Chapter 197: Marry or Marry?

Tianshu and his four men took turns on duty, and in just a few days they thoroughly investigated the officials who were close to Prime Minister Gu.

When the dark curtain fell, Tianshu returned to Liuliyuan and reported in detail the recent investigation: "Song Guang, the Minister of Revenue, has been transferred to the Ministry of Revenue for seven years, from the Minister to the Minister. He took advantage of his position to embezzle more than 2.4 million taels of silver, of which 400,000 taels were given as tribute to Prime Minister Gu, and the rest of the proceeds were mostly kept in the Song family's warehouse."

"Li An, the Minister of Personnel, bought and sold official positions, and his illegal income was more, a total of more than 4 million taels. In three years, he gave more than 1.2 million taels as tribute to King Yu and the Prime Minister. The rest of the silver was used to buy family property. Baicheng Several officials are in collusion with him. "

"King Yu has horse farms and private soldiers in Baicheng, Pingling, and Danzhong. These private soldiers add up to less than 100,000, but they are extremely well-equipped. The weapons and horses are trained to the standard of iron cavalry, and their combat effectiveness should not be underestimated. "

"In addition, Prime Minister Gu's legitimate son used his student status to travel abroad and also made friends with the sons of the famous families of Mu State to win over various forces for King Yu, but the effect was minimal. "

Yan Li held a book in his hand, sat in front of the chair and listened quietly. After he finished speaking, he asked "Do you have any evidence?"

"There are three account books in Song Guang's study, which record secret transactions with the prime minister and other officials. They are evidence he kept for self-protection. Some other records of money transactions have been destroyed, but there are boxes of cash in the Song family's warehouse."

"Song Guang was born in a poor family and has been used to being poor since he was a child. He doesn't like jewelry and jade, and has no elegant hobbies. He only likes silver. He put all the embezzled silver into the warehouse and would stay in the warehouse for half a day on the first and fifteenth of every month."

"The person in the Ministry of Personnel put most of the money in Used to form cliques for personal gain. Because the power of the princes in the court is not clear, he has not yet taken sides openly, but he has a list of many officials who collude with each other, as well as account books of large sums of money spent. "

"If the master needs it, the subordinates can get these evidences at any time."

Yan Li drank a sip of tea and pondered for a moment: "Are there any honest and upright people in the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel?"

"The newly appointed Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Xiao Mingxuan, is a low-key person and an honest official. His brother Xiao Linhan is the left deputy general under the command of the Ninth Prince."

Yan Li raised his eyebrows slightly.

Xiao Linhan, Xiao Weiqing?

The parents of the Xiao family are good at naming.

One is cold and imposing, suitable for joining the army.

The other is gentle and elegant, suitable for entering the officialdom.

And they really became talents according to their parents' expectations.

Yan Li found it interesting.

What's more interesting is that the Xiao brothers are the people of the Ninth Prince.

After Tianshu finished reporting, he retreated quietly like a shadow.

Yan Li leaned on the couch alone, looking at the dark night outside the window, wondering who else could be the crown prince in Mu State.

Support a puppet?

No, it would be better to let Mu Cang take the throne.

With this idea in mind, Yan Li got up without hesitation and went to the inner room to change clothes. He left Liuli Courtyard through the back window without disturbing anyone, and went straight out of the Jiang family gate and went straight to the Ninth Prince's Mansion.

Mu Cang was sitting in the study at this time, listening to Mo Yun's latest news. Yan Li was led by the housekeeper directly to the study and knocked on the door.

When Mo Yun opened the door, Mu Cang, who was sitting behind the desk, looked up and saw Yan Li stepping into the study. A touch of surprise flashed across his eyes: "Why are you here?"

"I have something to talk to you about."

Mu Cang raised his hand to signal Mo Yun to go out, and took Yan Li's hand and walked into the study, pouring her a cup of tea in person: "What's the matter?"

"I suddenly feel that the princes of Mu Kingdom are not very good." Yan Li said calmly, "Mu Cang, are you interested in being the emperor?"

Mu Cang was silent for a moment, his expression was equally calm: "Do you want me to do it?"

Yan Li smiled faintly: "What if I want to?"

"Then I'll listen to you."

Yan Li's expression paused slightly, and his tone was a little subtle: "Don't you need to think about it?"

"No need to think about it." Mu Cang sat down beside her, his voice so light that no emotional fluctuations could be heard, "Take a step back, if you let others do it, they will take it away sooner or later, and it will instead bury more people."

Sooner or later, they will take it away.

This sentence was said very domineeringly, with the demeanor of an emperor.

Yan Li's smile deepened, and he couldn't help but say: "The Ninth Prince is mighty."

Mu Cang raised his lips slightly: "I want to save more betrothal gifts for myself."

Yan Li was stuck: "... betrothal gifts?"

Mu Cang hummed: "The wealth of the Ninth Prince of Mu Kingdom is not worthy of the Queen of the Southern Kingdom for the time being."

Yan Li took a sip of tea: "So, I have to prepare some dowry in advance?"

Mu Cang's tone was slightly hesitant: "Or, should I prepare the dowry?"

Yan Li chuckled: "So are you going to marry or marry?"

"I can do either." Mu Cang smiled, his eyebrows were handsome and noble, like a god, "As long as the result is the same, the form is not important."

Yan Li was silent, and suddenly felt that this man was not really so taciturn.

"Just entered the palace?" Mu Cang changed the subject.

Yan Li nodded: "I saw a scene of shooting myself in the foot when I entered the palace."

Mu Cang said: "I am not well-informed, and I don't know what happened."

Yan Li leaned on the brocade couch and shared interesting things with him in a good mood: "Mu Xue came to tell me that Mu Xiuhan regretted breaking off the engagement with me and wanted me to change my mind. He also promised to grant me the position of queen after ascending the throne."

Mu Cang's smile gradually faded, and the cold light in his eyes was intimidating.

"These heirs of the Mu royal family are really funny." Yan Li sighed, "When I didn't agree, Muxue said evil things and spread rumors that I was the emperor's illegitimate daughter. He also said that our marriage would be incest."

Yan Li said, raising her hand to admire her delicate and slender hands, "I slapped her twice. I expected that with her temper, she would go back to the palace in tears to complain, and it turned out to be true."

Mu Cang pursed her thin lips slightly, and her eyes were dark and cold.

Prince Xian's Mansion is not Mu Xiuhan's final destination. Such a stupid and ignorant person should be demoted to a commoner even if he does not die.

"Actually, Muxue may have felt scared before I entered the palace, but I will not give her a chance to regret it." Yan Li spoke calmly and briefly stated what happened after entering the palace, "I am the most honest person, and I hate She lied, so I gave her a little medicine to make her lose control when she was emotionally excited, and then she would tell the truth."

Emperor Zhaocheng still remembers Jiang Yi in his heart to this day, which proves that he is a Nilin that no one can insult. As the eldest daughter, Mu Xue's status is indeed precious, but she does not receive much favor from the emperor.

Ultimately, it was because of her grandfather, the feudal lord.

Therefore, once she said the words about King Xian's promise to Yan Li as his queen, Emperor Zhaocheng would definitely be furious. It would be strange if she did not receive a severe punishment when she said the words about insulting Jiang Yi.

Yan Li was too lazy to think about those bad things and raised her eyes to look at Mu Cang: "The Queen and her son have no hope of recovery. King Yu has the support of Prime Minister Gu and his party, and he will be one of the most powerful candidates for the crown prince. It's a pity that I don't want them to be too proud."

Mu Cang nodded slowly: "After the wedding, I will take care of Prime Minister Gu."

Yan Li said: "Tianshu has found evidence of the crimes of the two ministers of the Ministry of Personnel and Hubu. If the prince needs it, I will ask Tianshu to get it at any time."

Mu Cang was silent for a moment and nodded: "Yes."