blueteamnovel Chapter 545: 405
Chapter 545: 405
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.
“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!”