Chapter 78 Rewards

"Draft an imperial edict!"

The emperor whirled around: "Immediately draft an edict! Proclaim to the whole world Xie Wulu's theft of gold and moral depravity! Issue an edict to all ministries, prefectures, and counties! Strip Xie Wulu of all his official titles and honors! Never to be employed again!"

"Yes! Yes! This servant obeys!"

Zhang Dequan felt as if he had been granted a pardon and immediately got up to summon the eunuch in charge of writing.

"Wait!" the emperor's voice rang out again, tinged with weariness, "There's more..."

Zhang Dequan froze on the spot, his heart sinking.

He was a little worried that the Emperor had remembered Miss Xie again.

The emperor slowly walked to the window, his back to everyone, his figure exuding an unprecedented desolation and heaviness.

The anger was real, and the desire to kill had once surged within me.

But an emperor's anger cannot be based solely on emotion.

The appointment document has been issued, filed by the Ministry of Personnel, and announced to the world.

A decree is law; how can it be changed so easily? If the emperor were to retract his order simply because these twenty-three individuals are disciples of Xie Sangning, wouldn't that be announcing to the world that he, the supreme ruler, is a poor judge of character, manipulated by a mere young woman? Wouldn't the laws of the court be treated like a joke? Where would the emperor's authority be?!

What's even more crucial is that Xie Sangning's actions were flawless in their outward appearance!

Sponsoring impoverished students and hiring renowned teachers is cultivating talent for the nation! It is an undeniable act of kindness!

These are virtues worthy of being recorded in history and remembered for all time!

Today, those twenty-three people knelt in the street, tears streaming down their faces, expressing their gratitude. Millions of eyes in the capital saw it all clearly!

The voice of the people is clear, and this is the will of the people!

If he were to be enraged and punish Xie Sangning for this, what would the world say?

They would say that the emperor was narrow-minded, that he was afraid of the general's mansion and couldn't even tolerate such a good deed!

It will chill the hearts of scholars who have studied diligently for years – it turns out that the imperial court selects officials not based on their talent, but on their family background and faction!

If this were to happen, the foundation of the nation would be shaken, the people's hearts would be scattered, and the consequences would be unimaginable!

Even more frightening is the subsequent impact...

People would think that Xie Sangning's school must be very prestigious, capable of producing so many Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations). After that, wouldn't not only poor children, but also children of officials and the powerful want to study at Xie Sangning's academy?

This will shake up the official schools and give the Xie family more power in the court in the future!

This move is truly terrifying.

A sense of humiliation and powerlessness, as if he had been outmaneuvered, gnawed at his internal organs like a venomous snake.

He was the emperor, ruling the world, yet now he was forced to the edge of a cliff by a woman, caught in a dilemma!

Despite being furious, they had no choice but to swallow their anger and blood!

The Imperial Study was deathly silent; you could hear a pin drop.

Only the emperor's slightly heavy breathing made the silence seem even more oppressive.

After an unknown amount of time, the emperor slowly turned around.

"Desheng".

"Yes, sir!"

"Draft another decree."

"The imperial edict reads: Xie Sangning, daughter of General Xie Zhenting, is virtuous and prudent, skilled in domestic matters, and deeply compassionate towards the hardships faced by students from poor families in pursuing their studies. She has generously donated funds to hire teachers to instruct her, demonstrating her sincere dedication and benefiting future generations of students."

"Many of the newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) have been able to realize their lofty ambitions thanks to her grace. She is truly a model for cultivating talent for the country and a model for educating and revitalizing the nation. She is hereby specially commended and conferred the title of 'Princess of Jianing County' and bestowed with an imperial seal. In addition, she is awarded five hundred taels of gold, fifty bolts of palace silk, ten bushels of pearls, and two ruyi scepters to commemorate her virtue. This is the imperial decree."

Every word was uttered with perfect clarity from the emperor's mouth.

Desheng's heart pounded wildly; he could hardly believe his ears!

He's bestowing upon...a title of County Princess?! And such a generous reward?! His Majesty...has he lost his mind in anger?!

"Your Majesty...this..."

Desheng couldn't help but raise his head, his face full of surprise and uncertainty.

He thought Miss Xie was doomed this time.

"Hmm?" The emperor gave him a cold glance, and Zhang Dequan shuddered, hurriedly lowering his head. "This servant deserves to die! This servant...this servant will go and do it right away!"

"Wait. When drafting the decree, make sure every word is carefully considered! The tone should be gentle and the praise sincere! Make sure that everyone in the world, especially the scholars, clearly sees how I am rewarding this virtue of 'cultivating talent for the country'! Do you understand?!"

"yes!"

"Furthermore," the emperor said, his eyes turning sinister, "send men to keep an eye on the General's residence. Report to me in detail everything: the movements of those scholars returning from their homecoming, who Xie Sangning met each day, what he said, and so on!"

"Yes, Your Majesty! This servant will go immediately!" Zhang Dequan scrambled out, his back already soaked with cold sweat.

Once again, only the emperor remained in the imperial study.

He slowly walked to the imperial desk, sat down, and picked up the imperial brush.

He unfolded a brand-new bright yellow imperial edict, and wrote with lightning speed, his pen strokes so sharp they almost tore through the paper!

“Jianing…the County Princess…”

The emperor silently murmured those four words, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent.

The brushstroke fell, the vermilion ink dazzling.

The three characters “Xie Sangning” seem to embody the emperor’s anger and fear.

This letter sealed away her scheming.

This reward is for his failure.

It was a reminder from the emperor to himself.

Never underestimate Xie Sangning.

Pei Yan closed his eyes, pondering the potential consequences of this matter.

But the more I thought about it, the more frightened I became.

It was his carelessness that led to this outcome.

No, Xie Sangning must enter the palace!

When he opened his eyes again, Pei Yan's eyes were filled with fear and possessiveness.

——

The Empress's palace was brightly lit.

Empress Xiao came from a noble family. Her father was the Minister of War and had a subtle rivalry with Xie Zhenting over military achievements.

She sat upright on a rosewood phoenix couch inlaid with mother-of-pearl, dressed in a bright yellow phoenix and peony dress, her well-maintained face bearing a lingering trace of worry.

The news that twenty-three newly appointed nobles knelt in the General's Mansion today has already shaken the entire harem.

She knew all too well that this was no simple visit to her family, but a blatant declaration of the Xie family's powerful influence in the court, and that the woman named Xie Sangning had grown into a force capable of shaking the political landscape.

"The Emperor has arrived—" The eunuch's high-pitched announcement broke the silence.

The Empress immediately composed herself, rose to greet him, and put on a perfectly gentle smile: "Your Majesty, I respectfully welcome you."

"Your Majesty, you may dispense with the formalities."

The emperor's voice sounded tired. He walked straight to the couch and sat down, taking the ginseng tea that the empress had personally served him. However, he simply held the cup in his hand, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the warm, smooth surface of the cup, his gaze fixed on the rising steam within.

Silence fell over the warm pavilion for a moment.

"Empress," the Emperor finally spoke, his voice low.

"You must have heard about what happened in front of the General's Mansion today."

The Empress understood, but her face remained impassive as she nodded slightly: "Yes, Your Majesty. I have heard. The eldest daughter of the Xie family... truly a woman who is no less capable than men, nurturing talents for the country with painstaking efforts, and the results are truly astonishing."