Let you play a corrupt official, are you saying you want to make progress?

Chapter 20: Money Laundering

Qin Xuan effortlessly completed the task assigned by Wang Zhi, much to his surprise. Initially, he had expected it to be time-consuming, but it was surprisingly smooth.

“Ancient people’s cunning surpasses my expectations. My senior brother is in trouble,” Qin Xuan sighed.

His mentor was clever, never wasting time, and possessing a far-reaching vision.

The focus then shifted to Wang Zhi’s nephew, who found Xue Shun and shared a drink. Xue Shun had no reason to be cautious.

After Xue Shun became intoxicated, his house mysteriously caught fire.

“The situation unfolded as predicted. Wang Zhi is truly sly,” the viewers commented.

“Xuan’s cleverness helped us understand Wang Zhi’s conversations,” another viewer added.

“True, without some understanding, their talks would be cryptic,” a third viewer said.

“Thinking about it, people from the past were quite crafty. This world can be treacherous!” a fourth viewer remarked.

“Is it really that treacherous? Let me share a workplace story, my colleagues are just as devious,” a viewer joked.

The plot continued as expected. The next day, Xue Shun appeared before Wang Zhi, crying. Wang Zhi, though not visibly angry, expressed his displeasure.

“Do you grasp the importance of this matter? You let critical evidence burn in a fire?” Wang Zhi scolded. Xue Shun was terrified.

Kneeling, Xue Shun begged, “Please spare me, my lord. I’ll make amends.”

“If I’m not mistaken, your family is still in the capital, right?” Wang Zhi spoke bluntly as high-ranking officers brought their families to the capital for control.

“Alright, we have a teacher-student relationship. Testify firmly during the Emperor’s interrogation that the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue coerced you into destroying the evidence, and I’ll protect your family,” Wang Zhi calmly stated.

Qin Xuan observed, shocked by the events he had foreseen. Such incidents were common in ancient times, and Wang Zhi seemed accustomed to them.

As expected, during the Emperor’s interrogation, Xue Shun claimed the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue had forced him to destroy the evidence. Though the evidence was lost, some leads remained.

With Wang Zhi and his disciples accusing the Assistant Minister, the Emperor temporarily removed him and assigned the Ministry of Justice to investigate. The Assistant Minister’s position was now in Wang Zhi’s control, and the Emperor’s decision hinted at deep trouble.

It’s a shame the protagonist lacks the qualification. Otherwise, I could have promoted him! Wang Zhi mused, considering his favorite student for the position, even though he lacked the necessary qualifications.

Despite having many achievements to his name, being appointed as a fifth-rank officer was already an exception. Recommending him for the role of the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue would have been seen as too much favoritism, something the Emperor didn’t appreciate.

[As expected, Xuan guessed it right.] [This is so terrifying, I wouldn’t be able to handle it!] [But this also indirectly confirms that Wang Zhi is a ruthless person. Even his students will be abandoned without hesitation if they become useless.]

Here were the immediate reactions from the online community. Looking at it from this perspective, Qin Xuan was now in danger.

The scene on the stage continued to change, and it returned to the Ministry of Justice’s inner hall. In this hall, Qin Xuan, Wang Zhi, and Wang Zhi’s nephew were present.

“Qin Xuan, you did an outstanding job bringing down the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Regrettably, your qualifications aren’t yet deep enough for such a role,” Wang Zhi expressed his disappointment.

He genuinely wanted Qin Xuan to take over the Ministry of Revenue, a highly profitable position.

“Thanks to my mentor’s guidance, anyone you recommend for this position is the right choice,” Qin Xuan replied humbly, showing no ambition.

Wang Zhi was even more pleased with Qin Xuan’s attitude. “Even so, I’ve already requested the Emperor to appoint you to oversee some of my affairs,” Wang Zhi’s tone shifted.

Qin Xuan was shocked. Although it might not sound significant, in ancient times, it held great meaning. Ancient officers had specific duties, and Wang Zhi granting such authority meant he was grooming a successor.

“Could it be that you’re considering entering the Imperial Cabinet?” Qin Xuan suddenly thought of a possibility and asked.

Since the time of the Three Yangs, the Imperial Cabinet of the Ming Dynasty had gained unprecedented power. For the scholarly elite, entering the Cabinet symbolized supreme authority.

“It’s a possibility. Let’s not delve into this further. You bear a heavy burden, be cautious,” Wang Zhi cautioned.

Qin Xuan understood that Wang Zhi was referring to the business of the calligraphy and painting shop.

“I understand.”

“Oh, by the way, your performance in the disaster relief efforts was excellent. Apart from your efforts, I also dispatched others and added some strategies. The overall results were impressive.”

“However, relying solely on the calligraphy and painting shop for these achievements might not be enough. Do you have any ideas?” Wang Zhi glanced at Qin Xuan and hinted at a possible investment in opera.

“Mentor, you’re currently overworked. You should take a break. I heard that the Chief Minister of the Imperial Cabinet enjoys watching opera. You can use this opportunity to relax,” Qin Xuan suggested.

“Well, if you hadn’t reminded me, I might have forgotten. The Chief Minister of the Imperial Cabinet, Hu, is about to celebrate his birthday.”

“I’ll entrust this task to you. Do you have any ideas?” Wang Zhi sought Qin Xuan’s plan.

“It’s quite simple. Since it’s a birthday celebration, it must be grand in scale and held at a prestigious venue. Careful selection of actors is essential, and we’ll heavily promote it among the common people.”

“In short, we’ll ensure a positive reputation. You can trust me, I’ll spend the money transparently and honestly,” Qin Xuan assured.

Wang Zhi’s nephew, not quite comprehending, asked, “Uncle, what are you talking about? I’m a bit lost.”

Qin Xuan turned to his nephew and said, “I recall your wife enjoys singing!”

The nephew quickly responded, “She only sings for fun!”

Jokingly, having one’s wife perform at Chief Minister Hu’s birthday celebration would be unconventional.

“What if she charges ten times the market rate?” Wang Zhi proposed.

The nephew exclaimed, “Ah, I get it, Uncle! I’ll have her start practicing right away!”

Wang Zhi smiled knowingly, “Good, make it happen!”

Qin Xuan was skilled at handling matters and spending money wisely.

In his previous world, many films with extravagant budgets in the billions failed because they neglected the content, and he understood this well.