Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 38 The emperor was furious. How could killing a minister of finance be enough?
Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Qizhen was about to start his daily physical training when the eunuch came to report that the Minister of Revenue Liu Ye wanted to see him. This was the same person who had argued with Xu Youzhen in unison with the Minister of Revenue Shen Gu last time.

Liu Ye was undoubtedly involved in the granary case, but the Jinyiwei had not yet taken action to arrest him. However, the Jinyiwei had deliberately contacted his family, intending to deter him and force him to surrender.

This guy must have been restless and frightened recently. After all, the three officials from the Ministry of Revenue who were taken away by the Jinyiwei last time were all sentenced to immediate execution, and their families were sent to exile or to the Jiaofangsi.

"Bring him in!" Zhu Qizhen ordered, and then sat back on the throne.

Soon, Liu Ye walked into the hall and knelt down respectfully. He was pale and looked extremely haggard, obviously because he was under great psychological pressure. Anyone who was targeted by the Jinyiwei would feel extremely tormented.

"Lord Liu, if you have something to report, don't you usually go to the Queen Mother?" Zhu Qizhen smiled slightly, "Why did you come to my Palace of Heavenly Purity this time?"

"Your Majesty, I...I..." Liu Ye seemed to have made a great decision, "I want to report the Minister of Revenue Shen Gu, who instructed several storehouse assistants in the capital warehouse to steal and sell government grain."

Zhu Qizhen's mouth flashed a sneer, and his voice was cold: "Do you need to tell me about this? I already knew about it, and you were also involved!"

Liu Ye's face became even more terrified, and she kowtowed and begged for mercy: "Your Majesty, I...I was forced by him."

"Isn't that right?" Zhu Qizhen looked up at him, "I heard that you even worshipped him as your godfather."

"If I hadn't made him my godfather, I would still be just a small clerk." Liu Ye kowtowed repeatedly, her tone full of regret. "Now that I think about it, I might as well be a small clerk. At least I don't have to worry about it every day."

Zhu Qizhen's eyes flashed coldly, but he sighed softly: "Forget it, I also know your difficulties. Just tell me in detail how Shen Gu stole and sold the government grain."

An hour later.

After Liu Ye finished her story, Zhu Qizhen also asked many details. From Liu Ye's story, it was possible to arrest the Minister of Revenue Shen Gu. However, there was still no evidence to arrest the two big managers behind the scenes.

"This is such a serious crime, Liu Ye, if you want to save your life, just do as I say." Zhu Qizhen said in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty, please give your orders. I will fully cooperate." Liu Ye bowed.

"I'll treat you to tea tomorrow." There was a cunning flash in Zhu Qizhen's eyes.

……

Cheng Guogongfu.

Shen Gu, the Minister of Revenue, and Sun Xianzhong, the commander of the Imperial Guard, went to see Zhu Yi, the Duke of Cheng. Zhu Yi, who had just inherited the title, was in high spirits.

"Congratulations, Duke." Sun Xianzhong smiled and clasped his fists. "Your Majesty has given another generous reward to the Duke's Mansion."

"Hmph, Your Majesty is just trying to win me over." Duke Chengguo's eyes were full of disdain.

Shen Gu, who had been silent, frowned and lowered his voice and said, "Duke, I always feel that this is a trap set by His Majesty to paralyze us."

Sun Xianzhong simply shook his head and chuckled: "Your Majesty, are you still using tricks?"

Shen Gu seemed worried: "The Majesty today is no longer the Majesty before Tumubao. He has grown up very quickly."

"No matter how fast he grows, he still has to listen to the Queen Mother." Duke Cheng patted Sun Xianzhong on the shoulder. "Lord Sun is the Queen Mother's brother. The Queen Mother will definitely not sit idly by."

"Of course." Sun Xianzhong looked proud.

"However, Xu Youzhen, Li Xian, and the Jinyiwei have been keeping a close eye on us recently." Duke Cheng's eyes were stern. "You are here today so we can discuss what to do next." "Don't worry, the Duke and I have never been directly involved in the rice business. If they want to arrest someone, they can't catch us." Sun Xianzhong spread his hands. "At worst, we can push the butler out to take the blame."

Shen Gu felt a chill down his spine when he heard this, because he was directly involved in the granary case. Without his order as the Minister of Revenue, how could the government grain be transported out?

Snapped!
Duke Cheng slapped Shen Gu on the shoulder and smiled: "Don't worry, if something really happens, we will definitely protect you."

Shen Gu smiled and clasped his fists: "It's all thanks to the Duke and Lord Sun."

……

In the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Qizhen summoned Xu Youzhen, Li Xian and Shi Biao immediately after Liu Ye left. He briefly told the three of them about Liu Ye's impeachment of Shen Gu, the Minister of Revenue.

"Then what are you waiting for?" Shi Biao bowed, "I will go and catch Shen Gu now."

"Wait a minute!" Zhu Qizhen smiled slightly, "If you arrest Shen Gu, and he turns the tables and claims that Liu Ye is making false accusations, how should we respond? Shen Gu is the Minister of Revenue, and there must be many people helping him."

"Yes, maybe there will be a duke who will come out to help him." Xu Youzhen frowned and said, "We have to make Shen Gu confess his guilt himself."

Zhu Qizhen glanced at the three people and spread his hands, saying, "I have a plan. Go and arrange it."

The three of them looked at him, wondering how His Majesty could make Shen Gu confess. Zhu Qizhen looked around and confirmed that all the eunuchs and palace maids were not in the hall before he whispered his plan.

"Poison... uh, what a good idea." Xu Youzhen praised it.

"If you want to talk about a vicious plot, then call it a vicious plot." Zhu Qizhen said unhappily, "Although the means are a bit sinister, I am also trying to solve the case."

Li Xian bowed respectfully: "Your Majesty is wise and wise."

Zhu Qizhen waved his hand, slowly stood up, and smiled with a hint of coldness: "It is said that 'a million people will die when the emperor is angry'. In my anger, the death of a Minister of Finance is not enough."

Xu Youzhen, Li Xian, and Shi Biao all felt a chill down their spines. His Majesty, after all, is no longer the same child as before. They secretly felt lucky that they had followed the right person.

"Your Majesty, I will lead the Jinyiwei to wait outside the palace tomorrow." Shi Biao bowed, "Anyone who dares to disobey will be killed without mercy!"

"You are all here to help me tomorrow." Zhu Qizhen chuckled, "As for killing people, there is no rush. This is just the beginning. One Shangshu is not enough, and adding a Duke is still far from enough."

The three people kneeling were all numb.

Your Majesty, what else do you want to do? Kill people and make a river of blood in the Fengtian Palace?
……

After the three of them left the Qianqing Palace, they walked on the Imperial Road in silence.

After a while, Xu Youzhen spoke first: "Your Majesty's methods have impressed me as a subject. I have something to say to you from the bottom of my heart."

"Old Xu, are you still keeping us in suspense in front of us? Speak now." Shi Biao said.

Xu Youzhen stopped, looked around, and lowered his voice and said, "From now on, His Majesty can treat us as friends, especially you, Shi Biao. His Majesty can treat you as a brother. However, we can only treat ourselves as subjects."

Li Xian took a deep breath, and Shi Biao seemed to suddenly realize something, and bowed with his fists: "Thank you, Brother Xu!"

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(End of this chapter)