Chapter 75

75. Chapter 75 Dropping the Burden

Emperor Xihe solemnly answered his sister's words, but in his heart he was complaining. If later generations found out he had dispatched troops just to get some fruit, wiping out those little states in the Western Regions, wouldn't he then go down in history as a foolish ruler?

No way, no way!

Princess Huanxi naturally didn't know her elder brother's inner complaints; she was pondering another question. From her elder brother's meaning, it seemed that as long as there was sufficient reason, sending troops was not out of the question.

So, what would count as sufficient reason?

Perhaps it could be done!

As for the idea that warmongering leads to ruin?

Don't joke!

How many years has Dayong gone without fighting a major war!

Doesn't she know? Whenever a conflict arises on the border, those noble military officers shout for battle, but before they can even finish arguing, the victory report arrives.

Border officers also want merit!

By now, neighboring small countries and foreign tribes alike are terrified of Dayong.

Occasionally, when some clueless leader provokes Dayong, even without Dayong's border troops moving, his own clan sends the leader's head and his whole family to the front lines.

To prevent border troops from violating martial virtue, this group also dispatches an envoy to the capital to apologize.

Such respectfulness is unprecedented in history.

Warmongering leads to ruin?

Heh, just fooling the kids!

Emperor Xihe naturally didn't know his good sister was already thinking of how to give him something to do; after enjoying a fruit smoothie with relish, he headed off with Empress Xie Zihan to the Xie Family.

He called it accompanying the Empress home to visit her parents.

As for state affairs, I've already arranged people to handle them; minor matters are for officials to sort out—I don't keep freeloaders.

For major decisions I can't make, I go to Changle Palace to see the Grand Emperor Emeritus.

Simply put, the emperor has shirked his duties!

When the news reached Changle Palace, the Grand Emperor Emeritus was displeased.

He had been meeting more often with his former senior officials, and indeed felt somewhat tempted to regain that supreme power, but it was merely a thought.

Now, looking at this memorial presented before him, the Grand Emperor Emeritus seemed to see again the fear of being surrounded by countless memorials.

"Nonsense!"

"I have already abdicated!"

"These matters, only let the emperor handle them—what's the point of handing them to me?"

"Take it away, take it away, quickly take it away!"

Hold power?

Hold a damn power!

I, every day in Changle Palace enjoy a dance, listen to a little tune, eat whatever I want, drink whatever I want—isn't this life great?

"Come, convey my imperial decree: Duke of Chu Jiao Sun Wufang, demoted one rank, punished with closed-door reflection for three months, not allowed to leave the mansion without an imperial edict!"

Having someone send all the memorials back to Qianji Hall wasn't enough; the Retired Emperor simply also punished the Duke of Chu who came here yesterday to apply eye ointment.

Demoted one rank!

Originally, the Duke of Chu's residence was a first-rank duke, hereditary.

But with this demotion of one rank, the Duke of Chu's residence became a second-rank duke, and lost the qualification for hereditary succession. If the rank cannot be raised soon, when the next Duke of Chu inherits, it will only be a third-rank duke!

When the imperial edict reached the Duke of Chu's residence, the Duke of Chu was dumbfounded.

"How could this happen?"

"Just yesterday everything was fine!"

The Duke of Chu slumped onto the ground, unable to rise for a long while—how did things come to this?

"Father, I've said it before—you can't indulge that girl!"

The Duke of Chu's eldest son, also the current heir Chu Huan, couldn't bear to watch any longer: "Now it's fine—we've thrown away the hereditary emblem our ancestors fought and struggled to earn!"

"In a hundred years, how will we father and son face our ancestors?"

Chu Huan wished he could turn back time to stop his father from entering the palace.

"That shouldn't be!"

"That shouldn't be!"

The Duke of Chu couldn't understand—everything was clearly fine, how did it suddenly become like this?

He probably never imagined that all this was merely because the Retired Emperor was feeling displeased and wanted to find someone to bear his anger.

Coincidentally, the Duke of Chu had met the Retired Emperor yesterday, and as he was leaving, he even put on a loyal and devoted tone to apply eye ointment to the emperor in his presence.

The Retired Emperor wasn't sure whether the emperor had thus slackened off because of this, but he'd rather kill a mistake than let it go.

He had finally struggled free from those memorials, and now these people actually want to drag him back in? It's simply too awful!

Recalling the senior officials who had been frequently running to him lately, the Retired Emperor quickly issued another edict, saying that given their old age they should enjoy their retirement, and urging them to quickly hand over their current work and spend more time accompanying him at Changle Palace for fun.

Usually, these people like to come see him under that pretext, and now he has satisfied them.

……

Xie Family.

When Xie Zian was pondering what gift to bring when entering the palace to see his fierce sister, the study's door was kicked open.

"Who—ah…… sister…?!"

Xie Zian was dumbfounded.

The one who kicked the door was actually his sister!

Can the Empress just leave the palace whenever she wants?

Then Xie Zian saw Emperor Xi He.

Alright, the emperor's brother-in-law is here, and this sister has come along—there doesn't seem to be anything wrong.

Wait!

They're wearing casual clothes!

Is this a covert exit from the palace, or are they sneaking out?

Forget it; no matter how they left the palace, it's not something he can control.

You little brat, you've gotten quite capable!

You've even learned to run away from home!

Xie Zihan entered the door and reached out to twist Xie Zian's ear.

Sister, sister, sister, it hurts, it hurts, it's going to fall off, it's going to fall off...

Xie Zian cried out miserably.

Sister, the brother-in-law is still here—be ladylike, be ladylike!

It's fine; just act as if I'm not here!

Emperor Xi He would love to see his brother-in-law get taken care of.

Xie Zian was dumbfounded.

However, Xie Zihan still let Xie Zian go, saying, "You little brat, you've been back in the capital for so long—are you planning to never come see me in the palace unless I come find you?"

Sister, I'm innocent!

I've long planned to enter the palace!

Isn't it because I've been away so long that I haven't figured out what gift to bring you?

Look, look, this is the gift list I prepared!

Xie Zian was truly relieved now, glad he had been working on this earlier; otherwise he'd really be at a loss.

He handed over the gift list he had prepared to Xie Zihan, feeling fortunate in his heart.

Too bad, it didn't work!

Xie Zihan didn't even look at the gift list, kicked him directly, and said, "Am I someone who cares about gifts?"

If you're wrong, just admit it obediently; otherwise I'll have to argue!

I think you don't want to get married early, do you?

This time, you've hit Xie Zian's weak spot.

But is Xie Zian someone who compromises so easily?

Sister, don't say that—I'm really not in a hurry; the thing is, if I don't get married here, our niece will probably hate me to death.