Da Ming: The system granted me immortality; I clock in every day.

Chengqingfang, east of the city.

This is one of the wealthiest and most luxurious areas in the capital.

The surrounding area was inhabited by imperial relatives and high-ranking officials of the second rank or above.

At the deepest part of this alleyway stands a vast, magnificent five-courtyard mansion.

Above the vermilion gate hangs a plaque personally inscribed by the emperor.

Pei Fu, Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard

This house was originally the residence of a marquis who was confiscated for embezzlement during the Jingtai era.

Emperor Chenghua, Zhu Jianji, remembered Pei Yuan's unparalleled achievement in annihilating the Jianzhou Jurchens and bringing back millions of taels of silver.

With a stroke of his pen, he not only bestowed this house upon the family, but also assigned over a hundred beautiful maids and capable servants from the Imperial Household Department.

They made Pei Yuan, this treacherous minister, look incredibly grand.

In the early morning, sunlight streamed through the openwork carved windows and onto the large canopy bed in the inner room.

Pei Yuan, wearing a soft silk undergarment, leaned lazily against the soft pillows at the head of the bed.

Beside the bed, two beautiful maids, around sixteen or seventeen years old, were kneeling on the footstool.

One person carried a gilded copper basin, while the other held a warm towel.

They carefully helped the infamous head of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to wash up.

[Ding! Today's attendance complete. Attribute point gained +1.]

Looking back on the past few decades, when he was the Grand Secretary Gu Yannian, he had to force himself to get up at dawn every day, despite his old age.

I put on that heavy, purplish-red python robe and went to Fengtian Gate to feel the cold wind.

Now, in this new guise, he has become a treacherous minister despised by everyone.

They lived like immortals.

"Sir, is the water temperature suitable?"

The maid holding the handkerchief asked timidly, her voice trembling slightly.

Everyone in the capital knew that this Lord Pei had slaughtered tens of thousands of savages in Liaodong overnight.

He didn't even blink.

There are even rumors circulating that Lord Pei eats raw human flesh at night.

Pei Yuan opened his eyes and looked at the little maid's trembling appearance, a wicked smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

He stretched out his long, strong hands, took a handkerchief, and wiped his face.

"Perfect. Go and distribute those bolts of Yun brocade that were just bestowed upon us yesterday in the storeroom."

"I do not keep servants in my household who are dressed in shabby clothes. Taking them out would be a disgrace to me."

Pei Yuan gave the order casually.

Upon hearing this, the two maids were overjoyed and immediately kowtowed to express their gratitude.

That's a piece of Yun brocade that's priceless!

Although this Lord Pei has a fearsome reputation, he is incredibly generous.

It's even more generous than those centuries-old ducal mansions.

Pei Yuan dressed neatly, having changed into a dark red casual outfit.

With the ivory waist badge, symbolizing his power as the second-in-command of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, hanging from his waist, he swayed as he stepped out of the room.

Today, he did not intend to go to the Northern Garrison Office to deal with the pile of complicated case files.

The battle in Liaodong was over, but the grand plan for the sea was just beginning to unfold.

He needs to give those pedantic civil servants some time.

Make them swallow the fatty meat they've already eaten, lest they choke to death.

The atmosphere inside the Ministry of Revenue's main hall was extremely eerie at this moment.

Minister Zhou was standing in the courtyard with several vice ministers from the Ministry of Revenue and a dozen or so capable and shrewd officials.

In the center of the courtyard, a total of one hundred and fifty large horse-drawn carriages were parked.

This was the half of the "bloodstained ill-gotten gains" that the Emperor graciously allocated to Taicang from the spoils of war of the Jianzhou Jurchens.

Minister Zhou tucked his hands into his sleeves, his old face stern, his brows furrowed tightly.

He watched as the Ministry of Revenue unloaded boxes of sable furs and pearls.

My heart was filled with a mix of emotions, a bittersweet feeling.

Just half a month ago, he was at Fengtian Gate, together with Grand Secretary Li Xian, denouncing Pei Yuan as a bandit who plundered foreign lands.

They urged the emperor to refuse to accept the stolen goods.

But now, the stolen goods are actually displayed in the courtyard of the Ministry of Revenue.

"Ouch! Be gentle! You clumsy fool! That's top-quality sable fur!"

"If you even scratch the skin a little, and it doesn't fetch a price, I'll skin you alive!"

One of the supervisors was so anxious when he saw that the warehouse workers were moving the wooden crates a little too roughly that he was jumping up and down in frustration.

They shouted and cursed loudly without any decorum.

Minister Zhou coughed.

The person in charge quickly composed himself and stepped aside.

But his eyes remained fixed on the boxes, as if he were afraid they would be stolen.

"Lord Zhou, how should we record this batch of supplies?"

The Left Vice Minister stepped forward and asked for instructions in a low voice.

"After all... this was looted by Pei Yuan. If our Ministry of Revenue openly records it in the register, and it gets recorded in the history books, our good reputation will be ruined."

Minister Zhou glanced sideways at the Vice Minister of the Left, thinking to himself:

You old rascal, you were practically drooling when you saw those thousand-year-old ginseng plants, and now you're thinking about clearing your name?

"Can a good reputation put food on the table?"

Minister Zhou let out a long sigh.

"Now the Yellow River is experiencing its spring floods again, and the Ministry of Works is coming every day to urge us for the money to repair the dikes. Although some troops have been reduced in the Nine Garrisons, the military pay for the spring uniform replacement is still a large sum."

"Although there is a lot of silver in the Taicang, it is the old foundation left by the late emperor, so we should not touch it if we can avoid it."

"With this windfall, the accounts for this year will look great."

Minister Zhou stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and a sly glint flashed in his eyes, typical of a civil official.

"When recording the spoils, never write anything like 'Jianzhou spoils.' That sounds too offensive. Instead, write..."

"Then it was written that the officers and soldiers guarding Liaodong accidentally wiped out bandits in the deep mountains and obtained a number of ownerless items, which they respectfully presented to the court to replenish the national treasury."

"In this way, we can save face for the court and spend the money with a clear conscience."

Upon hearing this, the Left Vice Minister immediately understood and repeatedly bowed in praise.

"Your Excellency's insight is truly remarkable! You possess both literary talent and unwavering loyalty, and you handle matters with exceptional tact!"

As the two were praising each other, a minor official from the Ministry of Revenue rushed into the courtyard in a panic.

"Your Excellency! Commander Pei of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is leading his men towards our Ministry of Revenue!"

The smile on Minister Zhou's face froze instantly.

Just a moment ago, she felt that this batch of treasures was a bit too hot to handle, but now she felt like a mother hen protecting her chicks.

He suddenly spread his arms wide, blocking the way for the large carriages.

"What is he doing here?! This wealth was allocated to the imperial granary by the Emperor's decree; does he intend to steal it back?!"

"Close the door! Close the door now!"

Before the Ministry of Revenue's clerks could even push open the heavy gate...

A lazy, slightly mocking voice drifted in from outside the door.

"Lord Zhou, why are you closing the gate in broad daylight? Could it be that the Ministry of Revenue is having an unfair distribution of spoils in broad daylight and is afraid of being seen?"

Before he finished speaking, Pei Yuan, dressed in a dark red casual robe, was followed by several fierce-looking officers of the Imperial Guard.

He swaggered into the Ministry of Revenue.

Upon seeing this menacing-looking Yama, the civil officials in the courtyard all involuntarily took a half-step back.

Minister Zhou forced himself to remain calm, straightened his back, and glared angrily at Pei Yuan.

"Lord Pei! This is a key area of ​​the Ministry of Revenue, and entry is forbidden without imperial decree! Even though you are the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, you cannot be so presumptuous!"