"Your Majesty, I fear that if we give you ten cities, the Wushui Kingdom will break its promise and join forces with the rebels to attack. In that case, those ten cities will become a source of provisions for the Wushui Kingdom, and I'm afraid the Great Yu will be destroyed even faster!"

"Indeed, the Wushui people harbor wolfish ambitions. In the past, they could only bow down and submit to my Great Yu, but now they are taking advantage of the internal strife in my Great Yu to stir up trouble. I implore Your Majesty to send troops to attack the Wushui people!"

"Shortsighted and unwise. Where is the money? Where are the soldiers? If the State of Yu has people like you, its day of destruction is not far off!"

"In front of Your Majesty, he keeps talking about destroying the country. This is utter nonsense. Your Majesty, please grant this traitorous minister death."

Linghu Lan stepped inside.

The courtiers had their backs to her, and none of them saw it.

Jiang Wujiang spotted her immediately.

He immediately jumped off the emperor's throne and ran towards her.

The court officials were taken aback.

"His Majesty?"

"Your Majesty! This is contrary to propriety!"

"Your Majesty, what's going on?"

Following Jiang Wujiang's gaze, everyone saw Linghu Lan.

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects!"

"Greetings, Regent!"

Linghu Lan ignored everyone and squatted down. Jiang Wujiang went straight into her arms, hugged her neck, and buried his head in her chest.

Linghu Lan's heart melted instantly.

Really...

I can't do anything with you, Your Majesty!

"Grandma, I'm so scared, they're all so fierce!" Jiang Wujiang sobbed as he whispered in her ear.

Linghu Lan felt very sad.

It is commendable that a four-year-old child knows to attend court, and it is even more remarkable that he can remain calm and composed amidst the quarreling of a group of court officials.

"Your Majesty has done very well! Your Majesty is the emperor, the most honorable person in the world. No one can disrespect Your Majesty. If anyone disrespects Your Majesty, then follow the law if there is one, and make one if there is no law."

They are all Your Majesty's subjects. Historically, when the ministers are strong and the ruler weak, the ministers tend to rebel. When the ministers are weak and the ruler strong, the country may be peaceful, but it is prone to arbitrary rule. Neither of these is the best choice.

"Then what should we do?"

"A strong ruler and strong ministers are the best long-term strategy. An emperor must have the dignity of an emperor, and a minister must have the integrity of a minister. Now Your Majesty is young, and some ministers are taking advantage of your youth, causing Your Majesty to lose your dignity and them to lose their integrity. What does Your Majesty think should be done?"

Linghu Lan had a shoulder injury and could not carry Jiang Wujiang, so she pulled her through the crowd of ministers and walked step by step toward the throne.

She walked slowly, yet it seemed as if she were stepping on everyone's hearts.

The ministers were all alarmed. In front of us, they were explaining to His Majesty the art of governing his subordinates.

Is this implying that they are oppressing the young master?

Someone did indeed shout at the emperor just now...

Everyone was startled and their hearts sank.

The emperor is easy to fool, but the regent is not, especially since Grand Marshal Guo Feng is leading troops in the field. Guo Feng was actually subdued by the regent!

"Thump!"

Someone was kneeling on the ground.

"We, your subjects, know our mistake!"

"Thump!!"

More people knelt on the ground.

"We know we were wrong, Your Majesty, please punish us!"

Jiang Wujiang's small hand was held by Linghu Lan, and her heart relaxed. After thinking for a moment, she followed Linghu Lan's words and said:

"If there is a law, then punish them with the law?"

Upon reaching the throne, Linghu Lan stopped, lifted Jiang Wujiang onto the imperial throne, and said approvingly, "Your Majesty is right. Now, please proceed according to the law."

Although Jiang Wujiang was young, he had been emperor for a few months and had crammed on the official positions in the court. After thinking for a moment, he said crisply, "Where is the Grand Censor? Disrespecting the emperor and deceiving the emperor are crimes under the law. What is the punishment?"

The Imperial Censor was startled and respectfully replied, "According to the law, he should be flogged twenty times."

Jiang Wujiang glanced at Linghu Lan.

Linghu Lan nodded, and Jiang Wujiang pointed to the ministers who had been shouting the loudest earlier and said, "Execute these few!"