Chapter Forty-Six: All Within My Grasp

Sure enough, Fu Rugui spoke at once: “Qin Xia, have you calculated the results? If you have, take the account books and come with me immediately! If not, grab whatever is most important and come with me at once! The rebel soldiers are here!”

“I won’t leave,” Zhu Cilang sighed softly, handing the compiled summary book to Fu Rugui. “This is the complete summary after all the accounts have been calculated. With this, you can follow the clues and obtain the crucial evidence and witnesses against the key figures in the Capital Garrison. Take it out, and we will have won. Also, please take the twenty-two monitor students from the Hall of Ethics, along with Brother Xie Yi.”

It should have been a victory worthy of celebration, yet everyone felt a heavy weight descend upon them.

Fu Rugui cradled the book as if it were a burden weighing a thousand pounds. “This… this… Qin Xia, you won’t leave? You are a hero for the ages, the chief merit in resisting the Ministry of Revenue’s treacherous officials! Without you, who could have imagined the account books could be deciphered so swiftly?”

Chang Zhilang spoke with emotion, “Leader, you carry the hopes of the court. You should be with us on the Golden Throne, recounting our achievements. How can you remain here to face the rebel soldiers? If you won’t leave, how could we?”

“I came with the Leader. If the Leader is trapped by the rebels, I would feel ashamed for life. I won’t leave, either,” Xie Yi followed immediately.

“What are you all blathering about, acting sentimental at a time like this? I won’t leave, and I have my reasons! If you stay now, that would truly be too late!” Zhu Cilang said angrily. “Don’t forget, I said before—when there’s danger, I’ll be the first to stand at the front!”

Suddenly, a man in armor appeared—it was Fu Zhen, the head servant of the Fu family. He spoke in a hoarse voice, “Young master, Master Qin Xia. The side door has been blocked. I fear we can't break out now.”

At this, everyone exchanged glances, seeing shock and despair reflected in each other’s eyes.

Zhu Cilang sighed again. “I won’t leave because most of this chaos was stirred up by me, and the disaster at the Imperial Academy originated from my actions. If no one deals with the rebel soldiers, their rage may destroy the Academy, and the Confucius Temple nearby will not be spared. Such a catastrophic event—even if we later sweep away the corrupt officials and clerks of the Ministry of Revenue, capturing all the venal bureaucrats and noblemen—how could that ever compensate?”

Fu Rugui was deeply shaken, seeing Zhu Cilang, recalling names from the historical records flashing through his mind. Such vision, such breadth, such courage—perhaps only those revered names in the annals of history could compare!

Xie Yi and the twenty-two monitor students looked at Zhu Cilang with awe, as if beholding a legendary idol.

Yet in Zhu Cilang’s heart, countless complaints rose. If I didn’t have a trump card, would I so heroically stay here as if marching to my death? Who wants to die? I am a transmigrator—death is my greatest fear! I am the Crown Prince—how could I seek my own demise?

Truly… Zhu Cilang recalled the information Zhang Zhen had investigated, comparing it with the intelligence stored in his mind. He sighed. If fate hadn’t forced me to transmigrate to the fifteenth year of Chongzhen, with the terror of national collapse looming close, would I need to risk so much?

He shook his head, banishing those complaints, cleared his throat, and smiled calmly, exuding quiet confidence, as if all was under control—a demeanor like that of an immortal.

Zhu Cilang then spoke gently and courteously: “I stay because I am confident I can handle the rebels. Conversely… if everyone remains here and doesn’t leave the Academy to act at once, these ten days of effort will be wasted. Even if I remain within the Academy, I cannot face the rebels without worry or hesitation.”

After Zhu Cilang spoke so, if those present still didn’t understand, they might as well bang their heads against the wall.

Yet Fu Rugui, though he understood, was even more regretful. “But now we have missed our best chance… The rebels number two thousand, over a thousand of them are strong fighters. Though our household servants are courageous, they cannot break through…”

As if to echo Fu Rugui’s words, the chief registrar of the Imperial Academy, Gao Han, staggered into the Hall of Ethics, crying to Zhu Cilang, “A calamity is upon us! The rebels seize people everywhere, only asking for Qin Xia. Soldiers are converging from all sides and will soon be here to arrest us!”

Several Fu family servants followed, shouting: “The rebels are coming from the east!”

“They’re coming from the west!”

“There’s no escape to the south or north!”

…

Fu Zhen’s face turned bitter. “At this point, I fear there’s no way to break out.”

Everyone’s eyes converged on Zhu Cilang.

Zhu Cilang nodded slowly. “Since you are all here, in a moment, follow my orders. I will find a way to let you break out in the chaos. Take care—don’t hesitate. Once I open a chance, you must leave at once!”

“Qin… Master Qin Xia? Am I included?” Gao Han, the chief registrar, asked timidly.

Zhu Cilang nodded with a smile. “The Fu family brought one person and three horses each. Everyone will ride out together—everyone should have the chance to break through.”

With that, Zhu Cilang, not waiting for the others to recover, walked slowly to the front gate and pushed it open.

The gate opened slowly, and Zhu Cilang stood behind it, quietly watching the light from outside spill in, reflecting countless blades.

The rebels gathered, a thousand eyes fixed upon him.

Zhu Cilang walked forward, Zhang Zhen strictly ordered to follow. The others watched in silence as Zhu Cilang’s long robe fluttered, the wind gently stirring it, his bearing a scholar’s elegance and calm, the very image of mountains and rivers.

Such demeanor and aura brought a rare quiet to the Hall of Ethics, where fear and violence had prevailed.

Everyone stared as Zhu Cilang spoke in a clear voice, thunderous to all ears: “I am Qin Xia, commissioned by the Ministry of Revenue to thoroughly investigate the military provisions of the Left and Right Garrison of the Five Army Camps. I stand here to uncover how corrupt officials have bled the soldiers for their own gain, embezzling military funds. The justice proclaimed by those waving flags ahead rests with me. Who is the leader here? Step forward.”

He finished, arms behind his back, spine straight, brows raised, righteousness emanating.

For a moment, not a single rebel dared approach the white terrace outside the Hall of Ethics, all casting anxious glances at Qiao San’er, waiting for the third master to speak. Only a stone sundial on the southeast corner of the terrace stood quietly, as if witnessing it all.

Qiao San’er was slightly confused, seeing everyone look to him, his heart unsettled. He instinctively glanced at the man to his left, dressed in a brand-new military coat.

The man in the coat was instantly frozen, feeling countless gazes converge on him, as if exposed under a blazing sun, nowhere to hide.

“Damn it! Can’t they just rush up and kill Qin Xia? Why are they all looking at me?” The man pressed his military cap low, hiding his face.