[We’ll discuss the deeper implications next time. Returning to the main topic, the reassignment of officials was merely a secondary outcome of the Court of Judicial Review’s Overtime Bloodshed Case. Your Majesty Xuanyi’s first step in using the Court of Judicial Review’s Blood Case to rectify official administration and reform the atmosphere in officialdom was a decree strictly controlling overtime work.
After promoting Minister of Personnel Xue Zeruo to Chancellor, Your Majesty Xuanyi ordered Xue Zeruo to draft an Imperial Edict.
This edict first addressed the Court of Judicial Review’s Overtime Bloodshed Case.
It sternly condemned the leaders of the Court of Judicial Review for their inaction in fostering a clean, upright, and diligent work atmosphere within their department.
It seriously criticized the current improper work styles, low efficiency, and waste of state resources among many bureaucrats. Then it introduced the main theme—Your Majesty Xuanyi demanded that officials must improve work efficiency and strictly control overtime hours.]
The officials of the Great Yin Dynasty were initially thrilled and excited, but soon sighed in disappointment.
What difference would it make if Your Majesty Xuanyi issued an edict?
Hadn’t those cunning officials, big and small, engaged in overt compliance but covert defiance countless times?
Your Majesty resided in Luojing—how would He know about minor officials in distant prefectures being forced to work overtime through various schemes by their superiors?
Even if He found out, senior officials would pressure junior officials to confess they had volunteered for overtime.
Had they not witnessed how authority could crush those of lower rank?
[First, court officials must strictly adhere to designated working hours without unauthorized late arrivals, early departures, or absences. If overtime is required, the employee must submit an overtime application to their supervisor, undergoing two-level approval to confirm genuine need before overtime is permitted. The so-called two-level approval means both your immediate supervisor and their supervisor must consent before you can work overtime.]
The despondent mood among Great Yin officials lifted slightly.
[Second, the court imposed restrictions on overtime duration and frequency, dispatching censors for inspections. Censors would periodically audit overtime applications to verify authenticity and assess necessity.
They would also conduct unannounced spot checks at various departments for unauthorized overtime. Cases involving ineffective, excessive, or malicious overtime would be “punished by the relevant authorities.”]
“They’ll conduct audits and impose punishments!”
Great Yin officials grew excited—audits could verify overtime legitimacy, and punishments would enforce strict overtime control—
Heavens!
Overtime is the common enemy of all workers!
How could workers not despise overtime?!
“Your Highness Shunyang, Your Highness Shunyang!”
Most mid-to-low-level officials of the Great Yin Dynasty wept with emotion—we don’t seek to evade duties or shirk hard work, we merely want normal working hours!
This edict was truly gospel for workers!
However, Qing Ju hadn’t finished speaking.
[Department overtime situations would also affect the promotion prospects of department leaders.]
Ministry heads, provincial governors, county magistrates and other leadership levels: ?!
This forced department leaders to rectify improper practices!
Ruthless, truly ruthless.
But mid-to-low-level officials didn’t realize that some task-oriented leaders were genuinely overworked!
Not only managing agriculture, water conservancy, finance, household registration and population, but sometimes even personally presiding over court cases!
Some junior officials holding multiple positions also worried—the workload burdening them was truly excessive. Even working relentlessly without drinking water during office hours wouldn’t be enough.
With strict overtime control, how would they complete their work?
【Don’t think Your Majesty Xuanyi was joking. When she spoke of punishment, she meant it—one case involving the Guanglu Temple Minister’s overtime work even indirectly accelerated Emperor Hui’s death.】
“What?” Emperor Hui spat out his tea. “I was already the Retired Emperor by then! What does the Guanglu Temple Minister’s overtime have to do with me?”
His voice trembled: “It… it even accelerated my death!”
Heavens above—his body had already been drained by elixirs, and he was further weakened by the devastating blows of Zhu Xuanyu’s death, Prince De’s demise, and Prince Chen’s rebellion.
He was already in terrible condition, yet the Guanglu Temple Minister’s overtime case accelerated his death!
Guanglu Temple Minister, why were you working overtime?!
Compared to the Ministries of Rites, Revenue, and Justice, the Guanglu Temple was practically a retirement home!
Did you not understand that I sent you there to retire?
The Guanglu Temple Minister trembled, weakly but stubbornly defending himself before the Sky screen’s narration began: “There must be some misunderstanding! I—I worked overtime for the Guanglu Temple, for the Great Yin Dynasty!”
“It was all… all necessary overtime!”
【Once, during a surprise inspection by the censorate, officials were found working overtime at the Guanglu Temple until late night. What were they doing? Drafting a document for the Guanglu Temple Minister to present to Your Majesty Xuanyi the next day.
The Guanglu Temple Minister hadn’t risen through imperial examinations—he gained his position because his daughter was Emperor Hui’s favored consort. How could he draft a proper document? He always made his subordinates write them.】
The Sky screen displayed an illustration of the Guanglu Temple Minister in his brightly lit office, sitting arrogantly in his chair while ordering minor officials to draft documents.
Guanglu Temple Minister: “I—I was preparing a document for His Majesty the next day! It was extremely urgent and absolutely required overtime!”
Everyone in Luojing knew this minister’s daughter was extraordinary—a former dancer who, at the peak of her favor, intercepted gifts Emperor Hui intended for Queen Wang and even dared not yield to Princess Shunyang’s carriage.
Absurd.
Emperor Hui loved the house for its crow—he gave her father an official post.
Back when Emperor Hui ruled, the Guanglu Temple Minister wouldn’t have feared such exposure.
But now, Her Highness Shunyang held power.
Many began scheming—this Guanglu Temple Minister was no honest official, but an arrogant and tyrannical one.
Heh…
Time to take him down!
【The Guanglu Temple Minister firmly believed his overtime was necessary and debated the censors. Eventually, the dispute reached Lu Fengqiu, head of the inspection team that day.
Lu Fengqiu demanded to see the document.
The moment he read it, he was shocked.
Good heavens—tens of thousands of words filled with meaningless drivel!
Lu Fengqiu ruled it as invalid overtime and dismissed the Guanglu Temple Minister from his position.】
“Wow!” those plotting against him exclaimed—this was like receiving a pillow when drowsy!
No need to lift a finger—impeachment memorials would soon flood in. The Guanglu Temple Minister was finished!
Sweat dripping from his forehead, the minister ordered: “Quick! Have my wife enter the palace to see the Noble Consort!”
Yes, Her Highness Shunyang ruled now—but the Emperor wasn’t dead yet!
Hadn’t the Emperor known about his actions all along? Hadn’t he turned a blind eye?
There was still hope!
Meanwhile, in Changding Hall.
“The Guanglu Temple falls under the Ministry of Rites.”
We’ve emphasized strict overtime control—supervisors must take responsibility.
The Guanglu Temple Minister working this late with clerks drafting official documents indicates that you, the Minister of Rites, have not taken His Majesty’s decree seriously and failed to rectify the conduct within your department.
The Minister of Rites bowed deeply and said, “I have failed in my duties. I beg Your Highness to punish me.”
“How can one be punished for what has not yet occurred? The Minister should take this as a lesson. It is not enough for one person to uphold integrity; you must also inspire the entire Ministry of Rites to maintain a clean and upright atmosphere. What does the Minister think?”
“Your Highness speaks with great wisdom.”