I, Emperor Chongzhen, have extended the life of the Ming Dynasty by five hundred years.

"Every word I have said is true; I humbly beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"

Fang Yizhi looked solemn, lifted his robe, and knelt on the ground.

The smile on Zhu Youjian's face gradually disappeared, and he turned to look at Wang Chengen with a complicated expression.

Wang Chengen was panicked, as if someone had stepped on his tail, and he didn't know what to do.

"Wang Banban, is this how your Eastern Depot operates?"

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"

Wang Chengen hurriedly knelt down, bowing his head and saying, "This old servant only just received the news; there must be a misunderstanding!"

"Tell me, what misunderstanding is there?"

"This, this...maybe, perhaps, maybe...some of the younger ones don't understand the rules and are careless when doing things..."

"I now have serious doubts about whether your men have actually left the capital."

"This old servant is terrified!"

Wang Chengen kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Those worthless fellows might try to get by, but they would never dare to disobey His Majesty's decree. This old servant will investigate immediately and get to the bottom of this!"

Zhu Youjian ignored him and instead looked at Fang Yizhi: "Summon Lady Wang; I wish to question her personally!"

"yes!"

Fang Yizhi quickly got up and, a moment later, came over with a woman.

When Lady Chen heard that the current emperor wanted to summon her, she was so frightened that her soul almost flew out of her body.

Her husband was just a lowly soldier in the border army. What merit or ability did he have to be summoned by the emperor?

Zhu Youjian looked at Chen Wangshi, who was kneeling on the ground trembling, and said in a gentle tone, "Tell me about your experiences."

Chen Wangshi trembled all over, her lips quivered, and she was even more unable to speak.

Seeing this, Wang Chengen immediately stepped forward and lowered his voice, saying, "You'd better think carefully before you speak. The crime of deceiving the emperor is punishable by the extermination of nine generations of your family."

Chen Wangshi was already in a state of extreme tension, and upon hearing this, her legs went weak and she almost collapsed to the ground.

Fang Yizhi, unable to bear it any longer, stepped forward to help her up, saying, "Sister-in-law Chen, there's no need to be afraid. His Majesty is benevolent and loves his people. Just tell the truth."

Only then did Madam Chen speak, her voice trembling: "I...I...my husband was a lowly soldier in the Dengzhou Guard, named Chen Dayong...last year he went to fight in Korea, and...and he never came back..."

She sobbed intermittently, becoming increasingly agitated as she spoke of the pension money issued by the imperial court.

"The garrison officials said the money and grain had all been distributed to the county government, but the county government said it was under the garrison's jurisdiction. Then the officials from Dengzhou said it was under Jinan's jurisdiction, and the magistrate of Jinan said it was under Dengzhou's jurisdiction. The woman and her child ran back and forth more than a dozen times, and in the end, they weren't even allowed to enter the government office..."

The more Zhu Youjian listened, the more gloomy his face became.

Seeing this, Wang Chengen hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger! This old servant will immediately send people to investigate thoroughly and will surely bring justice to this mother and son!"

"I gave you a chance."

Zhu Youjian coldly interrupted, turning his head and shouting, "Luo Yangxing!"

Luo Yangxing hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Your subject is here!"

"Take men to Dengzhou immediately and investigate thoroughly. If the facts are true, arrest everyone involved, no matter who it is!"

"I obey your decree!"

Luo Yangxing bowed and accepted the order, then called to the several commanders behind him and quickly left.

Zhu Youjian then looked at Wang Chengen: "Who is in charge of investigating Shandong?"

Cold sweat beaded on Wang Chengen's forehead as he said, "Your Majesty, it is... it is Gao Qiqian, the Chief Executioner of the Eastern Depot..."

"High-altitude diving?"

Zhu Youjian thought for a moment, but it seemed he had never heard of it.

"Let him go to the imperial prison and confess himself. If he dares to resist, I will exterminate his entire family!"

Wang Chengen knelt down with a thud: "This old servant will do it right away! I'll do it right away!"

The pavilion fell silent for a moment, except for Chen Wangshi's suppressed sobs.

Zhu Youjian looked at the mother and child in front of him, then squatted down: "What's your name?"

Chen Xiaohu clung tightly to his mother's clothes, not daring to speak.

Fang Yizhi then squatted down and said, "His Majesty is asking you a question; just answer truthfully."

Chen Xiaohu nodded and said, "My name is Chen Xiaohu."

Zhu Youjian patted his head and said, "I'm sorry you and your son have suffered this injustice. This is my responsibility..."

"His Majesty!"

Fang Yizhi quickly said, "This matter is clearly someone eyeing the pension funds, deceiving their superiors and concealing the truth; it has nothing to do with His Majesty!"

Zhu Youjian waved his hand and said, "If anyone is guilty, the guilt lies with me. If any corrupt officials are involved, it is because I have failed as emperor. Minister Fang, Minister Song, I thank you!"

Fang Yizhi, Song Yingxing, and the others exchanged glances and then knelt down to kowtow.

"Your subject dares not!"

Zhu Youjian said, "If the Academy of Sciences hadn't found this mother and child, I would still be in the dark. It seems I need to rectify the court's discipline and throw those who hold positions without performing their duties out of the court!"

After saying that, he looked at Wang Chengen and said, "Wang Banban, you know what to do, right?"

Wang Chengen hurriedly said, "If Your Majesty wishes to rectify the discipline of the court, this old servant will begin with the Eastern Depot to set an example for all officials!"

"You know that's good. Now go back to the palace!"

After the imperial carriage left, Lady Chen remained kneeling on the ground, stunned.

She could hardly believe that the person she had just met was the current emperor!

In her mind, the magistrate of the county government was already out of reach, and even the emperor's official power was not as high as the heavens!

However, the reality was completely different from what I had imagined...

"Sister-in-law, get up quickly!"

Fang Yizhi helped Chen Wangshi up and said, "His Majesty has spoken; just wait for news!"

Xiao Hu leaned forward and asked, "Mr. Fang, was that person really the current emperor?"

"certainly!"

Fang Yizhi smiled and said, "Didn't expect that, did you?"

Little Tiger nodded: "I thought the emperor was taller than the city gate and ate ten pigs in one meal!"

"Haha, where did you hear that from?"

Fang Yizhi joked, "Study hard from now on, and when you pass the imperial examination, you'll be able to see His Majesty again!"

The Academy of Sciences' research continued, but the Eastern Depot had already fallen into chaos.

Wang Chengen kicked open the door to the duty room, pointed at Wang Dehua's nose, and cursed, "You idiot! We entrusted you with such an important task, and this is how you serve us?"

Wang Dehua was bewildered by the scolding and quickly said, "Please calm down, Eunuch Wang. What has happened?"

"Idiot! Useless trash! Utterly worthless!"

Wang Chengen had already used every word he could think of to curse, and then gave a brief account of what had just happened.

Upon hearing this, Wang Dehua's legs went weak with fear. He hurriedly knelt on the ground, his forehead pressed against the earth, and said in a trembling voice, "Your Excellency, please calm your anger. It was my fault for failing in my duties..."

"Bullshit!"

Wang Chengen grabbed a teacup from the table and smashed it over the table: "This is called incompetence? This is the crime of deceiving the emperor! It's punishable by death!"

Scalding hot tea splashed all over Wang Dehua, but he didn't even dare to wipe it off, kneeling on the ground and silently enduring the scolding.

After Wang Chengen finished his tirade, he cautiously said, "Your Excellency, I will go find Gao Qiqian and get to the bottom of this..."

"Get out!" Wang Chengen kicked him in the shoulder. "If you don't get the answers before dark, tie each other up and go to the imperial prison together!"

Wang Dehua scrambled out of the duty room and went to Gao Qiqian's cell, only to find that he wasn't there.

Someone replied that Gao Qiqian had just returned to Beijing today, made a brief appearance, and then went home.

Wang Dehua said nothing and led his men straight to Gao Qiqian's house.

At that moment, Gao Qiqian was counting gold and silver in the inner room when he heard footsteps outside. He hurriedly closed the chest lid. Seeing that it was Wang Dehua entering, he immediately put on a smiling face: "Why has Eunuch Wang come in person? This humble servant was just about to look for you."

Wang Dehua asked with a forced smile, "How was your trip to Shandong?"

Gao Qiqian's eyes darted around, and he pulled a mahogany box from under the bed: "To be honest, Eunuch Wang, the officials in Shandong certainly know how to show respect. This is some local specialty that the Left Provincial Governor Zhang Bingwen, the Prefect of Jinan Xiong Hua, and others asked me to bring you..."

Wang Dehua lifted the lid of the box, and the gleaming gold ingots and gleaming silver coins made him dizzy.

He chuckled coldly and said slowly, "It seems Commander Gao has gained quite a bit from this trip!"

Gao Qiqian, oblivious to anything amiss, fawned, "These local specialties should have been delivered to Eunuch Wang's residence immediately, but seeing how busy you are with official duties, I've decided to deliver them personally later. I hope you won't mind!"

"Blame me? I'll blame your ancestors!"

Wang Dehua suddenly sprang to his feet, kicking over the box and scattering gold and silver jewelry all over the ground.

"Do you even know that because of these local specialties of yours, the entire Eastern Depot is implicated! You want to die, but don't drag me down with you!"

Gao Qiqian then realized something was wrong and knelt down abruptly: "Your Excellency Wang, please understand, this humble servant is unaware of what has happened..."

"Even now, you still dare to be stubborn?"

Wang Dehua grabbed his collar, glaring at him angrily: "Has the compensation for the fallen soldiers been paid out yet?"

Gao Qiqian's face turned pale, and he stammered, "It's been...it's been approved...it's all recorded in the account books provided by Jinan Prefecture..."

"Bullshit!"

Wang Dehua slapped her hard across the face and continued cursing, "His Majesty saw with his own eyes today the widows who didn't receive their pensions! And you're trying to fool His Majesty with a fake account? Do you know that's the crime of deceiving the Emperor!"

Gao Qiqian panicked and crawled on his knees, clinging to Wang Dehua's leg: "Eunuch Wang, please save me! I was confused for a moment. That Shandong official said it was standard practice... However, I did visit the place, and there was no problem!"

"You still dare to be stubborn?"

"I'm not just being stubborn, it's true, it's true... I visited several households..."

"How many households?"

"Five... six households, I guess..."

Upon hearing this, Wang Dehua was so angry that his chest tightened, and he kicked Gao Qiqian, knocking him to the ground.

"There must be at least several thousand people receiving pensions throughout Shandong, right? You're telling me you only visited five or six households and then came back?"

Gao Qiqian kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "This humble servant knows his mistake. I beg Eunuch Wang to give this humble servant a chance. This humble servant will go immediately..."

"You want another chance? Who am I supposed to ask for one from?!"

Wang Dehua was trembling with rage. He grabbed Gao Qiqian and, spitting as he spoke, said, "I've repeatedly warned you that His Majesty's attitude towards military officers is no longer what it used to be. The Eastern Depot went to investigate to ensure that all the pensions were distributed to the widows of the soldiers. Anyone who dares to touch this money is going against the court and against His Majesty. Did you just take my words as a fart?"

"Eunuch Wang, please, please..."

Gao Qiqian collapsed to the ground, his crotch already soaked.

Wang Dehua took two steps back in disgust and shouted outside, "Guards! Take this bastard to the imperial prison! Make him vomit up everything he's swallowed!"

As they were talking, several guards rushed in, first dragging Gao Qiqian away, and then began ransacking the place, even scraping off the paint from the walls.