Cant Win Me Back

During the Northern Song period, the central government implemented a system known as the Two Bureaus and Three Departments. The Three Departments were in charge of the nations resources, tributes from all directions, and the allocation of state finances. The head of the Three Departments, known as the Controller, held a rank of second grade, which was not particularly high, but since they managed the emperors wealth, no one in the court dared to openly offend this god of wealth!

The current Controller, Grant Zhao, was young, not yet thirty, and had a gentle and refined demeanor, the very image of a humble gentleman. His image as a humble gentleman was not feigned but innate.

When Grant Zhao was six years old, facing the bullies who targeted him, he managed to remain unafraid and unangered, and ultimately, with a smile, he tossed the little bully into the river to feed the fish.

As he grew older, Grant Zhao became even more gentle and composed, and his ability to "make the enemys ships turn to dust with a laugh" grew stronger.

Capital City, late spring, noon.

Dozens of Imperial Guard soldiers, dressed in black and red uniforms and carrying wide swords, stood in two rows on the high platform. The commander of the Imperial Guard, Blade Guan, stood solemnly in front of the steps.

Before long, a procession came from the direction of the palace. The young and elegant man leading the group was none other than Grant Zhao. Dressed in a purple official robe, wearing a five-beam crown, and carrying a gold fish bag at his waist, he walked calmly, without a hint of malice. In fact, just a quarter of an hour ago, it was he who had strongly requested the emperor to order the execution of the first-rank Duke, Bertram Yu and his entire family!

Upon seeing the approaching figure, Blade Guan quickly descended from the platform and greeted him from a distance with a respectful bow, saying, "Controller Zhao!"

As Grant Zhao approached, he nodded and smiled, saying, "Commander Guan, you have worked hard."

"Not at all, not at all, to serve His Majesty is my honor! It is you, Controller Zhao, who has labored on this case for days and nights, exhausting your heart and soul for the country and the people. You are truly a role model for us all," Blade Guan replied, joining Grant Zhao as they ascended the platform together.

Grant Zhao looked at the bound and kneeling figures on the platform and said with a smile, "Bertram Yu, I have come to see you off on your final journey. Your old fishing boat will never reach the shore! Seeing you suffer divine retribution brings me joy!"

Bertram Yu had been kneeling under the sun for a long time, his strength waning, and he was in a daze. Hearing his name called, he forced himself to look up. Upon seeing that it was Grant Zhao, he immediately became spirited, baring his teeth and cursing, "Grant Zhao, you frame loyal ministers with false charges, deceive the emperor with sweet words, and you will not die a good death. Grant Zhao, you, a princes son, could have lived a life of wealth and leisure, but you foolishly came to court to stir up trouble. One day, you will be punished, and I will wait for you in the underworld!"

Faced with such vicious insults, Grant Zhao did not get angry; instead, he smiled more gently and said softly, "Do you deserve the title of a loyal minister? The charges I have fabricated for you are not baseless; they are based on facts. I have merely embellished them, using a heavier hand in writing. In our dynasty, first-rank princes are mostly nominal, with fame and wealth but no real power. Bertram Yu, you have managed to become a first-rank Duke and control the defense of the capital for thirty years without falling. You are indeed a remarkable figure. However, I passed the imperial examination at seventeen, became the Controller at twenty-five, managing the nations resources and finances, and at twenty-eight, I brought down you, the powerful first-rank Duke. I can be more noble than you when I am noble, and more despicable than you when I am despicable. My career is safeguarded by my intelligence and will never be shipwrecked in a ditch. I advise you not to wait for me in the underworld, lest you miss your time to descend to hell."

Bertram Yu, after thirty years in the treacherous waters of officialdom, quickly composed himself and attempted to turn the tables, saying, "I admit my misfortune in falling into the hands of a clever man like you. However, Controller Zhao, you have helped Chancellor Zuo deal with me this time. I wonder what benefits he has promised you. But if you take me to see the emperor, I will surely be grateful and offer you greater benefits. Since the death of Chancellor Zuos only son, his mental state has not been well, and he may soon retire. He cannot offer you much. I am different; my daughter is a noble consort, and my former students and officials are spread throughout the court. I can definitely become the ladder for Controller Zhao to climb even higher."

Grant Zhao looked at Bertram Yu with a smirk and said, "Poor man, you still dont know the truth when death is upon you. The execution ground is full of bad luck. I came here despite the bad luck and wasted my time and breath to mock you, a prisoner at the bottom of the steps. What do you think is the reason?"

Bertram Yu was taken aback and asked, "You are not dealing with me because of factional strife? Do we have a significant personal grudge?"

Grant Zhao slowly said, "Eleven years ago, on my way to the capital by boat, which also carried Chancellor Zuos only son, we were attacked by river pirates, and he perished in the river."

Bertram Yu widened his eyes and argued, "At that time, I did not know that the son of Prince Ning was also on the boat. If I had known, I would never have made an enemy of Prince Ning."

Grant Zhao chuckled and said, "Perhaps even if you had known the son of Prince Ning was on the boat, you would have acted anyway. The son of a carefree prince, how much weight could he have?"

Bertram Yu sighed, closed his eyes, and two streams of tears flowed down his face as he said, "I thought that by defeating Chancellor Zuo, who was at odds with me, I could rest easy. I never expected that the hidden danger had been sown long ago. No matter how clever my schemes were, they were not as good as the will of heaven!"

Grant Zhao sneered and said, "Although the heavens may have unpredictable changes, I have always believed that one can shape their own destiny. Even when calculating against others, one must have character. You had exquisite schemes and means, but your character was too poor. Heaven could not stand it and naturally took you away. Calculations that are beneficial to the country, the people, and oneself are the good ones. You knew there were nearly two hundred innocent passengers on that ship. You could have chosen another opportunity or targeted the specific person, but to vent your own anger, you made innocent passengers the victims of your venting. With such character and official conduct, you have lived a life of luxury and food until this age. It is heavens special mercy to you."

After speaking, Grant Zhao turned to Blade Guan and instructed, "Commander Guan, strip Bertram Yu of his official robes and five-beam crown, and execute him with a rod."

Blade Guan gestured for two Imperial Guard members to carry out the punishment. As they