Chapter 27: Into a Political Intrigue Novel, Day 5

Chapter 27: The Fifth Day of Transmigrating into a Power Struggle Novel

Wang Xian was scared shitless. With a thud, he collapsed to the ground, tears and snot streaming down his face as he scrambled to grab An Yi’s leg. "My lord! My lord! I've been wronged! I'm innocent! Someone must be framing me!"

"It's... it's Cui Wenyuan! Yes! That little thief Cui Wenyuan is framing me, my lord! I beg your lordship to look into this! I beg your lordship to do me justice!" He was incoherent, throwing his last lifeline to Cui Wenyuan, who had just dragged him out of bed.

Wang Xian's face was pale, his brain still foggy from the booze. Cui Wenyuan had been so rude just now; it must be that he had ratted him out!

An Yi: ????

Cui Wenyuan: ????

Cui Wenyuan's face instantly turned livid, veins bulging on his forehead. He stepped forward and knelt heavily on the ground. "My lord, please look into this! I swear to heaven, this is not the case! This beast is slandering me; He's got evil intentions!"

An Yi: ......

"Framing?" An Yi seemed to hear the biggest joke. He suddenly leaned down and grabbed Wang Xian by the collar!

Those eyes, usually warm as jade, now blazed with raging fire, staring into Wang Xian's terrified dilated pupils. "Don't bite wildly like a mad dog!!"

Though his face showed unceasing anger, he felt relieved inside. Wang Xian's reckless slander of a colleague made it easier for him to change his attitude later!

He composed himself and continued questioning. "Tell me! In the autumn of the third year of Qinghe, the six thousand dan of old rice that vanished from the grain storage ledger—whose granary did it go into?!"

"Last winter, the northern border urgently reported that cold-weather cotton uniforms were insufficient. The silver allocated by the Ministry of War—why did less than half reach the border troops? And the two hundred thousand taels of silver that disappeared—whose pockets did it line?!"

"Wang Xian! Did you really think your rotten accounts were flawless? Did you really think that colluding with unscrupulous merchants and cooking the books could fool everyone?!"

An Yi's voice thundered, each question as his grip tightened, almost crushing Wang Xian's bones.

Wang Xian's face was ashen, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word of defense. An Yi knew... he knew everything! His last shred of hope was utterly crushed, leaving only boundless fear and despair.

An Yi suddenly let go. Wang Xian collapsed to the ground like a limp rag, only able to breathe heavily and stifle his sobs.

An Yi straightened up, his chest heaving slightly, as if his anger had not yet subsided.

He looked around at the silent subordinate officials. Wherever his cold gaze fell, no one dared meet his eyes; they all lowered their heads.

"You all see that?" An Yi's voice returned to coldness, but no longer loud, carrying a heavy weariness and... anguish and outrage?

"This is the person I trusted? This is how he serves the court?!"

He took a deep breath and let his gaze fall back on the limp Wang Xian. His eyes were indescribably complex—anger, disappointment, and even a kind of... pain of betrayal.

An Yi displayed the emotions on his face, but couldn't help laughing inwardly. He had finally learned Shao Xiuya's pie-chart eyes.

This look: 30% anger, 30% disappointment, 40% anguish... Shao Xiuya's "pie-chart" acting method really comes in handy!

As expected of the adorable pie-chart CEO!

"Wang Xian..." An Yi's voice dropped low, with a strange, almost pitying tone. "You have let me down too much."

Just then, An Yi abruptly changed his tone, with unyielding authority:

"But!"

"After all, you are my man! You were promoted by me!"

"If you have committed a crime, the law will punish you! And I will clean house myself!"

An Yi suddenly flicked his sleeve, the sleeve of his crimson robe cutting a sharp arc through the air.

"Someone wants to touch you, wants to step on me to get ahead? Dream on!"

His eyes were like lightning, sweeping over Cui Wenyuan and all the subordinate officials present. Each word carried weight:

"Assistant Director Cui!"

"Here, my lord!" Cui Wenyuan snapped to attention and bowed hastily.

"Right now! Immediately! Go seal all the account books Wang Xian has handled, especially the original documents and archives for Jiangnan grain transport and northern border military supplies! Gather the most capable accountants and investigate thoroughly for me! Don't miss a single error!"

"I want to see which rats are gnawing at the nation's foundation!"

"As for you, Wang Xian..." An Yi's cold gaze fell again on the ashen-faced Wang Xian:

"Get back to your kennel! Without my personal handwritten order, you are not to set foot outside your residence! When all accounts are clear, I will give you a 'clear and transparent' accounting!"

A wild joy lit up Wang Xian's face. He understood! The Chief Minister was going to protect him! As long as my lord was willing to protect him, there was still a glimmer of hope!

"Yes, my lord!" Cui Wenyuan instantly understood An Yi's intention, his eyes narrowed, and he nodded immediately.

However, thinking of Wang Xian's earlier slander, a fierce look flashed in his eyes.

Half an hour later, deep within the Ministry of War.

Light filtered through the high windows, casting dappled shadows over the mountains of files. The air was thick with the musty smell of old paper and dust.

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Ge Lian was not wearing court robes but a dark-colored outfit that makes it easy to move, which made his tall, imposing figure stand out.

He casually leaned against a huge wooden table, his long fingers quickly and precisely flipping through a thick ledger.

Nearby, several clerks from the Ministry of War stood with their hands at their sides, not daring to breathe, cold sweat beading on their foreheads.

A bodyguard in low-ranking military uniform quickly approached Ge Lian and whispered a few words in his ear. Ge Lian's page-turning paused slightly.

"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow, a sharp glint flashing in his dark eyes, then turning into sheer sarcasm. "He took action first? Thunderous rage? Heh... An Yi, pretty quick on the draw."

He closed the ledger in his hand with a soft sound, especially clear in the silent archive.

"Want to get ahead and keep both the man and the accounts in his own hands? A preemptive move?"

A cold smile curled at the corner of Ge Lian's mouth. "Not a bad idea."

He stood up and flexed his wrists, making his knuckles crack faintly.

"Too bad..."

"The things I, the Marquis, have set my sights on have never been kept from me!"

An Yi heard the voice in his head and smiled silently.

"An Yi only now thought of sealing the accounts; it's too late, isn't it?"

"The ones from the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of War have already been snatched by the male lead, right?"

So... Wang Xian is doomed, right?

This An Yi is a villain, isn't he?

From his internal monologue, it seems he himself also wanted to deal with his own disciple, just using the male lead's hand.

The villain hasn't been dumbed down, and the male lead seems quite smart too. Hope the author keeps it up!

Right, nowadays court intrigue novels are written like kids playing house in kindergarten!

Author, keep it up, and I'll shower you with gifts!