yun indicated!
Behind a hidden pillar!
He saw his grandson! Seeing this scene! The great stone that had been hanging over Fu Jinsong's heart finally fell!
He knew he couldn't escape today, death was inevitable either way!
Now that his grandson had been rescued!
He had no more concerns!
Fu Jinsong knelt on the ground, his back ramrod straight!
His demeanor was natural, showing neither fear nor timidity!
"Your Majesty, the remaining 580,000 taels are in the residence of Prime Minister Su!"
As soon as these words were spoken, all the officials in the hall widened their eyes!
"Is this Lord Fu mad! How dare he drag the Right Prime Minister into this!"
"How did the Right Prime Minister offend him? Although the Right Prime Minister is a bit fierce, he is upright and never embezzles!"
"These two people are not related at all, why is the Right Prime Minister being dragged into this?"
Su Tai also did not expect Fu Jinsong to drag him into this. This was beyond his expectation!
His grandson was in his hands, and he still dared to act out of line?