Chapter 404 - 287: Bitter Winter, Northern Snow Sealed in Ice—Flourishing Qin Capital? Sad and Laughable!

"According to Master Tang, that Primordial Qi Seed Realm did not show up directly and disappeared after killing several experts of the Blood Evil Sect."

"I’m afraid the treasures purchased by the Blood Evil Sect from the Heavenly Inquiry Tower have also fallen into the hands of this Primordial Qi Seed Realm Qi Warrior."

"After comparison and confirmation, Master Tang concluded that this Primordial Qi Seed Realm is not a Qi Warrior from the Divine Mystery Bureau."

"..."

The moment the words fell, the main hall plunged into silence.

First, there was a mysterious Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm, then another mysterious Primordial Qi Seed Realm...

"So, Fifth Brother, Seventh Brother, aside from searching for that Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm individual, you also need to find this Primordial Qi Seed Realm expert."

"Alright."

"Additionally, we need to quickly get to the bottom of why the Martial Immortal Alliance’s ambush was known by the Blood Evil Sect. Father suspects someone in the court is colluding with the King of North Snow."

"Understood." The Fifth Prince nodded.

"Seventh Brother, how are things on Chu Ming’s side?"

"I have already given him the ’Mountain and Sea Great Wilderness Scripture·Sea Scripture’, and rewarded him with the Cui Mansion. The Regent’s Mansion seems to be preparing to raid the Cui Family today."

"What about Tang Xuan?"

"Tang Xuan colluded with the Purple Cloud Sect, embezzled national funds, and framed loyal ministers. The evidence is irrefutable, but since he is a member of the Tang Family, the Regent’s Mansion has detained him in prison, presumably waiting for Father’s order."

"Hmm, Regent Envoy Jee Qianhong of the Regent’s Mansion is cunning and would certainly not offend the Tang Family on his own initiative; he must be waiting for Father’s decree."

"Father should have already known about this, yet he hasn’t given the order..." The Crown Prince murmured, his eyes flickering as if understanding something, "Send a message to Jee Qianhong, handle Tang Xuan’s case according to the law."

The Fifth and Seventh Princes instantly understood why the Crown Prince was proactively sending a message to deal with Tang Xuan.

The evidence was found by their First-Grade Cold Family. Father’s delay in giving orders might mean he wants the First-Grade Cold Family to see this through to the end.

Not only will they handle Tang Xuan, but they’ll also target the Purple Cloud Sect, a major Martial Arts sect, affecting both the Tang Family and the Huang Forbidden Army’s interests simultaneously...

"..."

...

Qin Capital, Inner City, Cui Mansion.

"The evidence of Cui Ye’s embezzlement is conclusive. I, under orders, raid the Cui Mansion; all non-royal surnamed servants, attendants, and maidservants are to be detained and await further instruction at the Regent’s Mansion."

"People of the Cui surname, imprison them, and execute them in three days!"

"Yes."

Zhong Yang led over a hundred inspectors to surround the Cui Mansion, arresting people and confiscating assets.

"What happened to Cui Mansion?"

People watched from a distance along the road.

"Where are you from that you don’t know about the Cui Family’s affairs?"

"I just came from Taiping County, and I’m hoping you can tell me a bit."

"I’m also from Taiping County, a fellow townsman. Let me tell you."

"The Patriarch of the Cui Family, Cui Ye, a Senior Fourth Grade in the Ministry of Industry’s Camp Repair Department, is corrupt and has harmed the people!"

"Corrupt official!"

"Here’s something even more astonishing; the person handling this case is not an inspector from the Regent’s Mansion, but a young man from Xirong County."

"Be careful with your words," someone nearby responded, "he’s not just a young man; he’s the first prodigious talent in Xirong County in a century, formerly a Commissioner of Canal Transport, now a Palace Attendant!"

"The first prodigious talent in a century? A Palace Attendant?" everyone exclaimed in surprise.

"What’s the name of that upright official, and why is he called a young man?"

"The official’s name is Chu Ming, because he’s only seventeen."

"..."

...

Inside the Cui Mansion.

"Lord Chu."

Supervisor Zhong Yang, clad in an ink robe, approached the young man in white who was sitting under the Lake Heart Pavilion, leisurely admiring the beauty of winter.

"It’s snowing." Chu Ming raised his head, looked at the white feathers falling from the sky, and caught a snowflake, slightly fascinated.

Just like in his previous life, the snowflakes here were also crystal clear and pure white, untainted, purely frigid.

"Yes, it’s snowing." Zhong Yang smiled and said, "Does Lord Chu like snow?"

"It’s alright."

The snowflakes melted into pure water and flowed through his fingers.

"It hasn’t snowed in the Qin Capital for many years," Zhong Yang added, "maybe this year we’ll see a snowy scene."

"Is that so?" Chu Ming turned and sat down, staring at Zhong Yang, "Supervisor Zhong, now that the Cui Ye case is over, shouldn’t the displaced citizens in the shantytown outside the Qin Capital be cleared of their charges?"

The snowy Qin Capital was very cold, colder than any other time.

If there is no accident, the thousands of impoverished people in the shantytown outside the Qin Capital would hardly make it through.

"Lord Chu is concerned for the people, I admire that," Zhong Yang cupped his hands and said, "Cui Ye has confessed to everything. Those people were ordinary citizens with registered household records, mostly workers at the stone factory, some were merchants."

"Cui Ye, under the guise of building the Celestial Longevity Platform for the Empress Dowager Duan, exploited and persecuted them, which left them without homes."

He talked a lot but never got to the main point.

Chu Ming glanced again at the snowflakes falling more heavily outside, "Since everything is clear, how does Supervisor Zhong intend to settle them?"

"This..." Zhong Yang hesitated, "The Regent’s Mansion can restore their original household records, but other than that..."

The Regent’s Mansion is responsible for overseeing the Qin Dynasty, with substantial yet limited power.

Zhong Yang knew that the thousands in the shantytown were victims, and this vast Cui Mansion, by taking only a portion of the property, could compensate for the fat it extracted from the people’s blood and sweat, giving those people a chance to survive the winter.

But he couldn’t do that, because the assets would be handed over to the national treasury.

Restoring their household records was already the most he could do to help those people.

With restored records, they could work and earn money like ordinary citizens.

But... a page of household records couldn’t truly restore their ordinary lives.

Without land or resources, they would find it hard to obtain even a subsistence job, and most would still be forced to huddle in the shantytown.

Then, on some winter’s day or cold night, they would become a lifeless corpse, a body that no one came to claim.

Because their relatives might just lie beside them.

Chu Ming said nothing, he simply watched the drifting snow in silence.

"Sir, the Cui Mansion has been entirely raided." Inspector Guo Heng came to report.