Daqin Zhentiansi

Chapter 668 You're not an imperial censor, you don't understand the way of being an official.
Inside the Qianyang Hall, the officials either bowed their heads in silence or chuckled and shook their heads.

He was a loyal and upright official.

A loyal minister is one who cannot nitpick.

Those who cannot pour cold water on an emperor's rise to power are not considered loyal ministers.

Besides, the mistake this guy made was actually true.

Although the six-headed Xuan Turtle was valuable, it couldn't compare to the losses incurred from activating the teleportation array along the way.

The resources required to transport six Xuan Turtle from the East Sea to the Imperial City were equivalent to those of a hundred Xuan Turtle.

It's hard to say whether the Marquis of Qingyang's expenditure of such a great expense to send six Xuan Turtles was a merit or a demerit, whether it was done for public or private reasons.

"Your Majesty, even if you send me to the Zhen Tian Si prison today, I must say that the crime of the Marquis of Qingyang deserves severe punishment."

Yuan Gui took off his official hat and slammed his head heavily onto the jade floor tiles.

At the head of the main hall, Emperor Yuankang slowly sat up straight.

The golden bricks of the Zichen Hall reflected the fading glow of the black tortoise's phantom image, while the voice of Imperial Censor Yuan Gui still echoed among the beams and pillars.

Wang Anzhi, the Minister of Rites, stepped forward, holding an ivory tablet. His aged figure cast a majestic silhouette in the glow of the bronze pillar: "Your Majesty, please allow me to report—"

"Imperial Censor Yuan's arrogant impeachment of the Marquis of Qingyang shows his complete ignorance of the gravity of the situation in Donghai!"

"Imperial Censor Yuan was acting in the spirit of upholding the fairness of the Qin laws, and had no personal motives whatsoever—"

Before he could finish speaking, Emperor Yuankang waved his hand.

Emperor Yuankang glanced at the officials in the hall and said calmly, "Rest assured, Minister Yuan is devoted to the country. How could I possibly be harsh on him?"

“Yuan Gui, the Xuan Turtle has entered the Imperial City. Take one to the Great Wall in the North to pay homage to the ancestors of the Great Qin.”

Take the Xuan Turtle to the Great Wall in the North?

Without a teleportation array, it would probably take a year to travel by road alone.

Add to that the preparations for the festival and the delays in the journey, and it's likely he won't be able to return in less than two years.

Is it a reward or a punishment for a court official to be away from the capital for two years?
Inside the main hall, many officials wore slight smiles.

Having reigned for so many years, Emperor Yuankang's imperial wisdom and methods of governing his subordinates could easily resolve any problem.

"promise."

Yuan Gui got up and put his gauze hat back on.

"What Minister Yuan said is correct. The Xuan Turtle's entry into the capital was extremely costly. Holding any more celebrations would only be a waste of resources and manpower. Let's just forget about it," the emperor's voice rang out again.

"Let's leave the Ministry of Rites alone. Let the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works discuss how to make up for it."

After speaking, the emperor stood up, glanced at the black tortoise that slowly appeared in the sky like a mountain range, and turned to leave.

Inside the main hall, a group of officials bowed.

Only after the emperor left did the crowd gradually withdraw from the Qianyang Palace in twos and threes.

"Hmph, if it weren't for Yuan Gui, the Ministry of Rites would have been doing a great job hosting the auspicious ceremony."

An official from the Ministry of Rites walked along, muttering to himself.

"Heh, he's not happy about it himself. Will the people at the Wall in the North welcome him? His Majesty is kicking him out."

Another official from the Ministry of Rites and the Censorate chuckled and walked down the steps with his hands clasped together.

Yuan Gui remained expressionless and walked down the stone steps one by one.

"Dingtai, why are you impeaching Marquis Qingyang at this time?" A middle-aged civil official in a blue robe spoke softly beside Yuan Gui.

"With your experience, you shouldn't have done this."

The official turned to look at Yuan Gui, his face full of doubt.

Yuan Gui looked up at the giant tortoise in the sky and stopped in his tracks.

“Lord Qingyang is too young,” Yuan Gui’s voice rang out.

The official beside him was taken aback.

"Among the five ranks of War Marquis, Wu'an, Pojun, Zhenguo, Zhengtian, and Qingyang Marquis's achievements are too great. If the East Sea is truly pacified, wouldn't it require a battle to defend the country?"

“If he doesn’t want his achievements to overshadow the emperor, either he should tarnish his own reputation, or outsiders should find fault with him and slow down his promotion.” Yuan Gui smiled and said calmly, “Your Majesty cannot fail to reward great achievements, yet you also want to protect the favored minister, Marquis Qingyang. As your subject, I can only share Your Majesty’s burdens and plan for the long-term future of Marquis Qingyang.”

“Brother Run’an, you are not an imperial censor, so you do not understand the way of being an official who remonstrates with the emperor.”

After Yuan Gui finished speaking, he left directly, leaving the middle-aged civil official standing there with a blank expression on his face.

……

Imperial City.

As the last wisp of teleportation light receded like a tide over the eastern suburbs of the imperial city, the colossal object finally crashed down right before everyone's eyes.

The six-headed, mountain-like Xuan Turtle of the Free and Unfettered Realm lay silently on the specially cleared training ground.

Their breathing was like muffled thunder, carrying the salty, fishy smell unique to the East China Sea and the rusty, bloody stench.

What truly outshines the heavens and earth are the six towering bronze pillars that stand firmly atop their carapaces.

Sea-Suppressing Pillar!
They are no longer phantoms, but real ancient creations.

With the cold luster of bronze, it is engraved with ancient seal scripts such as "Yu governs the nine rivers" and "divides the sea and calms the waves", as well as intricate and unpredictable spiritual patterns that seem to contain the movement of the Milky Way.

On the pillar, the grotesque demonic patterns of the nine-headed black dragon, its tendons and souls ripped out, were faintly visible. The remaining blood energy and the majesty that suppressed eternity created a breathtaking sense of oppression.

Fresh repair marks are clearly visible at the base of the pillar. The unique casting technique is the mark of Li Yu, the master craftsman of the Ministry of Works, silently proclaiming that this ancient artifact has been once again in the hands of the Great Qin!
In the initial moments, the entire imperial city seemed to be choked.

Birds fell silent, and carriages and horses came to a standstill.

Immediately afterwards, like a drop of water falling into boiling oil, the whole city erupted in chaos!

"boom--"

"The Divine Turtle!"

"Divine Pillar!"

"The Dragon King of the East Sea has presented a treasure!"

The residents near the city's outskirts were the first to witness this.

They pushed and shoved, shouted, and most of them involuntarily knelt down in worship.

The spice shop owner lit his treasured ambergris, and wisps of smoke rose straight into the sky. He murmured, "It's worth it, it's worth it in this life! To share in the glory of the Marquis of Qingyang and the blessings of the Divine Pillar!"

Children ran through the streets singing off-key lullabies.

For children, this is a magical sight that far surpasses any temple fair during the Lunar New Year.

Countless messages spread rapidly through the city, and restaurants and teahouses were instantly packed.

Everyone was talking about the grand occasion of "the divine tortoise carrying the pillar entering the imperial city," their tone filled with pride in the empire's strength and longing for the endless mysteries of the East Sea.

"Look at the marks on that pillar! Those were left by the nine-headed dragon! Marquis Qingyang chopped off nine heads with a single stroke!"

As the story was recounted, it was constantly embellished, and Zhang Yuan's image became increasingly mythical and awe-inspiring in the folk tales.

On the upper floor of the building facing the street.

The wealthy salt merchants and mine owners stood on the high-rise buildings, gazing into the distance with complex and indescribable expressions.

After the initial shock came a deep sense of awe.

"So this is... the spoils of Marquis Qingyang's hunt in the East Sea?"

"It's not gold beads and coral, but this kind of national treasure!"

"The Qin Dynasty's fortunes have indeed reached such a height!"

Merchants who travel the world have a level of knowledge and experience that ordinary people cannot match.

They clearly realized that the appearance of such artifacts represented the potential of the East China Sea shipping route and the huge business opportunities hidden behind it.

This also means that the imperial court's control over the distant seas will be enhanced like never before!
On the fifth floor, an old man in a brocade robe looked up at the east and whispered.

"The boundless sea..."

Beneath the pavilion, a swift horse galloped in.

"The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works are holding a joint meeting. Princess Yu Ruo of Yu Yuan Trading Company, as well as the heads of thirty-six merchant alliances including the Jiu Chuan Alliance, are invited to attend."

(End of this chapter)