I Am Immortal In The Cultivation World novel Chapter 28

Chapter 28 The Crown Prince’s Rebellion

The evils of aristocratic families were even worse than traitors. The latter seemed as fierce as fire, but there was always a way to put it out. The former had existed since ancient times. Everyone could see that the aristocratic families were digging up the foundation of the dynasty, but they rarely had the means to control it.

Zhou Yi shook his head slowly. “You’re not the first to say that, nor will you be the last. The evil of the aristocratic families is not a reason to become corrupt officials.”

“Cough, cough, cough. You make it sound so easy!”

After the prisoner mentioned the Lu family, he seemed to have completely let go.

“I… My parents starved to death. It was the officials who embezzled the food for disaster relief. Back then, I swore that I would cleanse the imperial court and cleanse the world!”

Zhou Yi became a little more interested. “Tell me about your experience of thinking that you have a deep grudge but are actually tacky.”

The prisoner was rather helpless, but his death was not far away. These were probably his last words before he was executed.

“Ten years ago, I became a scholar and was appointed as a county official. I wanted to achieve my ambitions. However, the officials of the yamen were all occupied by local nobles. Their orders could not be send out no matter what.” The prisoner glanced at Zhou Yi. “The most difficult to deal with is a lowly official like you.”

Zhou Yi nodded slightly. How could it be said that the imperial power and officials shared the world?

“After passing through several counties, not only did I fail to achieve anything, but I even became a laughing stock among my peers. Every year, I would be criticized!” The prisoner muttered, “How can I have any ambitions when I’ve let time slip by without accomplishing anything? So I might as well let them be. I’ll read and write every day without caring about the affairs of the government office.”

His ideals and future had been obliterated by reality, turning him into a muddle-headed official.

Zhou Yi asked, “What does this have to do with the Lu family?”

“In the sixth or seventh year of Hongchang, I went to Changfeng County and happened to encounter a flood… The rivers overflowed and people were like turtles.” The prisoner recalled, “As usual, I submitted a memorial and asked the Ministry of Revenue to allocate the money for food and disaster relief. According to the procedure, the imperial court must first come to inspect the disaster, then draw up the constitution for disaster relief. It will take a long time.

“Most of the victims of the flood are dead. Just don’t give them too much money. The small disasters that follow will pass by itself. There’s no need to save them. Who would have thought that the Imperial Court would quickly give the order to transport food from the surrounding counties and allocate another 300,000 taels of disaster silver?

“With such disaster relief, Changfeng County will definitely be able to tide over the flood easily. I can’t sleep at night and have wasted ten years. I can finally do something for the people to fulfill my parents’ wishes!” At this point, the prisoner paused. “When there was a famine back then, my parents warned me to be a good official in the future and save the people!”

Zhou Yi straightened his posture. This criminal was indeed a little different from before. There were many corrupt officials in the Sky Prison. Zhou Yi heard them talk about their reasons for earning money. It seemed strange, but in the end, it was just their desire to enjoy themselves.

“Just as I was happily preparing for the relief, the Lu family arrived.” The prisoner said hatefully, “A lowly gatekeeper pointed at the county officials and scolded them. The Lu family asked the imperial court for food and silver. Why should they give them to the people? However, this also allowed me to know that the imperial court allocated money and food had nothing to do with the memorials!”

Zhou Yi said, “In the end, the money and grains were sent to the Lu family?”

“And what choice do I have?” The prisoner said, “Changfeng County belongs to the Luyang Prefecture. The Lu family has been operating there for a thousand years. If I say no, they will make commit suicide on the same day!”

“And after that?” Zhou Yi did not need to ask to guess the subsequent developments.

“Money and grain were sent to the Lu family. The citizens of Changfeng County suffered heavy casualties and could only sell their children for a living…” The prisoner sighed and said, “Back then, I was evaluated as an A-list official. The inspector praised me for my love for the people and my contribution to disaster relief. A year later, I was transferred to Luyang Prefecture as an assistant magistrate!”

The provincial magistrate was also a seventh-grade official, but he was promoted from a county to a province. After a natural disaster, the Lu family earned money and land, and the criminal was promoted. Everyone was happy!

“From then on, I became an official of the Lu family. Every year, I scored first place in the assessment. After more than ten years, I was promoted to the governor of Luzhou and became the leader of a region.” The prisoner sneered. “The students who mocked me back then became good friends again. In order to curry favor with me, they gave me money, gave me courtesans, wrote poems, and flattered me!

“Since then, I’ve embezzled money whenever I see them and I’ll sell the government positions if I have. I’m unrestrained… and also lawless!”

Zhou Yi snorted coldly. This person had experienced the wasted years, despair, and had completely fallen under the fear of death.

The prisoner’s gaze was faint, and his voice was ethereal. “What is the law? That’s the Imperial Court’s method of governing the people! What is the heavens? His Majesty is the heavens, the Imperial Court is the heavens, and the scholars are the heavens!”

Zhou Yi said, “However, you’re going to die

now.”