Chapter 3: Officials can’t mix grain with sand! Solve the famine!
Wu Zhao’s ample chest heaved unevenly. She struggled to calm herself, her head still buzzing.
Those last fifty thousand catties of grain had been so shamelessly wasted by Yang Yi.
Damn it, if this caused a riot among the starving people, the consequences, she thought.
Wu Zhao’s vision darkened. She clenched her fist and spoke coldly,
“Immediately send someone to the capital region and bring this scoundrel back to us! Also, investigate the situation there thoroughly—I want to know everything!”
Li Yifu bowed respectfully. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Half a day later, news of Yang Yi’s distribution of sand-mixed relief grain in Zhengzhou and other places spread like wildfire throughout the court!
Countless people were stunned by Yang Yi’s audacity!
Damn it, they might dare to embezzle a little in secret, but this newly crowned top scholar was doing it openly! Fine, let him embezzle, but he even mixed sand into the famine relief grain!
Wu Zhao’s determination flared as she took decisive action.
She clenched her fist, resolute in her pursuit of justice.
The countless indictments piled up on her desk like snowflakes. Yang Yi’s disaster relief scandal had become the talk of the court.
“Hey, Vice Minister Liu, I heard that the newly appointed top scholar caused some trouble?”
“Yes, you all know by now. That boy has some nerve.”
“Absolutely! Openly embezzling like that, he’s done for.”
“Tsk tsk, they say the officials in Zhengzhou and other places were stunned when they opened the grain.”
“Huh, even Empress Wu won’t spare him this time.”
“Indeed, the repercussions of this disaster are significant. Our neighbouring countries are all watching. Now he’s pulled this stunt, it’s embarrassing.”
“Hah, embarrassment is one thing, but if he incites a peasant uprising, he’s really finished. I always said that boy was trouble. He insisted on taking the lead, and look where it got him. Serves him right.”
“Indeed, lacking the ability yet still stirring up trouble—now he’s made a complete fool of himself.”
Hall of Political Affairs.
Civil and military officials stood on either side.
On the Dragon Throne, the Empress sat high and mighty, her authority unmatched. Her icy gaze fixed on a young figure standing in the hall.
“Yang Yi, there are accusations that you mixed sand into the disaster relief grain. Is this true?”
The eyes of the crowd, a mixture of curiosity and amusement, were fixed on the upright youth.
Yang Yi blinked calmly and replied, “It is true.”
Despite his recent travels and the dust clinging to his clothes, he still exuded an extraordinary aura.
Many secretly nodded in agreement. Sure, the boy might be a bit greedy, but his demeanor was undeniably impressive.
Wu Zhao clenched her delicate fist, and her sharp gaze seemed to pierce Yang Yi’s very soul.
How brazen of this scoundrel to admit it so boldly! The anger in her heart threatened to materialize.
The Empress’s voice cut through the tension: “So, do you admit your guilt?”
Yang Yi blinked. “Admit guilt? I am innocent, Your Majesty.”
“Innocent? You dare to claim credit?” Empress Wu Zhao retorted.
The entire hall fell silent.
Everyone stared at Yang Yi in disbelief, unbelievable.
This young man had nerves of steel. Even at this critical moment, instead of crying and begging for mercy, he chose to provoke the Empress? He must think he hasn’t lived long enough.
Li Yifu shot a cold glance at Yang Yi, his voice dripping with contempt.
“Bold! You dare to deceive the imperial court. Even now, you refuse to confess? We have thoroughly investigated your adulteration of the relief grain. To adulterate relief grain and feed it to the people is an unforgivable crime. What credit could you possibly claim?”
Yang Yi smiled mischievously. “Minister Li’s statement is only half true…”
Li Yifu frowned in surprise. “What do you mean?”
Although he hadn’t clashed with Yang Yi directly, he had harboured some resentment when Yang Yi had stepped in to continue the disaster relief on his behalf.
Now that he had an opportunity to strike back, he didn’t want to miss it.
Without looking at Li Yifu, Yang Yi bowed to the Empress.
“Your Majesty, although I did adulterate the relief grain with sand, there were extenuating circumstances. As for Minister Li’s accusation of hoarding grain, it’s completely unfounded.”
His words hung in the silent hall. The courtiers exchanged puzzled glances. They had underestimated Yang Yi’s audacity.
Adulterating grain and claiming extenuating circumstances? Really?
Censorship Inspector Liu Feng immediately stood up, spittle flying everywhere as he spoke.
“You scoundrel! As an imperial envoy, you adulterated relief grain and oppressed the disaster-stricken people. Your actions are despicable, and your excuses will not save you!”
The rest of the crowd chimed in one by one.
“He is indeed corrupt, and now he’s even trying to defend himself. Shameless!”
“At such a young age, he dares to be so brazen. What kind of future does he have?”
“He’s squeezing the grain out of the disaster-stricken people. Is he even human?”
“At this point, he is still trying to justify himself. He deserves to die!”
The courtroom became noisy for a moment.
Several self-righteous censors stepped forward and angrily scolded Yang Yi.
Li Yifu looked at Yang Yi with a half-smile. “Still defiant even in the face of death?”
Wu Zhao cast a cold glance at the bustling court, her expression tinged with disgust as she stared at the overzealous censors.
“Silence!” Her icy voice carried an indescribable authority, instantly quieting the hall.
Wu Zhao’s sharp eyes bored into Yang Yi, her suspicion obvious.
“You claim that you are not corrupt? Adding sand to the grain is justifiable? What is the explanation for this?”
All eyes turned to Yang Yi. He took a deep breath and smiled.
“Your Majesty,” he began, “whether there has been corruption in the grain supply, it’s best to send officials to check the situation in Zhengzhou and other regions. I wouldn’t dare make unfounded allegations.”
“As for the sand in the grain, that was my strategy!”
“Strategy?” The officials looked stunned.
Empress Wu Zhao furrowed her phoenix-like eyebrows, her expression puzzled. Li Yifu’s heart sank; he had a bad feeling about this.
Yang Yi continued, “The entire fifty thousand catties of grain has been transported to the capital region. Without intervention, this pristine grain would probably be siphoned off layer by layer by officials. By the time it reached the disaster areas, little would be left. In such a scenario, how effective would disaster relief be?”
Empress Wu Zhao nodded slightly, recalling why she had sent Yang Yi on this relief mission.
“So,” Yang Yi’s voice remained clear, his gaze steady, “I mixed sand into the grain. Those officials accustomed to fine grains won’t be tempted when they see supplies mixed with sand. They’ll discard them like worn-out shoes. After all, who would want to eat grain with sand in it?”
“But the disaster-stricken people are different. Their starved bellies care little about pebbles; as long as it fills their stomachs, what does it matter?”
“In this way, all fifty thousand catties of grain will reach the hands of the hungry and alleviate the famine!”