Even emperors have it tough, so don't be too picky about the entries.

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard is investigating a case!"

"Everyone, put your hands on your heads and squat down! Anyone who moves will be killed on sight!"

The servants, guards, maids, and young ladies of the mansion were so frightened by the menacing presence of the Imperial Guards that their legs went weak.

Since moving into this house, everything has been peaceful and serene.

These vicious thugs are making it look like they're ransacking a house; anyone would be confused.

Qian Zhengde's wife was startled and had barely uttered a word when she was slapped to the ground.

Then, it became quiet.

Bai Bingbing stepped forward and stood still, her hand gripping the hilt of the knife.

"search!"

Upon receiving the order, the Imperial Guards immediately began a thorough search, like wolves and tigers.

Many of these people were from the Three Great Camps, and they had lived a life of humiliation for most of their lives. The confiscation of their property was like a long-awaited rain after a drought; they were so eager to have their homes ransacked.

The efficiency is exceptionally high.

They ransacked the place, pried open locks, and broke down doors with swift and clean movements.

Before long, boxes of gold and silver treasures were carried to Bai Bingbing's front.

The documents were registered one by one.

......

On the carriage, Qian Zhengde hummed a little tune.

He had just bid farewell to Han Cao's residence, and the Prime Minister had already granted him permission. With Yu Qi'an firmly under his control, the position of Minister of Revenue was undoubtedly his.

The old Minister has already died in battle alongside Emperor Qing'an.

At this moment, one is full of vigor and high spirits, riding high on the spring breeze.

But to his surprise, a group of Imperial Guards were standing at the gate of his mansion, blocking it completely.

"What are you doing! This is outrageous!"

Qian Zhengde was a high-ranking official of the third rank in the imperial court, one of the officials in the court. Upon seeing this scene, he instinctively started cursing.

Upon closer inspection, one notices that everyone is wearing a flying fish costume.

This is even more intolerable.

Is this during the reign of Emperor Taizu?

He didn't bother arguing with these few lackeys and strode into the mansion.

Inside the courtyard, a tall, thin woman stood there imposingly.

The Imperial Guards carried the property away, box after box.

This is ransacking! This is ransacking!

In an instant, Qian Zhengde felt like his chest was about to explode with anger.

He walked straight up to Bai Bingbing, his hair standing on end in anger.

"How dare you!"

"Do you know where you are? How many heads do you have?"

A badge bearing the insignia of a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was pressed against his forehead.

Bai Bingbing coldly said:

"Qian Zhengde had illicit dealings with the Northern Mang and exchanged secret letters on multiple occasions; the evidence is conclusive."

"Men, seize him!"

What the heck?

Qian Zhengde almost thought he had misheard. He could still react when someone accused him of disregarding human life and embezzling public funds.

Colluding with the Northern Barbarians?

It really made his brain freeze for a moment.

Before he could react, two Imperial Guards had already pinned him down on either side.

Qian Zhengde was furious.

He's always the one framing others; he's never been wronged, especially not with such a serious charge.

"Bai Bingbing! You have slandered a high-ranking official and arrested people without authorization. I will go before the Prime Minister to impeach you! I will impeach you!"

"I am the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, a third-rank official. Even the Ministry of Justice cannot arrest me. What right do you have to convict me!"

Bai Bingbing sneered:

"Lord Qian, those the Ministry of Justice can't silence, I will; those the Ministry of Justice dares not kill, I will kill!"

"I am ordered to investigate this case. If anyone obstructs or hinders the investigation, I will take action."

Bai Bingbing shook her waist tag again.

"By imperial decree, we can act first and report later!"

Is that clear enough?

Qian Zhengde was speechless for a moment. This woman's eyes really made him capable of doing something as foolish as killing him in public.

A wise man doesn't suffer a loss he can avoid.

It's easier to see the King of Hell than to deal with his underlings; there's no point in talking to this kind of person.

At this moment, he was still unconvinced and snorted.

"Bai Bingbing, I hope you know what you're doing right now."

"I know everything perfectly well. Take him away!"

"Sent to Fusi Prison in Beizhen."

Qian Zhengde stopped resisting and allowed the Imperial Guards to escort him until he reached Bai Bingbing's side.

He chuckled maliciously, "Don't think you can do whatever you want just because His Majesty is backing you up. Let me give you a piece of advice: it's easy to invite a god, but hard to send him away."

"No need to see me out."

After dealing with Qian Zhengde, Bai Bingbing left fifty people to handle the stolen silver.

He mounted his horse again and headed straight for the residence of Li Wencai, the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief.

They used the same method to forcefully capture him.

In just half a day, two high-ranking officials of the third rank were arrested and imprisoned.

Bai Bingbing immediately began an interrogation.

Faced with various instruments of torture, dozens of serious crimes were laid out in black and white on paper, and the two men signed them readily.

......

The Prime Minister's residence, study.

Han Cao sat in the armchair, repeatedly examining the secret letter in his hand.

The letter was signed by Helian Yunni, the Empress of Northern Mang.

He closed the letter, glanced at the man before him, and smiled gently:

"Your Excellency has traveled a long way; you must be tired."

"Chancellor Han"

The man bowed slightly. "You've read Her Majesty the Empress's letter. Please give me a reply."

Are the Northern Barbarians so rude? They dare to directly interrogate a mere envoy?

In the letter, the Empress expressed great admiration for his methods of governing the country and promised that as long as he could bring the Northern Mang army into the city without bloodshed, he, Han Cao, would remain the prime minister.

Han Cao's expression remained unchanged.

"Please convey to Her Majesty the Empress that I will consider this matter."

This was the most normal line of dialogue, but the Northern Mang envoy was not happy about it.

"Prime Minister Han!"

"You Han people are too complicated. Her Majesty the Empress said that if she agrees, she agrees; if she doesn't, we'll find someone else."

"We request a clear answer from Prime Minister Han."

Han Cao felt a surge of anger.

After a moment of contemplation, he slowly said:

"Please convey to Her Majesty the Empress that she will know my reply on the day of the siege."

Han Cao picked up his teacup, blew on it, and pretended to drink.

The messenger stood there, stunned.

Han Cao cursed inwardly, "Don't these Northern Barbarians even know how to serve tea and see guests off?"

"If the messenger has nothing else to report, he may return and report back."

"Oh, I thought the Prime Minister was going to invite me for tea. How unlucky."

"..."

After seeing the messenger off, Han Cao immediately burned the secret letter.

Such a serious crime of colluding with the Northern Barbarians cannot be left without any evidence.

He already had a plan in mind on how to do it, but implementation might be a bit troublesome.

While deep in thought.

The study door was suddenly pushed open, and the butler, Afu, stumbled in.

"Master! Something terrible has happened!"

Han Cao hated nothing more than people who were so naive and lacked cunning. Seeing him like this, he immediately frowned.

"What kind of behavior is this, all this panic!"

"Even a seventh-rank official is treated like a lowly official before the Prime Minister's gate. You've served me for decades, and you don't even have this much dignity?"

"How have I always taught you? To remain calm even if Mount Tai collapses before you, to keep your composure despite inner turmoil!"

"Look at yourself! You've completely disgraced me."

Ah Fu, panting heavily, said urgently:

"Master... something terrible has happened!"

"The sky won't fall down."

Han Cao shook his head slightly and calmly took a sip of tea.

"My lord, Vice Minister Qian and Imperial Censor Li have been arrested by the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

"Their homes were also raided, and I heard that over a million taels of silver were found in each house!"

"Who?" Han Cao was frozen in place.

"Lord Qian Zhengde and Lord Li Wencai."

boom!

The teacup fell to the ground.

The scalding tea splashed onto his ankles, but Han Cao was completely unaware.

He was stunned for a full three breaths.

He kicked his legs and fell down along with the armchair.

They didn't wait for the butler to help them up.

He hurriedly climbed up, holding onto the table for support.

His expression instantly turned ferocious.

"Damn it! Why didn't you tell me sooner that something so important was happening?!"

"Master...you told me not to say it..."

"You won't talk just because I tell you not to? Don't you realize how serious this is? Have you lost your mind?"

Han Cao was furious.

These two men were practically his right and left arms.

One is in charge of finances, the other is a glib talker in the imperial court.

They cannot afford to lose either of them!

Do the Embroidered Uniform Guards have such audacity?

Do not!

It's that bastard Chen Shao!

He's planning a rebellion!

Han Cao, as expected of a prime minister, quickly regained his composure.

He sat back down in his chair and straightened his clothes.

He beckoned to the butler.

"You need to do two things now."

"First, prepare a carriage immediately; I wish to enter the palace to meet the Emperor."

"Second, you should personally go to Qingyang Temple and invite Master Guo to your residence. Tell him that I wish to see him."

"Sir, that Taoist priest Guo..."

"Don't ask what you shouldn't ask!"