Chapter 857: The Violent-Tempered Emperor Jian Shi

"They're clearly fighting back, taking revenge, slapping My face hard!"

Emperor Jian Shi was like a caged giant beast, roaring, swearing to bite to pieces anyone who blocked his path.

Wang De, as the chief trusted eunuch by Emperor Jian Shi's side, was also frightened. Even he had never seen this violent, furious side of Emperor Jian Shi before.

Once he became Emperor, his true nature was indeed gradually coming out.

"Hahaha… a bunch of fools who don't know the height of the heavens, daring to take revenge on Me. Do they really think My Embroidered Uniform Guard are vegetarians, that the blade in My hand can't lop off heads anymore?"

Emperor Jian Shi vented his fury without restraint, spitting out whatever came to mind.

Wang De was worried sick.

Your Majesty, even inside the palace, you can't just say anything that comes to mind!

The palace is a sieve—there are no real secrets here.

Anyone with eyes could see clearly that the Commander-in-Chief and Minister of War vomiting blood and fainting meant the matter was nowhere near as simple as reported. It was absolutely not merely from overwork and poor health.

It must be those noble families taking revenge.

Revenge for the heavy casualties at the Dayu ancient tomb, where the court had used them as a blade, and revenge for the Embroidered Uniform Guard's wanton killing of innocents.

These noble families didn't dare stir up trouble in Jingcheng, so they made trouble in the provinces. After all, the heavens are high and the Emperor far away—by the time the Emperor learns of it, the deed is already done.

Their targeting of the Minister of War is clearly meant to sabotage the court's grand plan, to deliver supplies to the rebel Prince of Chu's army, giving the cornered Prince of Chu a chance to catch his breath.

This act is nothing short of treason!

Every man has the right to punish them!

"I will kill them all! Kill them all!"

Emperor Jian Shi was gasping for breath, his face flushed red, his eyes blazing with fury, yet his body was somewhat drained.

Losing one's temper is also physical labor—and high-consumption physical labor at that.

Look at those with weak bodies and deficient qi—even an argument wears them out, no strength, no stamina! Raise their voice a few decibels, argue for a few minutes, and they're foaming at the mouth, eyes rolling back.

Old men and women who can argue on the street for hours—rest assured, their bodies are perfectly fine. If their bodies had any ailments at all, they couldn't keep it up that long; they'd have long since lost to insufficient qi and blood.

Wang De hurried forward to support Emperor Jian Shi, helping him onto a soft couch to lie down.

"Your Majesty must take care of Your health first. This servant will send someone to summon the imperial physician to examine Your Majesty at once."

"No need!" Emperor Jian Shi raised a hand to stop him, his expression wilted, his eyes glazed, rubbing his brow to dispel his troubles. The high-consumption rage had drained all his energy—at this moment he only wanted to lie still.

His constitution, by age, simply could not compare to his father Emperor Emperor Taixing.

Presumably those years in the Donggong, when he had been so bitterly frustrated and worried sick, had harmed his health. After becoming Emperor, he had frantically taken elixirs to replenish his vitality. But in the end, he could not compare to the late Emperor, who had been healthy since childhood, vigorous in his prime, and still strong in his old age.

He, alas, suffered from insufficient qi and blood!

"Ask Xiao Xiao Jincheng what exactly he's been doing. How could such a massive blunder occur? Just as the rebels were about to be wiped out, now Minister Yang has fallen ill—the war will surely be delayed. And once again the rebels have a chance to catch their breath, to rise from the ashes! It infuriates Me!"

At that very moment, a eunuch boldly entered the great hall to report, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Lord Xie and the other lords of the Zhengshitang have come together to request an audience."

Emperor Jian Shi immediately frowned, seeming somewhat displeased.

Wang De, knowing what was appropriate, quietly asked Emperor Jian Shi, "Your Majesty, perhaps summon Lord Xie alone first. Have the others wait in the Piandian."

"Agreed!"

Wang De immediately waved at the eunuch who had delivered the message, and the eunuch tactfully withdrew. At this moment, several more palace servants entered the great hall soundlessly and swiftly cleaned up.

A moment later, when Xie Changling walked into the great hall, it had already returned to its usual solemn, luxurious, and tidy appearance, showing not the slightest trace of the storm that had just erupted here. Except for the fresh scratch on the corner of the table left by a sharp blade.

Xie Changling's eyes were sharp—he spotted the mark on the table corner at a glance, and understood perfectly.

He also had a grasp of Emperor Jian Shi's current mood.

He stepped forward and bowed.

"Dispense with the ceremony! I've told you many times, there's no need for such formality before Me."

"Your Majesty's grace is Your Majesty's kindness. How could this minister dare to act wantonly simply because of Your Majesty's trust and favor? Would that not betray Your Majesty's high hopes!"

"Hahaha…" Emperor Jian Shi was very pleased. He was deeply satisfied with Xie Changling's act of keeping to the proper ways of a minister. His trust had not been misplaced.

He would never be a foolish ruler like the late Emperor, favoring useless men like Jiang Tu. If he was to favor anyone, it could only be loyal ministers like Xie Changling, who had come up through the proper imperial examinations and possessed real talent and learning.

As for men like Xiao Xiao Changsheng, they were merely political necessities. He could favor them, and he could kill them!

"My dear minister, come closer. We, ruler and minister, have not been this close in a long time."

Xie Changling hesitated for a second, then calmly stepped forward, sat down on the footstool before the soft couch, slightly raised his head, and assumed a posture of looking up.

"Your Majesty should take care of Your health and not get angry over a few petty thieves. Though the rebel Prince of Chu has temporarily gained a chance to breathe, this will not change his ultimate destruction. This minister has already arranged the matters to follow—Your Majesty, please have a look."

Having said that, he produced his memorial and detailed report, his work arranged in perfect order.

Emperor Jian Shi looked it over—satisfied, so very satisfied! Every aspect had been considered. As Emperor, with such a capable minister, he could rest easy.

At this moment, he was seized with an intensely strong thought: he wanted to appoint Xie Changling as Chancellor ahead of time. He was no longer content with the man being merely an attending member of the Zhengshitang.

Even though the man was very young and lacked seniority… these were not problems.

He closed the memorial and suddenly asked, "Yu Yu Zhaoan has held the Chancellor's seat for many years with no achievements. I want to move him—what does My dear minister think?"

Listen to the meaning behind the words!

Xie Changling understood at once that Emperor Jian Shi wanted to drive Yu Yu Zhaoan out of the Zhengshitang to make room for him.

He slightly furrowed his brow, assuming a thoughtful expression. "Your Majesty, the matter in the south still requires the Jixia Academy. Chancellor Yu will inevitably have to contribute his share."

The implication: the time was not yet ripe. Moving Yu Yu Zhaoan was not appropriate.

Yu Yu Zhaoan, being a former Donggong official, could barely be counted as a centrist—the Zhengshitang needed such a person to suppress a portion of the opposing voices.

Emperor Jian Shi was clearly dissatisfied with the answer; his expression instantly darkened.

Xie Changling immediately continued, "Your Majesty could have Chancellor Yu lead a delegation south."

"Send him south?" Emperor Jian Shi was puzzled.

Xie Changling nodded heavily. "Minister Yang's Serious Illness means he certainly won't recover anytime soon. Without a commander, the subsequent war will surely be affected. Sending Chancellor Yu south, he need not do anything—merely have him appear on Minister Yang's behalf to preside over the situation and stamp the documents! The one truly calling the shots remains Minister Yang."

"Minister Yang is unconscious—will that work?"

"The moment this humble minister received the news, I had already arranged for renowned physicians to head south, determined to save Minister Yang's life. It doesn't matter if he can't return to the battlefield — as long as he can wake up and his mind can function normally, everything remains under control. This war will end exactly as planned!"

Xie Changling had made his stance perfectly clear: he only needed Minister Yang's mind; the rest didn't matter.

Emperor Jian Shi, after careful deliberation, slowly nodded and ultimately approved Xie Changling's plan.