The Emperor's fury grew wilder and wilder as he read the thoroughly damning details set out in the memorial about the missing silver.
It was clear that the Prime Minister had bided his time on this matter, waiting for the Crown Prince to sink himself so deeply there was very little chance of even the Emperor, digging him back out.
"The initial evidence from the Eastern Depot is certainly damning," the Emperor said with barely suppressed fury. "Wu Zhong!" he called to the Head of the Ministry of Punishment.
The man stepped forward, "yes, Majesty?"
"Lock the Crown Prince in his palace until this investigation is complete and we arrive at an answer for who's to blame, and where the missing silver has ended up."
"Very good, Majesty," Minister Wu bowed.
