Chapter 1841

When news of the stroke suffered by Marquis Fanyang, Lü Pu, reached the imperial palace, Emperor Yuanding learned of it very quickly.

He muttered to the eunuch Liu Shun, "He didn't die? He certainly has a tenacious life!"

Liu Shun bowed and replied, "This servant recalls that there is a medical official in the Heavenly Prison with superb medical skills. Before the late Emperor passed away, he summoned this person into the palace to check his pulse. It was this medical official who exposed the late Emperor's true condition, unlike the timid Imperial Academy of Medicine, which led to everything that followed."

If not for Medical Official Mu exposing the condition and informing Emperor Emperor Jian Shi that he was nearing death, it is feared that Emperor Emperor Jian Shi would not have drawn up the edict of succession even upon his death.

In truth, Emperor Yuanding should thank Medical Official Mu for being willing to speak the truth so that he could ascend the throne smoothly.

"I remember now. The Heavenly Jiang Jiang Yucheng, if I recall correctly, is a relative of the Empress's family."

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Heavenly Jiang Jiang Yucheng is surnamed Chen, named Guanlou."

"Of the same generation as Chen Guanfu?" Emperor Yuanding asked.

"Your Majesty is correct; they are indeed of the same generation. In terms of relationship, Chen Guanlou is already beyond the five degrees of mourning from the Hou Fu. Because he has made great progress in his Wu Gong and is now a Ninth-Rank warrior, the Hou Fu takes quite good care of him."

When it came to matters concerning the Hou Fu, Liu Shun spoke without hesitation, fully confident.

Emperor Yuanding nodded in understanding, "In that case, Marquis Fanyang not dying is entirely due to the medical official saving his life."

"That should be the case!"

"He certainly has a hard life." Emperor Yuanding was slightly annoyed; it was truly troublesome.

Liu Shun hurriedly pacified him, "Your Majesty, Marquis Fanyang Lü Pu has suffered a stroke and won't live much longer, so Your Majesty need not be angry. It is merely a matter of sooner or later."

"I know. It's not that I must have him dead! It's just that since he happened to step into the line of fire, I made use of him."

In court struggles, people are bound to die.

It doesn't matter who dies!

With a ready-made list, Emperor Yuanding picked Marquis Fanyang Lü Pu. Unfortunately, the man had a tenacious life, and only half of him died.

At this moment, a young eunuch reported that several officials from the Secretariat requested an audience.

It was likely about the matter of Marquis Fanyang Lü Pu.

Emperor Yuanding ordered the officials to be invited into the main hall.

Minister of Justice Sun Daoning implored the Emperor to show mercy and allow Marquis Fanyang Lü Pu to return home to recuperate. An elderly man with hemiplegia was not suitable to be kept in the Heavenly Prison. The court should also consider human sentiment.

Since the man was already in such a miserable state, keeping him imprisoned would surely lead to criticism as the world sympathized with the weak. It would not be good for the Emperor's reputation! It would be better to release him first before the matter fermented.

Emperor Yuanding was very direct, "Granted! Order Marquis Fanyang Lü Pu to return home to recuperate and reflect behind closed doors. He should think carefully about whether he has been worthy of the court and the people of the world all these years. As a noble of the court, he thinks not of serving the country but only of greed and power; if I do not punish him, Heaven will!"

These words were quite heavy!

This was aimed at angering Marquis Fanyang Lü Pu to death.

Minister of Justice Sun Daoning sighed inwardly and bowed to accept the order.

The Emperor's oral decree naturally had to be conveyed accurately; not a single word could be changed or omitted. That would be called falsifying a decree.

With river dikes bursting and hundreds of thousands of disaster victims, the court needed to provide relief, but the Ministry of Revenue lacked funds and grain. Xie Changling requested the Emperor to open the inner treasury to help the victims overcome the crisis and stabilize local order.

Emperor Yuanding was furious.

Xie Changling had indeed set his sights on his money bag.

He asked with a straight face, "How much silver do you want?"

"Two million taels! The Ministry of Revenue can scrape together one million, and for the remaining million, I request Your Majesty to open the inner treasury."

Emperor Yuanding cursed Xie Changling inwardly for robbing him.

This was an attempt to suppress imperial power in every aspect.

His anger surged, "How could it possibly require so much silver?"

"Your Majesty, please examine this: dredging the river, blocking the breaches, relocating victims, rebuilding homes, and stabilizing local order to prevent the Bai Lian Sect from causing chaos due to the disaster... two million taels is only for simple management. If we want to manage it thoroughly to ensure the river does not burst again for the next ten, twenty, or thirty years, we need at least three to five million taels. If Your Majesty has any questions, you may have the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Works explain the situation in detail."

Emperor Yuanding suppressed his anger, "Order the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works to produce a detailed report within three days. As for so much money, exactly where it is spent must be calculated clearly, item by item. If anyone dares to embezzle my money, I will execute their entire family."

The officials:...

Whenever the Emperor got anxious, he fell into his old habits, speaking and acting very crudely, with no imperial demeanor at all.

"As you command!"

Forced to take out one million taels, Emperor Yuanding was half-dead with anger and had no heart to continue the morning assembly, so he dismissed it directly. He wanted to find his concubines to relax and vent his anger.

For an Emperor who valued money as his life, whoever touched his private treasury was an irreconcilable enemy.

Xie Changling!

He hated this man to death!

Yet, for the time being, he had no way to deal with him.

The Chen family?

Emperor Yuanding thought of the Chen family and asked Liu Shun, "What is the Empress doing?"

Liu Shun was stunned for a moment, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Empress is surely cooling off by the lake at this moment. It is cool by the lake, and it is just the right time to go."

"She certainly knows how to enjoy herself. Prepare the carriage; today I will dine with the Empress!"

"This servant obeys!"

Empress Chen was leading several concubines in leisure and play by the lake, enjoying the breeze and cooling off, very happily.

Just as they were having fun, Emperor Yuanding arrived. The concubines were all excited, but only Empress Chen was very disgusted.

Amidst the flowers, an eyesore of a man had arrived, ruining the atmosphere of her playing with the concubines.

Emperor Yuanding teased the concubines for a few words, and his mood improved quite a bit.

The concubines were also tactful, seeing that the Emperor and Empress had matters to discuss, they all found excuses to leave. Only the Emperor and Empress remained in the water pavilion to talk.

Empress Chen picked up her teacup, very at ease, "Your Majesty has time today. I heard that Your Majesty was holding a morning assembly with the officials; why did it end so quickly?"

"The south has suffered a disaster, and the court needs to provide relief, but the Ministry of Revenue lacks funds and is asking me for money. These officials, when asked to do something, they push and shove, always having countless excuses. But when asking for money, they are very direct and efficient. Hmph!"

Emperor Yuanding did not hide his inner anger and began to curse in front of the Empress.

Empress Chen put down her teacup and pacified him in a gentle manner, "Natural disasters are heartless, and court relief is the proper thing to do. The funds and grain of the Ministry of Revenue have long been arranged, and money is needed everywhere. It is unavoidable to ask Your Majesty to open the inner treasury to alleviate the situation. This is a proper matter! The world is Your Majesty's world, and the people are Your Majesty's people; it is only right for Your Majesty to open the inner treasury for relief. Your Majesty should think more openly!"

"If I were not thinking openly, why would I open the inner treasury for relief? The Empress underestimates me!"

Empress Chen laughed, "Your Majesty is right! It is all my fault."

"Since you were wrong, you should quickly make amends. For several years, I have been unable to exert myself in court, feeling powerless. Does the Empress have any good strategies?"

Empress Chen's eyes flickered; was the Emperor trying to win the help of the Hou Fu?

Why not say it directly instead of beating around the bush?

Since the other party was playing dumb, she played dumb too, "I am but a woman; how would I understand the major affairs of the court? Your Majesty should ask Minister Zhao!"

Emperor Yuanding's face sank suddenly; giving face but not wanting it!

He had lowered his face to show goodwill, yet the other party didn't take the bait and even played dumb with him.

How unreasonable!

"Does the Empress really not understand, or are you pretending not to?"

Empress Chen raised her eyes slightly, "I request Your Majesty to clarify!"

Without a clear statement, how could she easily submit!