Chapter 365 The Treasury Has No Money

From time to time, bad news of defeat came from the front line.

But Xiao Ning has always been as steady as an old dog, and doesn't seem to care at all about Li Yuan's defeat.

More and more relatives from aristocratic families came to Shengjing for refuge.

Someone couldn't stand it any longer and tried to test Xiao Ning's attitude, saying, "Your Majesty, General Li Yuan has been defeated in battle after battle. I'm afraid this is not a solution..."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ning said with a sad face, "Yes, what should we do? My dear, do you have any good ideas?"

My dear: “…”

Of course you led the army in person.

But I dare not say this, my dear.

He guided Xiao Ning and said, "Your Majesty's Xiao family army was always victorious in the past, why is it that now..."

Xiao Ning knew what they wanted her to say, but she pretended to be confused: "Yes, they were an army that was always victorious before, so why can't they win now? Why? It's so strange."

My dear: “…”

Okay, it’s confirmed, this person is pretending.

But what is she pretending?

This is her kingdom.

We can't just make them pay for food and money like last time...

They provided money and food so that Li Yuan could win the battle, not to let him be like a stray dog ​​and suffer defeat after defeat.

Ai Qing patiently coaxed him: "Your Majesty, when you led the Xiao family army, you were invincible in hundreds of battles. Why is it that General Li Yuan and your troops are now in such a state of disarray?"

Xiao Ning frowned, "Yes, why, my dear, do you know?"

My dear: “…”

Wasn't what he said obvious enough?

This guy is good at playing dumb.

When the previous emperor was alive, she pretended to be foolish and deceived the emperor into giving money and food to send people out of Shengjing.

As a result, within three years, he returned to Shengjing with an army of more than 100,000 people and seized the world.

I'm still pretending here.

Wouldn’t that group of bandits come to Shengjing to attack?

Could she just sit there and wait for death then?

The minister simply said, "Your Majesty, I believe that if you lead the army in person, you might be able to return with a great victory..."

Xiao Ning: "...I'm going to lead the army in person, but what about the court? I'm not very confident in you."

Minister: “…”

This female King of Hell is really stupid or just pretending to be stupid.

How could he say this so carelessly?

What does it mean to worry about them...

Even if you're worried, you can't say it out loud like that. It's too undignified...

"Your Majesty, you are joking. We, your servants, are devoted to you, and heaven and earth can bear witness to that!"

"Your Majesty, will you please consider carefully what I have said? This world belongs to Your Majesty. If we do not deal with that bandit army soon, what will Your Majesty do if they attack Shengjing in the future?"

"My dear minister, what you said makes sense, but..." Xiao Ning sighed, "The national treasury is out of money."

Minister: “…”

He just knew it!

This female devil wants to skin them alive again!

But that group of bandits was about to attack his ancestral land.

Instead, he sent someone to send a letter back, asking his relatives to hide the valuables and temporarily leave their hometown to avoid the world.

But so many letters fell into oblivion.

Even the messenger sent out never returned.

"Your Majesty, didn't General Zhang bring back a lot of wealth after the New Year..."

Xiao Ning spread his hands. "The little he brought back has already been spent. When I first ascended the throne, I exempted the states that had suffered from war from taxes for three years. There is no income at all. The court can't even afford to pay the salaries of the lords..."

Minister: “…”

In the end, in order to invite Xiao Ning to come out of retirement, this minister ran around everywhere and raised a lot of silver, money and food.

It's just a lot less than last time.

Xiao Ning didn't mind and accepted everything.

"Are you really going out?"

Xiao Ning nodded and said, "They have already sent the money and food. It would be inappropriate for me not to go out and pretend."

"Besides, let's take a look around and take care of those unruly states. If we don't deal with them, I'm afraid the new policies won't be implemented in the future."

Shang Xi frowned, "What about Shengjing? What about the imperial court?"

Xiao Ning: "I have you, so I have granted you the privilege of supervising the state."

Shang Xi: “…”

Xiao Ning pinched his face and said, "Okay, baby, don't be angry. I'll make a quick decision and come back to spend the New Year with you."

Shang Xi slapped her hand away and turned his head away sulking.

"As an emperor, your words should be your bond, but you always go back on your word!"

Xiao Ning: “…”

Because Xiao Ning is about to leave, Shang Xi has been pestering her very much in the past few days and has even unlocked many new tricks.

Xiao Ning just indulged him.

After all, I don't know how long I'll be alone after I leave. Since he likes me, it doesn't hurt to give him some sweet treats.

And...she was quite comfortable too.

The day of departure soon arrived. Before leaving, Xiao Ning brought Shang Xi to the court.

"While I am away, the Emperor will govern the country. I have the power of life and death, so please do not slack off."

All the ministers responded in unison.

But he felt disrespectful in his heart, thinking that Xiao Ning was a woman after all, and as an emperor, he actually trusted the person beside him so much.

Xiao Ning left with his troops.

Shang Xi stood at the city gate, watching Xiao Ning, dressed in black armor, and his soldiers disappear at the end of the official road.

The fingers hanging at his sides tightened slightly.

The wind blew up his wide sleeves.

Shang Xi came back to his senses, turned around calmly, and said to the ministers: "Let's go back to the city."

The crowd surrounded Shang Xi and returned to the city.

Shang Xi took over the court from then on, attending court on behalf of his wife every day and handling government affairs.

The ministers thought that they could relax after Xiao Ning left, but they didn't expect that the emperor, who had been a princess for twenty years, was more difficult to deal with than the emperor.

For a time, the whole government and the country were filled with gloom.

Among them, Yu Qing suffered the most.

Yu Qing felt that Shang Xi was taking revenge on someone personally.

He would scold him almost every day when he went to court, either saying that he didn't do his job well or that there was a problem there.

For several months, Yu Qing slept later than a dog and woke up earlier than a chicken.

He looked much more haggard.

He complained in front of Shen Ran, "Your brother is really something. He was the one who sent me to be His Majesty's male favorite, and now he thinks I'm an eyesore."

"Isn't it normal for a male concubine to like his master?"

"Besides, who wouldn't like someone like His Majesty? He himself is completely obsessed with him, and yet he doesn't allow others to like His Majesty."

Chen Ran: “…”

She put the case file in her hand on the table and looked at Yu Qing speechlessly.

"Commander Qiu, you know he's my brother, yet you still tell me this. What do you mean? Do you think I won't tell him about this, or do you think he was too gentle with you?"

Yu Qing smiled at Shen Ran, "Will Miss Shen complain?"

Chen Ran: “…”

She really can't.

Anyone with eyes could see how much her brother loved His Majesty. If she said these words to him, it would only make him angry.

Chen Ran couldn't bear to see her brother getting angry about this.

"Commander Qiu, you should get back to work instead of just chatting. I won't be staying up late with you tonight."

Yu Qing: "Miss Shen said this as if she had accompanied me in a night battle before."

Chen Ran: “…”