"Chu Chen, I didn't expect you to still be so eloquent now!"
The Empress said expressionlessly.
Chu Chen felt he had secured his position and said with a smile, "Your subject dares not speak wildly before Your Majesty, nor dare to deceive the emperor. All of this is indeed under Your Majesty's wise leadership. Your subject merely offered some ideas and was responsible for supervising on behalf of Your Majesty."
The Empress was very pleased to hear the current capable Prime Minister flatter her and nodded with satisfaction.
Then she sighed, "I was just a little overcome with anger, and I startled all my dear officials."
"Your subject dares not!"
The civil and military officials hastily bowed.
The Empress said lightly, "You may all rise and take your positions."
Just as the officials were getting up one by one, the Empress glared at Qian Jieren and said coldly, "Qian Jieren, I did not say that you could also rise!"
Immediately, Qian Jieren, who was about to quietly return to his position, was greatly startled and felt like crying without tears.
What was this all about? You enjoyed the flattery, and you still remembered me?
Helpless, Qian Jieren remained kneeling on the ground, his forehead touching the ground, not daring to look up.
After the other ministers had returned to their positions, the Empress finally said, "What Prime Minister Chu said earlier is entirely reasonable, and I deeply agree."
"What has happened in the past has already happened. What I am angry about is not this past event, but that you all have truly angered me!"
The civil and military officials looked at each other, but did not dare to say anything like "Your subject deserves death" anymore.
Seeing that the ministers dared not speak, the Empress continued, "What angers me is that you, as important ministers of the court, hold high positions and great power. When something goes wrong, you only know to say that you deserve death, ten thousand deaths, and to urge me to calm my anger. Not a single one of you has thought of how to offer me advice, how to rectify the situation, or how to improve and avoid it. Do you understand?"
"Your subjects understand!"
The ministers replied in unison with troubled expressions.
This matter seemed so easy to talk about. Not everyone was like Chu Chen, capable, with a sharp mind, strong martial arts, and unafraid of offending people.
Of course, they had ideas, but could they say them? It would be better to just be executed.
The Empress looked at Qian Jieren, who was still kneeling on the ground, and said, "Qian Jieren, considering your past repentance and your hard work and merit, I will not kill you this time."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Qian Jieren was overjoyed and quickly thanked her.
"Don't thank me yet," the Empress said lightly. "Although I won't kill you, you can escape the death penalty, but not the punishment of living."
"I remember you took the position of Minister of Revenue in the fourth year of my reign. Therefore, your mistakes have accumulated for ten years! After the court session, you will sort out all matters of the Ministry of Revenue and prepare for the handover."
"I believe that the position of Minister of Revenue is no longer suitable for you. You can either retire and live in peace, or go to the provinces to govern a county. You can properly see how you have managed the treasury of Yunyue Kingdom and the purses of the common people in the regions!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"
Qian Jieren knelt and bowed with a wry smile.
The officials standing around seemed to see some of Qian Jieren's hair turn white at that instant.
Their hearts immediately tightened, and they felt a sense of shared misfortune.
How many of them, who were in the same batch as Qian Jieren, had clean hands? How many of them didn't have a few things hidden beneath them?
If one day, such a matter were to be investigated, they would probably end up like Qian Jieren.
Seeing the ministers' pained expressions, the Empress snorted coldly, rose, flicked her sleeves, and left directly.
"Court dismissed!"
After the Empress left, Eunuch Wang, who was standing by, reacted and hurriedly shouted, then quickly followed her.
After the court session, the officials still left in twos and threes, but only Qian Jieren, who was usually surrounded by everyone, was now alone.
The officialdom is the most humane place, and also the most inhumane place.
When a person is still in power, a favor is priceless; when a person loses power, they are like lukewarm tea, cold once the person leaves.
And now, Qian Jieren, who had lost his position as Minister of Revenue, a second-rank official, was in such a state.
However, Qian Jieren didn't care anymore and had come to terms with it.
Having fought with old foxes in the court for a lifetime and being able to leave safely was already a good outcome.
Compared to Qian Jieren, Chu Chen's side was very lively.
Although they had almost been wiped out by the enraged Empress earlier, hadn't Chu Chen saved them in the end?
Moreover, this matter was ultimately caused by the lid being lifted from the Ministry of Revenue. Even if Chu Chen didn't mention it, the problem still existed. In a while, His Majesty would probably find out as well. It was only a matter of time.
"Prime Minister Chu, this subordinate is extremely grateful for your intervention. If it weren't for you, this subordinate fears I would not have been able to leave the court safely!"
"Prime Minister Chu, to express my gratitude, this subordinate has gritted his teeth and scraped together two hundred taels of silver. Would you like to spend a night of revelry at Chunhua Tower?"
"Prime Minister Chu, I have witnessed your abilities today! Therefore, this subordinate also wants to join that... Prime Minister, you understand!"
Officials surrounded Chu Chen, flattering him, either out of gratitude, or trying to curry favor, or wanting to join his faction for protection.
Chu Chen shook his head and said, "Everyone, listen to your Prime Minister!"
"Prime Minister Chu, please speak!"
A group of old men, at least forty to sixty years old, addressed him, a young man not yet twenty-five, as "you," which made Chu Chen feel a little embarrassed.
But they themselves didn't care, so Chu Chen would not lower himself to scold them for it.
He only advised, "Everyone, flattery is ultimately a low-level tactic. Being an official is like blacksmithing; it requires one's own integrity, not relying on flattery to succeed. If one's own skills are solid, and one does not engage in corruption or illegal activities, and does their duty, then the country would not have faced such difficulties in the past, and you all would not have so many worries now."
"Do you think what your Prime Minister has said is reasonable?"
"Prime Minister Chu's words are reasonable! They are simply the words of a sage, enlightening!"
"Mmm, that's right, that's right!"
"Um, Prime Minister Chu, if something similar happens to us in the future, what should we do?"
Chu Chen raised an eyebrow and replied, "It is absolutely impossible to keep it hidden forever. The matter must eventually be resolved. After His Majesty's anger subsides, she should not be in a rage again for a while."
"And this time is your opportunity. Quickly deal with the matters you have been concealing. Even if you cannot completely rectify the situation, it will at least show your attitude to His Majesty, and she will not be able to dwell on past events."
The surrounding ministers fell into deep thought.
After a moment, they all understood Chu Chen's meaning: he wanted them to repent and not repeat their mistakes.
They immediately realized and said, "Prime Minister Chu, please rest assured. Later, this subordinate will handle past matters as you have instructed!"