Chapter 87: Accurate and Error-Free

The New Year was approaching. Tomorrow would be the first day of the year, but the exact numbers still hadn’t been finalized. If they didn’t finish today, even the Ministry of Revenue would have to go on an official holiday. After the New Year celebrations ended, half a month would have passed. How much work would be delayed?

He paced anxiously back and forth in the Ministry of Revenue’s duty room. The tea in the tea cup on the side table had gone cold, but he didn’t seem to notice.

In the northern and southern archives, the sound of abacus beads clacking was everywhere, nonstop. Civil clerks hurriedly moved between desks, handing ledgers to the archival officials one by one. The seated archival officials then double-checked the numbers.

In the distance, the faint sound of firecrackers could be heard. The New Year’s Eve feast was about to begin.

The Ministry of Revenue’s Chief Registrar, Wang Wen’an, had a grim expression and kept apologizing: “Lord Li, it is this official’s fault, this official’s fault. I never imagined that after several checks, the numbers still wouldn’t match. The discrepancies were too large, and… we weren’t prepared in advance.”

Li Dongyang gestured with his hand. “It’s not too late to mend the fold after the sheep is lost. Ah… Let’s hope there are no more mistakes today. It’s the end of the year, so I know it’s hard on all of you.”

They waited another half-hour. The sky gradually darkened. Soon, it would be time for the New Year’s Eve feast.

Li Dongyang looked weary, but finally, the archival official hurried over, holding a ledger with ink still wet on the pages. He said excitedly, “Lord Li, Lord Li, the calculations are done! The numbers from the northern and southern archives finally match! The differences are negligible…”

“Oh…” Li Dongyang raised his eyebrows, took the ledger, and quickly saw entries like ‘Treasury Silver: 2,754,625 taels; Silk: 790,540 jin…’ He skimmed through it roughly, then took the southern archive’s ledger to compare. Correct. The numbers from both archives were almost the same. This meant that, this time, it was accurate and error-free.

He let out a sigh. “His Majesty has repeatedly asked about the year-end surplus several times. This affects many policies after the New Year. Just at noon, the palace sent someone to ask again…” He lifted his eyes, looked at the sky outside, and frowned. “Is it inappropriate to report the numbers to the palace now? But…”

Li Dongyang knew this Emperor too well. If he didn’t report to the palace today, he would have to wait until after the New Year. Based on His Majesty’s temperament, he would surely be unable to rest or eat peacefully.

After a brief moment of thought, he said, “Prepare the sedan chair. I will go to the palace now. Let’s take this last chance to let His Majesty review it.”

…

The Imperial Palace was already filled with joy.

The eunuchs had long been busy, bustling about preparing for the palace feast.

Empress Zhang had taken the Princess to the Longevity Palace to sit with the Grand Empress Dowager for a while. When the auspicious time arrived, the three generations of the royal family would gather together for a happy reunion.

Zhu Houzhao had already entered the palace and was summoned by Emperor Hongzhi.

Emperor Hongzhi naturally didn’t give him a pleasant look. Zhu Houzhao was especially nervous today. After all, acting on impulse was one thing, but after calming down, he felt he might be finished. So he put on a smiling face and carefully watched his Imperial Father.

Emperor Hongzhi, however, had no mood to deal with Zhu Houzhao right now. This year’s Ministry of Revenue financial reports still hadn’t been delivered. If that were the case, it meant that for the next half month, many of his ideas couldn’t be realized. He felt uncertain.

The hundred officials could take their official holiday. The various ministry halls and offices could relax. But Emperor Hongzhi didn’t dare stop. He always felt he had far too many things to do.

He seemed somewhat anxious. In previous years, the Ministry of Revenue’s ledgers should have been delivered days ago. But this year, something must have gone wrong.

Thinking this, his heart grew heavy.

Emperor Hongzhi suddenly looked up and met Zhu Houzhao’s eyes. As their gazes locked, Emperor Hongzhi noticed the fear and unease in his son’s eyes, along with the deliberately displayed attempt to please. Emperor Hongzhi kept a stern face and said lightly, “Do you know your mistake?”

“I know my mistake,” Zhu Houzhao said, looking honest and simple.

Emperor Hongzhi then said coldly, “Tell me.”

“Your son and servant should not have contradicted Imperial Father,” Zhu Houzhao said with an innocent smile. “Your son and servant… even if I knew Imperial Father was wrong, no matter what, I shouldn’t have…”

“Hmm?” A cold glint flashed in Emperor Hongzhi’s eyes. His words still showed he wasn’t willing to admit his mistake. What did he mean by ‘knew Imperial Father was wrong’…

Emperor Hongzhi’s hand felt a bit itchy. If it weren’t New Year’s Eve, and if they weren’t about to have a family reunion at the Longevity Palace, Emperor Hongzhi really felt like beating this foolish son to death. He shook his head inwardly and spoke with earnest concern: “Fang Jifan is just fooling you. Don’t you understand?”

“Old Fang… uh… Fang Jifan wouldn’t lie to your son and servant,” Zhu Houzhao said smiling, like a grinning pimp, but his words remained firm.

Emperor Hongzhi felt his patience had reached its limit. “Hmph, with so many numbers, can Fang Jifan really calculate them in one day? Is he a celestial being? Or the Star of Literature descended to earth? You… even if you trust someone, you must understand their true intentions. I only have you as my son. In the future, you must inherit the throne. Of course, you must trust your ministers, but you absolutely must not…”

Just as he reached this point, a eunuch crept in quietly. “Your Majesty, Grand Secretary Li Dongyang requests an audience.”

Emperor Hongzhi’s body jolted.

Only Tutor Li understands me. He reckoned the Ministry of Revenue’s finances had been calculated, so at this critical moment, he entered the palace without hesitation.

Emperor Hongzhi’s brows relaxed. “Invite him in.”

A short while later, Li Dongyang entered the audience. He bowed to Emperor Hongzhi. “Your servant deserves ten thousand deaths. The Ministry of Revenue…”

Emperor Hongzhi gestured with his hand. “It’s already very hard on you. You’re still at the Ministry of Revenue today? So… have the calculations been completed?”

Li Dongyang respectfully held up the prepared ledger with both hands. “Please review it, Your Majesty.”

A eunuch took it and placed it on the Imperial Desk. Emperor Hongzhi sat down, picked up the ledger, and opened it.

Zhu Houzhao’s eyes gleamed. “Imperial Father… Imperial Father… Check the numbers, check the numbers…”

Emperor Hongzhi looked impatient. This foolish son, even now he wouldn’t give up. He had reasoned with him patiently and explained so much, yet he remained the same. Feeling angry, he blurted out, “Qui…”

He meant to say “Quiet.”

But then, Emperor Hongzhi’s expression changed.

These numbers looked somewhat familiar.

‘Treasury Silver: 2,754,625 taels; Silk: 790,540 jin…’

He had some impression of this first line of numbers because…

His eyes flashed, and he couldn’t help but say, “Someone…”

A eunuch bowed. “Your servant is here.”

Emperor Hongzhi said calmly, “Where is Fang Jifan’s ledger?”

“This servant will fetch it immediately.”

Inside the Warm Pavilion, the atmosphere suddenly became strange.

Even Li Dongyang felt something was odd.

Emperor Hongzhi looked more somber, remaining silent.

Zhu Houzhao kept glancing over, but Emperor Hongzhi just kept a stiff face, as if even his breathing had stopped.

Not long after, the eunuch brought the ledger. Emperor Hongzhi opened it and laid both ledgers flat on the Imperial Desk. In Fang Jifan’s ledger, it clearly stated ‘Treasury Silver: 2,754,622 taels.’

It was almost the same as the Ministry of Revenue’s calculated treasury silver, with only a tiny difference in the last digits.

Emperor Hongzhi drew a sharp breath.

This guy… he actually did the calculations?

You must know, those accounts were up to the seventh day of the twelfth month. Fang Jifan couldn’t have obtained the Ministry of Revenue’s accounts early. Zhu Houzhao did go to the Ministry of Revenue to copy them, but just a few days later, he presented Fang Jifan’s accounts before the Emperor.

That meant this guy really spent only a few days calculating the Ministry of Revenue’s finances, and… it was accurate and error-free!