Chapter 925: Chapter 923: The Ledger That Cannot Be Revealed
Hao Ruhai barely had time to think about why this ledger had appeared here. He quickly retreated a few steps, stepped forward, reached out to grab the ledger, and apologized with a smile, "Sir, there’s been a mistake with this ledger. This isn’t a ledger from the Ministry of Revenue. Please allow me to take it back."
At this moment, Qin Hao had already noticed that this ledger was different from the others. Out of curiosity, he opened the first page.
And as his eyes skimmed over the figures and items recorded on the page, his eyes widened instantly, and a loud sound seemed to explode in his mind.
They had found nothing in their checks for days, yet the content on this page was so shocking!
Then, out of the corner of his eye, Qin Hao saw a hand reaching out and heard Hao Ruhai speaking. Instinctively, he yanked the ledger away from the table, placing it in a safer position beside him, and looked at Hao Ruhai warily.
Hao Ruhai’s face had turned as pale as it could get, and he hurriedly pleaded, "Sir, this ledger is indeed not from the Ministry of Revenue. I beg you to return it to me."
The two people with Qin Hao also noticed something was wrong. Even the other scribes in the room, who were checking the accounts, glanced up.
"Why is Lord Hao in a hurry? Whether it is or not, we need to have a look first." Qin Hao closely watched Hao Ruhai, while his hands moved without pause, leisurely rolling up the ledger, preparing to tuck it into his embrace.
Hao Ruhai was so shocked that his eyes were almost bursting open, disregarding rank and position; he charged forward in an attempt to forcibly snatch it back.
Qin Hao immediately stood up and retreated, shouting, "Bold Hao Ruhai! This is the Ministry of Revenue, a significant place of the court. As a subordinate official, how dare you raise a hand against a superior, are you rebelling?"
Qin Hao’s shout drew the attention of many people. The Ministry of Revenue was considered the Crown Prince’s territory, yet very few knew there was another ledger in Hao Ruhai’s possession.
Though some looked at Qin Hao with suspicion and caution, they did not realize the gravity of the situation, thinking that the dispute was merely due to the audit.
An official in charge whispered to a small clerk next to him, "Go fetch Minister Li."
Hao Ruhai couldn’t wait for Yu Shiqing to arrive, and without retrieving the ledger, it wouldn’t matter who came.
He cupped his hands again, "Sir, this really isn’t a ledger from the Ministry of Revenue, I implore you to return it to me. I’ve taken the wrong item and don’t know what filth this belongs to, truly fearful of sullying your eyes. Please allow me to take it back."
Hao Ruhai was already panicking internally, unsure of what to do. This item was too important, concerning the lives and identities of his entire family. The matter implicated too many; once erupted, it would not be merely his head falling.
If His Majesty thoroughly investigated according to this ledger, half the officials from the Crown Prince down to those in the Ministry of Revenue could hardly escape unscathed. Further investigation might even affect local officials, causing unknown disturbances.
The more desperate Hao Ruhai appeared, the more Qin Hao felt this ledger was significant, so how could he return it?
Qin Hao called the scribes around him to stop Hao Ruhai, while he signaled the other two to prepare to leave.
Amidst the commotion, the Imperial Guards on duty rushed over upon hearing the noise, shouting continuously, "Gentlemen, let’s talk it out peacefully. Stop! Sir, if you don’t listen to reason, you will be taken to the Ministry of Justice for questioning!"
Those present thought it was a conflict between officials, even potentially erupting into a brawl, without realizing its seriousness, so they merely tried to mediate.
Jiang Yifan and Li Zheng hadn’t gone far; upon hearing the commotion, they returned. Seeing the bad situation, they quickly stepped forward to hold Hao Ruhai back, advising, "Lord Hao, speak slowly with Lord Qin. This is a place of work, excessive noise benefits no one. Calm down, try to calm down first."
Hao Ruhai’s eyes were bloodshot, unable to calm down. He forcefully shook off Jiang Yifan and Li Zheng, lunging forward, but was blocked by the Imperial Guards maintaining order.
Seeing the drawn, gleaming swords and hearing the guards’ shouts, he couldn’t get close to Qin Hao, let alone retrieve the ledger.
What to do now? If only he could take the ledger and destroy it, even if he were executed on the spot, at least it wouldn’t ruin the Crown Prince’s affairs, better than having his entire family doomed.
Resembling madness, Hao Ruhai was forced back a couple of steps by the guards, then was grabbed again by Jiang Yifan and Li Zheng, even more anxious. He again shook off their holds, found a gap, and charged desperately.
In his final consciousness, as long as he got the ledger, whether to rip, bite, or swallow, or destroy it in any way, as long as it didn’t fall fully into the emperor’s hands, his family could be spared.
Then, in a panicked moment, he seemed to misidentify the direction, smashing headlong into a stone pillar on the side, falling to the ground with blood gushing from his head.
Everyone was stunned.
The Crown Prince, looking pale, was called by Yu Shiqing when Qin Hao, the lead of the three auditors, had already left the Ministry of Revenue with a few scribes, not even having time to gather their things. Protected by the Imperial Guards, they made a turn and headed to the nearby Cabinet.
"Wh-what? The ledger Hao Ruhai kept was taken by Qin Hao? Are you sure that the ledger taken is the one?"
The Crown Prince, upon hearing Yu Shiqing say the ledger appeared in the Ministry of Revenue and fell into the hands of the auditors, immediately jumped off his recliner, yanking Yu Shiqing over, instantly turning pale as a ghost, quivering and asking.
At this time, there was no one else in the room; even the lackey by the Crown Prince’s side was sent outside by Yu Shiqing to keep watch.
Yu Shiqing nodded, then shook his head and said dejectedly, "I did not see it personally, nor dare to confirm if it’s the ledger. But judging by the officials present, seeing Hao Ruhai’s maddened actions, I suspect it is the ledger. I don’t know how the ledger hidden in Hao Ruhai’s house ended up mixed with other Ministry ledgers and was taken to Qin Hao. If it weren’t that ledger, he wouldn’t have risked his life to reclaim it."
Yu Shiqing no longer harbored any hope, only wishing the Crown Prince could find a way to have the emperor, for the sake of their father-son relationship, handle the matter leniently and let him keep his old life.
"That useless fool, I thought he could be relied upon! Had I known he was so incompetent, I would have never used him, should have let him perish on the road to exile in those days." The Crown Prince gritted his teeth and said.
Hao Ruhai had followed the Crown Prince since his early days, as a minor official on the periphery. Later, entangled in a case and nearly exiled, the Crown Prince intervened and saved him, making him a core confidant.
The Crown Prince grasped Yu Shiqing even tighter, asking in a low voice, "Wasn’t that item not allowed to be taken out? Wasn’t it hidden in a secret place in Hao Ruhai’s residence? How did it end up here? Where is that fool now; go ask him what is going on?"
Yu Shiqing shook his head unconsciously, muttering, "He is unconscious after hitting the pillar, currently waiting for the Imperial Physician to treat him."
The Crown Prince threw off Yu Shiqing’s arm, cursing, "Fool! At a time like this, still waiting for the physician? Get some ice water, wake him up, and question him immediately!"