Following the lead

[ Weicheng's POV ]

"Welcome to our Hall of Budget" the old secretary greeted us with a bow. The Hall of Budget is far behind the whole finance ministry. "You can tour around first, while I gather the records"

The hall is a one story building with several tables lined up in a horizontal. The side of the halls has two other separated parts which I think are the kitchen and dining, the other is the record section. The whole department seems forgotten at the back of the huge ministry office.

I looked at Tae Hua tying his cape carefully. I grimaced "can't you tie it properly?" I asked

"None of your business," he said with a blank face.

I shrugged and lead the way to the kitchen first. The whole kitchen is huge. The head chef and sous chef greeted us. This Kitchen is the Primary Kitchen of the Finance, meaning all the food is cooked here and being circulated to the two departments.

We were asked to list down what we want for the following week of staying here. "The Minister will give us the budget for the meals"

I refused because it might be a much hassle to include us in the daily meals. Tae Hua however, took the parchment paper and listed several foods. I looked at him in a displeasing face. "You're unbelievable"

"The budget for meals is added to the budget of meals of the Revenue, so we are not being neglected for food." I nodded. Tae Hua stood up to check the ingredients and the whole storage of the kitchen before continuing his list. "Why do you have a locked door here?" He asked, I saw the Chef suddenly stiffened. He put his hands behind his torso as he walked back to where we are seated.

He took the paper as he started writing again. My eyes widen at the list. He provided almost four pages.

"What?" I asked him and he just put up his hand to stop me from talking. I rolled my eyes.

He looked at the Chef "Since you're already doing it against the rules, by keeping the excess to distribute it outside, " he started, I only realized what he meant when the chef immediately kneeled down

"I committed a grave sin, your highness. I deserved to be punished severely"

"Why are you keeping the excess stocks?"

"I- We are giving them to the homeless"

My heart softened as I reached for Tae Hua's arm to stop him, he just shrugged. He stood up and threw the paper he rolled to the floor where the chef is kneeling. I was about to ask him when he turned his head to the Chef.

"All of the things listed and all your stocks should be distributed in the capital every day, starting later. The food should be for the homeless. The others listed should be given to the 13 villages as well."

The Chef stood up with a thankful face.

"I'll give you my seal so you can enter each village. I will also assign imperial soldiers to accompany the kitchen personnel upon distributing." He waited and continued "I know the food will not suffice the coming drought, but we need to provide them food, at least until we can come up with the long-term solution before the drought."

I narrowed my eyes when he left us all speechless. He bid his goodbye while I was still dumbfounded

"Weicheng"

I was shocked by his sudden voice as I said my farewell to the chef and followed him. While walking, I can't help but look at him.

So he intended to go to the kitchen to check the budget and provide for temporary relief.

"Stop staring"

"Don't you think it is against the rules?" I asked while walking in the patio going to the records section, where the Secretary is waiting for us.

"It is. But, in times of emergency, the rulers should exhaust everything to provide for his citizen" his voice is calm, but stern. I nodded. "And I have given my seal, so if anything goes wrong. I'll shoulder all the consequences. As of the moment we need to work behind the back of the officials here."

The old secretary is already waiting at the records section holding several accounts and record books.

He looked at me again and whispered "We cannot trust anyone here."

The old secretary welcomed us inside "This is the last account and record for the allocation of the budget for the last 10 years"

The piled-up books were almost tall as a person. I just looked at it in dismay, I can see myself not having a night of proper sleep for this whole week.

"I should have been assigned to another department" I whispered.

Tae Hua fixed his robe and sat at the other side and took one of the books. I grimaced as I took the ink and prepared for papers. I sat opposite him and took one book.

817 AD Record

====

For the whole day we were stuck inside the record section, some of the attendants will give us food or drinks and then leave us again. I saw him walking down the records section and looking at several books. He went back again as I finished the 7th record book and wrote the remaining issues I saw regarding the distribution.

I massaged my head as I saw the window. It's almost dusk.

"5pm" I looked at Tae Hua still engrossed in the book. I just nodded and stood up, I stretched my arm upward and did a little stretching. I slowly looked at Tae Hua who is frowning at me.

He shook his head and finished the last book, he folded the paper where he wrote the things need and covered the ink. I did the same in a hurried manner.

"Let's get out now, I'll be blowing off the candles once you're outside" I went ahead and waited for him outside the door. He closed all the windows and checked all the books we kept it all safe on our tables as we head on.

Upon going out I noticed that the workers inside the hall were already leaving too. We bowed our heads as I saw them talk and getting ready to go home for their meals. I saw some of them even opening their envelopes while grinning.

"Is it their monthly salary?" I asked

"I guess so."

We stopped for a while and let them leave first. The courtyard is already emptied when we started walking and entering the primary hall of finance, which is a lot bigger and wider. We also bowed our heads when we saw the Minister of Finance as he greeted Tae Hua with a bow.

"Third Prince" he said upon courtesy

Tae Hua just nodded

"How's your work?" The Minister asked.

"We just read the records and listed a few things. We will be sending you our reports tomorrow afternoon after compilation."

I narrowed my eyes at him, we haven't yet found the missing records, how can he say that? The goal is to find the misappropriation of the budget in each record book, which I haven't found since then.

"Alright. I hope you come up with it soon or it will be all in vain."

I frowned as he took his leave.

There's something going on with the budget, revenue, and finance here. My mind wanders as I followed Tae Hua's lead back to the carriage.

Because of my idling, I bumped at his wide built. "Stop wandering off, get on"

I realized we were in the carriage. He turned his back again as he rode the carriage going back to the palace. I follow suit.

After some time of silence, I couldn't help myself to ask "Don't you feel any kind of weird feeling when we got out of the record hall?"

He remained silent as he closed his eyes.

"The old secretary just let us open all the records by year. The workers went home as if taking all their things and not wanting to go back. And.." I paused and he opened his eyes to look at the ceiling of the carriage "The Minister somewhat said something off"

He breathed "so?"

"So, they might be hiding something from us. And will keep it to their graves before we could find any clues."

"That wouldn't happen. I won't let that happen."

When we arrived at the palace I started going back to our room when he stopped and pull me behind a huge wall. I looked at him as his hand covered my mouth. he hushed me.

I looked at where he is looking and saw the minister of finance entering the hall of ministers. This is the designated court for the ministers, not far from the hall where we are staying.

The old Minister walked with careful eyes and entered the hall.

"He's really something," I said.

"Stop talking"

I grimaced as I follow him to the backside of the hall, where the ministers are inside. I saw the 4 ministers, all sitting at a table.

"I can't believe the kingdom is filled with noisy and inexperienced lads. The imperial palace sent all their students to check and eliminate us all in here"

"who is that?" I whispered to Tae Hua

"Chancellor Ba, his clan is one of the superior clans in North aside from the Yuns of course"

I shook my head.

"Our leader will probably do something before our plans will be discovered, for now, we just have to wait and do necessary things to keep them off track."

"The Minister for Finance, Minister for Public works, Minister for Palace Arrangements, and Minister for Rites are colluding," He said.

I need to know if these Ministers are against the Queen or working under her skirt. Because it will determine the probability of entering the North Kingdom with them or by eliminating all of them in the process.

====

[ Third Person ]

When midnight rose, the kingdom befalls to its solace. The moon shone brightly as the students took off and slept well.

Weicheng and Laohu walked to the path back to their room when he took the necklace off of her. T

"What? What are you doing?" Weicheng asked with a deadpan look.

"You need to be safe" Laohu said as he gave the necklace to her bondage hand. "Keep the necklace from people who might see it. And don't lose your bondage, ever. The ride will start from this day on." he said in a stern voice.

Weicheng is all but confused, he held the blood jade necklace in her hand, the cold stone ignited in her hand. As they went back. She kept the necklace inside her robe.

The serene night of their assignment created havoc.

The palace was surrounded by several masked men. The emergency was announced by the official palace guards. Elite soldiers of the North gathered and forced all the students, including the north princess to stay in the palace's throne hall.

Everyone gathered their robes and their armors as they were led to the palace throne.

Chancellor Ba and the Grand General Ling emerged from the back as the commotion outside was immediately pacified.

"Why are we even hiding?" Laohu asked in disapproval. "We were supposed to fight"

"We are equipped," Qui Run said when his father stopped him.

"Are you stupid?" Princess Xiao shouted which gained several rolls of the eyes from the students. "We can't risk that"

"Your safety is important," Chancellor Ba said.

"They were assassins from the North, the Red Assassins were the ones who attacked several villagers to send the kingdom a message. We cannot launch an attack on them because they are as well, citizens of the north that only send messages for the Kingdom's critics." Master Niu said. " If we fight them, we will ignite the people to revolt completely."

An arrow entered the palace with a fire and a sling. Grand General Ling as the head general of all the forces, took the initiative to go to the arrow that drop when it entered the door. The fire was extinguished, as he opened the rolled paper. His eyes widened.

The students as well as the people inside were eager to hear what's inside the letter. Luckily it was the Grand General who opened or else another word will be delivered. He read,

"This is the beginning. The Kingdom became vile when the throne became a wicked place for people who wants power. Their neglect for their citizens became rampant as the year passes by. All because of an event that led to a decade of lies. The Red assassins will avenge those who deserve justice. The promise of a new and great tomorrow is already nearing its completion.

All the people involved in the Second Princess' doom will be held liable.

And before we could forget, The Second Princess is alive. Now, let us play hide and seek."

Everyone gasped as the whole kingdom suddenly went silent. The court has been cleared already. as the gates once again opened.

"Lies!" Princess Xiao shouted at the back as she walked down to take the letter. She shook her head. "These are all lies," her voice is full of rage as she looked at us in annoyance and exited with an angered face. Her attendants and the forces followed her.

The throne hall is already empty with just the students left.

"She should be celebrating, right?" Laohu asked which all of them looked at "her sister is alive? if that is true, then she would have a sibling, again." He finishes off before he received some disapproval.

"Stop talking," Eun Jo said as they went out and walked back.

"Princess Xiao and Princess Xie'en had always been compared. I don't think she would be happy if her sister would suddenly appear" Chou Xi said on the back.

"And Princess Xie'en was always praised by the citizens of the Arghon." Ji wok added and he entered their room leaving the rest.

"It will be a big blow for her and the empire if ever she is alive" Pei Hang added.

"How did she die?" Weicheng questioned

"She was to be exiled at the Northern mansion. And was ambushed on the way." Pei hang said and shook his head.

"To be exiled?" she asked

"That's a long story. But, her mother came from an unknown origin and she was executed due to several rumors. As a result, the Second Princess was exiled to the northern part mansion for ten years." Eun Jo said

"And the news came that the carriage was ambushed and that she was burned alive. There was no bodies were found, but a hairpin belonging to her."

That's a sad story