Lord Jiu knelt down with a thud: "Your humble servant has been in charge of the Market Office for many years, and has always been conscientious and diligent, never daring to neglect his duties. Lord Dong has only investigated for a few days, how could he possibly understand the intricacies of this matter? I beg the Empress Dowager to investigate thoroughly!"
Lord Dong was furious upon hearing this, and was about to say something when the Empress Dowager's voice rang out from behind the beaded curtain: "Enough."
The court fell silent immediately.
The Empress Dowager then gave the order: "Winter is approaching, and the people's well-being is of utmost importance. Minister Jiu, I will give you half a month to resolve the issue of keeping the people warm in winter as soon as possible."
"Yes! Your humble servant obeys."
"Do any of my beloved ministers have anything else to report?"
As soon as he finished speaking, another person came out of the main hall: "Your Majesty, I have something to report."
"explain."
"If the shortage of winter clothing is not dealt with in time, it will cause incalculable disaster. I dare to suggest that the troop mobilization in the south be postponed and funds be allocated to help the people get through the winter."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager behind the beaded curtain frowned and said with displeasure, "Our country's treasury is full, and there is no need for Lord Zhu to trouble himself with this matter!"
Lord Zhu frowned and lowered his head to report, "Military mobilizations are either to defend against foreign enemies or to pacify internal vassals. May I ask, for which purpose does the Empress Dowager frequently mobilize troops?"
These words were spoken with absolute force, and everyone in the court held their breath, sweating for Lord Zhu. The Empress Dowager's anger was evident: "You are being insolent!"
Behind the beaded curtain, one could vaguely see the Empress Dowager standing up, pointing at the ministers presenting their reports in the hall: "How dare you question me!"
"Hush—" Just as the tension was about to escalate, a voice rang out at a very inopportune moment.
Besides the Empress Dowager, there was another tall and slender figure behind the beaded curtain. He put his index finger to his lips, and his casual smile carried an indifference that regarded people as ants: "Empress Dowager, please don't be angry. I have worked hard to get you back in good health, so you should take good care of yourself."
As soon as Xiao Chensheng finished speaking, the entire hall seemed to be filled with an inexplicable anger, and the hall became unusually quiet.
As he spoke, Xiao Chenjian's slender eyes peeked through the gap in the beaded curtain at the minister who was presenting his memorial: "If the Empress Dowager is displeased, why not hand this person over to me to deal with?"
Upon hearing this, Lord Zhu raised his head and his eyes narrowed: "My mighty Jin Dynasty, rich for thousands of years, never imagined that one day it would be bewitched by a wicked doctor and bring chaos to the court!"
"Your Majesty!" Minister Zhu knelt down, lifting his robes. "Your Majesty, I am utterly loyal to the Great Jin Dynasty, as clear as day. I beg Your Majesty not to be misled by the words of the sorcerer and ruin the Great Jin's century-old empire! I implore Your Majesty to see the truth!"
The Empress Dowager was already furious. How could these mediocre officials possibly understand the value of Xiao Chensheng!
These treacherous officials have been dissatisfied with her since she came to power, openly and secretly trying to control and defy her. Now they want to use Xiao Chensheng's claim that he is a demonic doctor to oppose her. How outrageous!
If it weren't for Xiao Chensheng, these treacherous officials wouldn't be so obedient!
She pointed with her sleeve, frowned, and shouted angrily, "Take him away! Send him to the Imperial Preceptor's residence!"
As soon as the order was given, two soldiers stepped forward outside the hall and took the man away without saying a word.
Lord Zhu was furious and shouted, "My loyalty to the Great Jin Dynasty is beyond question! If this wicked doctor is not eliminated, the fate of the nation is doomed!"
No one in the imperial court was not angry.
They were already dissatisfied with the Empress Dowager's power, and now, having listened to the slander of the wicked doctor, they were causing chaos in the court. This also gave rise to a group of sycophantic and corrupt officials, and many people were harboring a silent anger.
However, they now have to remain calm. The young emperor is incompetent, treacherous officials are in power, and quack doctors are misleading the public. Going head-on with the Empress Dowager now would only result in more harm than good.
"Dismiss the court!" After what had just happened, the Empress Dowager was unable to suppress her anger. With a wave of her sleeve, she ordered the court to adjourn.
The officials could only lower their eyes and bow respectfully: "Respectfully seeing off the Empress Dowager, respectfully seeing off the Emperor."
The young emperor slowly rose from his throne and, led by a eunuch, left the Golden Palace like a mindless puppet.
The events that occurred in the imperial court quickly reached the ears of the common people. Surprisingly, the people were not indignant about what happened, nor did they hurl insults at Xiao Chensheng.
Instead, they mocked Zhu Zijian for overestimating his abilities.
In the eyes of the common people, Xiao Chensheng was not some kind of quack doctor, but a divine doctor who could bring the dead back to life and heal the wounded. He was a living bodhisattva who could pull people back from the brink of death even if they had one foot in the gates of hell.
Xiao Chensheng is willing to treat the common people, but are the imperial physicians in the Imperial Hospital willing to do the same?
Not to mention that the Empress Dowager would not deal with Xiao Chensheng, if she were to actually take action against him, the common people would probably be the first to object.
The villa outside the capital had been guarded by troops dispatched by the Empress Dowager. Yu Nanqing hid in a mountain valley in the suburbs, where a temporary dwelling was built under the forest.
News of court affairs spread like wildfire, and Yu Nanqing already knew about them without any deliberate investigation.
When Tanaka told Yu Nanqing about this, Yu Nanqing didn't show much emotion; his attention was focused on something else: "Is there a shortage of cotton and charcoal in the city?"
He rushed all the way from Fucheng and had never heard of this. Or was the information missed?
Tanaka Kyoichi replied, "Our investigations have revealed that towns around the capital are indeed experiencing a shortage of winter supplies, but it is still under control. The prices of cotton and charcoal are not fluctuating significantly. However, in the capital..."
At this point, Tanaka frowned: "The prices of cotton wadding and cotton brocade in the capital are inflated by several times, and charcoal is in short supply, causing prices to rise accordingly. This situation has not occurred in towns around the capital. Logically, the prices of winter clothing in the capital should not be so chaotic."
Upon hearing this, Yu Nanqing narrowed his long eyes.
Tanaka continued, "Your Highness, I suspect that someone is deliberately disrupting the prices of cotton and charcoal in the capital, or that merchants are deliberately hoarding cotton and charcoal, causing a shortage of these items. Our people are still investigating this matter further."
Tanaka's report confirmed that what Lord Dong had said in the court was true: the purchase price of cotton and charcoal had not changed much, but the prices of these items in the capital were inexplicably high.
Yu Nanqing reached out and gently stroked the narrow gap between the bamboo stalks on the bamboo table with his index finger. His long, slightly lowered eyes held the wisdom accumulated over the years. After a long while, he finally uttered a soft sentence: "Investigate the flow of imperial silver in the palace."
Tanaka paused, his brows furrowing unconsciously.
What does this have to do with the flow of imperial silver in the palace?
Investigating the flow of imperial silver within the palace means... investigating the national treasury!
Despite his doubts, Tanaka Kyoko hesitated for only a moment before accepting the order: "Yes."
Meanwhile, in the capital, on the way back to the Imperial Preceptor's residence.
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