Chapter 0074: Complacent Court Officials, and Xie Chengze the Liability

The entire court was dumbfounded.

All the ministers stood frozen in place, feeling as though their minds had been scoured clean by some invisible force.

Yang Qinghui himself never expected that his “hidden motives” for embezzlement and corruption could be interpreted this way. Immediately putting on an expression of enduring humiliation for a greater cause, he stepped forward with heavy steps and spoke in a tone full of bitterness:

“This old minister originally thought my actions would be difficult for the world to understand, and had long prepared myself to be misunderstood by all. I truly never expected that the Second Prince would see through my carefully laid plans… This old minister, this old minister, ah…”

At this point, his voice choked up, as if wanting to speak but holding back. Shaking his head, his face full of both sorrow and solemn determination, he continued, “All of this was for the sake of Jian’an’s common people. This old minister dared not betray the late emperor’s trust nor Your Majesty’s high expectations. I could only enter the game with my person, use my life as a chess piece, to prepare for next year’s calamities and hardships in Jian’an…”

Xie Chengze was deeply moved upon hearing this, unconsciously lifting his sleeve to wipe away tears. “Minister Yang is truly righteous!”

The officials who had previously defended Yang Qinghui also seized the moment to loudly echo, “Minister Yang is truly righteous! Why must it come to this!”

Only Chen Yushi from the Supervisory Council wore an expression of fury. “Turning black into white, confusing right with wrong! This is nothing but the braying of donkeys and barking of dogs – utterly absurd!”

He stepped forward indignantly and rebuked Xie Chengze, “Yang Qinghui’s actions are clearly embezzlement and corruption, plain for all to see! Now he uses empty words about preparing for calamities to cleverly cover up his crimes and escape responsibility, and all the officials compete to echo this, actually believing it? This is the biggest joke in the world!”

“The Second Prince, as royalty of Jian’an, supported by the people’s taxes, should clearly distinguish right from wrong and severely punish treacherous officials! How can you shield such corrupt individuals, setting a terrible example for all officials and causing endless harm!”

His words were forceful, pouring all his dissatisfaction and disappointment onto Xie Chengze. Then he turned to Emperor Jian and said, “Your Majesty! This old minister boldly requests that you order the Supervisory Council to strictly investigate Yang Qinghui’s embezzlement and corruption. We must not treat this lightly or indulge evil and nurture treachery, lest we corrupt court discipline and tarnish the court’s good name!”

Emperor Jian remained silent for a long moment.

He never expected that Xie Chengze would choose to step forward and shield Yang Qinghui. After all, based on Xie Chengze’s usual temperament, if evidence of corruption was already before his eyes, he would certainly have sternly condemned Yang Qinghui and even rushed to thoroughly investigate Yang Qinghui’s past crimes.

So why now would he suddenly try to clear Yang Qinghui’s name?

Were they secretly conspiring together, or did he have other motives…

Just as Emperor Jian was pondering this, he suddenly heard Xie Chengze’s voice from below the throne, full of astonishment: “Censor Chen, are you being fierce with me?”

Emperor Jian: ?

Censor Chen: ?

What? Who’s being fierce with you?

“Was what I said wrong?!”Xie Chengze said unwillingly.” “Just tell me – if Minister Yang hadn’t embezzled and misappropriated funds, where would we get the silver for disaster relief when famine comes next year?”

Though Censor Chen was old, his mind remained sharp. “Regardless, national laws are strict, and Yang Qinghui should never have abused his power! Why doesn’t Your Highness consider how many innocent common people suffer because of this corruption? Are the lives of those who starve to death not lives too!”

Xie Chengze looked dismissive, his tone quite arrogant. “If the court weren’t incompetent, why would Minister Yang have to exchange old lives for new ones? This is all for the continuation of the Jian’an Dynasty!”

“Has Your Highness ever considered that if those suffering people could survive, farm and pay taxes, how could the state treasury be so depleted?” Chen Yushi rebuked, his tone filled with frustration at seeing someone fail to meet expectations.

“Ridiculous!” Xie Chengze waved his wide sleeve dismissively and sneered, “How could the meager farming taxes from a handful of commoners possibly fill our vast state treasury?”

He continued mockingly, “Minister Chen has been in court for so long that he hasn’t bothered to see how the common people live these days—in dire straits and deep suffering! During my journey to Yi Province, all I witnessed were corrupt officials and impoverished citizens. They can barely feed themselves through farming, let alone contribute to filling the state coffers!”

“If mere survival could make people diligent in farming and tax payment, then wouldn’t breeding more children automatically fill the Jian’an Dynasty’s treasury with gold and silver? What would be the point of having all you court officials? You might as well go home and procreate!”

Xie Chengze pressed on angrily, “Year after year, disaster relief only addresses immediate needs without solving long-term hunger. The people still can’t get enough to eat or survive the winter cold! Yet you remain complacent, merely copying outdated relief methods from previous dynasties, evading fundamental issues, muddling along—jeopardizing the future of our Jian’an Dynasty!”

“If Minister Yang hadn’t embezzled the Yi Province relief funds, would Governor Liang have been forced to scour historical texts and geographical records, racking his brains to devise the Tianfu Plan? Not only did it resolve Yi Province’s floods, but it may also benefit the entire Jian’an Dynasty in the future!”

“And if Minister Yang hadn’t embezzled those relief funds, how would I have discovered how utterly useless you all are, mere decorations in the court! A local official, when pushed to the brink, at least understands that action outweighs theory. Yet your minds are filled with nothing but the stench of copper and dung—failing to grasp Minister Yang’s strategy and value, instead pressing forward step by step, constrained by obsolete laws, and incapable of adaptation!”

This sophistry left Chen Yushi’s head spinning. Pointing at Xie Chengze, he stammered, “You… you… this is pure sophistry!”

“A prince who cannot argue skillfully is no good prince, just as officials who do not strive to improve are no good officials!”

Xie Chengze confidently raised his head. “What use are you standing here? You don’t know how to improve farming tools, utilize mountains and rivers for agriculture, connect our Jian’an Dynasty in all directions, or ensure its sustainable development! Given this, you might as well learn from Minister Yang’s example—embezzle and break the law to push local officials to their limits and clean up your own mess!”

Yang Qinghui: ?

Was it an illusion? Why did something feel off?

Chen Yushi flushed with embarrassment at Xie Chengze’s words, yet he had to admit that if the court officials were truly competent, how could the people suffer and livelihoods decline?

“What exactly does the Second Prince mean?” Chen Yushi asked indignantly, his shame turning to anger. “Are you suggesting we overlook Minister Yang’s embezzlement and lawbreaking?”

Yang Qinghui also looked at Xie Chengze, who winked at him, signaling: Don’t worry! I’m on your side!

Yang Qinghui breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed the Second Prince was firmly in his camp.

Just as he thought this, he heard Xie Chengze provocatively say to Shen Yuan, “Shen Shilang, you keep insisting that Minister Yang’s involvement isn’t limited to the Yi Province corruption case. But do you have any other evidence to prove that Minister Yang has been consistently engaged in corruption?”

Shen Yuan fell silent for a moment. His eyes flickered as he glanced at Xie Chengze, then he slowly replied, “This humble official speculates…”

“Excellent!” Xie Chengze immediately interrupted loudly, as if having found some perfect flaw, “Based merely on a few conjectures, you attempt to frame a loyal official of the court. Lord Shen, by acting in this manner, are you not treating all court colleagues as subjects to be arbitrarily speculated upon and investigated, trampling their official positions to serve as stepping stones for your own rapid ascent to power? The current court cannot withstand such disturbances from Lord Shen!”

Upon hearing this, Yang Qinghui felt immensely relieved.

The Second Prince had spoken so brilliantly! Destroy that arrogant brat surnamed Shen!

Unexpectedly, Shen Yuan remained unflustered and said calmly, “This humble official harbors no intention of arbitrary speculation. However, Minister Yang has just personally admitted that, in order to prepare for unforeseen events, he did not hesitate to involve himself in the embezzlement scheme. This is equivalent to admitting his own corrupt deeds. He should be handed over to the Supervisory Council for investigation of his assets, tracing the flow of embezzled funds, confiscating all illegal gains, and replenishing the national treasury.”

“Uh…” Xie Chengze was left speechless, momentarily tongue-tied and bewildered. After a moment, he looked anxiously at Yang Qinghui: Old friend! It seems we’ve overplayed our hand—what do we do now!

Yang Qinghui: ?

Yang Qinghui: !!!