Chapter 12 Deep regret is almost like the sky falling down. The butler thought…
"A ruler should prioritize the people. The war in Qingniu has just ended, and the people are suffering greatly. Therefore, I hereby decree that the funds originally allocated to me for the repair of my mausoleum should be used entirely for reconstruction in the north. This is not a matter of my personal virtue, but rather in accordance with the public justice of the world. All my ministers shall immediately cooperate in this matter."
There has been a tradition among emperors throughout history of building tombs upon their ascension to the throne.
Ying Xi had even saved on the expenses of keeping actors in the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment brothel), but she hadn't touched this money yet.
Ying Xi knew he might not live much longer. His country had already fallen, so why would a deposed monarch build a tomb?
Therefore, this money was essentially found on the street.
Use it if it works!
Wherever the sun and moon shine, all can be used by me!
Ying Xi made up her mind.
But Ying Xi could think this way, while the court officials below were completely unaware.
The emperor abandoned his own dignity to resume production and prepare for spring plowing, which was truly astonishing.
The Minister of Revenue dared not accept the imperial decree even under duress: "Your Majesty, I would rather die than touch the funds allocated for Your Majesty's mausoleum construction! I beg Your Majesty to rescind your order!"
What a joke! Who knows if the emperor is just putting on a show?
If you actually spend this money and end up becoming a thorn in the emperor's side because he can't understand your intentions, then it would be a real loss.
The Minister of Revenue firmly refused once again.
But once Yingxi made her decision, she put the memorial aside and started arranging the next thing.
The emperor's silence signified that he was not going to listen to reason, and that he was too lazy to bother with further words.
The Minister of Revenue only then belatedly realized that the Emperor was serious.
The Minister of Revenue was greatly astonished.
Next, the Minister of Revenue bowed and slowly moved to the emperor's side, picked up the edict from the corner of the table, found the paper extremely heavy, and quickly left the hall to carry it out.
The second imperial edict still required money.
Please allocate military funds to upgrade the defense level of the area bordering Li Yilong's army in Jiangbei.
Ying Xi remembered that when Su Xueyi dealt with this problem in his previous life, he had put forward a very valuable theory.
If the military expenditures spent by the imperial court can bring the same or even greater losses to the enemy, then such expenditures are worthwhile.
Before Ying Xi could think things through, Su Xueyi disappeared without a trace, along with her entire family.
In this life, Ying Xi decided to allocate funds only as needed. Having just saved some money to spend on this, it wasn't a loss, and the national treasury could still afford it. So, he approved it and allowed the relevant court officials to use the money to do their jobs.
The third problem was to provide immediate funding for the artisans in the Ministry of Works.
That's quite a sum of money. Where will the money come from?
Ying Xi thought for a moment, a slight smile curving her lips, realizing there was another place where she could truly save a huge sum of money.
Ying Xi beckoned to Yu Jing and whispered instructions to her. Yu Jing raised her eyebrows higher and higher, controlling her expression as she nodded.
"Yes, yes, this servant obeys the decree."
Yu Jing hurriedly said to the Minister of Works, "Please follow me to the treasury to withdraw the silver, Your Excellency."
The emperor readily gave the money, but his behavior was somewhat strange.
Although the Minister of Works was puzzled, he figured that having money was better than anything else, so he bowed and thanked the Emperor.
After that, Ying Xi quickly handled several other matters, each one clear and well-organized, demonstrating proper conduct.
With the emperor personally overseeing the matter, all matters concerning the Ministry of Personnel were naturally handled promptly.
Su Xueyi was not present, and the officials vied for attention using their own abilities.
They were usually suppressed by Su Xueyi, but honestly, who didn't want to perform well in front of the emperor?
Once Su Xueyi is demystified, her personality flaws become fully apparent!
Ying Xi rewarded several diligent and outstanding ministers on the spot, which led to more ministers vying for the Yang position, resulting in healthy competition and making the Shangshutai (Imperial Secretariat) operate more smoothly than ever before.
At this moment, Tian Tong muttered, "Stay away from scumbags, cherish life."
Ying Xi: "?"
With the tip of the wolf-hair brush hovering two or three inches above the paper, Ying Xi paused for a moment.
***
The young general under Xie Qianli was still kneeling on one knee in the corner.
The young general dared not rise without the emperor's decree.
And because he had just said something treasonous, after calming down and thinking about it, he realized that he might indeed be sowing discord between the monarch and his ministers, bringing disaster upon the new Duke of Ying!
The young general was still anxious for a posthumous title, but he didn't want to cause Xie Qianli's death.
He dared not move or raise any further objections, hoping that his current submissiveness would offset his previous outrageous remarks.
The more obedient and observant he became, the more belatedly he realized how terrifying Ying Xi was.
An emperor who might not even have a grave after death, if he's ruthless to himself, who else could he not be ruthless to?
The warm yellow light from the window cast a soft glow on Yingxi's brown hair and dark gray eyes.
The emperor was so cold that even his skin, hair, and eye color were light. He looked so heartless, so who could he possibly care about?
The young emperor on the throne exuded a majesty as sharp as a knife.
His imposing presence was comparable to, or perhaps even surpassed, that of General Xie, who had been through countless battles since his youth.
The young general dared not look up, lowering his head and trying his best to minimize his presence.
He knelt until one leg went numb, and all the people from the Ministry of Personnel had been dismissed by Ying Xi. It was almost noon, and the hall was brightly lit.
Only then did the emperor reluctantly put down his pen.
Compared to the bustling Shangshutai earlier, it was now unusually quiet.
It was so quiet that you could hear the rustling of leaves in the wind outside the main hall.
The pen barrel struck the pen rest, producing a clear and faint sound, as if striking the soul.
Ying Xi turned her gaze to the military officer: "What's your name?"
"Lian...Lian Qing," the young general stammered.
Where was the same energy Lian Qing had when he was angrily rebuking Feng Yong for his inaction?
He wasn't clever, only full of enthusiasm. Unable to fathom the emperor's thoughts, he could only admit his mistake and shoulder the responsibility: "This humble general begs Your Majesty's forgiveness!"
"Where is the sin?"
"This humble general should not have acted impulsively, contradicting the Prime Minister and disrupting the work of the court officials!"
Ying Xi looked at him with her deep gray eyes.
Lian Qing felt guilty and stopped trying to downplay the issue, saying bluntly, "This humble general should not have misunderstood... misunderstood that His Majesty wanted to harm the former Duke of Ying and deliberately delayed his burial."
The topic Lian Qing was discussing was sensitive, and I was so nervous I felt like my scalp was about to explode. The truth that loose lips sink ships was clearly evident in his actions; he was bowing his head so low that his face was completely hidden.
Lian Qing heard the emperor say from above:
"Rumors always get exaggerated when they're infused with imagination. Three men can make a tiger; I don't blame you."
Lian Qing suddenly raised her eyes.
Just then, the emperor handed him the paper he had just finished writing on, and Lian Qing quickly got up and staggered to take it.
That's the posthumous title the emperor personally bestowed upon the Duke of Ying: Zhongwu (忠武).
Loyal ministers and heroes, exceptionally brave and skilled in martial arts.
This is a high praise for the character and achievements of Xie Ji, the former Duke of England.
Lian Qing held the thin sheet of Xuan paper in both hands, but felt that she could not hold it steady, and her fingertips were trembling.
He was unaware that this was the emperor's way of venting his anger on him while giving the Xie family a reward—a tactic to control people.
A martial artist has a simple mind.
Lian Qing intuitively and subjectively believed that the emperor had excellent handwriting, and although the posthumous title had been long awaited, it was well worth the effort of receiving it personally drafted and bestowed by the emperor.
Lian Qing said excitedly, "On behalf of the Duke of Ying, I thank Your Majesty. I will immediately report to the Duke of Ying to have a stele erected for his burial."
"Wait a minute," Ying Xi said.
Lian Qing raised his eyebrows and looked at the emperor with a slightly puzzled expression.
"Does Your Majesty have any further instructions?" Lian Qing asked.
Ying Xi paused for a moment, then said softly, "Send word to Xie Qianli that I will attend the funeral of the former Duke of Ying."
The posthumous title was granted, but the court was indeed in the wrong for delaying the burial of the Duke of Yingguo.
Xie Qianli is still useful, and the Duke of England's team is still a sharp sword in his hands. Ying Xi should appease him and does not want this sword to hurt her at the moment.
"Your Majesty... is going to hold a funeral for the Duke of Yingguo?" Lian Qing's raised eyebrows and eyes brightened even more. He wasn't sure, so he checked again.
Ying Xi nodded.
Lian Qing exclaimed excitedly, "Yes! Yes! This humble general will definitely deliver the message! I will definitely deliver the message!"
Lian Qing immediately got up and ran out of the Ministry of Personnel.
System notification: Charm value +500
"?"
***
He still didn't understand why the charm points were only added to Lian Qing.
Were the other decisions not done well?
Yingxi was once again filled with doubts about the evaluation criteria of the romance system.
At this moment, Yu Jing returned from her errand and invited Ying Xi to return to Weiyang Palace for lunch.
Yu Jing's young apprentice followed suit and tried to help Ying Xi up from the dragon throne, but the emperor waved him off, displeasing him.
Yu Jing laughed and said, "His Majesty asked me to take the Minister of Works to collect the money. When the Minister actually received the silver, he was so excited that his hands were shaking."
The Minister asked me, "Where in the national treasury is the silver plentiful?"
“This servant will reveal a little more to him,” Yu Jing said. “He was so frightened that he dared not accept it, but this servant insisted that it was His Majesty’s reward for those who have worked hard, and the Minister of Works could not refuse it and took it.”
Ying Xi nodded slowly, stood up on her own, and stood very upright.
Yu Jing hesitated for a moment and then chuckled softly, “That Su Xueyi is ungrateful. His Majesty gave all the silver originally allocated to him to those who serve the court diligently. If Prime Minister Su knew this, he would definitely regret it.”
Yu Jing's words were dangerous: Has Prime Minister Su lost the Emperor's favor?
The chief eunuch watched the emperor with bated breath.
Seeing that the emperor's expression remained unchanged, Yu Jing broke out in a cold sweat.
Then the emperor's lips relaxed and he raised them slightly upwards. Only then did the jade mirror's three souls and seven spirits return to their places, confirming that he had made the right bet.
—Is that so? He said that with His Majesty's overwhelming imperial might, how could he, Su Xueyi, have offended him so many times?
The chief steward, having gained a clearer understanding of the situation, became even more determined in his stance.
Ying Xi said, "Let's go back to Weiyang Palace."
"Yes." Yu Jing followed at a distance.
At noon, the emperor set off to return to the palace, passing through a solemn and smooth passageway, with the Imperial Secretariat becoming increasingly distant.
A black eagle that had been perched on a high branch of a willow tree at the Ministry of Personnel, with an iron ring on its talons, flapped its wings and glided away proudly as Ying Xi left.
The eagle soars into the heavens.
The sharp cry of a falcon tore through the sky, its shadow falling swiftly across the Prime Minister's residence, startling the thrushes there into flapping their wings.
"Chirp chirp chirp!"
"Chirp chirp chirp!"
The thrushes fluttered their wingtips in fear inside the gilded cage, causing it to shake. The steward, Su Fu, quickly held the cage down.
"Oh dear, don't move, don't move! The young master is reading, and the young lady just fell asleep..."
The courtyard of the Right Chancellor's residence is full of springtime charm.
But the restless noises in the cage broke the silence and woke the little girl on the bed. The little girl shuddered and hurriedly shrank into the corner of the bed.
His eyes were filled with fear!
"Fire... Yinyin is scared...Mom, where are you...?"
The little girl hugged her knees in terror.
Her face turned deathly pale in an instant, as if she were immersed in a terrifying scene that only she could see. She was not content to stay on the bed; she wanted to escape.
"Yinyin wants to save her older brother, but where is he?"
“Here she is,” Su Xueyi said, putting down her book with her right hand and patting Su Yin’s head. “Go to sleep. There’s no fire. Yin Yin is safe.”
The skin of that hand was a cool, jade-white color, with long, slender, and strong finger bones.
The owner of the hand had a face of indescribable beauty; if one were to describe it, his appearance would make one hold their breath for a moment.
Su Yin immediately quieted down, tightly clutching Su Xueyi's sleeve, and soon fell asleep again.
Su Xueyi covered her eight-year-old sister with a blanket, the gentleness in her eyes vanishing, replaced by an arrogance and disdain that emanated from her very being.
Su Xueyi stood up casually and said, "Go and get Zhang Qin. I've been bored at the Ministry of Personnel lately, so I just composed a piece."
The butler was well aware that their young master was learned and skilled, and also proficient in music.
But the steward still reminded him, "Young master, you have requested sick leave from the court. If the music reaches outside the mansion, some people may accuse you of deceiving the emperor."
Su Xueyi didn't care.
Su Xueyi then thought of the Emperor and said indifferently, "His Majesty usually acts with respect for the virtuous and talented, so he certainly won't hold such details against me."
He then looked at his sleeping sister, Su Yin, and remarked, "The treasures bestowed by the palace are nothing special, except for a few tonics that are truly excellent."
Su Xueyi said, "This time I am claiming to be ill, the young emperor will surely go to great lengths to bestow many gifts upon me. You all divide the food among yourselves, and leave the tonics for Yinyin."
"Can……"
The butler looked somewhat embarrassed and hesitated to speak.
Su Xueyi frowned slightly, her voice beautiful: "Why are you hesitating?"
Su Xueyi scoffed and said loudly, "Could it be that he issued an imperial decree to send people to personally watch me enjoy this?"
The butler's face darkened further.
Su Xueyi shook her head even more: "What could it be? Could it be that the sky is falling down?"
It would be almost like the sky falling down. The butler wondered how to convey to the young master the fact that he might lose the emperor's favor.
The steward said sadly, "Young master, His Majesty has not given you any reward, nor has he sent anyone to watch over you."
Su Xueyi: "..."
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