Chapter 1099: Chapter 76: Shouzhe Overturns the Grand Court Assembly
Secondly, using the matter of being summoned and commended by Your Majesty to farm reputation like this—right now, with Your Majesty being put on a pedestal, of course he won’t scold you to your face, but he’ll definitely remember it, and the day he catches an opportunity he’ll come after you with interest.
And sure enough.
Emperor Longchang’s expression shifted several times in quick succession, dark and bright by turns, then he burst into hearty laughter: "Shouzhe speaks well. It is the noble families’ rightful duty to pay taxes according to law; for you to modestly claim you are unworthy of commendation is also understandable."
On the surface he wore the look of "I, the Emperor, especially understand you, Wang Shouzhe," but in his heart he was cursing MMP nonstop.
You’re good, Wang Shouzhe. I had already forgiven you a bit, yet you actually used my imperial summons to hype yourself up. Hmph, just wait and see how I deal with you later.
But Wang Shouzhe’s justification was so high-sounding and righteous that, here in Dingqian Hall, it really wasn’t convenient to argue with him.
The civil and military officials all chimed in to praise the Great Emperor, calling Your Majesty sagely and wise.
Just when everyone thought this matter was about to be brushed over, a man stepped out of the ranks and reported: "Reporting to Your Majesty, this minister has a matter to submit."
This man wore a Fifth-Grade Official’s Uniform, standing in the middle-rear ranks of the court officials. Yet his appearance and bearing were imposing and dignified, his aura stern and commanding. Even if he was only a fifth-grade idle official, no one dared truly look down on him.
Precisely because this man was the Divine Seed of Duke Dingguo’s Mansion, known as the "Little Duke Dingguo," Wang Zhouhui.
"Oh? Zhouhui, what important matter do you wish to present? Speak, let me hear it." Emperor Longchang, seeing he was from Duke Dingguo’s Mansion, had originally intended out of habit to scold him back into line. However, remembering that right now was exactly the time to elevate the Wang Family to restrain the Zhao Family, he naturally had to give Wang Zhouhui some face.
Besides, Wang Zhouhui was no longer young now; it wouldn’t be long before he went into seclusion to seek an opportunity to break through to the Divine Power Realm. At that time, he would in any case count as one of the pillars of the Daqian Kingdom.
"Your Majesty, just now this minister saw a few colleagues nearby, when Shouzhe said that noble families paying taxes according to the rules is nothing more than their duty, actually wearing expressions of ridicule on their faces." Wang Zhouhui said indignantly, "Out of consideration for my colleagues, I will not name names."
As soon as these words came out.
The faces of the group of colleagues around him instantly changed; they cursed inwardly at Wang Zhouhui’s shamelessness. Expressions, this sort of thing, obviously can’t be used as evidence... yet now this whole group of them had each invisibly been smeared by him.
Emperor Longchang’s expression also froze slightly, and he said with a hint of impatience, "Zhouhui, if you want to impeach someone, then write a memorial, but you must at least have some real evidence."
"So it’s as Shouzhe said—does even Your Majesty not take this to heart?" Wang Zhouhui wore a look of shock and lament. "No wonder all the noble families under heaven think that tax evasion is the most normal thing. Today Zhang San evades a bit, tomorrow Li Si dodges another batch—if this goes on, the state will cease to be a state. Your Majesty, you must not indulge this any longer."
Emperor Longchang’s face turned black. When the hell did I ever say noble families evading taxes was normal? The way you’re slapping this big hat on me looks awfully familiar—could it be, this is another trick that bastard Wang Shouzhe taught you?
"Wang Zhouhui, of course I do not think it is right for noble families to evade taxes, and I will certainly not indulge it." Emperor Longchang said with some anger. He had finally thought to lift up Duke Dingguo’s Mansion a bit, yet who knew his good intentions would be eaten by a dog.
"Then in that case, it must be that Director Meng Yuanbai of the Three Talents Department has been derelict in his duty." Wang Zhouhui instantly turned his spearhead toward Meng Yuanbai.
"I ￥%*..." Meng Yuanbai, who had kept silent until now, twitched his eyelids and hurriedly cried out, "Your Majesty, I am wronged. Since Yuanbai took charge of the Three Talents Department, I have always been diligent and conscientious."
"Since you’ve been diligent and conscientious, then why is tax evasion by noble families across the realm so severe? So severe that every noble family feels that as long as they don’t go too far, it’s fine to evade and skim a bit? With such a prevailing ethos, is this not the fault of your Three Talents Department?" Wang Zhouhui spoke righteously, like a great cannon blasting straight at Meng Yuanbai.
Meng Yuanbai’s heart thudded; he secretly thought, this is bad.
Wang Shouzhe had just used his hand to force him to stab Duke Protector of the Nation’s Mansion half to death in one stroke; he was still shaken, terrified, and had no idea how he should face the Zhao Family and his benefactor Uncle Zhao Hongbo in the future.
Yet who knew that even when he’d been miserable to this degree, the Wang Family still refused to let him go? Wang Shouzhe was taking revenge—open, unscrupulous revenge—for him making things difficult for the Wang Family.
"Your Majesty, this minister is wronged." Meng Yuanbai hastily cried injustice to Emperor Longchang. "Tax evasion by noble families is a chronic ailment dating back from ancient times to the present; this is not this minister’s dereliction of duty. I beseech Your Majesty to discern the truth." Noble families’ long-standing habit of tax evasion—that’s something everyone tacitly acknowledges, something everyone knows in their hearts, isn’t it?
"Oh now, Lord Meng, that’s not right." Wang Zhouhui sneered. "Does that mean your previous tax investigation of the Changning Wang Family was faked? Or is it that the Changning Wang Family actually had tax evasion, yet you falsely reported their taxes as clean, calling them a model for noble families paying taxes? Lord Meng, that would be the crime of deceiving the Emperor."
Deceive your damn sister.
Meng Yuanbai cursed furiously in his heart, cold sweat constantly beading on his forehead. The ominous premonition in his chest grew heavier and heavier, yet he could only cry out, "Your Majesty, this minister is wronged. The Changning Wang Family indeed has no problem whatsoever in tax matters. All reports and ledgers are archived in the Three Talents Department; Your Majesty may send people to inspect them at any time."
"Lord Meng, my apologies, my apologies, it was Zhouhui who wronged you." Wang Zhouhui hastily cupped his hands in apology. "Lord Meng’s ability in handling cases is indeed first-class in all of Daqian. In a short time, you concluded the case of the ’Changning Wang Family’s Tax Evasion’ and the case of ’Masion of Duke Protector of the Nation’s Smuggling and Treason,’ truly swift and decisive, with methods that shake the heavens."
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