Princess Promotion

Even though the head of the Wu family was worried in his heart, he remained calm on the surface. Yao Chuguang called him by name, so how could he pretend not to hear it?

The head of the Wu family took a deep breath, slowly walked into the hall, and said righteously, "I am not good at judging cases, but if it is true as the complaint says, the official is corrupt and perverts the law. His crimes are extremely serious and should be severely punished."

Yao Chuguang nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction flashing in her eyes.

Just when the head of the Wu family breathed a sigh of relief and thought he had escaped danger.

Then Yao Chuguang said with admiration, "I thought you would plead for this person because he is your nephew's relative."

The head of the Wu family shuddered at the moment. He knew that His Majesty would not have chosen him for no reason. It turned out that he was waiting for him here.

The flourishing of aristocratic families does not refer to the few people serving as officials in the court, but to the fact that there are no people like them in the entire county of Da Qi.

Apart from some close relatives, the head of the Wu family has so many distant relatives in remote areas that he himself doesn't know how many there are.

Anyway, most of the relatives who come to visit me every year are strangers.

There were so many people who came to file complaints this time, and they were from all over the provinces and counties of Qi State. Even the head of the Wu family himself didn't believe that there was no official or wealthy businessman among them who had any relationship with his family.

There are no poor families in the upper class, and no aristocrats in the lower class. This is not just talk.

The only thing that the head of the Wu family could be thankful for was that the other noble families serving in the same court with him could not escape.

If Yao Chuguang really wants to investigate thoroughly, no one can escape responsibility.

As the saying goes, the law does not punish everyone. If everyone makes a mistake together, Yao Chuguang can't dismiss all of them!

The head of the Wu family originally wanted to first write down who was sued, and then go back and check the family tree to see if those people had any connection with his family.

If there is any, immediately distance yourself from it to avoid being caught by Yao Chuguang.

What the head of the Wu family never dreamed of was that he was still racking his brains to figure out whether those people were related to his family.

Yao Chuguang, without blinking, directly reported the man's background.

What shocked the head of the Wu family even more was that Yao Chuguang actually picked out five or six petitions from the pile, pointed to the names on them and started reading them, and each time he read a name, he would report the relationship between the person and him.

In the end, the head of the Wu family was so annoyed that you, the great empress, knew all the in-laws of his family well.

This means he has memorized his entire family tree, right?

What makes people's spines shiver the most is that Yao Chuguang knows it better than himself. How can he deny his involvement?

The head of the Wu family opened his mouth, not knowing how to argue for a long time. He could only kneel down and keep saying: "I deserve to die! I deserve to die!"

The Wu family head's survival rule is to ask for mercy first when in doubt, because you can't beat the thigh with your arm.

Yao Chuguang did not fly into a rage as everyone expected, or punish the head of the Wu family severely to serve as a warning to other families.

We must exercise more control over our clansmen in the future, otherwise the case of the head of the Wu family will serve as a lesson for us.

Even the head of the Wu family felt that he was unlucky to be chosen by Yao Chuguang, and he was probably going to be in trouble this time.

Yao Chuguang suddenly looked at Zhou Mingrui and said, "Calculate how much miscellaneous taxes this Zhongzhou County Magistrate collected. Zhongzhou has a population of 50,000. How much tax has he collected in the few years since he took office? How much tax silver has he embezzled..."

Listening to Yao Chuguang reading out the details of various exorbitant taxes and levies, he actually calculated with Zhou Mingrui on the spot how much silver these county magistrates had embezzled.

Finally, Zhou Mingrui held a small abacus and began to calculate carefully. "Your Majesty! The total is five hundred and seventy-three hundred taels of silver."

Yao Chuguang nodded in satisfaction, looked at the head of the Wu family and said, "I understand that Minister Wu has a large family and many members. With so many people, it is inevitable that there will be omissions, and there will always be a few members who go astray."

Yao Chuguang's tone when he said this could be described as gentle, but Patriarch Wu was horrified when he heard it.

Yao Chuguang said with a look of understanding, "We are all family. Minister Wu should persuade them to pay the tax and set an example for the rest of the family so that they can learn from this."

Yao Chuguang said that he understood every word, but every word he said was digging into the sore spot of the Wu family head.

Even if Yao Chuguang did not issue an order for punishment openly, the punishment in secret was not light at all.

More than 500,000 taels of silver, where could he get so much money? It would be better to just confiscate the property of those unknown relatives, but he still couldn't get so much silver.

An Yaochuguang calculated that they had indeed embezzled so much money, but that corrupt official would hold on to the embezzled money and not spend it!

All this welcoming and seeing off guests, eating, drinking and having fun, none of it requires money.

The head of the Wu family knew with his eyes closed that it would be considered frugal if half of the money could be saved.

Yao Chuguang only counts the income and not the expenses, which is simply being a hooligan. It is obvious that he wants the head of the Wu family to fill this hole himself.

Just as Patriarch Wu was about to speak and struggle, Yao Chuguang's expression suddenly changed, turning gloomy. "What? Patriarch Wu is trying to say that he doesn't know these people and that you're all alone?"

The head of the Wu family choked. He wanted to say that, but Yao Chuguang's words were obviously a warning to him that if he dared not admit it, he would become a real lonely man.

The head of the Wu family shuddered and said, "I will obey your order. When I return, I will persuade them to pay the tax and let the clan members learn from this."

Yao Chuguang then revealed a satisfied smile and waved his hand to signal the head of the Wu family to leave.

The following scene was a nightmare for the court officials. Some of the officials who were hoping for a lucky break were ruthlessly crushed by Yao Chuguang.

Because Yao Chuguang really knew everyone's family tree by heart, note that it was everyone.

Even the in-laws of one of his younger sisters' husbands' younger sister-in-law's family could be snatched out by Yao Chuguang, and the money was settled one by one.

Although most of those implicated were old ministers of Qi, few of the followers of the old ministers of Western Zhou were implicated.

This is not because their people are so honest, but mainly because Yao Chuguang had already cleaned up the place when he attacked.

Later, Meng Changjun's case was cleared up again. Now, it can be said that all the old officials of the Western Zhou Dynasty are honest officials. After all, those who were not honest officials would have been dismissed and investigated long ago.

Although Yao Chuguang was suppressing the aristocratic families of Qi, he also made the old ministers of the Western Zhou Dynasty tremble with fear, and felt that they would suffer if one of them died.

Their new empress doesn't play by the rules. When you think she will be gentle, she will just raise her sword and harvest heads.

You thought she would fly into a rage and start killing people, but she cut the meat gently with a blunt knife.

With just Yao Chuguang's harvest this time, he was able to push these aristocratic families to the brink of bankruptcy in one go.

Yao Chuguang obviously wanted them to pay for these holes out of their own pockets.

If you dare not make up for the money, you will be forcing Yao Chuguang to get serious with you.

Because when these corrupt officials were investigated about the whereabouts of their money, they would not say a word. After all the years of being an official, there is no one who has not received filial piety from his subordinates.

Even if they don't have to do anything, their subordinates will rush to give them money.

Now Yao Chuguang wanted them to vomit out whatever they had eaten.

After dealing with a pile of complaints from the previous dynasty, Yao Chuguang withdrew from the court, changed into a light casual outfit, and walked towards the side hall.

Xiao Liang had already found his father's entourage outside the main hall. After giving him a few brief instructions, he asked the entourage to lead the way home.

Li Yinhan looked at the sky and knew it was getting late, so he asked the palace servants to serve the meal.

When Yao Chuguang arrived at the side hall, he saw a palace maid walking towards him with a plate of fragrant braised pork elbow.

Yao Chuguang took the plate, walked into the hall, and dismissed the palace maid.

Li Yinhan looked up and saw Yao Chuguang coming in with an elbow. He asked in a casual tone, "Would you like to eat together?"

Lin'er naturally noticed Yao Chuguang, but her clothes were not conspicuous and her specific grade could not be seen.

In addition, Li Yinhan's attitude was casual, and Yao Chuguang was holding a plate of pork elbow. Lin'er subconsciously thought that she was just a female official in the palace and did not think much about it.

Yao Chuguang nodded, put his elbows on the table, and then found a seat to sit down.

Seeing Yao Chuguang sitting next to her so naturally, Lin'er said to her in a familiar manner, "Miss Lin'er, you've worked hard on the journey. Eat more. If there's anything you want to eat, just tell me."

No, who are you, sister?

Even if you are the most favored maid in front of the empress, you cannot be so presumptuous!

Li Yinhan is the cousin of Her Majesty the Empress after all, and a second-rank general of the current dynasty. Just because people are polite to you, are you really not polite at all?

He acted like the host and asked her to order the dishes. This is the imperial palace, and even if you are a royal relative, you cannot be so presumptuous!

Lin'er looked at Li Yinhan and found that he had no reaction at all. He picked up the chopsticks and started to eat.

No! Bro, you are too easygoing!

But Lin'er had just arrived, and she wasn't sure about the identity of the woman in front of her. It was better to have less trouble than more, so she politely declined, "That's enough, no need to bother."

Yao Chuguang didn't say much, picked up his chopsticks and started picking up food to eat.

There were only three people at the table. Li Yinhan and Yao Chuguang chatted casually with a familiar look on their faces, and occasionally said a few words to Lin'er.

If there were outsiders present, the atmosphere would seem quite harmonious. Only Lin'er, who was in the middle of it, felt that things had developed so outrageously.

How come they suddenly started eating in harmony?

Li Yinhan didn't even introduce who the woman sitting next to her was. Is it really okay for them to just sit together and have dinner like this?

Lin'er was so worried that her stomach hurt. How could she just ask Li Yinhan who this woman was?

And aren’t they waiting to see the emperor?

Is it really okay to eat like this?

What if His Majesty summons us or comes over suddenly?

When Lin'er thought about what would happen if the empress suddenly came over with food in her mouth, she wanted to die.

But dinner was already served, and it would be unreasonable for her not to join the table to eat.

Lin'er had only been in the palace for half a day when she had already lost several strands of her hair due to tangles.

After much deliberation, Lin'er finally asked Li Yinhan, "We're waiting for His Majesty to summon us. Wouldn't it be inappropriate to eat early?"

Li Yinhan paused for a moment as he picked up food with his chopsticks and looked at Yao Chuguang who was also picking up food beside him.

The air suddenly became quiet.

Li Yinhan finally realized that he had forgotten to introduce Lin'er.

Yao Chuguang was wondering if she would be mistaken for a palace maid again!

Lin'er saw the two men suddenly stop, and alarm bells rang in her heart.

Did she say something she shouldn't have?

It’s not like they have forgotten about meeting the emperor!

Lin Er stared at Li Yinhan and found that Li Yinhan actually looked away with a guilty look!!!

He actually felt guilty???

Lin'er only felt the veins on her forehead throbbing. She remembered the history books she had read before. After the emperor achieved success, the first thing he did was to kill his meritorious officials.

I didn’t quite understand it before, but now seeing Li Yinhan’s nonchalant look, I finally understand why the emperor wanted to kill his meritorious officials.

He is the emperor, the supreme ruler, and you are a minister who is arrogant because of his favor and does not even take the emperor seriously.

Li Yinhan relied on the fact that the empress was his cousin and did whatever he wanted without fear of being affected, but she was afraid!

If Lin'er wasn't in the palace now, she would definitely jump up and beat Li Yinhan to death.

Lin'er's face turned a little dark, and just when she was getting emotional, Bai Yehan came in after finishing his business.

As soon as Bai Yehan entered the room, he saw the dinner already laid out and said, "Hey! Dinner is ready!"

There was a hint of teasing in his voice, and he was completely unaware of the delicate atmosphere at the scene.

Afterwards, Bai Yehan noticed Yao Chuguang at the dinner table and immediately stepped forward to salute respectfully, saying, "Your Majesty, may you be well and safe!"

Yao Chuguang nodded slightly, and said calmly: "Come and have dinner together!"

Bai Yehan did not refuse and walked to sit next to Li Yinhan. The palace maid immediately came forward to add a set of bowls and chopsticks.

His movements were natural, as if this was the most common thing.

At this moment, Lin'er was so shocked that she stood frozen in place, her eyes fixed on Yao Chuguang.

She never imagined that this ordinary woman whom she had always mistaken for a palace maid was actually the Empress Yao Chuguang!

No! You are a queen, why would you appear with a plate of pork elbow?

Where is your imperial majesty?

As an empress, when you travel, you will be followed by at least seven or eighty palace maids and eunuchs, not to mention a hundred or eighty!

Who could have imagined that a female emperor would appear in casual clothes holding a plate of pork elbows and be so casual?

Now she felt it was outrageous just to think about it.

The next moment, Lin'er immediately realized a more serious problem: she did not salute His Majesty.

But everyone had already sat down and started eating as if nothing had happened!

Isn’t it too late for her to salute now?

By the way! Isn’t this the inner courtyard of the harem?

Isn’t the person sitting next to her the most powerful empress of Qi?

Is it really okay for you to just sit next to me and ask me to eat?

Lin'er immediately jumped up and followed the scenes in the storybook, kowtowing and shouting, "Your Majesty, please forgive me for not recognizing you."

But wouldn't that be a confession of guilt, an admission of inappropriate behavior in front of the emperor?

It is better to act as if nothing happened, but that would be disrespecting the emperor and being inappropriate in front of the palace!

Neither seems to be a good choice, as you will get hurt if you stick your head out and you will get hurt if you hide your head.

Lin'er chose to die early and be reborn soon. She approached Yao Chuguang cautiously and asked, "Your Majesty, is this my last meal?"

As soon as the words fell, Bai Yehan and Li Yinhan looked up at Lin'er at the same time, their eyes full of confusion.

Yao Chuguang looked at the two confused eyes opposite him and couldn't help but start to review what went wrong that caused Miss Lin'er to have this illusion?

Lin'er watched the scene fall into unusual silence again.

Crazy screaming inside!

What's going on? She only said three sentences tonight!

How come every sentence seems to have been paused?

Is this the legendary saying that serving the king is like serving a tiger?

Can she get out alive?

Cousin, help me!