Chapter 10: Dealing with the Corrupt Official

Outside the palace, Zhao Manor.

Zhao Jingwu looked at the distinguished guest before him with a respectful expression, then knelt on both knees to receive the bright yellow imperial decree. "This humble official obeys the decree."

The Crown Prince helped him up. "General Zhao, please rise. This matter is of great importance; I must ask you to bring along more elite soldiers and fierce generals."

Zhao Jingwu looked puzzled. Isn't it just going to suppress bandits? A bunch of rabble—how many men could they possibly need?

The Crown Prince said nothing more, simply handing him a secret decree.

Zhao Jingwu suddenly realized. "This humble official understands."

Late at night, Qionghua Palace was brightly lit. Consort Shu’s eyes were red and swollen from crying as she stared intently at the little baby on the bed.

She was terrified of missing the moment Yaoyao woke up, and even more terrified that she... might never wake up again.

In the consciousness space

Chu Yaoyao was pacing back and forth in a panic. "System, what is going on? Why did you suddenly drag me in here?"

Mother must be so worried.

System: It’s because you leaked the plot, Host.

System: The Host’s soul does not belong to this world. To the world’s consciousness, you are anomalous data. It was already paying closer attention to you; once you violate the rules of the world, the light punishment is rejection, and the heavy punishment is erasure!

It had gone to great lengths back then to dodge the world consciousness’s tight surveillance just to distribute the novice rewards to those people.

"Then why do you still want me to do these counter-attack missions?"

So this is a high-risk profession?

Chu Yaoyao squatted on the ground, resting her chin in her hands, and let out a long sigh. "Sigh."

System: Don't be discouraged, Host. As long as the counter-attack progress reaches fifty percent, we can gain the recognition of the world consciousness and won't have to be so careful anymore.

Looking at the progress bar that was nearly non-existent, Chu Yaoyao gave a hollow laugh. "Thanks a lot." She didn't feel comforted at all.

"How much longer do I have to stay here?"

System: You need to stay in the 'dark room' for a full twelve hours.

Hearing this, Yaoyao simply lay down. Stay in this dump for half a day?

Just destroy it all.

The palace was quiet in the dead of night, but many people were sleepless.

...

Taihe Hall.

The morning court session began. Just as Emperor Qixuan sat down, Minister of War Xiao Wentao stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, for such a major event as the morning court, Zhao Jingwu has yet to arrive. He clearly does not hold Your Majesty in his eyes and has failed to live up to the imperial grace. I request that Your Majesty punish him severely."

The Crown Prince silently took half a step back. Here it comes.

"Bang!"

Emperor Qixuan slammed his hand heavily on the table. "Minister Xiao, your news is quite well-informed. Since the banditry in Xuzhou is so severe that it has burned down many fertile fields, why has no one reported it to me!"

The ministers looked at each other in dismay. They truly didn't know, but they dared not say so.

They all knelt down to plead guilty. "We are incompetent, please forgive us, Your Majesty."

"I have already sent Zhao Jingwu to suppress the bandits. Does Minister Xiao have any objections?"

Cold sweat broke out on Xiao Wentao's forehead. "This humble official dares not."

"If there is nothing else, you may all withdraw."

Censor Zhou stepped forward. "Reporting to Your Majesty, this old official has a memorial to present."

Emperor Qixuan twirled his thumb ring; it had finally arrived. "Proceed."

"This old official wishes to impeach Li Yan, the Director of the Provisions Department of the Ministry of War, for embezzling grain and military pay."

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince immediately perked up. So, Father Emperor intended to use Censor Zhou's hand to expose Li Yan's corruption.

Emperor Qixuan raised his eyes, feigning confusion. "There is such a thing?"

"Where is Li Yan?"

Li Yan walked out from the ranks, trembling.

He had originally intended to use Minister Xiao to smear Zhao Jingwu in front of the Emperor. That’s right—it was he who reminded Minister Xiao that Zhao Jingwu was late.

He never expected that Zhao Jingwu would be fine, while he himself would be impeached.

"Your Majesty, this official is wronged." As he spoke, he shook his worn-out official robes and raised his hands to wipe away tears, revealing the patches on his undergarments beneath his sleeves.

A flash of impatience crossed Emperor Qixuan's eyes. *Putting on a show, so noisy.* If he hadn't seen the account books with his own eyes, he really would have been fooled by this man.

Xiao Wentao also stepped out to speak for him. "Your Majesty, please listen. Official Li is a man of integrity and is very frugal in his daily life; it would not be an exaggeration to describe his home as having nothing but bare walls."

"Censor Zhou, it is not good to speak recklessly without evidence. Come to think of it, I heard that Censor Zhou's young grandson had a verbal altercation with Official Li on the street a few days ago. I fear that perhaps..."

Hearing this, Censor Zhou took out the memorial and the account book. "The evidence is here. Please take a look, Your Majesty."

Emperor Qixuan took the two items presented by Su Maowen. Although he had already seen the account book once, the numbers on it were still shocking every time he looked at them.

"Thud!" He threw the memorial directly at Li Yan's head.

"How dare you! Guards! Take Li Yan down and ensure he is strictly guarded! This case will be jointly tried by the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice. Once the embezzled silver is found, behead him in public! If any accomplices are found, execute them all!"

As soon as Censor Zhou produced the account book, Xiao Wentao had already slunk back to his position.

However, Censor Zhou did not intend to let him off.

Censor Zhou fell to his knees with a thud, his expression filled with grief. "Your Majesty, this old official has served two generations of monarchs and has worked in the Censorate for decades. I swore long ago that even if I were ground to dust, I would never betray the trust of the late Emperor and Your Majesty. I have never abused my power or used my position for personal gain. Yet, this scoundrel Xiao Wentao actually slandered me for using public office for private ends, failing to distinguish between public and private!"

As he spoke, Censor Zhou hugged one of the pillars in the great hall. "This old official has been upright and honest my entire life, speaking truth to power. I will not accept such slander! I am willing to die to prove my integrity. Today, I shall stain this Tai'an Hall with my blood! Late Emperor, I am coming to accompany you now!"

With that, he prepared to dash his head against the pillar.

The incident happened so suddenly that the ministers were terrified.

"Censor Zhou!"

"You mustn't!"

"Minister Xiao has truly gone too far."

"Exactly, he should apologize to Official Zhou."

...

Watching Zhou Chengyuan with his head pressed against the pillar, and Xiao Wentao standing to the side, pale-faced and pointed at by a thousand fingers, Emperor Qixuan felt inexplicably relieved.

This Censor Zhou was indeed loyal and patriotic, but he was far too rigid.

He would bring the most trivial matters in the palace to the court. As an Emperor, who he favored and how many women he had—this man wanted to manage it all.

He would threaten to hit the pillar at the slightest provocation.

And yet, there was nothing he could do about him; he held the Shangfang Sword bestowed by the late Emperor, so he couldn't be beaten or scolded.

Finally, it wasn't him who was being backed into a corner.

Emperor Qixuan's mood was like drinking a pot of refreshing herbal tea on a sweltering summer day.

Refreshing!

"Ahem!"

The show had been watched; it was time for him to make his entrance.

"Guards, quickly help Official Zhou up. Censor Zhou's loyalty to the monarch is as clear as the sun and moon; I am naturally aware of it. As for Minister Xiao..."

Emperor Qixuan glanced at Xiao Wentao. "You failed to distinguish right from wrong and defended a corrupt official. Considering you may have been unaware, I order you to apologize to Censor Zhou in public and forfeit half a year's salary!"

Whether Xiao Wentao pleaded for Li Yan out of colleague loyalty or... could it be that these two had some illicit dealings?

He would have to investigate him.

Then, Emperor Qixuan looked at the man who was still desperately hugging the pillar. "What does Censor Zhou think?"

Under the gaze of the court officials, Xiao Wentao walked over, bowed, and gritted his teeth. "It was I who mistakenly trusted a villain and was deceived, leading to my failure to distinguish right from wrong. I ask Official Zhou to forgive me."

Censor Zhou snorted at him. *You think you can clear your name just like that?*

An apology is useless. To actually speak for a corrupt official—you definitely have a problem. From now on, I will keep a close eye on you!

With his goal achieved, Emperor Qixuan had no interest in watching the ministers' infighting anymore and gave Su Maowen a look.

Su Maowen understood and shouted loudly: "Court dismissed—"

Emperor Qixuan stood up and walked quickly down the steps. *Hurry, hurry, I still need to go see Yaoyao.*

After the court was dismissed, Censor Zhou was surrounded by several ministers as they walked out.

"Official Zhou is truly impressive. We were all fooled by that scoundrel Li Yan. Your keen insight is an example for us all."

Censor Zhou stroked his graying beard. "Not at all, not at all. It is all for the sake of loyalty to His Majesty."

One official asked curiously: "I wonder how Official Zhou saw through Li Yan's disguise and found the evidence?"

Censor Zhou's movements paused. He didn't know either.

If I said that I woke up and the evidence was just sitting on my desk, would you believe me?

On the other side, just as Emperor Qixuan and the Crown Prince reached the entrance of Qionghua Palace, they heard the cheers of the palace servants.

The little princess has woken up!

(End of chapter)