Chapter 85: This World Is Doomed Sooner or Later
After the tenth day of the Lunar New Year, morning court resumed. Xiao Yang once again donned the Dragon Robe and ascended the dais, which meant her life as a workhorse had returned.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live His Majesty for ten thousand years!"
As she watched the officials cry out their salutations, Xiao Yang’s gaze swept across the hall. She suddenly noticed that Jinluan Palace seemed a lot emptier.
"How did we lose so many people over the new year?"
The officials collectively thought, ’Your Majesty, how can you say something so cold? Aren’t you the one who knows best how those people disappeared?’
But no one dared to say it.
Xiao Yang’s eyes swept past Li Wei, Prince Jing, and the others, finally landing on the position to the right.
’The great Regent King isn’t here. What a relief.’
’She couldn’t stand the sight of him anyway.’
Morning court began, and it was time to discuss matters of state.
"Your Majesty, there are too many vacancies among the court officials. We can’t keep up with all the work. This is a memorial requesting personnel transfers."
"Your Majesty, the spring planting is about to begin. The Ministry of Agriculture..."
"Your Majesty, this is the summary of last year’s tax collection..."
"Your Majesty, the Ministry of War..."
Watching the officials come forward one by one to present their memorials, Xiao Yang’s mind went from clear to muddled, and then felt like it was about to burst.
’I’m screwed!’
’This wretched court really won’t give me a single day of peace.’
’She felt the powerlessness of a father trying to soothe a nursery full of wailing, hungry babies.’
’Another day of not wanting to be the Emperor.’
Xiao Yang’s gaze swept over to them. Xiao Lv lowered his head. Prince Jing looked left and right—anywhere but at her.
Then she looked at Li Wei. He, on the other hand, was completely earnest, his gaze fiery and full of trust. He was all but saying, ’Your Majesty, I believe in you!’
Xiao Yang sneered. ’This empire is doomed, sooner or later!’
When court was finally dismissed, Xiao Yang hadn’t even reached the entrance to the Imperial Study Room when she saw the eunuch Su Sheng leading a group of little eunuchs, hauling stacks of memorials inside.
There were a dozen or so on each tray, and they came one after another.
Xiao Yang’s first instinct was to flee. Steeling herself, she approached. Sure enough, every available surface in the Imperial Study Room was piled high.
She hadn’t even stepped inside, but her wrist was already starting to ache with phantom pain.
Xiao Yang finally remembered Rong Yin, who was still in the Heavenly Prison.
’Oh no,’ she thought. ’I might have given him too much to copy. When will the Regent King ever finish?’
’His hand is still injured, and he won’t be fast writing with his left hand.’
’It’ll be ages before he’s done.’
She couldn’t just let him out on her own initiative, but there really were too many memorials. She desperately needed reinforcements.
Xiao Lv, who had just reached the doorway, suddenly shuddered. A terrible feeling washed over him.
The next moment, he saw the Little Emperor storming out. The instant their eyes met, the Little Emperor flashed a wicked smile.
"Brother, come here. I have something to tell you."
Xiao Lv: "..."
Around noon, Xie Liuzheng arrived to clock in on time, proving that she was, in fact, working on winning over the Emperor. As for whether the Emperor was actually being won over, that was out of her hands. Her main strategy was to just go through the motions.
But today, His Majesty was unusually warm and gentle toward her.
"Xie Liuzheng, you know how to read, don’t you?"
Xie Liuzheng nodded. "I do."
Xiao Yang: "And you know how to sort things, right?"
Xie Liuzheng felt a surge of apprehension. "I... think so?"
’Was she supposed to know how or not?’
The next thing she knew, Xie Liuzheng was forced into a seat across from Xiao Lv, faced with a pile of memorials clearly marked for the Ministry of Personnel.
"Write."
Xie Liuzheng was dazedly put to work. A long time passed before her neck grew sore. The moment she lifted her head, a familiar feeling suddenly washed over her.
She wanted to cry right then and there. ’Ah, so this is it... the familiar feeling of being a workhorse...’
’She had freaking transmigrated, and she still had to be exploited like this?’
However, when His Majesty’s gaze swept over, she immediately and obediently picked up her brush. ’For the sake of my mission, I’ll endure!’
"Your Majesty, Prince Jing and Meng Xuechen request an audience."
Meng Xuechen. Xiao Yang had almost forgotten about him.
"Let them in."
While the eunuch went to fetch them, Xiao Yang recalled Meng Xuechen’s background.
Meng Xuechen came from a family of minor merchants, but he’d had a keen sense for business since childhood. He took over the family enterprise at thirteen and, through his own skill, managed to transform the Meng Family’s three small shops into a commercial powerhouse with a presence in over a dozen cities throughout the Southeast in less than a decade.
All of his talents were in business management; he was a rare genius, so it was no wonder Prince Jing praised him so highly.
Making money was Prince Jing’s greatest weakness. If he’d had any talent for it, he wouldn’t have been so hesitant and constrained even when plotting a rebellion.
As for Meng Xuechen, he had enough money. Now he wanted power.
His goal was clear from the start: he was aiming for a position in the Ministry of Revenue.
Someone that clever wasn’t easy to manage, but Xiao Yang had seen her fair share of geniuses. She was confident she could handle him.
Besides, if the Ministry of Revenue were in his hands, they at least wouldn’t be short on funds.
It was just that face of his...
She didn’t dislike it, but seeing it often wouldn’t be good for her heart.
"Meng Xuechen pays his respects to Your Majesty."
Xiao Yang looked up, her gaze falling on the face that seemed etched into the depths of her soul. "Prince Jing has been singing your praises, and I have read your proposal for reorganizing the Ministry of Revenue. Effective today, you are appointed Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Prince Jing will be transferred to the position of Minister of the Ministry of Industry. The post of Minister of Revenue will remain vacant for the time being."
The Ministry of Revenue didn’t need a powerful figurehead right now, but the position of Minister of Industry was vacant. Xiao Yang had already decided to move Prince Jing there before the new year.
Although her uncle, Prince Jing, wasn’t cut out to be emperor, he could serve as a jack-of-all-trades, moved wherever a gap needed filling.
Although Prince Jing was fond of the Mo Family’s mechanisms, he was now far more reluctant to leave the Ministry of Revenue.
The treasures in the Ministry of Revenue weren’t his, but he held the keys. Just walking through the vaults and counting the riches every day was a joy. It was his greatest pleasure, and now the Emperor was taking it away.
Meng Xuechen’s official appointment decree wasn’t ready yet, but Xiao Yang had already signed Prince Jing’s. She could hand it to him right away.
Of course, seeing his reluctance, Xiao Yang couldn’t help but offer some words of comfort. "Uncle, I know I am asking a lot of you, but you are the only one I trust most. Only you can keep them in line."
Prince Jing immediately felt the weight of his great responsibility. But before he could even get emotional, the Emperor’s tone shifted. "Actually, I don’t think I’m suited to be Emperor at all. Someone mature, steady, wise, and benevolent like you, Uncle..."
Prince Jing was instantly on high alert. He snatched the decree for the Minister of Industry. "Your Majesty need not say more! Thank you for your confidence in me. This subject will head to the Ministry of Industry to assume my post at once."
The Little Emperor had a history of climbing over his wall while carrying the Jade Seal. Prince Jing had no doubt that she was serious about wanting to dump her responsibilities.
Previously, he had been sidelined, forced to watch the Regent King and the Empress Dowager fight for power. At the time, with the He Family’s instigation, he had even developed a bit of ambition himself.
But after truly entering the court, he came to understand just how difficult it was to be the Emperor.
He knew his own limits. His abilities were no match for the late Emperor or Emperor Taizhong; he could never control the vipers and vultures in the court.
If he’d had any real ability, he wouldn’t have been the one to survive the war for the throne fifteen years ago.
As for the Little Emperor, while she didn’t seem particularly wise or brilliant, the little rascal knew how to go berserk.
She took on anyone who got in her way and had somehow managed to carve a bloody path for herself, ultimately securing her position on the throne.
He thought the current situation was just fine. He had no desire to sit on that throne and become a living target.
He cherished his life very much.