“Don’t worry, my lord. I’ll prescribe some medicine for you to take over the next few days to regulate your body.”
“Thank you, Physician.”
“It’s all thanks to His Majesty. Seeing you officials bearing the burden of state affairs, He worries about your health.”
Imperial Physician Hao felt the pulse for quite a while, his brows gradually furrowing.
“Your pulse is somewhat strange, my lord—yin and yang are disordered, making it difficult to discern at the moment.”
After speaking, he stroked his beard. This pulse seemed like…
Xiao Yaozu felt a surge of joy and asked carefully, “Physician, can you determine what it is?”
“Lord Xiao, your pulse seems affected by medication or some factor causing physical depletion. I need to consult medical texts, but I have a restorative prescription. Take two doses daily to nourish yourself first.”
“Thank you, Physician.” Xiao Yaozu felt somewhat disappointed.
Glancing at the prescription in hand, she grew even more disheartened.
Ginseng, angelica, white atractylodes…
A list of ingredients that looked expensive. She was currently penniless and didn’t know if Xiao Mansion’s storeroom had these medicines for her to use…
Fortunately, she still had the System.
Turning away, she cheerfully gossiped with the System.
[System, look at that chubby guy—he kinda looks like Heshen~]
The Emperor watched everything from his dragon throne. This Xiao lad was quite carefree.
But who was Heshen?
Why was he so excited?
[Ding—Host, big gossip.]
[Tell me.]
[That round, chubby man you just saw is a major corrupt official—the Salt and Iron Commissioner of the Three Judicial Offices.]
Xiao Yaozu’s eyes sparkled as she stared at the fat man.
[System, how much did he embezzle? How did he do it?]
The Salt and Iron Commissioner felt a sudden chill down his spine, finding it hard to breathe.
Don’t say it, please don’t say it!
The System began recounting leisurely:
[He abused his position to accept bribes from various teas, salts, and mines. The amount is substantial—a full five million taels of silver.]
Xiao Yaozu’s jaw dropped in shock.
A living, breathing corrupt official.
[Five million taels of silver! How audacious! Where does he keep all that money?]
[In a room full of gold bricks—an entire room. He goes to look at it every night.]
[A room full of gold bricks? How many people would that starve? How many big-headed dolls would that make? System, compared to him, I’m so pitiful—I don’t even have a single gold bracelet, and my carriage is a donkey cart…]
[Host, I know the exact location where he hides the gold bricks. It’s at…]
“Ah—! The Salt and Iron Commissioner has fainted!”
Before everyone could hear the address, they were abruptly interrupted and looked over displeased.
They saw the Salt and Iron Commissioner’s overly plump body, which couldn’t even lie on its side, collapsed on the floor.
No one could tell if he had truly fainted or was pretending.
Among the officials, those friendly with him had already started planning how to distance themselves.
Xiao Yaozu slightly leaned forward, tiptoeing to see someone lying on the floor. It couldn’t be helped—these civil and military officials had either lineage or height.
At 172 cm, she was still too short for a “male body.”
[System, did he really faint?]
[I don’t know why, but his heart rate suddenly sped up and he fainted.]
[Could it be because he’s too fat and got short of breath?]
Both the Host and the System were puzzled.
The Emperor found Xiao Yaozu’s series of actions—clasping hands behind her back, standing on tiptoes, leaning forward—strangely endearing and only then noticed that the Xiao lad was somewhat short.
Perhaps it was due to the Gu poison. Pitiful indeed.
Xiao Yaozu cast another sidelong glance at the Salt and Iron Commissioner lying on the floor, feigning surprise as he asked unhurriedly:
“What happened?”
A civil official who disliked the Commissioner stepped forward first:
“I heard the Salt and Iron Commissioner’s residence is filled with exquisite treasures. It seems he has indulged in too many delicacies and fainted from excessive tonic.”
The Emperor snorted coldly: “Too many treasures? When the nation is in ruins and the treasury is depleted, the Salt and Iron Commissioner certainly lives in comfort and plumpness.”
Upon sensing the Emperor’s implicit intention…
The unconscious Commissioner suddenly felt a sharp pain in his fingernail and immediately opened his eyes.
The imperial physician quietly retracted his silver needle, squinting at him.
Another day of utmost professionalism – no one could fake unconsciousness in his presence.
Another civil official promptly stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present. I wish to report the Salt and Iron Commissioner for corruption…”
“I also have a memorial to present…”
The Emperor didn’t rush to speak, watching the ministers perform their coordinated act.
Today these ministers were more perceptive than usual.
[Wow, how terrifying. I thought this was just a routine collective physical examination for colleagues, but it turns out they’re catching this corrupt official. The Emperor is truly remarkable.]
[Is this what they call the art of imperial manipulation?]
The ministers: “…”
If you hadn’t spoken aloud, would he be getting caught today?!
Only two words echoed in the newly awakened Commissioner’s mind:
It’s over.
Several times he tried to speak, but couldn’t produce a sound.
His hands and legs felt weak as his obese body trembled.
“Your… Your Majesty… I… I’m innocent!!”
As long as those gold bricks remained undiscovered, he still had a sliver of hope – he absolutely couldn’t confess.
“I have been loyal and diligent in my duties, without the slightest greedy thought.”
[System, why does the Salt and Iron Commissioner suddenly seem emboldened?]
[Host, those gold bricks are well hidden. As long as they’re not found, he still has a way out.]
[What should we do then?]
[I know where they’re hidden. Host, do you want that gold?] the System suddenly asked, its voice carrying an inexplicable temptation.
[System, you’re really testing me.]
[Host, just say whether you want it or not?]
The ministers’ minds also grew tense.
This Xiao Yaozu appeared quite poor, without even a decent carriage.
Would this young man who recently came of age be tempted to claim that room full of gold bricks for himself?
[System, there’s a saying: there are things to do and things not to do. We can’t covet these gold bricks – they’re built from the flesh and blood of the common people.]
The System fell silent. For a few seconds, its database recorded unusual fluctuations, somewhat reddish.
Perhaps this was the human emotion it couldn’t comprehend.
[Host, even if you don’t take it, those common people will still die. Natural disasters are coming to this dynasty.]
[Natural disasters? How can this be?]
[Host, ancient times are the most prone to natural disasters.]
Xiao Yaozu remained silent for a long time, as if making some resolution.
[System, I believe the Emperor will find ways to guide everyone in the right direction. He will become a wise ruler remembered throughout history. And these ministers – just give them some warnings and alerts.]
[Countless Zhuangyuan scholars will stand up when needed. Every common man shares responsibility for the nation’s fate.]
The System didn’t agree.
[Host, not every official is virtuous.]
[System, humans are complex.]
[Alright, this System temporarily cannot understand this.]
The ministers remained equally silent.
Looking at Xiao Yaozu’s youthful face, he recalled their feelings when they first entered officialdom… Back then, they weren’t the seasoned veterans they are now…
The Emperor took in the subtle expressions of those ministers.
It seemed Xiao Yaozu’s words had prompted many to reflect, and quite a few could hear the inner thoughts.
Well, being able to hear the thoughts of the Xiao Family’s young man was already a miracle.
His mind wandering, his gaze shifted to the man in the python robe at the head of the officials’ procession.