Chapter 72

PS: New book period, please recommend and collect!

"Currently, the court is in dire need of capable officials. How can Minister Cui, as a key minister of the court, retire at this time!" Li Er sat on the dais, his gaze passing through the pendant in front of his imperial headdress, looking down at Minister Cui. As expected, he tried his best to retain him, just as Minister Cui and others had anticipated.

"Your Majesty, this old minister is already advanced in years and fears he can no longer bear such a heavy responsibility!" Minister Cui shook his aged head, speaking with a sad tone: "I humbly request Your Majesty to allow me to retire and return to my hometown!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Li Er suddenly fell silent, seemingly weighing the consequences of this matter.

The ministers below occasionally glanced at Qin Shubao, Cheng Yaojin, and others, whispering to each other. Pei Ji, seated at the head of the ministers, slightly curled his lips, looking at Minister Cui and the others with a faintly mocking gaze.

These people ultimately did not understand this Tang Emperor!

"Currently, the court is in dire need of capable officials like Minister Cui to help me with my worries!" After a while, Li Er's voice finally echoed in the hall, still reluctant to let Minister Cui retire so soon.

However, as soon as these words were spoken, just as Minister Cui was secretly smirking, Li Er's tone suddenly paused, then abruptly changed, exclaiming: "However, Minister Cui is already advanced in years, and I am not an unreasonable person. Despite my reluctance, I must allow you to retire and return to your hometown!"

It was like a blow to the head, and Minister Cui was completely stunned! His mouth half-open, he raised his aged head, trying hard to see the Tang Emperor sitting behind the imperial desk, seemingly not believing that these words had come from the Emperor's mouth.

Pei Ji, seated at the head of the ministers, quietly sighed, a trace of sorrow flashing in his eyes. Perhaps today's Minister Cui would be tomorrow's himself!

Cheng Yaojin lowered his head, his bull-like eyes staring intently at the floor of the Taiji Hall, as if he had seen something extremely interesting, which had captivated him. However, his shoulders were trembling violently.

Qin Shubao, standing beside him, glared at Du Ruhui like an angry Vajra, making Du Ruhui so angry that he had to turn his head away, not daring to look at Qin Shubao and Cheng Yaojin's disgraceful behavior, as he was already struggling to hold back his laughter!

"Old minister... old minister..." Minister Cui's mouth was half-open, stammering for a long time without saying anything meaningful. Retiring was something he had strongly requested, and now that the Emperor had granted his request, how could he retract it?

At this point, Minister Cui finally understood the Emperor's true attitude, but it was too late to say anything!

Minister Cui hoped that the few people standing behind him would step forward and try to retain him. If they did, he could go along with the flow and stay.

Unfortunately, to his sorrow, the people behind him had all become mute and deaf. When he suddenly turned his head, he found that they were all looking at him with only bitter smiles and helplessness!

Seeing such expressions, how could Minister Cui not understand? He sighed inwardly, turned to the dais, bowed to Emperor Li Er, and said with a desolate tone: "Old minister—thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness!"

This noisy affair finally ended with Minister Cui's retirement.

No one in the court stood up to defend Zhao Yuankai, nor did anyone dare to demand severe punishment for Zhao Chen.

Li Er enjoyed this situation, so when Changsun Wujì again stepped forward to request a strict investigation of Zhao Yuankai, he immediately issued an edict to the censor Du Yan, who was feigning illness in Lantian, ordering him to investigate all of Zhao Yuankai's crimes as soon as possible.

Du Yan, who was originally very ill, with the doctors advising him to avoid any cold, immediately sprang up with renewed vigor upon receiving Li Er's edict, showing no signs of his recent illness.

Investigating Zhao Yuankai's case was not difficult, as all the evidence and witnesses were present. If not for the obstruction of Minister Cui and his group, the case would have been concluded long ago. Now, it was just a matter of verifying the details.

Although Du Yan was a cunning person, once he started working, he was efficient and decisive, unlike his usual slippery nature. At this moment, Du Yan had become a stern judge.

In less than an afternoon, more than thirty cases of various sizes were heard in the hall. Wang Ning, along with his subordinates, continuously brought the victims of each case to the hall.

This made Zhao Chen's heart race. Some of these cases involved him, and if someone pointed him out in court, he would be finished!

The few people Du Yan brought sat on the left side of the hall, recording each case as Du Yan questioned them. The pens in their hands moved swiftly, and the case files they produced made Zhao Chen admire their skills, truly worthy of their profession!

However, when he accidentally saw one of the case files, he rolled his eyes. No wonder these guys wrote so quickly; they were using a slimming technique!

Cases that would normally require thousands of words to describe were reduced to a few words by these people.

Zhao Chen estimated that only those present could truly understand such case files. If someone unfamiliar with the case saw them, they would only be able to guess!

Seeing such case files, Zhao Chen lost interest, threw the file on the table, and returned to his room to pack his things.

Since Zhao Yuankai's downfall was a foregone conclusion, it was just a matter of going through the motions. Once Du Yan compiled all the case files, they could set off for Chang'an. Whether Zhao Yuankai lived or died would depend on Li Er's attitude.

When he returned to his room, Ma Zhou had already packed his belongings and arrived early. He was originally planning to seek an official position in Chang'an, and now that he had met Zhao Chen, who had the backing of a veteran from the Tiance Mansion, he could not let this opportunity slip away, especially since Zhao Chen also admired him!

There was not much to pack, just the things he had brought with him, which Qin Ming had already packed long ago.

Du Yan would remain in Lantian to handle the aftermath, as Zhao Yuankai had harmed many people over the years, and they needed to be compensated. These matters had nothing to do with Zhao Chen, and since his mission was complete, staying here would only be a waste of time. It was better to return to Chang'an early.

"Your Excellency, you are leaving in such a hurry, and I haven't had the chance to properly entertain you!" Liu Hui, who had been in the hall, rushed out as soon as he heard that Zhao Chen was about to leave Lantian, heading straight for Zhao Chen's room and expressing his regret upon meeting him.

"Entertainment is unnecessary!" Zhao Chen, wrapped in a thick cotton robe, stood there like a wrapped dumpling. However, upon hearing Liu Hui's words, he burst into laughter and teased him: "If nothing else distracts me, I plan to visit Lantian again in the spring. I hope County Magistrate Liu will not be stingy then!"

County Magistrate Liu! As soon as Zhao Chen said this, both Liu Hui and Ma Zhou were taken aback. After a moment, Ma Zhou burst into laughter, while Liu Hui looked embarrassed.

However, everyone now knew that the position of County Magistrate of Lantian was Liu Hui's, and he would take office as soon as Zhao Yuankai's case was resolved.

"Your Excellency mentioned that you plan to visit Lantian again in the spring. Is there something specific you need to do?" Liu Hui, after a moment of embarrassment, recalled Zhao Chen's words and asked curiously.

"I'll tell you when the time comes!" Zhao Chen, hearing this, decided to keep it a secret, smiling at Liu Hui.

In the spring, not only Lantian but also Xinfeng and Wugong counties would need to be visited, and the purpose would be to introduce new crops.

Since he had traveled back to the Tang Dynasty and possessed the Time-Space Supermarket, Zhao Chen felt he should do something for the Tang Dynasty.

This was not for Li Er but for the people of the Tang Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty did not belong to the Li family alone; it belonged to the millions of its people.

Zhao Chen was not Sun Simiao, who could abandon everything to help the suffering in war, even to the point of selling his life-saving prescriptions for money.

Zhao Chen only hoped that by doing what he could, he could make life better for more people in the Tang Dynasty, and that would be enough!

"Since that's the case, I will await Your Excellency's arrival in the spring!" Liu Hui, seeing that Zhao Chen did not want to say more, did not press further, bowed to Zhao Chen, and said cheerfully.

"County Magistrate Liu, farewell!" Ma Zhou, mimicking Zhao Chen's earlier teasing, smiled and bowed to Liu Hui.

"Ma brother is also teasing me!" Liu Hui, looking embarrassed, smiled and bowed to Ma Zhou, sincerely saying, "Ma brother is talented. I hope you can secure an official position this time. When that happens, I will throw a banquet for you!"

Zhao Chen, standing beside them, pretended not to hear Liu Hui's words. Regarding Ma Zhou, Zhao Chen, from the bottom of his heart, did not want to let him go. Ma Zhou, as Liu Hui said, was extremely talented and would be of great use to him.

Of course, there was also the historian Wang Xiaotong. This old man was truly patient, as he had not come to see him for so long, not even sending the scholar from last time!

After bidding farewell to Liu Hui, Zhao Chen and Ma Zhou left the county office directly, without even saying goodbye to Du Yan, and set off for Chang'an.