Regent, please maintain your aloof image.

After the court session, Su Jing'an went to the imperial study and saw Mu Xinchen there. His eyes lit up, and he walked up to Mu Jinchen and bowed, saying, "This humble official greets Your Highness."

"Lord Su, there's no need for such formalities."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"Lord Su, you've come today because you've come up with a solution."

"Yes".

"I would like to hear the details."

"I believe that we should find a person of high status to lead the yamen runners and the pawnshop manager to collect the debt. If the amount is small and the debtor refuses to pay, we can take the items in their mansion to offset the debt. If the amount is large, we can take their mansion or property to offset the debt."

“That’s indeed a good idea,” Mu Xinchen agreed.

Mu Jinchen knew without a doubt that this idea must have come from Su Qianrou. Knowing that doing so would damage her reputation, she wanted her father to work behind the scenes while someone else took the lead. How clever! "Hmm, this method is indeed feasible. In your opinion, Lord Su, who should be sent to collect the debt?"

Su Jing'an silently looked at Mu Xinchen.

"Lord Su, you don't mean to send me, do you?"

"The prince is wise."

"Lord Su, you're trying to get me into trouble!"

"Your Highness is mistaken. You are the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. Your presence has a deterrent effect."

"I just don't believe it," Mu Xinchen thought to himself.

Mu Jinchen knew Su Qianrou's intention. He had to admit that Mu Xinchen was indeed the most suitable candidate. Behind him was the Prince of Ying's Mansion, and the Prince of Ying held military power. No one dared to offend him easily. Therefore, he said, "What Lord Su said is very true. Xinchen, this matter will be entrusted to you. You must do your best to assist Lord Su."

"Yes," Mu Xinchen could only agree.

Then, the three of them discussed for another half an hour before Su Jing'an and Mu Xinchen left the imperial study.

Lee House

Mu Xinchen led a large group of people from the Ministry of Justice to the residence of the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, and then blocked the entrance.

Upon seeing this, the servants rushed into the house to report, "Master, something terrible has happened! The Ministry of Justice has surrounded our residence."

"Ministry of Justice, who started this?"

"Prince Ying".

"Let's go take a look," Li Fei said, and then walked out.

Then, upon arriving at the door, he asked in bewilderment, "What does the Crown Prince mean by this?"

"Lord Li, I, the young master, have been ordered to collect a debt."

"What debt do you want to collect?"

"It seems that Lord Li is too forgetful and has forgotten about the money he borrowed from the national treasury. But it doesn't matter. I have the account book here and remember it clearly. Someone, tell Lord Li how much money he borrowed from the national treasury."

“Yes,” the registrar said, opening the ledger in his hand and finding Li Minghong’s page. He continued reading: “Li Minghong borrowed 384 taels of silver on the 23rd day of the 7th month of the 6th year of the Chongzhen reign; 565 taels of silver on the 18th day of the 9th month of the 8th year of the Chongzhen reign; 270 taels of silver on the 3rd day of the 5th month of the 2nd year of the Hongli reign; and 800 taels of silver in the 5th year of the Hongli reign, for a total of 2,019 taels.”

"Lord Li, please return the money."

"The Crown Prince is trying to make things difficult for me."

"How could I possibly hold a grudge against Lord Li? I was just following orders. Besides, it's only right to pay back debts. What's there to hold a grudge against? Lord Li, don't you agree?"

"What if I don't pay it back?"

"Then Lord Li, please don't blame me for being impolite."

"Does the young master intend to take me back to the Ministry of Justice?"

"No, not at all."

Li Minghong assumed that the other man wouldn't dare to act recklessly, and thus felt emboldened.

"So, Lord Li has no intention of repaying the money."

"It's not that I don't want to repay, but my household is in dire straits and I simply have no money to repay."

"Is that so? In that case, I, the young master, will have no choice but to find a way to repay the debt for Lord Li. Men, go into Lord Li's residence and look for anything of value to use as collateral. Remember, do not damage any of Lord Li's other belongings, otherwise, the Ministry of Revenue will not have the money to compensate."

"Yes," and then the group was about to rush in.

Now Li Minghong panicked. "Your Highness, this is trespassing! I can impeach you!"

"Lord Li, please go ahead and make your judgment. I, the young master, will wait."

Li Minghong was so angry that his face turned black.

A short while later, the registrar and the pawnshop manager came out, followed by a group of people carrying several vases and calligraphy and paintings.

"Heir Apparent".

"It's finally all figured out."

"Your Highness, the calculation is complete. It's one tael of silver more than the debt amount. Look."

"Naturally, I will return it to Lord Li. I don't want to be gossiped about for using this opportunity to make money."

"Yes," and then the registrar took out a tael of silver and handed it to Li Minghong, "Lord Li, this is the extra tael of silver, please keep it safe."

Li Minghong did not take it, but looked angrily at Mu Xinchen, "Your Highness, as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, you knowingly broke the law. What should your punishment be?"

"What law have I broken? On the contrary, it's Lord Li who owes money and doesn't pay it back. I'm being lenient by not taking you back to the Ministry of Justice."

"you……".

"Alright, Lord Li, I still need to go and ask other officials for money, so I'll take my leave now. Lord Li, please go back; there's no need to see me off," he said, turning and leaving.

The registrar hurriedly said, "Your Highness, this one or two taels of silver..."

Mu Xinchen tossed it to Li Minghong, saying, "Lord Li, take good care of this silver. Don't say I embezzled it later." With that, he left without looking back.

Li Minghong caught the silver subconsciously, then watched his departing figure and became furious. Finally, unable to contain his anger, he threw the silver hard on the ground and turned back to his residence.

In the following days, Mu Xinchen led people to collect debts every day, causing widespread resentment in the court. As a result, this morning at court, the ministers couldn't help but impeach him in the main hall.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince of Ying has trespassed on private property, extorted and plundered property, and knowingly violated the law. We request Your Majesty to investigate and punish him according to the law."

"I second this opinion. The Crown Prince of England is reckless and arrogant, disrespectful to others, and outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant. He should be dismissed and investigated."

"I also agree."

"We second that proposal."

Mu Xinchen remained completely unconcerned about the situation, as if he weren't the one being sued.

"What exactly happened?" Mu Zexuan asked knowingly.

"Your Majesty, recently, the Crown Prince of Ying led his men to forcibly break into our residence, robbed us of our property, acted arrogantly and unreasonably, and committed heinous acts. We beg Your Majesty to do us justice."

“That’s right. What’s the difference between the Crown Prince’s actions and those of a bandit? We beg Your Majesty to do justice for us.”

"We beg Your Majesty to do us justice."

"Your Highness, is what the lords say true?"

Mu Xinchen stepped forward unhurriedly, then cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I am truly innocent. I was ordered to collect the debt, but the officials all made excuses, saying they had no money. Helpless, I had to find a way to repay the debt for them, so I came up with the method of settling the debt with goods. For this purpose, I even specially found the most prestigious pawnshop manager in the city to go with me. All the extra silver has been returned by the Ministry of Revenue. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly."

“I can testify,” Su Jing’an stepped forward and said.

"Paying back debts is a matter of course. You not only refuse to pay but also turn around and blame others. In my opinion, you are the ones who should be punished the most," Mu Jinchen said sternly.

"Your Highness, we are innocent! We simply have no money."

“No money, Lord Li. If I remember correctly, you just took a concubine at the beginning of the month. You already had seven concubines in your household. You have no money to pay off your debts, but you have money to take concubines. And Lord Wang, a month ago, spent 1,365 taels to buy a painting. Lord Xu, three days ago, spent 755 taels to buy a blue and white porcelain. Do I need to explain the other officials one by one?” Su Jing’an had already sent people to investigate their actions thoroughly.