Zhao Yan was not surprised in the least by what Minister Cao wanted to say. On the contrary, Vice Minister Dīng's reaction was completely abnormal; every single word Minister Cao spoke caused Dīng's face to grow a shade paler, until his guilty-conscience reaction finally aroused Minister Cao's suspicion.
"Lord Dīng, what are you afraid of?" Minister Cao looked sternly at Vice Minister Dīng. Having worked alongside him for over a decade, Minister Cao understood him to a certain extent. Though narrow-minded and intolerant of others, Vice Minister Dīng possessed genuine talent and capability; otherwise, given his intolerant personality, he would never have risen to the position of Vice Minister.
The interrogation disrupted Vice Minister Dīng's train of thought. If this matter were truly investigated to the bottom, he would undoubtedly come to a bad end. Over the years, he had embezzled a significant portion of the funds intermittently allocated to the Eastern Palace. Believing the Crown Prince to be an isolated and marginalized figure, Dīng had been certain the matter would never be exposed. Who could have anticipated that a sudden interloper would reveal the true state of the Eastern Palace directly to the Emperor? Vice Minister Dīng thoroughly loathed this informant.
Chapter 522