Chapter 933: Daring to Kill Even an Inspector-General? (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
"If you dare to use 'ghosts stealing grain' to close the case today, will you dare to use 'fire dragon burning the granary' to settle the accounts tomorrow?" Although there have been few battles in recent years, and even when the Ten Crows caused chaos, she did not personally lead the expedition, Shen Tang's temper has not subsided much.
What does it mean to not show one's emotions?
She wasn't afraid of Gu Chi reading her mind, so why would she care if others tried to guess her thoughts from her expressions? She would sometimes yell at people or even kick them during court assemblies, though not often. Most of the time, she adhered to the principle of "a gentleman uses words, not fists," preferring to resolve things with language rather than fists. The last person she kicked was someone who had tried to fool her with the "fire dragon burning the granary" analogy; that person was probably turning one year old.
Gu Chi added fuel to the fire: "It's not impossible."
Shen Tang suppressed her burning rage. The last "fire dragon burning the granary" involved more than 500 people. She killed 70% of them and sent the rest to plant corn, pick cotton, and reclaim wasteland. She thought this would serve as a warning to those with greedy hearts, making them less likely to cause her trouble. But less than a year later, she pulled another "ghost stealing grain" act. Did she think she was the White Snake Lady?
Gu Chi looked at the fierce glint in Shen Tang's eyes and wondered how many heads would be chopped off this time. Before he could reach a conclusion, he heard the young king calmly order: "Have the Ministry of War dispatch troops from the Tianquan Guard to assist the Ministry of Justice in handling this matter..."
Gu Chi asked, "Has the investigation been completed?"
Shen Tang didn't even bother to lift his eyelids, his eyes brimming with murderous intent: "Investigate what? Didn't Jinli County report that the case involved 'ghosts stealing grain'? The Ministry of Justice and the Tianquan Guard are here to kill ghosts, not to play Sherlock Holmes! Arrest all the officials involved in this matter, big and small, and see which ones are human and which ones are ghosts!"
Gu Chi bowed respectfully and said, "Yes!"
We should inform Chu Yao and Ning Yan about this first.
Even if Shen Tang is angry, the necessary procedures still need to be followed.
Before Gu Chi could leave, Shen Tang suddenly changed his mind: "Wait, we haven't been to Kunzhou yet this year, let's do both things together!"
According to the initial plan, she was to stay in Longwu County for two or three days, randomly selecting a few counties to visit and see if the local officials were negligent. However, due to the disappearance and murder of the censor, the plan had to be changed, and the focus shifted to Kunzhou.
Gu Chi was slightly taken aback.
The lord is preparing to kill them himself.
However, this is consistent with her usual style.
Because of the change in plans, Shen Tang had to work overtime to handle matters for the next few days ahead of schedule, which caught the accompanying officials off guard. Officials who had gone out to revisit familiar places were also hurriedly recalled, including Chu Yao and his group. Every year, they would accompany Shen Tang on a three-month tour of the country. At first, the officials were not used to it, but after getting used to it, they began to find it enjoyable.
If we look at it from another angle, what do we call this?
This is called a publicly funded trip!
Officials in the capital rarely had the opportunity to go out unless they were dispatched or transferred to local posts for some reason. Otherwise, their daily routine consisted of going to court to be scolded, going on duty, and going home to sleep. Even on their days off, they could only wander around the vicinity of Fengluo and could not go far.
Over time, this leads to mental fatigue.
Accompanying the king on a tour of the country, one can also go out for a few days along the way to experience the different people and scenery, and bring back local specialties for relatives and friends, ensuring that there are no repeats every year.
Longwu County is the place Shen Tang has cultivated the longest, and it is currently one of the most prosperous places besides the capital, Fengluo. With the relaxation of trade policies with Wuzhou, its popularity is soaring. Many rare items can be purchased here, attracting many people every year. Chu Yao, having nothing to do today, also came out, and after walking a few steps, he saw several familiar faces from the Ministry of Personnel.
Those familiar faces belonged to various departments.
Upon seeing Chu Yao, they instantly tensed up.
They were caught in an awkward situation, unsure whether to approach and greet him, or ignore Chu Yao. Just then, Chu Yao waved his hand, indicating that they weren't on duty and could mind their own business. The officials breathed a sigh of relief and continued playing.
Chu Yao bought several bolts of cloth from the cloth shop.
Judging by the colors and styles, there are both male and female options.
His attendants, their arms laden with bags, reminded Chu Yao of the time: "Master, it's almost noon."
Chu Yao said, "Let's find a restaurant and get something to eat."
The food and beverage industry in Longwu County is developing very well.
He walked into a well-established restaurant, though it had only been in business for seven or eight years. The owner had once been an apprentice of the head chef at the Longwu County government office. Thanks to this connection, the restaurant had always been quite successful. The owner had saved up some money and opened seven or eight branches within the county, earning the title of "Honorary Taxpayer" for five consecutive years. Chu Yao ordered several dishes he used to eat at the canteen.
"The taste is the same as it was back then, the saltiness hasn't changed at all."
Chu Yao asked his attendants to sit down and have a taste as well.
The attendant had eaten well in Fengluo, and the dishes at this ordinary restaurant were only average. However, since his family appreciated them, he catered to their tastes and offered a few sincere compliments. After the two had eaten until they were half full, the attendant heard a commotion outside the restaurant.
Their seats were right by the window.
The attendant turned his head and saw a group of about thirty people, chattering away, following behind a small triangular flag held high. The flag was held by a woman with her hair tied up, speaking with a local accent. The woman with her hair tied up stopped outside the eatery to introduce something.
He strained his ears and listened carefully.
The owner of this restaurant said he had mastered the essence of the Longwu County government canteen, and the dishes have retained their original flavor.
Of all the many restaurants in Longwu County, this one is the most authentic.
"The king himself tasted the dish and said it was delicious."
The attendant couldn't help but sneer upon hearing this.
"Parents, how much money did the restaurant owner give her?"
These women with their hair tied up and carrying small flags were "guides." They were typically people who had lived in one place for a long time and were extremely familiar with the local scenery and culture, and were nominally under the jurisdiction of the local government. Of course, there were no officially appointed personnel.
Visitors from other places can join tours organized by "guides." Different "guides" are responsible for different routes.
The attendant had also participated in one out of curiosity before.
Unfortunately, it was a case of false advertising.
Out of anger, I reported it!
Even if he didn't understand the trade, he knew that "guides" couldn't take people to private shops, precisely to prevent them from being bribed by the merchants and colluding to rip off customers. This "guide" was certainly bold! After speaking, the attendant looked at his parents.
Chu Yao smiled but remained silent.
He recognized a familiar face in the tour group.
When everyone went inside to eat, the other party also saw Chu Yao, said something to the "guide," and sat down at the table next to Chu Yao. The group bowed to Chu Yao in greeting, and Chu Yao nodded in response: "Is this your first time visiting Longwu County?"
The first person to answer was the Director of the Reception Department of the Ministry of Rites.
"It is indeed my first time here."
Chu Yao then asked, "Why did you go with a tour group?"
The doctor laughed and said, "I was surprised to hear that there were spots available for the Immortal Shrine in today's group, so I went to check it out with a few colleagues."
Tour packages in other places are uninteresting, but Longwu County is different. There are many things to do here; just recounting the king's past deeds in Longwu County could take a long time. These officials are quite curious about the king's past.
Upon hearing about this project, I immediately signed up.
Chu Yao's attention was not on this.
"A Shrine to Immortals?"
He's lived in Longwu for so many years and never heard of it.
For some reason, the official in charge of the guest affairs department looked somewhat evasive and stammered when he spoke. Chu Yao then turned his gaze to another person, the official in charge of the Ministry of Rites, who had previously been the main force behind designing the royal consort's ceremonial robes out of sheer boredom. Even he looked away.
Chu Yao raised an eyebrow inwardly: "What is the Immortal Shrine?"
He slightly adopted the demeanor of the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat.
Immediately, someone couldn't resist and whispered, "Ahem—the Immortal Shrine is for those seeking children; it's very effective."
The Minister of State Affairs is a lonely figure and has no need for such a position.
Chu Yao: "..."
He suspected that this shrine to the immortals was a scam orchestrated by the governor of Longwu County to swindle money for his political achievements: "Seeking children? You all seek them out?"
"This humble official requests a woman..."
"This humble official has come on my mother's orders to plead on behalf of my younger sister..."
"I have a daughter but no son, and I'd like to have one to complete the family..."
Chu Yao: "..."
The Chief Physician of the Ministry of Rites said, "I've heard this place is very effective!"
According to the "guide," the Immortal's Shrine was becoming increasingly famous, attracting more and more visitors. They wouldn't have restricted entry daily if they weren't worried about the well at the shrine drying up. Chu Yao, concerned that something might be wrong with the Immortal's Shrine, also went along.
His decision made the expressions of the others even stranger.
Chu Yao is lying through his teeth.
"...I also need to plead for others."
The tour group had ample time for meals. After the officials finished eating, the "guide" led the group of thirty-odd people from inside the city to outside the city. Pointing to a large, enclosed pit outside the city, he said, "...The king once buried countless bandits here."
Next to the large pit, there are four words that read "Stand out from the crowd".
This "guide" was quite eloquent, telling the story with great twists and turns. Chu Yao thought back carefully; it seemed to be when he first arrived in Ruyao City, the capital of Longwu County. In order to win over the people and stabilize the situation, the lord buried the captured bandits alive in the ground, allowing the common people of Ruyao to vent their anger. All the bandits' bodies were buried on the spot. If they dug deeper, they might be able to unearth many more bones from that time.
Several officials listened with great interest.
Most of them came from the Ministry of Rites.
The Ministry of Rites, as everyone knows, was a place of leisure.
How idle are they?
Qin Li, the Minister of Rites, was forced to take on a part-time role at the Imperial Observatory midway through his tenure, and the four secretaries of the Ministry of Rites had not seen their Minister for a long time.
Because I have free time, I get scolded less often.
Usually, they are the ones watching the other shows get criticized.
Naturally, their perceptions of the ruler also differed.
"My lord is truly a young man of great promise..."
"She's not that old now..."
"When I was that age, I didn't even know what I was doing."
The group then visited the most famous cotton fields in Longwu County, guided by the "guide." Of course, the cotton had not yet been harvested at this time of year, and the fields were a sea of pale yellow and light pink. The "guide" also let the group experience firsthand how to remove cotton seeds.
The cotton-removing machine was invented by the master craftsmen of the Imperial Workshop.
The officials joined in the fun and played for a while too.
After visiting the cotton fields, we went to the last stop, the Fairy Shrine.
Despite being called a temple dedicated to immortals, it's actually an abandoned temple located halfway up a mountain, which was only renovated a few years ago to its current state. The gods worshipped in this temple are not some well-known ones, and some are even nameless, but the statues in the temple... look strangely familiar.
Chu Yao: "..."
The attendant revealed the secret: "...He looks just like the master."
Chu Yao: "..."
That face... isn't it the lord in his youth?
The Chief Physician of the Ministry of Rites said, "I heard that the craftsman who made the statue had seen the Empress and specially made it in her likeness. Originally, it was intended to be worshipped in the Temple of Longevity. Strangely enough, ever since the statue entered the temple, the women who came to worship there all became pregnant not long after."
Chu Yao: "...Absurd!"
Even the Chief Physician of the Ministry of Rites found it somewhat absurd. His own king was still a lonely ruler, and it seemed absurd for him to pray for a child to a deity modeled after her. However, the news spread like wildfire, and people from all walks of life came to pray, making the place quite lively.
Chu Yao rubbed his throbbing forehead.
He had initially thought the Immortal Shrine was some kind of shady shrine run by scoundrels, a front for illegal activities, so he followed along to investigate. Turns out, he'd stumbled upon his own lord's mess. If his lord knew that her statues were effective for granting children…
I wonder what kind of expression they'll make.
Tourists from tour groups lined up to kneel and worship devoutly at the Immortal Shrine.
Then they lined up to fetch water from the well outside. It was said that water bags made from a certain type of wood from this mountain were more effective, as they could lock in the blessings bestowed by the gods, and women who drank them would become fertile.
However, these water bags cost money, and they are not cheap.
Chu Yao: "..."
He watched helplessly as several officials lined up to hand over their documents.
He had seen the same water pouch in the market of Ruyao City; it had no carvings on it and cost fifteen coins, but here it was selling for one hundred coins.
"There are also statues of gods on the water bags, but the carving is a bit rough..." Several officials filled the water bags with water and were satisfied, ready to end their day trip with the "guide".
Chu Yao: "..."
He turned around and wanted to have a talk with Qin Gongsu.
The other party was only part-time at the Imperial Observatory, but the Ministry of Rites was their main job. With the Minister of Rites not overseeing things, the officials in the four departments of the Ministry of Rites all seemed rather dim-witted. Chu Yao looked down at the water pouch he had bought, which was carved with the same immortal's silhouette.
At this moment, the monograms on the waists of the men seemed to move strangely.
The Chief of the Guest House lowered his head and exchanged another glance with his colleague.
He said, "The Lord has summoned me urgently."
The king is a good king; it would be even better if he didn't hold so many court assemblies. However—they belong to the Ministry of Rites, so there's no rush to go a little later. All eyes turned to Chu Yao.
Chu Yao had already raised his hand and set up a barrier of spiritual energy around them.
Make a hand seal with one hand and close both eyes.
It was surrounded by a faint light, and if you looked closely, you would know that these faint lights were composed of countless glowing, simple and ancient characters.
The Chief Physician of the Ministry of Rites sighed, "It's really busy."
Today is supposed to be a day off.
His colleague lowered his voice and murmured, "Back when Zheng Qiao was the king, there weren't so many tricks up his sleeve..."
"Is it because Zheng Qiao doesn't want to?"
"Exactly, it's clear he didn't have it."
Among them were former officials who had served in the previous dynasty.
After a few grumblings, he harbored deep resentment.
I remember it was at the end of the first year of the Yuanhuang era. The king held a grand banquet for his officials and announced a far-reaching message. This message truly fulfilled the nightmare of the officials in the capital being berated by the king anytime, anywhere: "A bosom friend afar brings a distant land near."
They entered one after the other.
Upon arrival, I heard the king roaring that he wanted to kill people.
Upon closer listening, it turned out that the censor Zheng Yu was suspected of being missing, and that there were ghosts stealing grain in Jinli County. The royal inspection team had temporarily changed its route and would set off tomorrow to conduct an incognito visit to Jinli.
Please translate this.
I'm going to take my sword and kill someone!
|ω`)
The Bureau of Astronomy was in charge of astronomical observations and calendar determination. It reported daily to the court on the observations of the sun, moon, stars, wind, clouds, and climate, which could be used as a reference for the Imperial Observatory.
(End of this chapter)
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