Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Back in the palace, Qin Ji truly experienced what it meant to be restless and uneasy.

Standing makes it painful, sitting makes it painful, I feel uncomfortable no matter what I do.

Most importantly, one must maintain the dignity of a ruler and not let those serving him notice anything.

After dinner, Imperial Physician He came to check on Your Majesty's health, his brows furrowed so tightly they seemed to trap a fly. He asked cautiously, "Is Your Majesty feeling unwell?"

Qin Ji answered expressionlessly, "No."

Undeterred, Imperial Physician He asked again, "Could His Majesty have bumped or fallen somewhere, and not noticed?"

Qin Ji had a sudden inspiration: it wouldn't hurt to have the imperial physician prescribe some medicine. "I accidentally bumped my arm."

Imperial Physician He quickly examined the bruise on Qin Ji's arm. "I have prepared some ointment for Your Majesty's injuries; it should heal in less than two days. Your Majesty... is there anything else that is bothering you?"

Physician He pondered to himself, "This bruise shouldn't be enough to cause this kind of pulse."

Qin Ji said decisively, "I am perfectly fine, there is nothing else wrong with me. You may leave now."

Qin Ji's attitude was firm, and Physician He could only express his doubts about his medical skills by repeatedly saying, "Your Majesty's good health is a blessing for our Great Yin Dynasty and for all the people."

That night, Qin Ji used a liniment for sprains and bruises prepared by the imperial physician, so he no longer needed the "wildcat's" humanistic care.

The next day, when Qin Ji got up with Fu Lu's help, he had a rare moment of thought about skipping court, and in his heart he cursed Physician He a few times for being a quack.

After sleeping for a night, the injury not only didn't feel better, but it became even more uncomfortable due to the overnight fermentation. The wound rubbed against the clothes, and every step he took stimulated the wound, bringing a noticeable strange sensation. As he walked, the skin in that area repeatedly stretched, making him realize that he had just been severely beaten up yesterday.

Qin Ji then understood what it meant to have "injuries that His Majesty would notice." Maintaining composure and not letting anyone see anything unusual was already difficult enough, so he really couldn't afford to worry about managing his facial expressions.

Seeing Qin Ji's pale face, Fu Lu became even more gentle in her movements as she helped him dress. "Your Majesty, did you not rest well last night?"

Qin Ji gave a curt "Mmm" in response.

One can only imagine the discomfort of sitting on the dragon throne during the morning court session, and one can only imagine the look on Qin Ji's face.

The court officials sensed the oppressive atmosphere surrounding Qin Ji and became even more cautious, striving for perfection in their reports and making sure there were no mistakes.

The Ministry of Rites presented the detailed procedures for the autumn sacrifice three days later. Every year during the Mid-Autumn Festival, people would worship the moon, pay homage to their ancestors, and hold a banquet for their officials. Qin Ji listened to the procedures and, finding nothing particularly special, approved them.

The Ministry of Works reported on the autumn flood situation: "In the Lishui area of ​​Ning'an Province, the counties of Fuguang, Yangping, and Yituo have experienced continuous rainfall, causing the river to rise. If the dikes are breached, there is a risk of flooding farmland and submerging villages. The Ning'an Provincial Governor and officials at all levels in the prefectures and counties under his jurisdiction are already organizing manpower to reinforce the river dikes and rush to harvest the grain. However, the matter of selecting personnel for flood control..."

Qin Ji received an urgent report about this matter last night and summoned several important officials overnight to make emergency arrangements. However, a suitable candidate for flood control has not yet been found.

Zhan Pu, the former governor of the Ning'an River, died suddenly in office not long ago. Perhaps sensing the lurking crisis, the Ministry of Personnel recommended several people who could take over, but they either suddenly made a small mistake and were demoted, or their nephews or nieces caused a bad reputation and were forced to reflect on their mistakes behind closed doors, or they retired to their hometowns. In short, no one was willing to take on this hot potato.

Now, when we want to select an official to manage the floods in Ning'an, we can't find a suitable one for the time being.

Qin Ji sensed the corruption in the Ning'an provincial bureaucracy, a legacy planted by the powerful minister Wang Jing before he assumed personal rule. After Wang Jing's death, he made an example of a few of the more active officials, but many others remained hidden and kept a low profile. Because his power base was not yet secure, any misstep in the Ning'an bureaucracy could have far-reaching consequences, and he had not yet taken action against them.

Now that he has been in power for a year, the time is ripe. Perhaps he can use this autumn flood season as an opportunity to reshuffle the officialdom in Ning'an.

The only thing missing is a suitable knife.

Over the past year, Qin Ji promoted many capable ministers, but after a thorough search, they were either stuck in important positions or lacked experience in flood control, making them unsuitable to be the key figures.

Just as Qin Ji was lamenting the shortage of talent, the Ministry of Personnel recommended someone.

Or, to put it another way, a "bad guy" who was forced into this situation.

"Shen Jiangliu?"

"Shen Jiangliu is the son of the River Conservancy Governor of Lantai Province and a disciple of the great Confucian scholar Jiang Jibai. He has been known for his expertise in water management since childhood. Now he is the magistrate of Yangping County and is familiar with the local flood situation. It is most appropriate for him to serve as the imperial envoy to oversee the river affairs of Ning'an Province and supervise the flood situation in Fuguang, Yangping, and Yituo counties."

This choice was met with considerable support from the ministers.

When no one wants to take on this hot potato, the county magistrate who is pushed out is mostly someone who has been thrown out to take the fall.

I don't know how bad his interpersonal relationships must be for him to be targeted and used as a scapegoat even though he's a minor official thousands of miles away.

But putting everything else aside, the name Shen Jiangliu is very suitable for dealing with water, with three water radicals.

Qin Ji asked this man about his life.

Good heavens! He entered officialdom as a third-ranked scholar, then became a probationary official, then a secretary in the Ministry of Personnel, then a principal officer in the Ministry of Works, and finally was demoted to a county magistrate. In less than five years of official service, he was demoted all the way down.

When Shen Jiangliu entered officialdom, it was shortly after the Empress Dowager's death, and Wang Jing held the reins of power at the height of his authority. In order to deceive him, Qin Ji actually acted as a hands-off manager for a period of time, ignoring all matters of state. He didn't even attend the palace examination that year, so naturally he had no impression of Shen Jiangliu.

Faced with such a life story, Qin Ji couldn't help but feel uneasy. "Flood control is of great importance, and his repeated demotions raise doubts about his abilities."

Yang Xiuyun, Shen Jiangliu's former superior and Vice Minister of Works, spoke up, "Your Majesty may not know this, but Shen Jiangliu is indeed skilled in water management and has outstanding abilities. However, he is arrogant and disrespectful, and his words are sharp and difficult to get along with. He offended the traitor Wang Jing, which is why he was demoted all the way to the position of county magistrate, and his official career has never improved since."

Hearing this, Qin Ji couldn't help but ask curiously, "How did he offend Wang Jing?"

This matter has become a popular topic of conversation, and many people know about it. So, a minister immediately chimed in, "During his time as a Hanlin scholar, Wang Jing saw his youthful good looks and wanted to win him over to his own side. He specially invited him to a banquet at his residence."

Qin Ji raised an eyebrow and asked, "He didn't go?"

The minister suppressed a laugh and said, "He went, and during the banquet, he expressed his deepest gratitude to Wang Jing. His exact words were, 'Thanks to Lord Wang's guidance, I have gained a great deal today and have mastered the secret to a successful official career. I have truly benefited immensely.' Wang Jing asked him what the secret was, and he said..."

The minister paused halfway through his speech, his expression changing slightly.

Seeing his expression, Qin Ji became even more curious. "What is it?"

The minister dared not speak, but a naive newcomer to officialdom chimed in, saying, "His exact words were, 'The secret is to bully orphans and widows and exploit those without descendants. Oh, no, there are no widows now, only orphans…'"

Qin Ji: "……………………"

He now understood why Shen Jiangliu was so unpopular.

Who are you calling an orphan?

Imperial envoy? Dream on! You're to be demoted to a commoner and sent to some desolate land to grow potatoes for me!