[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers":3,"chapter-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-27":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Restoring the Mountains and Rivers",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2364296,4623,"Chapter 27: The Efficient Eastern Depot","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-27",27,"\u003Cp>Imperial Prison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing Yue Shufeng being dragged in, the remaining Qingliu Party members, who had clung to hope, all wore expressions of despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arrest of the Qingliu Party’s leader marked their total defeat in the court struggle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially those scholars who had been tricked—they had voluntarily walked into this trap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Losing one’s own life was minor; what was terrifying was being dragged down with one’s entire family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The torment in their hearts was more dreadful than physical pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had they not been bound, this would have been another night of suicide in the Imperial Prison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a second-rank official, Yue Shufeng’s treatment was clearly far superior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was given a spacious single cell, clean bedding, and even a square table inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No shackles or instruments of torture were applied to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a thousand-year-old tradition left by the ancestors—nobles must not be humiliated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite enjoying these privileges, Yue Shufeng felt no comfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had passed the imperial examination before turning twenty, a time of such pride and vigor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After entering office, he had once worried for the nation and its people, taking it upon himself to save all living beings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been relied upon by two emperors, rising to Left Censor-in-Chief in his prime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fate seemed to have played a cruel joke on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After tasting the flavor of power, the youthful idealist who once dared to bring peace to the world was dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Yue Shufeng, now a slave to power, remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spent his days scheming for power and influence, repeatedly crossing moral boundaries, his path growing ever more twisted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One misstep, and he fell on the road charging toward power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Director Yue, is your accommodation comfortable?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that familiar voice, Yue Shufeng forced himself to remain calm, clinging to his last shred of dignity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks to Left Eunuch’s favor, I haven’t died yet!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Yue Shufeng rose with his weary body and met Left Guang’en’s gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good that you’re still alive!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’re all respectable people, so I won’t waste words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here are the charges gathered by the Eastern Depot. See which parts need revision or addition.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing Left Guang’en’s words, Yue Shufeng sneered slightly, as if he had expected nothing else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By law, sentencing a second-rank official requires a joint trial by the Three Departments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the factional struggle causing uproar throughout the capital, the eunuch faction needed to close the case quickly—they couldn’t follow proper procedure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The burden of interrogation fell solely on Left Guang’en; no one else had the authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did His Majesty send you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yue Shufeng asked bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he knew the answer would disappoint him, he still clung to a faint hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I come here not only on behalf of His Majesty, but also on behalf of the Grand Secretariat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here is the imperial decree, bearing the Grand Secretariat’s seal. Director Yue, you may examine it yourself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His Majesty remembers old favors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to His Majesty’s wishes, if Director Yue is willing to confess truthfully, this decree need not be revealed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yue Shufeng ignored Left Guang’en’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He straightened his robes, then respectfully accepted the decree and carefully unrolled it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, he closed it with a bitter sigh, as if all his vitality had been drained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand His Majesty’s intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Please convey my apology to His Majesty on my behalf—I, Yue Shufeng, have betrayed his trust!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the rest, do as you see fit!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that Yue Shufeng was cowardly—he simply had no choice but to bow his head under someone else’s eaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Grand Secretariat and the Emperor had reached full agreement on his case; there was no possibility of reversal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cooperate willingly, and he would be sentenced according to the charges uncovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Resist further, and he would be branded a traitor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The former meant personal ruin, possibly dragging his family down with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The latter meant total annihilation of his nine clans. The choice was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Director Yue, your action is immensely meritorious. Many in this prison will live because of your decision—they will all be grateful to you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Left Guang’en smiled warmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was true that lives would be spared, but gratitude? Forget it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the final verdict was announced, everyone would likely want to tear him apart alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that no executions were ordered stemmed from Emperor Tianyuan’s concern over the political fallout—he wished for a quiet resolution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Left Guang’en, skilled at reading the Emperor’s mind, would never oppose him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the perfect chance to show the court officials that he, Left Guang’en, was a man who followed the rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The earlier chaos? That was because others had broken the rules first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upturning the table ahead means someone broke the rules first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, upon arriving at the Battalion Commander’s office, Li Mu received a list of prices for buying his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sheer efficiency proved the Eastern Depot was no ordinary yamen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The list offered different prices based on the official’s rank, background, and tenure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from a few officials whose exile destinations were assigned by superiors, other convicts could choose their own exile location if they paid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eunuch Mai, your efficiency is astonishing—did you prepare this list in advance?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu teased with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Eastern Depot’s eagerness and low pricing were completely unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Theoretically, any convict who paid enough could be sentenced to exile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made no sense—it wasn’t the factional struggle he knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Director Li, don’t be so curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chance to make money has been handed to you—how much you earn is entirely up to you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Left Chancellor is kind-hearted and unwilling to slaughter indiscriminately, so he’s given you this opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the way, the verdicts will be announced in three days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you want to arrange anything, do it quickly—don’t wait until the results are posted, or it’ll be too late!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mai Qinghu said impatiently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sudden decision to spare lives and replace executions with exile had shocked the Eastern Depot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since no one was being killed, the life-buying money was pure profit—why not take it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To avoid delays, the Eastern Depot worked through the night to produce the price list.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eunuch, since exile locations can be chosen, would it be difficult to arrange for a few family members to die of accidental illness?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu probed cautiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His instinct told him the Eastern Depot’s strange behavior hid something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s a separate price. If you want new identities, you’ll have to pay more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they’re distant relatives entangled in this, we can remove them from the list—it’s negotiable!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if realizing he’d spoken too much, Mai Qinghu glared fiercely at Li Mu, warning him not to stir trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for your guidance, Eunuch—I know nothing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1261,"2026-06-21T08:09:02.410Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","d863014fcc370a7fb903c2be180e182b012c6bd5896f2da52a54aeb4ce49fc27","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-28","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-26",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frestoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-cover.jpg"]