Let you play a corrupt official, are you saying you want to make progress?

Chapter 38: The First Encounter

In this situation, Qin Xuan himself felt an overwhelming pressure. The stress Wang Zhi exerted on him was immense. This was Wang Zhi’s final test to secure Qin Xuan’s commitment.

“Master, I’m not the kind of ungrateful person, and besides, you have many connections. You’ll always be ahead of your students. I will not forget your guidance if I can enjoy luxurious meals one day. You can rest assured I’m not ungrateful. I will not forget you when I gain benefits. You’re more capable and experienced. For sure, you’ll be ahead of me,” Qin Xuan said without a change in his expression.

Although there was sweat on his forehead, he maintained his composure despite the pressure from Wang Zhi.

After a moment, Wang Zhi’s demeanor relaxed, and the atmosphere in the space became more stable.

Qin Xuan knew that after this meal, he should become Wang Zhi’s most trusted confidant. In the future, before the Emperor, Wang Zhi would vigorously recommend him.

[“Why does this seemingly ordinary conversation feel a bit off?”].

[“It’s not right because you’re not hearing what they’re saying.”].

[“I’m starting to see it too. This fish isn’t just fish; it’s some kind of interest.”].

The conversation was laced with unspoken implications and underlying agreements, creating a sense of unease in the atmosphere.

[“Oh, I see, now I understand the meaning.”].

[“It can’t be helped. Our ancient culture is so complex that sometimes I can’t understand it without a class representative’s translation!”].

[“If I’m not mistaken, the recent dinner has formally declared that Qin Xuan has gained Wang Zhi’s true recognition.”].

Netizens were continuously analyzing the situation.

“Qin Xuan, let me tell you, your master, he’s a corrupt officer of the worst kind. History might record him as a disgrace for eternity.”

“But unlike those officers, your master still has some compassion for the common people,” Wang Zhi suddenly spoke with a touch of sadness.

This was his self-evaluation. Though he sought wealth, he also got things done. Even though he sometimes used force when it came to matters concerning the welfare of the state and its people, he could still differentiate.

“Master, I understand. Some officers only care about their family’s interests. Since the Tumu Crisis, our control over the Mongols has been weakening. It’s the result of infighting among officers.

Many high-ranking officers only care about their family’s interests, but Master, you are different,” Qin Xuan spoke sincerely, not trying to flatter. He was speaking from the heart.

Compared to other officers, Wang Zhi’s most distinctive feature was that he took action for the common people.

“Take this tea trade, for instance. Although we made a good amount of money, the prices you set for the common people were much lower than usual,” Qin Xuan pointed out Wang Zhi’s actions.

Wang Zhi nodded, acknowledging that these were actions he had taken.

“Qin Xuan, do you know about the case involving Assistant Minister Chen from the Ministry of Works?” Wang Zhi inquired.

“I’ve heard about it. I heard that Assistant Minister Chen and you had a conflict, and you eventually brought him down after catching him in a corruption scandal,” Qin Xuan replied.

“Assistant Minister Chen was tasked with water conservation projects and embezzled a large sum of money during the construction. I had already obtained evidence of his corruption during the project but didn’t order his arrest. Do you know why?” Wang Zhi looked at Qin Xuan, wanting to hear his answer.

“Master, I’m afraid that once Assistant Minister Chen was removed, there would be no one to carry on the work, and it would all halt.”

“Ultimately, the common people would suffer,” Qin Xuan contemplated for a moment and found his answer.

Wang Zhi was not someone who easily forgot grudges, and when he had conflicts with the Minister of Revenue, he had started the confrontation almost immediately. So, he didn’t take action because of his concern that without Assistant Minister Chen, the work would stall.

From this perspective, Wang Zhi was indeed better than many others. Upon hearing this, netizens also showed their respect.

[“Wow, there’s such a perspective? Wang Zhi is impressive!”].

[“If that’s the case, he’s indeed commendable. I think Wang Zhi is quite impressive.”].

[“Although he’s after money, he gets things done. I like this approach.”].

[“I remember now, in the previous disaster relief efforts by Qin Xuan, Wang Zhi approved it because he knew Qin Xuan was doing the same kind of work.”].

The impression of Wang Zhi among netizens changed.

“All right, let’s not talk about this anymore. We should go. There’s still a lot of work waiting for us at the Ministry of Justice,” Wang Zhi got up, and Qin Xuan followed suit.

This banquet was an assignment for both of them, and Qin Xuan had never been so exhausted. The pressure had been intense. The program quickly ended, and Qin Xuan returned to rest. He soon entered the world of dreams. Meanwhile, reports about the previous live streamer were spreading on the internet. Perhaps it was because this live streamer was too unruly, or he had angered the workers.

The resentment of workers is heavier than that of ghosts. Once workers are upset, it’s difficult to appease their anger.

Coincidentally, another live streamer broke down in the evening, and the reasons were unclear. This live streamer publicly stated that they had thick skin and wouldn’t cry or apologize, saying, “You can watch it or not!”

This led to strong condemnation from netizens. Two such incidents happened simultaneously, making it quite unbelievable.

Netizens began speculating whether the two live streamers would issue apologies as Qin Xuan had predicted.

“Both of them will have to apologize the next day. They rely on their fans, after all.”

“They’ll definitely apologize, but as Qin Xuan said, the apology won’t be because they admit their mistake, but because they’re afraid of losing their income!”

Netizens’ interest remained high as they followed the developments throughout the night.

As expected, the next day, both live streamers began to apologize. Netizens were astonished when they edited their apologies and discovered that the statements were almost identical.

Netizens were dumbfounded. These apologies lacked sincerity. As soon as Qin Xuan woke up in the morning, netizens tagged him for his insights on these matters. Of course, Qin Xuan didn’t involve himself in these discussions.

Due to Qin Xuan accurately predicting both live streamers’ actions, his popularity continued to rise. His fanbase quickly grew to millions. As time passed in anticipation, the show resumed once again. This time, Qin Xuan appeared in the Ministry of Justice, and his nephew was still serving him.

Due to yesterday’s banquet, Wang Zhi had developed complete trust in Qin Xuan. He had delegated many tasks to Qin Xuan for handling.

“Qin Xuan, we’ve arrested a lot of censors this time. These censors are usually close to the Emperor. Is this appropriate?” His nephew expressed some concern.

Yesterday, after Qin Xuan returned from the Emperor, he ordered the arrest of the censors, who were now imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice’s dungeons.

“It’s appropriate. Of course, it’s appropriate. We won’t need to interrogate them this time. Just keep them detained. The Emperor can use it as leverage, and we can release them when needed,” Qin Xuan responded nonchalantly.

The Emperor was truly testing him, and the censors’ accusations against Wan Tong were real. The Emperor’s frustration was also genuine.

“By the way, Qin Xuan, do you know about the officer officially taking office today?” His nephew suddenly remembered something. He had heard some things earlier in the morning.

“Oh? Are you talking about the officer from Zezhou? Did something happen to him?” Qin Xuan was curious.

Liu Sui had already been at the Ministry of Justice for two days, but today was his official appointment. After all, the Emperor’s appointment and the necessary procedures took time. Unexpectedly, there were issues on such a formal occasion.