The poorest member of the Imperial Guard, the Empress begged me to embezzle.

"He who comes is stopped!"

"This is the imperial palace grounds; entry is not permitted without permission."

A captain of the Imperial Guards reached out and stopped a carriage.

This carriage was driven by Qin Changsheng, a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Qin Changsheng was the third-ranked scholar in the first martial arts examination of the Great Zhou Dynasty and the commander of the Jingxian Guard.

His cultivation level has already reached the peak of the first level of the Immortal Ascension Realm, and he is only one step away from the second level.

Even though the Imperial Guard captain recognized that Qin Changsheng was wearing the uniform of a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he still stopped him.

After all, even the Embroidered Uniform Guards couldn't just enter the palace whenever they wanted.

"It is I who wish to enter the palace."

Chu Xiu's voice came from inside the carriage.

"Greetings to the Marquis."

Upon hearing this, the Imperial Guard captain was taken aback for a moment, then immediately knelt down and respectfully greeted him.

If he had known that this was Chu Xiu going to the palace to meet the emperor, he certainly wouldn't have stopped him.

He just didn't expect that Chu Xiu, who always walked into the palace, would actually come in a carriage today.

"Greetings to the Marquis."

The imperial guards knelt down and shouted in unison.

"No need to be polite."

Chu Xiu said calmly.

"Thank you, Lord Marquis."

The Imperial Guard captain, along with his soldiers, thanked them, then slowly rose and stepped aside.

Qin Changsheng drove the carriage into the palace and headed towards the Taiji Palace.

In less than half a day.

The carriage arrived outside the Taiji Palace, and Qin Changsheng said respectfully, "Reporting to the Marquis, we have arrived."

"it is good."

Chu Xiu nodded slightly, pushed open the carriage door, and stepped out.

Qin Changsheng was responsible for unloading the three large boxes from the carriage.

These three large boxes contain all the information that Li Jingtian has collected.

They were neatly stacked into three boxes.

"Your humble servant Chu Xiu has come to request an audience with Your Majesty."

Chu Xiu stood outside the Taiji Palace and bowed respectfully towards the inside.

Inside Taiji Palace.

Empress Murong Si was sitting at her desk reviewing memorials when she heard Chu Xiu's voice. She couldn't help but show a hint of surprise and said to Jiang Wan'er, who was waiting beside her, "Jiang Wan'er, go out and greet Minister Chu."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Jiang Wan'er responded and walked out of the Taiji Palace.

Pei Guanyin stood aside and waited.

Soon, Jiang Wan'er walked out of Taiji Palace and immediately saw Chu Xiu and the three large boxes behind him, which were filled with books. She was taken aback and asked, "My lord, what are these?"

"These are the materials that our Embroidered Uniform Guard has collected over this period of time. The reason I came to the palace to meet the Emperor this time is to present these materials to His Majesty."

Chu Xiu smiled slightly and explained to Jiang Wan'er.

"Someone, take all the information that the Marquis brought to Taiji Palace."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wan'er's expression turned serious, and she spoke in a deep voice to the Imperial Guards stationed outside the Taiji Palace.

"Yes."

Several Imperial Guards responded and came over, carrying three boxes.

"My lord, His Majesty has been waiting for a long time. Please."

Jiang Wan'er extended her hand to Chu Xiu in invitation.

"Thank you for your trouble, Lord Jiang."

After Chu Xiu bowed to Jiang Wan'er in thanks, he walked into the Taiji Palace.

"When did you become so polite to me, Lord Marquis?"

Jiang Wan'er rolled her eyes at Chu Xiu and said.

Chu Xiu smiled and remained silent.

Upon entering the Taiji Palace, Chu Xiu approached Murong Si's desk and bowed to Murong Si, who was intently reviewing memorials, saying, "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty."

Several imperial guards carried the three large boxes behind Chu Xiu and then quietly withdrew.

"Minister Chu, there's no need for such formalities. Someone, bring a seat!"

Murong Si put down the wolf-hair brush carved from white jade in her hand and said with a dignified expression.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Chu Xiu thanked Murong Si for her kindness.

A palace maid placed a chair behind Chu Xiu.

Chu Xiu sat down as usual.

After Chu Xiu sat down, Murong Si glanced at the three large boxes and said, "Minister Chu, is there something you need to do upon entering the palace this time?"

"Your Majesty, please dismiss your attendants."

Chu Xiu's expression turned solemn, and he spoke earnestly.

"Except for Jiang Wan'er and Pei Guanyin, everyone else may leave!"

Murong Si's eyes narrowed, and she spoke in a low, powerful voice.

She already knew that what Chu Xiu was about to report was extremely important, and the books in those three boxes were definitely of great significance!

"Yes."

The palace maids serving in the Taiji Palace bowed gracefully and then withdrew.

After they left Taiji Palace, they slowly closed the palace gates.

Only Chu Xiu, Murong Si, Jiang Wan'er, and Pei Guanyin remained in the main hall.

Murong Si and the other two looked at Chu Xiu with great curiosity, wanting to know what he had to report.

"Your Majesty, I recently arranged for our Embroidered Uniform Guard to conduct an investigation into the water conservancy situation of our entire Great Zhou Dynasty."

"Which river is prone to flooding in which season?"

"A thorough investigation was conducted into which officials were lazy, negligent, or even embezzled funds intended for water conservancy projects!"

"Now, the whole situation has finally been thoroughly investigated!"

"Your Majesty, I have come to the palace today to report this matter to you."

Chu Xiu said with a solemn expression.

Upon hearing this, Murong Si and the others' expressions changed slightly.

Murong Si was certainly aware of the question Chu Xiu raised.

Jiang Wan'er and Pei Guanyin also knew this.

However, few people dare to touch upon this issue.

This is essentially a red line, involving far too much.

Even if Murong Si wanted to thoroughly investigate this matter, she might be obstructed by all the civil and military officials in the court.

Of course, since Murong Si had not yet completely taken control of the court and could not truly have absolute authority, she temporarily pretended that this matter did not exist and had no intention of investigating it.

and.

Say something unpleasant.

Even if Murong Si finds out, even if the civil and military officials don't stop her.

All these officials were purged.

So what?

Could the Great Zhou Dynasty afford such a huge amount of money to build water conservancy projects?

Even if the national treasury is emptied, it may not be possible to accomplish this.

Even if the national treasury were emptied, it would be enough to build water conservancy projects.

So, will this money actually be put to good use?

Even if that group of people doesn't reach out, others will.

The end result was that money was spent, but nothing was accomplished.

None of them expected that Chu Xiu's visit to the palace this time was to report on this matter.

Murong Si frowned slightly and looked at Chu Xiu, saying, "Minister Chu, you are investigating this matter because you want to completely solve the flood problem of our Great Zhou Dynasty by dredging the waterways and building dikes?"

"Your Majesty, that is indeed what I think."

"Officials who are lazy, negligent, or derelict in their duties can be given minor punishments as a warning."

"Or even temporarily ignore it."

"We only need to select a few officials who embezzled funds for water conservancy projects to make an example of them."

"This demonstrates the importance attached to water conservancy projects."

"These officials will certainly not dare to slack off in the slightest."

Chu Xiu nodded slightly and said, "Our real purpose is not to eliminate these inactive officials, but to do something real for the people and solve the flood problem of our Great Zhou Dynasty."

While solving the flood problem, it also irrigated farmland and increased grain production.

To benefit all people.