Jiang Shumiao wanted to spit on him.
Others capture demons to uphold justice, but you capture demons to harm people.
Sometimes humans are worse than demons.
Fuqu spoke tremulously, her voice full of grievance, "Your Majesty, according to the Imperial Advisor, if I am a demon, why not borrow the body of a concubine in the harem? Wouldn't that make it easier to get close to Your Majesty?"
Jiang Shumiao nodded repeatedly.
"9494".
The fifth princess cried pitifully, reaching out for her father to hug her, "Bad man, he wants to eat children, waaaah..."
Wen Zhixuan was about to argue further when Emperor Hongde said, "This makes sense. The Imperial Preceptor has already performed a ritual, and she did not reveal her true form. It is clear that this is a misunderstanding. I know that the Imperial Preceptor is eager to capture the demon, but we cannot kill an innocent person."
Wen Zhixuan opened his mouth, "Your Majesty..."
Emperor Hongde was already displeased. "Alright, I know the Imperial Advisor is highly capable, but he is not perfect. It is normal for him to make mistakes occasionally. However, he should be more discreet in the future. For example, don't talk about catching demons and ghosts in front of children. The two of them are only three years old combined. How can they withstand being frightened?"
Wen Zhixuan's expression changed several times.
Emperor Hongde waved his hand, "You may kneel and take your leave."
Although he trusted Wen Zhixuan, the other party was still just an outsider, and naturally could not compare to his own daughter who was born with auspicious omens and his lovely and lovable niece.
Wen Zhixuan had no choice but to say, "Yes."
He glanced coldly at Fuqu, his gaze lingering on Jiang Shumiao for a moment.
There's definitely something wrong with this kid!
Jiang Shumiao made a face at him, with a 'let's see what you can do to me' expression, and made a hand gesture behind her back.
Wen Zhixuan was walking down the stairs when he suddenly lost his footing and tumbled down.
[Serves you right for bullying others. You've suffered a serious injury that will take a hundred days to heal. Go home and rest well.]
With her hands behind her back, she skipped and hopped back to Changxin Palace after Emperor Hongde, who had soothed his daughter.
The Empress Dowager noticed that both children's eyes were red, clearly from crying. The Fifth Princess, in particular, was still sobbing.
"What happened?"
Emperor Hongde gave a brief explanation.
The Empress Dowager frowned in displeasure. "The Imperial Advisor is far too domineering. Last time he frightened Yu Yan so much that she cried for days, and now he's targeting a little girl. What, can't she be allowed to be beautiful? Look at Fu Qu, how does she resemble a demon?"
Emperor Hongde looked somewhat embarrassed.
"Your Majesty is right. I have already warned the Imperial Advisor, and such misunderstandings will not happen again. However, Your Majesty should still keep a closer eye on Miaomiao and prevent her from running around the palace. What if she bumps into someone or falls down?"
The Empress Dowager hugged her little granddaughter and said, "Children are innocent and lively, and it's their nature to love to play and make a fuss. If you restrict them in this way and control them in that way, they won't grow up to be a block of wood."
Jiang Shumiao sat in her lap and nodded repeatedly.
"That's right, that's right."
The fifth princess stopped crying and joined in the chorus of support.
"I don't want to be a piece of wood."
Emperor Hongde: "..."
Well, they really are two little devils.
Emperor Hongde didn't care anymore; he was too busy.
This plague originated from the Northwest War.
War means death. The people in the war zone are inevitably affected. Counties such as Ji, Shanggui, Fuqiang, Longcheng, and Qingshui suffered countless casualties. In some places, because the bodies were not properly disposed of, birds and ants pecked at them, leading to outbreaks of disease.
It started in a small area, but the local magistrate didn't take it seriously, so the plague began to spread to the entire Tianshui Prefecture.
Natural disasters turn into man-made disasters.
How could Emperor Hongde not be angry?
He immediately dispatched doctors, medicine, and money to provide disaster relief, and two months later, good news arrived.
The plague was brought under control.
Emperor Hongde was in high spirits, but unexpectedly, just after the imperial examination in August ended, he received a secret report.
The prefect of Tianshui County, in collusion with local magistrates, committed a heinous massacre of people infected with the plague in an attempt to embezzle disaster relief funds. Medical officials were either killed or bribed.
The emperor was furious.
Jiang Shumiao and a group of children were playing checkers on the ground when the Empress said to the Empress Dowager with great concern, "These local officials are really audacious, colluding with each other to cover up the truth. They only care about money and don't care about the lives of the people. This has led to successive unrest in Qinzhou and Chengzhou. If it weren't for this, His Majesty would still be kept in the dark."
The Empress Dowager sighed.
"When corrupt officials run rampant, the people are forced to rebel. The court has to send troops to suppress them, but it is still the innocent people who die."
The Empress remained silent.
Jiang Shumiao listened intently.
The Empress Dowager added, "What angers the Emperor even more are the aristocratic families."
The Empress remained silent.
Yin Yunheng, the prefect of Tianshui County, was from a collateral branch of the Yin family. The county magistrates under his jurisdiction were either relatives of the Yin family or related by marriage.
From small things, one can see the big picture.
The Yin family's arrogance stemmed solely from their powerful clan. How could the emperor not be furious, and how could he not be alarmed, when he considered the vast network of aristocratic families?
"Has the emperor said who he will send to quell the unrest?"
"His Majesty intends to send Grand Commandant Jiang."
That's Jiang Zhixu.
The Empress Dowager remained silent for a long time.
She knew her nephew well; if it were to drive out foreign enemies, he would be duty-bound to do so, but now it was about suppressing the rebellious people, which he probably wouldn't be willing to do.
The Empress observed the Empress Dowager's expression and said, "As soon as the news reached the capital, the Yin family tried to escape, but the Imperial Advisor and his men blocked them at the city gate and imprisoned them all. Several powerful families in Tianshui rebelled under the banner of 'purging the court of corrupt officials.' This time, the suppression is not of the rebellious common people, but of the powerful families."
That being said, in the end, it is the ordinary people who suffer from such internal rebellions.
"The Imperial Advisor is indeed astute. It's true that he has never led troops before, yet he is able to command respect."
The Empress Dowager's words were quite meaningful.
The Empress paused for a moment, then said, "His Majesty does not trust aristocratic families."
Of course, with powerful families threatening the emperor, how could he possibly believe it?
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
