"How would they react?"
The answer was blindingly obvious.
Gamblers who'd lost fortunes discovering their silver filled the Fearsome King's coffers?
Outrage.
With minimal manipulation, this could morph into:
"A scam orchestrated by Qin Lu and Gu Yanshu to plunder wealth!"
The Emperor had installed Qin Sheng's man as Minister of Revenue precisely to economically strangle Qin Lu.
If His Majesty learned of this...
Qin Sheng's mood lifted with each imagined scenario—
By the end, the 1.2 million loss seemed trivial.
"Fourth Brother sees clearly." He nodded approvingly.
Qin Han smiled. "As long as Eldest Brother understands."
"When this succeeds, you'll be rewarded!" Qin Sheng vowed, already envisioning Qin Lu's imperial reprimand.
Qin Han merely bowed, silent.
______
Meanwhile at Prince Li Manor
Qin Hao gaped at his brother. "You're joking."
"Consort Gu split the winnings equally with me." Qin Lu sipped tea, unbearably smug.
Regretting his curiosity, Qin Hao turned to Gu Yanshu:
"You'd actually share?"
"What's mine is my husband's." A serene sip.
???
That inexplicable fullness returned to Qin Hao's stomach.
Then Qin Lu twisted the knife:
"And mine is his."
"I know." Gu Yanshu's smile was intimate.
Driven to sabotage this harmony, Qin Hao blurted:
"But Third Brother's coffers are nearly empty, no?"
"True." Qin Lu shrugged. "But my consort's aren't."
"Do you know what this is called?" Qin Hao's voice turned dark. "Living off a spouse's wealth!"
"Hmm." Qin Lu remained unperturbed. "The physician did say my teeth ache lately."
The sheer unashamed pride shattered Qin Hao's sanity.
Why had he come today?
Was the outside world too kind?
Had lunch been too digestible?
Why self-inflict this torment?
As Qin Hao departed Prince Li Manor, his mind still swirled in a daze.
Yet just before crossing the threshold, he paused abruptly—
Turning back to Qin Lu with sudden seriousness:
"Third Brother."
That tone signaled important matters. Qin Lu arched a brow in acknowledgment.
"You... seem genuinely fond of Young Master Gu?"
Having witnessed their dynamics, Qin Hao already knew the answer.
As expected—
"Mn."
Qin Lu's nod carried a faint smile, eyes softening imperceptibly.
Qin Hao abandoned his planned question about their initial "nominal marriage" agreement—
That uncharacteristic expression said everything.
"Then this younger brother wishes you eternal harmony," Qin Hao murmured, "as devoted as paired lutes, as inseparable as mandarin ducks."
The first time he'd addressed Gu Yanshu as "sister-in-law" since the wedding.
Qin Lu's deepened smile confirmed his approval: "Your blessing is received."
Then—
That familiar phantom fullness struck again.
Why must I torment myself at the doorstep?!
Just as Qin Hao contemplated retaliatory teasing, Qin Lu preempted him:
"Retire early. Tomorrow's affairs demand vigilance."
The reminder instantly sharpened Qin Hao's demeanor:
"Understood!"
His solemnity revealed the matter's gravity.
______
Dawn - Imperial Court
Before the morning assembly commenced, astute officials noted the unusual atmosphere.
The sight of habitually absent Fifth Prince Qin Hao present and punctual heightened their unease.
Across the hall stood First Prince Qin Sheng—
Surrounded by officials of varying ranks, all identifiable as his faction at a glance.
Their hushed conference carried palpable tension.
Had anyone drawn near, they'd have caught the whispers about Qin Hao—
"Why's the Fifth Prince here today?"
"Does he know our plans?"
"Impossible—yesterday's discussion involved only our faction."
"Then what brings him?"
"Who knows? Perhaps a whim?"
"Should we still submit the memorial?"
"Absolutely. Delay weakens our position."
"But with the Fifth Prince present—"
"What can he possibly do?"
Nervous glances flicked toward Qin Hao, who stood impassively, ignoring them entirely.
Other officials, sensing the tension, muted their conversations.
______
"Court is in session!"
The familiar announcement finally came, sending ministers scurrying to their positions.
Most remained distracted, eyes darting between Qin Sheng and Qin Hao throughout routine affairs.
Then—as the eunuch proclaimed "Memorials or adjournment?"—
Two voices rang out simultaneously:
"Your Majesty, this subject has a report—"
"Imperial Father, your son petitions—"
All eyes swung to the speakers—Qin Hao and Zheng Yaoguang, Vice Minister of Revenue.
Qin Hao seized precedence with a smirk:
"Minister Zheng won't mind my going first?"
Trapped by protocol, Zheng could only retreat with a stiff bow.
Emperor Qin Yuan's voice dripped skepticism:
"What possible business could you have?"
"None, truly." Qin Hao grinned. "Third Brother sent me to speak for him."
The Emperor's demeanor shifted instantly. "Prince Li's petition?"
"A minor matter." Qin Hao's expression sobered. "Has Imperial Father heard of the... wager concerning Third Brother?"
"Wager?" Confusion flickered across the Emperor's face—but decades on the throne had honed his perception.
Noting the officials' uneasy shifts, he gestured for Qin Hao to continue.
"Before Third Brother's wedding," Qin Hao explained, "some fools organized a bet—wagering how long the new princess consort would survive His Highness'... temper."
"Outrageous!" The Emperor's rebuke cracked like thunder.
Qin Hao nodded earnestly. "Indeed. We only learned of it yesterday."
"Why bring this to us?" The Emperor's eyes narrowed. "Seeking justice?"
At this, Zheng Yaoguang stirred—
But Qin Hao struck first, prostrating dramatically:
"Third Brother sends me not for justice... but to beg forgiveness."
Qin Hao's declaration sent shockwaves through the hall.
Who didn't know of the Fifth Prince's unwavering loyalty to Prince Li?
Yet here he stood—publicly petitioning for his brother's atonement over some absurd wager?
Had their bond fractured? Or was this some deeper scheme?
Ministers exchanged frantic glances, while Qin Sheng's faction froze in confusion.
Only Emperor Qin Yuan's voice restored order:
"Atonement? For what?"
The court stilled instantly—officials adopting the "eyes on nose, nose on heart" posture of forced neutrality.
"Imperial Father," Qin Hao explained calmly, "Third Brother recently discovered his consort—purely for amusement—placed bets on that very wager before their wedding."
"Hardly a capital offense." The Emperor waved dismissively.
"Were it mere betting, we wouldn't trouble you." Qin Hao's tone shifted. "But she won... substantially. Third Brother felt compelled to confess."
"'Substantially' being?"
"1.215 million taels, Your Majesty."
"Cough—! Repeat that?" Even the Emperor choked.
The reiterated sum drained all nonchalance from the throne.
Officials' "neutral" poses cracked as eyebrows shot upward.
Not without reason—
Tianqi's coffers had bled dry from decades of border wars.
Though Prince Li's campaigns had stabilized frontiers, the treasury remained a gaping void.
1.2 million taels?
The Emperor himself couldn't produce such sums readily.
And Gu Yanshu had won it from a single wager?
Qin Hao continued solemnly:
"Though reluctant to claim such tainted silver, Third Brother recalled the armies' empty granaries and treasury's deficits... and humbly retrieved the funds."
The sanctimonious phrasing turned Qin Sheng and his revenue officials livid.
"Humbly"?
They'd practically danced out of ChangLe Den yesterday!
As Qin Sheng signaled his minister to refute—
Qin Hao struck first.
After a deliberate pause, Qin Hao continued:
"Though Third Brother retrieved the silver, his conscience torments him. He implores Imperial Father's forgiveness—and wishes to donate the entire sum to replenish the treasury."
The court erupted.
"What?!"
"All 1.215 million?!"
"Not a single tael kept?!"
Seasoned ministers quickly masked their shock, but the air still thrummed with disbelief.
Emperor Qin Yuan's voice sliced through the murmurs:
"Prince Li truly said this?"
"Word for word, Imperial Father." Qin Hao bowed deeper.
"No reluctance parting with such wealth?" The Emperor's tone gave nothing away.
"Third Brother calls it 'windfall gains.' With winter approaching, he merely wishes to ensure our armies have warm clothing and full bellies."
A masterful reply.
The Emperor shifted tactics: "You mentioned the wager was the consort's... youthful indiscretion?"
"Indeed. She gambled not for profit, but to protest the den's slander against Third Brother's reputation."
Silence descended—thick and heavy.
When the Emperor finally spoke, his words stunned the court anew:
"Commendable intentions... but Tianqi's treasury hasn't sunk so low as to confiscate a princess consort's winnings."
Wait—rejection?!
"Let Prince Li keep the silver as compensation for the den's defamation. No guilt necessary."
"As Imperial Father decrees." Qin Hao accepted the verdict with flawless grace, retreating to his position.
All eyes now swung to Zheng Yaoguang—
The Vice Minister of Revenue stood trembling, face twisting in agony.
What could he possibly petition now?
The Emperor's gaze burned. "Minister Zheng had something to report?"
Zheng's mind raced—
His planned impeachment of Prince Li's "illicit gambling profits" lay in ashes.
With the Emperor himself declaring the funds legitimate reparations, what grounds remained?
"This subject... has no petitions." He forced the words through gritted teeth.
"Then court stands adjourned."
No reproach for the abrupt reversal—just the Emperor's departing robes swirling past.
As the hall emptied, Qin Hao noted Qin Sheng's thunderous expression with quiet satisfaction.
With a casual wave of his hand, the Emperor rose from the dragon throne and departed the hall.
Only after Qin Yuan had left did the ministers begin filing out in small groups.
Qin Hao's earlier performance had drawn the attention of many officials.
Those observing him now noticed something unusual—
Instead of leaving immediately as was his habit, the Fifth Prince turned and approached Qin Sheng, who stood some distance away.
"Eldest Brother, are you unwell? Your complexion seems rather... off."
Though his words feigned concern, Qin Hao's tone and expression brimmed with barely concealed glee.
Only then did the others notice—
Qin Sheng's face was dark as a thundercloud.
At his younger brother's remark, the First Prince's expression turned even stormier:
"Spare your false solicitude, Fifth Brother! I am perfectly fine!"
With that curt retort, Qin Sheng turned on his heel and strode out of the hall, leaving Qin Hao standing there—
Not that the Fifth Prince seemed to mind.
His smile never faltered; in fact, he looked positively elated, as if he might burst into song at any moment.
After exiting the palace, Qin Hao didn't return to his own residence.
Instead, he ordered his carriage to head straight for Prince Li's manor.
Anyone familiar with Qin Hao would recognize that look—
He was clearly on his way to report the day's victory to his allies.