Because gaining merit in front of the emperor is more important than chatting about life with young girls.

He tidied himself up and immediately went to the palace.

Zhao Huan has been fishing by the lake these past few days. He's enjoying the rare spring weather and the peaceful atmosphere, so of course he wants to savor it.

When Liu Yanzong arrived, he found that Qin Hui was also there.

Liu Yanzong immediately understood that Qin Hui had probably also learned about the Huaxing Trading Company and had come to tell the emperor so that he could take credit for it.

Liu Yanzong walked over and, sure enough, heard Qin Hui say, "The person has been imprisoned in the Kaifeng Prefecture jail."

Liu Yanzong carefully observed the changes in the emperor's expression. From the emperor's slightly furrowed brows, he sensed a hint of displeasure.

As expected, those popular speculations were all wishful thinking.

The emperor had no intention of harming Huaxing Trading Company. At most, it was just that a few people in the court disliked Huaxing Trading Company and were using this as an excuse to cause trouble.

No, we can't let Qin Hui steal the credit for this.

Liu Yanzong was about to say something; that's right, he intended to take this opportunity to put a good dose of the Ministry of Commerce's arrogance on the table.

In recent years, Tang Ke has gained increasing power by taking advantage of the Ministry of Commerce's prosperity, which has greatly hindered Liu Yanzong's efforts to place his people in positions of authority.

Liu Yanzong stepped forward, bowed, and greeted the emperor: "Your Majesty."

Zhao Huan continued fishing: "Liu Yusi, what brings you here now?"

Liu Yanzong glanced at Qin Hui standing to one side, and then said, "Your Majesty, a major event has occurred, and I do not know how to decide it, so I have come here specifically to report to Your Majesty."

"What important matter?"

"Ye Chong of Huaxing Trading Company has been arrested."

Zhao Huan turned his head and looked at his supervisory office. He knew that Liu Yanzong was cunning and that he must have more to say after he said this.

But he didn't know that Liu Yanzong was unaware that the Huaxing Trading Company was backed by the entire emperor.

Since Liu Yanzong didn't know, his special trip to the palace to discuss this matter must have been to cause trouble for Tang Ke.

Liu Yusi, you really are a scoundrel!

Zhao Huan pretended not to know, and asked with a curious look, "Ye Chong?"

"It's Ye Chong, the one who built the steam locomotive that day."

The emperor immediately put on a look as if he had finally remembered: "It was him. I still remember him. What did he do that made you, Imperial Censor Liu, make such a trip?"

These words seemed to be a rebuke to Liu Yanzong: "You are a Minister of Justice, why don't you supervise my officials every day? What are you doing paying attention to a merchant in the private sector?"

Your performance as a court attendant is substandard.

Look at He Ye next door, he racks his brains every day to collect the prime ministers' trivial matters, and he criticizes the prime ministers whenever he has nothing to do in court.

Liu Yanzong remained calm, seemingly confident that he could make the emperor take his words seriously.

"Your Majesty, the matter committed by Ye Chong is unrelated to me, but the impact of this matter has damaged the situation that Your Majesty has carefully laid out, which is detrimental to the Great Song Dynasty. I bear the responsibility for this!"

"How did you disrupt the situation I had set up?"

"His Majesty has always invested a lot of money in construction and innovation. As a company that manufactures steam locomotives, Huaxing Trading Company should set an example. However, some people in the court are deliberately fabricating cases for their own selfish interests, which has already had a bad influence among the people."

How do you know that Huaxing Trading Company was framed?

"I have learned about the entire process of the case and there are many doubts. The Kaifeng Prefecture's hasty conclusion of the case is a contempt for the laws of the Great Song Dynasty and will cause the people to lose their awe of the laws of the Great Song Dynasty and their awe of Your Majesty."

Zhao Huan kept a close eye on Liu Yanzong, that old fox. He was clearly there to strike at his political enemies, but he always managed to portray himself as selfless.

Zhao Huan smiled and said, "Oh, please continue."

"Now the public is speculating that Huaxing Trading Company stole the credit from the Academy of Sciences for manufacturing the steam locomotive, so the imperial court took the opportunity to revoke the patent for the steam locomotive. If this happens, who will dare to create anything new in the future?"

"This matter goes against Your Majesty's wishes, which is why I have dared to come."

Zhao Huan stood up, poured himself a cup of sake, and his long white robes fluttered in the spring breeze, giving him an air of otherworldly elegance.

But when he frowned, he looked rather grim.

Regardless of Liu Yanzong's ulterior motives, his words struck a chord with Zhao Huan.

The suppression of emerging forces by old-school interest groups is simple: because certain individuals control power and resources.

They only value their own immediate interests and abandon long-term, macro-level benefits.

The imperial court should set an example for the world, creating a favorable atmosphere and positive direction for the Song Dynasty, rather than being afraid of or wary of new things.

Since Liu Yanzong wanted to get involved in this matter, Zhao Huan decided to let him participate as well.

“Liu Yusi is right.” Zhao Huan sat on the stone bench in the pavilion. “I will leave this matter to Liu Yusi to investigate.”

"It is my duty to share Your Majesty's burdens."

Attacking political enemies has always been something Liu Yanzong wanted to do.

After Liu Yanzong left, Qin Hui said, "Your Majesty, the Kaifeng Prefectural Government and the Commerce Department are just following the rules. The real problem lies with Zhang Qingyuan. I am worried that Liu Yusi is deliberately making a big fuss about this."

"It's alright, let Liu Yusi investigate first."

"yes."

"Your Majesty, please advise on how to handle Ye Chong's situation."

"Don't worry about Ye Chong for now. The Kaifeng government won't do anything to him. I'll make a statement after Liu Yanzong has investigated this matter."

"yes."

Qin Hui was secretly alarmed; the emperor had been on the throne for six years, and his methods were becoming increasingly cunning.

He knew that someone in the court was watching Ye Chong and waiting for the power behind Ye Chong to emerge. Before it was determined who was behind Ye Chong, Ye Chong would not be in any danger.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!