Chapter 448: "Sexual Bribery" Shocks the Government and the Public (5k)
Is the palace competition over?
Yuan Li was stunned for a moment, then looked up at the high sun. He wasn't surprised at all. "What was the result?"
"The royal family's servants won." The censor seemed quite excited and was eager to share the news he had obtained with others.
Won? Actually won? Yuan Li was also stunned. Because Xue Shence had said so confidently before, and predicted a loss, this was particularly surprising. "Oh? Tell me more about it."
The censor immediately danced with joy and embellished the story of how Zhao Duan defeated Xiao Ran with a peach wood stick. This attracted many officials in the Censorate to watch and exclaim in amazement.
"As expected of Zhao Shaobao."
"Hmph, a mere scoundrel dares to run wild in the capital. He deserves to be humiliated and go back."
The officials were talking about it. Although this matter seemed to have nothing to do with the court, it involved face. The palace had won a great victory, and all the officials were proud of it.
Is it him again... Yuan Li was distracted for a moment, and the hand hidden in his sleeve gripped the document tightly, as if he had an idea.
"Let's go to the palace and congratulate His Majesty." Yuan Li said lightly.
Censor Chen Hong smiled bitterly, thinking that our visit would undoubtedly dampen His Majesty's good mood.
…
In the Imperial Garden.
A large group of palace maids were scattered behind, and in front of the eunuchs and palace maids were the empress and Zhao Shaobao walking almost side by side.
In spring, the Imperial Garden is already full of greenery, with trees sprouting buds and flowers blooming.
Zhao Duan lagged behind slightly and glanced at Xu Zhenguan's exquisite and sacred profile out of the corner of his eye.
"You've learned the Peach Blossom Sword well." The empress in white didn't look at him, but walked slowly, her casual clothes that were almost like a skirt almost dragging on the ground.
The hem of his robe reached the ground, sweeping across the green grass as he walked.
In order to attend today's competition, she changed into slightly more formal clothes.
"I was lucky to win, thanks to Your Majesty for teaching me swordsmanship." Zhao Duan said sincerely.
Xu Zhenguan uttered a "huh", tilted his head slightly, and looked at him with a half-smile:
"When I learned the Peach Blossom Sword, I was nowhere near as good as you."
Ah, this... How do you want me to respond? You can't just say that because this set of swordsmanship is similar in meaning to the "Kai Tian" sword technique passed down by your ancestors, and they are the same set, so I can learn it with twice the result with half the effort, right?
Zhao Duan laughed dryly and said:
"Just as Tang Gongfeng was willing to die for the honor of the royal family, I am also doing my best to maintain the reputation of our royal family."
Who said "we are the royal family" to you? Xu Zhenguan pretended to be angry, and was too lazy to correct him when he took advantage of him verbally from time to time in private.
"I have instructed the Ministry of Rites to prepare for the southern Fengshan ceremony." She suddenly said.
The topic turned abruptly, Zhao Duan was stunned for a moment, then said with regret:
"when?"
Xu Zhenguan said as he walked:
"The Fengshan ceremony is a major event. During the New Year, I ordered the Sitianjian to observe the stars and set an auspicious date. It will be around this summer."
Summer...isn't it the time when I traveled through here last year...Zhao Duan thought for a moment and said:
"Since Your Majesty has made up his mind, I will do my utmost to assist you."
Xu Zhenguan bit her plump lips and looked at him strangely:
"I thought you would dissuade me."
Zhao Duan shook his head seriously and said:
"The Eight Kings are watching covetously, the Eastern and Western Buddhist sects are also restless, and now Wuxian Kui has challenged you to a duel... It would be a blessing for the world if Your Majesty could soon cross the threshold of true celestial being. My humble feelings are insignificant in comparison."
Xu Zhenguan's beautiful eyes stared at him quietly, and Zhao Duan looked at her calmly.
The divine consciousness of the fairy-like earthly emperor enveloped the entire garden, and she could even hear the rhythm of the heartbeats of the people in front of her.
"You actually spoke the truth." Xu Zhenguan had a complicated expression.
Zhao Duan smiled generously and said:
"Your Majesty, do you think that I am truly so focused on dual cultivation that I have no regard for the country?"
At this moment, Zhao Duan, who was known as a "traitorous minister" outside and always spoke in a slick and impure manner in front of the empress, had a calm and pure look in his eyes.
Xu Zhenguan bit her lips lightly with her pearly teeth, a hint of tenderness and apology appearing in her eyes.
Well, although it was strange, she actually felt a little guilty at this moment, as if it was her fault for not practicing dual cultivation with the person in front of her...
She's like a bad woman who always ties a carrot in front of an innocent boy, keeping him motivated to work hard. But when he's about to eat it, she pulls the carrot away.
"Your Majesty, are you going to Mount Luo for the Fengshan ceremony? I remember that this mountain is located in the territory of Jiancheng Dao." Zhao Duan frowned and raised the key question:
"Can't we change to another one?"
Jiancheng Road is the farthest place from the capital in the southeastern territory, except for Lingnan.
It is also the sphere of influence of Prince Jing. It is conceivable that it would not be smooth sailing if the empress went there to hold the Fengshan ceremony.
Xu Zhenguan smiled helplessly, with a hint of doting in his eyes, as if Zhao Duan had asked an innocent question:
"Do you think that Fengshan is just a matter of finding any famous mountain? I am doing Fengshan in order to use this ritual to borrow the dragon energy of the nation's destiny from the emperor and break through the barrier between heaven and man. Luoshan is the best choice.
I know what you are thinking. It doesn't matter. I have been on the throne for three years. Even after leaving the capital, my cultivation will not change much. My uncle... Haha, even if he is unwilling, he can't do anything to me.
They are simply using some shady tactics to try to obstruct the ceremony, but that's not a big deal. I will send people south in advance to make preparations in Jiancheng Road. After that, I will settle matters in the capital and then personally go south to Luoshan."
Hmm, is this the confidence of a celestial being? Zhao Duan listened to her clear and logical arrangements, knowing that the empress's determination could not be changed.
"I dare to ask, Your Majesty, what are the chances of success in advancing to the next level in Fengshan?" He hesitated for a moment and asked this somewhat inappropriate question.
Xu Zhenguan said calmly, "Between six and seven."
Fortunately... it sounds like the probability is quite high... Zhao Duan breathed a sigh of relief, but then he thought, would the Eight Kings and even the various cultivation forces of the Yu Kingdom really behave themselves and not cause trouble?
But on second thought, from Zhenbao's perspective, there aren't many choices.
People cannot completely choose their own lives. The higher you stand, the more helpless you are.
In the garden, the two stood quietly, speechless for a moment.
"Okay, let's not talk about this," Xu Zhenguan smiled sweetly.
"If you weren't here today, the royal family would have lost face. I've ordered the imperial kitchen to prepare delicious food. Please stay in the palace for lunch."
No, I don’t want to eat rice... Zhao Duan thought weakly, and was about to nod in agreement, when he suddenly noticed from the corner of his eye that at the end of the stone road in the distance, there was a young eunuch running towards him with small hurried steps and a whisk in his hand.
Seeing His Majesty with him, he hurriedly stopped and shouted from afar:
"Your Majesty, Lord Yuan has an important matter to discuss with you!"
Yuan Li is here? Requesting a meeting at this time? Zhao Duan was surprised.
Could it be that he learned of the royal family's victory and came to congratulate them? Well... if it were a lower-level official, it might be possible, but with the status of the "Clean Stream Party Leader", he wouldn't be so fawning...
What Yuan Li called "important" must be quite important... Zhao Duan's thoughts were fluctuating, and he bowed and said:
"Mr. Yuan must have something important to do. Your Majesty, please go and meet him. I will go and look around on my own."
Xu Zhenguan said calmly, "Come with me to see Lord Yuan."
…
Imperial study.
When Zhao Duan and the empress returned, they had just sat down when footsteps were heard in the corridor outside. Yuan Li, wearing a blue double-breasted official uniform of the Imperial Censor, which was different from the scarlet robe, stood at the door and said respectfully:
"Your Majesty, I am sorry to bother you."
Behind him, his old acquaintance, Censor Chen Hong, bent down 90 degrees without saying a word.
"Come in and take a seat."
The empress sat behind a table covered with bright yellow silk, smiling gently. A palace maid immediately offered her a seat, and Zhao Duan stood beside her.
"Thank you, Holy Grace."
Yuan Li sat down, and Chen Hong stood respectfully behind him. The lady in blue looked up and saw Zhao Duan smiling at her, and nodded, saying:
"Before I entered the palace, I learned that Zhao Shaobao had defeated Qingshan Rongfu. This is cause for celebration."
"You're too polite, Lord Yuan." Zhao Duan smiled. "It's just a small victory, but I'd like to trouble you to congratulate me."
Xu Zhenguan smiled and went straight to the point:
"Mr. Yuan's sudden visit to the palace must not be for congratulations."
Yuan Li's expression grew slightly more serious, and he said, "I do have something to report, Your Majesty, for your review!"
He took out the document from his sleeve and presented it with both hands. Zhao Duan took a look at it, his DNA moved, and he walked over to take it very familiarly and handed it to Zhenbao.
Well, when I was a beast of burden in my previous life, similar behavior became almost instinctive.
You're quite considerate... Xu Zhen glanced at him, and with her delicate fingers she flipped open the document. After just a few glances, her bright face suddenly darkened, and anger surged. Her eyebrows raised like iron hooks, and then she raised her eyes and stared at Yuan Li:
"Is this really true?!"
Yuan Li was not surprised by the empress's anger and shouted, "It is true!"
“Bang!”
Xu Zhenguan threw the document on the table, and the good mood brought by winning the competition disappeared!
Seeing Zhao Duan's bewilderment, she suppressed her urge to get angry and said to him:
"You can take a look too."
What’s going on? Such a big reaction. I’ll be so angry that Kui Shui will burst out... Zhao Duan muttered in his heart, picked up the document and started reading, and then his face darkened.
It was more like an impeachment memorial than a document, and the person impeached was the nobleman of the capital, the Marquis of Lu'an.
Yes, a marquis!
Zhao Duan was not very familiar with this Marquis, but he had met him twice. This man was a descendant of a noble family. Because of his marriage to the royal family, he was relatively close to the royal family in the noble circle. He did not participate in the Xuanmen coup. Later, when the empress ascended the throne, this Marquis of Liu'an was considered to be well-behaved.
When the new policy was issued last year, Marquis Lu'an began to make frequent moves, trying to get a job in a new government office in the capital that was in charge of the new policy, namely, the "New Policy Office".
After the empress's investigation, she believed that although the Marquis of Lu'an was not particularly capable and was rather mediocre, he was still reliable.
In addition, the New Policy Department also needed to give the nobles some soup, so they allowed him to work there, and nothing went wrong.
At the beginning of the year, the State of Yu was rectifying its administration and dismissing a large number of redundant officials. It was necessary to appoint new local officials to promote the new policies. Therefore, the Marquis of Lu'an was in charge of this part of the work in recent months, but unexpectedly, he was suddenly impeached.
Charge: Bribery and selling official positions!
To put it simply, the Marquis of Lu'an took advantage of his position to accept benefits from the local government and treated the appointment and removal of new officials as a business.
Zhao Duan was not surprised to see this, but when he saw the areas involved in the sale of official positions, he understood the true reason for the empress's anger:
Built the road!
"I want to hear the details." Xu Zhenguan stared at Yuan Li with his eyes flashing like lightning.
Censor Chen Hong, who was standing behind Yuan Li, stepped forward and saluted respectfully:
"Your Majesty, this impeachment was a secret report from a censor of the Huai River Circuit. After it was delivered to me, I felt that the matter was serious, so I first verified it. I found some doubts and then submitted it to Lord Yuan."
Chen Hong first explained the origin, and then described the details of the process:
"After the New Year, because the appointment and dismissal of local officials in Jiancheng Dao had not yet been decided, His Majesty sent the Marquis of Liu'an south to inspect the local area. When the Marquis of Liu'an passed through the Huai River Road, he was received by a local fifth-rank official who invited Xichun, a famous Qinhuai prostitute, to accompany him.
The Marquis of Liu'an fell in love with the prostitute at first sight and was quite fond of her. It is said that he stayed there for several days before continuing his official duties south.
"Almost at the same time, Miss Xichun was suddenly redeemed by a wealthy local businessman named Yang and taken home as his wife... But a month later, Miss Xichun changed her name and surname and appeared in the private residence of the Marquis of Liu'an... And the new prefect of Jiancheng Dao was also confirmed to be that fifth-rank official..."
Wow, wow... Zhao Duan was amazed as he listened from the side.
How can you still not understand that this is a typical case of "sexual bribery"?
The laws of the Yu Kingdom stipulated that officials were not allowed to sell prostitutes and actors, but there were no restrictions on giving them away to others. As a result, the practice of "emptying the pockets" arose among the people.
That is, if an official fell in love with a girl, a merchant would often redeem her and then give her to the official privately.
This is a typical operation.
Zhao Duan was even certain that to be able to reach the rank of prefect, it was definitely not enough for just one courtesan, and she must have paid a large sum of money to the Marquis of Lu'an.
And it is likely to be an astronomical figure.
But how could a fifth-rank local official afford so much money? Zhao Duan thought for a moment and came up with the answer:
Huaishui gentry!
"...Your Majesty," Yuan Li spoke slowly, his expression solemn:
"If this is true, with my fifth-rank official status, I will definitely not be able to sell it to the Marquis of Liu'an. I suspect that some clans in the Huai River Road are secretly supporting me.
It's well known that the Jiangnan clans are extremely resistant to the new policies. If they can use money to pave the way, buy and sell official positions, and support some officials to take up important positions... this is very likely to happen. And to resolve such matters, I'm afraid we'll need a sharp sword."
Xu Zhenguan's face was as cold as frost, and he said calmly, "Come here."
A female official immediately walked in from outside the door.
The Empress said without emotion:
"Order the Imperial Guard Supervisor, Gong Ma Yan, to immediately arrest the Marquis of Liu'an and the relevant personnel for interrogation. The Censorate will supervise. I will give you one day. By this time tomorrow, I want to know the result."
Yuan Li stood up and responded at the same time as the female official: "As you wish!"
Then, the three of them walked out of the imperial study in a swift and decisive manner. As one can imagine, there would be another bloody storm later.
When it comes to such a big thing involving the New Deal officials, the empress will definitely catch an example, conduct a thorough investigation, and make an example of him... How dare he be so bold, so lustful that he dares to accept any bribe... Zhao Duan shook his head and had no sympathy for such a stupid person.
"See? They have already started." Xu Zhenguan suddenly said.
Zhao Duan comforted him, "The matter has not yet been thoroughly investigated. Just relying on the words of an inspector may not necessarily mean..."
Xu Zhenguan sighed, and suddenly turned her head, shaking her head bitterly.
"You don't need to comfort me. In fact, how much Liu'an Marquis collected, whether he collected it or not, is not the key point, right?"
Zhao Duan remained silent. He calmly revealed the truth:
"Those local nobles probably didn't really expect this method to work. At least, they didn't necessarily expect it to work. However, if even one example were to occur, Your Majesty would lose trust in those local officials."
Xu Zhenguan sighed softly and said angrily:
"I certainly don't want to believe it, but discovering one case often means there are countless more hidden beneath the surface. Moreover, even if the officials who took office were all clean.
But once they take office, sitting in that position, facing those local tycoons offering gold, silver, women, land...soft tactics...how many of them can resist changing their ways? Can they withstand the corruption?"
Zhao Duan was silent.
Any reform is bound to be accompanied by such stubborn problems, especially since the Huai River and Jiancheng Road are adjacent to each other and many major clans are related.
And with Prince Jing backing Jiancheng Dao, those local nobles will act with impunity.
"Your Majesty, it will never work if you only treat the symptoms without addressing the root cause." Zhao Duan suddenly said.
Xu Zhen looked at him and asked, "What do you want to say?"
Zhao Duan sighed softly and said:
"Mr. Yuan has just made it clear. He also knows that in areas where local clans are entrenched, newly appointed local officials are powerless. Marquis Liu'an is one, but he is definitely not the only one.
The only way is to hand over a sharp enough knife and beat up the clansmen. There is not much difference between humans and dogs, they are all beasts. Beat them hard, and the dogs will learn their lesson.
Xu Zhenguan was silent.
Zhao Duan volunteered: "Your Majesty, I am willing to go and make this sharp knife."
Xu Zhenguan didn't nod, but stared at him with her beautiful eyes:
"That's Jiancheng Road, Prince Jing's territory. He tried to assassinate you once before. Aren't you afraid?"
Zhao Duan smiled slyly: "Your Majesty, have you forgotten that Prince Jing has an informant of mine?"
Princess Jing? Lu Yan'er? That descendant of Pei Niannu?
Xu Zhenguan suddenly remembered this and her eyes lit up. The last time, Zhao Duan told her how he conquered Lu Yan'er and developed this princess into a spy.
Zhao Duan talked freely:
"Prince Jing's strength lies in his territory and his control over all the forces of Jiancheng Dao. He may also have hidden private armies and experts... but in terms of powerful cultivators, he may not have many. Lu Yan'er is by his side, and I can always rely on Princess Lu to obtain intelligence. Of course, I will not joke with my own life, nor do I think that a high-grade divine chapter is enough to enter the Dragon's Den."
Xu Zhenguan seemed to have guessed something: "You mean..."
Zhao Duan smiled and said:
"Your Majesty, didn't you just tell me that you would arrive at Luoshan in the summer to perform the Fengshan ceremony? Do you need someone to go to Jianchengdao in advance and make preparations near Luoshan? I thought, why not do both things at once? I can use my identity as the White Horse Emissary who is preparing for the Fengshan ceremony for Your Majesty and go south along the canal to Jianchengdao.
While preparing for the Fengshan ceremony, I will also crack down on those troublemakers. As long as I bring enough experts with me and Your Majesty is behind me, I will arrive soon... Unless Prince Jing rebels immediately, what else can he do except spit on me? "
Xu Zhenguan stared at him seriously:
"Have you really decided? You... have done too much for me. There's no need..."
Zhao Duan smiled and said:
"Your Majesty, have you forgotten what I once told you? A warrior's cultivation path will never lead to advancement if he hides in the safety of the capital. A warrior can only advance through hard work and perseverance. I also wish to enter the secular realm as soon as possible. If..."
He paused, and said with an extremely serious expression:
"If Your Majesty succeeds in the Fengshan ceremony and ascends to the celestial realm, the Yu Kingdom will surely be stable. This would be the best."
After a pause, he said, "If... Your Majesty fails to achieve your wish, if I can advance to the worldly realm, I can also use Dragon Soul to help Your Majesty reach the celestial realm again."
Implications:
You use Fengshan to charge first. If you can't get through, we can practice together and fight again.
Add a double insurance to the promotion.
The empress's fair cheeks suddenly flushed, and she spat:
"You are talking nonsense. Get out of here. I need to summon the ministers to discuss this matter."
"No... I'm telling you something serious, why are you blushing... Besides, you promised to keep me for dinner?" Zhao Duan opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but a delicate hand gently pressed on his chest.
Zhao Duan stepped back lightly, flew out of the imperial study as light as a fallen leaf, stood in the garden, and watched helplessly as the double carved doors of the study closed.
No, it's not...
Zhao Duan sighed softly, turned his head and glared at the many palace maids in the corridor who were secretly staring at him with strange eyes:
"What are you looking at? Have you ever seen flirting?"
The palace maids lowered their heads, their shoulders shaking, trying hard to hold back their laughter.
Zhao Duan sighed deeply, walked out of the bedroom and headed straight for the martial arts hall. Since he was preparing to go south to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth, he had to bring Lao Hai with him.
Martial Arts Hall.
Song Jinxi was standing at the door. When he saw him coming, his eyes lit up: "Zhao Shaobao, Qingshan's group is leaving."
…
Help catch typos
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
