Crown Prince of the Empire, I quit!

Wang Yun had no choice but to sit down, but a barely perceptible panic flashed across his face.

A moment later, a Tingfeng Guard quietly entered and whispered a few words in Qin Ming's ear.

Qin Ming's eyes suddenly became as sharp as knives, shooting straight at Wang Yun. "Governor Wang, I just heard that some people are crying out for justice outside the palace, accusing you, the Luozhou government, of forcibly collecting 'suppression funds' and 'aid silver' for labor service. Those who violated the tax have been imprisoned, tortured, and even killed... Is this true?"

Wang Yun's face turned pale instantly, and he fell to his knees with a thud. "Your Majesty, be wise! This... this must be a false accusation by the people! Luozhou's taxes are all in accordance with imperial regulations, and there are absolutely no additional levies! I... I serve the people wholeheartedly, how dare I commit such a heinous act?!"

"Really?" Qin Ming's voice was icy. "Then I want to ask you, last year Luozhou reported an increase of 3,000 registered residents and 10,000 acres of cultivated land. Why is it that this spring, when the Ministry of Revenue checked, the granary grain reserves were 30% lower than last year? Where did the extra taxes go?"

"The Luo River canal system requires huge sums of money for repairs every year. Why did three dikes fail during this year's spring floods, flooding thousands of acres of fertile farmland? Where did the money for river repairs go?"

"Also, where is the old farmer who went to Beijing to file a complaint last year now?"

The three questions were like three thunderbolts, which made Wang Yun's body shake like a sieve and sweat like rain. He could no longer argue: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty... Your Majesty... Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."

"Drag him away." Qin Ming waved his hand in disgust. "Hand him over to the Imperial Censorate for strict interrogation. Seal the Luozhou government office immediately! Carefully examine all account books and documents! I want to see how much of the people's wealth is hidden beneath this 'clean reputation'!"

The ferocious guards rushed forward and dragged the limp Wang Yun and several of his key officials away. The officials in the room were silent, their faces pale.

Qin Ming stood up and glanced at the trembling officials: "You all take care of yourselves. My kingdom was won through conquest and governance. Corruption, deceiving superiors and subordinates will lead to this fate!"

As the imperial carriage journeyed eastward, the scenery along the way became increasingly different as it drew closer to the capital. The post roads were wide and smooth, bustling with carriages and horses. Villages and towns were densely populated, and the markets bustling and bustling—a world apart from the desolate and bleak western frontier. Yet, Qin Ming sat upright within the azure imperial carriage, his expression showing no sign of relaxation; instead, it grew increasingly solemn. His deep gaze swept across the seemingly prosperous villages, the orderly checkpoints, and the officials and civilians who knelt in fear at the sight of the imperial carriage. What he saw instead was a "peace" bound by invisible shackles, a near-rigid state.

The core of the empire, like a vast and sophisticated machine, relied on inertia to keep it running during his western expeditions. However, under the distant intimidation of his iron-fisted prestige, it also fostered another form of chronic disease: fear-induced conservatism, inertia, and even deeper concealment and deception. The case of Wang Yun of Luozhou was by no means an isolated case.

Night had already fallen when the imperial carriage arrived at the last post station outside the capital. According to custom, the emperor would stay here for the night before entering the capital the next morning, when civil and military officials would come out of the city to greet him with a grand ceremony.

The post station had already been under martial law, with lights ablaze and guards everywhere. The atmosphere was solemn and almost oppressive. The prime minister, who had stayed in the capital, had already arrived with his core officials to await the emperor's arrival.

Qin Ming did not rush to summon his ministers, but instead moved into his meticulously prepared yet undeniably simple palace. He dismissed his attendants, leaving only Ying Qi by his side.

"What unusual movements have taken place in the capital recently?" Qin Ming took off his dusty robe, his voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of fatigue.

Ying Qi's figure seemed to blend into the shadows of the candlelight as he whispered, "Your Majesty, the capital appears calm on the surface. Officials are diligently performing their duties, and there is no backlog of government affairs. However... undercurrents are surging."

"explain."

"First, Your Majesty's great victory in the Western Expedition has spread your prestige throughout the country. However, some veteran officials in the court have privately expressed dissatisfaction. Some say Your Majesty's military tactics are too harsh, with excessive killings, which could harm the harmony of nature. Others say that since the western border has just annexed us, the generous rewards we offer will drain the national treasury and may not be a long-term solution."

"Secondly, the position of Grand Canal Governor has been vacant for a long time, and various factions are vying for it. Factions in Jiangnan, Hebei, and Shandong are fighting openly and covertly, and some are even colluding secretly to nominate their own candidate."

"Third, the northern tribes have sent envoys to pay tribute. Their delegations have already arrived at the post stations outside the capital. However, their delegation is far larger than usual, and the tribute they are carrying is also substantial. Their intention...is probably not simply to pay tribute."

"Fourth," Ying Qi paused, his voice lowering, "There seem to be rumors in the palace... that Your Majesty has been away from the capital for a long time, the Crown Prince is young, and Her Majesty the Empress... occasionally summons relatives and important ministers to inquire about state affairs."

Qin Ming listened silently, the candlelight dancing in his deep, unfathomable eyes, reflecting no emotion. His fingers tapped unconsciously on the table, making a very soft clicking sound.

"Understood." After a long pause, he said calmly, "Send the Prime Minister, the Privy Councilor, the Minister of Revenue, and the Minister of Rites to see me immediately."

"Here."

In just a moment, the four important officials hurried to the outside of the courtyard, straightened their clothes, and bowed before entering. Seeing the emperor under the lamp, who looked dusty but even more majestic, they all held their breath and saluted respectfully.

"Your Majesty, your servants, respectfully welcome your Majesty's triumphant return! Your Majesty has worked hard in the Western Expedition and your achievements are unparalleled throughout the world!" The prime minister spoke first, his words respectful.

Qin Ming raised his hand, indicating that he could dispense with the formalities, and glanced at the four people: "I have been away from the capital for several months, and the affairs of state have relied on you noble families to maintain them. Thank you for your hard work."

"This is our duty, and we dare not complain of any hardship," the four men replied in unison, each feeling uneasy. The calmer His Majesty was, the more they felt the pressure of impending disaster.

"As I traveled along, I saw the capital prospering, the government in good order, and the people in harmony. This comforted me greatly." Qin Ming spoke calmly, but suddenly changed the subject. "However, the western border has just been settled, and much remains to be done. The northern barbarians in the western regions still harbor ulterior motives. The empire may appear peaceful, but in reality, crises abound. This is definitely not the time to rest on your laurels."

His gaze was like lightning as he turned to the Minister of Revenue. "I want to see a detailed breakdown of the treasury's revenue and expenditure within three days. The money and grain needed for relief, rewards, and construction in the western border must be prioritized. No mistakes can be made."

"I obey your order!" The Minister of Revenue felt a tightness in his heart and quickly agreed.

Turning his gaze to the Privy Councilor, he said, "The Ministry of War must immediately handle the rest and replenishment of the soldiers of the Black Armor Army's Western Expedition. No delay is allowed. Furthermore, military maps of the northern and western regions, troop deployments, and general evaluations must be submitted to the Emperor within five days."

"I obey your order!" The Privy Councilor accepted the order solemnly.

His gaze finally fell on the Prime Minister and the Minister of Rites. "Tomorrow's welcoming ceremony will be kept simple. All officials can perform their greetings outside Chengtian Gate. There's no need to travel far out in the suburbs, wasting manpower. Regarding the northern envoys... the Ministry of Rites will receive them with respect and reward them according to regulations. However, the size of their delegation and the amount of their tribute exceed the norm. Ascertain their purpose for this visit. Three days later, I will summon the chief envoy to the Taiji Hall."

"We obey your order!" The Prime Minister and the Minister of Rites bowed and responded, secretly shocked.