Fake Eunuch: Discovering the Emperor is a Woman!-Chapter 218 - 216: Not Competing with the People for Profit (Thirteenth Update)

Chapter 218: Chapter 216: Not Competing with the People for Profit (Thirteenth Update)

It can be said that Lin Yi’s reaction was naturally within his expectations.

However, although he is not the ultimate trump card, he is after all an Imperial Censor, and thus he has extra confidence in himself.

He believes his sophistry to be numerous, and in his eyes, this Lin Yi is simply not worth considering.

A mere Lin Yi, a mere eunuch, has only reached his current position by chance.

As a scion of an Aristocratic Family, could I not defeat you?

At the same time, he also begins to consider how to respond to Lin Yi’s words later.

As well as contemplating what Lin Yi might say.

After hearing Lin Yi’s words, the young Emperor fixed his gaze on Lin Yi and asked him:

"Ma Zhou has listed your various crimes in detail, can it be said that there is nothing inaccurate? Do you have any objections?

If you have any objections, speak freely. I want to hear how exactly you will explain and justify yourself."

Seeing Lin Yi wink at him, the Emperor naturally felt more at ease.

Regarding this aspect, he was quite familiar with Lin Yi’s cunning thoughts.

Ordinary people were indeed no match for him.

If he couldn’t hear the other party’s inner thoughts, even he would be bewildered by this guy’s sweet talk.

As for Ma Zhou, although this person comes from a prominent background, the Emperor doesn’t really take him seriously, at least he hasn’t placed Ma Zhou on the same level as Lin Yi.

Let alone a minor Ma Zhou, even if it were the Grand Imperial Censor, he probably wouldn’t last three rounds in front of Lin Yi.

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and because of this, the Emperor was filled with confidence when looking at Lin Yi.

Seeing everyone’s gaze on him, Lin Yi slightly curled up the corners of his mouth and then spoke to the Emperor in a serious tone:

"Regarding what Lord Ma Zhou said, I cannot agree.

Let’s start with the accusation of competing with the common folk for profit, which is completely groundless slander."

Upon hearing this, Ma Zhou immediately got upset and pointed his finger at Lin Yi’s nose, loudly rebuking:

"Nonsense! Let me ask you, is the Glazed Tile Shop yours?"

Lin Yi: "Hehe, yes, it’s mine."

Ma Zhou: "Good, since you’ve admitted it, I’ll ask you.

Running a shop is a business activity. You hold an official position, yet you engage in a merchant’s work. Is this not competing with the common folk for profit? What else can this be?"

It seemed as though Ma Zhou had caught Lin Yi by the tail and couldn’t help but curl his lips in triumph.

His demeanor seemed to tell Lin Yi that he was no match, and he should just confess his guilt to avoid a more serious outcome, such as making Ma Zhou angry enough to make Lin Yi spit blood. That would be unpleasant.

But seeing Ma Zhou’s aggressive stance, Lin Yi maintained his tranquil expression and that calm smile.

After Ma Zhou finished speaking, Lin Yi looked directly at him and said:

"Lord Ma Zhou, I’ll ask you this. What exactly do you mean by ’competing with the common folk for profit’?"

Hearing Lin Yi’s question, Ma Zhou didn’t ponder any further and directly replied:

"Those who receive a salary merely feed on it, not competing with the common folk for profit. Thus, benefits can be distributed evenly, and the people can prosper in their households.

Is Eunuch Lin unaware of such a simple and self-explanatory principle?

Don’t you know such a simple and comprehensive concept governing the land?

This makes me doubt Eunuch Lin’s knowledge and abilities.

Hehe, of course, Eunuch Lin is from the eunuch class, so it’s only natural that you don’t understand the ways of the officialdom or the law of governance.

"

It had to be said, Ma Zhou was indeed quite skilled with his words, at the very least, his speech had the Civil and Military Officials nodding in agreement.

Especially the latter part of his speech which belittled Lin Yi also indirectly criticized the Emperor for poor judgement.

The implication was clear; Lin Yi, being a eunuch, had been promoted by the Emperor and raised to a senior position – isn’t this a joke?

This reflects the Emperor’s incompetence.

It is nothing but nepotism!

Upon hearing Ma Zhou’s domineering words, Lin Yi nodded in agreement:

"Hehe, so Lord Ma Zhou means to say, those who receive the nation’s salary must not vie with the common people for profit?

Is this the fundamental concept of ’not competing with the common folk for profit’ that has existed since ancient times, ’a principle granted by Heaven and also the way of ancient times’?

To this, I can only say one thing to Lord Ma Zhou, that’s utter nonsense.

I also have a phrase for Lord Ma Zhou:

’Officials must not compete with the lower class for profit, those who receive much must not take the little.’

I wonder if Lord Ma Zhou might understand?"

Once Lin Yi finished speaking, the people in the court immediately gasped.

No one expected Lin Yi, the eunuch, to come up with such words.

’Officials must not compete with the lower class for profit, those who receive much must not take the little.’

What an understanding of ’not competing with the common folk for profit’.

Just when the crowd was dumbfounded and even the Emperor was astounded by Lin Yi’s eloquence, Lin Yi’s voice echoed once again:

"While the ancients taught not to compete with the common folk for profit, this doesn’t mean not to compete for any profit.

Let me ask you, the matter of iron smelting is controlled by the state, is this competing with the people for profit?

Why doesn’t the state allow the people to undertake iron smelting, to let them live more prosperously?

Could Lord Ma Zhou also say this is competing with the common folk for profit?"

On hearing this, Ma Zhou’s face turned dark red as he choked, then stiffened his neck and said:

"Nonsense!

Iron smelting is the foundation of the country, how could such a matter be handed over to the people?

This is utter nonsense!

Moreover, iron weapons belong to the state; the people have very little need for them, and they are not the items used by them, how could this be considered competing with the people for profit?"

After saying this, Ma Zhou commended himself for his quick response. Indeed, his comeback was really fast.

After these sentences, he figured the opponent would surely be left speechless.

Sure enough, when he had finished speaking, he saw Lin Yi nodding at him, appearing to agree with what he had said.

This left Ma Zhou feeling quite smug. Hehe, he was a reader of the saintly books, how could he be on the same level as a mere eunuch like Lin Yi?

How could a mere eunuch possibly stand against me, Ma Zhou?

...End of Chapter...