I have been demanding so much, isn't your conscience hurt?

On the second day, Lion returned to court early.

"Pay respects to Your Majesty, ten thousand years of Your Majesty's reign!"

"All officials may rise!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Afterwards, Lion stepped forward, clasped his hands and said, "May it please Your Majesty, yesterday, I oversaw the listing of the properties of the officials at the Mansion! Currently, the listing has been completed, and I invite Your Majesty to examine it!"

"You are truly efficient!" The Empress praised, "I only gave the order yesterday, and within half a day, you have already completed it! Excellent, you truly deserve to be a pillar of the Great Material Dynasty imperial court! With you in our country, we are blessed!"

Lion replied with fear, "Thank you for Your Majesty's praise, but I dare not accept it!"

The Empress said, "No matter what the situation, you can speak openly to me!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Lion took out a written report and loudly stated, "Yesterday, I oversaw the listing of the properties of the officials at the Mansion! I did not dare to be lazy and worked through the night. Of the 28 officials, two officials exceeded embezzlement of 20,000, three officials exceeded embezzlement of 10,000 but less than 20,000, and five officials exceeded embezzlement of 5,000 but less than 10,000..."

"At the end, of the 28 officials, 24 officials received bribes! The total embezzlement amounted to 150,000, and the amount of money was ten times larger than their salary! The specifics are all written in this report, and I invite Your Majesty to examine it!"

The officials around the court turned pale.

Confiscating the assets of 28 officials and discovering embezzlement of 150,000, even Master Ta's shady dealings couldn't compare. How could they not feel ashamed and embarrassed to admit such a large sum?

They couldn't believe it even if they were beaten to death. With so many officials being investigated, they could only confiscate so little!

The strange look in their eyes caused the Empress's face to twitch.

This is quite chaotic!

Moreover, they really embezzled 450,000!

With so much embezzlement, how could they not feel guilty?

Why can they still speak with a straight face?

Their faces are really thick!

In the face of everyone's strange gazes, Lion still had a calm and composed expression.

No matter what others think or see, I do not covet anything!

I only bring all the greed to money, goods, and property owners!

I am the one with the conscience on the court!

Compared to you all, I have a better conscience!

The more he thought about it, the more confident Lion became, raising his head and puffing out his chest.

In truth, the Empress had already known...

She got angry and said: "Confiscate everything! As a government official, not only did you not set a good example, but you also took bribes against the law, adding to your crimes! Continue to investigate, if you don't know anything, take back what you've illegally gained and be punished with one year of hard labour! If you know but still commit the crime, and the bribe is less than 5000, take back what you've illegally gained and be punished with three years of hard labour and demotion! If you know but still commit the crime, and the bribe is more than 5000, immediately take him down to the summit of the mountain and execute him!"

"All government officials, although not yet imprisoned, are still on probation for three years and will not be promoted! If you make meritorious contributions, your punishment may be reduced! But if you commit the same crime again, you will be executed without mercy!"

"Long live the emperor!" Lion exclaimed.

The other officials followed suit and shouted, "Long live the emperor!"

"Lion has served the kingdom well, and I want to reward you!" The Empress smiled gently. "What do you want? Let's talk about it!"

Lion bowed in fear. "I am honoured to serve the emperor. As long as I can serve you, it is the greatest fortune! I dare not hope for any other reward!"

"My dear!" The Empress looked very moved on the outside, but inside she laughed coldly. This actor was very good at acting!

"At this point," The Empress said thoughtfully, "according to the usual practice, as a middle-ranking official, you will be assigned to the Hanlin Academy, regardless of your rank, and serve as a six-rank official! Now, I will promote you to a half-rank higher, to a fifth-rank official!"

At that moment, all the officials threw admiring glances at him.

One must know that Lion had only been a middle-ranking official for two days.

In just two days, he investigated two households and was immediately promoted to a half-rank higher position. Who knows how many years of work were saved!

This could truly be called a "royal favour"!

"As for your position..." The Empress said with a smile, "The National Academy is just short of one official! Lion, as a fifth-rank middle-ranking official, you have more knowledge than those who passed the royal exam. Your moral character is higher than theirs too. You are a perfect fit for the National Academy! Therefore, I will appoint you as an official of the National Academy!"