Chapter 127: The Emperor is That Deranged?
Xiao Yang was quite cunning. Whenever she was about to issue a decree that might stir up trouble, she would trot out Prince Jing.
She would write the memorial and give it to Prince Jing, have him propose it, and then she would pretend to consider it before giving her approval.
This way, the court officials found it difficult to directly oppose the Emperor. And as for blaming Prince Jing? Even a fool could see that everything Prince Jing did was at the Emperor’s behest.
The Prince Jing shield. Highly recommended by all who’ve used it.
The officials: "..." It felt like the Emperor was playing them for fools, but they didn’t dare complain. After all, anyone who’d voiced an objection had been swiftly put to the sword.
The Research Institute had just been established and was incredibly busy, so Xiao Yang sent Xiao Lv over to keep things in order.
It wasn’t yet time for Xie Liuzheng to prove herself. The first step is always the hardest, and she needed help—a ladder to climb.
Xiao Lv’s status was perfect for the job.
Once Xie Liuzheng produced those new crops and made a contribution that benefited the nation and its people, she would finally have the authority to make her voice heard.
With Xiao Lv gone, Xiao Yang was short-staffed, so she conveniently snagged Xiao Hong to take his place.
When Prince Jing came looking for the Emperor, he ran into his son at the entrance. Father and son stared at each other, both inexplicably feeling that fate had dealt them a bitter hand.
’That demon of an Emperor is dead set on enslaving our entire Prince Jing Mansion.’
Prince Jing stopped and asked in a low voice, "Her Majesty hasn’t been giving you a hard time, has she?"
Prince Jing wasn’t a doting father. Though he wasn’t very involved in his sons’ lives and their relationship wasn’t particularly close, Xiao Hong was his own flesh and blood, and he did care about him.
As the Princely Heir, Xiao Lv had known the Emperor the longest, and their bond was the strongest.
The bond between the brothers Xiao Lv and Xiao Hong didn’t seem as deep as the one between Xiao Lv and the Emperor.
Now that Xiao Hong had been brought in to take over Xiao Lv’s work, he was afraid Xiao Hong wouldn’t be able to handle it.
Xiao Hong was silent for a moment. Prince Jing thought he had been bullied and was about to go find the Emperor to have a word with her.
Xiao Hong suddenly said, "Her Majesty asked if I wanted to be the Emperor."
Prince Jing quickly retracted his foot, almost stumbling. He stared at Xiao Hong in shock, his expression screaming, ’The Emperor is that unhinged?’
Xiao Hong didn’t speak, but his eyes said it all.
’The Emperor hadn’t given him a hard time. On the contrary, she’d been a little too good to him.’
’Not only did she make him help process memorials—the ones full of nonsense Xiao Yang didn’t want to deal with herself.’
’She also gave him many works by great scholars—the very same ones the Regent King and Grand Tutor Xu had forced her to memorize before.’
’She even said she would make him master it all, with regular pop quizzes, to ensure he learned how to be a good Emperor. She was taking all the misery she had once endured and dumping it squarely on Xiao Hong’s head. Her motto seemed to be: if we’re family, we suffer together.’
When you didn’t have it, the throne was a coveted prize, something countless people would fight to snatch.
Xiao Yang was determined to make everyone around her taste the bitterness of being an emperor before they ever had a chance to get the throne.
Anyone who could stomach such bitterness and still want the throne—a person that ruthless truly deserved to be emperor.
Evidently, Xiao Hong was also finding it a bit hard to swallow.
For once, Prince Jing pulled his son aside to offer some earnest, heartfelt advice. "You need to be on your guard around Her Majesty. Don’t let her pull the wool over your eyes. All she wants right now is to unload the throne. But look at this mess! You can’t keep this situation under control without real skill. Her Majesty has offended more than half the court, and there are still plenty of hidden threats looming. Anyone who takes the throne now would just be a scapegoat. That’s a fool’s errand, and we’re not doing it."
Xiao Hong was speechless. ’He wasn’t an idiot. He could see perfectly well who was currently the scapegoat and who had been played for a fool.’
’And his old man had the nerve to warn him?’
But Prince Jing’s next sentence made Xiao Hong’s blood run cold. "If you do become the Emperor one day, your old dad won’t be able to help you. You’ll have to fend for yourself."
’Enough!’
’He really couldn’t care less about this so-called fatherly love.’
"Father, you should hurry inside. Her Majesty must be getting impatient."
Only then did Prince Jing remember his actual business. Instantly forgetting his recent apprehension and wariness, his face lit up with delight as he strutted in to take credit. "Your Majesty, I have wonderful news for you."
Xiao Yang had picked out the designs for grenades and rifles from among the materials provided by Meng Xuechen and given them to Prince Jing, making him personally responsible for overseeing their production.
Prince Jing went to the Ministry of Industry and was like a fish in water. He tossed his official duties to his two Assistant Ministers and dived straight into the various workshops, studying all sorts of structures and mechanisms.
In the past, he hadn’t enjoyed forging weapons because they were all of a single, simple design and didn’t require any complex Mechanical Techniques.
But now he had completely fallen in love with firearms—hot weapons that combined intricate mechanisms and immense power, instantly awakening his bellicose nature.
The mere thought of taking these things to the battlefield and wreaking havoc made his blood boil with excitement.
Today, the workshops had just rush-produced the first batch of grenades and rifles. All it would take was the Emperor’s order to equip the army and send them to the border. He was here now to inform the Emperor.
After speaking, he subconsciously lifted his chin, as if waiting for something.
Xiao Yang’s lips curled. She let out an exaggerated "Ah!" and exclaimed in admiration, "As expected of you, Uncle! I knew a small matter like this wouldn’t pose a challenge to you. Uncle, you’ve studied Mechanical Techniques for many years; a task like this could only be done by you. Once these firearms are introduced to the world, your great name will surely resound throughout the land and inspire awe in all directions!"
"Ahem."
Prince Jing waved his hand in embarrassment. "Your Majesty is too kind. One must remain low-key, low-key."
"Er, well, they can’t manage without me at the workshops. I should get back and keep a close eye on things."
Xiao Yang’s expression grew serious, her eyes filled with trust. "You’re the only one I trust with this, Uncle. But you must also be careful and take care of yourself."
Prince Jing replied, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I will not let you down."
Prince Jing took his leave, his steps light and jaunty, yet his expression remained serious and dignified. So much so that when his son walked past him, he didn’t even spare him a glance.
Xiao Hong: "..." ’He’d have to ask Doctor Han someday... was there any cure for a case like his father’s?’
Xiao Hong walked in carrying a stack of memorials. "Your Majesty, these are the memorials from the Ministry of Personnel."
Xiao Yang was studying something and didn’t look up. "You take a look first. Only bring me the ones you can’t handle."
Xiao Hong said helplessly, "Your Majesty, these are memorials regarding the appointment and transfer of officials from the Ministry of Personnel. This is truly beyond my authority."
Xiao Yang glanced up. "There’s no need to be so formal. As far as I’m concerned, you’re the same as Xiao Lv."
’They’re both just tools.’
’It was just that Xiao Lv was a more well-worn tool, while Xiao Hong was still in his breaking-in period.’
"If you feel you can’t relax, how about I call you ’Second Brother’ from now on?"
’If a simple ’Brother’ could earn her a loyal, effective, and durable official, Xiao Yang saw no reason to be reluctant.’
Xiao Hong: "..."
’He was, once again, bearing witness to the Emperor’s thick skin.’
’Was this level of shamelessness a prerequisite for the throne?’
But even though he wouldn’t admit it, being called ’Second Brother’ by the Emperor did make him a little happy.
’Xiao Lv was Big Brother, and he was Second Brother. The distinction was only one of age.’
He instantly felt a sense of being acknowledged.
And this was acknowledgment from an Emperor, which meant more than the opinion of anyone else in the world.
"Ahem!"
’Although he was only slightly more than half a year older than the Emperor, he was still the ’brother.’ And since he was the older brother, it was only right and proper that he should help out.’
’Yes, he definitely wasn’t being tricked by the Emperor. He was just taking on the responsibility and duty that came with being an older brother.’
"I’ll take a look and screen them first."
Then he obediently went to the side to read the memorials.
Xiao Yang raised an eyebrow. ’Those genes... He really was Prince Jing’s son.’