The Treacherous Minister Who Helps the People 5

Zhao Baiyue pondered for a moment. “You first deal with Zhou Ce, and I will inquire about the others. If we can truly obtain ten million taels, I will give you one million taels.”

“In that case, I express my gratitude to Niangniang in advance.” Shen Qi smiled lightly.

Come on~

Let her see how many corrupt officials and venal bureaucrats she can lure out~

Zhao Baiyue did not notice Shen Qi’s cold and scrutinizing gaze.

She was immersed in her dream of earning more silver soon and couldn’t wait to return to the palace to find the list.

As she watched her eagerly departing figure, the smile on Shen Qi’s lips gradually cooled.

Zhou Ce…

This person who was specifically mentioned is probably one of Zhao Baiyue’s system tasks.

In the world’s plot, Zhou Ce did indeed successfully secure the position of Minister of Revenue through the original host’s manipulation.

But he was not a good person.

After taking charge of the Ministry of Revenue, he tampered with the account books, depleting the treasury to fill his own private vault.

Several years later, the military funds for Da Liang couldn’t be allocated, but he owned a dozen or more estates, maintaining a group of concubines and maidservants, living a lavish and indulgent life.

He must not be allowed to rise again.

After pondering for a moment, Shen Qi’s brows gradually relaxed, and she walked gracefully between the vermilion walls and green tiles.

Just as she turned a corner, she encountered a little child, timidly leaning against the wall and looking at her.

“I pay my respects to Your Highness.”

Shen Qi lightly brushed her sleeve and saluted Liang Sirui, who was only five years old. Liang Sirui pursed his lips. “Rise, Minster Shen.”

“Why is Your Highness here?”

Liang Sirui didn’t respond.

He was raised by the Empress, but she had been ill for the past two years, and her power had declined due to Zhao Baiyue’s influence in the palace.

Not long ago, the Emperor even wanted to depose the current Empress and reinstate Zhao Baiyue as the Empress, but thankfully he was repeatedly stopped by court officials.

Although the plan failed, the Empress’s situation in the palace became increasingly difficult, and Liang Sirui also had no good days.

“In that case, I won’t disturb you.” Shen Qi stood up and walked out.

When she passed by Liang Sirui, she whispered in his ear, “Please tell the Empress on my behalf that she has not reached a dead end yet. I hope she takes good care of herself and guides the Crown Prince attentively.”

Liang Sirui didn’t quite understand the meaning behind Shen Qi’s words and simply nodded. Seeing Shen Qi disappear behind the long palace walls, he stood in place for a long time before hurriedly running back to find the Empress.

At this moment, the Empress was kneeling in front of a small Buddhist hall, her face filled with illness, as she played with prayer beads and recited Buddhist scriptures. She was so thin that a gentle breeze could blow her away.

“Mother!”

Liang Sirui walked straight into the small Buddhist hall. Seeing no one around, he spoke, “I met Minster Shen today.”

Shen Qi? The Empress’s hand, which was playing with the prayer beads, paused. “Oh, what did he say?”

Liang Sirui had a good memory. He imitated Shen Qi’s tone and repeated her words in their entirety.

Clatter!

The Buddhist beads fell to the ground instantly.

The Empress turned her head and grabbed Liang Sirui, unable to believe it.

She said, “Shen Qi, did he really say that to you?”

Liang Sirui felt a bit of pain from being grabbed by the Empress, but when he saw her expression suddenly come alive, he nodded despite the discomfort.

The Empress’s body trembled, and her expression became trance-like as she let go of him as if she had suddenly seen the young man from years ago who was bright, noble, and full of righteousness, the one who used to call her “sister-in-law.”

In just a few years, everything had changed.

The Emperor, who was her husband from youth, had long lost his affection for her.

She was no longer honored and cherished, but rather a forgotten Empress in the depths of the palace.

Shen Qi was no longer the renowned figure she used to be, but rather a despised villain, too. And now, what did she mean by all this?

The Empress couldn’t fathom Shen Qi’s intentions, but she felt a glimmer of light amid the dark future.

She embraced Liang Sirui, tears wetting his clothes, and hoarsely said, “All right, my dear, I will teach you well.”

She had to survive. She had to wait until Shen Qi hinted at the path ahead for her!

Meanwhile, as soon as Shen Qi returned home, she heard some unfavorable news from the steward: Zhao Song had arrived. Not only did Zhao Song come, but he also brought several subordinates to visit Gu Qing at Mingtang Residence.

Shen Qi’s lips twitched as she brushed past them.

“Oh, General Gu, long time no see. How did you end up like this? Weren’t you so mighty? Didn’t you treat me like a dog? Now, look who’s the real dog.”

Zhao Song’s malicious voice echoed from afar.

A chill passed through Shen Qi’s eyes, but her tone remained gentle. “General Zhao, why are you here today?”

Zhao Song knew that Shen Qi was on his side, so he smiled and said, “I just came to visit General Gu. We’re old acquaintances.”

What kind of “visit” was this? When you whip someone until they bleed?

“Just visiting, General Zhao, but please don’t harm him. I still have use for him.”

Shen Qi’s gaze shifted, feigning ambiguity. As a seasoned player in the realm of romance, Zhao Song instantly understood, and his eyes lit up with a sense of camaraderie as he glanced at Gu Qing’s face.

“Well, well,” Zhao Song stood up, patting Shen Qi’s shoulder.

His lips cracked into a smile. “Indulging in pleasure is nothing to be ashamed of.”

Just the thought of Gu Qing, who used to scold him like a dog on the battlefield, becoming a male pet to serve others, made Zhao Song genuinely happy.

Seeing Gu Qing’s disgusted expression, he deliberately approached Shen Qi, picking out some nauseating romantic stories to share.

When he got carried away, he even started dancing.

Shen Qi played along, giving him perfunctory responses, and it took a while before she finally sent him away.

Seeing Shen Qi standing at the door, Gu Qing, with his worsening injuries, spat out blood and cursed, “You damn thing, raising something like you would make the ancestors of the Shen family crawl out of their graves in anger…”

Indeed, he deliberately provoked Shen Qi to the point of seeking death.

After all, Gu Qing had an unyielding spirit and would never submit to anyone, allowing himself to be toyed with!

But even after he cursed the Shen family’s ancestors for eighteen generations, Shen Qi still had a smile on her face, showing no signs of annoyance.

She even seemed to be watching a play!

Truly, her thoughts ran deep!

Shen Qi touched her chin and said, “Are you tired of cursing? Come, have a cup of tea.”

Gu Qing: … Thank you for making me nauseous!

“You wretched thing!” Gu Qing cursed again.

“Don’t be like this. Sooner or later, you’ll have to be with this wretched thing,” Shen Qi casually teased, then called the steward and instructed, “Take good care of General Gu. No one is allowed to see him without my orders.”

Saying that, Shen Qi reached out to touch Gu Qing, but her hand was forcefully slapped away by him.

Shen Qi’s hand turned red on the back, but she smiled nonchalantly. “Gu Qing, you had better listen to me and obey. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee that I won’t do anything to your loved ones and subordinates alive.”

“You dare hurt them!”

“Then try me.” Shen Qi said lightly, thinking to herself that this man had already harbored murderous intentions toward her.

Afterward, when Shen Qi thought of Zhao Song, who had just left, her gaze instantly turned cold, and she decided to go to the palace to meet the Emperor.

She didn’t want to see that disgusting person Zhao Song again.

It would be better to get rid of him!