I have Immortality In The Cultivation World

Chapter 545: 405

“The ancients say, ‘Only women and petty men are difficult to nurture!’”

Grand Eunuch Zhao sipped his tea, looking at Zhou Yi with a smug expression, as if he were watching a monkey show.

“Now it seems that the ancients were wrong, petty men and women are far less cunning and deceitful than the eunuchs within.”

A cold light flashed in Zhou Yi’s eyes as he sat opposite Grand Eunuch Zhao, with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, he said.

“I must thank Grand Eunuch Zhao for the tea you’ve provided. Today, as long as you confess properly, I assure you that your family and descendants will be safe!”

Surprise flickered in Grand Eunuch Zhao’s eyes, as he realized his last lifeline had been seen through.

...

“I am a descendant of King Jing. After our family fell on hard times, I had no choice but to become a slave. Since entering the palace, I have never spoken of my lineage. How could you, Eunuch Zhou, know of this?”

“I have my ways.”

Zhou Yi suddenly understood, King Jing was a renowned figure in the Great Qing Dynasty, tracing back to the era of the Founding Great Ancestor.

Grand Eunuch Zhao took out a ledger from his sleeve and said, “Since you have figured out everything about me, there’s no need to plea for the ancestral death exemption token, this is the Imperial Supervisor’s merchant registry.”

Zhou Yi promptly examined it; the ledger contained detailed records of the tribute merchants’ origins, their backers, and even the profit-sharing deals with those patrons.

The ledger was an inch thick, densely packed with entries for tribute goods, involving almost all the high officials of the Imperial Court.

“This ledger…”

Zhou Yi’s eyes turned red. With this book in hand, it was tantamount to grasping the evidence of the court officials’ crimes, ready to blackmail them at any time.

Currently, Zhou Yi held sway over two supervisory positions in the palace, giving him considerable power. Yet his humble origins meant he had virtually no foundation outside the palace.

With this ledger, he could easily compensate for his weaknesses, wielding overwhelming power both inside and outside the court.

Suddenly.

Zhou Yi recalled the warnings of Old Lu, “Be cautious,” “Avoid greed,” as if a pail of cold water had been poured over him; the True Qi in his hands circulated and he crushed the ledger to dust.

“Hmph, even at death’s door, you dare to bewitch and frame the Imperial Court’s high officials!”

Grand Eunuch Zhao was slightly taken aback, finally looking at Zhou Yi with serious eyes, he commended, “No wonder I fell into your hands, you truly are no ordinary man.”

As he spoke, blood flowed from his seven orifices and he died.

Zhou Yi was frightened and stepped back repeatedly, ordering the inner servants to come forward and inspect— it turned out the tea contained a deadly poison.

“Arrest everyone, search thoroughly for me!”

A short while later.

The inner servants found a Death Exemption Token under Grand Eunuch Zhao’s bed, the back of which detailed the origin of the token.

In memory of the sixth son, King Jing’s outstanding military achievements, this token was issued, granting exemption from all capital crimes except for treason!

…

Three days later.

Yangxin Hall.

“Your Majesty, I have thoroughly investigated the case of the rouge, and the people involved have already been arrested by the imperial guards who hold the palace tokens.”

Zhou Yi knelt in the center of the hall, presenting the memorial with both hands.

Grand Eunuch Yuan came over to take the memorial, giving Zhou Yi a profound look. Over the past three days, there had been a huge commotion inside and outside the palace; heads had been rolling at the execution grounds for three days.

And over a thousand people have been escorted from various places to the capital, all on charges of conspiracy and corruption, resulting in their families being executed.

After the previous cleanup of the Metropolitan Supervisors, the turmoil was contained within the palace, but following the case of the rouge, everyone knew of Eunuch Zhou’s ruthless and decisive nature, both inside and outside the court.

The Orthodox Emperor glanced through the memorial, he had already been informed of the details through the Head Supervisor’s early report.

According to the Head Supervisor’s report, the case involved descendants of King Jing unwilling to accept their decline, in league with a certain prince, plotting unspeakable acts. @@novelbin@@

Zhou Yi’s memorial didn’t dare be so explicit, merely hinting at Grand Eunuch Zhao’s identity, and presenting the Death Exemption Token, amending the punishment from the execution of Nine Clans to exile to the Northern Border.

The Orthodox Emperor quickly flipped through the list of involved parties; how many died didn’t concern him, he looked directly at the confiscated property.

Fifteen million Silver Tael!

“You have done well.”

The Orthodox Emperor nodded slightly. With such a large amount of silver taels, it was enough for the Western Expeditionary Army’s needs, and there would still be two to three million taels left for palace repairs.

“I hear many people have been sending you petitions?”

“Your Majesty, your servant is terrified.”

Zhou Yi kowtowed repeatedly, saying, “Your servant strictly follows the laws of the National Dynasty, not contacting external officials. The servant did not accept any of those petitions and rejected them all at the door!”

After being tempted by the ledger, Zhou Yi suddenly came to a realization.

The root of the Orthodox Emperor’s trust probably placed military might second, and the lack of any foundation was primary.

Once involved with external officials through the rouge case, one would likely lose the Emperor’s favor immediately and could even be in danger of losing one’s life, so he dared not accept any petitions from anyone.

Of course, Zhou Yi knew who had passed petitions, and the corresponding merchants were also outside the scope of family confiscation.

The Orthodox Emperor hummed softly through his nose and changed the subject, saying, “I reward those who achieve merits. You will supervise the Imperial Workshop, manage well in the future.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor…”

Zhou Yi showed a pleased expression. Things were going even more smoothly than he expected, as he thought he would need to support a puppet for the Imperial Workshop.

“You may withdraw.”

The Orthodox Emperor waved his hand, watching Zhou Yi leave merrily. Then he turned to look at Eunuch Yuan, whose face was darkening.

“Little Yuanzi, what do you think?”

“Your Majesty, a Head Supervisor for the three workshops, is unprecedented in the National Dynasty.”

Eunuch Yuan spoke in a low voice, “The monitor of the Guardianship Workshop oversees the guard, the Imperial Workshop is involved with access, and the All-Knowledge Workshop controls the internal treasury. Eunuch Zhou’s power is now even greater than that of the Head Supervisor of all workshops!”

The Head Supervisor of the twelve workshops held a revered position, yet he could not directly interfere with the various workshop supervisors. If there were disagreements, it would have to be reported to the Emperor for a decision.

“What I am about to do is also unprecedented in the National Dynasty!”

The Orthodox Emperor said slowly, “I need someone to wield the knife, and Little Yi is just right. As long as he is loyal and works for the good of the Daqing people, giving him some power is nothing.”

“Your Majesty is wise.”

Eunuch Yuan’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction, already anticipating Zhou Yi’s end, which would inevitably be to be pushed out to appease the public’s wrath.

…

Guardianship Workshop.

Zhou Yi stared at the three golden seals on the table, a glint of doubt in his eyes.

“Too smooth. His Majesty just lets me supervise three workshops without fearing any troubles?”

“In terms of loyalty and background, I can’t compare. Unlike those old palace hands, my only advantage is… I dare to kill, I dare to confiscate properties!”

As Zhou Yi recalled this, he faintly understood what the Emperor wanted him to do.

“A knife for killing, but in this world, where is there an unbreakable knife?”

At that moment.

His godson rushed in, reporting in a low voice, “Godfather, we’ve finally figured out who the Empress Dowager’s family is.”

“Tell me.”

Zhou Yi composed himself, already inclined to side with the Empress Dowager. He was willing to be a knife, but did not want to be used to appease the anger of the commoners one day.

“It turns out the Empress Dowager was a martial artist from the jianghu…”

The godson said, “The lineage happened during the former emperor’s reign; His Majesty, because of his father’s crimes, was exiled to the Northern Border. On the way, they were attacked by mountain bandits, and the Empress Dowager single-handedly saved His Majesty and his entire family with a sword!”

“Hmm?”

Zhou Yi raised an eyebrow, instinctively rejecting this rumor. How could there be bandits within Daqing’s territory bold enough to attack the guards escorting a royal grandson?

“It’s not impossible, perhaps it was a plot by several princes to eliminate future threats.”

“However, I’ve never believed in the hero rescuing a damsel in distress. According to old Lu’s words, judging by the outcome, whoever benefits is responsible…”

Zhou Yi was convinced, without any evidence, that the abduction by bandits must have been orchestrated by the Empress Dowager.

“No wonder the Empress Dowager wants me to pick sides. Perhaps even the Emperor himself doesn’t believe it and suspects the woman by his pillow!”