Chapter 41: Suitable for a Betrothal GiftChapter 645: Loyalty to Power
Holding the gift list He Kun had brought this morning, Li Chen glanced at He Kun kneeling before him and said indifferently, "Get up."
After He Kun woke up, Li Chen said with a half-smile: "They say that a county magistrate earns 100,000 taels of silver a year. Before this, this palace thought it was just a folk saying as a joke, but this time, you have opened this palace's eyes."
"This list of gifts, the total value easily exceeds two million taels. I've seen that Coral Tree myself, it truly is a rare treasure. Such a rare item, even the Imperial Palace doesn't possess one. You, a mere fifth-rank weaver, live more luxuriously than I, the Prince."
He Kun's face tightened.
He could sense the latent danger lurking beneath the Prince's calm demeanor.
If you can't even answer a single question yourself, then you'll end up paying the ultimate price—your head will be separated from your body.
However, similar problems, when making this gambling decision, He Kun was already prepared.
"I saw him take a deep breath and then lower his head to reply, "Your Highness, it is true that anyone with even a little bit of power these days wants to be corrupt, and I can say this: in the current Qin court, nine out of ten officials are greedy, and there is one who is extremely corrupt. Throughout the officialdom, a situation has developed where everyone is corrupt. Those who are not corrupt are isolated, targeted, and ostracized."
"As for me, I am in charge of the Suzhou and Hangzhou Weaving Bureau. Though my official position is not high and I do not have much real power, within the weaving industry, I hold considerable sway. Therefore, if I were to be corrupt, it would be even easier."
"And I, a lowly minister, dare not resist this corruption. I cannot refrain from it because my colleagues and subordinates all collude with each other. If I were to refuse to join them, even though I am their superior, they could easily undermine me at any time."
After saying all that, He Kun suddenly knelt on the ground, banging his head against the floor and said, "Therefore, your humble servant pleads guilty to death."
Li Chen looked down at He Kun kneeling before him, his eyebrows slightly raised. He didn't get angry because He Kun had exposed the true face of the local officialdom, but instead asked with interest: "Since that's the case, you could continue to be a silk weaver in Suhang. Why did you take the initiative to send yourself to the Eastern Palace"
"You should know, based on these gifts you've brought and what you just said, this palace could have your head without even looking for evidence. It's all here."
"This humble servant doesn't want to spend his whole life aimlessly as just a fifth-rank weaver. This humble servant also wishes to enter the capital and have the opportunity to serve by Your Highness's side."
Li Chen laughed and said, “If you want to get promoted, just say so. You make it sound so fancy and complicated. You are very hypocritical.”
"The humble minister can be deceitful before all the people, even his own parents, wife and children, but I would never dare to deceive Your Highness. Please see through me, my lord." He Kun said sincerely.
To be honest, what He Kun said was definitely not the way of a loyal subject. But as the superior, Li Chen found it very pleasing to hear.
Any leader would need such a true lackey to do their bidding.
He may not be a righteous official or loyal minister, but as long as he is loyal to power and to Li Chen, his superior, that is enough.
Similar roles, San Bao counts as one, Chen Tong as half, but they are from the Dongchang, destined not to reach the court. While on the court, Li Chen lacks a figure like He Kun.
He Kun, who stood before him, reminded Li Chen of a notorious corrupt official from his past life, He Shen! Water', hoping to present it to your young mistress..."It means it's simple: you can have the stuff, but don't even think about seeing the person.Hòu Yùshū was about to spit out a mouthful of old blo...