I have Immortality In The Cultivation World

Chapter 546: Chapter 306 Warning the Monkey by Killing the Chicken

“However, the odds are not high for the Empress Dowager…”

Zhou Yi guessed that His Majesty used him as a tool, his heart naturally inclined toward the Empress, yet he would not truly resent or rebel.

In the eyes of the common people, those willing to be tools for His Majesty could line up and circle the capital ten times; to them, the Emperor is a deity who rules over millions of lives.

If the deity requires you to die, that is a grace!

“Ever since the National Dynasty established its rule, there have been numerous Empresses and Empress Dowagers scheming for power and regency, but none has truly succeeded!”

With this in mind, Zhou Yi decided to temporarily be His Majesty’s tool.

...

Continue to kill, continue to confiscate property!

This is the quickest way to power, and there is no other choice.

The power of the eunuchs comes entirely from His Majesty: win his trust today, and you may oversee the Three Agencies; lose his favor tomorrow, and you’ll be demoted to inverting night incense.

At the same time, he made clandestine contact with Crown Prince Zhao Yu.

“Instead of supporting the Empress’s regency, why not follow the National Dynasty’s tradition and push for the Crown Prince’s ascension to the throne?”

Before ascending the throne, Crown Prince Zhao Yu may be in league with the Empress Dowager, but once he becomes the Emperor, how could he still recognize his royal mother!

Zhou Yi stood at the entrance of the Hall Watching Gate, overlooking the endless stretch of palaces.

Since the previous dynasty established this Imperial Palace, it has seen many masters come and go, vanishing like smoke and clouds, yet these blue bricks and green tiles remain as ever.

“Your Majesty, this blade of mine can do more than just harm people!”

…

The second year of the Orthodox era.

September.

The Inner Treasury allocated ten million taels of silver, and called in two hundred thousand elite troops from the Northern Defense Army to join the Western Conquest Army.

The Orthodox Emperor dismissed all objections and pardoned Feng Wei to be the Grand Marshal of the Western Conquest.

The third year of the Orthodox era.

Spring.

The Western Conquest Army set out from the TaJing Mountain Pass, sweeping through the Great Moon Nation with continuous victories, expanding the territory by fifteen hundred miles.

June.

The Great Moon Nation was annihilated, and the Imperial Court established three prefectures on its lands, appointing governors to manage military and civil affairs.

September.

The second king of another surname since the founding of the country, Prince of Pingxi Feng Wei, returned to the Imperial Court.

The Orthodox Emperor offered captives to the Ancestral Temple and performed sacrifices to Heaven, his prestige soaring even higher than his predecessor’s!

…

Imperial Cloth Office.

Zhou Yi sat leisurely on the Taishi Chair, savoring the imperial tea.

Xiaoquzi held the account book and said, “Godfather, the Jiangning Wu family has produced a new type of cloth, taking the route of Secretary Cui, aiming to clinch this year’s Imperial Cloth order.”

Zhou Yi raised an eyebrow: “Is that all?”

“That’s all.”

Xiaoquzi understood his godfather’s implication and whispered, “A few days ago, Imperial Physician Liu visited Yichun Palace, where Lady Cui conceived with a dragon seed. Judging from the pulse, it is very likely to be a prince!”

“Heh heh heh!”

Zhou Yi cackled twice: “Now that Cui, a high-ranking official, has that kind of support, he naturally looks down on our family. The Imperial Cloth business shall be handed over to the Jiangning Wu family, with the purchase price increased by thirty percent.”

Unwilling to give in, Xiaoquzi said, “Godfather, by bowing your head like this, if it gets out, others may get the wrong idea!”

“That’s just fine, I’ve fattened them up for a year; it’s about time to confiscate their property!”

Since Zhou Yi took charge of the Imperial Cloth Office, responsible for overseeing the procurement of tributes for the palace, it is arguably the most lucrative position among the twelve offices, with countless businessmen eager to offer silver.

The word “imperial” not only earns the Imperial Court’s silver but also significantly elevates the prestige of the products and the businesses themselves.

For example, once Jiangning Wu family’s new cloth is on the Imperial Cloth list, it would become popular throughout the country in no time, easily earning tens of thousands of taels of silver.

“Godfather is right, a bunch of lowly merchants should be fattened up for the slaughter!”

Cruelty and greed flashed in Xiaoquzi’s eyes; confiscating property would bring in a tidy profit!

He continued to report on other tribute suppliers: most were willing to play by the rules, giving a thirty percent profit to the Imperial Cloth Office; a select few, relying on their deep connections, only offered ten percent, or even no share at all.

“Godfather, the accounts have already recorded earnings of two hundred and seventy-seven thousand taels this year…”

“Very good, very good.”

Zhou Yi flipped through the account book and circled one of the businesses.

“I can’t stand this Cui surname; go check on that business, seize it, and prepare an embezzled silver account of two hundred thousand taels to present to His Majesty!”

Xiao Quzi bowed and said, “As you command, father, I will see it done properly.”

“When you handle matters, our family is at ease!”

Zhou Yi nodded slightly, then suddenly changed his tone, “Our family is sending silver to His Majesty in this way, some people below must be unhappy, right?”

The silver returned by the tribute merchants to the Imperial Cloth was originally divided among them, but now Zhou Yi, taking advantage of the confiscations, had turned it all into ill-gotten silver for the inner treasury.

It was tantamount to using everyone’s silver to curry favor with His Majesty!

Xiao Quzi’s mind raced, immediately realizing that his godfather had other informants, and replied, “I dare not deceive godfather, indeed some fools have said some unpleasant things.”

Zhou Yi savored his tea, as if to speak casually.

“Our family wants to hear who they are?”

Xiao Quzi felt a chill on the back of his neck, realizing it wasn’t an illusion, but True Qi swirling around.

Godfather enjoyed bursting people’s heads!

Immediately chilled to the spine, he fell to his knees with a thud, “To report to godfather, recently little Hengzi, Xiao Chunzi, and Eunuch Sun… all had objections, saying godfather is His Majesty’s dog.”

“Dog?”

Zhou Yi not only didn’t get angry, but burst into proud laughter instead.

“Hehehe! Our family is indeed His Majesty’s dog, others wish to be the dog, but don’t even get the chance.”

Hearing his godfather’s strange laugh, Xiao Quzi immediately breathed a sigh of relief, and forced a smile, “If godfather is His Majesty’s dog, then I am godfather’s dog, woof, woof, woof…”

A few barks improved Zhou Yi’s mood greatly.

“Xiao Quzi, the Imperial Cloth lacks a manager, you’ll go take a look tomorrow.”

“Thank you, godfather!”

Xiao Quzi kowtowed quickly, saying in the palace that godfather was cruel and bloodthirsty, but also very generous with rewards.

“You may leave now.”

Zhou Yi waved his hand, needing no further instruction, Xiao Quzi should know what to do.

If he really couldn’t figure it out or dared not take the seat, then find an excuse to have him executed, and replace him with an obedient, intelligent godson!

Indeed.

Half a month later.

The tribute pastry shop of the Cui family spoiled, sickening Consort Yun’s stomach, implicating an attempt to poison the Inner Palace.

A century-old reputable store confiscated, and forty-eight members of the family exiled.

In the palace, little Hengzi, Xiao Chunzi, Eunuch Sun, and others who accepted bribes from the Cui family, were either sent to guard the Imperial Mausoleum or dragged out for execution, or met with accidents like falling into wells.

After more than half a year, Eunuch Zhou’s reign of terror enveloped the Internal Affairs department once more! @@novelbin@@

That day.

The palace attendant.

Zhou Yi tasted the tribute tea, listening to jokes from a newly acquired godson.

Having just executed two persons, others immediately joined his ranks, ensuring he always had eighteen godsons by his side.

Then, the voice of Xiao Quzi came from outside, “Godfather, the ill-gotten silver has been thoroughly accounted for.”

“Come in.”

Zhou Yi signaled with his eyes, and about ten godsons stepped back, bowing and waiting by the side.

Xiao Quzi slid through the door and knelt before Zhou Yi, offering the account book with both hands, “Godfather, after inspecting the Cui family and related criminals, a total of five hundred thousand taels of silver have been obtained, along with various shops and lands.”

Zhou Yi casually flipped through it, “A mere pastry shop, supplying tribute for only five years, could actually save up a million in assets—making silver at the court is all too easy!”

Xiao Quzi spoke softly, “Originally it was only three hundred thousand taels, but Minister Cui took two hundred thousand taels and sent a private message for you, godfather.”

Zhou Yi closed the account book, “What message?”

Xiao Quzi said, “Minister Cui said not to send those impure tributes to Yichun Palace, lest it harm the body of someone important.”

“Two hundred thousand taels, Minister Cui is truly generous!”

Zhou Yi’s seizure of the Cui family’s pastry shop had no familial relation with Minister Cui, but the minister understood the implications of killing the chicken to warn the monkeys and had also presented real silver.

“Let’s do as Minister Cui suggests, select the best tribute to send to Yichun Palace.”

“Godfather, is that the end of this matter?”

Xiao Quzi had long understood his godfather’s nature, a man who would always seek revenge for the smallest grievance, even if it took ten or eight years to retaliate.

“Our family cannot take silver without doing the work!”

Zhou Yi looked towards Yichun Palace, his lips curling slightly, revealing a sinister smile.

“Some things should not be forcibly sought after, or else someone might die…”