Chapter 0073: The Corruption Magnate Minister Yang, Yang Qinghui Throws Himself into the Game
As soon as Xie Chengze entered the hall, he noticed the ministers trembling at the shoulders, their faces etched with sorrow, as if they had countless grievances they wished to voice.
Xie Chengze couldn’t help but feel amused.
Well, these court officials are really putting on quite the performance, aren’t they? Worried that the corruption case involving the Minister of Revenue might implicate them, so they’re deliberately putting on these miserable expressions to pressure Emperor Jian into going easy on the matter?
It’s really not easy for them~
Xie Chengze’s early morning resentment finally eased considerably as he hobbled toward his position, leaning on his crutch.
Oh, don’t misunderstand—his leg wasn’t actually injured. He simply didn’t want to stand for several hours during court sessions, so he pretended his right leg was also injured to secure himself a seat.
Let me see~
Xie Chengze slowly shuffled to the center of the hall, craning his neck to look toward his designated spot, only to notice that beside Xie Jinyu and Xie Zimiao, there was nothing at all.
His face immediately darkened, and he turned around to head back toward the main entrance.
Not even providing a stool, yet expecting him to become the target of public criticism?
This damned court session—whoever wants to attend can attend!
Emperor Jian, seeing him turn away, seemed to sense something as he glanced in Xie Jinyu’s direction. Realizing what was happening, he quickly spoke up, “Zhao Quan, what are you standing there for? Hurry and assist Chengze inside, and grant him a seat.”
Xie Chengze paused mid-step, silently cursing the dog emperor, then reluctantly turned back and continued forward.
Zhao Quan had someone bring a chair and promptly helped Xie Chengze sit down. After settling into his seat, Xie Chengze cleared his throat and offered a rather perfunctory, “Thank you, Father. Father is so kind.”
“Ah,” Emperor Jian responded with a smile, then officially opened the court session. Addressing the assembled ministers below, he asked, “Where did we leave off yesterday, my esteemed ministers?”
The Golden Luan Hall fell into a brief silence before an official stepped forward, his expression resolute, and declared, “Your Majesty, since Minister Yang assumed the position of Minister of Revenue, he has worked tirelessly day and night, maintaining integrity and self-discipline. This has been witnessed by all in the court and beyond—even the late Emperor could find no fault in him. Even if Minister Yang has occasionally been negligent or made missteps, that is only human nature. We should instead remember his past contributions and grant him the opportunity to atone for his mistakes through meritorious service, rather than simply pursuing responsibility, focusing solely on his faults while forgetting his achievements.”
At this point, he paused slightly, a flash of indignation in his eyes, “However, Shen Shilang has groundlessly made false accusations against Minister Yang. Though he is new to the court and inexperienced, and we can understand his eagerness to achieve merit, we cannot allow Minister Yang to be framed like this!”
After finishing his speech, the official bowed deeply and exclaimed, “We implore Your Majesty to exercise wise judgment and uphold justice for Minister Yang!”
Emperor Jian gave a soft hum of acknowledgment, his gaze habitually drifting toward Xie Chengze as he asked with a smile, “Chengze, what do you think?”
Shen Yuan’s profound gaze also settled on Xie Chengze, the light in his eyes flickering uncertainly.
Yang Qinghui’s downfall due to corruption was inevitable. Xie Chengze, under the watchful eyes of all, which side will you take—that of loyalty or treachery?
Xie Chengze sighed inwardly.
“This subject believes…” The stunning young man cleared his throat, then raised his arm and exclaimed, “Minister Yang, he is wronged! Truly, terribly wronged!”
As his words fell, the ministers couldn’t help but look up, staring at Xie Chengze in astonishment. Clearly, none had expected him to plead for Yang Qinghui.
Yang Qinghui also looked at Xie Chengze in surprise, then, recalling something, understanding dawned in his heart.
Back when the donation silver was given to Yi Province, the Second Prince’s ten thousand taels of silver had all been returned. The Second Prince was likely afraid this matter would be exposed, which is why he wanted to protect himself.
And since Emperor Jian doted on the Second Prince, with the Second Prince’s backing, he naturally wouldn’t face any consequences.
Yang Qinghui couldn’t help but glance smugly at Shen Yuan. This young man was simply too inexperienced, completely unaware of the underhanded dealings and corruption within the court.
Shen Yuan gazed intently at Xie Chengze, his thoughts unreadable, while Emperor Jian asked with great interest, “Chengze, why do you say that?”
“Has Your Majesty ever considered why Minister Yang would stray from the right path?” Xie Chengze asked seriously.
Emperor Jian pondered for a moment, then turned to look at Yang Qinghui. “Yang Qinghui, tell us, why did you stray from the right path?”
Yang Qinghui instinctively prepared to explain that he had momentarily lost his way but had long since regretted it. However, before he could speak, Xie Chengze, seated in the wooden chair, slammed the armrest with his uninjured hand, drawing the attention of all the ministers.
With an indignant expression, he declared, “It’s all because Minister Yang is too virtuous!”
Yang Qinghui: ?
Huh? Who’s virtuous? Me???
Xie Chengze continued righteously, “As everyone knows, the treasury of our Jian’an Dynasty is impoverished. Every time disasters strike various regions, the Ministry of Revenue can barely scrape together any silver!”
“This was true last year, even more so this year, and next year it will likely be even harder to produce relief funds! Without silver, public resentment will boil over everywhere, and once unrest breaks out, it will inevitably threaten the stability of our Jian’an Dynasty. How could Minister Yang stand by and do nothing?”
Xie Chengze’s voice rose passionately, his face flushed with emotion. “But with local finances all in deficit and court officials being lazy and unproductive, how could Minister Yang alone support a court as listless as a basket of dead fish?” He had no choice but to take a different path—a perilous road of self-sacrifice!”
The ministers stared, mouths agape, at the now-eloquent Xie Chengze.
A perilous road?
What perilous road?
“That is corruption!” Xie Chengze exclaimed, slamming the chair and rising to his feet, dragging his “injured body” as he spoke fervently. “Consider, everyone, what would happen next year if Minister Yang didn’t engage in corruption?”
“Wars everywhere! Fields littered with starving corpses! The Xiongnu would seize the opportunity to invade, and the Jian’an Dynasty would exist in name only—a great crisis!”
“But if Minister Yang did engage in corruption, what would happen?”
“When the people suffer from hunger next year, Minister Yang’s private treasury would already be stocked with ample relief funds, enough to help the court overcome such difficulties!”
“As you all know, the national treasury is empty this year. If Minister Yang hadn’t embezzled Yi Province’s relief funds into his private treasury, how would Governor Liang, who has accomplished nothing for years, have racked his brains to come up with the Tianfu Plan?!”
“Extreme hardship and pressure can unleash a person’s limits and potential. Minister Yang clearly did this intentionally, creating the illusion of an empty treasury solely to inspire the potential of every official, just like Governor Liang, to surpass their limits and strive to serve the court!”
“For this, he sacrificed himself, bearing the crime of execution with the loyalty and courage of ‘if I don’t enter hell, who will?’ He orchestrated this surface corruption scheme, all for the peace and prosperity of the Jian’an Dynasty and its people in the coming year!”
“A strategist enters the game with his own body, playing against heaven, using his life as a chess piece, barely winning by half a move!” Xie Chengze exclaimed loudly, his expression heroic and tragic. “Ah! How tragic and stirring this is! How moving and lamentable!”
Yang Qinghui: …
The assembled ministers: …
Emperor Jian: …
Shen Yuan: …
Xie Jinyu, Xie Zimiao: …