The soft voice of the young man fell, and the entire grand hall fell silent.
The mocking words stuck in the Eldest Prince's throat, and he looked as if he was choking.
The Imperial Court's face was inscrutable, with only a hint of emotion in the depths of his eyes.
The other great and small noble families were even more shocked, not knowing whether they should listen to these words, or even could listen.
Empress Yan had passed away five years ago, and the Yan family had since fallen and gone into hiding. It was understandable that the Crown Prince would have difficulty walking without anyone's support, and some informed people had even speculated that the Fifth Prince only had a few thousand taels of silver left.
While it was understood, no one had expected it to be so difficult that he had to pawn the jade pendant left by Empress Yan just to exchange it for three thousand taels of silver.
Was this how the Crown Prince was treated?
To put it bluntly, even the illegitimate children of noble families were more affluent than this.
Yet the Fifth Prince spoke of it so brazenly, seemingly unafraid of ridicule or mockery. His composure and nonchalance aroused countless sympathies.
Some soft-hearted ladies couldn't help but whisper to each other, sympathizing with the Crown Prince and Empress Yan.
In Baohe Hall, whispers arose, and even Jiang Chengyu pouted and said, "He pawned three thousand taels and donated it all. What does the Fifth Prince plan to do, live on northwest wind in the future?"
He was a prince, disregarding preparations for clothing and belongings, just rewarding servants and purchasing writing supplies would require money!
Jiang Sheng stroked the ten thousand tael silver ticket in his arms, regretting again that he hadn't forced the Fifth Brother to take it.
Only the personal guards in the side hall stroked their chins thoughtfully, "His Highness really has a devious heart, not mentioning the forty thousand taels he won in the wager, he originally had five thousand taels of silver himself, yet he was only willing to donate three thousand, how petty and miserly."
Fortunately the effect was excellent.
The frown on the Emperor's face on the dragon throne deepened, and after a long pause he spoke, "Over these five years, did the Grand Secretariat not send you your monthly allowance?"
The so-called monthly allowance was the salary that could be collected each month.
Not only court officials had it, the Emperor had it, the consorts had it, the imperial princes and princesses also had it.
According to the laws of the Dayu Dynasty over the years, the monthly allowance for the Crown Prince was three hundred taels, one hundred taels more than the other imperial princes and princesses, not including food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, purely for living expenses. It could be said to be quite abundant.
Even if the Fifth Prince was sickly, the imperial pharmacy would provide any ginseng or lingzhi he needed, he wouldn't have to purchase it himself.
Three hundred taels a month, that was three thousand six hundred a year, and eighteen thousand over five years.
This didn't even include festival bonuses, supplements from his birth mother, and the silver gifts people gave when asking for favors.
Admittedly the Fifth Prince didn't have any of this, but it shouldn't have gotten to the point where he had to pawn Empress Yan's jade pendant, and could only scrape together three thousand taels, right?
If this matter wasn't explained clearly today, the Imperial Court's backbone would be pierced through.
However, as he spoke, the originally stunned Eldest Prince suddenly changed color, unease appearing on his fair complexion.
"Monthly allowance?" Chang Yan asked in utter confusion, "What monthly allowance?"
The Imperial Court's expression darkened as he shouted angrily, "Summon someone from the Grand Secretariat!"
The Grand Secretariat had a Secretary and Vice Secretary, equivalent to third and fourth rank. They were also present at the Spring Viewing Banquet.
As the Imperial Court finished speaking, a trembling person from the Yang family came forward, cupping his fists in salute. "Yang Bomin, Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, pays respects to Your Majesty."
"Secretary Yang," the Imperial Court's voice rumbled deeply, "Over these five years while the Fifth Prince was recovering from illness in Jiangnan, did you send his allowance regularly and truthfully?"
The people below were anxious and trembling, "Yes, sent, three thousand six hundred taels of silver each year."
"You say you sent it, yet the Fifth Prince has never seen it. Could it be your Secretariat embezzled it?" The Imperial Court slammed the dragon case again, "With so many noble families present, Secretary Yang best explain truthfully."
Silver didn't vanish into thin air, only fabricated facts by loyal servants, and masters who lined their own pockets.
Chang Yan's expression was blank as he coldly watched Secretary Yang glance at the Eldest Prince, then saw the Eldest Prince turn his head away, aloof and remote.
Sure enough, these people had determined that he would die in Jiangnan and never return to Fengjing, even daring to steal the monthly allowance and intercept it.
He didn't know whether it was the Eldest Prince's idea, or Noble Consort Ju's idea, but no matter who it was, Chang Yan was determined to expose it at the Spring Viewing Banquet and deal a heavy blow to the Eldest Prince and the Fang family.
It wasn't for the eighteen thousand plus taels of silver, but for Xu Mo.
After a brief silence, Secretary Yang realized the Eldest Prince would not protect him. In despair he opened his mouth, "It was His Highness the Eldest Prince, His Highness said it was too troublesome to send the silver each month for the Fifth Highness recovering illness in Jiangnan, it would be better for him to save it on the Fifth Highness' behalf, and exchange it for silver notes to send over."
He spoke tactfully, but the content was enough to shock the crowd.
Everyone present was shrewd, no one was willing to believe the Eldest Prince truly wanted to exchange silver notes on his brother's behalf. Even if he sincerely wanted to help, not sending anything for five years was too long.
Taking a step back, now that the Fifth Prince had returned, he should have given what was owed, right?
Yet he didn't.
Seizing his sick brother's monthly allowance, the total didn't exceed twenty thousand taels, not even half of what the Fifth Prince donated, no one knew what he was after.
It didn't seem like greed, it seemed more like looking down on his weak younger brother, bullying a child without a mother.
"You...you're spouting nonsense!" The Eldest Prince also realized the gravity.
He thought Secretary Yang wouldn't dare speak, he thought Secretary Yang would find a scapegoat in the Secretariat, he pondered countless possibilities but never expected he would be sold out.
At this time the Eldest Prince had two paths he could take.
Either insist Secretary Yang was slandering him, sacrificing the small clan he curried favor from, preserving his reputation for brotherly love.
Or immediately admit his mistake, blame it on a thief in the Prince's residence, compensate his younger brother, and dig out a scapegoat.
But in his panic, the Eldest Prince actually pointed at Chang Yan and shouted, "You two, aren't you deliberately colluding to slander me? You think this is enough to deal with me?"
Some shook their heads quietly, thinking such an imperial prince would have difficulty controlling the realm.
Even Fang Yuan rarely revealed disappointment, exchanging looks with the Fang family head before silently lowering his head.
The frown on the Emperor's face on the dragon throne deepened, and he sighed imperceptibly.
Chang Yan also felt something was off, things seemed to be going too smoothly.
Just as he was about to bow and continue his woeful act, Wu the Head Eunuch behind the screen suddenly spoke softly, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Noble Consort has...arrived."
There was only one Noble Consort in the entire imperial palace, that was the Eldest Prince's mother, as well as the one who competed with Empress Yan for favor and beauty back then, Lady Ju, and the true mistress of the rear palace for the past five years.
The Ju family's status in Fengjing wasn't prominent, neither as ostentatious as the Fang family, nor as powerful as the Jiang family, but relying on this Ju Noble Consort, they couldn't be overlooked either.
Most crucially, Ju Noble Consort and the Emperor could be said to be affectionate, their twenty year relationship still as strong as the first day. Aside from the position of Empress, he had given her everything he could.
With this foundation, it was unsurprising that the Eldest Prince was able to smoothly and successfully become the frontrunner for seizing the throne.
As Wu the Head Eunuch softly announced her arrival, the originally frowning Emperor let out a sigh, and the panicking Eldest Prince also calmed down.
Civil officials, military officers, noble families, wealthy merchants, all eyes converged on the center.
