Here, Yuan Yuhan followed Jing Xunchè's advice and investigated the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. To his surprise, he really found something.
"This Minister of the Ministry of Revenue seems to be a decent person. Who would have thought that he could do such a thing!"
Yuan Yuhan quietly went to the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue's residence. After observing there for a whole day, he really discovered that the scoundrel was a pedophile!
"Such a brute!"
The next day during the morning court, someone impeached the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.
"Your Majesty, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue has three children hidden in his residence, and none of them is over ten years old. This kind of thing is really hard to talk about. Please make a wise judgment, Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty, I'm wronged. I would never do such a thing."
"Then, Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, what about those children in your residence?" This Minister of the Ministry of Revenue was his man. If this matter had been reported to him privately, he could have pretended that nothing had happened.
Or he could have dealt with it leniently. But now that this matter had been brought into the open, it was no longer up to him alone. If he didn't handle it well, he would lose the hearts of many people. If this matter were to spread, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, since you say you're wronged, then quickly explain it to everyone. Once the truth is found out, I can also stand up for you and clear your name."
Yuan Yuhan stared at the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue below and the person who had just presented the memorial. That person was Yuan Yuhan's man. Did Yuan Yuhan already know something? Or was he trying to pull him off the throne?
Just thinking about this possibility made Yuan Yuchuān's aura even colder. He would never let Yuan Yuhan succeed. This throne was his, and no one could take it away!
"Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. The Emperor is asking you a question. Why don't you answer?"
"Humph, I was just thinking about whose the three children in my mansion are. Besides, the Emperor didn't even urge me. What are you butting in for?" the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue said disdainfully.
"Then, Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, have you remembered? Don't tell me you're going to say that those three children are the children of the servants. Can the children of servants get such treatment? Someone delivers food and drinks to them every day.
Their daily lives are very good. They just aren't allowed to leave that courtyard. Tsk tsk tsk... The children of the servants in your mansion live quite well. After the court is adjourned, I'll go back and tell the servants in my mansion.
The treatment of the children of the servants in the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue's mansion is comparable to that of the masters. They should just hurry over with their children."
"You mustn't talk nonsense. When did I ever say that those children lived such a life?" The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue argued fiercely with that official.
"Oh? So you were abusing the children? Abusing children is not something a government official should do. So you should still be investigated later." And then be convicted accordingly.
"You're simply talking nonsense! Please, Your Majesty, investigate clearly!" Unable to argue with that official, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue had no choice but to turn around, kneel properly, and beg the Emperor to make a decision.
"Regent, how do you think this matter should be handled?"
"Your Majesty, since both sides have their own arguments, why don't we just send someone to the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue's mansion to investigate?"
The person who presented the memorial was his man, and he had even inspected it himself. Did they still think they could help the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue get away with it? Don't even think about it.
"If that's the case, then do as the Regent says. Lord Li, you go to the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue's residence and investigate to see what the truth of the matter really is." Yuan Yuchuān wanted to find a way to protect the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.
"Your Majesty, it's better to send two people together. What if this Lord Li is bribed by the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue or someone else? Then if he conceals the truth of the matter, won't we miss out on a good official?" Yuan Yuhan knew his intention, but since he had already found out, how could he let him get away with it?
"Then let..."
"Your Majesty, I think Lord Shen is a good choice. He is upright and has been an old official in the court for a long time. He definitely won't do anything like being bribed."
Before Yuan Yuchuān could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by Yuan Yuhan. That Lord Li just now was Yuan Yuchuān's man. How could he let him bring another one of his men over? Wouldn't his whole day of investigation yesterday have been in vain?
"Fine, do as you say. Lord Li and Lord Shen, you must find out the truth of the matter. Go quickly and come back quickly." Yuan Yuchuān said through gritted teeth.
"I'll obey your order."
Half an hour later, the two of them came back. Lord Li had an indescribable expression on his face, while Lord Shen was full of anger.
"How's the matter?" Yuan Yuchuān glanced at Lord Shen, but Lord Shen didn't pay attention. Instead, he knelt directly on the ground.
"Please, Your Majesty, make a decision for those three children."
"Is this really the case?" Yuan Yuchuān tightly grasped the armrests of the dragon throne. He wished he could break them off.
"Your Majesty, the evidence is irrefutable. Please punish him and give those three children an explanation. Otherwise, who knows how many more children will be harmed in the future."
"Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, you're so bold!" Yuan Yuchuān was so angry that he directly threw the memorial in his hand down. He wasn't angry about the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue's pedophilia.
He was angry that the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue hadn't hidden his tracks well. Now he had been caught. This Minister of the Ministry of Revenue could be said to be a very important person to him. Now that he had been caught like this, how could he not react strongly?
Since the two officials went to investigate, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue hadn't said a single word because he knew they would definitely find out. So now he simply had no way to defend himself.
"Please spare my life, Your Majesty. I know I was wrong. I'll never do it again." The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue knelt on the ground and begged for mercy.
"Your Majesty, this matter must be severely punished. Otherwise, how will the common people view this?" Yuan Yuhan took the lead, and then his men started to follow suit. In the end, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue was sentenced to death.
"If there's something to report, report it. If not, the court is adjourned!"
"Long live our Emperor!"
After the court was adjourned, Yuan Yuhan happily walked towards the Marquis of Zhongning's mansion.
"Zhanzhi, how did I do? Now that the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue has been investigated, this position is vacant. We can arrange our own person in this position." After all, the position of the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue is neither too high nor too low. He is in charge of all the money. "I think we'd better put a reliable person in this position. Otherwise, if there's a war one day, won't Yuan Yuchuān make things difficult for us?"
"You can handle this matter as you see fit. I won't interfere. But you should go to the prison with me tonight."
"What for?" The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue has already been arrested. Why go to see him?
"To ask our Minister of the Ministry of Revenue who else is behind him besides the Emperor."
"You mean you suspect there are other people behind him?" It can't be. Wouldn't Yuan Yuchuān have noticed?
"Don't you forget who this Minister of the Ministry of Revenue used to belong to."
"If that's really the case, then I think there are many such people in the court. We should also conduct a thorough investigation." Yuan Yuhan's eyes became deep, and a cold light flashed through them.