"Hmph, you think you can run away from me? If you get away today, people will think that our head of the Eastern Depot is all show and no substance."
Wang Zhen sneered and ordered the guards to shout, "Arrest her, tie her up, and torture her properly. I want to see where she can run to!"
"Mercy, Master!"
The palace maid knelt down and begged for mercy, tears streaming down her face, saying, "I really didn't do anything, I didn't steal anything!"
"Heh heh, you lowly servant, are you still trying to deny it?"
Wang Zhen shouted angrily, "Hurry up and take her down!"
The guards rushed forward, and the palace maids, in a panic, stumbled and fled.
Fortunately, a golden dragon carriage came into view.
This is the Emperor's carriage!
As if grasping at the last straw, the palace maid rushed towards Qin Yu's imperial carriage.
"Your Majesty, save me!"
The palace maid knelt on the ground and wailed, "Your Majesty, please do justice! I'm innocent!"
She knelt down at Qin Yu's feet with a thud, pleading earnestly, "Your Majesty, I beg you, I beg you to do justice for me! I'm reporting that Eunuch Wang Zhen has concealed a huge urgent matter and deceived Your Majesty!!"
Upon hearing this, Qin Yu was startled and glanced down at her. Before he could ask any questions, Wang Zhen also came over.
Upon seeing that it was Qin Yu, Wang Zhen's expression changed drastically, and he quickly led everyone to kneel down.
"Your Majesty, please don't listen to her nonsense! This lowly servant girl stole palace property and should be beaten to death according to the law!"
After kneeling on the ground, Wang Zhen glared fiercely at the palace maid and said...
Qin Yu ignored Wang Zhen and stepped off the imperial carriage.
Upon hearing that she was to be beaten to death, the palace maid burst into tears and cried out in agitation.
"Your Majesty, this servant didn't steal any valuables, just a steamed bun!"
She cried her heart out, her face streaked with tears.
Qin Yu's brows immediately furrowed.
"Stealing steamed buns? Why would you steal steamed buns? Do you think the palace is short of food?"
After he finished speaking, the palace maid started crying again.
"This servant was forced into this situation. If I hadn't been forced into it, who would do this? This servant still had steamed buns to steal. Your Majesty, you don't know that in the Great Xia Dynasty, there are already countless disaster victims who don't even have tree bark to eat!"
"Disaster victims?"
Qin Yu frowned even more, signaling her to continue.
The palace maid had already regarded Qin Yu as her last straw. Just as she was about to speak, Wang Zhen glared at her fiercely and then hurriedly cupped his hands in greeting.
"Your Majesty, she's just a lowly servant girl. You mustn't be misled by her rumors! This servant will have her dragged away right away!"
"Wait!"
Qin Yu stopped Wang Zhen and turned his gaze to the palace maid.
"Help her up!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Qingzhu stepped forward to help the palace maid up, while Wang Zhen could only anxiously stomp his feet.
Qin Yu gestured for her to continue.
After the palace maid stood up, she sobbed and continued, "Your Majesty, a month ago, a severe drought struck the three southwestern prefectures. Crops failed, and people starved to death everywhere. Yet, instead of providing disaster relief, the court continued to levy exorbitant taxes..."
"Moreover, all the urgent reports sent from the three southwestern states were secretly intercepted by Wang Zhen! Thirteen members of my family starved to death, and only my younger brother escaped all the way from the southwest to come and seek refuge with me..."
"Because there is no food, I... I can only steal some things from the palace and take them out for my younger brother to eat."
"But who knew that Wang Zhen would happen to witness this, so he sent people to hunt down this servant, Your Majesty. This servant really had no choice but to steal..."
Every word spoken by the palace maid was shocking.
After saying that, Qin Yu's eyes widened and his fists clenched tightly!
This is absolutely outrageous!
Despite the magnitude of the disaster, the emperor remains completely unaware of it!
That damned Sima Lie, and Wang Zhen in front of me, are two peas in a pod, wreaking havoc on the government!
Wang Zhen was trembling with fear. All he wanted to do was tear the palace maid's mouth apart.
"You damned, vile servant girl, how dare you spread such heresies and mislead the public! I'll beat you to death!"
Wang Zhen stepped forward, grabbed the palace maid by the collar, and slapped her several times across the face.
The palace maid was so dazed and confused by the slap that she almost couldn't stand up.
"Enough! Stop fooling around!"
Qin Yu couldn't bear it in the end. He turned to Wang Zhen and reprimanded him, a flash of murderous intent crossing his eyes.
"Your Majesty, this servant is merely teaching this wicked and deceitful maid a lesson on Your Majesty's behalf."
Wang Zhen quickly smiled obsequiously, "This little wretch dared to disturb Your Majesty's presence and spout nonsense in front of you; she deserves to die!"
The palace maid covered her face and sobbed, "Your Majesty, I didn't, I told the truth..."
Qin Yu took a few deep breaths and closed her eyes slightly.
He was afraid that if he watched any longer, he wouldn't be able to hide the guilt in his eyes.
He hated Sima Lie and Wang Zhen in front of him, wishing he could kill them directly.
But he couldn't show it, otherwise all his efforts would be in vain.
Qin Yu slowly opened her eyes, her eyes red-rimmed.
He took a deep breath, his expression returning to normal, and coldly rebuked, "How dare you, palace maid, spread alarmist rumors in front of me?"
"Prime Minister Sima assists in handling all affairs of the court. How come I have never heard him report on the drought in the southwest? You even accuse Eunuch Wang of concealing information. You are slandering a loyal official. Your intentions are despicable!"
Qin Yu's words turned the palace maid's pretty face as pale as paper.
She said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, I am innocent! I did not frame a loyal minister, I..."
"Shut up! So what if what you're saying is true? I still have Prime Minister Sima. He'll handle everything! What does a few deaths from a minor drought matter? Are they worth bothering me with?!"
Qin Yu sneered, then looked at Wang Zhen and sneered, "Whether these lowly commoners have food or not is none of my business, but my luxurious life cannot be delayed. Otherwise, I'll chop off your head."
Wang Zhen's face lit up with joy; he had been panicking just now! Concealing the extent of the disaster would have been a capital offense in the late emperor's reign!
Fortunately, Qin Yu was a foolish ruler, otherwise he might have really been in trouble today.
"Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant will do his utmost to take good care of Your Majesty's daily life."
Qin Yu gave a soft "hmm" and then flicked his sleeve, saying, "I went to Qingyun Temple today and just finished asking for the elixir of immortality. I can't kill anyone. You might as well just expel this palace maid from the palace."
"yes!"
Wang Zhen smiled broadly.
On the other hand, the palace maid collapsed to the ground with a thud, her eyes filled with despair.
"Respectfully seeing off His Majesty!"
Wang Zhen was overjoyed and quickly bowed to express his gratitude.
Qin Yu waved his hand wearily and boarded the imperial carriage.
Qin Yu didn't know how he got back to the study. He kept his head down and had a gloomy face the whole way.
Only after he sat down and the door closed did he lose control of his anger and slam his fist on the table.
"Bang!"
The teacup was knocked away, crashed to the ground, shattered, and splattered everywhere.
"These treacherous officials!"
Qin Yu cursed through gritted teeth, his eyes bloodshot.
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