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

Ouyang Chun was struck dumb, staring at Pei Yuan in disbelief.

"You...you're talking nonsense! These are clearly the merchants' own goods! How could they all be items for the imperial court!"

Pei Yuan walked slowly to Ouyang Chunmian, the two of them only a few feet apart.

Pei Yuan leaned down slightly, his eyes as sharp as a knife.

He lowered his voice, his tone revealing an undisguised arrogance.

"If I say it's for the imperial use, then it is for the imperial use. If Lord Ouyang doesn't believe me, he can open the box himself and check each item one by one."

"If it is found that any item is not what the Emperor wanted, then you shall confiscate it."

Pei Yuan paused, a cruel sneer curling at the corner of his lips.

"However, I must remind you. If any item used by the emperor is damaged even slightly during inspection, it is a capital offense of blasphemy."

"Lord Ouyang, how many times could the Emperor possibly chop off your head?"

Ouyang Chun trembled all over, and his legs involuntarily went weak.

He looked at Pei Yuan's ambiguous smile and at the fierce-looking Imperial Guards around him.

He knew that this sycophant surnamed Pei was acting like a rogue.

But this scoundrel managed to act all high and mighty.

By placing the emperor, a mountain of oppression, in front of him, they left him no room for resistance whatsoever.

Inspecting royal items?

Even if you gave him ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare!

If Pei Yuan were to find any excuse to accuse him of damaging the tribute, then the charge of executing his entire family would be confirmed.

"You...you're just making excuses...you're trying to cover up the truth!"

Ouyang Chun's voice trembled, and his finger pointing at Pei Yuan was shaking.

"If Lord Ouyang feels that I am overbearing, he is free to submit a memorial impeaching me."

Pei Yuan stepped back two paces, waved his sleeve, and resumed his carefree and leisurely demeanor.

"Once the memorial is written, remember to deliver it to the post station of the Southern Garrison Command. I will cover the postage for the 800-li express courier service, and I guarantee that it will be placed intact on His Majesty's desk within three days."

"As for whether the Emperor will believe you, a mere censor who speaks without substance, or this capable official who is doing his bidding, we shall wait and see."

Pei Yuan ignored Ouyang Chun, whose face had turned deathly pale, and turned to look at Wan Dafu.

"What are you all standing there for? If this is the Emperor's personal item and it gets damp, can you afford to pay for it with your heads?"

"Hurry up and unload the goods, then transport them into the city!"

Wan Dafu seemed to wake from a dream, and shouted with wild joy.

"Your humble servant obeys! Quickly! Unload the goods! Be efficient!"

Hundreds of laborers cheered and swarmed toward the pier like worker ants.

Ouyang Chun stood there, stunned, watching the spice carts passing by in an endless stream.

The constables behind him, seeing the wind blowing, had already retreated to the side, afraid of angering the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

A cool spring breeze blew by, stirring up a few fallen leaves.

Ouyang Chun felt a chill run through his entire body.

His pure and passionate spirit was shattered into nothingness in the face of this unreasonable power and greed.

He finally understood why those shrewd and calculating Grand Secretaries in the capital were so tight-lipped about this imperial envoy from Jiangnan.

The rules of the Ming Dynasty had long been trampled underfoot by the man in plain clothes, waving a folding fan.

Pei Yuan watched as truckloads of goods were transported away from the dock and nodded in satisfaction.

"The wind in Jinling City has finally softened a bit. Let's go to Songhelou."

Pei Yuan turned around and got into the sedan chair.

"I'm in a good mood today, let's go and try the knife fish that was just caught from the river."

"The pleasure of eating is far greater than listening to those pedantic scholars reciting scriptures in the imperial court."

The sedan chair, carried by eight men and escorted by imperial guards, slowly drove away from Longjiang Wharf.

Only Ouyang Chun was left standing alone in the river wind.

Watching the departing sedan chair, he let out a long, desperate, and helpless sigh.

……

Early summer of the sixth year of the Chenghua reign.

The plum rain season in Jiangnan has just ended, and the weeping willows along the canal banks are lush and green after being washed by the rain.

On the river outside Jinling City, a huge fleet consisting of ten official ships, each weighing 500 liang, was slowly raising its sails.

This fleet is extraordinary.

On the lead ship, a large banner of the Embroidered Uniform Guard with gold lettering on a black background fluttered in the early summer river breeze.

This was the ship carrying Pei Yuan, the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince and Right Commander-in-Chief, as he returned to the capital by imperial decree.

The shipbuilding industry in Jiangnan has gotten on track.

Three treasure ships carrying thousands of tons of cargo were launched in succession, and as many as a hundred armed Fujian ships were also launched.

What's even more remarkable is that the "escort" business of the Maritime Trade Office, under the management of Wan Dafu and other merchants, is making a fortune every day.

Pei Yuan has squeezed every last drop of wealth from Jiangnan, turning it into a continuous river of gold.

The arrangements have been made.

As an imperial envoy, he should naturally return to the capital to meet the Chenghua Emperor, who was preoccupied with money and territorial expansion.

The top deck of the main ship is extremely luxurious.

The floor was covered with thick, soft Persian carpets, and the surrounding cabin walls were inlaid with fine sandalwood, exuding a faint fragrance.

The window was half-open, and a cool breeze carrying moisture blew in.

Pei Yuan took off his heavy official robes and put on a moon-white wide-sleeved long robe made of ice silk.

He reclined lazily on the soft couch, toying with two perfectly round, top-quality South China Sea pearls in his hands, listening to the gentle sound of oars outside the window.

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

Pei Yuan silently recited in his heart.

A cool, spring-like sensation slowly emanated from the dantian, flowing through the limbs and bones.

He turned his gaze to the several mahogany boxes on the table.

Inside were silver notes and account books presented by salt merchants and seafarers from thirteen prefectures in six provinces south of the Yangtze River, as tribute to buy the escort flag.

"This corrupt official is living a truly comfortable life."

Pei Yuan picked up a piece of chilled watermelon and put it in his mouth, the sweet juice sliding down his throat.

Looking back over the past few decades, when I was using the alias Gu Yannian as the chief minister, it was incredibly "mentally and physically exhausting".

They would take Zhu Qizhen out to bask in the sun every day, trying every possible way to torment this emperor who called himself a doorman.

Now, in the guise of a treacherous official, he brazenly accepts bribes and openly extorts money.

Travel is by brocade-sailed painted boats, and food and daily necessities are all rare delicacies from around the world.

Not only did he not have to suffer, but the wealthy and powerful people of Jiangnan also treated him like an ancestor.

The black and white, the right and wrong, in this world is nothing more than an absurd play.

"grown ups."

A soft knock came from outside the cabin door, and the trusted captain respectfully reported it.

"The Tongzhou Wharf is just ahead. Eunuch Wang from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs is already leading officials from the capital to wait for us at the wharf."

"understood."

Pei Yuan sat up and casually wiped his hands on the arm that was draped over him.

Attended by two maids, she changed into the imperial crimson python robe and a white jade belt.

The Tongzhou Wharf was already bustling with people.

Wang Zhi, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, along with dozens of junior eunuchs and a group of local officials from Tongzhou, were eagerly awaiting their arrival.

Wang Zhi's face was full of smiles.

The way he looked at the canal was exactly like looking at a moving golden Buddha.

The fleet, bearing the banner of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, slowly approached the shore and set up gangplanks.

Pei Yuan, supporting the embroidered spring knife at his waist, slowly disembarked from the official ship, surrounded by a group of imperial guards.

"Oh my! We've finally welcomed the Governor back!"

Wang Zhi quickly stepped forward, bending very low, his face crinkling into a wide smile.

"You're too kind, Eunuch Wang. I feel very bad for troubling you to wait here in this hot weather."

Pei Yuan gave a perfunctory bow, his expression revealing a hint of arrogant nonchalance.