Divorced woman with child travels through time

Chapter 558 The Injustice Within the Palace

Just as He Tianxia was about to lower the curtain, he saw a scholar-like eighth-rank official with messy hair, a thin body, wearing a light robe, carrying a tattered box, and accompanied by a servant who was also dressed in rags. He was walking step by step with difficulty in the freezing snow.

And who knows which remote, impoverished place this minor official came from? He must have gotten his position through connections.

He Tianxia didn't take it seriously, closed his eyes and pretended to sleep. There was still a distance to the palace; he should rest.

Inside the main hall, several officials from the Ministry of Revenue took turns speaking, seemingly discussing the year's national treasury revenue and expenditure, but in reality, they were asking for money.

He Tianxia, ​​feeling drowsy, glanced at Zhao Jian, whose face was equally impatient and ashen, and a slight smile played on his lips. What a joke! The emperor was still too young. Seeing Wang Erniu's excellent governance of Fujian Road, he thought he could do it too, and tried to replicate it in the capital, opening shops to collect taxes. He expected a good year-end bonus, but to his dismay, he ended up losing money at the end of the year.

Zhao Jian suppressed the urge to throw those incompetent officials from the Ministry of Revenue out, gritted his teeth and squeezed out a few cold words, "Come to the Chuigong Hall later to discuss this with me in detail. If you can't sit comfortably in this position, then let someone else sit in it."

Several officials retreated to the side trembling. Cheng Yuan, the Vice Minister of Revenue, glanced at He Tianxia, ​​then slightly raised his eyelids, placed his hands on his abdomen, and tapped his fingers lightly on the back of his hands twice.

Cheng Yuan was finally relieved.

Just as the Minister of Revenue finished speaking, the Minister of Rites stepped forward, ready to speak.

"Thump!...Thump! Thump!...Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!"

Suddenly, a deafening sound of the Dengwen drum resounded outside the palace!

Everyone turned their heads and looked towards the palace gate. Had someone come to lodge a complaint with the emperor?

He Tianxia suddenly recalled the gaunt, aged eighth-rank official from before. Could it be him? He stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and determined that he shouldn't recognize him. However, in that fleeting glance, the figure seemed somewhat familiar; where had he seen him before?

"Go, bring them in!" Zhao Jian was intrigued. Perfect timing, the national treasury was empty again, and he was in a bad mood. He wanted to kill a few corrupt officials to vent his anger.

The Palace Guard brought the man in.

Huang Xuwu carefully placed the box on the ground, tidied his official robe with the cotton filling showing, patted off the ice crystals on the hem, stood up straight, and gave a salute.

"Your subject, Huang Xuwu, the magistrate of Baisha Town in Yangzhou, greets Your Majesty!"

Huang Xuwu! He Tianxia was suddenly startled, his eyes slightly opening and then closing again.

Huang Zhong's son, the third son? Weren't they all dead? Their house burned down? How is he still alive? Who lied to him?

He Tianxia lowered his eyes, his mind racing. He remembered that it was Qinglan's person who later gave it to Zhao Guangjun. Could it be that he wanted to use something against him?

He Tianxia glanced at Zhao Guangjun without revealing his expression. Zhao Guangjun gave him a slightly wicked smile and an innocent look.

The officials saw all of this, but Zhao Lue glanced thoughtfully at Zhao Qi. In the main hall, undercurrents were surging, but only the unmoved Prince De and Prince Ningxian, who had always been detached from worldly affairs, remained calm.

"What brings you here? Why are you beating this petition drum? Is there some injustice you've been wronged by?" Zhao Jian stretched one leg forward, lowering his posture slightly, and his face, which had recently gained some weight, wore a warm and friendly smile.

He Tianxia's eyelids twitched; he had a bad feeling.

"Indeed, I have traveled a great distance to accuse Commander He of instructing my father, Huang Zhong, to buy official positions for nearly ten years, involving nearly a thousand officials of the ninth rank and below, scattered throughout the court and the countryside. After the sale of official positions was exposed, in order to cover up the truth and silence witnesses, he secretly sent assassins to kill my father and brothers' families, a total of five houses, and 806 people." Although Huang Xuwu was thin, his voice was loud and clear, echoing throughout the hall, and only his voice could be heard.

"Here! These are the letters my father and Lord He have exchanged over the years, every word is genuine, and every transaction of money is recorded. I beg Your Majesty to grant me justice!" Huang Xuwu knelt upright, his head bowed, holding the box in both hands. His thin back seemed to burst through his clothes, telling others of his unyielding spirit.

Zhao Jian's expression changed drastically, and he glared angrily at He Tianxia.

He Tianxia stared at him intently, his eyes filled with struggle and fear. He didn't speak, or perhaps he was waiting for something.

Eunuch Wan stepped forward and carefully placed the dish onto Zhao Jian's dragon table.

Zhao Jian reached out and took a stack of papers, flipped through them casually, and knew that everything he said was true.

"How dare you! The evidence is right here, what else do you have to say!" Zhao Jian said with disdain, throwing the letters down in one swift motion.

A cold wind blew, and the letters fluttered and drifted down below.

He Tianxia picked up a bill and looked at it. Suddenly, he prostrated himself on the ground, tears and snot streaming down his face. He cried out, "Your Majesty, I was forced into this situation! You know how tight our monthly allowance is. If I don't take it, how will my soldiers survive..."

He Tianxia raised his head, crying, his official hat and jade badge in disarray. "Although I have sold official positions for money, I have never killed anyone, let alone harmed the families of my colleagues. I have been an official for many years, and everyone knows that I am the most considerate and caring person. I beg Your Majesty to investigate!"

He Tianxia would kowtow several times after saying a few words, then cry and kowtow again, his emotions were so sincere.

No one expected He Tianxia to be so reckless, showing absolutely no shame.

Everyone stared at him in amazement, except for Zhao Lue and Zhao Guangjun, who watched his performance with a hint of sarcasm.

Looking at the various officials below, Zhao Jian sighed sadly. He Tianxia was right. Over the years, the Song Dynasty had become corrupt and decadent, and greed was rampant. The reason why he was always trusted was that he was the only one who never asked him for money. He supported so many imperial guards, so it was fine if he was greedy for a little money.

But he should never have sold official positions. If he can sell positions today, he can collude with the court officials tomorrow.

Zhao Jian was naturally suspicious and thought a lot, and he immediately guessed the real harm of selling official positions.

Sighing, Zhao Jian shook his head, feeling a pang of pity as he looked at He Tianxia, ​​who was kneeling on the ground and crying incessantly. This general of his was usually so imposing, but now, because of him, he had lost all face.

"Alright, get up now! You'll be confined to your residence for now, and we'll determine your sentence after the case is investigated." Zhao Jian's heart softened; He Tianxia was still quite useful, and he couldn't just kill him off all at once.

Huang Xuwu knelt on the ground, staring intently at He Tianxia's crocodile tears, his eyes filled with disbelief. Was this what a high-ranking official was like? His father had died in vain.

"Zhao Lue, let your Dali Temple investigate this case. You must find all those who bought and sold official positions. Our Great Song Dynasty cannot allow these incompetent officials to serve as officials." Zhao Jian knew that if these letters were genuine, then probably a third of the officials in the court and the country were involved with He Tianxia, ​​so he appointed Zhao Lue to be in charge of the matter.

Zhao was somewhat surprised, but quickly realized that he was probably the only one who could take on this case.

This whole affair was all talk and no action; as expected, Zhao Jian decided the course of events in just a few words.