Chapter 251 Yao Qingling wiped her drool.

Yao Qingling looked at Lin Shiyuan and said while thinking, "Is it possible that... these officials all have items that came from the palace, or that they accepted tributes when they received bribes? These officials have received so many of these fine items that they treat them as ordinary things and don't care about them."

Just like people who are used to wearing fine silks and satins never feel that there is anything wrong with wearing them, but in fact, this kind of clothing should not be worn by them.

“In the past, when they held banquets, they never paid attention to these items. In fact, in order to show off the extravagance and luxury of their mansion, for the sake of face, and to reflect their nobility, they deliberately displayed and used those extraordinary items.”

"However, the major case in the palace has occurred, and they have become more cautious. So they asked my people from all directions to help them prepare. Although the items from all directions cannot compare to tribute, they are still presentable..."

The more Yao Qingling thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

Lin Shiyuan looked at her with a slight smile, his eyes bright.

She is always so smart and perceptive; she can sense even the slightest disturbance.

The man spoke up: "You're right."

Yao Qingling was taken aback, poured him a glass of water, and handed it to him: "I'd like to hear the details."

Lin Shiyuan sat down and slowly began to speak: "Actually, my trip to the Prince Chen's residence today was not because I happened to meet the Marquis of Xincheng on the way, as the Lady of Xincheng said, but because the Marquis of Xincheng specially invited me to go with him."

"It wasn't just the Prince's mansion today; a few days ago, the Marquis had intentionally or unintentionally sent someone to invite me over."

Those people were all Marquis Xincheng's men. As long as the Marquis said a word, Lin Shiyuan would become their friend, going to "broaden his horizons" or "make friends".

Lin Shiyuan had been stationed in the southern border region for a long time, and this was his first year as an official in the capital. It was understandable that he would take advantage of the banquet to socialize with other officials.

"...I can't openly search the residences of those officials, so attending banquets is a good way."

Yao Qingling nodded: "I see. So, did you find anything?"

Lin Shiyuan sneered: "Some people, relying on their high positions and power, don't care what they use."

Lin Shiyuan had records of palace rewards, detailing which officials or their families received rewards from the emperor or imperial concubines at what time.

He still managed to discover some things that shouldn't have been there.

For example, the Ministry of Revenue's residence even had elk.

According to ancient legends, the Père David's deer was the mount of Jiang Ziya and has always been regarded as an auspicious animal. Four Père David's deer were kept in the hunting grounds of Shanglin Garden, two in the palace, and two in the Summer Palace.

The Minister's residence actually kept two pairs of them, and even openly offered them as entertainment for those attending banquets.

For example, the hairy crabs served at the banquet at Vice Minister Li's residence were twice the size of those served in the imperial kitchen.

For example, they sent wild ducks into the palace mistaking them for swans.

These are not big things in themselves, but one small thing at a time, when added together, becomes a big thing.

Not to mention the treasures in the palace storerooms and the precious medicinal herbs in the imperial pharmacy.

Lin Shiyuan then said, "Do you know that the head of the Imperial Medical Academy gives Angong Niuhuang Wan (a traditional Chinese medicine) as a gift to his guests?"

Yao Qingling opened her mouth: "This..."

She had heard He Yin mention that Angong Niuhuang Wan required precious medicinal materials such as rhinoceros horn, bezoar, and musk. These materials were extremely rare, and even Doctor He had come to Qingling to ask if she had any way to obtain them.

Such precious medicine has become a gift for guests?

Of course, those who can obtain Angong Niuhuang Wan are certainly not ordinary customers.

Yao Qingling took a deep breath: "No wonder the Emperor was furious."

She only knew that counterfeit goods had leaked out of the palace and that corruption within the palace was rampant, but she was still shocked to hear that these precious items had become commonplace among officials.

Lin Shiyuan then mentioned several other tribute items, such as a seven-tiered pagoda inlaid with precious stones, a gilded gold inkstone box inlaid with glass beads and shaped like a beast, and gold cicada and jade leaf ornaments...

Yao Qingling's mouth was practically watering as she listened.

Who wouldn't want to own a few of these wonderful items?

If an ordinary person had a single pill of Angong Niuhuang Wan, she dared to say that when it came to saving a life, the people would not dare to take it, and would rather die themselves than not pass this treasure on to their descendants.

There's also the painting of lush bamboo and ancient trees by the famous calligrapher and painter Ni Zan, the underglaze red porcelain vase with longevity stone and floral patterns, and the golden phoenix hairpin...

Yao Qingling wiped her lips with a handkerchief, suppressing the desire that was rising within her.

Yes, desire.

These treasures, which signify status and highlight the owner's specialness, are something you'd want to own just by hearing about them, let alone having them right in front of you.

Yao Qingling said, "If we have evidence, can we investigate and prosecute?"

How can such widespread corruption be investigated? Almost all officials in the court are involved.

Because almost everyone has it, if the emperor really wanted to investigate, he would probably only be able to raise the issue high and then lower it lightly.

Just like the major case of the Yellow River breaching its banks, in the end only a few people were symbolically punished.

At this moment, Yao Qingling was not worried about whether the case could be solved, but rather about Lin Shiyuan's safety.

Lin Shiyuan sneered: "You're overthinking it."

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"The imperial court allocates funds every year to repair the Yellow River embankment. This project started during the reign of the late emperor. Did the late emperor not know that Grand Tutor Zhou was corrupt? Did he not know that those officials were extremely corrupt?"

Yao Qingling's expression was serious. She thought for a moment, pushed open the window and looked outside, then lowered her voice: "You mean... the Yellow River case is actually a 'legacy' left to the Emperor by the late Emperor?"

There's a saying: "A new emperor brings a new court."

Those veteran officials, taking advantage of the fact that the new emperor had not yet established any merits after his ascension to the throne, used their power to suppress imperial authority, causing an imbalance in the court. That is why, after the new emperor ascended the throne, these veteran officials had to be eliminated so that the new emperor could seize real power.

However, removing those veteran officials isn't something that can be done casually; there needs to be a reason. There must be sufficiently serious charges to bring them down.

The Yellow River breached its banks, turning both sides into a vast expanse of water. Countless people died or were injured, and countless others were displaced. Such a horrific tragedy could have been avoided, but for the sake of the new emperor's future, they allowed it to happen.

After Yao Qingling figured it out, a chill ran through her body.

She hugged the hand warmer tightly.

She couldn't help but think that if she also lived on the banks of the Yellow River, she would become a corpse in the rolling waves, eventually feeding the fish...

However, the nobles in the capital, including the emperor, would not put themselves in his shoes.

They were in the safest place, dressed in fine silks and eating exquisite food, thinking about how to consolidate their power and wealth, and how to prevent their power and wealth from being taken away by others.

A major case, involving countless lives, was nothing more than a power struggle.

"...You mean, the Emperor lost the contest on the banks of the Yellow River, and he wants to win this major case in the palace?"

After the Yellow River breached its banks, countless officials were investigated and punished, but only lower-ranking officials were severely punished. The truly guilty, such as Grand Tutor Zhou, were only exiled a thousand miles away. The Zhou family, in the northern border region, were even treated well.

Lin Shiyuan nodded, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Imperial power is cold.

Even the one sitting on the dragon throne now, is he truly for the people?

not necessarily.

The Yellow River breached its banks, but it was too far from the capital to flood the palace, so the emperor didn't actually lose anything. He only lost a portion of his people.

However, everything in the palace—the food, the clothes, the utensils, even the women—belonged to the emperor.

But when someone reached out to him, he couldn't stand it.

Yao Qingling had no idea what Lin Shiyuan was thinking, so she continued to share her thoughts.

"...The case of the Yellow River breach was not thoroughly handled, leading those officials to believe that the Emperor was weak and had made concessions to them. As a result, they became even more unscrupulous, leading to...rampant theft of palace items and officials daring to deceive the Emperor..."

"Does His Majesty intend to use this incident to once again demonstrate his imperial power?"