“Reporting to Your Majesty, Lord Li Changsheng has donated 1 million spirit stones to the national treasury.”
“To the north of the Imperial Capital lies a barren field covering more than 6,600,000 square meters. It has remained uncultivated for years. Lord Li Changsheng has contributed 1 million spirit stones in the name of the Great Shang Empire to hire the citizens of the Imperial Capital to reclaim the land. Work has already begun, and many commoners are competing for the opportunity to participate.”
Inside the Main Hall, an elderly official stepped forward and bowed. “Your Majesty, this matter has already been detailed in my memorial. I ask that Your Majesty examine it with discernment.”
Long Cang sat upon the Dragon Throne with a calm expression. In truth, he had long since read that memorial.
What he had not expected was that Li Wu would care so deeply for the Great Shang Empire.
Ever since earning the title of Zhuangyuan, Li Wu had devoted himself to serving the Empire. Later, after being promoted to Grand Secretary within the Grand Secretariat, he had continued to offer counsel on state affairs. He was then assigned as county magistrate of Bingze City, rising step by step until he became city lord.
He had once even advised the Emperor not to eat crab roe.
Now, having been transferred back to the Imperial Capital, he donated another 1 million spirit stones to the treasury and reclaimed barren land in the Empire’s name.
Such an official, serving both the empire and people without wavering from his original intention, was truly a loyal minister of the Empire.
“This matter, We are aware of,” Long Cang said steadily. “Li Changsheng has shown loyalty to both country and people. His devotion is evident. He is hereby promoted to Grand Secretary and rewarded with one King-level Spirit-Building Pill.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor! Long live! Long live ten thousand years!”
A King-level Spirit-Building Pill was a medicinal pill essential for a Spiritual Practitioner to advance into the King-level Spiritual Practitioner Realm. It could increase the chance of breakthrough and was exclusive to the royal family. Its market price was 100,000 spirit stones per pill.
From that day forward, Li Changsheng became the favored figure in court, deeply valued by the Emperor.
The civil and military officials regarded him as if they had seen a ghost. None dared provoke him again.
At the same time, some of the more audacious officials began approaching Li Changsheng indirectly with bribes.
Especially those whose families had disciples with Spiritual Roots. They sought Li Changsheng’s influence to secure favorable positions.
Li Changsheng refused no one. As long as the spirit stones were sufficient, he could always arrange a desirable post.
Even certain Princes and imperial descendants sought to win him over, hoping he would cast his vote in their favor.
Li Changsheng agreed readily to every Prince and imperial descendant, refusing none.
Within two years, he had accepted more than 10 million spirit stones in bribes. Of that amount, 5 million spirit stones were donated to the treasury, 2 million were given to the Princess as startup capital, and he kept 3 million for personal use.
One morning during court, Li Changsheng stepped forward and declared, “Your Majesty, I wish to impeach the Minister of the Ministry of Works, Lord Wu Maode, for condoning his household servants in seizing farmland from the citizens of the Northern District, forcing low-price purchases and coercive transactions. Thirty households have been left homeless and starved to death in the streets. His conduct is unforgivable. His servants beat commoners and perverted the law without restraint.”
He continued, his voice steady but sharp, “Last night, Wu Chi, a member of the Wu family and a county magistrate, abducted a young maiden and drove a family of three to their deaths. They had no avenue for justice. Such acts are utterly inhumane. I ask Your Majesty to pass judgment.”
The entire Main Hall fell silent.
Wu Maode, over 500 years old and a King-level Spiritual Practitioner, appeared to be in his sixties or seventies. Though aged in appearance, he moved with vigor and his gaze remained sharp.
The moment he heard Li Changsheng’s impeachment, his expression stiffened and his heart lurched.
He bore no grudge against Li Changsheng. Why would he suddenly be targeted?
In the past, Li Changsheng had impeached others regardless of rank, but only over minor faults that did no real harm. Many veteran officials even treated it as light entertainment to enliven the court.
But today, Li Changsheng was serious. He clearly intended to drag the Wu family down entirely.
“Your Majesty, this old minister has been wronged!” Wu Maode hurriedly stepped forward, panic flashing across his face. “Lord Li is making baseless accusations without evidence. I truly know nothing of this matter. I have no reason to oppress the people. Even if such acts occurred, they were done by servants. I request one day to investigate thoroughly. If it proves true, I will not shield anyone.”
Li Changsheng did not waver. “There is no need for further investigation. I already possess both witness testimony and physical evidence. The proof is irrefutable. Even if you did not personally order it, Wu Chi’s trafficking of innocent women is undeniably true. Do you still intend to protect him?”
He took out written confessions and blood-written statements from his storage pouch and threw them before Wu Maode.
Wu Maode’s heart sank as he read them. The evidence was clear beyond dispute.
Wu Chi, his great-grandson over 200 years old, had obtained the title of county magistrate in the Imperial Capital through his influence and had lived comfortably in the Northern District.
Because Wu Chi’s talent was mediocre and he had grown old, he had long since married and produced dozens of descendants. Yet not one possessed a Spiritual Root. His future prospects were bleak.
He was also nearly at retirement age. In one more year, he could have retired peacefully and lived without worry.
Who could have imagined that at this final moment, Li Changsheng would set his sights on Wu Chi with such relentless determination?
“Your Majesty, I am guilty for failing to discipline my descendant properly,” Wu Maode said, tears streaming down his face. “I never expected him to commit such foolish crimes. I beg Your Majesty to deliver a just verdict.”
He knew that further argument was useless. Having served the Empire for over 400 years and once been a Zhuangyuan himself, he had devoted his life to the Empire. Surely the Emperor would show leniency toward an old minister.
Wu Chi’s crimes were excessive. Bending the law, committing evil without restraint, seizing women, forcing low-price land purchases, allowing servants to bully citizens. It was utterly inhumane.
Such acts were strictly forbidden by imperial law.
Yet the Emperor understood the reality. Which official in the Empire was entirely clean? As long as no one exposed them, he rarely interfered.
If such things could occur beneath the very walls of the Imperial Capital, how terrible must the situation be in distant regions far from imperial oversight?
“Minister of the Ministry of Justice.”
“I am here,” an elderly minister stepped forward.
“How should this matter be judged?”
The Minister of the Ministry of Justice glanced at Li Changsheng, then at Wu Maode, before speaking carefully. “According to the laws of the Great Shang Empire, Wu Chi’s crimes warrant dismissal and investigation. If confirmed, he should be executed by beheading as a public warning. Although Lord Wu was unaware, he bears supervisory responsibility. In light of his more than 400 years of loyal service, he should be demoted as a warning to others.”
Li Changsheng frowned slightly. So lenient?
He stepped forward at once. “Your Majesty, I request to personally oversee this investigation. I will uncover the full truth and restore Lord Wu’s innocence.”
Wu Maode’s heart nearly stopped. Li Wu was clearly intent on destroying the Wu family completely.
“Approved,” Long Cang said after a brief pause.
That very day, Wu Chi was arrested and thrown into prison along with over 100 of his household servants.
In the Northern District prison of the Ministry of Justice, an old man shouted arrogantly, “How dare you! Do you know who I am? My ancestor is Lord Wu Maode, Minister of the Ministry of Works! Who dares arrest me?”
He raged on, “Once I get out, I’ll have every one of you stripped of your positions!”
“Release me at once, you dogs! If you dare touch me, I’ll kill you all!”
A calm voice suddenly echoed through the cold prison, instantly chilling the air.
“Stop yelling, you old thing.”
…