"Prime Scholar Qin, what do you mean by that?"
Qin Yun did not speak, raising his right hand, and snapped his fingers!
Then, more guards escorted hostages forward!
This was a case of one crisis after another!
The hostage brought forward was the proprietor of a cloth shop in the capital... Shopkeeper Wang!
"Lord Guo, do you recognize this person?" Qin Yun asked with a smile!
Upon seeing Shopkeeper Wang, Guo Yuqiu's heart instantly shattered!
Today, he too could not escape!
First, Fu Jinsong was investigated, then Prime Minister Su, and now him!
It seemed the other party had absolute confidence, otherwise, they would not have staged such a scene in the imperial court.
Guo Yuqiu knelt on the ground, saying nothing!
Whatever he said now would be of no use.
"Shopkeeper Wang, since Lord Guo refuses to speak, why don't you tell us!"
Shopkeeper Wang had never seen such a spectacle!
All the officials in the hall were important figures!
Most importantly, he actually saw the Emperor up close!
Shopkeeper Wang knelt on the ground, trembling, and said fearfully, "Your humble servant is the proprietor of a cloth shop in the capital! As for Lord Guo beside me, your humble servant recognizes him!"
Qin Yun asked, "I heard you have gold-threaded fabric in your shop, did you bring it?"
Shopkeeper Wang stammered, "I... I brought it!"
Hearing Shopkeeper Wang's admission, Guo Yuqiu sat on the ground, his face expressionless!
He knew what was about to happen without thinking.
He had considered defending himself, but seeing Fu Jinsong and Su Tai earlier, no matter how he defended himself, the outcome would be the same.
It would be his turn next, and he wouldn't be able to escape. Arguing would just be a waste of breath!
"Present it!"
As soon as the words fell!
Several other eunuchs, each carrying a bolt of cloth, entered the hall!
They placed the gold-threaded fabric from Shopkeeper Wang's shop alongside the tribute fabric from the Western Regions!
With this comparison, the truth was revealed!
The two types of fabric were identical!
In terms of quality, length, and width, they were all the same!
"Shopkeeper Wang, tell us, why is the gold-threaded fabric in your shop exactly the same as the gold-threaded fabric from the Western Regions?"
Shopkeeper Wang pointed to Guo Yuqiu beside him and said, "The gold-threaded fabric in my shop was given to me by this Lord Guo! He told me to give him ninety percent of the profit after selling it!"
Qin Yun glanced at Guo Yuqiu and asked, "Lord Guo, do you admit to what Shopkeeper Wang says?"
Guo Yuqiu still kept his head bowed, saying nothing.
"Do you think you'll be fine if you don't speak?"
Qin Yun turned to Shopkeeper Wang again and asked, "How many years has Lord Guo provided you with this gold-threaded fabric?"
"Three years!"
Three years?
It was three years ago when the new Emperor Xie Qianmo ascended the throne.
This Guo Yuqiu was truly detestable!
"Guo Yuqiu, you were also in league with Su Tai! How dare you embezzle my gold-threaded fabric!" Xie Qianmo was furious, making Guo Yuqiu, who was kneeling below, almost cry!
"Your Majesty, this subject is guilty!" Guo Yuqiu frankly admitted his crime!
He then recounted, in detail, all the clandestine dealings he and Su Tai had engaged in over the years.
Su Tai, who was being restrained, wished he could lunge forward and tear the mouths of Guo Yuqiu and Fu Jinsong apart!
With both of them spilling all the beans, Su Tai was now truly trapped!
After the truth of the matter became clear!
Cao Dewang, Su Daqian, and Wang Sanxi were each given fifty lashes, dismissed from their positions as town lords, and their illegally hoarded ten percent of tax revenue was all to be used for the benefit of the people!
Master Kong Tian, whose sins were grave, was stripped of his Buddhist title, expelled from Tai Fo Temple, given thirty lashes, and imprisoned for five years!
Shopkeeper Wang! For bribery and corruption, all his cloth shops were shut down and sealed, he was given thirty lashes and imprisoned for five years!
Fu Jinsong! For oppressing the people and engaging in bribery and corruption, and for committing unforgivable sins at the instigation of Su Tai, he was to be executed in three days! His family members were to be banished from the capital, and their descendants were forbidden from participating in the imperial examinations for three generations!
Guo Yuqiu, for embezzling imperial tribute and engaging in bribery and corruption, and for colluding with Su Tai in secret dealings, was to be executed in three days, and his family members were to be banished from the capital, and their descendants were forbidden from participating in the imperial examinations for three generations!
Su Tai, for secretly gathering officials and colluding, for bribery and corruption, and for being impeached by officials of the Right Prime Minister's faction, his prior theft of imperial examination questions was established! He had repeatedly used his authority to harm the people and threaten fellow officials! The next day, his entire family was to be executed!
.................
In Jingxin Hall after the morning court!
"Your Majesty, congratulations on eliminating your rivals!" Qin Yun said with a smile!
Xie Qianmo did not reply, but looked at Fang Jing beside him and said, "Leave!"
Fang Jing glanced at Qin Yun, then wisely left the hall!
He closed the hall door as he left!
The moment the door closed!
Xie Qianmo quickly stepped forward and swept Qin Yun into his arms!
"Your Majesty, quickly put me down! It's broad daylight, how improper!"
"I just want to hug you!"
Holding Qin Yun, he sat down on the dragon throne!
Qin Yun tried to get up, but Xie Qianmo wouldn't allow it. "Be good, listen to me. I won't do anything, I just want to hold you for a moment."
Qin Yun bit his lip and smiled, "Your Majesty, if you continue like this, I'll truly be corrupted by you!"
"That would be for the best!"
Qin Yun reached out and poked the man's chest with his index finger. "Your Majesty, you are the ruler of Great Zhou. If you become a path-diverter, have you thought about the issue of heirs?"
"Which monarch has no heirs? If you have no successor, who will inherit the throne later?"
Grasping Qin Yun's restless hand, Xie Qianmo smiled. "Isn't there that kid Xie Jing'an!"
"Your Majesty, after all the hard work you've put into building this empire, are you willing to abdicate?"
"Unless you give me a child!"
Qin Yun blushed and said, "Your Majesty, stop joking. You know I'm a man, I can't give birth."
"I was just kidding! Why are you taking it so seriously!"
"Your Majesty, I should take your pulse and then perform acupuncture for detoxification."
Xie Qianmo nodded and gently helped Qin Yun up!
"Do you carry this thing with you?"
Seeing Qin Yun take out a packet of silver needles from his pocket, Xie Qianmo laughed speechlessly!
"Your Majesty, your body currently only requires acupuncture; nothing else is needed. These are sufficient!"
"Should I go and lie down on that?"
Qin Yun curled his lips. "What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Xie Qianmo smiled faintly! He walked to the dragon couch, gently removed his outer robe, and then his inner garments!
Afterward, he lay down on the couch, bare-chested!
Throughout the entire process, Qin Yun kept his head down, not daring to look!
Of course, he snuck a glance when Xie Qianmo wasn't paying attention!
"How long are you going to stare? Come here!" Xie Qianmo beckoned with his finger, a smile on his lips!
Qin Yun took the silver needles and calmly sat down beside Xie Qianmo!
Knowing that needles were about to be inserted, Xie Qianmo did not mess around.
He knew what was important and what was not.
Qin Yun was very careful during the entire needling process!
This time, he was particularly gentle, and Xie Qianmo felt no pain at all!
After all the needles were inserted!
Qin Yun stood quietly in place!
Xie Qianmo looked at Qin Yun quietly, and immediately sensed that something was on his mind!
"If you have something on your mind, you can tell me. Perhaps I can help you!"
Qin Yun thought for a moment, then felt that he still needed to rely on Xie Qianmo's power. "Your Majesty, do you know about the Four Seasons restaurants in the capital?"