Phi-Fic Chapter 117
Chapter 117
Meanwhile, in the study of the Ministry of Revenue official, the lights were on, and he was busy at work...
Zheng Ling sat solemnly in his study, his eyes bloodshot but his gaze unwavering. He had spent the entire night meticulously compiling and organizing the various pieces of evidence he had gathered.
Time ticked by, and finally, as the last stroke of the pen was completed, Zheng Ling let out a long sigh of relief and stood up, utterly exhausted. He quickly put on the official robes that symbolized his status and responsibility, and carefully donned the solemn and dignified official hat. Then, he hurried out of the room and boarded the official sedan chair that had been waiting for him.
The official sedan chair moved slowly through the silent night, as if afraid to disturb the sleeping city. Moonlight, like water, spilled through the streets and alleys, draping the land in a silver veil. The sedan chair traveled along winding roads, passing familiar yet unfamiliar alleyways, finally arriving at the magnificent palace gate.
At this moment, the palace gates stood silently, like an impregnable fortress. Their tall, thick walls exuded a solemn and awe-inspiring presence, inspiring reverence. They resembled a crouching Eastern dragon, mysterious yet dangerous.
The gate, adorned with exquisite copper studs and ornate patterns, exuded imperial majesty and nobility. In this pre-dawn hour, the palace gates were exceptionally quiet, broken only occasionally by the clear chirping of birds.
Outside the palace gates, officials dressed in robes of different colors and patterns were already waiting. Three cracks of whips broke the silence of the night and startled the ministers who were still drowsy outside the palace gates.
The palace gates creaked open, and the ministers, arranged according to their rank, stood in order. Once the gates were wide open, the ministers entered one by one.
Magnificent, imposing, solemn, sacred, and strictly governed, the entire imperial city resembled a gaping maw, dangerous yet mysterious. Just like Zheng Ling's actions this time—dangerous yet unpredictable.
Zheng Ling, dressed in a blue official robe, stood at the end of the procession and walked forward with a solemn expression.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" The crowd knelt down and shouted, and Zheng Ling knelt down as well.
The Golden Palace was solemn and dignified. After everyone stood up, a somewhat shrill voice rang out: "Those with matters to report, speak now; those without, the court shall adjourn."
In that split second, before anyone present could even react, Zheng Ling gently adjusted his official robe, a symbol of his rank, then steadily held his tablet, knelt on both knees, and spoke in a loud and impassioned voice: "Your humble servant is Zheng Ling, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Today I have come to report an important matter to His Majesty! I must denounce those officials, led by His Highness Prince Lu, for colluding and forming cliques for personal gain; they not only deceive Your Majesty and mislead Your Majesty, but also brazenly enrich themselves, openly selling official positions and titles, among more than a dozen other serious crimes..."
From what I understand, if nothing unexpected happens, the poor disaster victims outside the city will likely face starvation in five days! Yet, the Ministry of Revenue is currently facing such a massive deficit that it cannot even procure enough rice and flour for disaster relief. I implore Your Majesty to take this matter very seriously…”
Everyone was stunned to see a mere official accusing His Highness the Crown Prince. Only Prince Lu reacted first. Before Zheng Ling could finish speaking, Prince Lu shouted, "Come here! Drag this man out! How dare a lowly official accuse me! I am innocent and will not tolerate such slander!"
He then turned around, bowed, and said, “Father, I am completely innocent. I beseech Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly. I have cultivated my character and refrained from interfering in the affairs of the Ministry of Revenue for many years. It is possible that some ministers have been deceiving their superiors and embezzling funds…”
King Lu knew that if Zheng Ling didn't have solid evidence, he wouldn't be able to openly accuse him like a target in the main hall. His only option was to cut off Zheng Ling's tail and wings in order to protect himself.
The emperor, seated on his golden throne, frowned more and more as he listened, and said in a deep voice, "Zheng Ling, do you know what you will face if you make a false accusation? Do you have any evidence?"
Zheng Ling, upright and unyielding, replied, "Your Majesty, I have it. Please take a look."
The emperor merely gave him a sharp look, like a bolt of lightning flashing through the air, and Feng Sanxiang trembled as if struck by lightning. He then hurriedly walked to the emperor's side and respectfully and carefully presented the crucial evidence.
After receiving the evidence, the emperor's gaze sharpened as he stared intently at the object in his hand, his expression gradually growing solemn. As he read further, the shock intensified within him, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples that spread far and wide. Every line, every sentence felt like a sharp sword cutting into his flesh.
Finally, the emperor finished reviewing all the evidence. He abruptly raised his head, his eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and disappointment. Without hesitation, he slammed the heavy document down on Prince Lu, who stood beside him, and abruptly stood up, roaring with barely suppressed rage, "Fine! Take a good look for yourself! Look at what the Ministry of Revenue has done..."
When the emperor was enraged, everyone knelt down. All the officials immediately knelt on the ground, bowing their heads to the ground.
The emperor said in a deep voice, "It is clear from this document who has embezzled and how much. I will give you three days to make up for all the deficits incurred over the years."
Otherwise, the Imperial Guards will be sent..."