Chapter 53: Corruption

Lin Yang walked into the main hall to look for Lin Youcai, and upon entering, he saw Lin Youcai in conversation with Lin Bei. Lin Youcai glanced up and spotted Lin Yang.

“You’re back,” Lin Youcai said, rising to his feet.

“I’m back,” Lin Yang replied, uncertain of how to start a conversation.

“Father, how has your health been these years?” Lin Yang, feeling awkward, grasped at a random topic to break the uneasy silence.

“Quite well. Nearing fifty, but still robust,” Lin Youcai answered. “You’re here at the right time. Take a look at this.” He pulled out a letter and handed it to Lin Yang.

Lin Yang took the envelope, opened it, and drew out a sheet of rice paper, reading slowly. As he pieced together the story, he realized his maternal grandfather was a Second-Rank Deputy Minister of Works, and Yang was his third daughter.

Now, his grandfather had offended the current Prime Minister, and evidence of corruption had been exposed. A vast sum was needed to fill the deficit—no less than five hundred thousand taels of silver.

His grandfather had been a close associate of the previous Prime Minister. With that minister toppled, his followers would either be absorbed or eliminated by the new regime. Unfortunately, his grandfather had once aided the previous Prime Minister in suppressing the current one, making his downfall inevitable.

The immediate concern was plugging the gap left by the embezzlement. However, much of the stolen silver had gone to the former Prime Minister. The letter stated that if they were caught, their entire clan would be executed, so he hoped the Lin family could help cover the deficit.

“Father, how should I deal with this? Should I directly offer the Emperor something, or what?” Lin Yang knew that a gift of longevity pills would resolve the issue, though such things were forbidden. But as long as no one knew, it would be fine.

“Take these to your mother and see what she wants to do,” Lin Youcai replied, preferring to consult Yang’s opinion.

“Alright, I’ll go now. Father, I have a child,” Lin Yang said.

“Really? I’ll come and see,” Lin Youcai replied, following Lin Yang to Yang’s courtyard.

“Mother, please look at this letter,” Lin Yang said, handing it over. Yang took the letter and read it.

“Heaven’s misfortune can be avoided, but man’s own misdeeds are fatal. Just save my brother’s family, that’s all. Yang, can you do it?” Yang could not bear the thought of her father and the whole family being executed, so she proposed a course to halt the disaster.

“This sort of thing is quite simple,” Lin Yang assured her confidently.

“Then go and save your uncle and his family, send them somewhere else, let them live under new names,” Yang said, knowing Lin Yang could not protect them forever. She wanted them to forsake power and leave the turbulent capital.

“Alright, mother, I’ll go right away.”

“Yu, take Xiao Yang with you,” she instructed her maidservant, Yu, who had accompanied her since marriage and was now over thirty. Yang asked her to take Lin Yang to the Yang family.

“Master, come with me,” Yu said, leading Lin Yang outside to hire a carriage. They rode straight toward the capital.

Once outside the city, Lin Yang dismissed the carriage, drew out the Sovereign Sword, and enlarged it. “Step on.”

“Yes, Master.” Lin Yang and Yu soared into the air, speeding toward the capital.

…

Outside the city, Lin Yang gazed at the towering walls in awe.

“Human ingenuity is truly terrifying. Ten zhang tall walls—surely not the work of cultivators. The manpower and resources needed must have been immense.”

After entering the city, Lin Yang hired another carriage to the Yang residence, which took half an hour. The Yang family estate was in the city center—a vast mansion befitting a Second-Rank official. When he arrived, however, he saw a seal affixed to the gate.

“It seems my uncle’s family has already been arrested. I’ll have to go to the royal palace,” Lin Yang thought, seeing the seal. There was no other way; only the palace could resolve this directly.

He left Yu at an inn, then concealed himself and slipped into the palace, entering the resplendent Tai Chi Hall. The Emperor was reviewing memorials—a dignified old man with graying hair and beard, over sixty, whose years of rule had given him wisdom and authority.

Lin Yang sensed the man’s aura and realized he was a cultivator at the third stage of Qi Refinement. Curious, Lin Yang revealed himself.

“Who’s there?” The old Emperor, though only at the third stage, was quite perceptive.

When he saw Lin Yang, he detected a powerful presence—far above the Qi Refinement stage. This was a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

He immediately rose. “What brings you here, Senior?”

“It’s like this,” Lin Yang said, explaining the situation and his reason for coming. The Emperor instantly understood.

“I’ll have Yang Zheng’s family released at once, Senior, please don’t worry.” He prepared to issue a decree pardoning Yang Zheng’s family.

“No need to hurry. As the saying goes, Heaven’s misfortune can be avoided, but man’s own misdeeds are fatal. I only ask Your Majesty to punish the true culprits, spare the descendants and kin, and exile Yang Zheng’s family to the frontier.”

Lin Yang decided that it was enough to save his uncle’s family; he could not interfere too much in mortal affairs—a rule common in the cultivation world.

If his grandfather continued to exploit Lin Yang’s power to stir trouble at court, he would be held accountable and suffer greatly. At the very least, other sects would strip him of privileges, since the mortal realm was a source of disciples with spiritual roots, vital for strengthening sects, and interference would provoke opposition.

“Of course,” the Emperor said, sitting down to write a decree, ordering only the principal offenders punished and sparing Yang Zheng’s kin. Lin Yang watched as he handed the decree to a young eunuch. Then Lin Yang produced a large boundary-breaking pill from his storage pouch.

“You’ve honored me, so I must reciprocate. This pill is the Grand Pill of Yellow Maple Valley—it will directly increase your cultivation by ten years and should help you break through to the fourth stage of Qi Refinement,” Lin Yang said, handing the yellowish, finger-sized pill to the Emperor.

“Thank you, Senior,” the Emperor said happily, accepting the pill. With the fourth stage, his lifespan would greatly increase.

“My business is settled, so I’ll take my leave. I hope you handle this well,” Lin Yang said quietly.

“Rest assured, Senior, I’ll manage it perfectly,” the Emperor replied with great respect, sending him off and convening the court. Yang Zheng’s family, aside from Yang Zheng himself, was pardoned.

From the sky, Lin Yang saw Yang Zheng’s family escorted out in prison carts, sent to the frontier. Afterwards, he left. Lin Yang believed none of Yang Zheng’s family were truly innocent, so exile would teach them hardship.

He also knew that once these officials discovered their backing, their arrogance would grow. If the Yang family learned they had a cultivator as support, rebellion would not be out of the question.