Mùróng Zhuó and Eunuch Gui followed closely behind, and before they could even stand properly, another very handsome young man walked in. Before I could even ask for the name of this handsome fellow who had come in with Mùróng Zhuó, he had already bowed to me and introduced himself, "Your Majesty, surely you haven't forgotten who your humble servant is, have you?"
"Oh! I..." Before I could even explain, a charming and wicked smile appeared on his handsome face. "Your Majesty, it's me, Yuán Shí! Just like Mùróng Zhuó, I used to be your study companion. But now I am your subject, serving in the Privy Council."
"I thought it was strange during morning court today—how did Your Majesty differ from usual, actually daring to scold those stubborn old fogies? If this were before, Your Majesty, you would only be on the receiving end of their lectures!" So this guy named Yuán Shí was also one of Yún Zhāo's childhood companions!
However, what annoyed me was that the former Yún Zhāo was such a coward! To actually be lectured by his own subordinate and not even dare to talk back—this guy not only didn't know how to govern a country, but his temper was also so spineless. What a waste of that towering height of nearly six feet. Truly, a jade exterior with a rotten core...
As he spoke, he strode toward Yuán Shí, at the same time holding out his slender, well-articulated hand, palm up, and shaking it slightly with mischief playing at the corners of his eyes and brows. "Now the facts are right before our eyes, that one hundred taels you owe me should be handed over. Don't even think about welshing on the debt."
Yuán Shí looked like a young man of barely twenty with a fair complexion, but at that moment he looked like a frost-bitten eggplant, wrinkling his nose, turning down the corners of his mouth, and looking utterly displeased. Extremely reluctantly, he raised his hand, slowly reached into his tunic, fumbled around for a good while, and finally pulled out a stack of banknotes.
With drooping eyelids, Yuán Shí flicked through the stack of banknotes with his fingers, carefully picked out one from the very top, and as if parting with a piece of his own heart, slowly handed it over to Mùróng Zhuó, muttering, "Hmph, consider yourself lucky."
When I saw the stack of banknotes in Yuán Shí's hand—good grief, in this Longxia State, it turns out that I, the chief executive, am the poorest one here!
Mùróng Zhuó took the banknote handed over by Yuán Shí, and without standing on ceremony, took it directly and tucked it into his tunic.
My eyes widened at the sight, and I couldn't help teasing him, "Prime Minister, since you won money by betting on me, shouldn't everyone present get a share?"
Mùróng Zhuó stood there with a stern expression, completely immune to my routine. He straightened his back, raised his hands in a formal bow, and said in a solemn tone, "Your Majesty, if you want money, figure out a way to get it yourself. Your humble servant's wealth is also earned through hard work, not easily come by, and truly cannot be casually handed over for Your Majesty to squander."
Lifting his head slightly with a resolute gaze, he continued, "As for this meager wealth of mine, Your Majesty must stop coveting it. Your Majesty should prioritize affairs of state and find a legitimate fiscal method, instead of always eyeing your humble servant's small sum."
Hearing this, I stamped my feet in anger, pointed at him, and said, "You, you fellow, looking so handsome, yet you're a complete miser! I was just a bit tight on cash for the moment."
"Your Majesty, if you need money, why don't you look for that favorite concubine of yours in the harem?"
Why did Mùróng Zhuó's words sound somewhat sour to my ears? Could he actually have a liking for men? I remember that passions for the same sex were quite popular in ancient times...
At this thought, every hair on my body stood up on end. No, wait... I shouldn't be reacting this strongly!
"Prime Minister, look at what you're saying! I hate to hear that!" I retorted to him as best as I could. Even if I really had sold my looks in exchange for money from my father-in-law, I wouldn't admit it!
Mùróng Zhuó took a deep breath, as if recalling something, his face bearing a trace of displeasure. "Your Majesty, in the morning court today, regarding Prince Xiang..."
"Prince Xiang? Which one? Is that the old pedant?"
"Or that handsome fence-sitter?" I suddenly remembered.
"That is Your Majesty's Ninth Imperial Uncle, your youngest imperial uncle." Mùróng Zhuó shook his head helplessly.
Oh! No wonder he looked so handsome. To think that in this Longxia State, there was someone whose beauty rivaled mine as chief executive—let me indulge in a moment of vanity. It turns out we share the same bloodline...
"Since he is my little imperial uncle, why didn't he support me in the court?" I asked, voicing the doubt in my heart.
Yuán Shí, who had been standing there doing nothing all this time, chuckled and said, "Because he's the opponent who competed with the Late Emperor for the throne!"
"The Late Emperor?" Yuán Shí meant my father in this era! I had thought my father was the first in line for direct succession. It turns out he had also seized the imperial throne by fighting others for it?
This felt a bit like the flavor of the "Contest of the Nine Princes for the Succession".
"Yes, that is Your Majesty's biological father," Yuán Shí said playfully.
"Wait, isn't my little imperial uncle the Late Emperor's own younger brother?" As soon as I asked this, it felt a bit like slapping my own face. Isn't that obvious? Even if they were biological brothers with my father in this era, how could the imperial family have any shortage of bloody conflicts over the throne?
What "Xuanwu Gate Incident", what "Shadows of Candles and Axe Sounds"... Throughout history, the number of instances where biological brothers slaughtered each other for the imperial throne is too numerous to count!
Mùróng Zhuó sighed softly and said, "Your Majesty, falling into the water really must have caused you to lose your memory!"
"Prince Xiang is the Empress Dowager's biological son. Previously, the Empress Dowager had no offspring of her own and merely adopted the Late Emperor from Consort De to raise him at her knees."
"Ah! He was adopted." I seemed to understand a little, though my head was still spinning.
Since the Empress Dowager adopted a son, why didn't she let her own biological son inherit the imperial throne, but instead let my father in this era ascend to the throne?
Mùróng Zhuó stood quietly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes as if he had seen through my thoughts. He bowed slightly and said softly, "Your Majesty, there is indeed a reason for this."
"The Grand Progenitor Emperor held a special fondness for the Late Emperor. He resolutely overrode all dissenting opinions and, with supreme authority and unshakeable determination, boosted the Late Emperor to the supreme throne. The Grand Progenitor Emperor placed high hopes on the Late Emperor, firmly believing he could lead the country toward prosperity."
"Ah! That means my grandfather favored my dad..." I blurted out, a tone of surprise and contemplation in my voice.
Then I frowned and continued, "Wait! And my grandmother didn't like my dad..." As soon as these words left my mouth, even I found them utterly tangled, sounding just like a tongue-twister.
I shook my head helplessly, silently marveling in my heart at how delicate and complex imperial relationships truly were.
Mùróng Zhuó looked at my conflicted expression and said calmly, "Your Majesty can understand it that way. The situation back then was indeed intricate, with emotional entanglements and power struggles within the family intertwining to make the entire situation inscrutable."
"Even Your Majesty's imperial throne was fiercely defended and secured by the Late Emperor just before his passing."