Chapter 242
In the hands of the Emperor, there once existed complete control over three of the six ministries: the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Justice. However, now only the officials responsible for the selection, appointment, and dismissal of government officials in the Ministry of Personnel could be considered the Emperor’s trusted aides, nurtured by him from the beginning.
As for the plan targeting the Ministry of Appointments, it actually began before Chu Lishu returned to the capital.
Outside the Qin Zheng Palace, Lin Qingyang and Chu Lishu brought the Fourth Prince to listen in.
Due to the outstanding talents displayed by the Fourth Prince, Chu Lishu suggested to the Grand Tutor that the Emperor could consider allowing the Fourth Prince to participate in governance. Initially, the Grand Tutor rejected the idea, considering the prince too young and lacking the qualifications, fearing it might do more harm than good.
However, Chu Lishu presented the token given by Mr. Cao before, and with this token, the Grand Tutor had no choice but to fulfill their request once. Keeping his promise, the Grand Tutor strongly recommended their proposal to the Emperor, speaking highly of it. Only then did the Emperor allow the Fourth Prince to attend the court sessions in times of major events. This was a kind of affirmation of the prince’s abilities, a great honor.
For now, they stood outside the hall, waiting.
Today was the day for officials from the south to enter the palace to report on their duties. They would pass by them one by one, and upon seeing the Fourth Prince, they naturally paid their respects.
The Fourth Prince pretended to be an adult, smiling graciously at each one, showing friendliness, which impressed the officials who had heard of his deeds, causing them to nod in approval.
Prime Minister Li looked at his grandson with satisfaction, stroking his beard. He felt that Chu Lishu’s proposal was right. By showing humility and respect to the officials, although it meant lowering their posture, it made it easier to win the hearts of the ministers.
In contrast to the Crown Prince, who was already inside the hall, the Fourth Prince’s popularity among the people was skyrocketing.
The Crown Prince stood inside the Qin Zheng Palace, his face gloomy. During this time, the Fourth Prince had completely stolen his limelight. He had never expected that the Fourth Prince, who was still young, would become such a big threat to him.
When all the officials had arrived, Chu Lishu allowed the Fourth Prince to enter.
“Is that the person?” Lin Qingyang hinted with his eyes towards the middle-aged man with a big beard in the distance.
Chu Lishu nodded.
The man also looked over, immediately recognizing Chu Lishu with a smile. Then he noticed Lin Qingyang next to Chu Lishu and nodded in acknowledgment.
The two had been acquainted for a long time, and Lin Qingyang finally got to meet Wu Zhengtao in person.
Ever since Chu Lishu began dealing with the six ministries, Lin Qingyang had been eager to help. Chu Lishu was willing to let him handle some matters to develop his abilities, including correspondence with Wu Zhengtao.
Lin Qingyang was responsible for observing the arrangements of the Ministry of Appointments’s decrees, while Wu Zhengtao was in charge of conducting on-site investigations in the local areas.
Wu Zhengtao was also a scholar who passed the imperial examination. Several years ago, he was appointed as an official to a remote border region. However, on his way to take up his post, he encountered bandits and nearly lost his life. Fortunately, he coincidentally encountered Chu Lishu, who had just come out from the Seventy-Two Fort, and was thus saved.
Wu Zhengtao was a man of integrity, and he naturally felt deeply indebted for having his life saved. Chu Lishu, being insightful, recognized Wu Zhengtao as a sincere official who genuinely cared for the people. Therefore, he pretended to share similar ideals and aspirations with Wu Zhengtao. Wu Zhengtao, impressed by Chu Lishu’s broad-mindedness at such a young age, regarded him as a confidant, and they traveled together.
On the way, they encountered the corrupt practices of the Ministry of Appointments buying and selling officials. At that time, the situation was not yet severe, and although Wu Zhengtao felt disgruntled, he also understood that some situations were unavoidable. Seeing his attitude, Chu Lishu immediately realized that Wu Zhengtao’s best position to utilize was to deal with the Ministry of Appointments.
Sure enough, in the following days, the Ministry of Appointments’s misconduct in the border regions became increasingly rampant. There was no proper promotion or appointment process; instead, everything was conducted through monetary transactions. Some officials were even intercepted and killed on their way to their posts, only to be replaced temporarily by those who had bought their positions, eventually making the temporary appointments permanent. This made Wu Zhengtao suspect whether there was a reason behind his own interception and attempted assassination.
As the number of officials who bought their positions increased while those who were dedicated to their work decreased, and as the exploitation of the people became unbearable, Wu Zhengtao could no longer tolerate such injustices. Coincidentally, at this time, Chu Lishu sent his first letter to Wu Zhengtao, and finally, Wu Zhengtao knew what he could do.
This matter had been set up for a long time, so both Chu Lishu and Lin Qingyang were confident about it. Wu Zhengtao also executed his duty with the determination of a naive heart that would not turn back until it hit the wall.
Watching the Ministry of Appointments still being flattered by others, especially when some of them were the very individuals engaged in the buying and selling of official positions in the border regions, it was likely that they were unaware of the impending disaster.
“Fourth Prince, they are becoming increasingly adept at buying people’s hearts.”
As soon as the Fourth Prince stood beside Yuan Ye, he was met with ridicule. The Fourth Prince could only swallow his pride and pay his respects to Yuan Ye.
Seeing the Fourth Prince’s cowardly appearance, Yuan Ye became even more unwilling. “Stop pretending!”
Lin Qingyang looked at the Fourth Prince with some sympathy. He should have been carefree, living as a prince suited to his temperament, but unfortunately, he was now placed in such a high position.
Lin Qingyang had once asked Chu Lishu how he would handle the Fourth Prince. In the original plot, it was imprisonment, where the Fourth Prince would succumb to overwhelming sorrow and die in seclusion. But this time, Chu Lishu’s answer was to strip him of his royal status and send him away.
This was considered giving the Fourth Prince a way out.
Soon, the emperor held court. Lin Qingyang and Chu Lishu could only stand in the corner and watch.
Just as the Ministry of Appointments finished his report, there was suddenly a loud shout in the hall.
“Your Majesty, this humble official wishes to lodge a complaint.” Wu Zhengtao rushed out and knelt down with a thud, startling the courtiers.
At this moment, the Ministry of Appointments had not yet realized the danger, as Wu Zhengtao had always behaved normally. Who could have known whom he intended to accuse? And for what?
The Emperor frowned disapprovingly. He didn’t particularly like it when subordinates bypassed the usual channels of complaint, as it implied lax management and lack of discipline. However, since the matter had been brought directly to his attention, as a righteous ruler, he had to listen.
Chief Steward Sheng stepped forward to inform the Emperor of Wu Zhengtao’s official position, and the Emperor nodded in approval.
Chief Steward Sheng then stepped forward to receive the written complaint and presented it to the Emperor. Everyone watched curiously until the Emperor finished reading the document, and his expression gradually changed. His gaze turned cold as he swept it towards the Minister of of Appointments.
The Minister of of Appointments felt a chill run down his spine in an instant, realizing what was happening. He was a cunning old fox who understood the Emperor’s temperament well. He knew that the Emperor wouldn’t bother with the usual bribery and corruption schemes in regions where information flowed swiftly. Only in remote border areas, where the Emperor’s reach was limited, did he dare to accumulate wealth brazenly. He never expected someone would catch him off guard and turn the tables on him.
The Emperor instructed Chief Steward Sheng to read the complaint aloud. The document listed a total of ten charges, all pointing directly at the Ministry of Appointments. Charges including the buying and selling of official positions, embezzlement, bribery, and deceitful practices—all of which were punishable by death.
Upon hearing this, the Minister of Appointments immediately knelt down and cried out injustice. Officials from the Ministry of Appointments also stepped forward to testify to their innocence, accusing Wu Zhengtao of making false accusations.
They were confident in their defense. Before these officials came forward, they had thoroughly searched the belongings of those who had been accused, including Wu Zhengtao. They found nothing incriminating. They found it laughable that someone like Wu Zhengtao, who had come forward with no evidence, sought to bring down the entire Ministry of Appointments.
As long as the Emperor ordered an investigation, they could immediately resolve everything. In fact, after Wu Zhengtao left the palace, he might meet a grim fate.
The petty schemes of embezzlement within the Ministry of Appointments were actually something the Emperor expected to happen. As long as they didn’t touch the Emperor’s foundation or disturb the prosperous regions, the Emperor was willing to turn a blind eye.
So, at this moment, the Emperor merely followed the procedure by requesting evidence. Without evidence, he would proceed with a formal investigation.
However, Wu Zhengtao directly confessed to his crimes. He removed his official robe on the spot, standing in his undershirt on the grand hall. As people rebuked him for his disrespect, he tore open the robe, revealing hidden compartments containing evidence, testimonies, and even petitions from the common people. Everything was meticulously sewn into the robe, dazzling everyone’s eyes.
Minister of Appointments’s face turned pale immediately.
At this moment, apart from the Ministry of War, which was yet to be subdued by Chu Lishu, the other four ministries all stepped forward to support a thorough investigation and punishment. Even Prime Minister Li had to speak up. The Cabinet suddenly leaned to one side. In such a public display, even if the Emperor wanted to favor someone, he couldn’t do it.
The Emperor immediately ordered an investigation into the entire Ministry of Appointments. Everyone was to be detained, including the officials who had come from the border regions.
After a chaotic uproar of grievances and protests, the Emperor began coughing violently, showing signs of shortness of breath. Everyone thought the Emperor had been greatly angered. The morning court ended abruptly amidst the haste. Watching the Emperor’s retreating figure, Lin Qingyang knew that the poison that had afflicted Concubine Liu and County Princess Yawen was beginning to show its effects.
The next day, the Emperor did not attend the court due to his illness. However, with the efforts of the Deputy Minister of the Imperial Court of Justice Review and the Inspection Court, the case was thoroughly investigated and resolved. After all, a year’s worth of evidence had been prepared, almost enough for a direct conviction without the need for further investigation.
The Emperor hadn’t expected to lose his last stronghold so easily. While he was angry at the Ministry of Appointments, he saw Wu Zhengtao as simply meddling in affairs that didn’t concern him. Thus, after punishing the Ministry of Appointments, he did not reward Wu Zhengtao. This caused dissatisfaction among some officials, but no one dared to voice their discontent.
Wu Zhengtao, with his bold temperament, chose to resign from his official position and opened a small tavern in the capital, with the backing of Chu Lishu, of course.
This move was essentially a slap in the face to the Emperor, leaving him with a grim expression for several days.
Looking at the completed mission, and thinking about the fate of Wu Zhengtao, Lin Qingyang told Chu Lishu across the screen: “He seemed to be gradually losing the support of the people.”
Behind the screen came the sound of water, “Well, he used to be able to control things, but now he’s been poisoned, his body can’t keep up, and with the major changes in the six ministries, he can feel that the court is gradually slipping out of his control. That’s why he was forced by this incident in the Ministry of Appointments, and lost his composure. If he wants to regain power, he’ll have to slowly gather usable talents, which will take a long time.”
Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but ask, “What about when he first became emperor?”
“He last conducted a purge for the court because of the sudden turmoil in the Great Zhou, coupled with the support of the three major clans, that’s how he was able to achieve it in a short time. But now he doesn’t have that ability.”
Lin Qingyang smiled, “Indeed, you’re still formidable. What he can’t accomplish, you can.”
Chu Lishu paused for a moment, “You praise me so decisively, but when it comes to getting close to me, you hesitate?”
“Cough, cough, let’s focus on the serious matters,” Lin Qingyang said.
“The reason I can achieve this is twofold: firstly, because they already had problems, which could be directly exposed and dealt with; secondly, because I didn’t completely absorb them into my own camp. Instead, I positioned mostly clean officials, making it easier to handle,” Chu Lishu explained. “This is also the fastest way to eradicate the Emperor’s power and the least likely to arouse his suspicion. Besides military authority, the Emperor’s power is no longer a concern. Now, the target is the Cheng family and the Ministry of War.”
Lin Qingyang paused slightly when he heard this.
Chu Lishu’s current plan was to pit Empress Cheng, Concubine Mei, Yuan Ye, and the Fourth Prince against each other. They had previously weakened the Cheng family by using two other families, making the Fourth Prince’s faction appear superior. However, with the Fourth Prince now losing the support of Zhao Cheng and the Duke Wei Guo, they had become weak again.
Just because the Fourth Prince has gained the favor of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, gradually winning the hearts of the people and the courtiers, has made both the Cheng clan and Yuan Ye uneasy. Especially now that the Fourth Prince, at such a young age, has stepped into the court. In their generation, besides the young Yuan Ran who attended court sessions, who else has enjoyed such an honor? Therefore, Yuan Ye is bound to start targeting the Fourth Prince.
Chu Lishu only needs to create more conflicts among them.
But soon… Chu Lishu will change his mind, because he will discover a more direct way to make Yuan Ye and the Cheng family completely turn against each other, directly undermining them.
However, this method…
Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but feel sorry for Chu Lishu. Just as he was thinking, there came a knocking on the window. Whenever Chief Steward Hai had some secret report, he would send someone to deliver the message.
Lin Qingyang went over to take the secret letter for Chu Lishu.
Chu Lishu directly asked Lin Qingyang to help him read it.
As Lin Qingyang opened it and glanced at it, his pupils suddenly contracted, and his mouth couldn’t help but twitch uncontrollably.
Indeed, when the male lead wanted to do something, the heavens would promptly deliver the plot.
“What’s wrong? What does it say?”
Lin Qingyang pondered for a moment, then walked in and handed the note to Chu Lishu to read it himself.
Chu Lishu looked at Lin Qingyang with some surprise, smiling as he said, “How dare you come in?”
Lin Qingyang looked at the relaxed expression on Chu Lishu’s face, feeling even more choked up inside.
He handed over the note.
Chu Lishu opened it and his expression changed slightly.
“She’s ill?”
The note stated that Empress Cheng had recently shown unusual behavior by summoning physicians from the Cheng family. Sensing something amiss, it was reported to Chu Lishu.
Chu Lishu tossed the note into the nearby fireplace and immediately noticed Lin Qingyang’s worried expression beside the bath tub.
He leaned against the edge of the tub and motioned for Lin Qingyang to come closer.
Lin Qingyang crouched down, approaching, and looked at Chu Lishu.
Chu Lishu half-closed his eyes, smiling at Lin Qingyang. “What’s wrong? Are you worried about me? Afraid I’ll fret over that woman? You’re giving me too much credit. I stopped considering her as my birth mother long ago. My flesh and blood were returned to her long ago. I only hope she’s not truly ill. If she dies from illness, it would be too easy.”
A flash of hatred crossed Chu Lishu’s eyes, and he grew darker. Perhaps he wouldn’t be as cruel as in the original plot, but he would definitely not easily forgive Empress Cheng. The hatred was irredeemable, unchangeable despite her status as his birth mother.
But… Lin Qingyang’s mind raced, and he impulsively kissed the fiercely determined Chu Lishu.
The gloomy atmosphere seemed to dissipate instantly. Chu Lishu was taken aback, staring at Lin Qingyang in surprise. He opened his mouth, furrowing his brow. “Are you trying to stop me from dealing with her?”
Lin Qingyang quickly shook his head. “I’m just worried about your… well-being.”
Lin Qingyang’s eyes were filled with tenderness, shining brightly as he gazed deeply at Chu Lishu. His stare seemed to envelop Chu Lishu, who had just been immersed in the dark corner constructed by hatred, in an instant.
Chu Lishu’s gaze grew profound. He had always felt that whenever Lin Qingyang deceived him, he could fall in love. Now, when Lin Qingyang truly showed concern, even a single glance was so deadly. If Lin Qingyang were to ask him not to harm Empress Cheng, he would probably agree without hesitation.
Chu Lishu couldn’t help but lean in, affectionately brushing his lips against Lin Qingyang’s, his voice husky. “Oh, are you worried about me leaving behind any lingering effects? Concerned about my future performance in that aspect? Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”
Lin Qingyang’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “That’s not what I meant!”
Chu Lishu’s eyes and brows were filled with a playful smile. Already handsome by nature, with this affectionate smile, he resembled a spirited deity in the water, breathtakingly beautiful, captivating hearts and souls. If the first kiss was meant to reassure, then the second kiss was truly like being seduced by a beautiful mermaid in the water, losing all sense of reason and unable to resist leaning in for more.
Chu Lishu raised an eyebrow in surprise, wondering if Qingyang was also longing for him. Suppressing his amusement, he felt as if even the kisses had become sweeter.
When he came back to his senses, Chu Lishu was already standing in the water, embracing Lin Qingyang outside the tub, reaching to unbutton his clothes.
Lin Qingyang hurriedly protested, “Wait… wait…”
Chu Lishu furrowed his brows and without a word, dragged Lin Qingyang into the tub.
“No, Lishu…”
“Are you doing this on purpose? Learning to be naughty? First you seduce me, then you ignore me?! Do you want me to be well, or do you want me dead?!”
After scolding him, Chu Lishu didn’t give Lin Qingyang a chance to escape, pressing him down in the tub and fiercely kissing him. As he kissed, his hands didn’t stop either, stripping Lin Qingyang bare.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I won’t do it again, I really won’t… It was just a moment of distraction, just a simple kiss, I didn’t mean to tease you. Your health is more important. Please forgive me!” Lin Qingyang panicked, splashing water everywhere in an attempt to calm Chu Lishu down. Little did he know, Chu Lishu was already on edge, and this action only fueled his fire. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared to act like this.
Feeling Chu Lishu gradually losing control, Lin Qingyang panicked even more. Instantly regretting his actions, why did he have to act so impulsively!
But the next moment, Chu Lishu’s voice sounded in his ears.
“Don’t struggle, don’t move. Just calm down for a moment. If you keep moving, I might lose control, and I don’t want any lingering effects. For the sake of our future harmony as a couple, I need to hold on. We’ve been enduring for half a month already, we can’t give up halfway.”
Lin Qingyang could only awkwardly lean against the tub wall, looking up at the ceiling, not moving a muscle, even slowing his breathing. He could feel Chu Lishu’s muscles tense up and then gradually relax, waiting for him to calm down and his breathing to stabilize. Lin Qingyang reflected on his own actions even more.
The medicinal properties in the bathwater had a calming effect, so even though Lin Qingyang felt uncomfortable all over from being teased, it was hard for his body to react while soaking in it. Chu Lishu being so agitated still puzzled Lin Qingyang repeatedly.
After a while, Chu Lishu calmed down and leaned back in the tub, not allowing Lin Qingyang to leave and instead letting him lean against him.
They both relaxed in the bath together.
“What happened just now? Were you missing me?” Chu Lishu’s voice carried a hint of sexy laziness, with a playful tone.
This was the Chu Lishu that Lin Qingyang wanted to see. With Lin Qingyang’s back against Chu Lishu’s chest, the resonance emanating from his chest made Lin Qingyang enjoy it very much, and he couldn’t help but embrace him tightly.
“Yuan Ran, if you ever encounter something upsetting or infuriating in the future, just come to me, and I’ll do my best to make you laugh.” Chu Lishu naturally accepted the sudden sweetness from Lin Qingyang, especially when he called him by his real name, it made his heart flutter. Unable to resist, he rubbed against Lin Qingyang’s cheek and gently touched it, causing Lin Qingyang to blush deeply. Then, he slowly spoke, “Well, then I’ll need you to kiss and hug me, so that nothing can bring me down.”
…
In the Ziwei Hall, sounds of retching echoed, and the palace attendants dared not even breathe loudly, silently bowing their heads as they walked.
The Crown Princess Jing Rouyin came to pay her respects, but as usual, she was not well received and was rudely dismissed by the palace maids.
However, as she was leaving, she occasionally heard distinct sounds of retching. Jing Rouyin turned around to see a figure walking from the corner, and that person looked very familiar. It was the physician from the Cheng family who had examined her pulse when she was pregnant. Jing Rouyin had always suspected that the main reason for her miscarriage was the poor fetal signs from the beginning, and all her troubles started with that physician’s attempt to preserve her pregnancy.
Rather than dwelling on the loss of the royal firstborn grandson, Jing Rouyin first thought about why this physician was here and what the retching sound was about.
Suddenly, Jing Rouyin remembered that recently, not only had Empress Cheng avoided seeing her, but she had also made excuses to avoid seeing Yuan Ye for greetings. A terrible thought flashed through her mind.
Later, she seemed to have seized a great opportunity and shamelessly lingered near the Empress Dowager, using this as a chance to observe the situation in the palace. She discovered that the Emperor’s secret visits to the Ziwei Palace had increased. The Empress Dowager also became increasingly preoccupied. Jing Rouyin gradually understood what she had discovered, while Yuan Ye remained oblivious.
On the other hand, after investigations by Chu Lishu’s men outside the palace, they finally received the answer regarding Physician Cheng.
Yue Chen came in to deliver a letter, and when Chu Lishu saw the contents of the letter, a deep redness flashed in his eyes, accompanied by a bloody aura. His face turned completely grim, and with each word uttered from his mouth, filled with cold laughter, his gaze transmitted a sense of murderous intent.
“I should thank her for handing me such a big handle… heh heh…”
【Main Mission 2, Mission 23: Help the male lead to split Cheng Empress and Yuan Ye.】
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