Zhu Yuanzhang leaned on his chair in a daze for a while and sighed: "How is the investigation of the case going?"
"The investigation in the capital has basically been completed." Li Qing took out the list, "There are fifty-two officials involved from the Sixth Department, the Metropolitan Procuratorate and other departments, and 8.97 million stolen money has been seized. The local officials have not yet started the investigation!"
"Alas! So many corrupt officials, such a large amount of money..." Zhu Yuanzhang was a little sentimental, "Is it really because we, the emperor, have done a bad job that there are so many corrupt officials?"
Seeing Lao Zhu's face full of vicissitudes of life and loneliness, Li Qing was deeply moved and comforted him softly: "Your Majesty, there have been corrupt officials in all dynasties."
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled bitterly and said, "Let your subordinates do the local inventory. You just stay in the capital and keep a good eye on your distinguished minister."
"By the way, you go to the palace and call Prince Qin and the others."
"I obey the order." Li Qing cupped his hands and exited the hall.
…
Queen Ma has been buried, and it is naturally time for the several vassal kings to go back. They are not happy staying in the capital.
When several people heard that their father had summoned them, they immediately followed Li Qing into the palace with happy faces.
Zhu Yuanzhang lectured his sons one by one, and then recruited more than ten monks.
"Each person chooses a few and brings them back."
Four people: "..."
"Father, can you forget about me?" Zhu Di said with a smile, "I have fights with Bei Yuan every now and then. I really can't believe the Buddha."
"Who made you believe in Buddhism?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said angrily, "I want you to cultivate your moral character and avoid causing trouble to us."
"Okay, take your time and choose. Li Qing, come with us for a walk."
"Yes." Li Qing nodded in agreement, glanced at the group of monks, and reluctantly followed Lao Zhu.
…
In the afternoon, several vassal princes left the capital. Li Qing wanted to see the monk Zhu Di selected, but the vassal princes and officials needed to keep a distance, and he could not come out to see them off, so he had to give up.
Each of the senior officials of the six departments suffered losses, among which the household department suffered the greatest losses. Shangshu Zeng Tai, minister Guo Huan, doctor Liu Hua, and Wang Wenlu of the government... More than ten people were killed, and only one right minister was left struggling to support them.
However, although there are fewer people, official duties have not been left behind.
Officials from various ministries worked overtime and worked hard without daring to complain.
The impact of the Guo Huan corruption case was not great. The court was still operating normally and government affairs were not slack.
It is in line with the saying: The earth will still rotate no matter who you leave it!
At the same time, Liu Qiang, Li Yu, and Zhang Long, each with 800 subordinates, went to the local area to investigate Guo Huan's corrupt associates.
Instead, Li Qing took some time off, sat under the pomegranate tree, held a cup of hot tea, and enjoyed life.
These days, I am either busy killing people or ransacking homes all day long, and I am really tired.
Zhang Sloppy never showed up again since that night. Li Qing knew that the old man had already wandered away.
"Alas...I'm alone again." Li Qing shook his head and sighed.
"Sir is sighing again." Wan Ling refilled the tea cup on the table, "The sun will go down soon. Sir, please go back to the house later."
"Well, what's for dinner?"
"Sister Lianxiang said she was making braised pork." Wan Ling asked playfully, "There is a carp in the pond, how about making a fish soup?"
"Sure." Li Qing smiled, "Go and get it."
"Yes." Wan Ling went briskly, took two steps, turned around and said playfully, "Sir, the Chinese New Year will be here in two months. Do you want to buy some New Year's goods in advance?"
"How can anyone buy New Year's goods two months in advance?" Li Qing said angrily, "Go and make your fish soup."
"Oh~"
Wan Ling nodded sadly, "My maid will go right now."
Seeing that the little girl was unhappy, Li Qing finally came to his senses and couldn't help but look amused.
Half an hour later, the braised pork and fish soup were ready, and the three women moved the table and chairs in front of Li Qing without him having to move his buttocks.
After Empress Ma's funeral, his royal meal treatment was cancelled. However, the three girls ate the royal meal and their cooking skills improved day by day. Although the taste was not as good as the royal meal, the difference was not big.
Li Qing's mouth was full of oil after eating, and he boasted about the cooking skills of several women.
It gets dark very quickly in winter, and soon after dinner, the sky darkens.
"Sir, please go back to the house." Hongxiu said softly.
"The moon is out. I'll admire it for a while. You go back first!"
Although it is already winter, the temperature in Jinling City is not too low, and Li Qing enjoys the feeling of the evening breeze blowing on his body.
Hongxiu didn't try to persuade him anymore, but stood behind him and massaged him gently.
The evening breeze lifted her hair, hitting Li Qing's cheek from time to time, tickling her.
During these days, he had been killing people and ransacking homes all day long. He had a strong smell of blood on his body, and he could feel it himself. He was afraid of scaring the three girls, so he never asked them to wait on him.
After being depressed for so long, Hongxiu's hair now feels sexy.
I don't know if she noticed his change, but Hongxiu moved closer to her, and her hair touched her cheek more and more frequently.
Li Qing suddenly turned his head, and his glossy red lips came up.
Soft, sweet, and as sweet as glutinous rice.
Red shepherd, so good at it.
They entered the room with their fragrant shoulders hooked together, and paid the man with Ye Lianzhi;
Sweating like rain, stained with red makeup, the mandarin duck pillow is young and crazy...
——————
early morning.
Li Qing got up early, practiced boxing in the yard for a while, and then went to the Zhenfusi Yamen.
Liu Qiang and others went to the local area to handle the case and took away most of them, leaving only five or six hundred people for him to drive.
However, this is enough.
After all, today's officials are as good as rabbits if they dare to be 'beaten' without expending too much energy.
Li Qing arranged his daily affairs and went to the palace.
Royal study room.
Zhu Yuanzhang crossed his legs easily and leisurely, while Zhu Biao was very busy, which was in sharp contrast.
"I am here to meet you, Your Majesty, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"No gift." Zhu Yuanzhang put down the tea cup and picked up a memorial from the imperial case, "Look at this."
Li Qing stepped forward to take it. After looking at it, he couldn't help but froze, "Your Majesty, this King Qin..."
"What a shame!"
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, "Go and catch him for us. It's not a glorious thing. So don't mobilize troops. Go alone."
Li Qing asked: "What if King Qin doesn't come?"
"He dares?"
Zhu Yuanzhang glared, "You pass on our instructions. If he dares not to come back, we will skin him."
Li Qing nodded, "I obey your order."
"Go!" Zhu Yuanzhang warned, "If he dares to act recklessly, just beat him up first."
Li Qing: "..."
Even though Lao Zhu said this, he knew that this guy was trying to protect his own shortcomings. If he could not do anything, it would be best not to do anything.
However, this King of Qin is indeed bold.
Searching for gold and silver in the vassal territory, robbing civilian girls, carrying out large-scale construction projects, killing people in the streets... If it were someone else, he would probably be guillotined when he came back.
Li Qing didn't have a good impression of the vassal king who often looked at people with his nostrils, but he never thought that he could be so vicious.
Li Qing went to the Zhenfu Si Yamen to fetch a horse. Li Qing got on his horse and chased Zhu Chong.
The feudal king came to the capital with a complete honor guard, so the journey was not very fast. Li Qing caught up with him in the afternoon.
Seeing him chasing after him, Zhu Xi asked strangely, "What's going on?"
"King Qin, does the emperor want you to go back to the palace?"
"Go back to the palace?" Zhu Xi frowned, "What happened in the palace? Are the third and fourth sons going back too?"
Li Qing ignored his question and just said: "The emperor ordered the officials to take King Qin back to the palace."
Zhu Xi waved back, looked at him and said, "You have to tell me what it is, right?"
"The emperor only asked King Qin to return to the palace." Li Qing said lightly, "Please also ask King Qin to cooperate."
Now, no matter how dull Zhu Xi was, he understood clearly what the problem was and cursed loudly:
"That bitch snitched on me?!"
"..." Li Qing said, "I also ask the King of Qin to accompany me to the palace."
"I..." Zhu Feng winced and laughed dryly, "Tell Father for me that this is all a misunderstanding. I will change it when I get back and I will never do it again in the future."
He really didn't dare to face Lao Zhu directly.
Li Qing was too lazy to talk nonsense to him, "The emperor ordered His Highness King Qin to return to the palace immediately. Doesn't King Qin dare to resist the decree?"
"Oral edict?" Zhu Xi chuckled and said, "Bring me the imperial edict, otherwise I will not recognize the oral edict. Who knows if you fake it?"
Li Qing smiled, "I'll say this for the last time. Follow me back to the palace, otherwise..."
"What else?" Zhu Feng sneered, "You think I'm scared, Li Qing, who do you think you are? You..."
"boom--!"
Zhu Xi's body was stooped and his mouth was so big that his saliva gushed out.
Before he could fall, Li Qingti slipped up and said, "Otherwise I will take action."
