Chapter 221: His Majesty is even more wicked than Wang Qian!

"Let Wang Qian go to the Academy of Physical Sciences." Zhang Juzheng did not consider Wang Qian a bad person.

In political infighting, these were merely means used to ensure one's own survival; political struggle is the same as the battlefield—the winner takes all.

If it were Zhang Siwei who had set fire to the Imperial Palace and burned the Emperor to death, and Empress Dowager Li had issued an imperial decree for the Prince of Lu to ascend the throne, and subsequently allowed Zhang Siwei to enter the Grand Secretariat, Zhang Juzheng's fate would not have been any better than Zhang Siwei's.

In a zero-sum game, all struggles are life-and-death struggles.

Moreover, regarding the methods Wang Qian used against Zhang Siwei for self-preservation, there was a lack of evidence; Wang Qian's hands were truly too clean.

By letting Wang Qian go to the Academy of Physical Sciences, this child would not need to continue being a bad person. Who wants to be a bad person by nature? At this age, having passed the metropolitan examination, who wasn't full of enthusiasm, wanting to transform this filthy, sycophantic imperial court into a bright and clear world?

But as they walked along, people slowly changed.

"Can he go?" Wang Chonggu had only this one son, and he also hoped his child could go to the Academy of Physical Sciences to be a doctor of mathematics, far away from the infighting.

"Of course. Before the metropolitan examination, His Majesty already said that Wang Qian is a clever man and has a great interest in mathematics. Even if he doesn't go to the Academy of Physical Sciences, he could go to the woolen mill to be a head foreman and get a clear grasp of the ways of doing business." Zhang Juzheng clearly informed Wang Chonggu that the Emperor of Great Ming really had said this, and would do it.

As long as Wang Chonggu remained a minister who gathered wealth and promoted profit, Zhu Yijun had no reason to take action against him.

"His Majesty indeed said so." Wan Shihe took a sip of tea and looked at Wang Chonggu, informing him very clearly.

This was not Zhang Juzheng playing tricks. The crime of forging an imperial edict was a matter of treason. What the Emperor said could not be misinterpreted at will, nor could it be changed at will.

Having heard this, Wan Shihe realized His Majesty indeed had the intention to protect him.

Everyone was a court official who had fought for half a lifetime in this officialdom, fighting all the way to the Wenhua Hall. In fact, they all knew very well that officialdom is the world's greatest arena of fame and fortune. In this arena, even someone as powerful as Zhang Juzheng had moments of misjudgment—for instance, the former Minister of Rites, Lu Shusheng, was someone Zhang Juzheng had misjudged.

Wang Chonggu fell silent. The spring breeze blew through the glass window, scattering the tea steam, yet Wang Chonggu smiled with relief, shook his head, and said, "A grown child is no longer under his father's control. He has his own ideas. Even if I sent him to the Academy of Physical Sciences or the official mill, his heart is not set on it; I fear he would still try every possible way to get into the Censorate."

"If he can't get into the All-Jin Guild Hall or the All-Chu Guild Hall, he can go find Hence Hai Rui and sell his 'concubine-based anti-corruption' scheme. Hence Hai Rui would inevitably promote him; there's no stopping him."

In the imperial court, even Zhang Juzheng could not cover the sky with one hand. Since Wang Qian had made up his mind to walk this path, let him try walking it. Once he gets covered in bumps and bruises, he will know how to repent. Wang Qian is already the father of two children; even if something were to happen to him, Wang Chonggu would not be left without descendants.

"Then let it be as the Grand Minister of Justice says." Zhang Juzheng nodded, looking slightly puzzled as he said, "This 'concubine-based anti-corruption'—how exactly is it done?"

Wang Chonggu smiled and said, "Walking the streets and alleys of this city, the ones with the most well-informed news are the 'three aunts and six grannies'—nuns, Daoist nuns, fortune-telling grannies, matchmakers, midwives, facial threaders, rice-pounders, laundry women, peddlers, wet nurses, and maid-servants. By walking the streets and alleys, one can find the location of these concubines through them."

Once these words were out, even Zhang Juzheng took a sip of tea. He seemed to have misunderstood; Wang Qian might truly be the type of person born for officialdom, wicked to the point of oozing pus. Is this something a human could think of?

These "three aunts and six grannies"—as long as there is a concubine, they will have contact with them. By asking a few questions, it's basically nine times out of ten.

In this "concubine-based anti-corruption," the hardest part is finding the concubine. Many court officials keep concubines, and it only comes to light when the matter is exposed—either the legal wife finds out, or the concubine gives birth to a son and is unwilling to remain in such an unclear status, wanting to enter the household even if it means the child is a concubine-born.

But Wang Qian is truly a scholar, with a heart, liver, spleen, and stomach that are all black.

After listening, Wan Shihe said blankly, "Your son truly has a talent for this path."

This child has the makings of a cruel official!

Being a cruel official also requires talent. If you don't have talent, you'll be played to death by others. Clearly, this fellow Wang Qian has the makings of a cruel official.

"The mouths of the 'three aunts and six grannies' are the most gossipy, but it wouldn't be easy to make them talk, would it?" Zhang Juzheng raised his own concerns. Even if these women knew, they would surely keep their mouths shut regarding crucial figures. How could they easily reveal it?

"The 'three aunts and six grannies' are disliked by people, and they are among the lowest of the low. Why do they toil? For a living, for money. What do they fear most? Being dragged into the struggles of the imperial court and dying without knowing why. If there is an opportunity to reveal a secret and be able to fly far away, many people will make a choice that is beneficial to themselves." Wang Chonggu explained with a complex expression how to make them talk.

He had seen his son's methods; using silver to pave the way was actually a secondary method. Zhenwu Dadi, it was about utilizing human nature, using coercion and inducement, stopping at nothing.

When Wang Qian was buying off those servants of Zhang Siwei, he was always able to buy them off with precision.

Zhang Juzheng did not continue asking, because once the concubine is found, what to do next goes without saying. What court officials love most is letting their concubines hold onto their businesses while they remain clean and pure. These concubines are basically just accountants.

For some, it's inconvenient to send money directly. Once the path is found, they send rare treasures to the concubine. This seems like taking a detour, but in reality, it is not.

These are all well-understood ways of playing the game. Only when it's time to truly take money and get things done can the officials, brokers, buyers, and agents coming to the capital to handle affairs know who the concubine actually is and be able to connect to this line.

Finding the concubine is equivalent to grabbing the life of that court official.

"After the palace examination, let him take up his post." Zhang Juzheng chose to compromise, letting Wang Qian charge ahead. He pondered for a long time and said, "Grand Minister of Justice, make sure Wang Qian pays attention to his safety. If you thoroughly anger someone, they are capable of anything."

"He knows. But walking by the river, how can one not get their shoes wet? Let him seek his own fortune." Wang Chonggu let out a long, turbid breath. As a father, this was all he could do. Future matters would depend on Wang Qian's own destiny.

Three days later was the Great Ming's palace examination. Zhu Yijun had already conducted one palace examination. At this stage, what was compared was not talent, but whether the calligraphy was beautiful or not.

If the calligraphy was beautiful and caught His Majesty's eye at a glance, one could be named the Zhuangyuan (top scholar).

The palace examination actually only selects the top three—the Zhuangyuan, the Bangyan (second place), and the Tanhua (third place). Unless there are special cases, the rankings are generally based on the metropolitan examination.

For example, in the 19th year of Yongle, Yu Qian, who was first in the metropolitan examination, used a policy essay to criticize the errors in some of the decisions made by the Emperor Wen after he had stabilized his rule—including exhausting the military, wasting resources, and exhausting the world—when Zhu Di had just moved to his new residence. This was also a fact.

Emperor Wen, Zhu Di, had fought wars his whole life. Facing Yu Qian's criticism, he eventually lowered his ranking but could not bring himself to kill him.

The venue for this palace examination was the Wenhua Hall. Zhu Yijun and the Grand Ministers met with the scholars, and then the Emperor left with the Grand Ministers. These people had promising futures, but their futures were still very far off.

After the palace examination, Zhu Yijun specifically summoned Jiao Hong, Feng Mengzhen, Zhang Siwen, and Wang Qian. Jiao Hong was the Zhuangyuan, Feng Mengzhen was the Bangyan, and Zhang Siwen was the first of the second rank. However, this first place was just an honor, because he was to be appointed as a Doctor of Physical Sciences, so he would not be selected for the Hanlin Academy as a Shujishi (bachelor).

Because of Zhang Juzheng, Zhang Siwen could not enter officialdom, while Jiao Hong was tired of the infighting in officialdom and did not consider himself cut out for it, so he simply joined the Academy of Physical Sciences along with Zhang Siwen.

"It's fortunate that because of the Luzon affair, fifteen more scholars were selected this year; otherwise, I'm afraid we wouldn't even have enough to select bachelors for the Hanlin Academy." Zhu Yijun respected the choices of Zhang Siwen and Jiao Hong. He didn't expect them to achieve great things in mathematics, but only hoped they would study it down-to-earth. Even if their contribution to the land survey was meager, it would not be a waste of Zhu Yijun's establishment of this Academy of Physical Sciences.

"Your subject thanks His Majesty for his holy grace." Jiao Hong and Zhang Siwen were naturally clever people to have reached this level, so they understood that His Majesty's meaning was to approve their entry into the Academy of Physical Sciences.

Zhu Yijun looked at Feng Mengzhen, nodded, and said, "Feng Mengzhen, is it? After becoming an editor in the Hanlin Academy, read more books, especially mathematics. And there is the 'Theory of Contradictions'; you must read it."

"Your subject obeys the decree." Feng Mengzhen clearly sensed that His Majesty didn't seem to like him very much.

The reason Zhu Yijun didn't like Feng Mengzhen was that Feng Mengzhen had a reputation for being arrogant, and not just ordinarily arrogant. He didn't have the ability of Zhu Zaiyu, yet dared to call himself a "mad scholar." Naturally, Zhu Yijun didn't like him.

In the first month of the fifth year of Wanli, this person, along with Shen Maoxue and Tu Long, got dead drunk at the Huancai Pavilion, writing recklessly, singing and weeping, lamenting the darkness of the court and the power of the treacherous ministers, fearing that the North Star had shifted. After Feng Bao reported this, Zhu Yijun thought that Feng Bao, this treacherous eunuch, was attacking the literati. He sent the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Zhao Mengyou, to investigate, and even found the three men's handwritten manuscripts.

The articles these three wrote were hanging right there in the Huancai Pavilion.

Zhu Yijun didn't like Feng Mengzhen; he and the Zhuangyuan of the second year of Wanli, Sun Jigao, were cut from the same cloth.

"Alright, you may all withdraw. I want to have a word with Wang Qian." Zhu Yijun waved his hand and chased them away. If Feng Mengzhen truly read books, read mathematics, and read the "Theory of Contradictions," and could touch the top level of this imperial court and change his own thinking, he could still be saved. Ignorance is no excuse, but Feng Mengzhen's article was more of a scholar's temperament.

If he read the "Theory of Contradictions" and still wanted to be a "cheap scholar," the only shame would be Feng Mengzhen's own.

"Wang Qian, why don't you go to the Academy of Physical Sciences and be a Doctor of Physical Sciences?" Zhu Yijun looked at Wang Qian and said earnestly, "This officialdom eats people without spitting out the bones. The Grand Minister of Justice has only you as a son. If I fail to protect you and something happens to you, how can I face the Grand Minister of Justice?"

"This officialdom is a dragon's pool and a tiger's den. Haven't you seen Zhang Siwei yet?"

Zhu Yijun still gave Wang Qian a chance to choose.

If Wang Qian entered officialdom, he would be scolded. Wang Chonggu would inevitably replace Yan Song's position and become a treacherous minister, and Wang Qian would become Yan Shifan. This was something that would happen without a doubt. Wang Chonggu gathered wealth and promoted profit, while Wang Qian was clever but ruthless.

As an Emperor, Zhu Yijun actually didn't want to be too demanding of Wang Qian. As long as the water-wall air conditioning in Wang Chonggu's woolen mill wasn't dismantled, Wang Chonggu wasn't a treacherous minister. Let the old men handle the dog-eat-dog fighting in the court.

"Your Majesty, your subject is already in the game. To jump out of the Three Realms and not be in the Five Elements—that is the Doctor of Physical Sciences, not your subject." Wang Qian bowed and said. He heard it—His Majesty had the intention to protect him, but he was already on the path.

Zhang Siwei's poisoning, the fire at Zhang Siwei's residence, the key evidence against Zhang Siwei—Wang Qian had played a role in all of them. He was already in the game, and once in the game, there was no choice.

Wang Qian didn't regret it either. If he hadn't done that, their Wang family would have been buried with Zhang Siwei. Zhang Siwei's problem was that he had no guts to rebel, was incompetent in doing things, couldn't beat Qi Jiguang, and didn't dare to rebel, nor would anyone follow him in rebellion. If Zhang Siwei didn't die, who would?

During the fire at the Imperial Palace, the little Emperor didn't even summon General Qi back to the capital directly, but waited until General Qi had completely occupied the Danning Guard and returned in triumph before starting the liquidation.

This was His Majesty completely seizing the initiative.

"That is also true. You are already in the game." Zhu Yijun nodded in realization. He smiled and said, "Since you are going to do it, you should do it thoroughly, shouldn't you?"

"I have heard that you want to start anti-corruption from the concubines. I actually have an idea. I don't know if it's right or not. Wang Qing, listen and advise."

"Wang Qing, you tell me, what do these concubines have the most of? What do they lack the most?"

Wang Qian was stunned for a moment and pondered for a while. His eyes lit up. He keenly sensed a matter of great disrespect—His Majesty seemed to be a bird of a feather with him?

Not sure, let's wait and see.

"For the concubines of court officials, what they have the most of is silver, and what they lack the most is companionship." Wang Qian answered tentatively.

"Besides silver, what they have the most of is loneliness, and what they lack the most is entertainment." Zhu Yijun added.

Wang Qian and Zhu Yijun immediately felt a sense of mutual appreciation.

He who knows me is His Majesty!

He who knows me is Wang Qian!

Their answers were actually one and the same. These concubines held large amounts of silver that didn't belong to them, and most of this silver was rootless wood and waterless source—all obtained for nothing, gained without labor.

They held the silver but sat alone in their boudoirs.

As for the master of these concubines, let alone visiting once a month, even visiting once every six months would be considered good. After all, the master also had to pay attention to the influence of public opinion. Once the censors heard wind of it, it would immediately lead to a round of impeachments.

Therefore, having a lot of silver while also being very lonely—this was the point to exploit. Whether in the West or in Great Ming, money is actually considered a thing that bewitches people's hearts and confuses their minds.

Because once there is a lot of silver in hand, it creates an illusion of having everything. Because silver can buy most things in this world, and this way of thinking, in most cases, conforms to the basic logic of how the world operates.

With money, one can truly do whatever one wants.

"My dear minister, what methods do you think should be used?" Zhu Yijun asked with a smile.

Wang Qian answered tentatively, "Fine-spun wool. Confiscating property only leads to bankruptcy; deception can lead to heavy debt."

Zhu Yijun thought for a moment and said, "Actually, you can use handsome young men. This kind of clothing, similar to women's makeup, lip balm, facial medicine, wearing women's accessories, knowing how to write songs, knowing how to please people—this kind of handsome young man from a theatrical troupe is most suitable for relieving loneliness."

Wang Qian raised his head in surprise. After hearing what His Majesty said, he immediately felt a sense of meeting too late!

His Majesty was even more wicked than him! He had already reached the conclusion—they were all birds of a feather!

His Majesty was that kind of big bad person who was wicked to the point of oozing pus, but at the same time, Wang Qian also clearly knew that His Majesty was that kind of big good person with a kind heart.

His Majesty went to the Beijing Camp and the official mills, and could chat with those poor people and laborers, could chat with the craftsmen, and could chat with the farmers. Only with the gentry and "cheap scholars" who preyed on the people could he not chat.

This seemed a bit contradictory, and it also verified the "Theory of Contradictions"—contradictions are opposition and unity, and they exist universally.

"Your subject will arrange it!" His Majesty's idea could not be called brilliant; it could only be called wicked.

"My dear minister, how do you understand the Master's way of benevolence and forgiveness?" Zhu Yijun suddenly asked a strange question.

"The way of benevolence and forgiveness also depends on the person. If it is useful to the imperial court, then benevolence is added. If it is useless to the imperial court, or even harmful, and after repeated admonitions, they still do not change, then they are people who deserve to die and need to be cleared out. There are extremely many evil people in this world. Your subject does not believe in the Great Harmony world where 'I love you, you love me, everyone loves him, and he loves everyone.' Your subject only believes..." Wang Qian realized he had spoken out of turn and stopped his answer.

"Speak." Zhu Yijun was very dissatisfied that he hadn't heard the key sentence.

"If your subject continues, it would be inciting His Majesty to do evil. This is a crime of great treason." Wang Qian still refused to say it. Sovereign and subject—as a subject, criticizing and admonishing His Majesty to be benevolent and forgiving is the duty of a subject. Advocating violence—if this statement of his were known by the Grand Secretary, he feared he wouldn't see tomorrow's sun.

Zhang Juzheng had entrusted his life's efforts, the New Policies, and the rise and fall of Great Ming entirely to His Majesty. In other matters, Zhang Juzheng still gave Wang Chonggu some face, but teaching the little Emperor to be bad—Zhang Juzheng would truly be furious. Zhang Juzheng hadn't been angry for a long time, but that didn't mean Wang Qian didn't know how terrifying Zhang Juzheng's anger was.

At that time, the Jin Party was powerful and had committed some acts of overstepping. Yang Bo retired, and Wang Chonggu was almost directly beheaded. Finally, because there was a mess in the Northwest to clean up, Wang Chonggu returned to the Northwest and worked hard to plug the trouble and holes he had caused, which finally calmed Zhang Juzheng's anger.

Wang Chonggu, who returned to the Northwest to be a Governor again, was losing hair by the handful during that time. Wang Qian had seen it with his own eyes—his father unable to sleep at night, looking melancholy and helpless.

Zhu Yijun smiled and said, "I know what you want to say. I have the same idea as you. In this world, there are too many evil people. Evil people need evil people to grind them down."

"Alright, the Master won't be angry. Go, go. Tomorrow, go to the Censorate to take up your post." Zhu Yijun waved his hand with a beaming smile, signaling that Wang Qian could leave. Saying is saying, and doing is doing. Zhu Yijun also wanted to see if Wang Qian was the type who only talked on paper and couldn't do anything.

"Your subject withdraws." Wang Qian always felt a gaze cast from somewhere, making him shudder. He shivered and hurried away.

Zhang Juzheng walked out from behind a screen and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, that Wang Qian is glib-tongued; his words cannot be trusted."

"Master, evil people need evil people to grind them down, isn't that right? If Luo Bingliang of the Tax Inspection Office doesn't use 'life-threatening charms,' the taxes in Jiangnan won't be collected." Zhu Yijun shook his head. This was a difference in political views between him and Zhang Juzheng.

This difference was not a difference in the path, but a difference between being radical and being overly radical. Zhu Yijun wanted to run faster, while Zhang Juzheng wanted to be steadier.

If there were no contradictions between the Emperor and the Grand Secretary, they wouldn't be sovereign and subject. But if a difference in political views led to a growing rift and finally turning into enemies, that would be a lack of experience, allowing others to take advantage of the situation.

"Master, is forbearance a virtue? I don't think so. I said Zhang Siwei was ugly, meaning I disliked him and wouldn't let him enter the court to be a Reader or Lecturer. The court officials knew I disliked Zhang Siwei's overstepping. Then I killed Zhang Siwei and 728 of his accomplices, and the officials of the world knew that I truly would get angry, and that I had the ability to get angry."

"Forbearance is not a virtue. If you don't speak or act, and endure for a moment, the wind won't calm and the waves won't stop. If you take a step back, the sea won't be wide and the sky won't be empty."

Zhang Juzheng was silent for a moment, then bowed and said, "It is mostly so. What I taught Your Majesty was also to say: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Because if you don't return the favor, they will think you are afraid, and they will become even more aggressive."

As the Emperor's teacher, Zhang Juzheng was not a great Confucian. He spoke of how people get along, spoke of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; forbearance would only bring more humiliation.

"If I go crazy, Great Ming will be more normal. Clearly tell them: touch this line, and you will die. If it happens a few times, they naturally won't dare to touch it. What does the Master think?" Zhu Yijun asked again.

Zhang Juzheng pondered for a while and finally said, "If they refuse to repent even in death, then they deserve to die. But they should still be taught. Your Majesty often says: 'Things should not exceed three.' It should be so."

"I will keep the Master's teachings in mind." Zhu Yijun and Zhang Juzheng reached a consensus on this difference—not forbearance, but "things should not exceed three," doing one's best.

When Zhu Yijun said that Zhang Siwei was ugly and couldn't be a Reader, he very clearly expressed his attitude of refusing to forbear. Then "things should not exceed three" was a very good habit.

Zhu Yijun had promised Wang Qian that Zhang Juzheng wouldn't be angry.

Zhang Juzheng indeed wasn't angry.

"Master, what do you think of the concubine-based anti-corruption method that I discussed with Wang Qian?" Zhu Yijun asked about government affairs.

"Your Majesty, were these taught to Your Majesty by the palace maids? Even if they weren't taught, you must have been influenced by what you saw and heard." Zhang Juzheng's brows locked into a big knot. His Majesty was too wicked. Wang Qian was already wicked enough, but His Majesty was even more wicked than Wang Qian!

"Zhang Juzheng, stop making false accusations! How could we teach His Majesty these things?!" Feng Bao's face turned red, and he said furiously, "The palace maids didn't teach these. You are the Emperor's teacher. If these deceitful methods were taught, it must have been taught by the Master!"

Feng Bao didn't dare to bear this infamy. Such a big charge was better borne by you, the Empire's Grand Secretary. What ability did he, Feng Bao or Zhang Hong, have? Telling His Majesty some jokes and fun stories to make him happy was already their limit!

Zhang Juzheng's suspicion grew heavier. It seemed, apparently, perhaps, it really was taught by himself?

Zhang Juzheng was actually worried that the little Emperor, living deep in the palace, would think too well of people and lack suspicion and precaution. He could protect him now, but when he was gone, His Majesty would definitely suffer losses and be deceived. During the lectures, especially when lecturing on human nature, Zhang Juzheng's lectures even had a tendency toward "human nature is inherently evil." That the Emperor grew up like this should be his fault.

"Your subject is guilty." Zhang Juzheng flicked his sleeves, making a gesture to kneel and plead guilty.

"Master, spare the formalities. It is not the Master's fault. I still remember Wang Jinglong, the moment he rushed in front of me with two knives, long and short. If you want to blame someone, blame Zhang Siwei for sending such a villain to me and even attempting to assassinate me. Even if the Master tells me all day that there are many good people in the world, I can't believe it, can I?" Zhu Yijun signaled that Zhang Juzheng didn't need to plead guilty. If you want to blame someone, blame Zhang Siwei.

It was Zhang Siwei who made the little Emperor like this—cautious and careful in everything, ruthless and merciless in his actions.

Zhang Siwei was a basket; anything could be put inside.

"Your Majesty's and Wang Qian's method is excellent and very effective." Zhang Juzheng evaluated the wicked plan discussed by the Emperor and Wang Qian, and finally gave it a very high evaluation. When Zhang Juzheng evaluated a government decree, he would put efficiency first.

"That's good." Zhu Yijun's face was full of sunny smiles, without a trace of the wickedness from just a moment ago.

On the second day of the fourth month of the fifth year of Wanli, the day before the Great Morning Assembly of the fourth month, Wang Qian, a Censor who had been in office for more than ten days, directly lit a big thunderbolt, impeaching the Hanlin Academy editor Sun Jigao.

Sun Jigao was very cunning. Although the Emperor was very dissatisfied with him, on the surface, Sun Jigao had indeed not violated the laws and regulations, making him impossible to deal with.

But after Wang Qian had been in office for more than ten days, he directly reported Sun Jigao for the crime of: examination fraud.

In the metropolitan examination of the fifth year of Wanli, Sun Jigao only received a little tuition fee on the surface, but in reality, he had gathered more than 170,000 taels of silver in secret. He received so much money because he clearly knew the examination questions.

Externally, Sun Jigao, as the Zhuangyuan of the second year of Wanli, had his own ways of guessing the questions. In fact, he had bribed the guards of the examination hall to secretly send the questions out.

Including Gu Xiancheng, a total of 15 successful candidates were involved.

Zhu Yijun summoned the Grand Secretary, the Junior Secretary, the two Chief Censors of the Censorate, Ge Shouli and Hence Hai Rui, and the Chief Examiner, Shen Yiguan, overnight, and ordered the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Zhao Mengyou, to control all the co-examiners. He wanted to investigate to the end.

Examination fraud had never been rare since ancient times; it was the opportunity for a carp to leap over the dragon's gate.

At the Great Morning Assembly on the third day of the fourth month, the one who was to investigate and deal with Sun Jigao became Hence Hai Rui, not Wang Qian.

This was a form of protection. Wang Qian's method of handling the case was not very honorable. If others found out, there might be impeachments. Therefore, Hence Hai Rui, this divine sword, took the evidence Wang Qian had obtained and began to pursue Sun Jigao relentlessly.

Before the Great Morning Assembly began, Zhu Yijun inquired about the price of fine-spun wool. In two months, a foot of cloth had risen from 11 taels of silver to 13 taels, and in the last ten days, it had skyrocketed by 2 taels of silver. Clearly, a large amount of silver had been injected.

These silver taels are now entering the market, held by the many concubines who possess vast amounts of silver.

A gluttonous feast is slowly unfolding.

"Greetings, Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live!" the assembled officials offered their salutations.

Zhu Yijun extended his hand in a gesture of invitation and said, "No need for formalities. Summon Sun Jigao to the palace."

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(End of chapter)