Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

Swish swish!

As the Hong Family was investigated, the continuous heavy rain washed over the entire Bianliang City once more.

Crash crash!

In the vast Taihe Palace, the wind howled ceaselessly outside. Besides the sound of wind and rain, the palace corridors were empty, not a single person in sight.

Tap tap...

At this moment, clear footsteps sounded from a distance, and then a figure emerged from behind the corridor’s pillars, blocking the way of the person making the footsteps.

Xiao Yunqi and Cai Si both cupped their hands and said, ”Eunuch Wei, we have urgent matters to report to His Majesty. We hope you will inform him.”

”Grand Commandant, Prime Minister, please wait a moment.”

Wei Xian retreated.

Moments later, he invited the two inside.

Zhao Ji had just finished his cultivation.

The matters of cultivation and the events happening in Jizhou concerned him greatly, yet facing his ministers, Zhao Ji still managed a smile. After granting them seats, he spoke warmly:

”Coming to see me at such a late hour, what important matters do you have, dear subjects?”

Xiao Yunqi stood up, cupped his hands, and said, ”Your Majesty, I received information that Director Hong Qianyan of the Ministry of Works’ Tuntian Bureau has accepted bribes, sold offices, sheltered...”

Xiao Yunqi listed more than a dozen charges against Hong Qianyan, though he didn’t mention the matter of colluding with his concubine’s uncle Zhang Li to sell illicit salt, he did say Zhang Li was Hong Qianyan’s accomplice.

This was something he and Cai Si had already agreed upon.

Cai Si wanted to protect Hong Qianyan’s family; if the salt smuggling issue were revealed, it would warrant punishing nine generations—no one could protect them then.

Upon hearing Xiao Yunqi’s report, Zhao Ji frowned slightly, then looked at Cai Si: ”Prime Minister, what about you?”

He knew Hong Qianyan was under Cai Si, yet now Xiao Yunqi was exposing his crimes. Zhao Ji suspected that Cai Si should be here to protect Hong Qianyan. The result surprised Zhao Ji.

Cai Si cupped his hands: ”Your Majesty, Hong Qianyan’s crimes are egregious. From what I understand, after an incomplete tally, he has embezzled about ten million silver taels, numerous boxes of jewels, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, Zhang Li’s family assets amounting to twenty-seven million taels...”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji was immediately invigorated.

He originally planned not to prosecute Hong Qianyan.

After all, forming cliques for selfish gains in court was too rampant. This had existed since the founding of Great Song and, by Zhao Ji’s time, influential families ran rampant. He had tried to change this, but it was incredibly difficult.

If he forcibly changed things, he feared situations like Wei Xian had mentioned before might occur.

Why would His Majesty revolt?

Therefore, he guessed Hong Qianyan might be a sacrifice in a struggle between two factions.

Zhao Ji planned to protect him, pulling him into his camp. But upon hearing about the dirty money mentioned by Cai Si...

He abandoned that thought.

These silver taels could solve the pressing crisis at hand.

Zhao Ji angrily said: ”Outrageous, I trusted him so much...”

After venting a session of emotions, Zhao Ji entrusted the investigation to Xiao Yunqi and Cai Si together.

Both nodded, then exchanged glances, and with a flick of their sleeves, exited Taihe Palace.

...

Chen Mansion.

In a guest room in the backyard, the door was tightly shut.

A delicate beauty lay on the bed, sobbing silently. Her two glossy, slender legs resembled white jade; with her delicate face, she looked like a full moon.

An ancient saying goes, marry a virtuous wife; marry a beautiful concubine.

As a concubine to a Senior Fifth Grade official, her looks and figure were naturally top-notch.

After an uncertain time, Chen Mo got off the bed, fastening his belt while giving Zhang Ru’s plump backside a pat, saying, ”Stop pretending to be dead. I want to ask you something. Do you know what industries your uncle Zhang Li owns?”

Zhang Ru was entirely drained of strength. It was her first time encountering such a formidable man; there was a moment when she nearly fainted, tears streaking her face.

She knew well what businesses her uncle was involved in, and that it was a crime worthy of execution, desperate to disassociate and repeatedly shook her head, sobbing, ”I don’t know, my uncle... He never lets the women know about these things...”

But Chen Mo knew exactly what she was thinking, saying, ”Relax, I won’t kill you. No matter what, you are my woman, and I won’t harm my own woman.”

”Then, Master... What do you want me to...” Zhang Ru, being clever, ceased her tears, casting a sideways glance at Chen Mo.

”You see, although your uncle’s assets have been seized, only the silver was taken; his enterprises remain, and someone will inherit them...”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ru’s eyes widened, understanding what Chen Mo meant, becoming even more frightened. In her eyes now, Chen Mo was a demon in human guise.

He not only confiscated her uncle Zhang Li’s assets and imprisoned him in the Imperial Prison but also aimed to annex the entire Zhang Family.

”But he... he has a son. Didn’t you let them go, Master?” Zhang Ru said tremblingly.

”His son is young, always needs someone to care for him, and you, as his sister, is just right to take him along.” Chen Mo said.

In reality, Chen Mo had ways to acquire the entire Zhang Family without Zhang Ru’s involvement.

But Zhang Li, being involved in Jianghu, relied on Jianghu people for such a large-scale business.

And people of Jianghu place great importance on righteousness.

With Zhang Li’s son, many troublesome matters could be minimized.

Exactly, what Chen Mo wanted was Zhang’s business framework.

The rest had been seized completely; Chen Mo had no use for it.

”I understand.” Zhang Ru nodded.

”Work well; I won’t treat you unfairly.” Chen Mo took out a Jade Pendant from his bosom and tossed it onto the bed: ”This is for you.”

Zhang Ru was at a loss for words; the Jade Pendant was originally hers, seized during the confiscation, now returned by chance, and she had to thank Chen Mo.

When Chen Mo emerged from the room, it was already dark.

A cool voice came from the side: ”Who’s that woman?”

Chen Mo turned his head; the owner of that cool voice was Jiang Ruoqing.

Indeed, Chen Mo was in the Chen Mansion, where Jiang Ruoqing lived, and the four people from the Hong Mansion had been arranged here by Chen Mo.

”What, are you jealous?”

Chen Mo wrapped his arm around Jiang Ruoqing’s waist, his large hand lingering on her buttocks.

Jiang Ruoqing’s body stiffened, then she struggled, her face turning red, gritting her teeth, ”You’re imagining things.”

Hearing this, Chen Mo chuckled and said, ”Don’t worry, they can’t compare to you. They’re here to serve you; aren’t you touched?”

Jiang Ruoqing spat fiercely at Chen Mo.

Chen Mo wasn’t angry. He pulled out a scroll from his bosom and handed it to Jiang Ruoqing: ”A gift for you.”

”I don’t want it.” Jiang Ruoqing said with a stern face.

”Really don’t want it?”

”Even if I die, I won’t accept your things.” Although she agreed to be Chen Mo’s canary, she refused to accept his gifts to avoid falling deeper.

If Chen Mo knew her thoughts, he would surely laugh out loud. Your person has already shaped mine; why care about this?

”Fine, suit yourself.” Chen Mo sighed, then said, ”This is a dossier on a lecherous monk.”

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