Even women who travel through time can become prime ministers and nobles.

Chapter 281 The Corruption Problem in Yizhou

As dawn broke, the morning light streamed through the stained-glass windows of the majestic Golden Palace, casting golden beams of light, but it failed to dispel the oppressive atmosphere within.

Shen Yuxi sat high on the dragon throne, his posture upright but his face was frosty. As he listened to Prime Minister Cui Zhe's report, his brows furrowed more and more, and his face became increasingly gloomy.

Holding his official tablet, Cui Zhe recounted the details of the embezzlement of disaster relief grain in Yizhou, his voice trembling slightly.

As he spoke, the air in the hall seemed to freeze. The ministers lowered their heads, not daring to breathe, though they were already used to corruption in officialdom.

But the fact that the embezzled funds were relief grain intended for disaster victims in Yizhou is truly astonishing.

"Your Majesty, according to the investigation, the prefect of Yizhou and a group of officials colluded to embezzle an astonishing amount of disaster relief supplies, leaving many disaster victims struggling to survive in hunger and cold..."

Cui Zhe's voice echoed in the empty hall, each word striking the hearts of everyone like a heavy hammer.

Shen Yuxi gripped the armrests of the dragon throne tightly with both hands, his knuckles turning white from the force, his eyes filled with rage.

He never imagined that his disaster relief efforts, which he wholeheartedly implemented for the benefit of the people, would be so wantonly trampled upon by these corrupt officials.

"I never expected that the Minister of Revenue's subordinates would be so muddle-headed!"

Shen Yuxi said angrily, "That's life-saving food for the disaster victims in Yizhou! How dare they be so bold as to embezzle so much!"

The ministers below all knelt down, not daring to look directly at the emperor's face.

Some were secretly relieved that they had nothing to do with the matter, while others were uneasy, fearing that they would be implicated.

Shen Yuxi, enraged, slammed his fist on the table and stood up, shouting, "Minister of Revenue, do you know your crime? The Prefect of Yizhou has embezzled so much disaster relief grain and fodder. What are you officials good for?"

Minister of Revenue Wang Lin trembled with fear and knelt down with a thud, cold sweat pouring down his face: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I have failed in my duty to discipline my subordinates and deserve to die!"

"Deserves to die? You make it sound so easy!"

Shen Yuxi sneered, "The people of Yizhou are suffering terribly, yet you allow your subordinates to embezzle and break the law. Do you think a simple 'deserves to die' will suffice?"

Wang Lin kowtowed repeatedly, his forehead striking the cold ground with a dull thud: "Your Majesty, have mercy! I am willing to atone for my crimes by thoroughly investigating this case and giving the people of Yizhou an explanation!"

"Hmph, redeeming yourself through good deeds?"

Shen Yuxi's gaze swept across the ministers in the hall, his eyes sharp as he said, "Today it's Yizhou, but which state will it be tomorrow? I give you high positions and generous salaries so that you can work for the well-being of the people, not so that you can line your own pockets!"

At this moment, Prime Minister Cui Zhe stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that the most urgent task is to resolve the plight of the disaster victims in Yizhou as soon as possible, and at the same time thoroughly investigate this case and severely punish corrupt officials as a warning to others."

Shen Yuxi nodded slightly: "Minister Cui is absolutely right. Immediately allocate another batch of grain from the national treasury and transport it to Yizhou, making sure that every grain of rice reaches the disaster victims."

"As for this corruption case, I hereby order you to personally oversee it and investigate it thoroughly, ensuring that not a single corrupt official is let off the hook!"

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Cui Zhe accepted the order.

Shen Yuxi then turned his gaze to Wang Lin: "Wang Lin, you will remain in your post for now and assist Minister Cui in thoroughly investigating this case. If there is any further negligence, I will not let you off lightly!"

"Your Majesty, I will obey your command and do my utmost!" Wang Lin said tremblingly.

After the court session, Shen Yuxi returned to the imperial study, his mind still unsettled.

He knew all too well that if corruption in officialdom was not thoroughly eradicated, the country would never have peace.

"Someone, summon Censor Su Ze to the palace!" Shen Yuxi ordered.

Before long, Su Ze arrived in a hurry. He was an upright and incorruptible man, known in the court for his courage to speak frankly and directly.

"Your Majesty, may I ask what brings you to the palace?" Su Ze asked, bowing.

Shen Yuxi informed him of the case of embezzlement of disaster relief grain in Yizhou and said, "I order you to secretly investigate officials in the court. If there are any signs of corruption, report them all without favoritism."

Su Ze bowed and accepted the order: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will certainly live up to your expectations. However, the officialdom is deeply entrenched, and I fear..."

"I grant you the power to act first and report later. With me backing you up, you have nothing to worry about!" Shen Yuxi said firmly.

Su Ze felt a warmth in his heart and knelt down to express his gratitude: "Your Majesty, I will do my utmost to clean up the officialdom!"

Shen Yuxi paced back and forth in the imperial study, his dragon robe swaying slightly with his movements. Each step he took was extremely heavy, as if he wanted to vent his anger through the ground.

He was increasingly dissatisfied with the progress of the investigation into the corruption case in Yizhou. The officials seemed to be deliberately slowing down the process, and every report they submitted was vague and ambiguous.

The crucial clues were inexplicably shelved, and all indications suggest that someone was deliberately manipulating things behind the scenes to muddy the waters even further.

Do you really think I won't punish them?

Shen Yuxi roared in a low voice, his eyes flashing with cold light, as if he could see through all conspiracies and schemes.

"Yu Heng, summon the Prince of Xiang!"

Yu Heng, as the emperor's most trusted eunuch, had followed Shen Yuxi for many years and knew the emperor's temperament very well.

Seeing the emperor's fury, he dared not delay for a moment. He hurriedly responded and rushed out of the imperial study to personally arrange for someone to go to the Prince of Xiang's residence to invite Prince Shen Yanchu.

Inside the Prince Xiang's residence, all was quiet. Shen Yanchu had been sitting upright in his study all morning, focused on handling official business.

He wore a moon-white robe with a blue silk sash tied around his waist, from which hung a warm jade pendant that swayed gently with his movements.

He was handsome, with deep and wise eyes, and his every move exuded the demeanor of royalty.

At this moment, the steward hurriedly entered the study, his steps quick but as quiet as possible, for fear of disturbing the prince.

"Your Highness, someone from the palace has summoned you to come to the palace immediately, saying that His Majesty has important matters to discuss with you," the steward said respectfully, bowing slightly.

Upon hearing this, Shen Yanchu paused slightly with his brush in hand, pondering to himself.

The emperor's sudden and urgent summons to the palace must mean that something major has happened in the court.

Considering the recent turmoil in Yizhou, he had a vague idea in his mind.

"I'm about to set off." Shen Yanchu put down his brush, stood up, straightened his clothes, and walked steadily out of the study.

Before long, Shen Yanchu arrived at the palace. He waited briefly outside the imperial study before being summoned inside.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty," Shen Yanchu said, bowing.

When Shen Yuxi saw Shen Yanchu, his expression softened slightly, and he raised his hand to indicate that he should dispense with the formalities: "Yanchu, you've come. The reason I summoned you to the palace this time is to address the case of embezzlement of disaster relief grain in Yizhou."

Shen Yanchu nodded slightly: "Your Majesty, I have heard a little about it. May I ask what Your Majesty's instructions are?"

Shen Yuxi sighed and recounted the difficulties in the investigation: "The investigation is currently facing obstacles at every turn. I suspect that someone in the court is deliberately obstructing it."

"Zhizhou, you are meticulous and have earned my deep trust. I want you to participate in this case and make sure to find out the truth."

Shen Yanchu knew in his heart that this matter was thorny, and once he took it over, he would be drawn into the power vortex of the court. But how could he back down in front of his emperor brother?

"I will do my utmost to live up to Your Majesty's trust," he said firmly.

"Good, with you saying that, I can rest assured," Shen Yuxi said with relief.

"I will grant you the corresponding power. If you encounter any obstacles, just go ahead and do it. I will support you."