Lou Jianshan withdrew his hand and stared wide-eyed. “Wasn’t he drunk? How did he suddenly wake up?”
“My lord, this…”
Gao Chongguang groaned in agony, “Ow, ow, ow.” But when he saw the figures of the two men, realization dawned on him. He angrily pointed at them. “So it was you!”
“You two old geezers actually ambushed me! I’m going to report this to His Maj—”
Before he could finish, Lou Jianshan pulled the sword from the table beside him and drove it straight into Gao Chongguang’s chest.
Gao Chongguang’s pupils contracted in disbelief. “You actually dare… stab… stab…”
Lou Jianshan sneered. “You damned bastard. I’ve wanted to kill you for a long time. You thought I was a sick cat just because this tiger hadn’t shown its claws?”
With that, he kicked Gao Chongguang to the ground, and the pent-up frustration he had been carrying all this time finally dissipated.
Blood trickled from the corners of Gao Chongguang’s mouth. His upper body collapsed back onto the floor, and he fell silent.
“Liu Xi, send someone whose build and appearance resemble his out of the Lou residence. Have him show his face in a crowded place where no one knows him well, then stage his disappearance.”
“To prevent His Majesty or the Gao family from searching the Lou residence, keep his body hidden in the secret chamber for now.”
After his impulsive outburst, Lou Jianshan had regained his composure and began issuing orders.
A life had suddenly been taken—and not just any life, but that of a man with a special status. All of Liu Xi’s lewd thoughts instantly vanished. He hurriedly lifted Gao Chongguang’s body and followed Lou Jianshan.
Since this matter was of the utmost importance, Lou Jianshan had already ordered his trusted retainers to clear the servants and maids from the route, ensuring that no one would find out.
The two men arrived at the study. After Lou Jianshan rearranged more than a dozen books on the shelves, the two bookcases slowly swung open, revealing a passage leading underground.
Holding an oil lamp, Lou Jianshan walked into the passage and suddenly asked, “Liu Xi, apart from me, you’re the only person who knows this secret chamber exists. You haven’t let anything slip, have you?”
Liu Xi’s footsteps came to a halt.
There was, in fact, one time when he had let the secret slip while the seductive little temptress Meier had stirred his senses and left him distracted.
But Meier was merely a beautiful concubine he kept. At this moment, she was probably already waiting at home, stripped bare and ready for him to indulge her. Surely nothing would come of it.
Liu Xi shook his head and replied respectfully, “This subordinate would never reveal your secret, my lord!”
Only then did Lou Jianshan continue downward with some relief. Yet for some reason, his heart remained filled with unease.
Liu Xi was his trusted aide, and he had always handled matters prudently. The secret chamber was exceedingly well hidden; it was impossible for anything to go wrong. Perhaps he was simply being overly suspicious.
The light in the passage gradually brightened. After stepping off the final stair, the two men suddenly found themselves in a spacious and luxurious secret chamber.
Liu Xi placed Gao Chongguang’s body on the ground. Exhausted, he sat down on a stool and began to pant heavily.
“My lord, leave everything that follows to this subordinate. I’ll make sure Gao Chongguang’s death is dealt with cleanly!”
“Very well. I’ve always trusted you to handle things.” Lou Jianshan nodded, his brows drawing together slightly. “What concerns me is Tu Shanjin’s next move. He never does anything without reason. What was his true purpose in holding this birthday banquet?”
Liu Xi pondered for a moment. “Was it to deliberately have Gao Chongguang disrupt the banquet and humiliate you in front of everyone?”
Lou Jianshan shook his head gently. “I have a feeling things aren’t that simple.”
But what, exactly, was the reason…?
As he was deep in thought, a faint sound suddenly came from behind the screen nearby. Lou Jianshan fixed his gaze on it.
“Who’s there?”
Liu Xi immediately drew his sword and approached warily, then slashed at the screen.
The instant the screen split apart, a group of figures appeared behind it.
At the front stood Yun Yaoyao, dressed in dark ceremonial robes. In her hand was a folded document of bright yellow, and her smile reached all the way to her eyes.
“Minister Lou, we meet again.”
Liu Xi dropped heavily onto the floor, looking as though he had seen a ghost. “His… His Majesty!”
Beside Yun Yaoyao, Tu Shanjin curved his lips into a smile. It was cold and disdainful, as though he were looking at two insignificant ants he could crush at any moment.
“What is the punishment for conspiring to murder an imperial official?”
As the Minister of the Dali Temple, Di Shunzhi answered in a languid tone, “When a court official knowingly breaks the law, plots against an imperial official, and secretly speaks against His Majesty, with both witnesses and evidence present, the punishment is, of course… death~”
Lin Qingti bowed humbly to the assembled court officials who had been “invited” there. Among them were ministers, vice ministers, academicians, censors, commanders, and chief stewards. Some had been secretly “invited” by the Dragon Shadow Guard while they were still asleep at home; others had been “invited” immediately after leaving the Lou residence.
In short, there were not many of them—but every one of them carried considerable influence.
“Gentlemen, does anyone have an objection?”
Cold sweat ran down the backs of the officials. His Majesty’s methods had once again surpassed their understanding. To think he could force Lou Jianshan into such a corner…
One after another, they shook their heads. “N-no… no objections.”
Lin Qingti smiled and nodded.
By now, there was nothing Lou Jianshan could fail to understand. Tu Shanjin had laid an enormous scheme, and every action he had taken today had been part of the other man’s calculations!
The depth of his scheming was utterly terrifying!
But Lou Jianshan was a senior minister of the former dynasty and the financial pillar of the current one. He had merely killed a lowly physician—how could that possibly warrant paying with his life?
Lou Jianshan’s forehead was already beaded with a fine layer of sweat. The flesh of his plump, pale face trembled slightly as he barked, “Your Majesty, it was Physician Gao who showed disrespect to me first. I merely protected my dignity. What’s wrong with that?”
“To punish me over this matter would chill the hearts of everyone in the Ministry of Revenue. Your Majesty, think carefully!” Lou Jianshan continued his threats, making one last desperate struggle.
Yun Yaoyao set down the document and slowly walked over to Lou Jianshan.
Because of the difference in their height, Yun Yaoyao could only look down at him, taking in the panic and terror in his eyes.
“Minister Lou, what makes you think I intend to sentence you to death for this one matter alone?”
As soon as she finished speaking, footsteps came from the secret passage, and an elegant beauty emerged from within.
Guan Wanyu bowed to Yun Yaoyao. “Your Majesty, these are the Ministry of Revenue’s account books that this commoner found in Liu Xi’s home. They contain detailed records of the Ministry of Revenue’s financial transactions.”
“The Ministry of Revenue has long abused its authority to plunder the people, leaving the populace seething with resentment!”
“Falsifying accounts and misappropriating official funds!”
“Using diplomacy as a means to embezzle, coercing weaker nations, and lining their own pockets with tribute!”
“Openly demanding bribes and pocketing silver from the state treasury!”
“Embezzlement, bribery, running private businesses, and smuggling salt!”
“With crimes like these, they are nothing but parasites gnawing at the dynasty—guilty of monstrous sins!”
With every crime Guan Wanyu listed, Lou Jianshan’s face grew paler. By the end, his legs were trembling and cold sweat was pouring down his face.
Liu Xi cried out in shock, “Meier, it was you!”
Guan Wanyu cast him a cold glance and spat, “You parasite of the court!”
Pointing at her, Liu Xi seethed with fury. “I understand now… You were the one who revealed the existence of the secret chamber. You even dared to steal my account books, you wretched woman! I’ll kill you!”
Before Liu Xi could reach Guan Wanyu, Lou Jianshan kicked him to the ground first, roaring in fury, “You useless fool! You said you hadn’t told anyone about the secret chamber, and now even the account books have been stolen. You’re going to get me killed!”
Seeing the two dogs turn on each other, Yun Yaoyao smiled and stopped him. “Ah, Minister Lou, it isn’t only Liu Xi’s side that has sprung a leak. Something has gone wrong on your side as well.”
More footsteps echoed from the secret passage. Lou Jianshan stared fixedly at the entrance.
Zhou Siren hurried out from within and went straight toward Yun Yaoyao, his face alight with delight. “This minister is late. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness!”
“These are all the evidence I’ve gathered against Lou Jianshan and the Ministry of Revenue. I have brought them here especially to present them to Your Majesty!”
Lou Jianshan staggered back two steps in disbelief. Pointing at Zhou Siren’s back, he glared at him with eyes blazing with rage. “You ungrateful wretch! I personally promoted you to the position of Vice Minister. I gave you more money than you could spend, and you dare betray me?!”
Zhou Siren hurriedly hid behind Yun Yaoyao. “Lou Jianshan, you promoted me because of my abilities, and you gave me gold and silver because it served your own interests. We were merely taking what we each needed. His Majesty is wise and just, a diligent ruler who works for the people. As for you, your crimes are too numerous to record on bamboo slips. You deserve death. The Yanchi Dynasty must be restored to peace and integrity!”
You vile beast, Lou. Rest easy—I'll be taking over your position as Minister of Revenue now~~~
Zhou Siren handed the account books and other evidence to the ministers behind him.
The ministers passed them among themselves. The more they read, the darker their expressions became.
The censor who was always fond of throwing himself to the floor in Xuanzheng Palace, wailing that he might as well dash his head against a wall and die, was the first to point at Lou Jianshan’s nose and curse him. “Lou Jianshan, you truly dared to commit such monstrous crimes! The Yanchi Dynasty will be destroyed in your hands!”
Another court official glared furiously. “You actually sold the court’s secrets to the Xiongnu for money! A hundred deaths would not be enough to atone for your crimes!”
“If we allow such conduct to continue, the entire Yanchi Dynasty may be brought to ruin!”
“This minister implores Your Majesty to execute Lou Jianshan and his faction within the Ministry of Revenue!”
“This minister seconds the motion. Lou Jianshan and the Ministry of Revenue are guilty of countless crimes. I beg Your Majesty to issue the order for their execution!”
The ministers’ furious voices echoed throughout the secret chamber. In unison, they dropped to their knees, all demanding that Lou Jianshan and the Ministry of Revenue be put to death.
Lou Jianshan’s face turned deathly white. It was over. Everything was over.
His fiftieth birthday had become the day of his execution. Heaven itself had doomed Lou Jianshan!
Lou Jianshan closed his eyes, and a single tear slid down his cheek.
The next moment, he suddenly dashed forward and slammed his head against the wall. Blood sprayed through the air, and his obese body crashed to the ground, utterly still.
The great corrupt official who had harmed the Yanchi Dynasty for two generations had finally been eliminated today by Yun Yaoyao and Tu Shanjin.
