Chapter 7 007 I would like to sit opposite Xie Qing and play the sheng.
The court officials were unaware, and neither was Zhao Jialing.
She has no interest in learning about it at the moment.
The guards dragged Huan Qi out. After dealing with this important matter at court, the civil and military officials had nothing else to discuss, so Zhao Jialing adjourned the court. However, after court, she didn't go to her bedchamber, but instead rode in the imperial carriage directly to the Empress Dowager's palace. The events at court would eventually reach the Empress Dowager's ears, after all, the one imprisoned was her own maternal uncle, the Empress Dowager's half-brother.
Although the Empress Dowager wasn't usually very close to Huan Qi, she still treated the Duke of Anguo's household with the utmost respect. Zhao Jialing was unsure whether imprisoning the Duke of Anguo would upset the Empress Dowager.
[System, San San, will Mother not pull them out?]
Why should she have a headache over this? It was all the court officials who pushed for it; she didn't do anything. At most, she was nagged until she couldn't take it anymore.
[Host, don't you know your mother?] The Wise Ruler System is astute; the data shows that the Empress Dowager is not a wicked woman who supports her brother.
Zhao Jialing felt a little relieved.
She certainly knew her mother well; between her brother and daughters, she would definitely favor the daughters' authority. Besides, there was Xie Lanzhao, whom her mother favored. She had even felt jealous in the past because of her mother's treatment of Xie Lanzhao—who was the real biological daughter after all?
After the late emperor passed away, she ascended the throne before his coffin. At fourteen, she was not considered a young ruler, but she was still quite young and had not been trained in the ways of being a ruler. Initially, the Empress Dowager ruled from behind the curtain, but when she turned sixteen, her mother hurriedly removed the curtain, showing no attachment to politics whatsoever.
Her mother had no desire for power and only four hobbies in life.
First, she raises cats; second, she drinks alcohol; third, she reads military books; and fourth—she shares common interests with her fourth sister, both of them love to discuss philosophy.
Zhao Jialing really couldn't understand how these hobbies could coexist. Once, she said to her drunken mother, "Is the drunken Taoist always peaceful?" and was then kicked out.
Lost in thought, he had already arrived at the Empress Dowager's palace.
As soon as Zhao Jialing stepped down from the carriage, several long-haired tabby cats surrounded her feet, their tiny paws snaking and hooking, leaving a thin line in their wake. Zhao Jialing looked at the little tabby cats with a troubled expression. Being surrounded by them was beautiful, but sometimes such deep affection was hard to bear. She looked down at the snow-white tabby cats hanging on her legs and moved forward with difficulty.
There were at least several dozen cats in the palace. It was only thanks to Xie Lanzhao's idea of "cutting off the roots" that the dragon throne was able to be filled with them.
Zhao Jialing didn't speak, and the attendants didn't dare to approach him to take the cat away.
The Empress Dowager sat on the couch reading military books.
Zhao Jialing called out "Mother," then waved her hand, signaling the servants to leave.
She glanced at the military treatise, and the dense text immediately made her dizzy, her vision blurred, and she felt thirty years older prematurely.
"Why has Your Majesty come here?" Empress Dowager Huan looked up at Zhao Jialing. She had just put down her military treatise when a plump tabby cat leaped into her arms with extraordinary agility. She was nearly forty, but her face was beautiful, and she looked about thirty.
"Your son has come to visit Mother." Zhao Jialing smiled, landing beside the Empress Dowager and reaching out to stroke the plump tabby cat. There was no distance between her and the Empress Dowager; she didn't need to beat around the bush. After a moment's consideration, she said directly, "Today, someone in court impeached a treacherous official, and your son obeys—"
But before Zhao Jialing could finish speaking, Empress Dowager Huan interrupted him.
She said, “Your Majesty, there is no need to discuss matters of the court with me. If there is anything that is difficult to decide, just ask the prime minister.”
Zhao Jialing remained silent for a moment.
Her mother would get a terrible headache as soon as she heard about court affairs, just like when she read a book.
But I still have to say it this time.
She sighed, "It was my uncle who was impeached."
"Who?" Empress Dowager Huan frowned and drawled, "Huan Qi, he's only alive because of you and me. What did he do wrong?" Before Zhao Jialing could answer, she added, "Never mind, don't tell me. Let things be as they are."
Zhao Jialing finally breathed a sigh of relief. She said, "I have already imprisoned my uncle. I wanted to show favoritism and protect the face of the emperor's uncle, but my uncle has really gone too far. He is using your name to make money outside. You are a devout Taoist and have not yet achieved enlightenment. I suppose it is because of your uncle who is holding you back."
Empress Dowager Huan: "...There's no need to say that." She'd never seen anyone in the world truly achieve such a feat; as for piety, they certainly weren't. They were just passing the time in the inner palace. She glanced at Zhao Jialing, "Did Huan Qi offend you?"
"He practically pointed his finger at my nose and called me a tyrannical and incompetent ruler who favored treacherous officials." Zhao Jialing was furious just thinking about it. Although it was true that the emperor should be open to advice—and she was—how could she expect her to be without temper when she heard unpleasant words? You know, the last person who claimed to be humble and open-minded, and who said that having the emperor was like looking into a bright mirror and using the emperor as a mirror, ended up knocking down the tombstone of the official who gave him advice not long after his death.
"By the way, Uncle also wants to marry his daughter to Prince Zhong. There are plenty of talented young men out there, why choose a cripple? He really likes Prince Zhong, even considering his son's funeral arrangements." Zhao Jialing didn't maintain any brotherly affection in front of the Empress Dowager. Mentioning Princess Zhongshan made her jealous, and when it came to Prince Zhong—she was originally indifferent, but after hearing the system's words, she was filled with displeasure. "He's an old widower lying on his bed, why does he have to ruin someone else's daughter? Is he some kind of hot commodity?"
"Is that wretched Huan Qi blind?" Empress Dowager Huan's composure crumbled. Fine, she didn't believe that Prince Zhong's faction had any ability to seize the throne. She didn't mind Huan Qi associating with the imperial relatives, but what was he planning to do by getting so deeply involved? She didn't care about anything else, but if it harmed the emperor, that would be a heart-wrenching matter for her.
"So be it, imprison him. Everything will be done according to the rules." Empress Dowager Huan's voice was chilling.
Zhao Jialing added, "But the Duke of Anguo's household—" She didn't need to say more; Empress Dowager Huan understood. The Duke of Anguo's family would definitely go to the palace to plead for him, and it was unlikely they would appeal to the Emperor.
Empress Dowager Huan said, "Just say I'm ill."
Zhao Jialing smiled and said, "I will attend to your illness there and temporarily suspend my regular court duties."
Empress Dowager Huan glanced at her and said, "Don't even think about it."
After having lunch at the Empress Dowager's palace, Zhao Jialing returned to his bedchamber.
Huan Qi's affairs were none of her concern; judging from the officials' attitude, they were determined to skin him alive. Since the Empress Dowager didn't object, then so be it—imprison him.
Zhao Jialing was in a good mood; she didn't have the ability to go to great lengths to get rid of the treacherous officials.
But if credit is handed to you directly, you might as well accept it.
As the saying goes, "If you don't take what Heaven gives you, you will suffer the consequences."
"San San, what are the achievement rewards?" Zhao Jialing asked the Wise Ruler System.
She only remembered words like "work" and "promotion" from the book title; she didn't know anything else.
She still couldn't figure out whether she was having a hysterical episode or if she really had divine help.
No sooner had Zhao Jialing finished speaking than a strangely shaped book appeared out of nowhere on the table with a thud.
[This is a book.] It discusses the system of wise rulers.
[A book?] Does a scroll look like this? Wait, no, how did it actually appear? Has her obsession deepened, or has her destiny arrived?
"Yin'e!" Zhao Jialing immediately called to the head palace maid who was serving her. She pointed to the books on the table and asked, "Can you see them?"
Yin'e: "?" She didn't quite understand His Majesty's meaning, and nodded blankly, saying, "This servant can see."
Zhao Jialing then said, "Read it aloud."
Yin'e: "Methods to improve work efficiency and manage tasks effectively."
【This is specially localized, using your own language.】The Wise Ruler System is very proud.
"Our writing? Is there something else?" Zhao Jialing asked, but she quickly stopped dwelling on the characters. This creation out of thin air was something no human could do! It turned out there really was something following her.
That's great, she's not sick!
Zhao Jialing screamed inwardly, but remained calm and composed on the surface. She flipped through the book, then was overwhelmed by the sections on "Personnel Management, Reports, Statistical Charts, and Task Flows" in the table of contents. Zhao Jialing decisively closed "Methods to Improve Work Efficiency" and ordered Yin'e, "Send someone to invite Xie Zhongshu here."
Inside the Hall of State Affairs.
The focus of the discussion was not on Huan Qi's imprisonment, but on "inner voices".
The Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat firmly believed that His Majesty was a true Son of Heaven, a divine being descended to earth, and therefore had divine assistance by his side.
The Imperial Secretary, however, harbored some concerns.
Even though what I said in my heart is correct, what if it's just a ruse to mislead them? What if they reveal their true intentions one day?
Whether it is related to His Majesty or not remains to be confirmed.
Besides, it's certain that some people can't hear it, so what could be the reason?
Xie Lanzhao, who was invited into the palace by Zhao Jialing, also had many worries on her mind.
Zhao Jialing regretted it after sending someone to invite Xie Lanzao.
If Xie Lanzhao were to insist on getting to the bottom of things, how would she explain that strange book?
"Just say it was dug up in the Imperial Ancestral Temple," the Wise Ruler System suggested to Zhao Jialing.
It simply doesn't believe that any official would bother to inspect the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
And even if we ask for details, we'll have ways to deal with it.
for example--
"Go down and ask the late emperor."
Zhao Jialing indicated that he understood.
But when she saw Xie Lanzhao, her smile still seemed a little stiff.
She opened her mouth, but didn't say a word.
[Host, are you going to remain silent with Xie Lanzhao?]
Zhao Jialing sighed: "I would like to sit opposite Minister Xie and play the sheng (a type of reed pipe instrument)."
Xie Lanzhao listened to Zhao Jialing's inner thoughts with a blank expression.
The more you listen, the higher your tolerance will become.
Zhao Jialing finally made a decision. She pointed to the book and gestured for the palace maid to deliver it to Xie Lanzhao.
She asked herself slowly and deliberately, "What does Xie Qing think?"
Xie Lanzhao held the book with both hands to show respect to the emperor.
She was wondering what kind of mess Zhao Jialing had gotten up to torment her this time, but when her eyes fell on the words on the book cover, her gaze suddenly sharpened.
Unlike Zhao Jialing, she clearly remembered what the Wise Ruler System said.
—"Methods to Improve Work Efficiency: Effective Task Management".
So it's not the invasion of demons, monsters, or evil winds; it's His Majesty's own voice.
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