Chapter 53

Yan Zheng bowed to Gao Yang and then bowed to Wu Zhao.

"Your subject Yan Zheng wrongly blamed Censor Gao, leading to foolish words. I implore Your Majesty to punish me."

For a time, the officials were shocked.

Yan Zheng's backbone was hard, and he was upright and unyielding, as the entire court knew, but now he was willingly bowing to Gao Yang and asking for punishment from the Empress.

This was simply incredible!

Wu Zhao also felt a wave of relief in her heart; since her ascension, this was the first time she had felt so relieved.

She swept her gaze toward the officials and said, "Of course I must punish. You are all well-read in the classics and are the backbone ministers of my Da Qian, yet not one of you saw this method to quell the disaster; on the contrary, you repeatedly impeached him."

"Investigating Censor Yan Zheng, General Wang Zhong, and Minister of Rites Song Li are fined two months' salary as a warning to others!"

Facing the punishment, Wang Zhong and Song Li, no matter how unwilling, could only accept it.

Then, Wu Zhao's phoenix eyes looked at Gao Yang.

"Gao Yang, you have merit in quelling the disaster and lowering grain prices. What reward do you want?"

Gao Yang bowed and said unceremoniously, "Your subject wishes to enter the Ministry of Revenue to serve the country."

Once these words were spoken, Wu Zhao frowned.

"Ministry of Revenue?"

According to her thoughts, Gao Yang's performance should make him a Secretariat Drafter, accompanying her side, to govern the country and bring peace to the world.

She did not expect Gao Yang to want to enter the Ministry of Revenue.

Gao Feng was also stunned.

This brat, why not be a good Secretariat Drafter and instead come to the Ministry of Revenue?

Wu Zhao hesitated for a moment, then said, "Gao Yang, grandson of the Duke of Ding, has merit in stabilizing the grain prices in Linjiang City. I bestow upon him the position of Vice Director in the Ministry of Revenue, while retaining his position as Investigating Censor!"

"Cui Xinghe has merit in stabilizing the grain prices in Qingshui County; he is promoted to Secretariat Drafter!"

Gao Yang's face showed joy.

Vice Director in the Ministry of Revenue is considered a Sixth Rank official in Da Qian, which is not small!

"Your subject Gao Yang thanks Your Majesty!"

On the other side, Cui Xinghe also bowed and said, "Your subject Cui Xinghe thanks Your Majesty!"

He did not expect that the Secretariat Drafter position would still end up in his hands.

But Cui Xinghe felt deeply humiliated, because it only came to him after Gao Yang didn't want it.

After the morning court, the officials' gazes were all focused on Gao Yang.

Everyone knew that today, the words of Gao Yang, the eldest son of the Duke of Ding Prefecture, in the Jin Luan Hall would spread throughout Changancheng.

The former playboy had overnight become a Qilin son.

Cui Xinghe looked at the officials' gazes and clenched his fists.

"One day, I will prove to the world that Cui Xinghe of the Cui clan is no worse than you, Gao Yang."

He secretly vowed in his heart, then stepped away.

At this time, Gao Feng came to Gao Yang's side with a dark face.

"Secretariat Drafter, why didn't you want it?"

The sudden voice startled Gao Yang.

Gao Tianlong also walked over steadily and said: "I know you are skilled in the way of merchants, but this is ultimately a minor path, not comparable to being by the Empress's side."

"This move is somewhat foolish."

Gao Yang hurriedly said, "Father, Grandfather, you misunderstood. My entering the Ministry of Revenue is purely because Father is the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and the Minister is already old and seriously ill. As the saying goes, it's easier to get things done with connections. I can walk sideways in the Ministry of Revenue; entering the Ministry of Revenue is the right path."

Gao Feng's eyes widened.

Gao Tianlong's mouth also twitched.

Both of them widened their eyes, looking at Gao Yang's delicate face.

Is the reason really that simple and unadorned?

"Moreover, a Secretariat Drafter represents the Empress's face and cannot act recklessly. I have always been rather absurd and like to go to elegant places to listen to music. Once is fine, but going often would surely lead to impeachment by the Censorate. Father and Grandfather are both people who have been through it, so you should understand."

Gao Yang nudged his eyes toward Gao Feng and Gao Tianlong, with an 'you understand' expression.

Gao Feng's eyes widened.

Gao Tianlong's eyes also widened.

So it's because of the brothels in Changancheng that he doesn't want to be a Secretariat Drafter?

Does the Gao family have such talent?

Both of their blood pressures rose together!

"Rebellious son!"

"Today you cannot escape a beating!"

Gao Feng roared first.

Gao Yang sensed something was wrong, turned and ran, and Gao Feng chased after him.

Gao Yang was confused; did he say something wrong?

Literati indulge in elegance, and military generals should be even more direct, so why are they angry from embarrassment?

Behind him, Gao Tianlong shook his head.

"What is there to chase? Just beat him when we get back to the mansion!"

"..."

Qianqing Palace.

Shangguan Wan'er bowed to Wu Zhao and said, "Wan'er pays respects to Your Majesty."

Wu Zhao's noble face looked at Shangguan Wan'er, "Tell Me everything about Linjiang City, bit by bit. I want to know everything."

Shangguan Wan'er was not surprised and told everything that happened in Linjiang City one by one.

After listening, Wu Zhao's expression was complex.

She said to herself, "Strategizing from thousands of miles away, from the first day he arrived in Linjiang City, he had already calculated everything that followed. This Gao Yang is truly a talent."

Wu Zhao was amazed, her eyes not hiding her appreciation.

Then, Wu Zhao looked at Shangguan Wan'er and said, "Wan'er, what do you think of this Gao Yang?"

Hearing this, Shangguan Wan'er did not hide the disgust in her eyes, "Although this person has world-shaking talent, he is both righteous and evil, and very bold!"

"Oh, bold? How so?"

Wu Zhao was curious.

"When I was by his side, he actually dared to hint for Magistrate Du to send gifts, and I seriously suspect that he was deliberately setting Magistrate Du up."

Shangguan Wan'er told everything about the tea box Du Jiang gave and her own suspicions, and said regretfully.

"It's just a pity that Magistrate Du is incorruptible and only reads the books of sages; he is probably still in the dark!"

Wu Zhao curled her lips, but she said dismissively, "In the world, there is no merchant who is not cunning, and no official who is not corrupt. Moreover, Gao Yang gave Magistrate Du political merit, so this small return gift is nothing."

"For those with great talent, I am not afraid of them being corrupt, nor am I afraid of them being lecherous. What I am afraid of is them having no weaknesses."

"Only with weaknesses can they be controlled and used for Me."

Shangguan Wan'er gritted her teeth and said, "Your Majesty, the bold parts of this Gao Yang don't stop there... He also wanted to look at my legs."

A surprised smile appeared on Wu Zhao's face. She looked at Shangguan Wan'er; her figure was graceful, and her face was cold and arrogant.

Scanning downwards, her two long legs were straight and slender.

She smiled and said, "This Gao Yang is indeed quite bold... But he is not only bold toward you."

"Since I ascended the throne, he is the only one who has dared to openly look at My legs in the court!"

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Wan'er was shocked.

"What?"

"This Gao Yang openly admires Your Majesty's legs? Has he eaten the heart of a bear and the guts of a leopard?"

Shangguan Wan'er said excitedly: "He should have his eyes dug out!"

Wu Zhao walked to the window and overlooked the entire Da Qian Imperial Palace. She said indifferently, "It doesn't matter. Who doesn't want to conquer a female emperor?"

"But who can actually conquer her?"

Wu Zhao stood with her hands behind her back, her dragon robe fluttering, her face full of nobility and disdain.