Do Not Offend the Reborn Wicked Wife-Chapter 476: Heavy Losses! Closing the Net!

These people claim it’s corruption, but in reality, they’re connected to the old Duanmu Family eradication case.

Of course, some have either been reassigned far away or have resigned from office. If Qi Yun wants to pursue this, it will require some effort.

This list wasn’t pulled out of thin air; it was uncovered through the investigations by Li Qingmu and Nan Haitang upon their return. Nan Haitang came back earlier, and Li Qingmu will arrive in about two days.

Qi Yun actually has a copy as well, and when the two lists were compared, there were no discrepancies, proving the information from Yulong Pavilion is precise and astonishing.

"Your Majesty, Imperial Envoy Mr. Li has returned and is waiting outside the hall."

Qi Yun’s eyes lit up. That little rascal has returned?

His face, dark as storm clouds, instantly brightened, and he smiled, "Let him in."

Di Jing couldn’t help but glance at Qi Yun, thinking that this Emperor changed his expression too quickly; he was just looking gloomy a moment ago.

Li Qingmu was then led in by a eunuch; he looked travel-worn from hurrying along the road. Upon entering, he wasted no time in recounting the details of the journey.

"Your Majesty, this is a business line—from the abduction of children, to selling them, and finally concentrating in a hidden chamber in Guyang County for cultivation. Everyone involved in this line is guilty of numerous crimes, including secret support from various local officials. Their homes are stacked with silver, all provided by these accomplices..."

Li Qingmu spoke eloquently, holding a list. He called out the names of the officials one by one and detailed who they aided.

The officials below had been loudly proclaiming their innocence, but now fell silent.

With ironclad evidence, a search of their homes would reveal it all.

They knew their own backgrounds. Accumulating wealth was easy, but amassing large fortunes was difficult. The gold and jewels in their homes had become their death knell.

Crucially, many among them were undercover agents from Da Rong, and now, due to a child trafficking case, they were all uprooted...

Pang Wenzheng was watching coldly from the side, but within, he harbored deep resentment toward Li Qingmu.

This little bastard ruined his plans again!

In attempting to frame Duanmu Nan, he ended up incriminating his own agents. Pang Wenzheng was livid.

What’s more, he was now clueless. Just a moment ago, Qi Yun was talking about someone cursing him, so how did it turn into an arrest of officials?

He was curious beyond measure but couldn’t ask, driving him mad with frustration.

"Bang!"

On the Dragon Throne, Qi Yun slammed the table in rage after hearing Li Qingmu’s report, "Outrageous, utterly outrageous! Such audacity! Because of scum like them, the people harbor resentment and dissatisfaction with me!"

As he spoke, he swept his gaze around and said in a chilling voice, "I hold a high position, yet am unaware of the people’s suffering. If not for this child trafficking case, I wouldn’t know how much hardship the people endure. Though I’m angry at being cursed by the people, I find it understandable."

I... I’m shocked!

Pang Wenzheng was dumbfounded, really doubting his ears.

Qi Yun previously mentioned someone cursing him, and he expected a bloody crackdown, but then with just a simple statement, all the fury turned toward these corrupt officials?

Did he overestimate this Emperor, or underestimate him?

Why was he acting so unpredictably?

"Take them all away and imprison them! In addition, immediately send people to confiscate their homes. The men will be exiled as slaves, and the women sent to the Music Bureau!"

The Music Bureau...

Isn’t that just a training ground for Palace Courtesans, musicians, and actors?

Pang Wenzheng’s face twitched slightly, while the officials howled, some pleading for mercy, others cursing Qi Yun as foolishly tyrannical.

"Drag them away!"

The court was in an uproar, but Qi Yun’s shout brought it to complete silence.

The officials being dragged away all had their mouths gagged with rags if they dared to curse out of place.

"Furthermore, regarding the curse case from sixteen years ago, I decree that it be re-examined! Zhao Mengran!"

The court now bristled with killing intent, and the Imperial Guard’s eyes were coldly trained on everyone in the hall. Even if the ministers had thoughts in mind, not one dared to voice them.

Zhao Mengran, not knowing why he was singled out, stepped forward trembling.

"For this case, you are to re-investigate, with Mr. Li assisting you."

Zhao Mengran was taken aback. He had only been in the Capital Governor position for the past seven years. The sixteen-year-old cold case was known to him, but attempting to reopen it seemed troublesome!

Moreover, there was a risk of offending the previous Capital Governor.

Reluctantly but dutifully, Zhao Mengran accepted the decree and bowed to Li Qingmu, "Then... I must trouble Mr. Li."

The officials exchanged meaningful glances. The Emperor made Li Qingmu an Imperial Envoy and sent him out for experience. Now even the Capital Governor’s matters needed his involvement—clearly grooming him for Prime Minister.

But he’s only twenty years old this year!

With the Emperor’s pace of grooming, does he intend to cultivate the youngest Prime Minister in history?

This is very improper; the higher you climb, the worse the fall. To reach such heights at a young age without experience might cause a stir in the court.

"Court is adjourned!"

Qi Yun acted according to his own will, completely ignoring the thoughts of his ministers as he announced the end of the session.

Li Qingmu walked out of the Golden Hall, reaching halfway down the steps when Zhao Mengran approached.

"Mr. Li, regarding the case His Majesty has assigned, how confident are you?"

Since the Emperor trusted Li Qingmu so much, Zhao Mengran, being clever, tried to get some insight. If Li Qingmu was confident, he just needed to cooperate throughout.

Li Qingmu smiled faintly, "Lord Zhao, there’s no such thing as confidence in this case; just follow the evidence."

Zhao Mengran understood.

Following the evidence meant he already had ample incriminating proof?

He felt relieved, nodding, "Then I’ll thank Mr. Li."

Chief Clerk Wang, Wang Qi, was present today and couldn’t help feeling envious. He had tried several times to approach Li Qingmu, but why wouldn’t the latter give him a glance?

Yet he seemed amicable with Lord Zhao?

Was it because he himself held too low a position?

He didn’t know that Li Qingmu’s favorable attitude toward Zhao Mengran was due to having reluctantly killed his nephew to stay alive a few years back, leaving him with a slight sense of guilt.

While their conversation was congenial, Pang Wenzheng on the other side wore a sullen expression.

This time, his losses were severe. So many Da Rong officials he had placed were uprooted by Li Qingmu.

This man is truly a harbinger of disaster!

Investigating a child trafficking case should have dragged down Duanmu Nan, yet Qi Yun declared a reinvestigation of the matter. Was he trying to exonerate Duanmu Nan?

This Emperor, when did his heart become so big? He’s not even afraid of leaving an enemy’s descendant around; isn’t he worried about being assassinated suddenly?

"Crack!"

Pang Wenzheng’s knuckles cracked audibly out of anger. If he couldn’t sense the danger now, he truly would be an utter fool!

This Dog Emperor seems to be closing the net, closing the net on his Da Rong people!