Before we knew it, it was late April, and more than twenty days had passed since the edict to repair water conservancy projects and distribute seeds was issued.
On this day, Qin Chuan and the Empress read together in the Imperial Study of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, where memorials from various places were presented to them.
These memorials were mainly submitted by censors from the Censorate, and they primarily described what they had seen and heard in various provinces, prefectures, and counties over the past twenty-odd days.
"Husband, please look at this one..."
The Empress handed a memorial she had just finished reading to Qin Chuan, who was sitting opposite her.
Qin Chuan took the memorial, opened it, and saw that it was submitted by Censor Lai Mingchuan. He had no recollection of this man...
All I remember is that when Xiao Yue led the Embroidered Uniform Guard to inspect various provinces, a large number of censors from the Censorate were sent down to the local areas to monitor officials, understand the people's conditions, and report to the court.
Qin Chuan read the memorial, and saw that Lai Mingchuan had made the following statement in it:
"In the matter of water conservancy construction, local officials were rife with corruption, and the daily wage for laborers was as low as fifteen coins, and in several counties of Lizhou, the highest was no more than thirty coins. This caused delays in the construction period and widespread public resentment. However, in Jianglin County of Jiangzhou, for example, the magistrate, Li Qi, adopted a system of paying wages on a daily basis, paying laborers one hundred coins per day, and the project was completed in just over ten days..."
Upon seeing this text, Qin Chuan couldn't help but slam his fist on the table in anger: "The officials in Lizhou have gone too far! So much money was allocated, and they embezzled seventy or eighty percent of it!"
"We should send a letter to Xiao Yue, suggesting she make a trip to Lizhou, kill a few people to intimidate her..."
The Empress smiled gently and said, "Husband, don't be angry. Don't hurt yourself."
As she spoke, she rose from the dragon throne, walked gracefully over, and extended her slender, white hands to massage Qin Chuan's shoulders...
Upon seeing this, the eunuchs and palace maids were shocked and rushed over, wanting to serve Prince Yan in place of His Majesty, but His Majesty gently waved them away.
Being held like this by his empress wife, Qin Chuan instantly forgot his anger and closed his eyes to enjoy it...
"Li'er, you are the supreme ruler, yet you're massaging my shoulders. Isn't that a bit inappropriate?"
Unexpectedly, the Empress leaned close to his ear and whispered softly, her breath sweet as orchids: "When you serve me, my husband, I enjoy it far more than you do. That feeling... is simply indescribable..."
The Empress bit her lip with lingering pleasure, recalling his diligent efforts over the past few days, with his various styles of clothing, from stockings to lace, giving her a pleasure she had never experienced before…
She never expected that her husband knew so many tricks of the trade, which made her unable to resist and completely absorbed in his pleasures.
As she kneaded it, she said, "Look, isn't the magistrate surnamed Li from your hometown of Jiangzhou doing a pretty good job?"
"Hmm... settling accounts once a day is indeed a good method."
Qin Chuan pointed to the memorial on the table and said to the Empress, "This Lai Mingchuan is no ordinary man. No other censor has noticed such details. This Censor Lai is a good official."
"Yes, I think so too. If my husband wishes to reward this person, then so be it."
At this point, the Empress continued, "By the way, my husband, as you said, governing a country is like cooking a small fish. To govern these officials, intimidation alone is probably not enough. We must also pay attention to clear rewards and punishments, and combine kindness with severity. Only in this way will the officials fear you, respect you, and obey you."
"Li'er, now that you mention it, I've thought of a way."
"What method?"
"Integrity allowance".
"An allowance for maintaining integrity?"
The Empress glanced at Qin Chuan and said softly, "I think I understand a little bit. I hope my husband can explain in more detail."
"Because officials are often known to be corrupt, this name was specially created in the hope that they would take the meaning into consideration and strive to be honest officials."
At this point, Qin Chuan stood up and continued, "We have the money, so there's no need to worry about financial difficulties. The 'anti-corruption allowance' I'm thinking of setting up is not just about 'protecting integrity,' but about making it a promotion and assessment system. The better an official's performance, the more money they will be rewarded with, and the faster they will be promoted!"
The Empress slowly nodded her head.
However, she quickly noticed something amiss and frowned: "But who will assess the officials? And what will be the assessment criteria?"
Qin Chuan had already thought these issues through and said confidently, "Let the Ministry of Personnel and the Department of Performance Evaluation formulate detailed rules for the new policy assessment. Officials at the level of prefect and below will be assessed by them, while the assessment of officials of the second or third rank in local areas must be personally dispatched by the imperial court. For example, Xiao Yue's inspection tour can not only combat corruption but also assess his performance."
"As for the evaluation criteria, they can be detailed for different tasks. For example, in this round of funding for water conservancy projects and the distribution of seeds, the local prefectures and counties that complete the projects first and to a high standard will have the greatest merit. The same applies to planting new crops; the place where production increases the most and no one starves will have the greatest merit..."
The Empress nodded gently, "Very well, let's do as my husband wishes. Tomorrow at the court assembly, I will announce the establishment of a pension for those who maintain integrity."
At this point, she smiled sweetly and looked at Qin Chuan: "By the way, will you accompany me to court tomorrow?"
"I don't want to go to court..."
Qin Chuan stretched lazily, looking quite relaxed.
The empress stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Oh, my husband, I don't want to leave you for a moment. Just stay with me..."
Qin Chuan was once again aroused by her, and disregarding the palace maids and eunuchs around him, he picked her up and carried her into the small warm pavilion next door...
After it's all over.
"My husband, you really are... It's so hot here, look at you... You're covered in sweat."
For convenience, neither of them had taken off their clothes. Her skirt was open on both sides, and when lifted up, it did not hinder their actions.
When the two of them came out, they were both covered in sweat.
The palace maids came over and carefully wiped away the sweat with silk handkerchiefs, then brought water for the two to wash their faces. The two exchanged a knowing smile, seemingly finding the lack of restraint quite exciting, though it was a pity it was too short...
"Accompany me to court."
The Empress glanced at Qin Chuan with her phoenix eyes, her tone seemingly leaving no room for argument.
"Yes, my lady."
"My lady?"
Hearing this awkward address, the Empress couldn't help but chuckle, then gently pinched Qin Chuan's shoulder, "You're so unwilling..."
"After all, who wants to go to work?" Qin Chuan shrugged.
At this moment, Wan Chun and Mu Xia brought out chilled lotus seed soup on a tray and placed it in front of the two masters.
The Empress whispered a few words in Wan Chun's ear, then drank chilled lotus seed soup with Qin Chuan.
Wan Chun nodded, then took a basin of water and a towel, and went into the small warm room. When she came out a while later, her face was flushed...
The following day at court, the Empress announced the implementation of the system of allowances for maintaining integrity, and the officials expressed their support.
After the Office of Transmission issued the new policy edicts to all provinces, prefectures, and counties...
Looking at the new imperial edict, Li Qi, the magistrate of Jiangling County in Jiangzhou, exclaimed with admiration, "His Majesty is wise! The Prince of Yan is wise!"
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