I embezzled 100,000 taels at the beginning, and the empress begged me to be more greedy

At this moment, Jiang Zuo froze and felt confused, as if he was a child who had made a mistake and was about to be punished.

He stopped where he was, watched the other officials leave, and asked, "Does your majesty have any other instructions?"

Jiang Zuo was actually still a little panicked.

The previous meeting between Qin Yu and the empress in the mansion was not as tense as imagined, but perhaps Chen Qingyun wanted to save this moment to start teaching Jiang Zuo a lesson.

After the others left, Chen Qingyun had a more serious expression. He came to Jiang Zuo and asked, "Why are you so uneasy today? The more I asked you just now, the more perfunctory you were. Could it be that you no longer want to be the Prime Minister of the Cabinet?"

Jiang Zuo said calmly, "Your Majesty, to be honest, I really don't want to be the minister anymore."

"No, I have to think about it even if I don't want to."

Chen Qingyun would not give Jiang Zuo a chance to escape.

Jiang Zuo smiled helplessly and said nothing.

"You look worried, is there something on your mind?" Chen Qingyun asked again.

Now, every expression of Jiang Zuo could not deceive her eyes.

Jiang Zuo said, "I have nothing on my mind. I am just a little tired these past few days. I did not get enough rest last night, which made me feel quite depressed today. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Chen Qingyun stared at Jiang Zuo's evasive eyes and asked, "Why can't you sleep well? Are you thinking about other women?"

This question is simply a life-threatening one.

Jiang Zuo said calmly, "Yes, I was thinking about Your Majesty the whole night."

"Slippery tongue." Chen Qingyun said softly, turned back to the desk and sat down slowly, "Do you have a complicated relationship with Qin Yu?"

Sure enough, the empress was still thinking about this matter.

Jiang Zuo had long anticipated that Chen Qingyun would ask about this, and replied, "It's just an ordinary relationship, Your Majesty, please don't misunderstand."

"When we met yesterday, I felt that you two had more than just an ordinary relationship."

Chen Qingyun knew at a glance that Jiang Zuo was lying.

Jiang Zuo covered his chest and said, "Your Majesty, please believe me. I cover my conscience and swear that I have never fallen in love with someone else."

"I'm not doubting your infidelity, I just think that if that girl really likes you, you should not let her down. If you two really have feelings for each other, I won't blame you."

Chen Qingyun said this in a rather calm tone, as if he was not really angry.

But usually at times like this, people who say they won't be angry will eventually get angry afterwards.

With Jiang Zuo's cautious character, how could he fall into the trap? He quickly said, "Your Majesty, Siyue, this matter is definitely not what you think."

"If she doesn't like you, why would she come all the way from the south to the capital?" Chen Qingyun said.

With that said, Jiang Zuo really couldn't explain it.

Qin Yu had expressed her love to Jiang Zuo many times before, but Jiang Zuo was only thinking about Chen Qingyun and did not accept Qin Yu's love.

Now Qin Yu has come to him again, and he hasn't met Chen Qingyun before. Now Jiang Zuo is really worried about the rest of his life and the happiness of his lower body.

"Perhaps there is. Your Majesty, please punish me..."

Jiang Zuo said helplessly.

Things have developed to this point and there is no way for him to hide anymore.

"How can I bear to punish you?" Chen Qingyun changed the subject: "Now the noble families in the southeast are rebelling, maybe the Qin family behind her can help."

Jiang Zuo then raised his head and said, "Your Majesty, do you mean to use the power of the Qin family to help the court quell the unrest in the southeast?"

Before this, Jiang Zuo had also used the Qin family to help deal with the State of Chen.

Now that there is trouble in the South again, we still have to rely on aristocratic families like the Qin family to solve the problem at its root.

"Now the noble families in the southeast are ready to make a move. If we don't stop them, the situation will definitely become more chaotic in the future. The Qin family is also quite prestigious in the southeast. If the Qin family can stabilize the other noble families, then the court will not need too many troops to guard against them."

"Your Majesty, what you said makes sense." Jiang Zuo also nodded.

"So, this task is left to you." Chen Qingyun said.

"Another minister? I'm afraid the Qin family won't agree so easily." Jiang Zuo was somewhat reluctant.

"Don't you have a close relationship with the Qin family? Even the third lady is your admirer." There were other meanings in Chen Qingyun's words.

"Does Your Majesty want me to sell my body?" Jiang Zuo asked.

"you dare!"

Chen Qingyun suddenly said in a stern voice.

Jiang Zuo was completely stunned.

The angry empress is so beautiful.

"Ahem..." Chen Qingyun calmed down a little and said, "Let's talk business. As long as you can convince the Qin family again, I will not pursue the past."

Jiang Zuo said, "What about the past? Your Majesty, do you really think that I have any relationship with Miss Qin?"

"It's hard to say. You are a born liar. I don't believe you." Chen Qingyun said in a rather cold tone.

Chen Qingyun knew Jiang Zuo's character best.

This has become a crisis of trust.

Jiang Zuo quickly explained: "The past is the past. I will never lie to you now."

"No matter what, you must deal with the Qin family as soon as possible. As long as these nobles don't rebel, I can give them more benefits." Chen Qingyun was only thinking about business.

Jiang Zuo said: "Why not instruct the officials in Jiankang City to contact the Qin family first?"

Chen Qingyun shook his head and said, "The efficiency of those local officials is too slow. I don't trust them very much."

The State of Yan is so large that not all matters are under Chen Qingyun's control. When he gives orders, many people still pretend to obey them but actually disobey them.

Jiang Zuo also said: "Some local officials are indeed not very reliable."

"The corruption problem inside and outside the court is difficult to eradicate. Even if I kill as many people as possible, it will be useless."

Chen Qingyun couldn't help but shook his head helplessly and sighed.

The empress was well-known for her hatred of corruption, and she had killed countless corrupt officials before this.

Of course, the corrupt official Jiang Zuo is not on the list.

"I have not yet dealt with the court officials on the list of corrupt officials that you submitted to me earlier. Do you have any suggestions?" Chen Qingyun asked again.

Jiang Zuo thought for a moment before saying, "I think we should keep the status quo first, and after the imperial examination, select a new batch of talents to gradually replace the old forces in the court."

The operation of the court requires those old ministers. If they are replaced rashly, it will only increase the pressure on the empress.

Jiang Zuo said: "Since corruption cannot be eradicated, we can only use severe criminal law. If the imperial treasury is still sufficient, Your Majesty might as well try the method of using high salaries to maintain integrity."

"High salaries to maintain integrity? I'm afraid it will only be a temporary solution and not a fundamental solution." Chen Qingyun was still a little worried.

Jiang Zuo said: "I can devise a better solution for Your Majesty."

"In that case, you should stay in the palace tonight and have a good chat with me."

Chen Qingyun's eyes suddenly became more charming.

"hiss……"

Jiang Zuo suddenly felt a pain in his back and waist.