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The rise and fall of a nation is the responsibility of every individual. The Royal Tomb involves the very foundation of the country, and they must contribute, whether they want to or not.
The Xuande Emperor understood the nature of the Court Officials; each one was as tight-fisted as a miser. What if they stubbornly refused to cooperate?
Shi Yun found it difficult to speak again. There were corrupt officials in the Court, and perhaps this was an opportunity to deal with them.
Hearing this, the Xuande Emperor raised an eyebrow and said, "Well, that nameless one is just like a rat. You handle it boldly; who knows, we might not only cover the expenses for the Royal Tomb but also have some left over."
After finishing his words, he instructed the Lei Family, "As for the previous matters, I will not hold it against you. I don’t care what methods you use; you must investigate the construction conditions of other dynasties' tombs. If there are any more mistakes, bring your heads to me!"
Lei Zong'ao was unwilling to take on this task. His family was merely responsible for tomb repairs, not tomb robbing. He wanted to refuse but then the Xuande Emperor posed another question.
"There won't be any issues with my mausoleum, right?"
Silence fell in the room; no one dared to guarantee anything.
"Forget it; let's build it somewhere else. Even if it's reinforced, I still won't feel at ease."
Lei Zong'ao exclaimed, "This mausoleum is almost finished! If we start over—"
"I don’t care! I want a new location. If something goes wrong, you all figure it out. If you can’t solve it, what use do I have for you?"
With that, he dismissed everyone from the chamber.
When Shi Yun emerged with a furrowed brow, Cai Zhuo hurried in to attend to him. Shi Yun whispered to him, "Cai Gonggong, please advise against this; relocating the tomb is not advisable."
Mingze leaned closer and expressed concern, "At this time, catching corrupt officials is also unwise. The Court is in turmoil; if things go south, you’ll be the first to be blamed!"
"Then can you think of another method? Without taking decisive action, where will the money come from?"
"But," Shi Yun said firmly, "I will bear this matter alone. When we attend court, do not speak out."
He then looked at Qi Shuo and added, "The Office of Censors should know about the wealth of the Court Officials. Choose one to make an example of."
Qi Shuo also tried to persuade him, "Master Xiang, why not wait a bit longer? For now, let’s reinforce the Royal Tomb simply to ensure it doesn’t collapse temporarily. This will give us more time for discussion."
Seeing Shi Yun hesitate, he continued persuading him. The longer we delay this case without resolution could play into the hands of those behind it; they might employ further schemes that would worsen our situation.
"You make a valid point," Mingze said with brightening eyes. "Shi Yun, no corrupt official is more important than you! Let’s delay a bit longer; perhaps there will be light at the end of this tunnel."
It was not easy to convince the Chancellor. Qi Shuo returned exhausted to the Office of Censors after handling some affairs for Qi Xiaomian and checking on new updates regarding the Marquis.
The disaster relief situation was dire; the Marquis's hardline tactics had stirred resentment among officials. This discontent had intentionally incited public anger and even sparked a wave of opposition against the Marquis, which was gaining momentum and proving difficult for him to manage.
After much contemplation, Qi Shuo decided to write down the matters concerning the Court and sent someone to deliver it. Once everything was handled, he hurriedly made his way to the Royal Tomb.
At that moment, Sang Qingxiao stood before the site where the Xuande Emperor's tomb was about to be constructed. The atmosphere was hot and bustling, with everything in perfect order. The movements of the stationed troops seemed to have no effect on them.
Sang Qingxiao focused intently on a craftsman’s work, mesmerized by the intricate dragon patterns he was carving.
Lei Luo, the steward of the Lei Family, received the news and rushed over. Upon seeing a woman, he asked, "Is there really a female official in the Office of Censors?"
Sang Qingxiao turned around and replied, "I am a Demon Catcher."
Lei Luo remained puzzled but was polite nonetheless. "May I ask what business brings you here, Demon Catcher?"
The stationed troops mentioned that this winter, thick fog had appeared three to five times over several days. Finding it strange, she came to inquire if there was also fog lingering around this area.
Lei Luo confirmed her suspicion.
"Is there a lot of rain here in winter?" she asked.
Lei Luo shook his head. "Not much."
"I need to take a look around."
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