Chapter 612: The Joyful King

As for the Grand Minister of Agriculture, effective today he is demoted to Commander of the Granaries.

The Grand Minister of Agriculture, just as the Commander of the Granaries was letting out a sigh of relief, heard the Great King say: "Continue to oversee the work of the Ministry of Revenue."

The newly appointed Commander of the Granaries, lacking any spirit in his thanks, said: "Your Majesty's great kindness, I, your subject, am overwhelmed with gratitude."

Who would've thought the position of the Nine Ministers would just vanish like that, yet the work continues and the pot still has to be carried! Kowtow!

The Great King had shown off enough swagger in court, hearing they wanted to wield big blades and spill blood like a river. The result was that after court he saw Liang Jin and again instructed: "Go tell Liang He not to really kill until blood flows like a river—just kill the chief culprits, and send the rest off to the first-line mines to dig! What state is our Great Jin population in that we have the qualifications to kill indiscriminately?"

Liang Jin: "…I obey the edict."

When the Great King returned to the sleeping chambers, Zhao Bao came to report that the Wusun and Qiuci envoys had come to ask for leave, saying they wanted to go back.

Upon hearing this, the Great King said: "Coming all this way for a trip isn't easy, and they're leaving after just a few days? They ought to stay longer to boost Chang'an's economic circulation! The auction at the Pagoda Pavilion didn't even manage to cut their leeks—truly unbelievable, there's nothing they can afford to buy!"

Zhao Bao: …

The Great King had looked over the auction list and felt unwilling to miss out on the neighboring country.

"Aren't we fighting fiercely with the grasslands? It's such a pity they're leaving just like that. Tell them I'm busy, let them stay in Chang'an a few more days, and when I'm free I'll summon them to the palace for a gathering."

Zhao Bao withdrew, and this guy immediately jumped up to change clothes: "Off to play in the palace~"

Bai Ze looked over and asked: "Where are you going?"

"We agreed to go to the Pagoda Pavilion—Zhu Ti went to inspect the big farm in Andong Commandery, and today the Pagoda Pavilion's high-end restaurant opens, so I'll go hold down the fort!"

"Chang'an is lively, bring more people."

"Know… got it…~"

Zhetian is a raptor that usually perches in the palace but can't stay put, so it went out to play; the Great King's stumbling block, Little Jin, seeing this, sprang up and followed. Bai Ze gave a verbal warning, that's it, the enforcers are present, all's well.

The Great King met Ling Yin and Wei Shen at the gate, and when they reached Xuanping Gate, Wei Ke also got the news and joined. Seeing the elders arrive, the Great King exchanged a glance with Wei Shen.

"Elder cousin, aren't you busy?"

"As commander of the Feathered Forest Guards, protecting the Majesty's travel safety is my main duty. Now the personnel in Chang'an are mixed, I don't feel at ease not following."

The Great King strained to resist: "But there's already a commander of the Hawk Riders here—elder cousin, go attend to your own affairs."

The honest Hawk Riders commander said: "The Feathered Forest Guards and the Hawk Riders have different deployments, Your Highness, rest assured there'll be no overlap." The Hawk Riders are plainclothes hidden nearby for covert protection, while the Feathered Forest Guards are stationed close by and can rush to the scene if needed. Since Wei Ke took office, the Feathered Forest Guards have almost replaced the tyrant of Jing'an Bureau in Chang'an; he must keep Chang'an in his grip for the Great King to be safe.

The Great King couldn't resist, so he had to yield. Traveling incognito by carriage for a stretch, once they were far from the imperial palace this guy insisted on getting out to walk, claiming even an unmarked carriage would draw attention.

The others could only comply, though this guy walks poorly—he relies on being unrecognized, tip-toeing and hopping along, and even the little gold he brings won't walk normally; his four legs trying to imitate the Great King's two legs are always a bit clumsy.

Never mind the ferocious beast's majesty—now it seems as if someone knocked its brains out, each limb with its own mind.

Wei Shen, behind them, muttered puzzled: "What's wrong? Why are you so happy today? Haven't you heard the mineral deposits were stolen, and the Grand Minister of Agriculture almost went home too?"

Wei Ke nodded, also puzzled; he didn't guess, he just asked directly: "Your Majesty seems rather happy?"

Wei Shen chimed in: "Say it out loud so we can be happy too~"

The Great King couldn't help but lift the corners of his mouth: "If you knew you'd be booked for four million in six months, you'd be as happy as I am~"

Wei Ke found it unbelievable—could this year's tax really haul in that much? Impossible! Half the land tax was waived, and the land of fish and rice is entirely in the hands of the rebel king. The mineral deposits are also a mess… yet for the Great King to still laugh is no easy feat.

"Four million taels of silver?"

The Great King nodded like a chick pecking at grain: "Mm-hmm!"

Wei Shen had already gone up and grabbed him, then felt his forehead upon reaching him: "Let me see, did our peaceful times get burned into a muddle, are we having a daytime daydream?"

Great King: …

"Alas, night travel in fine clothes~"

Wei Ke: …

When they entered the Pagoda Pavilion, this guy insisted on sitting in the main hall, but Wei Ke personally dragged him away. They brought Little Jin, sat here, and anyone turning back would glance a few times—this place's prices guarantee the clientele aren't ordinary folk; soon they'll guess the Great King's identity.

This guy unwillingly was dragged to a private room on the first floor.

"I'm this good-looking; sitting outside I could attract two more tables of customers!"

Wei Ke: "…Could you come here every day to sit and draw in customers?"

The Great King began lowering his head to look at the menu, noticing it was the same as last time's auction list.

This time he had experience, so he ordered only what he liked, and also gave Little Jin a large portion of stewed meat—Zhu Ti wasn't there, so no one dared change his menu. After the waiter left, this guy pushed open the windows and doors: "Based on our limited past experiences dining out, each time something big happens; not being in the main hall is really inconvenient!"

Wei Shen counted on his fingers: "Assassination, brawling, …" Before he finished, a group of foreign‑dressed men speaking gibberish marched past their door…

The Great King's eyes lit up, and he locked gazes with Wei Shen—both brimming with mischievous eagerness.

"Cough!" Wei Ke set down his cup.

"If anyone today starts trouble out there, I'll go block Shen Xian." The Great King instantly turned back, pretending nothing happened, and even stole a glance at Wei Shen, thinking: "If you drag me into more homework, try it!"

The Great King can bend and stretch; he thought he feared Shen Xian would assign homework, but actually he feared Shen Xian would strike and double the workload. Such an authoritative worker—you won't find a second like him in all of Great Jin.

The two troublemakers settled down; this meal was quiet and harmonious, and they could still hear the bustling hall through the open door and window. For instance, someone really was discussing the newly released newspaper.

"Could Ru Nan be another Han Shou? Judging by this article's meaning, it seems they deliberately sacrificed… found an excuse to rebel?"

"Keep it down! The people here…"

"What's there to fear? The newspaper's out, nothing's hidden anymore…"

"Ru Nan and… are far apart… better to fight… I still hope…"

The Great King couldn't catch it all, his ears almost stretching out the door. Annoyed, he shouted: "What's being said can't be spoken loudly!"

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【Silly author: Great King, beg for a chart boost!

Great King hands on hips, head high: Beg~】