Chapter 152: What Is Most Important About Bribery and the Imperial Envoy?

The burning of the city, Du Shanü naturally knew it was no small matter.

But she truly hadn't expected that the Imperial Court's disaster relief would have not the slightest movement......

Arresting those privately conducting disaster relief, however, was swift!

Du Shanü, unable to figure it out after much thought, casually picked a seat and sat down, wondering:

"Logically speaking, it's not that far from the Taizong era, and Yuan Lang was also an old official of Taizong's reign; no matter what, he shouldn't be so...... foolish."

Those last two words were the expression Du Shanü found only after pondering for several breaths.

Those who often serve as emperor know that incompetence is not a flaw, nor is harsh governance.

But if one is both incompetent and imposes harsh governance, that is a great flaw capable of destroying heaven and earth.

If disaster relief is untimely, or if there is simply no relief at all, it can be weakly excused as orders not being communicated.

Disaster relief fails, yet arresting people is diligent—what is this called?

This is stupidity, stupidity that cannot be any more stupid!

Taizong earned such praise among the people; one can imagine that during his reign there were many capable officials, enough to maintain peace and harmony.

How is it that, opening her eyes to the present, the court officials she encounters are hardly any reliable ones?

And this utterly stupid Yuan Lang—by what right could he usurp the throne?

Surely it can't be because all the capable officials of the world died with Taizong, can it?

Du Shanü, still unable to figure it out, Chinu saw through her thoughts, walked a few steps to her side, and sat down beside her as if nothing were the matter.

This chair was originally a single-seat round chair; with an extra person, their chests and backs pressed together, their breathing audible.

Chinu took a long sniff, the fragrance passing through his lungs, momentarily becoming somewhat intoxicated, the weariness in his expression slightly fading:

"This Yuan Lang was once the husband of Yu Baobao's mother's third older sister."

"Originally he also repeatedly failed the imperial examinations, having no particular talent, but Taizong, out of consideration for Yu Baobao's mother, still promoted him step by step."

"Later, when Yu Baobao encountered trouble, he happened to be appointed Governor of Pingyang Commandery, and just then had a battalion of government troops at his disposal......"

This time, Du Shanü understood——

It turned out to rely on luck.

The fragrance permeated, drifting into mouth and nose, impossible to dispel.

Chinu recalled the 'grand scene' on the arhat bed last night, his body involuntarily leaning closer to Du Shanü by a fraction, yet his words did not cease:

"At that time most of the armor and officers had largely disbanded in the war with the Northern Dynasty; the officials who could not escape mostly did not know how to fight, and even if they resisted, they lacked soldiers' arms and armor."

"This is also why the Southern Dynasty is not very effective. Those with ambition have already resigned from office. Afang, lacking family background, who wishes to hold a post to scrape a modest living as a poor scholar, is also often demoted for offering counsel......"

The thread of speech abruptly stopped.

It wasn't that Chinu was unwilling to speak further, but Du Shanü pressed her index finger against Chinu's shoulder, which was already within reach:

"Speak properly."

The shoulder offered little resistance, yet precisely that refusal made it impossible to draw any closer.

One breath, only one breath.

Chinu was certain the other truly did not want to cling to him, so he slumped against the chair back, lowering his brows and eyes:

"...... Roughly speaking, that's about it."

Du Shanü had just come through the corridor, having already seen the early snow of deep autumn, yet now she felt a pang in her chest from that gaze.

After thinking it over, there was no way.

She ultimately ignored the 'tiger-eyed' Chen Weifang, moved close to Chinu, and kissed his thin lips.

Chinu has always been lustful, indifferent to meat or vegetables, and seizes any opportunity.

Their lips overlapped for barely a breath, and his tongue tip readily invaded along the old path he had left, hooking onto that familiar softness.

Their breaths mingled, they inhaled deeply, and upon parting they even emitted a loud splashing sound.

Du Shanü lowered her voice, coaxing her own Chinu:

"Someone's here...... pretend to be a bit restrained."

Chinu endured the moisture on his lips, and let out a barely audible soft hum:

"Hmm~"

"You, eating from two households alone...... is the least reasonable to talk about restraint."

Having eaten the first half, he still eats the second half.

In the early morning, his temples were nearly soaked with sweat, and he inevitably used some 'snacks' when coming.

And yet he still dares to speak of restraint?

Du Shanü couldn't keep a straight face, so she simply didn't reply to that, only smiling at Chen Weifang not far away behind the table:

"Afang, I ask you, what is the usual procedure for an Imperial Envoy handling a case?"

Since we already know the Imperial Envoy is coming, we cannot fail to make preparations in advance, inquiring about the procedure and lodging.

Fortunately, as Chinu said, the Imperial Court is now largely a rabble, so handling the Imperial Envoy should be much easier......

"By the way, can we kill him?"

Without waiting for an answer, Du Shanü slipped her arm onto the chair's armrest, openly, in front of the 'mother-in-law', pulling her own Chinu into her embrace:

"Although the court is incompetent, earlier Cang Cheng had already seen several county officials die, merely covered up by the prefecture, which, guilty of banditry, privately collected taxes. Now that the court sends people, if another comes and we kill one, would we not be directly exposing ourselves to the public?"

"Would bribery with silver be any better?"

Chen Weifang stared at the two people almost entwined for a long time, finally let out a long sigh, and replied:

"The usual procedure for an Imperial Envoy handling a case is generally divided into five steps——

The first step is the emperor issuing an appointment edict, granting the decree and seal, and the Imperial Envoy prepares for departure.

The second step is to travel the post road with the verification document, give advance notice to the localities, and strictly prohibit extravagance.

The third step is for the local chief official to go out to meet the edict, enter the city and proclaim the decree, and the Imperial Envoy takes up residence in the field headquarters.

The fourth step is to carry out duties according to the imperial decree, and to confidentially report major matters to the Emperor.

Only the fifth step is to conclude the case, draft a memorial, depart for the capital to return the edict, after which the Emperor will handle further disposition.

A string of tedious procedures bombarded Du Shanü's ears; she had barely slept the previous night, and upon hearing them her eyes glazed over.

Chen Weifang then continued:

"However, Ju Cheng was burned to the ground, the situation is urgent, and there's no way to directly enter the main city, so the Imperial Envoy will likely first choose to stay at the Zhoufu, then select officials to accompany and assist."

You should have said that earlier!

Scholars speak so rigidly; although what she just said was ordinary, the question is about the present moment!

Afang recited a huge pile, her head hurt _(: 3」∠)_.

Du Shanü rubbed her forehead, about to speak, when she heard Chen Weifang again say something shocking:

"As for bribery, if the other party is of the same ilk as the officials who came before, it should be feasible."

"However, the problem lies in——"

"Wise Lord, you have no money."

The last three words suddenly struck Du Shanü on the head, leaving her utterly bewildered.

Her hand resting on the chairback had been playing with Chinu's hairs; hearing this, she trembled and pulled out a few strands, causing Chinu to look at her resentfully several times.

But this time, Du Shanü couldn't be bothered to soothe Chinu, and her voice changed:

"How, how is it about money again?"

According to her knowledge, in ordinary storybooks, someone with her opening should be earning thousands, even tens of thousands of taels a day, and in the time it takes to burn an incense stick, buy up an entire city......

How has she made it all the way to now and still be short of money!

Is there still any justice in this!

Where is the money?

Where is her money!

Du Shanü felt she was going mad, while Chinu remained calm, holding the tuft where a few hairs had been pulled and leaning against her shoulder again:

"I thought it was something novel...... Besides a foolish ruler, which emperor doesn't worry about the national treasury? When the Grand Ancestor was still alive, he even got angry over thirty thousand taels of silver and sent people to ransack a corrupt official's home in the middle of the night."

"Moreover, the silver and grain that the Wife Master first earned weren't already used for disaster relief?"

Du Shanü: (blushing face)

Oh, is that so.

The disaster relief funds are gone.

Then there's nothing to worry about......

At most, it's just her passing.

?? Question——What is most important when bribing the Imperial Envoy? It's to have money! Have money!!!