Chapter 140: Lord Cui, What a Grand Official Authority!

Just a moment ago, Chen Yan was still pondering Wang Gui's matter, but he didn't expect Li Shimin to shift the conversation the next instant to the idea he had proposed last time.

The topic changed so quickly that he was momentarily stunned.

When he came to his senses, Chen Yan subtly furrowed his brow.

What does Li Shimin mean by this?

Is there a hidden meaning, or is it merely a simple inquiry?

He couldn't quite figure it out.

After a moment of private contemplation, Chen Yan decided to follow Li Shimin's words and reply: "Your Majesty, the figure you entered isn't false; you actually donated it."

"Ah…?" Li Shimin didn't quite grasp his meaning.

But he sensed there was more to Chen Yan's words, not as simple as they sounded on the surface.

After all, Chen Yan should know his situation; he has no money or grain to donate at all.

"You may continue."

Chen Yan nodded, then shifted his tone: "Others may have forgotten what you once did, but I haven't."

"Back then you were the Tian Ce General who swept the realm, using three thousand elite cavalry to crush Dou Jiande's hundred‑thousand‑strong army; every campaign was a bloodbath, wasn't it?"

"Yet now, since your ascension, you have allowed so many corrupt officials to persist in the Tang Dynasty."

"Your Majesty, forgive my bluntness, this truly should not be."

Chen Yan, in a serious tone, said: "I earnestly implore Your Majesty to brandish the execution sword, slay those corrupt officials, and restore a bright world for the common people."

Li Shimin: "......"

Empress Changsun: "......"

Li Lizhi: "......"

What a fellow, he truly is a fine fellow.

At this point, if Li Shimin still doesn't grasp Chen Yan's meaning, then he has no business being emperor.

The last time at Cai Duke's residence, he felt Chen Yan could be quite ruthless; the schemes he devised truly drove the noble families to ruin.

He didn't expect Li Shimin still underestimated him.

This guy is genuinely damn poisonous.

If he were to erect a merit monument, he would have to write a false figure.

Since that figure was false, that portion of money and grain would inevitably be missing.

Yet Chen Yan actually tried to turn that missing money and grain into reality!

Where did the missing money and grain go?

They were embezzled by corrupt officials.

This is simply......

Damn, that's brilliant!!

It not only can quell rampant floods and protect the people, but also gather money and grain to help them through hardships; finally, it can use the noble families' resources to build his own reputation, and now it even manages to purge a batch of corrupt officials.

"Sss!"

Li Shimin inhaled a cold breath.

Just now, Wang Gui's appearance had soured his mood, but it suddenly improved.

"Alright, alright, alright!"

Li Shimin repeated the word "good" three times, exclaiming: "Sometimes I truly cannot fathom how your brain works; such poisonous… brilliant schemes can be conjured by you."

Chen Yan smiled without replying.

Anyway, he had already decided that today he must make Li Shimin happy.

Father‑in‑law, you have to flatter him.

"By the way, who do you think are the corrupt officials within the court?"

Li Shimin stared at him with blazing eyes, as if expecting something.

Chen Yan hesitated upon hearing that, turned his head to glance at Empress Changsun, sensed her encouragement, and tentatively replied: "Wang Shizhong?"

Li Shimin and his family of three: "......"

Empress Changsun couldn't help but press her hand to her forehead.

I let you speak, but I didn't let you go all the way in one go!

Then what is Wang Gui's position? What status does he hold in the Wang family? Are you not at all aware?

Li Shimin cleared his throat and said, "Wang Shizhong may be a bit old‑fashioned, but so far we have not found any evidence of him embezzling disaster‑relief funds."

"Zi An, why don't you think it over again?"

Chen Yan was speechless.

What nonsense—just because we haven't discovered Wang Gui's corruption yet doesn't mean he won't be corrupt later?

If it's not discovered now, does that mean we can't act against him now?

Since you want to use this opportunity to legitimately purge a group of people, just think it through yourself.

Why bother with someone who hasn't even entered officialdom yet?

He thought that internally, but since Li Shimin had asked, he obviously couldn't answer casually.

After pondering, he uttered another name.

"Then… Cui Ministerial Attendant?"

Cui Ministerial Attendant naturally referred to the first bidder, Cui Minggan.

Li Shimin had tolerated this fellow for a long time; his rank is neither high nor low, so it should be workable, right?

He was indeed thinking that way; upon hearing "Cui Ministerial Attendant," Li Shimin slapped his thigh hard.

Yes, this Cui Migan raised the price to fifty thousand as soon as he came up; he's just a lowly fourth-rank official—where did he get so much money?

He must have embezzled!

He said satisfiedly: "Zi An, thanks to your reminder, these corrupt officials are indeed hateful; they deserve to die."

Chen Yan: "......"

Don't you know why they could raise the price to fifty thousand as soon as they came up?

Behind Cui Migan is the Bohai Cui Clan; coming up with fifty thousand strings of cash isn't exactly easy for them, is it?

Sigh~

Forget it, as long as you're happy.

"......"

The auction continued; while Li Shimin and Chen Yan discussed purging corrupt officials, that glazed Black Tortoise had already been bid up to twenty thousand strings of cash.

At that price, even aristocratic families feel some pressure.

After all, this is Chang'an City, not their home base; although they have considerable wealth, they cannot simply spend twenty-odd thousand strings of cash all at once.

Moreover, the first item in this auction is the glazed Black Tortoise—who knows what else might come up later?

"Twenty-three thousand strings!"

Li Baiyao shouted out a price coldly.

Wang Gui and Lu Chengqing each raised the bid by ten thousand, instantly bringing the price to twenty-five thousand strings.

At this point, Cui Migan no longer wanted to waste time.

Before he came, someone from his employer had sent a message: if the auction really featured a glazed Black Tortoise symbolizing literary aura, he must obtain it at any cost.

That amounted to a death order.

Thinking this through, Cui Migan hesitated no longer and shouted, "Thirty thousand strings!"

"Today this glazed Black Tortoise will be mine, the Cui family's—if you have the guts, come compete!"

In an instant, the price was raised to thirty thousand strings, and Cui Migan further displayed an air of being determined to win.

Most importantly, his words were almost a naked threat.

Lu Chengqing let out a faint sigh and said no more.

Wang Gui, meanwhile, gave a cold snort, completely unmoved by Cui Migan's threat.

Just as he was about to bid again, he seemed to think of something, narrowed his eyes, and gave up continuing to contend for the glazed Black Tortoise.

As for Li Baiyao, he was still hesitating whether to keep raising the bid.

Time passed second by second; You Lan, as the auctioneer, remained competent, unmindful of how the distinguished guests behaved.

Rappling the small hammer, he said: "Thirty thousand strings, once!"

"Thirty thousand strings, twice!"

"Thirty thousand strings, three......"

When the proceedings reached this point, Cui Migan thought he had already secured it, and he let out a slight sigh of relief.

Unexpectedly, at the last moment, from the same third floor, the first room—namely the most mysterious chamber—a lazy, young voice rang out.

"Lord Cui, what an imposing official presence—you've scared me to death!"

"Heh...... thirty-one thousand strings."

"......"