Many of the officials burst out laughing, thinking that this fellow was slapping His Majesty in the face.
A hundred taels? How could you say that? That's too degrading!
However, the officials who had chuckled were shocked to find themselves being stared at by hundreds of pairs of daggers.
Among them was His Majesty the emperor himself!
The President of the Board of Punishments, Wu Lie, was one of the rare officials in the Empire of Yutang's imperial court.
Ever since he had become an official, be it when he was a seventh-class county magistrate or a second-class official now, he had never accepted any aid or contact!
Even if someone had invited him for a meal or a cup of tea, he had never agreed to it!
This person's management of himself and his family was so strict that it was almost unreasonable.
"His Majesty has conferred me an official position and a salary. Those are the rewards I deserve for serving the imperial court! But other than that, I don't deserve any of the other benefits! As the saying goes, it is hard for one to take advantage of others. I, Wu Lie, cannot disappoint the official position I hold, cannot disappoint His Majesty's trust, and cannot disappoint the people's expectations! "
"Especially now that I'm the director of the Board of Punishments, in charge of the world's criminal laws! I should be strict with myself and reflect on myself! "
"I won't allow any dirty tricks to happen to me!"
"In my eyes, there is no mercy beyond the law. The law is the law! When a prince breaks the law, he shall be punished the same as a commoner! "
After Sir Wu had taken office, the Empire of Yutang's cases had indeed decreased in recent years. In addition, the officials had also handled their matters in a more discreet manner.
No one dared to act as openly and unscrupulously as before.
It could be said that Sir Wu was the one who had turned the tide of the Empire of Yutang's laws and regulations!
Countless corrupt officials, even if they weren't discovered by him, as long as they saw him, they would tremble and want to confess with a guilty conscience …
However, it was also this Sir Wu who had encountered many tragedies.
First of all, his beloved wife was in her thirties. When Wu Lie was still an assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice, her legs were chopped off due to revenge. Later, it was discovered that not only were her legs crippled, she was also poisoned and paralyzed. She was like a living dead.
His son was also imprisoned for many days due to revenge. Although he was lucky enough to survive, not only was his body weak and sickly, he was also poisoned to the point of losing his sight. Even today, he still hasn't gotten any better and can only be kept alive with medicine.
Furthermore, the medicines used to maintain the lives of his wife and son were all expensive goods.
As a result, Lord Wu's life had been extremely difficult for the past few years. A kind-hearted person couldn't stand it any longer and secretly delivered a bag of silver to Lord Wu in the middle of the night, placing it in the courtyard of his house.
But as long as he discovered it, he would throw it out without hesitation!
Regardless of whether this action was done out of good intentions or a deliberate gift, in this Official Wu's heart, he thought: I don't want silver that I shouldn't take!
Even if I die of poverty, starvation, or suffering, I don't want it!
In fact, Yun Yang, Lord Supreme Cloud, had sent people to deliver silver and gold to Lord Wu's house many times, but even when he told him that it was a gift from the Nine Supremes, Lord Wu would still shake his head like a rattle-drum and refuse to accept it.
Sometimes, he would even reject His Majesty's extra reward!
I've done my job well and His Majesty rewards me. I want it; it's the reward I deserve and I'm worthy of it.
However, I feel that I haven't done my job well. Why should I accept His Majesty's reward? Why are you rewarding me? Isn't the reward and punishment unclear? I won't accept it!
Sometimes, His Majesty would even be infuriated by this official's refusal to accept his reward.
For such an official to fork out a hundred silver taels was already far beyond what he could bear!
"Well, Minister Wu." His Majesty did not react to the other officials' pledges of a hundred or two hundred silver taels, but when he saw Wu Lie fork out a hundred silver taels, he felt a throbbing pain in his heart.
"Forget about the silver taels you've pledged to donate. Take the silver taels back and take care of your own life, "His Majesty said with a sigh.
"The pledge this time was done by all the officials. How can this humble official be an exception? I shouldn't be. I still have one hundred and seventy-three taels at home. It's enough for this month's living expenses." A smile hung on Wu Lie's steely face.
"However, you still need to spend on your wife and children. The pledge this time is voluntary. You should do what you can to help others." His Majesty advised gently, "Take it back."
Wu Lie said seriously, "Your Majesty, this official knows that the hundred silver taels I've pledged to donate is only a drop in the bucket. It doesn't help the bigger picture and can't be compared to others. However, this official is still a part of the Empire of Yutang. When the empire is in trouble, this official thinks that it's my duty and responsibility to donate and help. Besides, this money is this official's own money. This official will take it if I want to, and not if I don't want to. "
His words were adorably blunt.
In layman's terms, it was – your father's money, your father can spend it however he likes. What f * cking do you have to do with it? Even if you're the emperor, do you have to care about how my salary is spent?
His Majesty almost fell back from this sentence.
Old Marshal Qiu and Leng Daoyin laughed at the same time. The two old men guffawed and pointed at Wu Lie. "This is a f * cking donkey!"
Wu Lie replied stiffly, "You're the donkeys! Your whole family are donkeys! "
Pfft …
His Majesty's anger turned into laughter, and he burst out laughing.
Other than Wu Lie, there was no one else who dared to insult the military's Saber and Sword Duo so openly!
This was something that even His Majesty dared not say!
But Wu Lie dared to!
He had said it boldly and confidently, boldly, openly, and in high spirits!
In his own words, "Your father has never let down the heavens, never let down the earth, never let down the king, never let down the people!
No matter how powerful you are, no matter how powerful you are, why should your father be afraid of you? "
The civil and military officials in the imperial court could not help but snicker as they watched the two old marshals unable to react despite having eaten sh * t.
These two old rogues had always relied on their unreasonable and brutal methods to dominate the imperial court. Today, they could finally see them speechless after being rebuked. How gratifying!
"This old man is willing to donate another five hundred thousand silver taels!"
A white-haired old official stood up. "Even if I have to sell everything I have, I'll donate. Just to see these two old men being scolded and humiliated, this old man feels good. I'll donate this money to my heart's content! "
The current prime minister, Du Ruobing, stood up.
This old man's wrinkled face was smiling like a blooming chrysanthemum. It was a pity that this old man had been suffering from these two old rogues for his entire life. I thought that I would no longer have the chance to take revenge as I was nearing my grave. Now that someone had helped me vent my anger, how could I not pay for the theater tickets?
"It's a pity that this old man only has five hundred thousand silver taels for my coffin. Otherwise, it would be worth it even if I had to pay a million!"
The old prime minister looked relieved.
His Majesty lowered his head and covered his forehead with his hand.
It could be seen that the old Prime Minister could die without regrets. Otherwise, he wouldn't have said things like this …
His Majesty had raked in almost nineteen million taels of silver from the donation drive!
It was as if a large sum of money had fallen from the sky into his account. His Majesty felt relieved, but at the same time, he was suddenly filled with evil thoughts. He could not get rid of them. "There's something wrong with these bastards' families … Especially some of them. If they only relied on their salaries, they wouldn't be able to fork out so much money even if they didn't eat or drink for a hundred years … Moreover, I've never heard of their families owning any property. Where did they get the money they pledged to donate from? "
His Majesty pondered. The way he looked at some of them suddenly changed.
The officials heaved a sigh of relief when they finally completed the donation drive that His Majesty personally presided over. Then, they started to feel the pinch …
"The next step is for me and all of you to take out some items and send someone to auction them off at the auction outside … I believe we can still get some silver taels … Together with the donations we've collected today, it should be enough."
His Majesty was still not satisfied, so he struck again.
"Cough, cough …"
All the officials in the imperial court coughed in unison.
Your Majesty, you are so greedy at the sight of money … '
…
The imperial court meeting ended.
Wu Lie walked out of the palace gate and saw Old Marshal Qiu Jianhan blocking his way when he lifted his head.
"What are you doing?" Wu Lie looked at Qiu Jianhan warily.
Old Marshal Qiu was the leader of the Empire of Yutang's three greatest rogues and had always been infamous. It was one thing for Wu Lie to retort and rebuke the old marshal, but it was not surprising for the old marshal to settle the score and beat someone up!
The old marshal scoffed and tossed a bag of silver taels over, saying, "This is the two thousand silver taels I've lent you. Remember to return it to me when you have the money in the future! I'm lending it to you, not for free! "
He turned and left without another word.
Wu Lie hugged the bag of silver taels, his Adam's apple quivered. He felt a surge of warmth in his heart, unable to speak.
He could not help but recall last night.
Last night, in the middle of the night, Wu Lie washed his wife's body and gave her medicine, but then he heard a painful groan from his son. It was his son who had woken up at night. Because his eyes were blind, he tripped, and because his body was weak, it was difficult for him to maintain his balance, so he fell heavily to the ground. He hurriedly gave his son medicine and helped him to bed. Then, just as he was about to fall asleep, someone suddenly floated in like a cloud.
"Sir Wu."
"Who is it?" Wu Lie had been calm then.
"This lowly one is acquainted with Sir Wu." The person was masked and dressed in black, but his voice was friendly. "Sir Wu should have heard of me. I am the eighth of the Nine Supremes, Supreme Wind."
As he spoke, he waved his hand and a gust of wind blew in the enclosed room with its tightly shut windows.
The wind swept back and forth, stirring and gentle. It rolled up the things placed in the room and suspended them in the air, then gently put them down. From the beginning to the end, the black-clothed man did not move his hands or feet at all, except for that first wave of his hand.
"Is it really Sir Supreme Wind?"
Wu Lie was agitated. "You …"
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