I just reached the maximum level, and you want me to be a puppet emperor?

Chapter 320 So this is what it's like to be a peacemaker! (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)

The court was deathly silent; everyone held their breath and secretly glanced at Luo Hui.

The Minister of Personnel had a face so dark it could drip water, but surprisingly, he calmly straightened his sleeves and stepped forward.

Luo Hui said calmly, "Your Majesty, I was already aware of what Minister Pang said. In fact, these officials who accepted bribes were all bait deliberately set by me."

As soon as this statement came out, the whole court was in an uproar.

Luo Hui took out a booklet from his robes: "This is a record of all the embezzled funds they handed over, totaling 87,000 taels of silver, all of which has been deposited into the national treasury. As for the officials who offered bribes, I have had them secretly recorded and am preparing to report to Your Majesty for further action."

He turned to Pang Jin and sneered, "Minister Pang's eagerness to investigate is understandable, but it's a bit too hasty."

A cold glint flashed in Pang Jin's eyes: "Minister Luo, I have the right to suspect that it's time for you to deliberately do this to make amends."

Luo Hui didn't argue with him about this, but instead pulled out a booklet and said, "According to my investigation, seven of the thirteen officials under Minister Pang of the Ministry of Justice are convicted criminals, two of whom are serious murderers! They frequently use torture to extract confessions during their investigations, and last year three innocent civilians were beaten to death! In the process of handling cases, they also often damage the property of ordinary people and injure innocent people."

Pang Jin calmly replied, "Those are all people who have redeemed themselves through meritorious service. The imperial court has granted them amnesty to serve the government, which will also prevent them from committing crimes again. This has always been the principle. As for interrogation and case handling, extraordinary measures are needed in extraordinary times. Otherwise, how can we uncover those corrupt officials?"

Luo Hui retorted sarcastically, "What an extraordinary method! Wasn't my use of bribed officials to entrap law enforcement also a way to rid the court of a scourge? Wasn't that also an extraordinary method? You can suspect me, so why can't I suspect you of protecting criminals?"

The two argued more and more fiercely, their spittle almost splattering onto each other's faces.

The other ministers remained silent, fearing they would be drawn into the struggle.

Minister of Revenue Liu Minghan quietly took half a step back, thinking that it was better to keep these two lunatics at a distance.

He was honest and upright, but that didn't mean he would push the other ministers too far; they wouldn't resort to extreme measures.

There's no way around it, these two really wield a lot of power.

Li Chen looked at the two high-ranking officials below, who were arguing heatedly, and felt somewhat puzzled.

Why are they so angry? Did something happen? It's true that mutual supervision between departments is a good thing, but if things get too big, it will create chaos in the court. Zhao Wenyuan thought that Li Chen was going to shift the blame again.

Li Chen then said, "I am very pleased with the hard work of both of you ministers. Give me your investigation results, and I will review them personally."

Li Chen's words were the final word, and no one could question them.

He stood up, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials. "Court is adjourned."

As they walked out of the main hall, Li Chen gave Guo Poyun a wink.

The Grand General understood immediately and silently followed.

Inside the imperial study, Li Chen tossed two memorials onto the table and rubbed his temples. "Speak," he said, "what exactly happened while I was away?"

Guo Poyun smiled wryly: "Your Majesty, this matter is absurd. It started when Xiao Ming, the chief clerk of the Ministry of Justice, and Fang Qian, the registrar of the Ministry of Personnel, had a conflict, which led to the two ministers also starting to target each other."

They were both rising stars in their respective departments, powerful and capable, and had earned the appreciation of the two ministers. Naturally, the ministers could not tolerate their capable subordinates being targeted.

The reason Li Chen asked Guo Poyun was because Guo Poyun had also done some intelligence work while serving the late emperor, so he was sure he could find out information in that area.

Zhao Wenyuan simply focused on doing his job and didn't touch anything else. Even when Li Chen asked him, he would just pretend to be clueless.

This was simply to tell His Majesty that he didn't have much ambition.

Li Chen understood, so he didn't make things difficult for him.

Even if Pang Jin and Luo Hui find out later that it was Guo Poyun who said it, so what? Guo Poyun is a highly decorated General Zhenguo.

Hearing Guo Poyun say this, Li Chen asked, "Why did they have a conflict?" Li Chen didn't know Xiao Ming; he had never met him before.

Of course, Li Chen felt that although he had never met Xiao Ming, he had met him a few times. However, at that time, neither Li Chen nor Xiao Ming knew each other's identities.

Li Chen had met Fang Qian before; he had performed well at the Sword Debate Tournament.

If it weren't for Luo Yong's cheat code, he would probably have been in first place.

At the time, Li Chen also thought that Fang Qian was indeed a talented person, but he did not expect that he had already entered the Ministry of Personnel.

Upon hearing this, Guo Poyun sighed and said, "It seems to be for a woman."

Li Chen raised an eyebrow and said, "Just for a woman? You're really young and impetuous."

What he really wanted to say was, "Are these two people sick?"

Having made up his mind, Li Chen decided to go and see for himself what was going on.

After all, he planned to handle this matter personally; he couldn't wait for Pang Jin and Luo Hui's investigation results.

They were indeed quite competent ministers, but they were also human, and personal feelings would sometimes get involved.

Guo Poyun knew that Xiao Ming and Fang Qian were involved because of a woman, and also because the two of them had fought yesterday, causing quite a stir.

Yesterday, Wei Manying said goodbye to Xiao Ming at the teahouse, then left Lin Mo's residence to go find Fang Qian.

Wei Manying wasn't the type to have a specific goal in mind. She investigated Fang Qian's usual route home from get off work and then staged a chance encounter.

Fang Qian, also a chosen one, took the initiative to greet Wei Manying.

There was no way around it; he felt great after dealing with Xiao Ming. At the time, he was even thinking that it would be even better if he could also win Wei Manying's favor.

Who knew I'd run into them on my way home.

The young man quickly became infatuated with Wei Manying's gentleness and beauty.

Wei Manying was able to project the feeling that "I think she might like me" onto everyone she met.

Fang Qian was getting happier and happier. In order to make a good impression, he took Wei Manying to Zuixianlou for drinks.

He had just arrived in the capital and only knew that this place was of the highest standard.

Things have been going well lately, and I've received a substantial bonus, so I can afford to hire someone.

Unfortunately, this is also a place that Xiao Ming likes to come to.

Xiao Ming was in a mixed mood today. He was being harassed by Fang Qian, but he ran into Wei Manying and wanted to have a drink to cheer himself up.

On the way, they met Xu Zifeng, the heir of the Prince of Zhennan. The two recognized each other and went to Zuixianlou together.

Upon arrival, Xiao Ming discovered that Fang Qian and Wei Manying were also there.

Enemies are especially hostile when they meet. You made things difficult for me this morning, and now you want to steal my woman.

Xiao Ming, with his fiery temper, went straight up and told Fang Qian to get lost, but Fang Qian didn't tolerate him.

The two started arguing and escalated into a physical fight.

Xu Zifeng was a little confused. In the past, I was the one who often caused trouble, and you stopped me. How come this time it's me stopping you?
So this is what it's like to be a peacemaker!
(End of this chapter)