ushernet Chapter 420 The Struggle Begins
Chapter 420 The Struggle Begins
By then, either completely abolishing the imperial examination system or continuing the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers system would become effortless. Wang Wan secretly calculated in his heart, believing that as long as he and Li Si cooperated closely, they would definitely be able to find that key breakthrough and thus turn the tide.
Wang Wan's eyes flickered slightly. The shadows cast by the palace walls slanted across his official robes, making the purple ribbon symbolizing his status as prime minister appear and disappear.
He suddenly chuckled softly, and as he turned, the jade pendants at his waist clinked crisply. "The imperial examination system is like a newly cast bronze cauldron—" his fingers suddenly tightened around the jade tablet, "It looks brilliant, but if the firing isn't done properly..."
Li Si's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly. In the distance came the echo of an imperial messenger's announcement, and a squad of Imperial Guards marched in orderly steps through the covered passageway.
“Yesterday, the Imperial Household Department sent over an interesting document.” Li Si suddenly pulled out a scroll of bamboo slips from his sleeve. “There is a new magistrate in Longxi County named Wang Lang. After taking office, he implemented new policies with great speed and efficiency. However, recently someone reported that he embezzled disaster relief funds and grain.”
Li Si's gaze was deep as he handed the bamboo slip to Wang Wan. Wang Wan took the slip, quickly glanced through it, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. "If this is true, it's a good opportunity to bring her down."
Wang Wan's lips curled up slightly. "However, we must proceed with caution and avoid alerting the enemy," Li Si cautioned.
Wang Wan nodded. "I will send someone to investigate secretly. If the evidence is conclusive, she will have no grounds for argument in court." The two exchanged a glance, already having made their plans.
Meanwhile, Ying Wuyou also received the news. A cold smile curled at the corner of her lips. "Wang Wan and Li Si think they've found a handle, but little do they know this is bait I deliberately laid out. Let's see how they take the bait; I'll make sure they lose more than they gain." She quickly arranged for her trusted confidants to prepare for the upcoming turmoil; a courtly contest surrounding the new magistrate, Wang Lang, was about to unfold.
Upon returning to his residence, Wang Wan immediately summoned his trusted confidants and whispered, "Send someone to Longxi County to investigate Wang Lang's background, especially the disaster relief accounts he handled. Make sure to find any flaws."
The trusted confidant accepted the order and left. Wang Wan stood by the window, gazing at the swaying bamboo shadows in the courtyard, a hint of coldness flashing in her eyes.
"The imperial examination system? Ha, I'd like to see how many of these officials from humble backgrounds are truly clean."
Meanwhile, inside Ying Wuyou's mansion.
Lin Lu, dressed in black, knelt on the ground and whispered, "Princess, the Prime Minister has sent people to Longxi. I'm afraid he's going to take action against Magistrate Wang."
Ying Wuyou tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, his expression calm: "Let them investigate, the more thorough the better."
She stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the distant outline of the palace, a meaningful smile appearing on her lips.
“Wang Lang’s accounts were already ‘prepared’ and were just waiting for them to look through them.”
Several days later, in the imperial court.
Holding the memorial in his hand, Wang Wan stepped forward and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present!"
The King of Qin slightly raised his eyes: "What is it, Prime Minister?"
"Wang Lang, the magistrate of Longxi County, has embezzled money and grain under the guise of disaster relief. The evidence is conclusive!" Wang Wan presented the secretly investigated account books, her tone stern. "The imperial examination system is meant to select virtuous and talented individuals. But if such parasites are allowed to infiltrate the court, wouldn't that be a disaster for the country and its people?"
The court officials were in uproar, and many conservative officials echoed the call, demanding that Wang Lang be severely punished. Some even took the opportunity to criticize the abuses of the imperial examination system.
Ying Wuyou stood to the side, his expression calm, as if he had everything under control.
Li Si frowned slightly, feeling that things were going too smoothly and vaguely sensing that something was wrong, but at this point he was already in a difficult situation.
The King of Qin flipped through the account books, remained silent for a moment, then suddenly looked up at Ying Wuyou: "Jiayang, what do you think of this matter?"
Ying Wuyou stepped forward and replied, "Father, I believe that if Wang Lang is indeed corrupt, he should be severely punished. However—"
She paused, her gaze sweeping over Wang Wan and Li Si, and slowly said, "Your subject recently received a secret report that there seems to be something else going on with the disaster relief accounts in Longxi County."
Wang Wan's heart skipped a beat. Before she could speak, Ying Wuyou had already taken out a document from his sleeve and presented it to the emperor.
"These are the real account books that Wang Lang secretly sent, while the 'evidence' that the Prime Minister investigated was actually forged by local powerful families in an attempt to frame him!"
The court fell silent instantly.
Wang Wan's expression changed drastically, and a hint of astonishment flashed in Li Si's eyes.
The King of Qin's gaze was deep as he slowly closed the account book, his voice cold and stern: "Prime Minister, what explanation do you have for this matter?"
Wang Wan's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I only began my investigation after receiving a secret report. If the accounts are falsified, I will certainly investigate the person who made the false accusation!"
Li Si's eyes flickered slightly, and he stepped forward at the opportune moment: "Your Majesty, this case is suspicious. Perhaps it would be better to hand it over to the Court of Justice for a thorough investigation, so as not to wrongly accuse a loyal and virtuous person."
Ying Wuyou chuckled lightly, "Li Tingwei is quite right. However—" she changed the subject, "I think there might be more to this case than meets the eye. Why would the powerful families of Longxi frame a newly appointed county magistrate? And the methods used to forge these account books are certainly not something an ordinary merchant could accomplish."
Before the words were even finished, the expressions of several officials in the hall who were on good terms with the powerful families had already changed.
The King of Qin tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his gaze sharp: "Jiayang's words are reasonable. Issue an edict: Wang Lang is to be immediately escorted back to the capital for a joint trial by the Grand Censor, the Minister of Justice, and Princess Jiayang. The Prefect of Longxi will be temporarily..." He paused for a moment, "...temporarily replaced by the Imperial Censor Li Shiqi."
This appointment caused an uproar throughout the court. Li Shiqi, this suddenly appearing official, had been virtually invisible until now, with many unaware of his name, and now he was to govern a region!
After the court session, Wang Wan and Li Si walked side by side, their expressions shifting between light and shadow.
"We've fallen into a trap," Wang Wan said in a low voice. "Princess Jiayang is using this opportunity to purge local officials!"
Li Si narrowed his eyes: "That's not all. Li Shiqi is a meticulous man; if he discovers the collusion between the powerful clans of Longxi and officials in the court..."
Both fell silent. The autumn wind swept fallen leaves across the palace walls, rustling softly like the whispers before a storm.
At that moment, Ying Wuyou stood on the high platform of the palace gate, watching their departing figures. Her trusted aide asked in a low voice, "Princess, what's next...?"
"Send Sun Yi to investigate the background of the powerful families in Longxi." She gently stroked a jade seal with her fingertips. "Remember, make them reveal their true colors."
In the shadow of the palace walls, Wang Lang was carefully organizing the secret reports in his hands. This newly appointed scholar, known for his wisdom and resourcefulness, had an unusual glint in his eyes at this moment. He gently stroked the newly acquired silver fish-shaped pouch at his waist, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.
"Interesting. The Zhang family of Longxi is actually related by marriage to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice." He traced the densely packed family genealogy charts on the bamboo slips with his fingertips. "It seems this fire will burn even brighter than the princess anticipated."
Meanwhile, Li Shiqi's carriage had arrived at the border of Longxi Commandery. The newly appointed governor did not rush into the city, but instead ordered his men to change into the clothes of ordinary merchants. "Let's go see the disaster area first," he said to Sun Yi, the young registrar accompanying him. "The real answer often lies in the people's rice bowls."