"Do you have a way to make money?"
The Empress was overjoyed. She rose from her dragon throne, walked to Qin Chuan, and bowed slightly as she looked at him.
Smelling the sudden fragrance and seeing the Empress's stunningly beautiful face so close to him, Qin Chuan's heart fluttered slightly.
The Empress also sensed that the two were too close, and could even feel each other's breath, so she quietly took a step back.
After suppressing his lustful desires, Qin Chuan said, "The way to make money is..."
He hesitated whether to bring up that matter directly with the Empress...
"Speak quickly!" the Empress urged impatiently.
"Never mind, let's not talk about that for now," Qin Chuan thought to himself.
Then, gesturing with his hands, he said, "Your Majesty, this world is like a huge cake. The royal family gets a slice, the officials and gentry get a slice, and the common people get a slice. Originally, everyone had a slice to eat..."
"Cake?" The Empress had never heard of such a thing and frowned.
"Never had cake? Let me use another analogy: a flatbread! Imagine this flatbread is divided into three portions, so everyone gets to eat. But one day, a natural disaster takes away part of the people's portion, leaving them with not enough to eat. However, the royal family's portion is also decreasing. Your Majesty, what do you think is the problem...?"
The Empress tilted her head slightly, as if thinking for a moment, then her eyes suddenly lit up: "I understand! The cakes have all been eaten by the bureaucrats and gentry, or they have hidden them away."
“That’s right, Your Majesty is very clever!” Qin Chuan nodded.
The Empress was overjoyed by his praise, seemingly forgetting that it was an overstepping of her bounds.
Having said all that, the Empress now had a clear understanding of how to make money.
If you want to make money, you have to find a way to make the bureaucrats and gentry give back what they've taken in—after all, they've taken so much...
Thinking of this, the Empress snorted coldly and said, "I will thoroughly investigate corrupt officials and make them vomit up as much as they have eaten. If they can't vomit it up, I will skin them alive!"
The Empress's voice was like ice descending, instantly chilling the entire imperial study...
Qin Chuan sighed inwardly. Fortunately, the Empress still held military power. In addition to the 60,000 troops in the northern and southern camps in the capital, there were 300,000 troops in the various camps throughout the country. Fortunately, the Xiongnu were divided by internal strife; otherwise, this strength would not have been able to withstand the attack of a great Xiongnu empire...
As for who to send to investigate corrupt officials, the Empress thought of two people: Xiao Yun and Xiao Yue.
One was the General of the Northern Camp and Commander of the Imperial Guard, and the other was the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Both were members of the royal family. These two could be trusted to be used without worry. One was responsible for investigating corruption, and the other was responsible for confiscating property. Each performed their duties and complemented each other perfectly.
When the conversation turned to Xiao Yue, Qin Chuan did not see her, nor did he see her at the court meeting. He did recall that he had taken Jiang Ran to the Dali Temple yesterday and wondered how the interrogation was going.
After telling the Empress about this, she immediately ordered her attendants, "Prepare the carriage, we're going to the Dali Temple!"
"Then I shall take my leave..."
Just as Qin Chuan was about to bow and leave the imperial study, the Empress suddenly said, "Don't go. I can't leave you. Come with my carriage."
Upon hearing the words "I cannot live without you," Qin Chuan almost doubted his ears.
In that moment of astonishment, an eunuch in a brocade python robe bowed and said, "Imperial Preceptor, please."
The high-ranking eunuchs who were so arrogant yesterday have completely changed their attitude today, treating him with utmost respect. Qin Chuan felt quite disheartened by this.
It must be said that the emperor's carriages were luxurious, grand, and comfortable.
After getting into the carriage, Qin Chuan sat to the side, while the Empress sat in the main seat. Qin Chuan rarely spoke throughout the journey, occasionally stealing a glance at the Empress, only to find that she was also looking at him...
This was somewhat awkward; he had only wanted to admire the Empress's unparalleled beauty, but he hadn't expected to be discovered by her.
After that, Qin Chuan dared not look up at the Empress again.
Inside the carriage, the subtle fragrance enhanced the enchanting atmosphere.
Fortunately, we arrived at Dali Temple soon.
Upon hearing that His Majesty was personally visiting the Dali Temple, Xiao Yue, the Minister of the Dali Temple, waited early at the temple gate to greet him.
"His Majesty."
Xiao Yue, being a member of the royal family, did not perform the kneeling ceremony but instead bowed.
Qin Chuan glanced at Xiao Yue and saw that she was dressed as a female official, wearing a winged hat and a brocade white robe. Her skin was fair, her eyes were bright and sparkling, and her temperament was like an orchid. She was clearly an intelligent person.
Upon seeing Qin Chuan, Xiao Yue promptly clasped her hands in a respectful greeting: "Imperial Preceptor."
"Lord Xiao," Qin Chuan asked, "how's the interrogation of that female thief going?"
Xiao Yue took out a piece of paper from her bosom. It was written in Jiang Ran's handwriting and listed the members of the Crimson Moon Society and their locations.
Jiang Ran was exposed by Qin Chuan on his way to the capital. Fearing the power of the electric baton, she told Qin Chuan everything, but refused to reveal the information about the members of the Crimson Moon Society. Qin Chuan brought them to the Empress, which is why she was imprisoned in Dali Temple.
“Since they’ve all confessed, let the provincial governments arrest them. Once they’re all caught, Jiang Ran will identify them one by one, and then we’ll deal with them all at once,” Qin Chuan said.
Xiao Yue glanced at the Empress, who nodded, before she said, "Yes."
"By the way, Jiang Ran is a tainted witness, so let's not torture her. Treat prisoners leniently, is that alright?" Qin Chuan said to Xiao Yue.
Xiao Yue nodded and said, "Yes."
"Lord Xiao, the matter of arresting members of the Crimson Moon Society can be left to the lower-level departments. His Majesty has another important matter that requires your personal attention," Qin Chuan said as he walked.
Although this is the Dali Temple, an institution completely controlled by the Empress, it is inevitable that there will be some spies from the Mou and Li factions. Therefore, it is better to keep the matter of "investigating corruption" a secret.
Xiao Yue understood perfectly and quickly followed. The Empress, supported by eunuchs and maids, also arrived at a room.
As the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Xiao Yue had her own room to handle cases, and her trusted subordinates were all in this room.
Xiao Yue dismissed everyone, leaving only her, Qin Chuan, and the Empress in the room.
"Speak," Xiao Yue said.
Qin Chuan didn't beat around the bush and asked directly, "Now that I'm asking you to investigate corruption, are you confident you can do it well?"
"have."
"This is not an ordinary corruption case, but a thorough investigation of all officials in the capital."
After hearing Qin Chuan's words, Xiao Yue simply replied with one word: "Okay."
Qin Chuan suddenly realized that since they met, she hadn't said more than two words, and he was speechless for a moment.
After a moment, Qin Chuan continued, "Of course, it's not like I'm asking you to do this alone. His Majesty will arrange for Xiao Yun to do it with you. In case of an emergency, Xiao Yun can mobilize the Imperial Guards to protect you or to arrest someone."
"Mmm." Xiao Yue replied with a single, brief word.
"Can't you say one more word?" Qin Chuan almost rolled his eyes.
"Uh-huh."
Qin Chuan: "..."
"I'm entrusting this matter to you. You must have absolutely solid evidence, and then ask His Majesty for permission before making the arrest, unless it's an emergency..." Qin Chuan repeatedly instructed.
"Understand."
Qin Chuan's lips twitched. "Are you really incapable of saying more than two words?"
Xiao Yue glanced at him expressionlessly and said, "Tired."
Qin Chuan's mind was in turmoil. Okay, forget I asked.
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