Emperor Xuanjing, upon seeing those promissory notes, immediately flew into a rage: "Outrageous!" he said, hurling the notes toward Tian Zhi.
Tian Zhi's face had already turned ashen; he knew there was no escape for him today. Yet, people are like this; facing death, they still grasp at any straw. So, he hastily looked toward Shen Wanxing: "Minister Shen, you said I could delay for a month, you said..."
"Nonsense, when did I ever say such a thing could be delayed?" Shen Wanxing was sweating profusely. How could this happen? But he dared not admit anything at this moment.
The other ministers dared not utter a word; this was about military funds, money meant for the lives of those soldiers fighting hard. Similarly, embezzling this was a sure death sentence.
Emperor Xuanjing took a deep breath: "Tian Zhi shall be executed immediately. Shen Wanxing, for dereliction of duty, shall be temporarily imprisoned, pending further judgment."
