Published: March 4, 2025
CHAPTER NINETY-FOUR: STRIKING
Lord Wang's face suddenly turned pale. How could he not understand Tie Butian's implied meaning?
"The son of the right minister was originally sentenced to exile; yet he died mysteriously in prison. Afterwards, although Emerald Lake appeared to be ownerless, secretly, it has belonged to your Wang family."
Tie Butian said귔귔å°é, "Lord Wang, surrounding Emerald Lake, there are dozens of shops and industries, a total of sixty-eight. However, among them, thirty-seven are family-owned by the Wang surname. And the court has never intervened in this matter. One reason is that in recent years, there have been internal and external troubles, so they couldn't spare the manpower. The second reason is that the three officials from the Imperial Supervisory Office also have industries at Emerald Lake; although not many, they conveniently divide the remaining thirty-one shops among themselves. Every year, the income is quite considerable!"
"The third reason is that I expect you to have a turning point someday. After all, cultivating a minister in Iron Cloud is not easy. Your abilities are just one aspect; thereās also the courtās support, public reputation, and past performance. Serving the country and people counts as a contribution! Hehe..."
There was already a hint of coldness in Tie Butian's tone. The two officials trembled all over, drenched in sweat, feeling their heads spinning.
"This Emerald Lake has become a place for you six or seven officials to line your pockets! Now that the court wants to requisition it, you actually come to tell me about public discontent? Where does this public discontent come from? Is it merely the anger of your few families?"
"To manipulate public opinion like this, you actually want to influence my decisions!" Tie Butian's gaze turned cold, and he shouted, "Wang Zhi! Do you really think I am young and easy to bully?!"
With a thud, the two men trembled like chaff, feeling their legs go weak, and finally collapsed to their knees on the ground.
Tie Butian said sternly, "So, gentlemen, I requisition Emerald Lake, and I still need to seek your consent?"
"We dare not!" The two of them bowed their heads repeatedly like pounding garlic; at this moment, they almost regretted their actions. They never imagined that Emerald Lake truly represented the crown prince's intent, and that the crown prince was so resolute!
"Hmph! Emerald Lake is a national asset, a scenic spot of Iron Cloud, yet you use it to line your own pockets; this is simply absurd! As officials of the court, living off the court's salary, you still... it truly pains me!" Tie Butian stated somberly, "Fine, after all, you are veterans; I donāt want to push too far. Lord Wang, inform the other families that half of the income from Emerald Lake over the years must be submitted to the national treasury. You may leave now."
"Yes, yes, thank you for your mercy, your royal highness the crown prince." The two men repeatedly bowed, sweat pouring down, as if they had just walked through the gates of hell.
"I wonder if these families still need me to send an account book over for verification?" As the two men exited with endless gratitude, Tie Butian seemed to mutter to himself, causing them to stumble and awkwardly roll down the steps.
Watching the two leave in disarray, Tie Butian's gaze was cold. He had been waiting, waiting for news from Chu Yang; but he was also waiting for these individuals to tell him the truth.
Now that he had confirmed Chu Yang's abilities, Tie Butian finally made a decision. If he didnāt get results now, he was even considering keeping those two for another day...
"The butian pavilion has finally begun to take shape." Tie Butian looked at the hazy moonlight outside and sighed. Since establishing the butian pavilion, it had merely been a gimmick to prop up such a framework. Although he was known as the crown prince, in reality, he was the ruler; how could he have time to manage the butian pavilion?
Now, with Chu Yang's arrival, it finally filled this void.