Fairy, please don't do this!

Xiao Qingyi parted her red lips slightly: "I have already prepared a secret decree, and I believe Xiao Yuan has received it today."

Gu Jinchao was taken aback: "Since Your Majesty already had a plan, why did you still need to ask for my opinion?"

Xiao Qingyi glanced at him: "I'm just testing you."

Gu Jinchao asked with a smile, "Has this humble subject passed the examination?"

Upon receiving the message, Xiao Qingyi immediately made arrangements, which clearly shows that she regards him as a confidant and has such trust in him.

"Your trip to the Western Frontier was indeed excellent."

Xiao Qingyi rose from her phoenix throne, walked slowly to him, and looked down at him: "At the morning court tomorrow, Minister Gu will receive the reward he deserves."

"But His Majesty is probably not happy..."

Gu Jinchao naturally knew that he was referring to Emperor Yongxing.

This case of embezzlement of disaster relief funds involves two important officials from Emperor Yongxing's faction.

Xiao Qingyi could use this as an opportunity to expel the two from the court and replace them with her own people.

……

The next day, morning.

Inside the Fengtian Hall, civil and military officials stood in rows, with Emperor Yongxing seated on the dragon throne.

Behind him, a beaded curtain hung low, and the phoenix figure sitting behind the curtain could be vaguely seen.

Jing Shu held three booklets in her hands and reported on the events in the Western Region one by one.

From the cause of the flood, the release of the Xuanming demonic mosquito by evil cultivators, to the dereliction of duty by officials who concealed the truth, resulting in the deaths and injuries of tens of thousands of people, to the detailed accounts of embezzled disaster relief funds.

Every single one of these cases has irrefutable evidence.

The atmosphere in the imperial court gradually turned deathly silent.

When Jing Shu read out the names "Chen Jin" and "Zheng Wenzhao", Emperor Yongxing's expression finally changed.

"The appointment of Chen Jin, Director of the Ministry of Revenue, and Zheng Wenzhao, Academician of the Grand Secretariat, is hereby announced."

Xiao Qingyi's voice came from behind the curtain.

Two officials stepped out of the train, knelt on the ground, and trembled.

Chen Jin was about forty years old, with a fair complexion and slightly plump figure. At this moment, his face was ashen, and the back of his official robe was soaked with cold sweat.

Zheng Wenzhao, who was slightly younger, was also trembling all over.

"Your Majesty, please see the truth! Your Majesty, I...I am innocent!"

Chen Jin prostrated himself on the ground and cried out, "Zhao Huan is clearly framing me! I have never..."

"Jing Shu, show him the ledgers and statements."

Xiao Qingyi interrupted him.

"Yes."

Jing Shu stepped forward and laid out the grain merchants' ledgers, the confessions of the grain transport boatmen, and Zhao Huan's signed confession one by one, presenting them to the front of the hall.

Black ink on white paper, glaring red seal.

Xiao Qingyi asked, "Is there anything else to say?"

"Chen...chen..."

Chen Jin collapsed to the ground, her lips trembling, unable to utter another word.

The evidence is irrefutable, and there is no room for argument.

Xiao Qingyi's tone was icy and chilling: "Chen Jin, you used moldy rice to pass off as new rice, embezzling money from it, causing tens of thousands of people in the disaster area to fall ill from eating the moldy rice, and more than 3,000 of them died!"

"Zheng Wenzhao, you accepted bribes, covered them up, colluded with outsiders, and deceived your superiors and subordinates!"

"Zhou Ting, the Assistant Prefect of Tiance Prefecture, Meng Guangcai, the Magistrate of Canglan County, and four others..."

"According to the Cangyue Law, anyone who embezzles disaster relief funds or neglects their duties resulting in the death or injury of the people shall be executed!"

Xiao Qingyi read out a long list of names.

Seventeen officials were found guilty of dereliction of duty, twenty-three officials were found guilty of embezzlement, and six Beijing officials were also involved in the case, totaling forty-six people.

Those who commit serious crimes will be executed in the autumn.

Those who commit minor offenses will be dismissed from their posts and exiled to the army.

As Xiao Qingyi finished speaking, dozens of imperial guards rushed into the hall and arrested the officials involved on the spot.

"Your Majesty, have mercy! Your Majesty, spare my life..."

Chen Jin and Zheng Wenzhao immediately looked at the man in the bright yellow dragon robe on the dragon throne and pleaded with him.

Emperor Yongxing remained expressionless and offered no response.

Both of these people were his men.

Even if it was embezzlement of disaster relief funds, it should be dealt with by the emperor himself; he could be demoted or transferred, which would at least protect him to some extent.

But now, right in front of him, Xiao Qingyi has eliminated his trusted confidants one by one.

He had no way to refute it, nor could he stop it; he could only watch helplessly.

As the last official was dragged out of the hall, Xiao Qingyi, behind the curtain, spoke again: "The western border has suffered such a great calamity that many official positions in the Tian Ce Prefecture and its subordinate counties are now vacant."

"Among the six ministries, the positions of Director of the Ministry of Revenue, Director of the Ministry of Finance, and Director of the Ministry of Granaries are all vacant, and the position of Academician of the Grand Secretariat also needs to be filled."

"These are all important positions, and they cannot be left vacant for even a day."

Her pale golden phoenix eyes swept over the assembled officials in the hall, and she began to read out the list of appointments and dismissals.

In the Ministry of Revenue, the newly appointed Director of the Department of Revenue was transferred from the former Deputy Transport Commissioner of Qingzhou. The Director of the Department of Finance was replaced by a young and capable official recommended by the Xiao family, the maternal relatives of the Empress Dowager. The Director of the Department of Granaries was appointed by a staff member of the Luo family who was well-versed in money and grain.

Although these three individuals did not hold top-tier or prestigious positions in the Ministry of Revenue, they wielded actual power over expenditure accounting, treasury disbursement, and grain and fodder allocation.

In the cabinet, the new Attendant Reader was a middle-aged Hanlin scholar from a Qingliu background who had a long-standing relationship with the Xiao family.

It is obvious to anyone with discerning eyes that these newly appointed officials are all, without exception, members of the Empress Dowager's faction.

At this moment, Xiao Qingyi spoke again: "Where is Gu Jinzhao, the deputy commander of the military command?"

Gu Jinchao stepped forward from the ranks of military officers, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, saying, "Your humble servant is here."

"Gu Qing uncovered the truth amidst the floods in the western border, captured the demonic cultivator Blood Lotus Daoist, and severely injured the Xuanming Demon Mosquito."

"This merit deserves a promotion."

Her pale golden phoenix eyes swept across the beaded curtain, over the assembled officials with their varied expressions, and over Emperor Yongxing's already ashen face: "Effective immediately, he is promoted to Commander of the Demon Suppression Division and granted the rank of Fifth Grade."

"A reward of one thousand taels of gold and ten spirit stones."

The atmosphere in the imperial court was extremely subtle.

Gu Jinzhao was promoted to deputy commander not long ago, and now, not long after, the title of "deputy" has been removed.

Even if he had rendered meritorious service in the Western Regions, he shouldn't have been promoted so quickly.

This was naturally due to the Empress Dowager's favoritism...

Xiao Qingyi asked, "What does Your Majesty think?"

Emperor Yongxing remained silent for three breaths before replying, "Your Majesty is wise."

“These people are all capable and competent, and are fit to take on important responsibilities.”

Xiao Qingyi smiled and said, "Since His Majesty also thinks it is appropriate, then let the Ministry of Personnel draft an edict immediately and issue it today."

Chapter 347, Xiao Qingyi's True Reward (3K)

After the morning meeting, inside the Jinglan Hall.

Xiao Qingyi had already taken off her magnificent court robes and was now wearing only a black palace dress, leaning lazily against the phoenix throne.

Beneath her skirt, her legs were elegantly crossed, and one flawless jade foot, unclad in stockings, swayed gently in mid-air, clearly indicating that she was in a very good mood.

"What did you notice at the morning court session this day, Minister Gu?"

Gu Jinzhao answered truthfully, "His Majesty is displeased."

Xiao Qingyi's red lips curved slightly: "If he's unhappy, then I'm happy."

Gu Jinchao echoed, "If Your Majesty is happy, then I am happy."

"You certainly know how to talk."

Xiao Qingyi glanced at him with a half-smile, then changed the subject: "What does Minister Gu think of the Prince of Zhenbei?"

Gu Jinzhao summed it up in four words: "A wolf's ambition."

Xiao Qingyi narrowed her eyes slightly: "If the matter in the Western Territory was indeed planned by the Prince of Zhenbei, Gu Qing, do you think I should take action against him?"

Gu Jinzhao pondered for a moment before replying, "In recent years, with the King of Zhenbei guarding the northern border, the demon court has not dared to invade."

"If we move against him now, the morale of the army will be shaken, and the losses will outweigh the gains."

"Furthermore, the Prince of Zhenbei enjoys extremely high prestige in the northern border and even the entire dynasty. Even if evidence is collected to prove that he was the one who did this, as long as an order is issued to arrest him, the Azure Dragon Army will surely rebel."

He paused here, then said, "If the Prince of Zhenbei leads his 100,000 Azure Dragon Army to surrender to the Demon Court or the Nanzhao Kingdom, it will surely become a great calamity."

This is not an exaggeration.

King Ning Wujiu of Zhenbei had been managing the northern border for decades, and had long since turned it into an independent kingdom with an ironclad structure.

The hearts and minds of the people and the army are firmly in their grasp.

Even Xiao Qingyi, who wields immense power in the court, would never easily harm him.

If there is any movement, the northern border will be in chaos.

Chaos opens the gates of the nation.

Xiao Qingyi asked, "Then, in Gu Qing's opinion, what should be done?"

Gu Jinzhao said slowly, "We'll proceed gradually."

Xiao Qingyi rested her chin on her slender hand, her gaze falling on him, as if she had become interested: "How should we proceed gradually?"

Gu Jinchao narrowed his eyes slightly: "The power of the Prince of Zhenbei is deeply rooted and cannot be shaken by force."

"We should use the strategy of 'boiling a frog in lukewarm water' to gradually weaken his prestige and influence in the government, the public, and the military."

Xiao Qingyi parted her red lips slightly: "Tell me in detail."

Gu Jinzhao revealed his thoughts: "Firstly, we can bestow upon him honorary titles and special honors, but gradually strip him of his military power."

"He dispersed his generals to various places under the pretext of promotion and reassignment."

"Then, under the guise of military supervision and inspection, we will place our trusted confidants into the Azure Dragon Army, subtly influencing and dividing them."

"Secondly, although the Prince of Zhenbei has won the hearts of the army and the people in the northern border, in the eyes of the scholars and even the imperial court, he is ultimately a prince from a different clan."

"We can secretly collect evidence of his disloyalty, and when the time is right, expose it to the world. His image as a loyal minister and general will instantly crumble."

"Thirdly, although the Prince of Zhenbei has been operating in the northern border for many years, his subordinates are not absolutely loyal."

“There are always unequal interests and rifts between his generals and staff. You can secretly contact them, offer them great benefits, and win them over one by one.”

Xiao Qingyi nodded in approval: "Gu Qing's idea coincides with my own."

"This is what you thought of yourself..." Gu Jinchao thought to himself, but on the surface he remained respectful: "Your Majesty is wise."

In the game, Xiao Qingyi used these very methods to deal with the Prince of Zhenbei.

"Gu Qing...hmm?"

Xiao Qingyi was about to say something when her delicate body trembled.

Her slender hand involuntarily gripped the armrest of the phoenix throne, and a chilling, bloodthirsty killing intent suddenly swept out, distorting the space in the hall.

Has the urge to go mad taken hold?

Gu Jinzhao immediately sensed something was wrong: "What's wrong, Your Highness?"

Xiao Qingyi did not answer, but only raised her phoenix eyes, which had turned scarlet, and stared at him coldly.

That bloodthirsty, murderous desire surged wildly within him, fiercely battling against the last vestiges of reason.