Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night in the Imperial Palace. Ever since the gates were locked, box after box of account books had been carried into a side hall. The entire Ministry of Internal Affairs—from the Internal Affairs Chief down to the eunuchs and palace maids—had been rounded up by General Wei, Liu Chang, and his men, then herded into a courtyard for separate detention.
Hua Shunming did not mobilize the Six Ministries this time. Instead, he had his confidants conduct interrogations and raid homes overnight. By the time the sky began to lighten at dawn, a long line of carts, filled to the brim with confiscated goods, was already queued up at the palace gates.
The various ministers arriving for the morning court session could only dismount from afar and walk into the palace. By the time everyone reached the main hall, they still had no idea what was going on.
