Chapter 27: The Efficient Eastern Depot
Imperial Prison.
Upon seeing Yue Shufeng being dragged in, the remaining Qingliu Party members, who had clung to hope, all wore expressions of despair.
The arrest of the Qingliu Party’s leader marked their total defeat in the court struggle.
Even though the Qingliu Party still had two Grand Secretaries in court and countless gentry officials supporting them locally, the outcome could not be changed.
Especially those scholars who had been tricked—they had voluntarily walked into this trap.
They had believed they could overthrow the eunuch faction and restore order, securing their official careers for the next twenty years, only to be wiped out from the very start.
Losing one’s own life was minor; what was terrifying was being dragged down with one’s entire family.
The torment in their hearts was more dreadful than physical pain.
Had they not been bound, this would have been another night of suicide in the Imperial Prison.
As a second-rank official, Yue Shufeng’s treatment was clearly far superior.
He was given a spacious single cell, clean bedding, and even a square table inside.
No shackles or instruments of torture were applied to him.
This was a thousand-year-old tradition left by the ancestors—nobles must not be humiliated.
Despite enjoying these privileges, Yue Shufeng felt no comfort.
He had passed the imperial examination before turning twenty, a time of such pride and vigor.
After entering office, he had once worried for the nation and its people, taking it upon himself to save all living beings.
He had dared to oppose powerful elites, shattering the shadows hanging over the Grand Canal—crushing the Grain Transport Guild—and forging a new era of grain transport.
He had been relied upon by two emperors, rising to Left Censor-in-Chief in his prime.
Fate seemed to have played a cruel joke on him.
After tasting the flavor of power, the youthful idealist who once dared to bring peace to the world was dead.
Only Yue Shufeng, now a slave to power, remained.
He spent his days scheming for power and influence, repeatedly crossing moral boundaries, his path growing ever more twisted.
One misstep, and he fell on the road charging toward power.
“Director Yue, is your accommodation comfortable?”
Hearing that familiar voice, Yue Shufeng forced himself to remain calm, clinging to his last shred of dignity.
“Thanks to Left Eunuch’s favor, I haven’t died yet!”
As he spoke, Yue Shufeng rose with his weary body and met Left Guang’en’s gaze.
“Good that you’re still alive!
We’re all respectable people, so I won’t waste words.
Here are the charges gathered by the Eastern Depot. See which parts need revision or addition.”
Upon hearing Left Guang’en’s words, Yue Shufeng sneered slightly, as if he had expected nothing else.
By law, sentencing a second-rank official requires a joint trial by the Three Departments.
With the factional struggle causing uproar throughout the capital, the eunuch faction needed to close the case quickly—they couldn’t follow proper procedure.
The burden of interrogation fell solely on Left Guang’en; no one else had the authority.
“Did His Majesty send you?”
Yue Shufeng asked bitterly.
Though he knew the answer would disappoint him, he still clung to a faint hope.
“I come here not only on behalf of His Majesty, but also on behalf of the Grand Secretariat.
Here is the imperial decree, bearing the Grand Secretariat’s seal. Director Yue, you may examine it yourself.
His Majesty remembers old favors.
According to His Majesty’s wishes, if Director Yue is willing to confess truthfully, this decree need not be revealed.”
Yue Shufeng ignored Left Guang’en’s words.
He straightened his robes, then respectfully accepted the decree and carefully unrolled it.
After a long while, he closed it with a bitter sigh, as if all his vitality had been drained.
“I understand His Majesty’s intent.
Please convey my apology to His Majesty on my behalf—I, Yue Shufeng, have betrayed his trust!
As for the rest, do as you see fit!”
It wasn’t that Yue Shufeng was cowardly—he simply had no choice but to bow his head under someone else’s eaves.
The Grand Secretariat and the Emperor had reached full agreement on his case; there was no possibility of reversal.
Cooperate willingly, and he would be sentenced according to the charges uncovered.
Resist further, and he would be branded a traitor.
The former meant personal ruin, possibly dragging his family down with him.
The latter meant total annihilation of his nine clans. The choice was clear.
“Director Yue, your action is immensely meritorious. Many in this prison will live because of your decision—they will all be grateful to you!”
Left Guang’en smiled warmly.
It was true that lives would be spared, but gratitude? Forget it.
Once the final verdict was announced, everyone would likely want to tear him apart alive.
The fact that no executions were ordered stemmed from Emperor Tianyuan’s concern over the political fallout—he wished for a quiet resolution.
Left Guang’en, skilled at reading the Emperor’s mind, would never oppose him.
This was the perfect chance to show the court officials that he, Left Guang’en, was a man who followed the rules.
The earlier chaos? That was because others had broken the rules first.
Upturning the table ahead means someone broke the rules first.
The next morning, upon arriving at the Battalion Commander’s office, Li Mu received a list of prices for buying his life.
The sheer efficiency proved the Eastern Depot was no ordinary yamen.
The list offered different prices based on the official’s rank, background, and tenure.
But these payments were strictly for life—guilt still had to be punished; the Eastern Depot guaranteed the convict would survive to reach the place of exile.
Aside from a few officials whose exile destinations were assigned by superiors, other convicts could choose their own exile location if they paid.
“Eunuch Mai, your efficiency is astonishing—did you prepare this list in advance?”
Li Mu teased with a smile.
The Eastern Depot’s eagerness and low pricing were completely unexpected.
Theoretically, any convict who paid enough could be sentenced to exile.
This made no sense—it wasn’t the factional struggle he knew.
“Director Li, don’t be so curious.
A chance to make money has been handed to you—how much you earn is entirely up to you.
Left Chancellor is kind-hearted and unwilling to slaughter indiscriminately, so he’s given you this opportunity.
By the way, the verdicts will be announced in three days.
If you want to arrange anything, do it quickly—don’t wait until the results are posted, or it’ll be too late!”
Mai Qinghu said impatiently.
The sudden decision to spare lives and replace executions with exile had shocked the Eastern Depot.
Originally, everyone had planned to persuade Left Chancellor to execute some to establish authority—but when they learned it was the Emperor’s order, they immediately abandoned the idea.
Since no one was being killed, the life-buying money was pure profit—why not take it?
To avoid delays, the Eastern Depot worked through the night to produce the price list.
“Eunuch, since exile locations can be chosen, would it be difficult to arrange for a few family members to die of accidental illness?”
Li Mu probed cautiously.
His instinct told him the Eastern Depot’s strange behavior hid something.
“That’s a separate price. If you want new identities, you’ll have to pay more.
Even if they’re distant relatives entangled in this, we can remove them from the list—it’s negotiable!”
As if realizing he’d spoken too much, Mai Qinghu glared fiercely at Li Mu, warning him not to stir trouble.
“Thank you for your guidance, Eunuch—I know nothing!”
(End of Chapter)
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