His older brother received the letter and immediately sought an audience with the Emperor.

Due to the relationship with Emperor Jingwu and Emperor Jingtai, the Emperor still trusted the elder brother. After reading his letter and the contracts from Dou Ou Bank, the Emperor was greatly pleased and decided to support them, promising to take action against those nobles and wealthy families attempting to profit by opening a new bank and forcing farmers to use their land to settle debts once they couldn’t pay the interest.

The first to suffer was the Shen Family. The Emperor personally issued an imperial decree, and the eunuch delivering the decree fiercely berated Marquis Rong’en at the entrance of the Marquis Rong’en Mansion, even accusing the Marquis of competing with the court to seize farmers’ land despite being a member of the royal family.

He also scolded the Marquis for being blinded by lust, allowing his bastard son to commit evil deeds outside, disregarding the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate, unworthy of his Marquis title!

Marquis Rong’en was terrified, fearing that the Emperor would use this opportunity to strip him of his title, and he repeatedly kowtowed and pleaded for mercy, ultimately fainting from the scolding.

This incident spread throughout the Capital before nightfall, causing the noble family, royal family, high-ranking officials, and nobles to be on edge, with ninety percent of families abandoning the idea of profiting from the new bank.

Marquis Rong’en, upon regaining consciousness that night, immediately wrote a memorial requesting the Emperor to confer his legitimate eldest son as the Princely Heir.

Master Shen was ecstatic, never expecting that the Princely Heir position he had fretted over for so many years would be handed to him directly by Old Si.

Master Shen’s wife, Ms. Sun, was adept at managing affairs. She returned to her family, expressed deep gratitude for the Emperor’s favor, and suggested her family donate silver to the court. She framed it well, saying that although the Sun family were scholars and couldn’t fight on the frontlines, they were willing to donate silver as military funds to aid the court in attacking Da Rong, avenging the fallen border citizens.

Her words were filled with sincerity, greatly pleasing Emperor Jingyuan, who issued a decree praising the Sun Family and quickly approved the memorial for Master Shen to be made the Princely Heir.

Sun Family, Ms. Sun, and Master Shen took the spotlight fiercely.

Following the Sun Family’s lead, the noble family and high-ranking officials in the Capital were compelled to follow suit, donating silver to the court, enabling the Emperor to amass considerable wealth.

However, he was not grateful to these wealthy families and officials. Instead, he regarded them as the root of trouble, hoarding so much silver yet not giving it to him. Were it not for Great Chu, would they have such wealth?!

The Emperor was in Mingwei Palace, berating these families who donated silver, while Ouyang Hong advised, "Your Majesty, their willingness to donate silver is due to their loyalty to Your Majesty. You should commend them instead of scolding, lest you estrange their hearts."

Even if you’ve gained such benefits, you should at least pretend to have a harmonious relationship between ruler and subjects.

But the Emperor did not heed, replying with a cold smile, "Under heaven, everything belongs to the king. Their silver is Great Chu’s. Now that Great Chu plans to attack Da Rong, they ought to contribute funds. They donate this time merely out of fear of my wrath. Can’t the old gentlemen see this? Yet you plead for these hypocrites!"

Ouyang Hong sighed inwardly at these words and didn’t say anything further.

However, in his reply to Ouyang Hu, he wrote a sentence: Don’t mention Da Rong’s matter; remember that everything His Majesty says is right.

Upon seeing this, Ouyang Hu felt a jolt, recalling what his older brother had said several years ago.

His brother had said: His Majesty must have suffered greatly in Da Rong, hence cannot tolerate leniency toward Da Rong matters. If His Majesty speaks to you of Da Rong in the future, don’t side with Da Rong; don’t even utter neutral words, just curse Da Rong and endorse His Majesty’s views.

He found it odd upon hearing, and asked: "Brother, haven’t you always said that an Emperor is human, prone to mistakes, and shouldn’t be blindly obeyed? We should speak boldly and deafeningly. Why say such indulgent statements favoring the Emperor now?"

His brother was silent for a long time before continuing: "You needn’t inquire deeply, just follow my instructions... I’ve guessed some things, but you cannot know as it would bring catastrophe. Don’t ask further. I’ll only say this once and won’t again, but remember, Da Rong is His Majesty’s taboo, never speak for Da Rong, remember this infinitely."

At the time, Ouyang Hu didn’t understand, but now he slowly grasped the reason... When young, His Majesty vanished in Da Rong Territory. Rumors claimed he was captured by the Rong people and detained for months, though His Majesty and Duke Wei and his son later said he hadn’t been captured, only trapped in Da Rong Territory, hidden for months before returning to Great Chu.

Thinking now, His Majesty and Duke Wei and his son likely lied, and for these three to lie simultaneously, His Majesty must have encountered inhuman experiences in Da Rong, otherwise, such taboo wouldn’t exist.

After ascending to the throne, His Majesty swiftly eradicated Duke Wei’s lineage, not simply for Duke Wei’s overwhelming merits... it seemed more to cover something, silencing Duke Wei and his son.

When young, His Majesty was the most promising among all imperial grandsons, else Emperor Jingwu wouldn’t leave a testament for Emperor Jingtai to establish him as Crown Prince. But he has become like this now, likely related to the disappearance in Da Rong.

Master Ouyang, who has traveled the world, knows some medical principles, aware that after great stimuli, a person’s nature can change drastically. His Majesty presumably belongs to this category.

"It’s done, really done? How did the Emperor mention our Young Master? Is it written in the letter? Quickly, bring it for our Young Master to see!" Young Master Dou, hearing it was achieved, hurriedly came even without properly putting on his shoes, attempting to grab the letter from Master Ouyang, nearly kicked by him.

"What’s the rush, boy? This letter is still useful. What if you break it?" Master Ouyang withheld the letter from Young Master Dou, signaled them to sit, saying: "It’s done, the Emperor stands with us, will tackle those families attempting to profit."

Young Master Dou, anxiously awaiting, urged: "The contract? Did we get the contract? Old man, hurry speaking! That’s the priority!"

Providing the Emperor with the contract was merely a show of loyalty; he never intended to truly hand Dou Ou Bank over to the Emperor.

Master Ouyang said, "Rest assured, the Emperor didn’t take the Dou Ou Bank contract, returned it, allowing us to continue managing Dou Ou Bank but set two rules: no raising interest and no forcing farmers to use assets to settle debts."

"Of course, we have inherently had these two rules; otherwise, wouldn’t it be as shameless as the Shen Family?" Young Master Dou disparaged the Emperor’s redundant words.

Master Ouyang replied, "That was only our self-set rules, modifiable anytime. Now the Emperor has spoken, it’s an imperial decree; even facing death, it’s unchangeable."

The difference lies between something changeable and unchangeable.

Young Master Dou, after hearing, silently cursed the Emperor again, continuing to ask: "Was anything about me mentioned?"

Damn it, I didn’t labor to open a new bank without expecting returns, some benefits, please!