Chapter 15
Mutual Accusations in the Imperial Study (Page 1/2)**
Cheng Qi looked at the group of yamen runners being held by the guards and felt a headache coming on. “Princess, where should we lock these people up?”
The position of Kyoto Patrol Envoy that His Majesty had appointed was originally just a ceremonial titleānever did he expect the princess to turn it into a real job.
Now they didn’t even have an office to work out of. They couldn’t very well lock these people up in Prince Duan’s manor, could they?
Riding her little donkey, Ye Qiong snapped her fingers at the group. “Let’s goāto the palace!”
Cheng Qi had no idea what the princess was planning, but he followed her toward the palace with the prisoners in tow.
Since the palace gates were heavily guarded, Ye Qiong temporarily housed the prisoners at the entrance, leaving the manor guards to watch over them.
She herself strolled toward the Imperial Study with Jixiang and Ruyi.
Just as she arrived at the Imperial Study, she nearly collided with an old man.
Always respectful of her elders, Ye Qiong was about to raise her hand in greeting.
But the old man let out a heavy snort in her direction before striding into the Imperial Study.
Ye Qiong watched the old man, whose beard was practically bristling with anger, and was utterly bewildered.
“Hey, what’s this old man’s problem?”
Could he be some old enemy of the original owner?
But what kind of grudge could a young girl have with an old man like him?
System: [Host, don’t be afraid. He definitely can’t beat you.]
Ye Qiong: “Do all systems encourage their hosts to fight like this?”
System: [Aren’t we villains?]
What else do villains do if not fight?
Ye Qiong had no comeback.
She was starting to suspect that this system wasn’t a villain system at allāit was a violence system.
Seeing that the princess was just standing at the entrance of the Imperial Study without moving, Ruyi found it odd. “Princess, aren’t we going in?”
Ye Qiong looked mysterious and unfathomable. “No rush. Let the bullet fly for a while.”
Jixiang and Ruyi were utterly confused, having no idea what the princess was talking about.
The System was curious: [Host, have you figured out how to take down that old man yet?]
Ye Qiong: “…”
Could she admit that she was standing at the door organizing the arguments she’d use to fight with the old man later?
After all, judging by the way he’d stormed into the Imperial Study, he was clearly there to complain about herāeven though she had no idea what she’d done to offend him.
Soon, the old man’s anguished and indignant voice rang out from inside the Imperial Study.
“Your Majesty! Princess Zhaoyang… she bought a five-entry, five-courtyard mansion with a garden and lake view on the streets of the capital today! A full fifty thousand taels of silver! And she… she actually had the shopkeeper send the bill to our Ministry of Revenue for settlement! This old minister has never heard of such a thing in all my years!”
“Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!”
The Emperor: “???”
He doubted his own dragon ears, his voice rising in pitch. “Are you saying that Princess Zhaoyang bought a mansion and put it on your account?”
The Minister of Revenue tremblingly held up a bill. “I beg Your Majesty to seek justice for this old minister!”
The Emperor rubbed his temples and ordered Eunuch Fu to bring the bill up.
Having overheard the entire exchange, the System began whispering: [Host, this old man is the Minister of Revenueāthe one with the broken leg outside is his brother-in-law.]
Ye Qiong: “I heard.”
The System bit its virtual handkerchief, looking excited, as if it were eagerly anticipating the coming showdown.
[Host, go for it! It’s time for us to shine!]
Ye Qiong’s mouth twitched. “I’m just a weak, helpless, kind, confused, pitiful soul who hadn’t even finished university when the apocalypse hitāand you want me to fight a verbal battle with a wily old fox from the court? Are you trying to get me killed?”
System: [Host, don’t be afraid! You have a sniper! When necessary, Host can just shoot him!]
Ye Qiong: “There are no bullets in the sniper.”
System: [!!!]
[Host, what good are you?!]
—
*(This chapter is not finished; please click the next page to continue reading.)*
Just as the one human and one system were having their own argument, a roar erupted from inside the Imperial Study.
“Zhaoyang! Get your hide in here!”
Having finished reading the bill, the Emperor was already enraged. Seeing the culprit sneaking about outside the door, his blood pressure shot up.
Ye Qiong, hunched over and looking like a thief, slunk into the Imperial Study.
Then she knelt obediently right next to the Minister of Revenue.
The Emperor threw the bill at Ye Qiong’s feet. “Explain yourself. What is this?”
Ye Qiong rubbed her nose. “I just bought a mansion. Imperial Uncle, you didn’t give me any personnel, and you didn’t give me an office. I had to find one myself.”
Seeing that this wretch was actually blaming him, the Emperor nearly laughed in anger. “Why did you put the bill on the Minister of Revenue’s account?”
Ye Qiong looked aggrieved. “I originally wanted to put it on Imperial Uncle’s account. But Jixiang and Ruyi said that if I put it on yours, no one would dare sell me a mansion. I had no choiceāthe Minister of Revenue manages the national treasury!”
“I thought, since I’m working for the court anyway, and Your Majesty is so busy with state affairs that you forgot to allocate funds for me, I wouldn’t trouble youāI’d just put it on the account myself. But the Minister of Revenue, without even asking what happened, came running to complain about me!”
The Emperor: “…”
The Minister of Revenue: “…”
Both had imagined many reasons why Princess Zhaoyang would put the bill on the Minister of Revenue’s accountābut never had they expected such a uniquely refreshing explanation.
The Emperor rubbed his temples wearily. “Does a Kyoto Patrol Office really need a mansion bigger than the Capital Prefecture?”
He was now beginning to regret having appointed these two as officials yesterday.
Ye Qiong nodded. “Of course! If the Prefect of the Capital Prefecture can have such a grand office to manage the capital’s affairs, why can’t the Kyoto Patrol Envoy?”
The Emperor was stumped.
You’re a ceremonial position, and you’re comparing yourself to someone with actual authority?
“Then why didn’t you submit a memorial first before buying the mansion?”
Ye Qiong scratched her head. “How do I submit a memorial?”
No one had taught her that.
The Emperor: “…”
How exactly was he supposed to explain the process of submitting a memorial to her?
Seeing that His Majesty showed no intention of holding Princess Zhaoyang accountable for buying the mansion, the Minister of Revenue grew anxious.
“Your Majesty! Though the princess has been appointed Kyoto Patrol Envoy, this position is essentially ceremonialāwhy go to such lengths to purchase a new office? The treasury is already strained. Such extravagance is contrary to the principle of austerity!”
Ye Qiong nearly jumped up in anger. “You say my position is ceremonial? You look down on me, a Kyoto Patrol Envoy? On my very first day on the job, I apprehended a corrupt official! Where’s the ceremonial in that?”
She immediately turned and complained to the Emperor on the dragon throne. “Your Majesty, I also submit a memorial of impeachment! I impeach the Minister of Revenue for oppressing the people and accepting bribes!”
The Emperor raised an eyebrow, a glint of interest in his eyes.
“Oh? Is this true?”
Upon hearing this, the Minister of Revenue was shocked. He hurriedly prostrated himself, his voice urgent. “Princess! You… you’re slandering me! Making baseless accusations! Have you no regard for the law?!”
Ye Qiong crossed her arms, looking smug. “I have plenty of evidenceāunlike you, old man, who just talks nonsense.”
She turned to the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, the witnesses are right at the palace gates!”
The Emperor glanced at Eunuch Fu, who immediately understood and whispered to an attendant, sending someone to bring the witnesses in.
Ye Qiong looked at Jixiang, who promptly pulled a thick stack of testimonies from her sleevesāso thick it looked like a brick. The sight of it made everyone’s eyelids twitch.
Seriouslyāwho gives testimonies as thick as a brick?
