Song Zelin coughed violently several times, as if he was going to cough out his lungs.

"Your Majesty, I am afraid that with my weak body, I am unable to share your worries any longer..."

As he spoke, his eyes filled with guilt and self-blame, "I was unable to personally witness the successful implementation of the tax reform. This is my dereliction of duty."

Li Chengfeng gently patted the back of Song Zelin's hand and said comfortingly, "My dear Song, don't blame yourself. I understand your feelings."

"You have worked hard for the great cause for most of your life, and now it's time for you to take a good rest.

"I will handle this reform properly."

When Song Zelin heard this, his eyes became moist.

Song Yuwei's heart was in turmoil at this moment, as if she was holding a restless little rabbit.

My father is seriously ill, and His Majesty is so caring towards me. Could it be that my father has just entrusted me to His Majesty, and I want to enter the palace as a concubine?

Although she felt some resistance in her heart, she had no choice but to accept her fate for the sake of her father and her family.

She secretly looked up at Li Chengfeng. There was a barely perceptible trace of fatigue on the handsome face of the young emperor, yet he still maintained his majesty.

Unexpectedly, Li Chengfeng's next words surprised her.

"Don't worry, my dear Song. I will issue an edict today, appointing Song Yuwei as acting prime minister. She will temporarily handle state affairs on your behalf. I will hand over the reins after you recover."

Song Yuwei's head was buzzing, as if a hundred bees were buzzing around in it.

Acting Prime Minister? Himself? A woman?

She widened her eyes in disbelief, looked at Li Chengfeng, then looked at her father lying on the sickbed, and for a moment she didn't know how to react.

It's not that she had never thought about becoming an official. She had been well-versed in poetry and books since childhood, had great ambitions, and believed that women were as good as men. However, the position of prime minister... came too suddenly, catching her off guard.

Song Zelin was so frightened that he almost jumped up from his sickbed, his old body shaking violently.

This news was so shocking that his mind almost instantly went through the dissatisfaction of the ministers in the court and the obstruction of the right prime minister and his cronies.

"Your Majesty! Isn't that too radical..."

"It's unprecedented for a woman to be an official. The ministers in the court will definitely not accept it."

He was so anxious that he almost couldn't breathe, and the violent coughing sound started again. Song Yuwei hurriedly patted his back to help him breathe.

Song Zelin recovered and struggled to express his concerns: "This is not only against the Right Prime Minister, but also a challenge to the ancestral system!"

"The ministers will certainly object, and I'm worried that the Right Prime Minister will exploit this issue!"

Li Chengfeng just smiled faintly, as if he had expected it.

"Don't worry, my dear Song. I know."

"Yuwei is extremely talented and knowledgeable. I believe she can handle the task. As for the ministers... I have my own ways to deal with them."

Song Zelin understood His Majesty's determination, but also knew that he was powerless to stop it.

He sighed and thought to himself: Never mind, since His Majesty trusts Yu Wei so much, perhaps this is also an opportunity to overthrow the Right Prime Minister...

Li Chengfeng looked at Song Zelin and softened his tone a little: "My dear Song, you can rest assured and recuperate. I and Yu Wei are here to take care of the affairs of the court. You don't need to worry about it.

"I know you're worried about Right Prime Minister Qi Daokun, but as long as you're still here, your students and former officials, your forces, will never dare to side with Qi Daokun. Am I right?"

Song Zelin was stunned for a moment, then he understood what Li Chengfeng meant.

It turns out that Your Majesty did not act on impulse, but rather after careful consideration.

A warm feeling welled up in his heart, and he said gratefully, "Your Majesty, I understand. I and my forces will give you our full support!"

Li Chengfeng nodded and stood up.

"Okay, then I'm relieved. Have a good rest, my dear Song. I'll come to see you another day."

After saying this, he turned and left the Prime Minister's Mansion.

Song Yuwei looked at Li Chengfeng's departing back, with a lot of thoughts in her mind.

She originally thought that she would be forced to become His Majesty's concubine, but she did not expect that His Majesty would let her temporarily take over the position of Prime Minister.

This sudden change made her both excited and nervous.

I am excited because I finally have the opportunity to realize my ambitions and serve my country.

What worried him was that he had never been involved in government affairs, so could he be competent for such an important task?

In the Golden Palace, the dragon throne was empty and Li Chengfeng arrived late.

He casually glanced at the crowd of court officials below and did not see Qi Daokun.

Claiming to be sick and not coming? Ha, Li Chengfeng already knew all about his little tricks.

"If there is something to report, then report it. If there is nothing to report, then leave the court."

Li Chengfeng spoke lazily, with a hint of impatience in his tone.

Just as he finished speaking, a soldier covered in dust stumbled in, shouting, "Report—great victory in Hexi! The Five Pecks of Rice Bandit leader Zhao Jun has been captured alive by the King of Pingxi!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the court was in an uproar, with waves of congratulations and flattery pouring in.

"What? That bastard Zhao Jun was caught?"

"The King of Pingxi is mighty! It only took him so long to put down the rebellion!"

"Your Majesty is wise and wise! You are a master of military strategy!"

All kinds of sounds mixed together, buzzing like a group of flies flying around my ears.

Li Chengfeng listened calmly.

These fence-sitters were sneering at Liu Feng a few days ago, but now that they see he has won the battle, they immediately changed their attitude.

Wang Lu made some calculations in his mind, then stood up excitedly, clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty! I request your permission to escort Zhao Jun to the capital so that the people of the world can see the fate of those who plot treason!"

Li Chengfeng just glanced at him indifferently.

Escorted to Beijing?

I'm afraid Zhao Jun's "accident" happened before he even arrived in the capital.

He didn't want to give Qi Daokun the opportunity to silence him.

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!