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

Chapter 39: Turning Misfortune into Fortune

Liu Sui held the same position as before, and Qin Xuan remembered him well as one of the valuable individuals Wang Zhi had assigned him to develop. Although Liu Sui was competent, his lack of adaptability had kept him in his current role for many years.

This was a drawback of ancient times. Climbing the career ladder was challenging without networking, resources, and certain tactics. In contrast, Qin Xuan’s contemporary parallel world promoted individuals based on their abilities.

Today, Liu Sui officially joined the Ministry of Punishments, thanks to the Emperor’s appointment.

“Liu Sui took an unexpected plunge into the moat today. We suspect it might be the Ministry of Revenue’s doing!” His nephew speculated, although it was mere hearsay.

“Let’s go check it out!” Qin Xuan urged, concerned about the impact on Liu Sui’s reputation.

Arriving at Liu Sui’s location, he found him changed into fresh clothes but still exhausted from the incident.

“Qin Xuan, I’ve brought shame upon the Ministry of Punishments,” Liu Sui said, bowing mournfully.

Despite being pushed into the water, there was no evidence to prove it. Qin Xuan quickly helped him, emphasizing the need to resolve the situation.

“Liu Sui, we both serve our mentor. No need for this,” Qin Xuan assured him, prioritizing a resolution.

“I fell into the water without evidence against others. It attracted a crowd,” Liu Sui explained to Qin Xuan, who assured him he would handle the situation.

“A setback can be a blessing in disguise,” Qin Xuan said, contemplating how to minimize the impact.

“A fortunate turn of events? Qin Xuan, you have an extraordinary perspective,” Liu Sui replied, still disheartened.

The situation was highly inauspicious for a newly appointed official like Liu Sui. Without evidence, it seemed like he had fallen in by himself.

In the broadcast room, Professor Yang felt something wasn’t right. “It looks like the Ministry of Revenue’s work, but this incident should have already spread widely if it were them.”

“Maybe it was an accidental fall, and they’re trying to save face,” the station director suggested.

“An officer falling into the water is rare, especially for a newly appointed one,” Professor Yang disagreed, finding the Ministry of Revenue’s usual style inconsistent.

“Qin Xuan, what should we do about this?” Liu Sui asked, aware of the potential irreparable damage to the Ministry of Punishments’ reputation.

“Zheng Cong, I need you to handle something, and remember, keep it discreet,” Qin Xuan whispered to his nephew, indicating a plan. After a round of silent communication, Zheng Cong seemed puzzled but nodded in agreement.

Qin Xuan’s request was unusual but not excessively challenging.

“Liu Sui, I’d like you to revisit the moat, and this time, I’ll accompany you,” Qin Xuan instructed Liu Sui.

Liu Sui didn’t grasp Qin Xuan’s plan, but he agreed nonetheless.

On the way, Qin Xuan started asking for details. “Liu Sui, are you a proficient swimmer?”

Qin Xuan thought that, given Liu Sui’s unharmed emergence from the water, he must be skilled at swimming.

“Yes, I’m quite adept at swimming. It’s precisely my skill that helped me come out unscathed. Qin Xuan, why do you ask?” Liu Sui was puzzled by the question, finding it rather odd.

“It’s nothing, just a casual question. So, since you’re a skilled swimmer, rescuing someone who fell into the water shouldn’t be a problem, right?” Qin Xuan continued to inquire.

“That’s natural. Your subordinate is not without merit. When I held an officer position in Zezhou, I saved someone from drowning. I even mentioned it to Minister Wang,” Liu Sui answered respectfully.

Upon hearing this, Qin Xuan suddenly felt a jolt and then a moment of enlightenment. That’s why he had felt that something was off. Liu Sui’s fall into the water was indeed suspicious.

If it had been the work of the Ministry of Revenue, the whole city would be in an uproar by now. He had a hunch about the situation.

“Qin Xuan, you still haven’t told me how we should handle this matter,” Liu Sui said, still somewhat puzzled.

Liu Sui felt that once an incident like this occurred, there was no turning back. Once something happened, there was no possibility of reversing it. He wondered how Qin Xuan could defy fate.

[Why do I not understand? Why does it feel like the Ministry of Revenue didn’t do this?] [I feel the same way. If it were the Ministry of Revenue, there would be many uncertainties. If they killed Liu Sui, it would be a major case.] [That’s easy to understand. Liu Sui can swim. A quick check would reveal that.] [But if it was the Ministry of Revenue, the whole city would be in uproar by now. They wouldn’t have dragged it out like this.] [Could it be Wang Zhi’s doing? What’s his motive?] [Let’s see what Qin Xuan does. Qin Xuan can turn the tables.] [Not necessarily; this seems like a dead end.]

Netizens chatted back and forth, expressing their doubts. They all thought that Qin Xuan had no way out of this situation. In modern terms, once a person’s reputation was tarnished, it would be impossible to return unless they made significant contributions.

So, they watched silently, hoping that Qin Xuan could surprise them. Soon, Qin Xuan and Liu Sui arrived at the Chang River, where many commoners had gathered by the riverbank.

At that moment, Qin Xuan saw his nephew waving to him in the distance. Qin Xuan nodded in response to his nephew’s signal. Suddenly, a commoner not far away fell into the water. Everyone was in a panic.

“Liu Sui, it’s your turn!” Qin Xuan patted Liu Sui on the shoulder, and without hesitation, Liu Sui jumped into the water.

After a short while, the drowning commoner was rescued. Seeing Liu Sui’s official attire, the people around quickly knelt down. They all admired Liu Sui, hailing him as a good officer.

Following Qin Xuan’s instructions, the constables informed the people that he was an officer from the Ministry of Punishments.

In the broadcast room, Professor Yang was excited and clapped his thigh.

“This young Qin is something else! He managed to turn a bad situation into a good one!”

“Professor Yang, are you suggesting that Qin found the person who fell into the water?” a female leader interjected.

“Of course. My nephew gave him a signal, and Qin orchestrated this whole thing. I can’t believe this young man’s creativity. It’s truly astonishing,” Professor Yang responded.

The station director was equally impressed. He had never imagined that a bad situation could be turned into a good one.