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

"This...this is sophistry!"

Li Xian was so angry that his beard trembled.

"The imperial court has its own laws and regulations; how can you collect taxes privately!"

"Laws and regulations?"

Pei Yuan turned around, faced Zhu Jianji on the dragon throne, and bowed deeply.

"Your Majesty, I am a rough man and do not understand the intricate laws and regulations of the cabinet. I only know that if Your Majesty wishes to subdue the world, you will need an invincible fleet."

"The fleet needs a huge amount of money to move."

Pei Yuan straightened up, his voice calm, yet it resounded like thunder in the ears of all the civil officials.

"Your Majesty, I have established the Maritime Trade Commissioner's Office in Jiangnan. The escort fees collected are sufficient to cover the daily training of the navy and the wear and tear of the cannons."

"The remaining silver, not a single coin less, has been escorted to the capital."

Pei Yuan took out a gold-embossed folding paper from his sleeve and held it high.

"On this return to the capital, I bring with me two million taels of silver, fifty bushels of South Sea rubies, and five hundred catties of top-grade agarwood!"

"The funds were handed over to the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs last night and have been entirely deposited into the Imperial Treasury! Your Majesty, please review them!"

Quiet.

The entire Fengtian Gate Hall fell into a deathly silence in an instant.

The officials who had just been passionate and prepared to remonstrate to the death suddenly found themselves being choked.

His flushed face turned ashen.

Two million taels of silver!

These shocking figures were like a resounding slap in the face to all the civil officials.

They impeached Pei Yuan for embezzling public funds, but he actually gave the lion's share to the emperor!

They impeached Pei Yuan for extorting and levying excessive taxes, but how could the emperor possibly punish him when he saw the enormous wealth filling his private treasury?

To punish a corrupt official who bribed the emperor?

Unless the emperor has lost his mind!

Zhu Jianji sat on the dragon throne, suppressing his inner elation, but his face remained extremely serious.

He told Wang to just flip through the folds and casually flipped through them.

Then it slammed shut with a "snap," its gaze sweeping over Li Xian and the others with an imposing air.

"My esteemed ministers, did you all hear that?"

Zhu Jianji's voice carried an air of unquestionable authority befitting an emperor.

"In Jiangnan, Governor Pei not only trained an invincible navy, but also became adept at making money, saving me and the Ming Dynasty millions of taels of silver in expenses!"

"He did not embezzle the escort fees he collected, but handed them all over to the imperial court."

"How dare you falsely accuse such a loyal and devoted minister of the country of being a traitor?!"

Zhu Jianji slammed his hand on the imperial desk.

"Those merchants who make their fortunes at sea should pay protection money to fund the army; it's only right that they do so!"

"Pei Yuan's establishment of the Supervisory Office was an expedient act; I will not only not punish him, but will also reward him handsomely!"

"emperor……"

Li Xian wanted to persuade him again.

"Enough with the chit-chat!"

Zhu Jianji coldly interrupted him.

"My mind is made up. Pei Yuan has rendered meritorious service in overseeing the construction of the navy and in procuring wealth through escorting ships. Therefore, I hereby grant Pei Yuan the right to ride a horse within the Forbidden City and to perform ceremonies without naming his name!"

"The affairs of the Maritime Trade Office shall be entirely managed by Pei Yuan, and no one may interfere. Court is adjourned!"

Zhu Jianji didn't even give the civil officials a chance to refute him, and simply turned and left.

He left behind a court of officials, bewildered and disoriented in the wind.

Pei Yuan slowly straightened the collar of his python robe, turned around, and looked at Li Xian and the others, whose faces were ashen.

He walked up to Li Xian and bent down slightly.

A mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips as he spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"Grand Secretary Li. Times have changed."

Pei Yuan's eyes were deep, as if he could see through the vicissitudes of the past century.

"The future of the Ming Dynasty does not lie in your cabinet's moldy account books, nor in your rigid rules."

"And on that vast ocean."

Pei Yuan straightened up, laughed twice, turned around and strode out of Fengtian Gate.

That back view was arrogant, domineering, and haughty.

Li Xian watched Pei Yuan's departing figure, his hands trembling slightly, and let out a long sigh.

Ultimately, the fate of the Ming Dynasty was sealed by the machinations of such treacherous officials.

They were heading towards an unknown, raging tide that even these upright, veteran officials couldn't comprehend.

……

The sun in the capital city gradually became scorching.

The chirping of cicadas rose and fell in the old locust tree deep in the alley, causing people to feel restless.

However, the newly bestowed Right Viceroy's Mansion was located on the shore of Shichahai.

But it was a different kind of tranquil and cool paradise.

This residence was originally the fiefdom of a prince from the previous dynasty.

It covers a vast area and draws fresh water from Shichahai Lake into the park, with winding streams and artificial hills and strange rocks dotting the landscape.

To demonstrate his favor towards Pei Yuan, Emperor Chenghua not only bestowed this house upon him.

Hundreds of craftsmen were also dispatched from the Imperial Household Department to renovate the entire complex inside and out, following the elegant style of gardens in Jiangnan.

At this moment, in the waterside pavilion in the back garden of the mansion.

Thin, misty gauze curtains hung on all four sides, and a gentle breeze swept through the hall, stirring the curtains and bringing a refreshing coolness.

Tall bronze ice cauldrons were placed at the four corners of the waterside pavilion, filled with ice bestowed from the royal ice cellar.

A wisp of cool air rose up, completely shutting out the summer heat outside.

Pei Yuan wore a loose, royal blue silk robe, his hair unbound, letting his black hair fall freely over his shoulders.

He leaned against the Luohan bed covered with a soft rattan mat with gold thread.

He was toying with a folding fan made of Xiangfei bamboo with gold leaf in his hand, his expression extremely languid.

"grown ups."

Outside the waterside pavilion, Lu Zheng slowed his pace and bowed with clasped hands outside the gauze curtain.

"Come in."

Pei Yuan spoke casually, picking up a chilled lychee from the table and peeling off its bright red shell.

Put the translucent fruit pulp into your mouth, and the sweet juice will instantly fill your mouth.

Lu Zheng lifted the gauze curtain and stepped into the waterside pavilion.

A cool breeze swept over me, instantly dispelling most of the sweltering heat of the past few days.

"Reporting back to Your Excellency, the batch of spices and rubies escorted back from Jiangnan was personally counted and received yesterday by Eunuch Wang of the Directorate of Ceremonial, and all of them have been put into the Emperor's private treasury."

"His Majesty was overjoyed and issued an imperial decree early this morning, bestowing upon our household two hundred bolts of imperial brocade and ten jars of thirty-year-old Autumn Dew White silk."

Pei Yuan chuckled and tossed the peeled lychee shell into a jade bowl beside him.

"His Majesty is now more financially well-off and more generous. Set aside ten bolts of those brocades and send them to Old Yan's house. He's been overseeing the construction of the treasure ships in Jinling for the past six months, exposed to the elements. It's time to let his family enjoy some of that luxury."

"Take the rest and distribute it to the brothers below, so that they can make a few nice summer clothes."

Lu Zheng felt a surge of warmth in his heart and quickly expressed his gratitude on behalf of his brothers.

Although his reputation was ruined by the righteous faction, he was still serving under Lord Pei.

But the money in his pocket and the clothes he wore were the most extravagant in the capital.

"Have those civil officials outside been quiet these past few days?"

Pei Yuan picked up the teacup on the table and casually asked.

Upon hearing this, Lu Zheng revealed a strange smile.

"Your Excellency is unaware of the following. Ever since that morning court session when Your Excellency slapped the bill for two million taels of silver onto Grand Secretary Li's face in front of all the civil and military officials, those censors of the Censorate have been as dejected as wilted eggplants."

"These past few days, the cabinet has been unusually quiet. I heard that Grand Secretary Li has been on sick leave for three days in a row, and has closed his doors to visitors."

"As for Xu Wenchang, the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief, he didn't even dare to step out of the gate, for fear of running into our Embroidered Uniform Guard on the street."

Pei Yuan waved his folding fan, a mocking smile curving his lips.

These civil officials who studied the classics were, at their core, most inclined to seek profit and avoid harm.

They were not afraid to reason with the emperor, nor were they afraid to compete for power with their colleagues.

The only thing to fear is a powerful minister who is unreasonable, doesn't play by the rules, and is deeply favored by the emperor.

With a knife to their necks and silver stuffed in their mouths, their so-called integrity and moral character became as fragile as a piece of waste paper.