Daqin Zhentiansi

Chapter 510 Your Highness, the Marquis of Qingyang's invitation, inviting Your Highness for drinks.
Bring it in.

Yu Kuizhen hesitated for a moment, then bowed and left the main hall.

A moment later, the clanging sound of combat boots hitting the ground rang out.

A group of soldiers in black armor carried in account books that were half a meter high.

After the account books were put down, another stack of heavy land deeds was delivered.

The land deeds, land deeds, real estate deeds, gold beads, jade, immortal jade, and all kinds of spiritual materials and treasures, all exuding spiritual light and immortal energy, were placed in large boxes and carried in.

The grand hall, hundreds of feet high, was illuminated by spiritual light.

The piled-up gold and jade objects emitted a dazzling light and shadow.

Cao Yue stood there, looking at the endless stream of soldiers, and for a moment his face showed blankness again.

Yu Kuizhen took the book handed to her by the soldier in the uniform of a captain, opened it, and then spoke.

"The Ministry of Justice Vice Minister Guo Xu's residence was searched and found to contain 320,000 taels of silver, gold and pearls. The Marquis of Zhenbei of Northern Qi also secretly gifted a pair of red gold unicorns, weighing 30,000 taels."

"The South China Sea caravan bribed 100,000 pearls, valued at 5 million taels of silver."

"Eight hundred thousand mu of land deeds, thirty-two shops within the nine city walls of the imperial city..."

"Zhu Huan, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, has confiscated three estates in the suburbs of the capital, including 800 mu of fertile land and 3,000 mu of land deeds."

"Eight hundred thousand taels of silver, five hundred thousand taels of gold, thirty thousand pieces of immortal jade, and three thousand catties of jade marrow..."

“Yuan Hongyu, the Inspector of the Ministry of Justice, seized three contracts for a jade mine, which produced three million taels of silver annually.”

"A total of 721 deeds for the Imperial City Manor, shops, and land."

"Seize the property—"

"Bam—"

The sound of Emperor Yuankang slamming his hand on the long table interrupted Yu Kuizhen's words.

Emperor Yuankang, sitting upright in the main hall, snorted coldly and looked at Wang Anzhi, the Minister of Rites, and Ying Chongxiao, the Prince of Linglan.

"The Imperial Clan Court, the Ministry of Rites, and the Censorate shall organize all officials to conduct self-examinations and return any illegal gains."

He glanced at the mountain of account books and gold and jade, his eyes flashing with coldness.

"If you can't figure it out yourself, then go find Marquis Qingyang and ask him to help you investigate."

After saying this, Emperor Yuankang flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.

Only when he stepped out of the back hall did a smile appear on his previously tense face.

In the main hall, Yu Kuizhen looked at Cao Yue, who had a disappointed expression, and said in a low voice, "Lord Cao, not everyone is as incorruptible as you."

He reached out and patted Cao Yue's shoulder lightly, lowering his voice: "The Marquis of Qingyang asked me to tell Lord Cao that you do not need to repay the favor he did for you today, but you should remember that you and he are both working for the Great Qin and for the people. If you go against your original intentions, you will have a place in the Zhen Tian Si prison one day."

Cao Yue's expression shifted, and when he looked up, Yu Kuizhen had already strode away.

“Living in the capital is not easy. These rats have stolen the country and the people’s wealth. They have occupied all the places where people live in the imperial city. How miserable the people are.” Wang Anzhi looked at the gold and silver, snorted, and turned to look at Cao Yue and the Prince of Linglan.

"My lords, even if I have to give up my official hat and take off my official robe, I will still drag out the big rats in the capital."

Cao Yue's face flushed red, and he nodded emphatically.

King Linglan's expression remained calm and indifferent.

As a grandmaster and the head of the Imperial Clan Court, he saw things even more clearly.

Wang Anzhi wants to enter the cabinet and compete for the position of prime minister. This thorough investigation of all officials in the capital is both a crisis and an opportunity.

With the Zhen Tian Si's sword hanging high, as long as Wang Anzhi gives His Majesty, the people, and the officials a satisfactory explanation, he could probably become the person closest to becoming prime minister.

As for Cao Yue, his poverty and impartiality were genuine.

But most of the censors and officials like Cao Yue are poor and incorruptible. Why is it that Cao Yue is the one who has risen to prominence today?
King Linglan clearly remembered that there was a Yulin Academy in Luyang Prefecture, and the headmaster of the academy was Tao Yulin, who was a close friend of Marquis Qingyang, Zhang Yuan.

————————————————————

The Fifth Prince's Mansion.

The Fifth Prince, who had originally intended to submit a memorial, turned back halfway through.

It wasn't that he didn't want to participate, but the news from Qianyang Palace that Wang Anzhi, the Minister of Rites, and the Marquis of Qingyang had a dialogue forced him to withdraw.

Marquis Qingyang actually said directly, "His Majesty trusts me, there is no need for explanation," so what is there to argue about?
Who could possibly impeach such a favored minister?

“Your Highness, Zhang Qingyang is arrogant and reckless. He relies on His Majesty’s trust and is so arrogant that he will surely suffer the consequences.”

“Yes, let’s see how arrogant he is today. In my opinion, he will never be able to sit at the top of the Martial Guard for long.” “That’s right. Such a treacherous minister will not last long. Your Highness need not worry about him, just watch him perish on his own.”

In the main hall, several advisors and officials trusted by the Fifth Prince spoke up one after another, filled with righteous indignation.

The Fifth Prince stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze shifting to the silent Guo Wenhua to the side.

"Wenhua, what do you think?"

A brief silence fell over the lobby.

Guo Wenhua hesitated for a moment before saying, "The Marquis of Qingyang is ruthless. Your Highness doesn't need to provoke him."

His words caused everyone in the hall to frown.

The Fifth Prince's expression darkened slightly, and he was about to speak when Guo Wenhua said again, "It is the case that Princess Bichi of the Gu Prince's Mansion failed to marry the prince of Qi. The previous plan was thwarted, and we need to consider it."

The Fifth Prince nodded slightly at these words.

"I didn't expect the Imperial Clan Court to make such an arrangement. King Linglan is now a Grandmaster, and there are many powerful figures in the Imperial Clan Court. They've made these decisions, so even I can't interfere for the time being..."

The Fifth Prince hesitated before speaking, wanting to say something more, when footsteps came from outside the hall.

"Your Highness, Marquis Qingyang has captured those officials in Qianyang Palace and brought them back to the Zhentian Division prison."

"Your Highness, the Zhen Tian Si has confiscated properties throughout the capital, and all the assets of convicted officials have been sealed off."

"Your Highness, the Heavenly Guards of the Zhen Tian Division stormed the Imperial Academy and captured more than 300 students who were preparing to submit petitions, as well as nearly 100 instructors, including more than ten Confucian and Taoist masters."

The reports that came one after another caused the expressions of everyone in the hall to change.

"Zhang Qingyang, has he... has he gone mad...?"

"His Majesty is trusted, he really dares to..."

Several strategists dressed in Confucian robes showed fear on their faces.

"Your Highness, Yin Jiuyou, the head of the Netherworld Division of the Heavenly Suppression Bureau, has surrounded the Fifth Prince's residence with his men. They want, they want Your Highness to hand over Manager Zhao Fuguo..." The reporting soldier glanced around and lowered his voice, "They want Your Highness to hand over Manager Zhao Fuguo..."

As soon as the words fell, Zhao Fuguo, who was standing to the side, trembled all over and his legs went weak.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, save me, save me..."

The Fifth Prince frowned and clenched his fists.

Guo Wenhua hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

The others in the lobby looked at each other without saying a word.

Taking a deep breath, the Fifth Prince said in a deep voice, "Go and tell Yin Jiuyou that if they have the guts, let them rush into the mansion and arrest people."

The soldier hesitated for a moment, then turned and left.

Zhao Fuguo kowtowed repeatedly to the Fifth Prince.

A moment later, the messenger returned, holding an invitation in his hand.

"Your Highness, the Marquis of Qingyang has sent an invitation, inviting you to a drink."

drink wine?

Marquis of Qingyang?
The Fifth Prince accepted the invitation, his face full of doubt.

"Your Highness, you cannot go!" Li Wenyuan said solemnly.

“We can’t go. Zhang Qingyang’s actions are completely unreasonable,” Xu Wenyuan chimed in from the side.

The Fifth Prince subconsciously looked at Guo Wenhua.

“Your Highness, you should go to the Marquis of Qingyang’s invitation.” Guo Wenhua shook his head and said softly, “After all, he is the head of the Martial Defense Division. If you meet him, outsiders will wonder what they will think.”

These words made the Fifth Prince's eyes light up.

"Prepare the carriage." The Fifth Prince waved his hand and strode out.

In the main hall, Xu Wenyuan and the others looked at each other with gloomy expressions.

As the carriage left the Fifth Prince's residence, the Zhen Tian Si soldiers blocking the entrance were already withdrawing.

After the carriage had traveled more than ten miles, war cavalry galloped up from behind.

"Your Highness, the people from the Heavenly Guard have stormed into the mansion and arrested Manager Zhao and the others—"

Inside the carriage, the Fifth Prince was instantly enraged and was about to shout when Guo Wenhua grabbed his arm!
(End of this chapter)