Catching Monsters

Chapter 133 New Year’s Eve
Soon, the news of this case spread rapidly throughout the capital, and everyone who heard about it was somewhat incredulous.

The 100,000 taels of silver allocated by the Ministry of Revenue to the border troops were robbed back by the Minister of Revenue himself.

All the ministers in the court were shocked when they heard the news.

Some people lamented that Chang Pingyuan was too greedy for money and dared to touch such money.

Some people were also extremely angry. Of course, the reason for their anger was not that Chang Pingyuan embezzled the imperial military pay.

It was because this bastard had just taken office, and many officials had sent him generous gifts, hoping to gain some benefits later through Chang Pingyuan's relationship.

I didn't expect that this guy would go in directly now. Where can I go to seek justice?

Some officials in the Ministry of Revenue knew that there was a huge deficit within the Ministry, but no one expected that Chang Pingyuan would make money in this way.

Only Chang Pingyuan felt wronged, as he did send people to rob the silver.

But who would have thought that the silver would suddenly appear in his yard.

Of course, for the time being, these have nothing to do with Jiang Yun.

Chang Pingyuan is probably dead, so we no longer have a major worry.

Jiang Yun was in a very good mood. He walked on the street, humming a little tune, and returned to the inn where he lived.

He first came to the room at the entrance of Linglong, raised his hand and knocked on the door, and asked respectfully: "Master, are you there?"

A gust of wind blew, and the door opened with a clang. Linglong was sitting by the window in the quaint room, reading a book in her hand.

She turned around and looked at Jiang Yun, her voice flat: "Have I helped you a lot? Next, I need your help."

Jiang Yun hurriedly bowed and prepared to say some official words of thanks, but Linglong raised her hand and asked in confusion: "Did you see the Dog Emperor today?"

Hearing this, Jiang Yun was slightly surprised.

Linglong smiled faintly and pointed to the bustling streets outside the window: "I told you that we have many people from the Red Lotus Sect in the capital, including in Changping Yuan's mansion, there are also people from our Red Lotus Sect."

"I know exactly what happened in there."

"Today, the dog emperor should have been no more than half a foot away from you. If you had taken action at that time, you might have been able to kill him. What a pity."

After finishing speaking, Linglong slowly stood up, walked to Jiang Yun, and patted Jiang Yun's shoulder meaningfully: "On the first day of the new year, you have to help me kill the dog emperor."

Jiang Yun couldn't help but complain in his heart. With his own ability, how could he kill the Emperor?

What's more, whether you succeed or not, you can't survive.

He didn't believe that the Red Lotus Sect, a group of traitors, would really protect him.

And not only himself, but also Jiang Qiaoqiao would be implicated and would not be able to survive.

I'm a small flag of the Jinyiwei and I'm living a comfortable life. Why would I want to risk my life with these guys?

Although he thought so in his heart, he quickly agreed: "Master, rest assured, as long as I find an opportunity, I will definitely kill the dog emperor!"

Linglong smiled slightly: "On the first day of the new year, the dog emperor will go to the imperial mausoleum to worship his ancestors, and you Jinyiwei will be there to protect him."

"I'll have someone arrange for you to get closer to the Dog Emperor."

"When the time comes, our people will attack. You can take advantage of the chaos and kill the dog emperor."

"is that OK?"

Jiang Yun nodded without hesitation, with a smile on his face: "Of course no problem."

Linglong looked him up and down again: "Did you agree so readily?"

"I am happy to take revenge."

Linglong always felt that Jiang Yun was a little too straightforward. You know, even those of her subordinates hated the court to the core and had deep vengeance.

When it comes to personally assassinating the emperor, it takes a long time of psychological preparation.

Looking at Jiang Yun's serious and innocent eyes, Linglong frowned and said no more.

After exiting the exquisite house and returning to his own room, Jiang Yun finally had time to meditate and practice.

The power of the Red Lotus Cult is even greater than he had expected. Even in the distant mansion of Changping, there are people from the Red Lotus Cult.

The six ministries include the Censorate, the Ministry of Public Security, the Supreme Court, the Hanlin Academy, etc.

God knows how many people are colluding with the Red Lotus Sect.

They wanted to kill the emperor and rebel...

To be honest, Jiang Yun was not very optimistic about this. He also knew that it was impossible to change the dynasty just by killing an emperor.

Jiang Yun practiced quietly to consolidate the magic power in his body.

……

In the Imperial Palace, in the Imperial Study, Xiao Yuzheng had a gloomy face, looking at the memorials from all over the country, but he was in no mood. Seeing this, Feng Yu, who was serving beside him, smiled and whispered, "Your Majesty, why don't you take a break and walk around the Imperial Garden to relax."

Xiao Yuzheng threw the memorial in his hand aside and asked coldly: "My Minister of Revenue, why should I worry about robbing the Ministry of Revenue's money!"

"Did Changpingyuan recruit?"

Feng Yu's heart skipped a beat. He had actually received the news from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but seeing that Xiao Yuzheng was in a bad mood, he did not dare to report it.

At this time, His Majesty took the initiative to ask, and he said tremblingly: "Your Majesty..."

"Hired."

"Changping Yuan claimed that the one who robbed the silver was Anguogong Tao Anbang..."

Tao Anbang can be regarded as the youngest person with the title of Duke in the entire Great Zhou Dynasty.

The reason is simple. All the men in the family died on the battlefield for the Great Zhou Dynasty. Normally, Tao Anbang should have led the troops to the border and continue to guard the border for His Majesty.

However, the women in the Duke An's Mansion firmly opposed it. A few years ago, they wrote a letter to His Majesty, claiming that there was only one male left in the Duke An's Mansion and hoped that His Majesty would keep him to command troops near the capital.

Xiao Yuzheng thought that Tao Anbang was young and that the male members of the Anguo Mansion were almost extinct because they were stationed at the border. So he nodded and agreed to let him serve as the deputy commander in the Tianqi Army.

"Duke Anguo?" Xiao Yuzheng fell silent after hearing this: "Is he crazy? Did the Tianqi Army also withhold his salary?"

Feng Yu quickly replied: "That's not the case. According to Chang Pingyuan..."

"Over the years, the troops guarding the northern border and the southern barbarians have often been short of silver and pay."

"Most of these dukes and generals are Tao Anbang's uncles or good friends of my father."

"Ask Tao Anbang for help."

"Tao Anbang colluded with Qian Baolei, a doctor in the Ministry of Revenue's salary department, and transported some silver from the Ministry of Revenue to lend to these uncles as a temporary payment for the military."

"As a result, Chang Pingyuan discovered the flaw and seized the handle. He used this as a threat, and Tao Anbang agreed to help him seize this batch of military pay."

After finishing the report, Feng Yu remained silent, quietly waiting for Xiao Yuzheng's reaction.

Xiao Yuzheng was silent for a while before he sighed, "It's all about corruption again, withholding military pay."

"Do many people know about this?"

Feng Yu whispered, "Don't worry, Your Majesty, it's not much."

Xiao Yuzheng closed his eyes and said slowly: "Sentence Changpingyuan to be beheaded, the male members of his family to be exiled to the northern border, and the female members of his family to be imprisoned in the Jiaofangsi."

"Besides, the New Year is coming soon, so don't involve other people."

"Go to Anguogong Tao Anbang in person, give him some warning, and take away a red-lettered iron certificate from his family as atonement for his crime."

Several generations of Anguo Duke Tao Anbang's ancestors died on the battlefield while guarding the frontier.

If Tao Anbang's family were destroyed and his property confiscated because of something like this, it would probably affect the morale of the army.

"Besides, the New Year is coming soon." Xiao Yuzheng looked at the snow outside the window and said, "After the New Year, I will focus on punishing corruption."

"If we don't put an end to this trend of corruption, I'm afraid there will be chaos."

Feng Yu's heart skipped a beat, but he still said loudly, "Your Majesty is wise."

In the following few days, Jiang Yun seldom went out. He spent most of his time in his room in the inn meditating and practicing to consolidate his cultivation.

Linglong was rather mysterious. Sometimes she would read a book and admire the snow at the window of the next room, and sometimes she would disappear, seeming to have no idea what she was busy with.

The Chinese New Year is getting closer and closer.

Soon, it was New Year's Eve.

The streets are gradually filled with the flavor of the New Year, with lights and decorations and the word "Fu" (good luck) posted everywhere.

Those who can afford it have already changed into bright red clothes.

Those whose families are less well-off would also take out a red cotton jacket and put it on.

There are also many vendors selling couplets or firecrackers on the busy streets.

Everyone had a joyful look on their face.

Early in the morning, there was a knock on Jiang Yun's door.

Jiang Yun opened his eyes and hurried forward to open the door, but it was Xu Suwen outside the house.

At this time, Xu Suwen was wearing a light pink women's long gown and had her black hair draped over her shoulders, which was very different from her usual image.

On weekdays, she usually ties her hair up, wears tight clothes, and doesn't look like a daughter at all.

Because of this problem, mother Tao Yuelan had a headache for a long time.

This time when she came back, she actually tried wearing women's clothes, and occasionally she would secretly put some rouge on her face in the house.

It just always feels awkward, so I wipe it off quickly.

The others didn't know about it, but Jiang Qiaoqiao saw it several times.

"Why is Miss Xu here?" Jiang Yun smiled and quickly made way to invite Xu Suwen into the house.

After entering the house and sitting down, Xu Suwen coughed and said, "Tonight is New Year's Eve. My mother thought that you and Qiaoqiao don't have any relatives in the capital, so it would be a bit lonely. She specially asked me to come here and invite you to celebrate the New Year at my home."

Hearing this, Jiang Yun nodded and agreed without hesitation, saying with a smile: "Okay, I'll go buy some New Year's goods and meet my uncle and aunt."

"I'll go with you." Xu Suwen looked towards the next room and said, "I heard from Xu Xiaogang that you took in a maid? Do you want to bring her along?"

Jiang Yun shook his head. Linglong left the inn last night.

He knew clearly that this group of people were going to assassinate the emperor tomorrow, so he had to make arrangements today. How could they follow him to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion to have the New Year's Eve dinner?

It would also easily cause trouble for the Duke of Zhenguo.

"Let's go and see what New Year's goods we can buy for my parents."

The two walked out of the inn. The snow on the street had already been cleared to both sides of the street.

The streets are bustling with people.

"I wonder what uncle and aunt like?"

Looking at the dazzling array of shops, Jiang Yun asked curiously.

Xu Suwen smiled and said, "Just buy whatever you like."

Jiang Yun touched his pocket and found that he was a little short of money...

He had only a little over 100 taels of silver on him, which was certainly not a small amount of money for an ordinary family.

But as a New Year's gift to be taken to the Duke's Mansion, it is a bit shabby.

Xu Suwen noticed Jiang Yun's actions and laughed: "Take whatever you want, I'll pay."

(End of this chapter)