【When the investigation results were presented before Your Majesty Xuanyi, she sighed to Lu Fengqiu: “If our officials’ virtue and ability do not match their positions, they are no different from termites gnawing away at the nation and harming the people.”】
The common people of the Great Yin Dynasty and those officials who genuinely cared for the country responded to Your Majesty Xuanyi’s words with either joy or approving nods.
The powerless common people rejoiced that the Emperor held the welfare of all citizens in her heart, eagerly anticipating: “Your Majesty Xuanyi, quickly rectify those officials who harm the people! Let truly capable people take up positions!”
Meanwhile, those competent officials who cared deeply about the nation and its people but had been demoted to remote regions by Emperor Hui now harbored hope—that one day, Your Majesty Xuanyi would surely recall them to Luojing!
【Tang Yuan died. The brave pioneer of worker resistance, Tang Yuan, died in a manner both frantic and heroic.
He never saw the brilliant starry sky again, yet his sacrifice granted countless officials and even servants and laborers in the years to come the opportunity to behold the glittering stars and stroll through bustling night markets. Here, we light a candle for Tang Yuan.】
On the Sky Screen, in a wilderness grave, a worn wooden plaque read “Tomb of the Late Laborer Tang Yuan.” Before the grave, a single white candle burned alone.
A middle-aged man in the Great Yin Dynasty who specialized in funeral services exclaimed: “Ah, why only one candle? This Tang Yuan is pitiful. Why don’t I create a cenotaph for him, offer some tributes, and light two candles!”
His apprentice replied: “Master, Tang Yuan isn’t dead yet!”
“Ah!” The middle-aged man laughed awkwardly, looking at his spirited teenage apprentice, and said: “Apprentice, your master never makes you work overtime! When I scold you normally, it’s only because I want you to improve! If you have any complaints, you must tell me promptly!”
The apprentice smiled: “Yes, Master!”
His master was a good person with a sharp tongue but a soft heart—just a bit quick-tempered.
After seeing this Sky Screen, the apprentice thought happily, his master would probably scold him less often from now on!
What a wonderful Sky Screen!
【With the death of the chief official of the Court of Judicial Review, the illegal and disorderly acts he committed during his lifetime were uncovered. One clue led to ten others, revealing numerous additional cases and implicating many officials. Some had their families executed and properties confiscated, some were exiled to harsh frontiers, while others were merely demoted to local posts.】
Officials in Luojing gasped in shock, especially those who had close ties with the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review could no longer smile. He contemplated whether it would be better to confess and seek leniency.
Some officials harbored deep hatred for the Minister and the Registrar!
Could the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review not even manage his own subordinates properly?
What was wrong with that Registrar? Working overtime every day and actually enjoying it?
Don’t young people need rest?
The Sky Screen mentioned that Tang Yuan was all alone—shouldn’t the Registrar leave some time for his subordinate to find a partner?
If all superiors in the Great Yin Dynasty treated their subordinates like beasts of burden without allowing any breathing room, as this wretched Registrar did, how would children be born in our dynasty? How would the population grow?
We would face extinction!
Within moments, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and the Registrar had become the archvillains hindering the Great Yin Dynasty’s population growth.
The Vice Minister of Revenue thought to himself: if the next census showed a population decline, they should drag the Court of Judicial Review out for posthumous condemnation again!
He subconsciously revealed a profound smile.
The same thought occurred to the Vice Minister of War.
If the number of soldiers decreased, it wouldn’t be due to the Ministry of War’s failure in recruitment, but rather a shortage of population!
This should be blamed on the Court of Judicial Review!
If the Court of Judicial Review knew, they would collectively kneel before Your Majesty Xuanyi, crying and pleading their innocence with tears and runny noses!
For a nation, nothing is more important than population and land. The grave crime of causing population reduction is something the Court of Judicial Review cannot bear!
[Your Majesty Xuanyi took this opportunity to make new appointments among some officials. For instance, she formally appointed Minister of Personnel Xue Zeruo as Chancellor, Deputy Censor-in-chief Lu Fengqiu as Vice Minister of Justice, Censor Liu Feiran as Deputy Censor-in-chief, and Yongzhou Governor Yi Qingyi as Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.]
Minister of Personnel Xue Zeruo remained perfectly composed.
He had known all along that he would become Chancellor—in fact, since the appearance of the Sky Screen and the princess becoming heir apparent, he already wielded the authority of Chancellor despite not yet holding the title.
“This old subject, trusted by Your Highness and entrusted with the authority of Chancellor, will surely devote all his efforts until his dying breath!”
He did not become Emperor Hui’s Chancellor, but instead became the first Chancellor of the Sage Ruler Zhaowen.
Xue Zeruo smiled faintly—everything was destined. He was fated to be the Chancellor assisting the Sage Ruler!
Others might not share Minister Xue’s composure, especially the Vice Minister of Justice—
What happened to me?
Did I die or get demoted?
Your Highness, your subject was wrong! I shouldn’t have accepted bribes and mishandled cases!
“Yi Qingyi?”
Zhu Xuanyi and her ministers simultaneously uttered this name.
Zhu Xuanyi smiled: “I know this person. He has thorough knowledge of the Great Yin laws and possesses extraordinary judgment in cases.”
For Xue Zeruo as Minister of Personnel, the name Yi Qingyi was not unfamiliar. If he remembered correctly, this person currently served as Chief Clerk of Xunzhou, a fifth-rank upper position.
At the Xunzhou government office, colleagues offered congratulations: “Congratulations, Chief Clerk Yi!”
Yi Qingyi could hardly contain his excitement, bowing toward the direction of Luojing: “This humble person owes everything to the trust of Princess Shunyang!”
[Among these individuals, Yi Qingyi is the only one I haven’t mentioned yet. Those familiar with the Zhaowen era should know that Yi Qingyi was also an Illustrious Minister of Zhaowen.
His story is quite inspirational, so let me briefly share a few details.
Yi Qingyi and Lu Fengqiu were classmates in the imperial examination, with Lu Fengqiu as the top scholar and Yi Qingyi ranking fifth.
His straightforward nature led to his marginalization, and he served as a county magistrate for over a decade in remote postings.
In the twenty-fourth year of Emperor Hui’s reign, he met Zhu Xuanyi during her travels—ah, it was like a thousand-li steed meeting its master.
From that point on, Yi Qingyi’s career advanced rapidly.
From the twenty-fourth to thirtieth year of Emperor Hui’s reign—a mere six years—he rose from a seventh-rank county magistrate to a third-rank Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, an astonishingly fast promotion.
Some viewers might not be aware that during the Great Yin dynasty, first-rank positions were often honorary titles. The Chancellor held a second-rank position, Ministers of the Six Ministries held third-rank positions, while the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review held a third-rank lower position.
Don’t think the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review’s third-rank lower position is inferior to the Ministers of the Six Ministries. Remember, Your Majesty Xuanyi had strong legal thinking. Her placement of Yi Qingyi in the judicial department of the Court of Judicial Review carried profound significance.]
Six years—from seventh-rank county magistrate to third-rank Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. How many officials felt envious!
Some officials toiled their entire lives only to remain county magistrates.
Some who started with the same imperial examination background as Yi Qingyi might only reach fifth-rank local official positions in their lifetimes.
Yet for Yi Qingyi, the third-rank Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was merely his position in the thirtieth year of Emperor Hui’s reign—the first year of Your Majesty Xuanyi’s reign.
Hearing the Sky Screen say that Your Majesty Xuanyi had placed him in the position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review with profound meaning, Yi Qingyi felt both excited and honored, while deeply aware of the great responsibility.
He had originally thought that, with no connections at court, he might remain a county magistrate for life, never expecting such an opportunity in his later years.
His Highness Shunyang had never forgotten or overlooked him!
No matter what, he would spare no effort in assisting the Sage Ruler!