The Demon Prince

Shen Yan stood in the back row; he had also come to the morning court session today.

His court robes were still very new. When he heard his name called, he was startled, and his eyes welled up with tears.

The crown prince has placed him in a crucial position, showing that he truly trusts him.

Xiao Xingyue continued:

"Shen Yan is the new top scholar, and he was once framed by Lu Chengzhang's faction. It is reasonable to let him check the documents."

Anyone who opposes Shen Yan believes that the new top scholar is unworthy to serve the court.

The people from the Hanlin Academy were furious; they were completely stifled by those words.

They had already been humiliated once by Xiao Xingyue for suppressing Shen Yan before, and now if they jump out again, they are just offering themselves up for another beating.

Xiao Xingyue's voice is becoming increasingly full and resonant:

"The fact that Consort Shu's lineage provided the old files was not to allow the Jiang family to monopolize the Ministry of Rites, but rather because the Jiang family had deep connections among the civil officials in the old files."

They know best who has the problem and who doesn't; if they're unwilling to provide that information...

Then I can only suspect that the former subordinates of the Jiang family are not clean either.

Among the civil officials, several felt a twitch in their eyelids.

Xiao Xingyue then said:

"The Beitang gentry were responsible for providing tribute medicines and examining injuries. The Zhenguo King's Mansion opened coffins to examine corpses, kept old records of tribute medicines for the Ministry of Rites, registered medicines for the Imperial Medical Bureau and foreign countries, and so on. All of these were inseparable from the Beitang."

Anyone who opposes Beitang's examination of the injuries is trying to prevent the cause of death of Xiao's father and brothers from being determined!

Now no one spoke up. Who dared? The coffins of the King of Zhen and his son had just arrived in the capital.

Why would someone jump out to oppose an autopsy at this point? The people of Kyoto would curse his ancestral tablets until they're smoking!

Xiao Xingyue paused, then brought up the third matter:

"There's also the old equipment depot of the Ordnance Bureau."

Princess Li Lingxi, the sixth princess, was standing behind the princess's seat. She had been fiddling with a small gear hidden in her sleeve when she heard the words "Armor Bureau" and immediately looked up.

Xiao Xingyue glanced at her from a distance:

"During Lu Chengzhang and Cao Bi's tenure, the allocation of military equipment also needed to be verified. Princess Li Lingxi, who was proficient in mechanical devices, was responsible for verifying the old equipment allocation records, and the Ordnance Bureau cooperated in the investigation."

Li Lingxi's eyes lit up, but she quickly suppressed her expression.

She couldn't appear too happy, otherwise her father would definitely think she was trying to take the opportunity to visit the Imperial Arsenal.

Although she really wanted to, especially wanted to.

The emperor took a breath:

"Lingxi, are you willing to accept?"

Li Lingxi immediately straightened her posture and bowed:

"Your subject is willing to share your father's burdens."

After saying that, she secretly glanced at Xiao Xingyue.

Xiao Xingyue cupped his hands in greeting:

"Father, I think that since both parts have been rotten before, we should not rush to change clothes, but first scrape the bone to remove the poison!"

The investigation will last for one month, and whoever makes a contribution during the investigation will be eligible to take the position.

If Cao Bi's former associates believe they are innocent, they can be investigated; if the former officials of the Ministry of Rites believe they are innocent, they can also be investigated. No one needs to worry about not having the opportunity.

"Roll it up. If you do a good job, you'll be promoted."

One sentence, and the entire court was stunned.

The Ministry of War will not appoint a new Minister, nor will the Ministry of Rites appoint a new Minister. First, we will investigate and see who performs well and who will have a chance.

This isn't filling in the gaps; it's dragging everyone onto the field and rolling them up! Rolling them up like crazy!

They hadn't heard of the word "卷" before, but they understood its meaning.

When it comes to getting things done, everyone should contribute their share; no one should just sit back and wait to get their slice.

The person in charge of overall coordination is Xiao Xingyue. In the future, who would dare to disobey Xiao Xingyue if they wanted to get their hands on the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War?

One of Cao Bi's old followers looked grim; he wanted to object, but he was too guilty.

The same applies to the remnants of the Ministry of Rites.

Oppose the investigation? That means they're afraid of investigating Lu Chengzhang.

The civil officials oppose Shen Yan? That's just suppressing the new top scholar.

Military generals oppose Li Shunhua? That's because they don't recognize the right to fight that the emperor just granted them.

The old documents of the Shufei faction opposing the proposal? That means there's something wrong with the Jiang family's former subordinates.

If the Beitang aristocratic family doesn't step in to examine the injuries? That's even more impossible.

Even the Sixth Princess was stuffed into the old armory of the military equipment bureau.

He had stabilized the relationships behind the six, seven, eight, and nine princesses! The emperor looked at Xiao Xingyue in the hall and remained silent for a moment.

He originally asked this kid to draft the list, intending to make him offend people and also to let everyone see just how capable the Prince Zhenguo's Mansion really was.

However, Xiao Xingyue did not select anyone and directly created three temporary checkpoints: the Ministry of War's Investigation Commissioner, the Ministry of Rites' Investigation Bureau, and the Military Equipment Bureau's Old Warehouse Verification.

Although he did not have the official title of Minister, he had indeed wielded real power.

What's even more critical is that this investigation not only revitalized two departments.

They will also use Qin Zhenyue, Li Shunhua, Shen Yan, the Beitang gentry, the old files of Consort Shu, and the Sixth Princess's Armory to investigate the cause of death of Xiao's father and brothers! They will also investigate Cao Bi's old accounts, Lu Chengzhang's old case, and the lamplighter hidden behind it all!

How many birds can be killed with one stone?

Even the emperor was getting tired of counting them.

Qin Zhenyue was also stunned.

He turned his head to look outside the palace, as if he could see Xiao Junlin, who had already died in battle, across the imperial city.

Xiao Junlin, is this really your son?

You betrayed me during the war back then.

Your son is now ripping everyone off in court! And he's silenced everyone!

The emperor slowly exhaled:

"Xiao Xingyue, I ordered you to draft a list of replacements, and you've produced three separate investigations?"

Xiao Xingyue looked respectful:

"Father, I did not dare to make a random choice."

The position of Minister is too important; everyone wants it.

Since everyone wants it, let's get to work first. Those who do well get promoted, and those who don't get out!

Some of the older ministers in the hall had their eyelids twitching uncontrollably.

Vulgar, so incredibly vulgar! But damn it, it's also incredibly useful!

The emperor stared at him:

"What if you can't find anything after a month?"

Xiao Xingyue said in a serious tone:

"That proves both departments are innocent, the court is clean, and Father can rest assured to fill the vacancies."

The emperor sneered:

"What if they find too much evidence?"

Xiao Xingyue also laughed:

"That shows that your son is loyal and shares your father's burdens."

"Very well, very well!" The emperor laughed out loud in anger.

Qin Zhenyue coughed lightly, looking down.

The emperor swept his gaze across his ministers:

"Do any of you gentlemen have any further objections?"

The hall was completely silent. There were plenty of people who had objections, but not a single one dared to speak out.

The emperor waited a while longer, but still no one stepped forward. Finally, he spoke:

"allow."

As soon as the word was uttered, the hearts of everyone in the hall sank.

All officials spoke in unison:

"Your Majesty is wise."

The sound echoed in the hall, and Xiao Xingyue tucked his hands into his sleeves, concealing his merits and fame.

A hot potato?

Sorry, the name has been changed to...

The ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption) has been ordered to conduct an investigation!

Also called...

Run, you oxen and horses, I'm going to evaluate your performance!