Chapter 579: Chapter 422: The Death of Old Deer_2

Zhou Yi said in confusion, “I truly can’t understand why Minister Lin would support that lady of the Inner Palace. Doesn’t he know that women meddling in politics is a great taboo in the National Dynasty?”

“Between two evils, choose the lesser!”

Lin Zhengben said gravely, “Compared to a woman ruling the state, I cannot stand by and watch His Majesty alter the ancestral system, causing morality to decay, rituals and music to collapse, and the Dynasty to fall!”

Zhou Yi frowned slightly, “His Majesty is clarifying land titles and reforming the tax system to benefit the common people. How could this endanger the National Dynasty?”

“His Majesty’s ambitions do not stop there!”

Lin Zhengben stated, “Word has come from within the palace that after the tax reform is implemented, His Majesty plans to abolish the tax-exempt fields of the literati and even gentlemen will have to serve and deliver grain…”

“Hiss!”

Zhou Yi took a deep breath, startled by these words.

With the Imperial Clan and the gentry jointly governing the realm, the Orthodox Emperor daring to tax the gentry could lead to a change of dynasties.

“Is this truly the case?”

“As a man soon to die, why would I deceive Your Excellency?”

Lin Zhengben proclaimed, “If His Majesty enforces such tyranny, there will be no distinction between a scholar and a commoner, a state and non-state. Even in death, I must prevent this!”

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“I come from humble origins, and often wondered in my youth why the wealthy landowners did not pay their share of the grain while our family could barely eat, not one grain less due in tax!”

Zhou Yi asked, “Minister Lin, can you tell me why that is?”

Lin Zhengben responded, “A few must rule the many for the National Dynasty to remain stable.”

Zhou Yi seemed to understand and summoned the young page to give an order.

“Take Minister Lin to the dungeon, guard him well, and for the moment, do not subject him to torture!”

…

All Nine Clans of the Lin family were captured and thrown into the dungeon.

The Imperial robes and Jade Seal they found were delivered to the Ministry of Revenue, and the two million Silver acquired by Lin Zhengben for “selling offices” were submitted to His Majesty’s private coffers.

Handled by the Eastern Depot, the ironclad evidence was incontrovertible!

With the case neatly closed, Zhou Yi returned to the duty hall.

The head of the Imperial Household had his own palace, but Zhou Yi still preferred the duty hall. Perhaps it was nostalgia, perhaps an unfounded sense of security, or maybe the feng shui at the Head’s office was not favorable.

Since the founding of the National Dynasty, no Head of the Imperial Household had met a good end!

Zhou Yi commanded, “Little Yinzi, summon the eunuchs from Yangxin Hall and Diligent Administration Hall. I have questions for them.”

“At once.”

Little Yinzi bowed to take the order and soon brought over a dozen off-duty eunuchs, who knelt before Zhou Yi and shouted in unison.

“We greet Your Excellency!”

“Rise.”

Zhou Yi blew on the steam rising from the tea in his cup, sipped it gently, and savored its fragrant and lingering aroma, far surpassing that of the tea leaves Lin Zhengben drank.

Going from luxury to simplicity is difficult; once accustomed to imperial tea, ordinary leaves just won’t do.

Having enjoyed glory and wealth, held power that could shake the heavens, it was impossible to return to being just another commoner.

“I’ve called you here because I have something to ask. Has His Majesty said any strange things, perhaps about the gentry, taxes, or dissatisfaction with scholars?”

The duty eunuchs thought hard but shook their heads one after another.

One of them, an eunuch named Little Pingzi, had a slightly unnatural expression and looked around before saying,

“Your Excellency, when I served His Majesty at night, I vaguely heard some words. Whether they were real or just dreams, I couldn’t tell.”

Zhou Yi gave a signal, and the other eunuchs immediately withdrew.

“What did His Majesty say in his dreams?”

Little Pingzi stated, “His Majesty’s words in his dreams were disjointed, and I didn’t catch them clearly. It was mostly scolding scholars, calling them the rot of the National Dynasty, hollowing out its very foundations…”

“Mm.”

Zhou Yi nodded slightly, stared coldly at Little Pingzi for a long while, and finally said slowly.

“The duty hall lacks a steward; you’ll start tomorrow. Serve well, and I will not let you down!”

“I thank Your Excellency.”

Little Pingzi’s face lit up with joy as he repeatedly kowtowed.

Zhou Yi gestured for Little Pingzi to withdraw, then sat alone in the Taishi Chair, pondering the likelihood of His Majesty taking action against the scholars.

“As difficult as reaching the heavens!”

“His Majesty lacks the authority of the Great Ancestor and does not have the respect of all the people. Implementing such radical policies would surely lead to turmoil in the National Dynasty… Perhaps, it is an opportunity for me!”

Suddenly.

The voice of Little Yinzi came from outside the door: “Godfather, Ling Long from Kunning Palace has arrived.”

“Send her in quickly.”

Zhou Yi’s expression changed dramatically, going from icy cold to enthusiastic as he watched Ling Long enter the room with a smile.

“Miss Ling Long, what brings you to seek me out?”

Ling Long said, “Please come to Kunning Palace, the Empress Dowager has questions to ask you.”

Zhou Yi paused slightly, his mind racing as he pondered the Empress Dowager’s schemes, yet his outward demeanor remained impeccably composed, “Please lead the way, Miss Ling Long, I shall pay a visit to Her Majesty immediately.”

Ling Long maintained an expressionless face and turned to leave, showing a strictly business-like attitude.

Last time when conveying Her Majesty’s decree, I unexpectedly arranged for several old eunuchs to go, each with old arms and legs, clearly dealing with the matter perfunctorily.

Bowing, Zhou Yi followed Ling Long, even though he had risen to the rank of Grand Supervisor, he was still but a servant in the barely tolerant eyes of the Empress Dowager, not daring to overstep his bounds.

He secretly made a fist gesture to Xiaoyinzi, signaling him to frame Ling Long’s foreign relatives from the palace, enticing them to break the law and then confine them all to the Inspectorate’s dungeon for interrogation.

Xiaoyinzi nodded subtly, effectively sentencing Ling Long’s family to death.

In this world, there were only a handful of people worthy to show disdain to the Supervisor, and Ling Long was certainly not among them!

While condemning an entire family, Zhou Yi pulled out a stack of silver notes from his sleeve and stuffed them into Ling Long’s hand, “I’m not sure what you like, Miss Ling Long, take this silver to buy whatever you want. If it’s not enough, go and get more from the Imperial Treasury.”

Ling Long touched the thickness of the silver notes, her expression lightening slightly.

“Thank you, Supervisor, be careful with your words when you see Her Majesty later, her mood hasn’t been good these days.”

Zhou Yi squinted his eyes, fearing that the Empress Dowager’s situation was not very good.

After all, the Supervisor of the Eastern Depot was an external official and the Emperor’s staunch confidant; the Empress Dowager’s direct summoning him without considering the Emperor’s thoughts clearly meant she wanted Zhou Yi to make a decision.

They arrived at Kunning Palace.

The foremost of the Inner Palace, one of the three grand halls of the Imperial Palace.

Following Ling Long inside, Zhou Yi stepped into the palace and immediately smelled an odd fragrance, vaguely familiar yet he couldn’t quite recall what it was.

The inner hall.

The Empress sat on the phoenix chair, watching Zhou Yi sliding on his knees towards her, she smiled and said.

“Rise, someone bring a seat for Eunuch Zhou.”

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace.”

Zhou Yi said, “It’s presumptuous to call oneself ‘eunuch’ before a noble person. His Majesty often calls me Little Yi, if Your Majesty doesn’t mind, such a term may feel more intimate.”

A chill flashed through the Empress’s eyes, this mere palace servant dared to get entangled in titles.

His deliberate mention of His Majesty was obviously a show of force.

“It really broadens my horizons to meet such a commanding figure as the Sword God of the Battlefield, the Supervisor of the Eastern Depot,” she said.

“I dare not assume such honor.”

Zhou Yi rose from the brocade cushion and bowed, “I am but the Emperor’s servant, what I say and do and even my name, all must follow His Majesty’s will.”

The Empress’s aura burst forth suddenly, an intense murderous intent enveloping the entire palace, as if a scorching sun had risen.

It was indeed the Three Suns Sect!

Zhou Yi, who had been bowing, suddenly stood upright, his aged and turbid eyes meeting the Empress’s gaze without any sign of retreat.

“Very well, very well, very well!”

Seeing this, the Empress knew Zhou Yi supported the Orthodox Emperor and said coldly, “Supervisor, do not forget, when Noble Consort Cui lost her child, the Emperor lost a son, someone will have to repay for this matter in the future.”

“Thank you for the reminder, Your Majesty.”

Zhou Yi glanced at Ling Long and said with a smile, “I have already found the real culprit and am only waiting for the right moment to submit the matter to His Majesty for judgment!”

With power and martial arts rendered useless, the Empress issued a dismissal order.

“Look after yourself, Supervisor. I am tired, you may withdraw.”

“This humble one takes his leave.”

Zhou Yi bowed slightly and left of his own accord.

Previously, I heard Old Lu talk about fate and causation, how eventually the Emperor will be ousted, and I heard that the Orthodox Emperor wanted to risk a great taboo and enact unprecedented reforms. My feelings were somewhat inclined towards the Empress.

However, upon entering Kunning Palace and identifying the source of the strange fragrance, Zhou Yi leaned towards the Orthodox Emperor again.

The scent of Sichuan pepper!

“Old Lu mentioned Sichuan pepper; he was warning me about the Empress. He reminded me that everything I heard and saw was directed by the Empress, aiming to make me join in palace uprisings and rebellion!”

Zhou Yi hurried along as this realization dawned on him.

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The Cold Palace.

Pushing the door and entering, there was no sign of Old Lu on the steps.

Zhou Yi entered the sleeping chamber, where a strong scent of blood assaulted his nostrils, and on the bed lay a disfigured, skeletal corpse.

The runes were strange, the white bones chilling.

Sharp blades had peeled open the viscera, iron nails pierced through the meridians, the hands and feet twisted and folded, the skull turned twice over with the face downward, and only through the clothing could one scarcely identify it as Old Lu.