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Chapter 70

The matter of the Ministry of Rite embezzling the Emperor’s birthday banquet funds caused an uproar. Two days prior, the Ministry of Justice suddenly discovered a clue about the whereabouts of the embezzled money. Indeed, it was a mansion purchased by an official from the palace.

His Majesty gave orders at once, sending people to seize the mansion.

The Ministry of Justice immediately sent personnel to set out. Because the operation was sudden, it was rather successful. Not only did they seize an astonishing amount of gold, silver and antiques from the mansion, they also found a prostitute kept there.

For some reason, after His Majesty learned of this matter, he was not concerned about how much money the mansion had hidden. Instead, he was extremely interested in that woman, and immediately sent someone to investigate the master of the mansion, along with the background of this woman.

But unexpectedly, the Ministry of Justice official discovered that the mansion was under the woman’s name. This woman was actually redeemed by the Ministry of Rites’ Chen Ti.

And Chen Ti was the very first to find the clue that day and reported to the higher officials about Ji You’s corruption.

This result was unexpected to the palace’s higher and lower positions.

Somehow, the Emperor was extremely dissatisfied with the outcome, and lashed at the Ministry of Justice official. Afterward, he gave orders to severely punish Chen Ti, not merciful in the least.

Buying out a woman from the brothel was not considered a crime, so Chen Ti couldn’t really be convicted. However, it could be verified that this mansion, as well as the residence’s gold and silver money, were all Chen Ti’s possession.

These years, very few officials in Southern Jing were incorrupt. The amount of this embezzlement was not considered much to them, but the Jing Dynasty’s laws and decrees had written rules which stated that once an official was captured, the penalty naturally had to be dealt out according to the laws and decrees.

Few days had passed before Chen Ti was convicted, and thus, the wind sighed and the crane called* on the palace’s officials for a period of time.

*wind sighing and crane calling (idiom) - extremely jittery and scared

The peach blossoms in Pang residence bloomed just in time, buoyantly filling the garden with blossoms.

A neat and quietly elegant stretch of fresh greenery could be seen in Pang Shao’s courtyard.

Those were Huizhou and Shexian County’s green plum blossoms. Because the previous emperor was fond of it, ever since decades ago, it would be delivered to Jing’s imperial harem every year.

Because the water and land were different, it was difficult to transport, so every year, no more than a hundred plants would be sent to the palace. This year, even outside Hou Zhu’s palace, only a few were planted. But in Pang Shao’s courtyard, the whole courtyard had been planted like cloud and mist*.

*cloud and mist (metaphor) - obscured/packed/full

Tea was boiling on the stove in front of Pang Shao. An official was respectfully sitting on his right-hand seat. Another knelt before him, trembling all over, not daring to lift his head.

It was the Ministry of Justice official who went to investigate Jiang Suizhou’s residence the other day.

Pang Shao lifted open the teapot and leisurely took a look inside. Among the dense steam of smoke, he slowly asked, “What did Jingwang tell you?”

The official trembled and cried, “Please investigate, Chief Minister! This humble one enquired His Highness Jingwang as instructed. His Highness Jingwang’s statements are all recorded in the book, this humble one by no means has lied!

Pang Shao smiled faintly.

“Then, what of that residence?” he asked.

The official said, “It’s what Jingwang Manor\'s youngest concubine said!”

Pang Shao’s movement paused, and he covered the lid of the teapot back.

“He told you?” Pang Shao’s expression was rather odd.

The official shook his head. “That’s not it! This official had eavesdropped…That concubine was complaining with his maid, said His Highness Jingwang keeps a mistress outside, and also bought a residence in Changle Square for that mistress…This official thought, this information was significant, and had to let His Majesty know, this is…!”

His frightened voice trembled.

Pang Shao smiled lightly. “What is Zhang-daren nervous of? I am only asking,” he said.

The official trembled to the point of not being able to speak.

Pang Shao said with a faint smile, “Alright, my tea is almost done, I also won’t keep Zhang-daren here anymore. Please, go back.”

The flustered official got up from the ground.

He wanted to bow and express his gratitude, yet he heard Pang Shao open his mouth again. “But, Zhang-daren.”

The official hurriedly answered, “Chief Minister?”

He watched as Pang Shao picked up the teapot from the small clay stove. The flame from the stove jumped once in a while, glowing with a hot, red light.

“See, if a person makes a mistake, they must pay the price.” Pang Shao did not lift his eyes, pouring the tea as he spoke.

“This price, if you don’t take the initiative yourself, you can’t blame others for doubling it.”

When he finished speaking, he put down the teapot, and lifted his eyes to look at that official with a smile that was not a smile.

He saw the official dumbstruck, then saw him repeatedly bowing with his hands clasped in front, saying, “Many thanks, Chief Minister! Many thanks, Chief Minister!”

Pang Shao lifted a teacup with one hand, while he waved languidly with another hand.

The official retreated down.

Pang Shao blew and drank the hot tea. He lightly smiled and commended, “The Dragon Well tea from Jiangnan indeed is clearer than Ye City’s.”

Saying this, he picked up the teapot and said to the official on the side, “Do you want to have a taste, too?”

That official was the official responsible for searching and sorting the embezzlement of Chen Ti’s residence.

He dared not let Pang Shao pour him tea, so he hurriedly took the teapot with both hands, and also put out the stove on behalf of Pang Shao.

“Chief Minister, why did you let him go just like that?” the official asked.

Pang Shao hmmed.

“What’s the use of keeping him? It wasn’t his fault.” Pang Shao lightly smiled, his expression lukewarm and generous.

But the official understood what Pang Shao meant.

There were a couple of people in Pang’s faction who had previously provoked Pang Shao. Pang Shao had found their vulnerable points, spared their lives, and brought them into the adherents. These people had no choice but to put double effort into slaving for Pang Shao, as well as giving more beneficial results.

To Pang Shao, keeping him was more profitable than killing him.

The official laughed upon hearing his response. Following Pang Shao’s words, he commended, “Chief Minister is always generous and kind, and has great wisdom and knowledge.”

Pang Shao only lightly smiled.