He was only at a ministerial level, and even the highest income couldn't match the skyrocketing prices of his wife's oil paintings. Eventually, he couldn't afford his wife's paintings even after spending his entire fortune. Thus, as his retirement approached, he succumbed to the temptation to embezzle funds just once, hoping it would go unnoticed, so he could not only retire with success but also take control of his wife's oil paintings.
However, he hadn't anticipated that his one misdeed would draw the heavens' ire. In reality, he had only embezzled a portion of the allocated funds, but the bridge that was constructed subsequently collapsed due to the inferior materials used by officials below him, during a heavy rain. Many lives were lost, prompting a thorough investigation. Many were implicated, but due to his high rank and the substantial amount involved, he faced severe disciplinary action before being arrested and imprisoned.
