After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 15

As expected, no sooner had Xu Shengwen left the palace than the court officials, during the morning assembly the next day, began submitting memorials, all concerning the selection of consorts.

Xie Wan sat on the throne, her gaze sweeping over the officials standing in the hall. She stated directly, “I do not intend to hold a selection of consorts.”

The officials immediately exchanged glances, none of them having expected Her Majesty to refuse so bluntly.

Someone wanted to offer a remonstrance, but Xie Wan stopped them with a raised hand.

“When I say no selection, I mean no selection.” Xie Wan’s gaze fell upon the official who had intended to speak. “The matter of selecting consorts can be discussed later. Is there anything else of importance to report?”

None of the officials spoke, and the hall fell silent.

“Nothing else? I heard earlier that there was a drought in the north. How has that matter been handled, Prime Minister Xu?” As if to change the subject, Xie Wan called out Prime Minister Xu’s name.

Xu Ping, hands clasped, stepped forward and replied, “Your Majesty, the disaster relief funds and grain have all been disbursed to the local governments according to the usual practice of previous years.”

Xie Wan asked, “Who handled this matter?”

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Xu’s heart skipped a beat, but he still carefully listed the names of all the officials who had handled the matter.

The Ministry of Revenue was naturally responsible for allocating the funds, and there were also dedicated officials responsible for disaster relief. But the people who handled it… were mostly from the Ministry of Revenue to the Prefect of the Capital, and then from the capital to the various local officials.

“I see.” As if it were just a casual question, Xie Wan then began discussing other matters with the officials.

The morning assembly quickly concluded.

With the attendant’s announcement, ‘Her Majesty returns to the palace,’ the morning assembly dispersed.

The officials leaving the assembly walked out along the palace path.

However, Prime Minister Xu felt a sense of unease in his heart.

Seeing the Minister of Revenue laughing happily with his colleagues from a distance, Xu Ping couldn’t help but call out to him, “Minister Qian…”

The Minister of Revenue heard him and quickly turned around, cupping his hands in greeting, “Prime Minister.”

“Let’s talk aside for a moment.”

Minister Qian immediately became serious. After bidding farewell to his colleagues, he quickly came to Xu Ping’s side.

“What are your instructions, Prime Minister?”

Xu Ping asked him seriously, “How have the arrangements for the disaster relief been made?”

Minister Qian was puzzled. “It has all been distributed according to the disaster relief quotas of previous years.”

Xu Ping looked around before asking, “Has it reached the local governments?”

“Well…” Minister Qian smiled. “Prime Minister, it must have arrived, but how much arrived, this official does not know.”

“How much did you take?” Xu Ping asked with a frown.

Minister Qian was startled. “Prime Minister… why are you suddenly concerned about this matter…” After saying this, Minister Qian thought of something and instantly broke out in a cold sweat. “Prime Minister, could something have gone wrong?”

Xu Ping stared at him carefully for a moment, then shook his head. “I haven’t heard any rumors. It’s just that I feel a bit uneasy. Be careful.”

Careful? Careful of whom?

Minister Qian didn’t understand why Prime Minister Xu was acting this way. In his opinion, this year was no different from previous years. Moreover, not much disaster relief money was allocated this year, so this amount could easily be covered up.

Where did the Prime Minister’s unease come from?

The two whispering with their heads together was quite conspicuous. Xu Ping only said a few more words before stopping. However, before leaving, he left Minister Qian with a final instruction—

“Make the accounts cleaner this time. It would be best to make up the money.” Xu Ping looked at him with a meaningful gaze.

Upon hearing this, Minister Qian felt a sense of impending danger. If even Prime Minister Xu said so, then perhaps…

“Don’t worry, Prime Minister, I will arrange it as you said.” Immediately, Minister Qian also nodded cautiously and watched him leave.

Prime Minister Xu nodded in satisfaction.

Caution is the parent of safety. He had promoted Minister Qian to this position. If Minister Qian were to fall due to his own arrogance, it would be like losing an arm, which would truly be painful.

And Minister Qian was able to sit in this position not just because of his ability, but most importantly, because he was obedient.

“I hope my intuition is wrong.”

Xu Ping glanced back at the Golden Hall, then walked towards the direction leading out of the palace.

As for Minister Qian, he also left the palace without delay.

Even though the amount of disaster relief funds and grain this year wasn’t large, it was still a considerable sum. Prime Minister Xu wanted him to make it up, and he certainly couldn’t make up the full amount, but making up about seventy to eighty percent should be fine.

But just as he reached the palace gate, before he had even gotten into his carriage.

A squad of guards blocked Minister Qian.

Minister Qian was startled, his expression somewhat annoyed. “What are you doing?”

“Minister Qian, please stop.”

Minister Qian looked in the direction of the voice. From behind the group of tall guards emerged a relatively shorter figure.

They were also wearing the Imperial Guard uniform, but the small face hadn’t yet weathered the storms of life, looking young and inexperienced.

“You are…” Minister Qian squinted for a long time before smiling. “Ah, it’s Lady Consort Wan. Why are you dressed like this… and why have you stopped this official?”

Although he was smiling, Minister Qian couldn’t help but feel uneasy in his heart.

Consort Wan, why would she stop him? And dressed as an Imperial Guard, no less. One must know that the Imperial Guards are directly under Her Majesty…

Could it be…

As expected, the next moment, Xie Anyu held up a token in her hand. “By Her Majesty’s command, I request Minister Qian to come to the Censorate Office for a visit.”

Minister Qian: “Lady Consort Wan… you must be joking with this official.”

Xie Anyu didn’t waste words with him. She directly waved to the Imperial Guards. “Take him back.”

Minister Qian: !

“By what right!” Minister Qian struggled.

Xie Anyu weighed the token in her hand and tilted her head. “Oh… Commander Sun is ill, so Her Majesty has asked this consort to temporarily fill Commander Sun’s position.”

Minister Qian’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You…”

Her Majesty actually…!

“Enough nonsense, take him away!” Xie Anyu waved her hand.

“Yes!” The Imperial Guards swarmed forward.

“What crime have I committed?! I am innocent, how dare you arrest me!” Minister Qian’s heart turned cold, but his face flushed red as he shouted.

Xie Anyu looked at Minister Qian, who was being held by the arms and escorted by the Imperial Guards, and couldn’t be bothered to say more to him.

The sickly Emperor said that the one named Qian was a corrupt official who had embezzled the money for disaster relief in the north.

Just for this, he should be arrested and beheaded!

As for whether there were any other crimes, well, once he was taken to the Censorate Office and thoroughly interrogated, everything would be known!