Damn it, this old fellow actually dared to insult my woman—how could I possibly tolerate that? You can insult me, but you cannot bully my people!
Thinking back to my past life as a financial officer, when dealing with those silver-tongued sales representatives, I could always use my own eloquence to go toe-to-toe with them, never losing an inch.
So at this moment, without the slightest hesitation, I unleashed my formidable verbal firepower.
Narrowing my eyes slightly, I cast a sinister gaze at the official who had just covertly pointed the finger at me, accusing Consort Li of meddling in state affairs. "My national treasury is out of money, so am I supposed to ask *you* for it? Are you planning to sell your body or your kidneys to raise funds for me?"
"Besides, what's wrong with private loans? I'm borrowing money from my own father-in-law, for goodness' sake! As the old saying goes, a son-in-law is half a son, and a son asking his father for money is entirely justified!" The anger burning in my heart instantly flared up, as if someone had poured gasoline on a fire—fueling the flames was precisely my current state. I was already furious that the country had no money, and after I finally managed to get Little Green Tea to secure some funds, some old bastard actually wanted me to return it. Damn it, whatever ends up in my pocket belongs to me...
"Furthermore, you old bastard actually had the nerve to subtly insinuate that my imperial concubines are interfering in state affairs. What kind of state affairs did she meddle in anyway? Consort Li is my consort—doesn't that make her my wife? When a husband asks his wife for money, and the wife gives it to him, does that count as interfering in state affairs?"
As soon as those words left my mouth, the gathered ministers in the imperial court were instantly shocked by my crude yet logical argument.
Looking again at that official who had slandered my wife Little Green Tea, he was so angry he looked ready to explode. But I was the sovereign and he was a subject; even if I cursed him, he had no choice but to swallow his anger.
That official took a deep breath, as if psyching himself up, and bowed with cupped hands. "Your Majesty, you are the ruler of a nation—how can you utter such unseemly words? As the saying goes, 'A ruler treats his ministers with propriety, and ministers serve their ruler with loyalty.' Your actions are truly not the behavior of an enlightened monarch!"
Good grief, he was actually saying I wasn't an enlightened monarch? I had worked myself to the bone without even sleeping, discussing state affairs with the Prime Minister all night, and even sacrificing my own charms to deceive a young girl and swindle money and grain from my father-in-law's family. No, this treacherous official was truly a scoundrel!
Hearing that he still dared to talk back to me—I might have tolerated it, but Confucius wouldn't have. "Audacious! You are a subject and I am the monarch. If the monarch wants a minister to die, what should you do?" Hearing that, the old bastard visibly shuddered. Heh, scared now, are you? If he argued with me any further, I would have his head chopped off to see if he dared to contend with me again.
"Your Majesty, this subject is at fault, this subject is at fault..." His body trembled slightly, and his head remained deeply buried against the floor, not daring to lift it the slightest bit.
I coldly watched his pathetic state. After a long while, the official silently retreated to stand behind Mùróng Zhuó once more. At that moment, an oppressive, deathly silence hung over the imperial court; everyone held their breath like cicadas in winter, not daring to make a single reckless move.
"Your Majesty, this old minister believes that your words to Minister Xuē Shào just now were truly far too severe." An elderly man nearing sixty, with snow-white hair and a stern expression, stepped out steadily from the front ranks of the court officials, cupped his hands, and spoke in a measured tone. Though his voice was soft, it carried clearly through the silent hall, drawing everyone's gaze toward him.
I cleared my throat slightly and lowered my gaze to look at the old man, my eyes filled with scrutiny and displeasure.
I, Yún Zhāo, am the reigning Son of Heaven—how could imperial majesty tolerate casual questioning? "Why does this beloved subject make such a remark? I was merely reiterating the principles of ruler and subject. Xuē Shào committed insubordination with offensive language, and the fact that I didn't punish him is already a sign of boundless imperial grace. Could it be that you, my subject, feel I have been biased?"
My voice echoed through the grand hall, steady yet carrying an unquestionable authority that made everyone present feel the immense pressure emanating from the imperial power.
Hearing my words, that stern and grim-faced elderly man actually staggered slightly. His already somewhat stooped frame trembled more and more, resembling a flickering candle in the autumn wind.
He surely had not expected me to turn my spear around and refute him as well.
"Considering your advanced age, I will temporarily let slide your reckless words this time. You may withdraw!" I said slowly, my gaze remaining cold as I looked at him. The unquestionable tone faintly carried a trace of impatience, as if warning him not to provoke imperial majesty again.
I could feel that I was like arrogance's mother opening the door for arrogance—arrogant to the extreme...
Looking back at Mùróng Zhuó, who stood at the head of the officials on the other side, his handsome face turned alternately pale and ashen. He probably hadn't expected me to be so articulate, let alone that I would act with such unyielding intent to kill.
Standing opposite Mùróng Zhuó and level with him, a young and exceptionally handsome official stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "Your Majesty, your words are indeed reasonable. However, Minister Li's words earlier were not entirely without precedent; through the successive reigns of our dynasty, money has indeed never been borrowed from the common people. As for the matter of Consort Li, that is Your Majesty's family affair, and it is not appropriate for us subjects to say much more!"
Oh! Not only did this young official have a pleasant voice, but his words were also spoken quite smoothly. However, why did it sound to me like he was trying not to take sides? This was clearly the behavior of someone trying to offend neither party!
I couldn't help but fix my gaze on him to examine him closely. He was dressed in magnificent official robes of a deep purple hue, with the collar and cuffs embroidered with delicate silver threads that gleamed coldly. Around his waist was a white jade belt inlaid with dazzling gems, every detail displaying his noble status.
Judging by his voice, he was likely an exceptionally handsome fellow. However, he kept his head bowed all this time, which inevitably aroused my intense curiosity. "Lift your head!" I could feel that at this moment, I was like the lustful, old-pervert emperors in television dramas catching sight of a young and beautiful woman. I hadn't expected to be corrupted so quickly, but never mind that for now—I was simply too eager to see the young official's appearance. Just looking, that's all; I wasn't taking him into the inner palace!
The young official slowly raised his head, and I was instantly astounded by his looks. His exquisitely sculpted facial features seemed like the most perfect masterpiece of the heavens. Bah! At a time like this, I ought to be looking in the mirror at myself instead—in this Longxia State, I should be the best-looking emperor of all. Still, this young official was not the least bit inferior to me! Such vanity...
Tsk, tsk, tsk... I couldn't help sighing inwardly. The Four Great Beauties of antiquity could hardly surpass this! What matches for Pan An, what Song Yu, Wei Jie, or Prince Lanling Gao Changcong? Though I had never laid eyes on those four ancient beauties, I was now looking at a man even more handsome than them.
If I could marry him and bring him home, I would want to hold him in my arms every single night! Hmm, it would be even better to take my Prime Minister Mùróng Zhuó home with me too. Big hubby, little hubby, seven days a week: Mùróng Zhuó from Monday to Wednesday, this handsome official from Thursday to Saturday, and the remaining day I'll use to recover my strength! Hehe...