Chapter 214: Once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back
It was rare to see Chu Liuzheng take the initiative to approach the emperor, and Xiao Anzi was a little surprised, but thinking that the emperor was indeed free at the moment, he nodded in agreement.
He quickly walked into the hall.
Xiao Jingfan was sitting cross-legged on the couch copying scriptures.
Xiao Anzi bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Miss Liu Zheng is requesting an audience outside the palace. She says she has something important to report."
Xiao Jingfan, who had been waiting impatiently for a long time, put down his brush and was about to call the person in, but he changed his words when the words came to his lips, "Let her wait."
Xiao Anzi was stunned. Isn't His Majesty free now?
He turned his head to look at Zhou Yuande who was waiting on the side. Zhou Yuande winked at him, and Xiao Anzi quickly took the order and retreated.
Outside the palace, he said to Chu Liuzheng who came to greet him, "Young lady, please wait a moment. His Majesty is busy right now."
[Tsk tsk, the tyrant is a busy man, so just wait.]
"Thank you, eunuch." Chu Liuzheng nodded and walked to the side to wait so as not to block the way.
In the rainy and snowy weather, the wind blowing on the body carries moisture, making people feel cold from the soles of their feet.
Chu Liuzheng stamped his feet and walked back and forth in a small area, breathing out streams of hot air from his mouth.
Xiao Anzi tilted his head to look into the hall, wondering why His Majesty hadn't asked anyone to come in.
Inside the hall, Xiao Jingfan stopped copying scriptures. His right hand lazily supported his chin, his eyes looked out the window, and his left hand tapped lightly on his leg, his speed getting faster and faster.
On the small table in front of him stood an exquisite hourglass, with sand flowing down, making a rustling sound.
Zhou Yuande looked at the hourglass and then at the emperor, and gently reminded: "Your Majesty, would you like Miss Liu Zheng to come in?"
Xiao Jingfan tilted his head to look at him, and uttered three words from his thin lips: "I'm busy."
Zhou Yuande: “…”
Your fingers are tapping as if you were playing drums, and you still don’t have time?
However, he sighed in his heart and thought, if the emperor said he was not free, then so be it.
Outside the palace, Chu Liuzheng was so cold that he wanted to go back to Yiran Garden.
As the saying goes, nothing is difficult in the world as long as you are willing to give up... No, there is no rush for her. Since the emperor is very busy, then let him be busy. She can come again tomorrow.
[Let's go, it's such a horrible weather. I'm afraid I'll catch a cold if I wait any longer. I'll come back tomorrow!]
Chu Liuzheng sniffed his red nose and walked towards Xiao Anzi. Just as he was about to say something polite and leave, Zhou Yuande came out of the hall and said to Chu Liuzheng with a smile, "Your Majesty, please summon the young lady."
Chu Liuzheng blinked.
"Ah, if I had known this would give the Tyrant some free time, I would have left long ago. I'm freezing so hard my nose is practically running."
Xiao Jingfan: "..."
He reached out and knocked over the small hourglass on the table, watched it roll several times and fall to the ground, then reached out to catch it and put it back on the table.
Chu Liuzheng followed Zhou Yuande into the hall and happened to see this scene.
[Hey, the tyrant is still playing with toys, quite childlike. ]
Xiao Jingfan: "..."
Just crush this woman to death!
"Your Majesty, may you be well." Chu Liuzheng knelt down and saluted.
Xiao Jingfan turned to look at her, saw her red nose, pursed his lips quickly, and raised his hand: "Stand up."
Chu Liuzheng stood up, staring at the ground.
People of low status are not allowed to look directly at the emperor and are particularly required to observe the rules.
Xiao Jingfan didn't want to look at the top of a head, so he said, "Raise your head."
Chu Liuzheng looked up as he was told, revealing his face, but his gaze still did not fall on the emperor's face. He only stared at the golden dragon on the black robe and sighed secretly.
[As expected of an emperor's clothes, the fabric, the stitching, and the embroidery must be worth a fortune, right?]
Xiao Jingfan: "..."
This woman is really obsessed with money!
He waved to Zhou Yuande, who immediately led all the palace servants out of the hall and considerately closed the door.
The hall is brightly lit with candles, and opening and closing doors have no impact.
Chu Liuzheng secretly glanced at the closed door.
"I haven't even said anything yet, why did the tyrant drive out Eunuch Zhou and the others? Is he so cautious?"
Xiao Jingfan looked at her red face from the cold and asked, "What important matter do you have to report?"
Chu Liuzheng said, "Your Majesty, I dreamed of the Southern Pole Immortal last night. He told me something. Since it concerns the country, I dare not conceal it, so I have come to report it to Your Majesty."
"The Immortal of the South Pole?" Xiao Jingfan raised his eyebrows slightly, his tone full of doubt.
Chu Liuzheng nodded: "Yes, I dare not deceive Your Majesty."
Xiao Jingfan stared at her, his eyes full of scrutiny and assessment, full of oppression, which made Chu Liuzheng's heart tremble.
[Luckily I don't have a heart disease, otherwise, being stared at like that by a tyrant, wouldn't I have had a heart attack?]
The hall was silent, with only the rustling sound of the hourglass on the table.
[Stop looking, your face is about to be pierced through. Just say something if you believe it or not!]
Chu Liuzheng looked at the ground, feeling that every minute and every second was torture, and did not notice the teasing in Xiao Jingfan's eyes.
He carefully observed Chu Liuzheng's uneasy expression. The rustling sound flowing by his ears no longer made him feel anxious, but instead made him feel a little happy.
Sure enough, this woman will only behave herself if she is under his watch.
He retracted his gaze and said in a cold voice, "Sit down and talk."
Eh?
Chu Liuzheng looked up in surprise and met Xiao Jingfan's gaze. She was so scared that she quickly looked back at the ground and sighed silently.
[Regarding natural beauty, the Tyrant is still as good-looking as ever! ]
Xiao Jingfan's eyes twitched. Seeing Chu Liuzheng was about to get a stool, he raised his hand and pointed across, "Sit here."
Chu Liuzheng looked back at the seat across the table from the emperor and walked over to sit down.
It was clearly flat and covered with two layers of woolen mats, making it soft, but Chu Liuzheng felt it was very uncomfortable, as if there were hundreds of needles, and he was very fidgety.
Is this a place where a little palace maid like her can sit?
She tried hard to figure out the emperor's intentions.
"Sitting closer should be easier for the Tyrant to observe if I'm fooling him. Tsk tsk, the Tyrant is so cunning. It's time to show off my acting skills. Chu Liuzheng, hold on!"
Xiao Jingfan: "..."
Seeing the man who had been sitting unsteadily just now suddenly sit up firmly as if holding a weight, he cleared his throat and asked, "What did the Immortal of the South Pole tell you?"
Chu Liuzheng lowered his brows and said, "Your Majesty, the Immortal of the South Pole said that there is a change in Dasheng, and it should be caused by two people. If it can be properly handled, it will benefit Dasheng."
It is actually beneficial.
Xiao Jingfan looked more expectant and said, "Tell me in detail."
Chu Liuzheng didn't know whether he believed it or not, but once the arrow was shot, there was no turning back. She encouraged herself in her heart and spoke out the speech she had prepared in one breath.
"According to the Immortal of the South Pole, these two are His Royal Highness Prince Xiao and the Minister of Revenue. They have been communicating frequently to discuss tax reforms. A preliminary agreement has been reached, and the Minister of Revenue has written a draft of the plan and placed it in his study."
Tax reform?!
Xiao Jingfan's pupils shrank in shock, and his hand on the table slowly clenched into a fist.
He imagined countless possibilities, but never expected the truth to be like this.
Chu Liuzheng studied him quietly, and seeing he didn't stop, he continued, "What I just said was all said by the Southern Pole Immortal in my dream. I don't know whether it's true or not. But the tax issue concerns the people's livelihood and the country, so I dare not conceal anything. After much consideration, I still dare to come and report."
She stood up and knelt down: "Your Majesty, please forgive me for my nonsense."
(End of this chapter)
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