Chapter 737

His tone was righteous and stern, almost without a moment's hesitation.

Wang Zhong watched the smile appear on Gao Yang's face; his entire body tensed up, and a sudden, ominous premonition struck his heart.

But he truly refused to believe it—in the face of such ironclad facts, could Gao Yang still argue his way out of this?

Gao Yang faced the two of them, standing perfectly straight. "With those words from Physician Yan, I, Gao, can rest easy."

"As the saying goes, a corrupt official is one who takes money and gets things done. But I, Gao, take money and never get things done. May I ask, Physician Yan, what kind of corrupt official does that make me?"

The words rang out sharply through the Imperial Study.

In an instant, Wang Zhong and Yan Zheng were dumbfounded.

They exchanged a glance, both seeing endless astonishment in the other's eyes.

This... this is actually allowed?

Taking money to get things done is a corrupt official, but taking money and *not* getting things done—what kind of corrupt official is that?

Upon hearing this, Wu Zhao nearly choked on the osmanthus cake in her mouth. She was truly impressed by Gao Yang's sophistry and shook her head to herself.

With these words spoken, the outcome for today was decided!

Although the logic held, Yan Zheng and Wang Zhong simply could not accept it.

Yan Zheng looked at Wu Zhao and suddenly spoke up, "Your Majesty, this is sophistry! There is no such logic for officials anywhere in the world."

Gao Yang spoke up, "Physician Yan, look at how you put it. I, this official, ask you: whether it was Chen Tianfang or the impeachment memorials from the Censorate, although I took the money, did I actually do anything?"

"Her Majesty is here to bear witness—have I ever said a single word on their behalf?"

His words were bold and self-assured, rolling over Yan Zheng with crushing force.

Yan Zheng was completely stunned.

For a moment, he could not find his voice.

Wang Zhong's expression also turned ugly.

They had been too impulsive, rushing to impeach Gao Yang, but according to Gao Yang's own account, while he had taken the money, he truly hadn't done anything...

Gao Yang flicked his sleeves and said, "Captain Chen asked me to handle a matter, and I did indeed agree and accept this mutton-fat white jade, but I never had any intention of handling it for him!"

"Because my lifelong style as an official is to take money but not do the work, to take bribes but not pervert the law. I have very strict principles as an official. Did Physician Yan and General Wang Lao really think that just because I took money, I would definitely get things done?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhong's eyes widened instantly.

"What?"

"Take money but not do the work, take bribes but not pervert the law?"

His heart trembled, his eyes bulged, and he looked at Gao Yang in disbelief.

Yan Zheng, who had been habitually stroking the beard on his chin, was so shocked by these words that he yanked out several strands of his own beard.

The piercing pain felt as if it didn't even register to Yan Zheng!

At this moment, Gao Yang's words stirred up endless, crashing waves in his heart.

So, this was the principle Gao Yang upheld as an official?

Take money but not do the work, take bribes but not pervert the law!

For a time, both men were speechless.

Wu Zhao and Shangguan Wan'er also had their red lips slightly parted; they, too, were completely won over by Gao Yang.

Gao Yang looked at Wu Zhao and bowed, "I implore Your Majesty to judge clearly. Is there any law in this world that dictates that taking money requires doing the work, or that taking bribes requires perverting the law?"

"Your Majesty has entrusted me with heavy responsibilities, and the Four Armies of Changancheng are Your Majesty's personal troops. How could I casually offer advice to Your Majesty or pull strings?"

"Furthermore, before I came today, I brought something to prove my innocence!"

As he spoke, Gao Yang pulled a rolled-up piece of rice paper from his pocket.

"What is it?" Wu Zhao asked subconsciously.

"During my capping ceremony, those who gave heavy gifts and asked me to handle matters for them—this Chen Tianfang is at the head of that list. These people have crooked minds and are truly detestable. I implore Your Majesty to investigate strictly; those who deserve to be beheaded should be beheaded, and those who deserve to be exiled to Lingnan to watch monkeys should be exiled!"

Wu Zhao: "..."

Shangguan Wan'er: "..."

Wang Zhong: "..."

Yan Zheng: "..."

Upon hearing this, the four of them collectively took a deep breath.

Especially Wang Zhong and Yan Zheng, whose faces twitched; they were completely numb.

It was one thing for Gao Yang to take money and not do the work, but he had actually written down a list of these people and carried it with him.

This measure placed him in an invincible position; if there were an impeachment, he could simply pull out the list to prove his innocence, and if there were no impeachment, since he hadn't done the work anyway, he wouldn't be flustered in the slightest.

This fell under the category of voluntary gifting of money; after all, in this world, if one takes money to handle a matter and the matter isn't completed, it is also quite reasonable!

But while that is the logic, it was just somewhat difficult for them to accept.

Even Yan Zheng, who was truly upright and had read the books of sages for decades, couldn't help but say that this measure was truly beastly!

In all the cases he had handled, he had never seen anyone like Gao Yang, who took money without doing the work and even prepared a list!

Shangguan Wan'er took the rolled-up rice paper from Gao Yang's hand and presented it upward.

Wu Zhao opened it to look, then said, "This Chen Tianfang is listed at the very front; what Minister Gao says is true!"

"This person has a crooked mind and intended to bribe Minister Gao, so let him be exiled to Lingnan to catch monkeys; as for the others on the rice paper, investigate them all strictly!"

Seeing this, Wang Zhong and Yan Zheng could only hurriedly lower their heads, "Your Majesty is wise!"

At this moment, Gao Yang spoke up, "Your Majesty, since the misunderstanding is resolved and I have proven my innocence, I implore Your Majesty to issue a decree to promote the Vanguard Commander of the Cavalry, Wang Zhong, to General Dung Beetle, and the Censor-in-Chief, Yan Zheng, to Censor Dung Beetle, to lick clean every toilet in Changancheng!"

"After all, this was strongly requested by General Wang Lao and Censor Yan themselves!"