Chapter 424: Leaving the Capital

Chapter 1538 Part FourChapter 424 Leaving the Capital

"Your humble servant Zhou Ping'an, bows in gratitude to Your Highness."

Zhou Anping remained unfazed by the scolding, and after bowing his head in respect, he replied respectfully.

Li Chen looked at Zhou Ping'an and said, "The imperial decree will be officially drafted and issued shortly, and it will be announced to the world. After the beginning of the year and when all government offices resume work, you can formally take office. Before then, there are some people from this palace who have been placed in the Ministry of Punishment. They will go to you and cooperate with your work."

"The work of the Ministry of Justice, it's easy to say it's easy, and hard to say it's hard. But since this palace has placed you in the Ministry of Justice as Minister, then you have to make some achievements for this palace to see."

Zhou Ping'an replied calmly, "I understand."

Li Chen looked at Zhou Ping'an with a half-smile and said, "This position, I didn't initially think of you for it. But the others, either lack the ability or have reservations about their loyalty. If we hastily plucked someone from the court, they would likely be useless. On the other hand, your civilian status means that once you enter, you'll cause confusion within the cabinet. They want to deal with you, they'll first need to figure out your background. Before they do, they won't dare to act rashly."

"Therefore, you must not only reorganize the Ministry of Justice, which has been crippled by this palace, and get it running again as soon as possible, but more importantly, you must be careful of the hidden dangers and plots in court."

Zhou Ping'an thought for a moment, then said, “Your Highness, I would like to request information on the officials of the Inner Cabinet and the Six Ministries. The more detailed, the better.”

Li Chen nodded and said, "Yes, I will have the East Factory send you what you need later. Where do you live now"

Zhou Ping'an respectfully said, "Your servant will go directly to the Ministry of Justice later. Your servant plans to review the case files from previous years at the Ministry of Justice, starting with the smallest details."

"Very good."

Li Chen remained composed and said, "Since you already have an idea, then go ahead. First, find Zhang Haicheng. He is the newly appointed Right Minister of Criminal Justice, transferred from another region. He's currently waiting for his superior, that's you, to visit him."

Zhou An bowed and said, "Your humble servant takes his leave."

An imperial decree, and the carp leaps over the Dragon Gate.

Zhou Ping'an rose from an ordinary commoner to become the Minister of Punishment of the Qin Empire, controlling the power of punishment across the six ministries. He ascended to high office and became a central figure in the court.

From a commoner to an official of the third rank in the imperial court, holding a ministry, such an example is unheard of in recent decades, and even since the founding of the Qin Empire, there has never been one.

The final release of the Minister of Punishment's post also announced the end of the imperial New Year's first political event, the pacification of the Ministry of Punishment in the East Palace during the year of the Tiger.

From the very beginning, when things started to go wrong in the Ministry of Justice, all the way to Zhou Ping'an, a commoner with no political connections, being suddenly promoted, the cabinet has remained ominously silent, failing to issue any statements on the matter.

It wasn't until news broke that Wang Tenghuan, who had lost an ear a year ago and was demoted to the post of Beijing Prefecture magistrate, was to be reinstated to his position in the cabinet, that people finally realized.

Those more perceptive began to piece together a shadowy narrative from Xu Changqing's sudden downfall. They traced the connections back to the Ministry of Justice, sensing the tremors that would ripple through the court and culminating in whispers of Wang Tenghuan's potential reinstatement.

This is a political exchange of interests.

One cabinet position, the return of Xu Changqing's confidant, plus the criminal department entering the hands of the East Palace, this deal is worth it or not, opinions are divided.

But for Li Chen, this deal was not yet over.

On the last day of the New Year holiday, Li Chen, in disguise, left the East Palace. Under the strict guard of the Dongchang (imperial secret police), he silently left the capital city.

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