Chapter 256: Tearing Apart Someone Else’s Umbrella! (1 / 2)
The Right Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel’s first reaction was actually: Damn! My reputation for getting things done with bribes is ruined!
His second reaction, only after that, was: My corruption has been exposed!
His heart pounded, and he silently cried out in misery. But given the setting, he couldn’t plead for mercy or show remorse in front of the emperor. He could only tremble all the way home after the emperor left.
Thinking that his fate was either to be beaten to death or dismissed and exiled, the Right Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel simply ordered all the strong liquor from his wine cellar to be brought out and started pouring entire jars of it down his throat.
Drinking while crying, drinking and vomiting on the floor.
Did he regret it? Yes! But not because he accepted bribes—he regretted not being careful enough.
The next morning, after drinking all night, the Right Assistant Minister, reeking of alcohol and seemingly with his brain soaked in liquor, staggered into court, adding another crime to his name. The old emperor first charged him with misconduct in the imperial presence, ordering him to be suspended and confined at home for reflection. A few days later, the Jinyiwei “coincidentally” discovered evidence of his bribery. Once reported, his fate was sealed—
The emperor’s ruling: He would be permanently barred from holding any official position, and his descendants would be banned from government service for three generations.
—Because not only did he accept bribes, but he also abused his power by arranging for every county magistrate who had served seven years and had the surname Sun to enter the Hanlin Academy.