Chapter 130 The Prime Minister
At night, Jiang Xi, familiar with the place, pushed the soft couch in the hall to the edge of the bed. Shang Yuji couldn't persuade him otherwise, so he simply dragged the bedding to the edge of the bed and lay down to sleep.
Because Jiang Xi was worried that sleeping would put pressure on her lower back wound, she had been sleeping alone on the soft couch for the past few days.
Shang Yuji was puzzled, but she chose to respect the arrangement and moved closer to the bedside so that the two of them could also get closer.
Before going to sleep, she reached out and patted the bulging blankets on the soft couch. By the moonlight, Jiang Xi revealed her bright eyes: "What's wrong, Aji? Can't you sleep?"
She leaned closer, smiled gently, and lifted the red mole on her right cheek: "My dearest husband, if one day I have to go to a very, very far place, would you be willing to come with me?"
A warmth spread across her ears, and Jiang Xi clutched the blanket tightly, her long, thick eyelashes trembling. Without hesitation, she said, "I'm willing. Wherever Aji goes, I'll go."
Even if it's very far away?
"Um."
Even if it takes decades?
"Um!"
Even if it's a completely different place, a place you're unfamiliar with? A place where you only know me?
"Yes, as long as Ah Ji is here, we can go anywhere."
A clear laugh came from the bed. Jiang Xi touched his slightly flushed face. Just the three words "darling" made him blush.
Unfortunately, Shang Yuji was unaware of the turbulent emotions surging within him on the soft couch. After a moment of laughter, he gazed at the beams on the ceiling of the hall and exclaimed, "My good husband, you are so easy to please."
"Yes, it's because Aji took good care of her."
"Okay, okay, I got your reply. Go to sleep now."
Jiang Xi pulled the blanket up to cover her chin, the blush still lingering in her ears, and said softly, "Okay, sweet dreams, Aji."
The following day, Shang Yuji, adding fuel to the fire, appeared in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony on time.
Zhou Chaoyun and his staff were busy taking over the administration of Da'an. The main problem was that the emperor, who was lying on his sickbed, did nothing of substance. Urgent matters from all over the country were delayed again and again, piling up like mountains. Just sorting them out was enough to give them a headache.
Upon hearing that it was Shang Yuji who was looking for her, Zhou Chaoyun made time to entertain him.
Zhou Chaoyun originally planned to visit Shang Yuji after she woke up, but he was occupied with official duties and has not been able to see her until now.
Out of respect for her, Zhou Chaoyun left only her trusted confidants in the Taihe Hall and asked everyone else to leave.
Weapons are forbidden in the palace, but the current situation is special. The palace cannot forcibly take away the weapons of the martial arts practitioners who are helping, so it turns a blind eye to their carrying or taking weapons.
Therefore, when they saw that Jiang Langjun, who was following closely behind Miss Shang, had a flying flower whip tied around his waist, no one in the hall said a word.
Shang Yuji glanced at everyone in the hall and was surprised to see a girl who looked both unfamiliar and familiar. Her eyebrows and eyes resembled those of Yi Ning, so she thought she must be the elder sister Yi An that she had mentioned.
Cui Shu, Gongsun Ming, Qi Nian, and others were all confidants of the Eldest Princess. Thinking of the reputation she had left in the Eldest Princess's residence, Shang Yuji smiled bitterly to herself. After today, the image of that eccentric and mysterious Shang the Half-Immortal would be even more deeply ingrained in people's minds.
Following the princess's gesture, the two sat down in a position closer to her.
Skipping over pleasantries, Shang Yuji got straight to the point, using her coma as a starting point to recount what she knew while unconscious.
Upon hearing this, everyone present was speechless and dumbfounded.
What does it mean that the eldest princess, unwilling to be humiliated by Zhou Ao, drank poison and died?
Upon hearing that his younger sister Cui Shuxin had become a victim of the witchcraft incident, Cui Shu didn't even hear what his own fate would be, and the feather fan in his hand involuntarily stopped fanning.
Moreover, after the people from the Princess's residence dispersed, Zhou Ao ascended the throne...
As natural disasters became more frequent and people were displaced, the more I heard about it, the heavier my heart became.
Until Miss Shang revealed the ending: "Six years later, Da'an's country was destroyed and his family perished, and he ceased to exist in the world."
The hall fell silent for a moment, everyone trembling with fear as they silently swallowed the unbelievable news.
Cui Shu was the first to break the silence. He closed his fan and held it to his face. Dressed in a simple blue robe, he slowly said, "The current situation is quite different from what you said. What is the reason for this?"
Shang Yuji smiled faintly, "Young Master Cui is perceptive; this is where the [Fate Modification Line] comes in..."
She explained its meaning from simple to complex, highlighting the relationship and effect of fate line deflection and energy.
"...Your Highness, I have mentioned to you the three natural disasters of 'severe drought in Nanyang, locust plague in Pingchang, and earthquake in Luoling.' However, if we have enough energy obtained from altering fate, we can use it to weaken the harm of these natural disasters and help the people of these three places overcome them."
Upon hearing this, not only the staff members, but also Zhou Chaoyun couldn't help but be moved: "Is it really so?"
"Indeed, the fate of the people in the three places was changed, and the energy obtained from the people could be used to weaken many natural disasters during the period of frequent natural disasters, step by step, forming a virtuous cycle, until Da'an safely survived the crisis of national collapse six years later."
The last emperor and the last minister of a dynasty—none of the people in the hall wanted to bear such a bad reputation that would be condemned by history. Moreover, since Heaven had given them a chance and sent a divine person like Shang Yuji to help them overcome the difficulties, they would have no face to face the world and future generations if they could not seize the opportunity!
Seeing that everyone in the hall seemed to still be considering the possibility, Shang Yuji added another factor: "After the pacification of Da'an, with the accumulation of energy, it will experience explosive growth. As for the prosperous and peaceful era that will be praised for thousands of years, that is just one aspect of it."
She didn't go into detail about the subsequent benefits, leaving it to everyone's imagination.
What happens after a period of peace and prosperity is established?
At that time, all the emperors will pay homage to them, the rivers will be clear and the seas will be calm, and the whole world will praise their achievements, so that their fame will last for generations and their names will be remembered for a thousand years.
Zhou Chaoyun pressed her temples. The future she described was so enticing, yet they had only just taken their first step.
However, she is not someone who can be easily defeated by the vast gap between fantasy and reality. The bright path lies ahead, and the road is already laid out before her, waiting for her to embark on it.
“Since Miss Shang has put it that way, we have no reason to refuse.” Zhou Chaoyun’s temples were still throbbing, but that did not stop his heart from surging with emotion. “We hope that Miss Shang will continue to work hand in hand with us.”
Knowing that this meant an agreement had been reached, Shang Yuji's eyebrows curved into a smile:
"It would be my great honor."
...She was starting to think about taking back the phrase.
After their conversation that day, Shang Yuji took Jiang Xi to explore other parts of the palace. They marveled at how the palace was indeed an architectural marvel created by the top craftsmen of Da'an, and how even the flowers and plants in the Imperial Garden were the result of the caretakers' painstaking efforts, perfect in every way.
When you have nothing to do, you feel light and carefree, and everything around you seems beautiful.
When she went to the Hall of Supreme Harmony again, this time only Zhou Chaoyun was in the hall. She said happily, "We all agree that Miss Shang has made great contributions and should be given the position of prime minister."
The position of prime minister was given because it was the highest position under the emperor, truly second only to the emperor and above all others.
Shang Yuji hesitated and said, "Your Highness, isn't this too sudden?"
Although there have been young prime ministers in history, she had no foundation in the court. Many of the staff in the Princess's residence only knew her name but not her. Her foundation was shallow, and she was parachuted into a position of great power.
This is the prime minister of a country, much more powerful than any CEO parachuted into a large company.
Zhou Chaoyun raised an eyebrow and tapped the table with her fingertips: "Shang Qing also thinks it's not good enough?"
Without considering the word "also" she mentioned, Shang Yuji nodded and said, "My foundation is shallow, and I'm afraid I can't convince everyone."
Unexpectedly, Zhou Chaoyun stood up with a loud laugh and walked to her side: "If Minister Shang cannot win the hearts of the people, then I am even less likely to win their hearts. There is no need to worry about this. However, compared to the prime minister, Minister Shang is more suitable to be the prime minister of the country."
"Prime Minister?" The prime minister of a country is the same as the prime minister, so what's the difference?
Zhou Chaoyun explained matter-of-factly, "The positions of Imperial Preceptor and Prime Minister are held concurrently."
"Your Highness, as far as I know, there is no position of Prime Minister in the court." Shang Yuji wiped the sweat from his brow inwardly. This was an official position he'd come up with on a whim!
“If there isn’t one, we can just set one up. Which official position in the court isn’t set up as needed?” The more Zhou Chaoyun spoke, the more he felt this method was wonderful. “You can see past lives and know future major events. In addition, you are closely related to the lifeline of Da’an. In my opinion, no one in Da’an is more unique than you. Even I am not as good as you.”
"Only a prime minister specially appointed for you can truly reflect your importance!"
After finishing his speech, Zhou Chaoyun sighed and said, "Only Cui Qing understands me. Everyone else always tells me to think it over and over again. Why do I have so many concerns? I'll just do it first."
The advice from the other advisors was certainly reasonable. Few people can maintain their original intentions for long when they are associated with power. Many emperors have treated a certain minister sincerely, but unfortunately, as the years have passed, their moods have changed. Whether it is the emperor's suspicion that has increased or the powerful minister's intention to overstep his bounds, the rewards given without leaving room for both parties at the beginning often become poison needles, pricking people painfully.
Shang Yuji firmly believed that the Eldest Princess was not one of them. Rather than worrying that the Eldest Princess would be distracted after becoming emperor, Shang Yuji was more concerned that she couldn't outmaneuver those old foxes.
After pondering for a moment, Shang Yuji asked, "Your Highness, are the rewards from the battle of Yangcheng still valid?"
At that time, the eldest princess was to be rewarded for her meritorious service in the battle of Yangcheng, but she has stayed until now to ask the eldest princess for a request.
Zhou Chaoyun naturally remembered this matter as well, and nodded, saying, "Of course it counts."
"I beg Your Highness to grant me the right to withdraw from the court unscathed."
Having spent a long time in the imperial court, Zhou Chaoyun understood how deep the waters ran behind the scenes.
Just as Shang Yuji trusted her, she reciprocated with the same trust: "We will do our best to shield you from the turmoil of the court. As for your request to step down, that is one of the rights of a subject and is not a demand. Think of another one, and I will draft an edict for you together."
What an open and magnanimous mind! Shang Yuji quickly changed her request, saying, "Then I can take half a year's leave if I attend court for half a year?"
"?" Zhou Chaoyun opened her eyes wide in confusion. The generous and magnanimous Princess refused the slacking-off staff member: "How can you be so lazy! Life is only a few short years, it should be used to accomplish great things!"
After a back-and-forth tug-of-war, they finally agreed that Shang Yuji could take half of the leave after attending court for a certain number of days.
Shang Yuji was very satisfied with the two-day work week followed by one-day rest, as it was much better than the gruesome punishment of working nine days a week in her previous life.
However, Zhou Chaoyun agreed on the condition that Shang Yuji accept the position of Prime Minister.
After saying that, Zhou Chaoyun asked again, "Should we arrange a position for Jiang Langjun?"
Jiang Xi went to stand guard outside, while Shang Yuji went out to invite him in.
After briefly explaining the situation, he looked at Aji and said, "I will follow Aji's arrangements."
"Your Highness, just give me any easy job."
She then explained to Jiang Xi, "Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to enter the palace to pick me up when I finish my shift because you don't have the proper credentials."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
