Report to the Empress and the Eldest Princess: They're using the system to poach your men.

Shen Sangwan silently watched the interaction between the two.

Finally, Cen Zhouyuan slowly spoke, "Your Majesty, we only received reports from various places today. We originally intended to discuss this matter at the morning court session, but we did not expect that the matter of the Eldest Princess would be brought up first."

"Then, Prime Minister, please tell me the details of the disaster situation in various places."

"The locust plague was most severe in Wuzhou. There was no harvest of grain, and supplies were scarce. Many people in the city had no rice to cook, and it was reported that more than 100 people had starved to death."

The drought in Chaozhou was the second worst, with grain production reduced by half, making life extremely difficult for the people.

The earthquake in Bingzhou was relatively minor, with minimal tremors, few houses damaged, and no civilian casualties reported so far.

Shen Yuchen was so angry he almost jumped off the dragon throne.

If it weren't for my sister exposing the truth today, would they have continued to conceal it?

It's infuriating!

"The disaster situation in Wuzhou and Chaozhou is quite severe. The most urgent task is to send people to transport grain for disaster relief. I wonder if any of you ministers have suitable candidates?"

"Your Majesty, I believe the Vice Minister of Revenue..."

“Prime Minister, I think General Mo Feng is more suitable. When famine causes disaster, the mob will be particularly frenzied. I'm afraid a mere Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue would not have the courage to control and suppress the situation.”

Cen Zhouyuan had barely opened his mouth when Shen Sangwan immediately rejected his words.

"Your Highness is mistaken. In previous years, disaster relief was handled by Minister of Revenue Lin and Vice Minister He, who escorted the relief efforts. There were no riots or disturbances. Moreover, Minister He is very experienced, while General Mo has never been involved in disaster relief. I believe Minister He is more suitable."

Ah--

People will either starve to death or be killed by you; it would be strange if there were any riots.

The memorial to the throne probably hadn't even reached Zhongdu before the person who wrote it had already died.

As for how Shen Sangwan found out, you'd have to ask Xiao Tong, who has an all-knowing knowledge base.

"Clap!"

Since you're so heartless, don't blame me for being ruthless in return.

Shen Sangwan clapped her hands, and Mo Feng, dressed in armor, stepped into the hall, followed by two guards carrying a very large wooden box.

"Your humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"

The three of them knelt down and kowtowed to Shen Yuchen.

"General Mo, please rise."

Shen Sangwan gently raised her hand, gesturing for the box to be opened.

It was filled with evidence of the Ministry of Revenue's embezzlement of disaster relief funds and grain over the years, as well as accusations of the extreme measures taken to suppress the mob.

Shen Sangwan casually picked up a report stained with blood.

"In the thirteenth year of the Chuyuan era, Lancheng suffered from floods. The river dikes collapsed, causing widespread devastation. More than a hundred houses were destroyed, and 3,620 people were killed or injured."

In the fifteenth year of the Chuyuan era, Yucheng and Chaozhou suffered a severe drought. The people were so hungry that they resorted to cannibalism and drinking human blood. A total of 18,300 people died or were injured in the two cities.

In the twenty-third year of the Chuyuan era, an earthquake struck Bingzhou, affecting a wide area and causing severe damage to houses, resulting in approximately four thousand deaths and injuries.

However, the Ministry of Revenue reported 24,300 dead and wounded in Lancheng, 38,500 dead and wounded in Yucheng and Chaozhou, and 18,400 dead and wounded in Bingzhou. Right Chancellor, do you know why?

Cen Zhouyuan never expected that after so many years, Shen Sangwan would still be able to collect so much evidence. For a moment, he didn't know how to react.

Seeing that the other party did not respond, Shen Sangwan picked up the account book from the box and said, "That's because all the disaster relief grain was embezzled. What was sent was not grain, but broken stones, which starved people to death. If anyone rioted, they would be suppressed by force."

"I wonder, Lord He, with all the disaster relief funds you've embezzled over the years, causing the deaths of so many innocent people, do you ever dream of someone coming to claim your life?"

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I am innocent! I am innocent!"

He Jinduo's back was already soaked with sweat. When he heard Shen Sangwan accuse him, he knelt down and cried out that he was innocent.

Shen Sangwan knew perfectly well that a mere vice minister couldn't possibly have such great abilities. Today, she was simply giving the person behind the scenes a warning.

She, Shen Sangwan, is about to begin interfering in the court, and she will be like a nail, firmly nailed in.

It won't be pulled away, and it will only hurt your wallet.

"Injustice? Ha—He Jinduo, look at yourself, which of these accusations is baseless slander against you!"

Shen Sangwan forcefully hurled the ledger in her hand at the person kneeling on the ground in the distance.

Testimony, correspondence, evidence of bribery—a mix of truth and falsehood. After all, some things weren't done by He Jinduo, but Shen Sangwan pinned them all on him.

Today, in this court, one person must die.

Shen Yuchen ordered someone to bring forward some of the evidence. After carefully reviewing it, he couldn't help but jump up from his dragon throne in surprise.

"He Jinduo, how dare you?"

"Guards! Guards! Take this heinous beast to the prison and execute him on a chosen day."

"Your Majesty, calm down."

Hmm! They really know how to read people's expressions; the ministers were all groveling on the ground.

In the main hall, only Shen Sangwan stood facing the wind, looking down at the court officials on the ground, and snorted coldly.

"Today is the grand ceremony for taking a concubine, which you have been petitioning for many days. You must not miss the auspicious time."

[Tsk tsk tsk, Master, your words are so sarcastic and ironic.]

【Master, your rampage today has truly impressed me.】

Shen Sangwan kicked the wooden box and left Xuyang Palace without paying much attention.

"call--"

I was genuinely angry, but I also genuinely felt great.

After Shen Sangwan left, Shen Yuchen ordered the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review to thoroughly investigate the Ministry of Revenue and appointed Mo Feng as the Disaster Relief Supervisor, to escort grain to Wuzhou and Chaozhou.

As for Bingzhou, Xu Yu, the Vice Minister of Works, was dispatched to investigate the situation and then report to allocate funds for disaster relief.

At the same time, an imperial edict was issued to reduce or exempt taxes in the three regions.

After discussing matters of state, the Ministry of Rites quickly prepared the ceremony for the imperial concubine's selection.

Shen Yuchen was not interested and was focused on disaster relief. He had no expectations for the concubine-taking ceremony from beginning to end.

At 12:00 noon, the auspicious time, the noble ladies from the families on the list announced yesterday will be carried into the palace by a palanquin through the side gate of Shanghe Gate. Instead of going through Taihe Hall, they will proceed along the west side road to Xuande Hall.

First, the Empress led everyone in offering sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, then Shen Yuchen personally bestowed titles, followed by the Ministry of Rites making the official seals, and then the palaces were divided up.

Cen Luoyan, the second young lady of the Cen family, and Liang Shuyu, the eldest daughter of the Liang family, the General of the Cavalry, were both made imperial concubines.

According to Liang Huaiting's official rank, Liang Shuyu could only hold the rank of Consort. However, Shen Sangwan, mindful of her merit in saving the emperor and in order to restrain the Cen family, granted her the rank of Imperial Consort.

Xie Xianjing, the eldest daughter of Xie, a scholar of the Hanlin Academy, was made Consort Rong, and Jiang Sihan, the eldest daughter of the Minister of War, was made Consort Yi.

Cheng Tingran, the eldest daughter of the Cheng family, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel; He Zhiwan, the eldest daughter of the He family, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice; and Yu Qinxue, the eldest daughter of the Yu family, the Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, were appointed as Zhaoyi (Imperial Consorts).

These were all daughters of court officials that Shen Sangwan had carefully selected for Shen Yuchen after much deliberation.

The daughters of some officials of the fourth rank or below, who were under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites, were granted the titles of Noble Lady or Talented Lady.

This harem is about to get lively!