Chapter 288 Let's keep watching you argue
The large, heavy wooden chair that used to be in Fengtian Palace has been replaced with a comfortable chaise lounge.
Ye Yun leaned comfortably against the couch, with two soft pillows behind her. Tea and snacks were laid out on the table in front of her.
Song Zhimian stood behind Ye Yunshu, looking solemnly at the kneeling officials below.
The eunuchs brought up all the officials' memorials, but no one dared to speak; they remained kneeling.
Ye Yunshu casually flipped through two books...
What a scare!
Before, they all stood tall and thought they were right, but now they all look like quails.
Ye Yunshu already knew what each family had discovered before the officials even arrived.
While there are no cases of people taking lives lightly, there are still many cases of bullying men and women and seizing other people's property.
Simply put, every family has someone who is dishonest or who bullies others behind their backs.
Some children in a family do bad things behind their father's back, while others in a family rely on a powerful official in the family to bully others.
There are also servants in the household who do shady things behind their masters' backs.
In short, every family has a mess of unresolved debts.
...
Ye Yunshu didn't say anything, but just flipped through the folded documents on the table.
The officials kneeling below all began to break out in a cold sweat.
The one on the dragon throne is the one who has always been in charge of the Censorate, and he can't stand the corruption of the officials. Although they themselves don't directly engage in corruption, the people in his household...
They're probably going to be punished this time.
Everyone sighed; they'd really lost all face this time...
"Your Majesty..." Lin Xiang was about to speak, still kneeling.
Ye Yunshu raised her hand, stopping Lin Xiang from continuing.
"Someone, bring a seat for Prime Minister Lin!"
Lin Xiang was finally able to sit down, while the others had to remain kneeling obediently.
Ye Yunshu flipped through each of the folded books and had a general idea of what was going on.
"Is everything here?" Ye Yunshu asked softly.
Lin Xiang looked a little embarrassed.
"Your Majesty, this is all we can find out right now. Time is a bit tight. We haven't had time to investigate the ancestral origins of everyone yet, but each prefecture has sent people back."
"We'll report it immediately once we find out," Lin Xiang said hastily.
Ye Yunshu nodded and put down the folded document in her hand.
"In that case, how do you intend to handle these matters, my dear ministers?" Ye Yunshu asked.
None of the officials dared to speak, but Prime Minister Lin stood up.
"According to the law, whether it's a wicked servant or a member of the clan, anyone who violates the law must be punished," Lin Xiang said in a deep voice.
Ye Yunshu hummed in agreement, then leaned back against the couch.
"Since Prime Minister Lin has made up his mind, let's do it this way! Those who should be punished will be punished, and those who should be dealt with will be dealt with."
However, if you ministers were unaware of this, then punish those people; you ministers will only be guilty of negligence.
A two-year salary deduction will suffice.
As for the land registered under the students' names... let's restore it to its original state!
"I can't let the people say that all my officials are embezzling from their posts!" Ye Yunshu said slowly.
The officials quickly kowtowed to express their gratitude.
Fortunately, they were only fined two years' salary; they thought they would be dismissed and investigated!
"Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty!" The officials quickly kowtowed in gratitude.
"Don't rush to express your gratitude. Handle your own affairs. Those involved in the case who abused their power for personal gain and bullied others should each send their families to the yamen."
Do not cause me any more trouble, or I will not let you off easily.
"My dear ministers, we must be able to make the decisive choice of sacrificing family for the greater good, even if it means a hero cutting off his own arm," Ye Yunshu continued slowly.
All the officials quickly kowtowed, promising to put righteousness above family ties.
At this juncture, matters concerning their future careers were of utmost importance, and they dared not conceal anything. No matter who it was or what it was, nothing could outweigh their future prospects...
Whether it's your siblings, your wife's family, or your confidants, if they secretly do something wrong, they all have to be dealt with.
We must also deal with this strictly, so that His Majesty can see our impartial and incorruptible side.
"Lord Ye of the Ministry of Justice, please step forward!" Ye Yunshu continued.
Minister Ye quickly knelt down and took two steps forward.
During this self-inspection, the Ye family also discovered some things, but compared with other families, they were much smaller, nothing more than minor squabbles.
But this was enough to embarrass Minister Ye.
They are His Majesty's own family, yet such a thing happened in their own household. Isn't this a slap in His Majesty's face?
"Your subject is here!" Minister Ye knelt down.
Ye Yunshu glanced at Minister Ye, then shifted her position and leaned back on the couch.
"Have you sent someone to investigate the case of the man from Hangzhou suing the richest businessman in Yangzhou?"
"We've already sent people to Yangzhou. This involves the former educational commissioner of Jiangnan..." Minister Ye quickly said.
"Investigate them all! Investigate thoroughly whoever is involved."
"In broad daylight, let's restore justice to the people," Ye Yunshu said calmly.
Minister Ye accepted the decree.
...
After giving the officials a few more lukewarm reprimands, Ye Yunshu gestured for the still-kneeling officials to leave, leaving only Prime Minister Lin behind.
The officials were all a little apprehensive.
Is that all there is to it?
In the past, if the Censorate had uncovered so many things, they would have confiscated their entire homes!
It seems there's some truth to the saying "the law doesn't punish everyone."
The officials felt increasingly uneasy. This Empress didn't seem like someone who could be coerced at all. Was she holding back a big move?
Will they wait until they all walk right into the trap before taking them all down at once?
Fortunately, Prime Minister Lin was allowed to stay. We'll go to his residence to find out more information after he returns from the palace.
...
After the officials left, Prime Minister Lin stood trembling below the hall, not daring to speak.
"Prime Minister Lin, please sit down! Why did you stand up again?" Ye Yunshu said with a hint of helplessness.
Lin Xiang sighed.
"This old minister is guilty! The mistakes made by the officials today are due to my negligence in supervision. I beg Your Majesty to punish me." Lin Xiang said, kneeling down again.
Ye Yunshu sighed, and with Song Zhimian's help, stood up from the couch. She then walked down the steps and personally helped Lin Xiang up.
"Prime Minister Lin, do you think I don't know what kind of person you are?"
If, according to your logic, the mistakes of all officials are your fault, then wouldn't it be my responsibility if you all did something wrong?
"Does the Emperor intend to issue an edict of self-reproach?" Ye Yunshu asked.
Lin Xiang quickly kowtowed again.
"That's not what I meant... Your Majesty..."
"If that's not what you meant, then get up and talk properly."
Things have come to this point not overnight; what we, the ruler and his ministers, need to think about is how to resolve this matter.
The most pressing issue right now is how to resolve the land tax problem.
"Prime Minister Lin, you are the head of all officials, you should be aware of the consequences of this matter!" Ye Yunshu asked.
Lin Xiang then looked up and took out a memorial from his sleeve.
"Your Majesty, I have some preliminary ideas, and I humbly request Your Majesty's review them!"
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