Ji Xiaolan: Kill Qianlong at the beginning

Just as Mo Li was about to speak, He Shen stared at him with his eyes wide open. The words reached his lips, but Mo Li swallowed them back.

Emperor Gai Zhang stared at He Shen and continued, "Do you need a reminder?"

Heshen was so frightened that his body was shaking like a sieve. He said, "Your Majesty, please don't say anymore. Your Majesty, please don't say anymore. I remember everything. I remember everything. I... really deserve it..." He was about to slap himself in the face, but after thinking about it, he decided to give up.

Emperor Gai Zhang looked at him and said, "Why don't you hit him anymore? Slap him in the face."

He Shen said: "Your Majesty, I will teach this stinky mouth a lesson."

Emperor Gai Zhang looked at Mo Li and said, "Mo Li, how many times do you think I should hit you?"

Mo Li said that it was the emperor's holy decree and was unwilling to give a specific number.

He Shen said: "Lao Mo, you have to plead for me. Otherwise I..."

Mo Li continued, “Your Majesty, it seems that Master He is deeply remorseful. It would be better to spare him the slap.”

Emperor Gai Zhang looked at him and said, "Mo Li, why are you speaking up for He Shen?"

Mo Li said, "No, Your Majesty. Look at how thick-skinned He is. Even if I really hit him, he might not feel the pain. In fact, the essence of punishment is to make the person being punished feel the pain deeply, so that he will be afraid from now on."

Emperor Gai Zhang said, "What is He Shen afraid of? Mo Li, get up."

Mo Li thanked the emperor and stood up.

Emperor Gai Zhang sat down and let him speak.

Mo Li said, "Master He is afraid... Oh, right, Your Majesty, Master He has told you that he is afraid of losing money. He loves money like his life. If you make him lose money, it would be like pulling out his tendons, peeling off his skin, and cutting his flesh."

Heshen, who was kneeling, said, "Mo Li," and stopped him from speaking any further.

Mo Li said, "Your Majesty, Master He wants to say a few words to me."

Emperor Gai Zhang said: "I haven't said enough yet, let's hear what he has to say."

Mo Li came to He Shen and whispered, "He Shen, the Emperor is furious. Would you rather lose money and avoid disaster, or lose your job and your head?"

He Shen hesitated for a moment, but finally made up his mind and said, "I am willing to... lose money to avoid disaster."

Mo Li said, "Of course I am. I am helping you. You should thank me."

He Shen said, "Thank you."

Mo Li said, "That's about right."

Turning to the Emperor, he said, "Your Majesty, I have told you that he is willing to pay all his silver for the scholars who come to the capital to take the imperial examination. I have just calculated in my head that the cost of accommodation, food, clothing, bedding, and writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone will be one hundred taels."

He said to He Shen, "One hundred taels is not too much, sir."

He Shen said, "It's only a hundred taels. One hundred taels is fine. I'll pay it. I'll pay it."

Mo Li smiled and said, "I have agreed with you, my Lord."

He turned to look at the Emperor and continued, "Today, there are more than 10,000 scholars coming to the capital to take the imperial examination. Calculating at 100 taels per person, the total is 1 million taels."

He turned to look at He Shen and continued, "Master He, one million taels is a drop in the bucket for you. You can afford it."

He Shen looked worried and said, "One million taels, you are too cruel, I don't have it."

Mo Li said with a gloating expression, "Your Majesty, He Daren has really undeservedly been branded as the most corrupt official in Daxuan. He is innocent, he has no money. Your Majesty, I think it is better to do this, punish him according to his crime, remove him from all his posts and send him to Ningguta to be a slave with the armored men. If Your Majesty is still not satisfied, just chop him off." He made a beheading gesture.