Chapter 1086: The Hardest Matter_4

Logically speaking, the imperial envoy should have thoroughly investigated the matter. However, the problem lay in the fact that the money embezzled by corrupt officials was mostly used to pay homage to their superiors, who in turn paid homage to their own superiors, and so on until eventually, the money ended up in the emperor's hands.

If the investigation were to continue, it would inevitably lead to more trouble and could possibly turn the Imperial Court upside down.

The imperial envoy reported the matter to the emperor, and the response he received was to temporarily set aside the matter and focus on disaster relief before investigating the cause further.

During the disaster relief period, corrupt officials started framing Panqing and even found some people to blend in with the starving people to spread rumors about Panqing colluding with wealthy merchants, successfully pinning the blame for the empty granaries on him.