Rescue in the Southern Border; The Female Emperor Gives Gu Lan Special Treatment
Cai Yu was greedy and timid as a mouse, but he was not stupid.
At this moment, seeing the Imperial Announcements Bureau well-prepared, his sophistry was meaningless!
He knew that the cultivation of the Female Emperor's close attendants had reached the transcendence realm, so resisting was simply absurd!
Although, up to this point, he still couldn't understand why the Female Emperor suddenly targeted him! Why did the flawless embezzlement of the past attract suspicion?
Liu Yexi remained silent, gazing down at him. "Marquis Cai, you hold a noble title, unlike those two. I can give you a chance to make a final statement."
"I'm willing to surrender all my family assets and beg the court to spare my life!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Yexi chuckled, paying no attention. The wealth already belonged to the court; trying to exchange it for his life was naive!
Seeing that it was ineffective, Cai Yu became desperate, sweating profusely.
Suddenly, he seemed to think of something and repeatedly said, "Lady Liu, I have a ledger that records corrupt officials like me. I'm willing to expose and report them!"
I knew it... Liu Yexi chuckled inwardly.
Corrupt officials, fearing death, usually kept records for a way out by exposing others' wrongdoings. She had plenty of experience, and she was waiting for this ledger!
"Where is it?"
"Promise not to kill me first."
"Agreed."
"It's in the firewood room, under the second-floor tile."
"Got it."
After Liu Yexi agreed, Cai Yu felt like he had been given a new lease on life.
However, immediately after, a stabbing pain in his chest brought him back to reality.
Liu Yexi's soft sword had pierced through him!
"You... You!"
Cai Yu couldn't believe it, his face filled with horror.
Liu Yexi was expressionless. She sheathed her sword efficiently, stood up, and left without offering any explanation. In her eyes, those who brought bone-chilling suffering to the people were not worthy of her promise.
The group of the Imperial Announcements Bureau envoys looked on in shock. This was how the Female Emperor's close attendants operated—truly decisive and swift!
Liu Yexi, naturally charismatic, had won the admiration of many young envoys among the Imperial Announcements Bureau.
"Tidy up here and return directly to the Imperial Announcements Bureau in the capital," she commanded.
Liu Yexi stepped on a bay horse and left the Marquis Residence for Langzhou.
"Understood!"
The envoys behind her respectfully saluted and watched her leave.
...
Three days later, the Imperial Announcements Bureau brought Cai Yu's corpse back to the capital.
The court and the public were shocked!
The death of a marquis alone wouldn't cause such a commotion among the officials.
What they truly feared was the ledger now in the hands of the Female Emperor!
In this era, even the so-called "able officials" had few with clean records.
Not to mention corrupt officials!
For a while, everyone felt a sense of impending danger!
The major aristocratic families in the capital became restless, hastily rectifying their industries overnight, attempting to return any ill-gotten gains to the court.
After all, if they didn't proactively change, when the Female Emperor came to settle accounts, it wouldn't be merely a matter of money!
...
In Langzhou City, amidst the firecracker sounds, an atmosphere of peace and prosperity prevailed. When Liu Yexi finally returned, she presented the ledger to the Female Emperor.
"Your Majesty, the situation in the Southern Border is similar to what Master Gu mentioned. The relief grain in the past was insufficient, with about eighty percent embezzled by local authorities..."
Liu Yexi reported the results of her mission in detail, including whom she had killed, whom she had investigated, and the current actions of the court officials.
Mu Yuyan nodded. At this moment, her eyes were gentle, and her expression serene.
"Your Majesty, you look much better."
Liu Yexi looked up, and seeing the gorgeous face envied by every women in this world, she couldn’t help but added.
“Really?”
Mu Yuyan chuckled lightly. "The relief in the Southern Border can be resolved properly, and I am no longer worried…Thanks to Master Gu's information."
Liu Yexi nodded in agreement.
Although she was the head envoy, her role in this mission was like that of a messenger. The real contributor was the scholar that the Female Emperor held dear in her heart!
"Yexi, don't rush to deal with the officials in the ledger. Let's first see their attitudes of admission. In this troublesome season, indiscriminate killing is not feasible."
Perhaps influenced by Gu Lan's scholarly influence, Mu Yuyan chose a prudent approach, combining firmness with flexibility.
This was indeed for the greater good!
With this ledger, it would be enough to deter them for a long time, preventing them from daring to act recklessly again. The Female Emperor's lips curled slightly, a joyous expression on her face.
"In addition, this year's Autumn Examination for Master Gu... remember to remind the Hanlin Academy and the Imperial College's old fellows. Don't let it interfere with my good deeds."
This is to give Master Gu special treatment... Liu Yexi's mind was clear, and she smiled, clasping her fists. "I understand. I will go and persuade them."
"Go then."
...
Time flew by, and the Spring began.
Gu Lan always felt that these days, Yuyan's mood seemed unusually good.
When he used to study, Mu Yuyan would obediently watch or help grind ink. She was elegant and proportionate with the demeanor of a young lady.
Now, she often nestled in his arms, wanting to hear him tell stories whenever she had the chance. Mu Yuyan had no idea how tempting she was to a lively young man!
When an usual dominating sister turned into a clingy little enchantress... Gu Lan thought, I can't read this book anymore!
While resting his eyes, he went out for fresh air.
At the front gate, a group of vendors had gathered, taking a break and chatting.
Squatting on the doorstep, Gu Lan could inadvertently overhear their conversation.
"Have you heard? There's trouble in the Southern Border!"
Has the drought erupted, and the aristocrats withheld the grain?
Gu Lan's heart tightened.
In a couple of days, refugees from the Southern Border should be fleeing to Langzhou. He needed to instruct Old Yang to open a porridge stand at the teahouse and offer some assistance...
However, right after that, he heard several vendors expressing joy.
"That's right! That trash Marquis Cai was killed by the Female Emperor's envoy a few days ago. It's said that the prefect county magistrate and county magistrate there were also executed!"
"I heard that the two magistrate's families were found to have amassed one hundred thousand taels of silver. The Marquis's Residence is even more outrageous, incredibly wealthy!"
"Well done! Pleasing to the people's hearts, truly pleasing!"
"Huh? Wasn't it said that the Female Emperor focused on cultivation every day and ignored state affairs? Why is she dealing with corrupt officials now?"
"Hush! Keep it down... I heard that the Female Emperor is only pretending to cultivate; she secretly observes the court. Otherwise... How could someone in the Imperial Announcements Bureau have done this?"
"Understood! Thank you, brother. Now that the Southern Border's corrupt officials are dead, we can do some business there in the future, haha..."
...
??? Gu Lan was completely bewildered!
What the heck, this is different from what he read from that novel!
How did the Female Emperor manage to intervene and snatch the limelight from the main character, providing resources and trampling on the antagonist?
Gu Lan, looking puzzled, returned home. It wasn't until lunch that he still couldn't figure it out.
Fortunately, this matter had nothing to do with him as a supporting character.
The Female Emperor... he didn't want any connection with her in his lifetime.
Both the main character and the antagonist intentionally avoided her; there was no way they would meet!
You guys go ahead. I just need to stay steady... Gu Lan thought calmly. For this year's Autumn Examination, I'll just fill in the answer sheet casually to get by. As long as I don't become a Jinshi and remain in Langzhou City, it's absolutely safe.
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone