The Legend of Zhen Huan: Year after year, we share the spring breeze

Three days later, during the morning court session, a minister reported that the Lianghuai Salt Transport Commissioner Muleng had embezzled salt taxes and misappropriated a huge amount of silver from the treasury, amounting to one million taels!

The detailed account books attached to the memorial recorded every piece of evidence of Muling's corruption over the years, and even the holiday gifts he gave to officials in various prefectures were recorded clearly.

The whole court was in an uproar. This could be regarded as the biggest corruption case in this dynasty.

Since Yongzheng ascended the throne, he has used thundering measures to rectify the administration of officials.

First, the Imperial Examination Office was established, with the Ministry of Revenue and the Censorate working together to examine the accounts of each province's finances and grain. Any shortfalls were to be remedied within a specified timeframe. The Thirteen Yamen and the Imperial Household Department were also ordered to conduct mutual audits, ensuring that all internal and external accounts were fully transparent and that no further manipulation was possible.

He also implemented a secret memorial system, granting officials of the fourth rank and above the right to report directly to the emperor. Every move of the officials was under the emperor's scrutiny. Everyone in the court was insecure, yet they also kept each other in check.

He also implemented the policy of "returning fire consumption to the public" in various places, established "anti-corruption silver", increased the legal income of officials, and reduced the motivation for corruption.

Unexpectedly, there are still people who commit crimes against the law.

In the Hall of Mental Cultivation, two large fire baskets were burning brightly, filling the hall with warmth, which formed a sharp contrast with the ice and snow outside.

Yongzheng looked at the memorials on the table, laughed in anger, and the jade beads in his hand creaked.

He recalled that every time Mu Ling came to see the emperor over the years, he always wore half-worn official uniform, even the silk ribbon on his court beads was frayed. Thinking about that honest and loyal appearance now, it was extremely ironic!

He also talked about collusion between salt merchants, constant natural disasters, and rampant smuggling of salt. Every word of lament was spoken with sincerity, and even the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes showed his concern for the country and the people.

Seeing how haggard he looked, Yongzheng became more tolerant of the decreasing amount of tax silver he collected, and tried every possible way to relieve his worries.

Yongzheng suddenly felt a tightness in his chest.

In recent years, in order to fill the deficit in the national treasury, he was reluctant to make more dragon robes. In the summer, he was sweating profusely while reviewing memorials, but he was reluctant to use more ice cubes.

But this minister who always claimed to be "sharing the emperor's worries" actually put the people's hard-earned money into his own pocket!

Thinking of this, his hatred for Muleng increased a little more.

Su Peisheng entered the palace cautiously: "Your Majesty, Concubine Shun has taken off her hairpin and is waiting for punishment. She has been kneeling outside the palace for half an hour..."

Yongzheng rubbed his temples, a hint of impatience flashing in his eyes: "She just had a miscarriage and is weak. She will get sick again if she gets caught in the snow. Go and tell her that I don't have time to see her now. Tell her to go back and take good care of herself. Her father's affairs will not involve her!"

Su Peisheng hesitated to speak, but ultimately bowed his head and retreated. After a moment, he hurried back: "Your Majesty, Concubine Shun said... that if she can't see Your Majesty, she would rather kneel and die here..."

"Nonsense!" Yongzheng threw down his red brush, causing it to bounce a few times on the table before rolling to the floor. He took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and said, "Send Concubine Hui over and persuade her to go back."

Su Peisheng lowered his head even lower, his voice as thin as a mosquito: "Your Majesty, since last month... Concubine Hui has lost the power to assist in the management of the six palaces..."

Yongzheng was startled, then he remembered that he had taken his anger out on Shen Meizhuang because of Zhen Huan's matter and had taken back her authority. He knocked on the table in frustration: "What about Concubine Jing? Let her come!"

"This..." Su Peisheng looked embarrassed. "The Third Prince's wedding is coming soon, and Concubine Jing has to take care of both the wedding and the palace affairs. The maids in Xianfu Palace said that Concubine Jing has been up all night for three consecutive nights. When she got up this morning, she vomited blood, but she still insisted on staying up and refused to rest. If she was asked to come in the snow..."

Su Peisheng didn't finish his words and looked at Yongzheng with some embarrassment.

When Yongzheng heard this, he felt his temples throbbing and a sharp pain spread from his forehead.

He couldn't help but start to miss Zhen Huan's sweet words.

Yongzheng finally sighed and stood up tremblingly, supporting himself on the dragon table.

Su Peisheng hurried forward to help him, but he was waved away by him.

The moment the door of the temple was opened, a biting cold wind wrapped in snowflakes blew in my face.

Yongzheng couldn't help but squint his eyes. He saw Mu Jingqiu kneeling alone in the snow at the foot of the white marble steps in front of the palace. She was wearing only a thin, plain palace dress, without even a cloak to protect her from the snow. The tiara and pearl hairpins on her head had long been removed. Her long black hair was covered with thick snow. From a distance, she looked like a snowman.

"Your Majesty..." When Mu Jingqiu saw Yongzheng coming out, he hurriedly supported himself with his hands and tried to stand up to salute, but his legs were frozen from kneeling for too long, and he stumbled and fell back into the snow.

When she raised her face, Yongzheng could see her pale face clearly - her once delicate lips were frozen purple, and her eyelashes were covered with tiny ice crystals, making her look like an ice sculpture of a beauty.

"My father..." Her voice trembled violently, the white breath she exhaled quickly dissipating in the wind and snow. "He was simply possessed by a ghost for a moment... I beg Your Majesty to show mercy to him, considering his hard work over the years, even though he may not have made any contributions..."

Snowflakes fell on Yongzheng's bright yellow dragon robe and quickly melted into dark water stains.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes three times colder than the coldest days of winter: "Muling betrayed the emperor's grace, accepted bribes and perverted the law. The evidence is irrefutable."

Each word pierced the figure in the snow like an icicle. "I have issued an edict. All members of the Mu family, regardless of gender, age or status, shall be executed and their property confiscated."

Mu Jingqiu was so shocked by the words that she couldn't even cry. She stared at Yongzheng blankly. This kind of treatment didn't contain even a trace of pity for her.

Her frozen fingers grasped the hem of the dragon robe, "Your Majesty, please, for the sake of my child, at least... at least spare my young nephew... He's only ten years old..."

Yongzheng looked down at this once gentle and lovely concubine. Her hair was disheveled at the moment, and her face was covered in ice water mixed with tears. Where was her former charm?

He ruthlessly lifted his foot to break free from Mu Jingqiu's hand, then turned and walked into the palace. "I won't implicate you in this, but if you continue to pester me, I will punish both you and your father. Su Peisheng, have Concubine Shun sent back to the palace."

The sound of the palace door closing heavily was drowned out by the wind and snow.

Mu Jingqiu collapsed to the ground.

Return to Changchun Palace.

Cuixiang quickly helped her bathe, change clothes and lie down on the bed, and then took the hot water bottle and put it in her hand.

The copper hot water bottle was scalding hot, but it couldn't warm her cold hands.

Mu Jingqiu lay on the bed, his eyes filled with despair, "I was wrong, I overestimated myself, Your Majesty..."

In a flash, she suddenly remembered what An Lingrong had said a few days ago. She quickly used up her last bit of strength to prop herself up and said in a hoarse, incoherent voice, "Cuixiang, go and get Concubine Wen, quickly!"

Cuixiang didn't dare to delay and immediately rushed to Yonghe Palace.

When she arrived at Yonghe Palace, she found out that Shen Meiyu and An Lingrong had gone to Xianfu Palace. She did not stop and rushed to Xianfu Palace.