"What's good or bad about it?" Fang Zhiyi sat up. "It's settled then. After court, you can send someone to deal with this mess. I'm going out for a stroll."
"Strolling around?" Teng Shuchang became wary.
Fang Zhiyi chuckled and said, "To be honest, I've hardly ever left the palace. If you hadn't arrived in time, I probably would have stayed here for the rest of my life."
Looking at Fang Zhiyi's longing expression and considering his previous actions, Teng Shuchang simply shook his head: "Your Majesty should stay quietly in the palace."
Fang Zhiyi didn't say anything, she just kept sighing.
"It won't be easy to get out," Xiao Hei pondered. "Why don't you just kill him and then have those eunuchs form a guard or something?"
"Making a movie? With the palace's fighting strength, it could be wiped out in a minute." Fang Zhiyi stroked his chin. "But there is a way."
Despite saying that, Fang Zhiyi had completely given up. He either researched barbecue to have a treat or sunbathed and slept. He was originally just a mascot, and Teng Shuchang didn't have any demands on him, so he could only obediently start working.
The tax collection went very poorly, with many people resisting the tax and even clashing with the soldiers. If it weren't for Teng Shuchang's trusted confidants arriving quickly enough, the scene would have been a bloodbath.
This annoyed Teng Shuchang so much that he even frowned when he saw Fang Zhiyi carrying a birdcage.
"Oh, what's going on here, General Teng?" Fang Zhiyi was completely letting loose, holding a birdcage in her left hand, with a eunuch behind her holding a cat.
Teng Shuchang glanced at him: "It's still about the taxation issue. My idea is, if it doesn't work, we should just kill a bunch of them first. We've been too lenient with them!"
Fang Zhiyi raised an eyebrow: "Killing a batch would be even worse. Do you know who is whose relative or friend? People will be even more resentful then."
"Then what do you suggest we do?" Teng Shuchang's voice rose. "We have captured your capital, but that's because you're too weak. It's time to put their laughable integrity to the test!"
Fang Zhiyi shrugged and walked away with an indifferent expression.
His attitude inexplicably annoyed Teng Shuchang. As the emperor, how could you not be moved at all by the news that your people were going to be killed?
He immediately reached out to stop Fang Zhiyi. Dexiang opened his mouth, but saw Fang Zhiyi wave her hand and then look thoughtful.
"General Teng, I have a method that's more reliable than taxation, and might even allow us to collect more money." Fang Zhiyi rubbed his fingers together, looking like a shrewd businessman.
Teng Shuchang was taken aback, half-believing and half-doubting: "You have a way?"
Fang Zhiyi chuckled and said, "Let's go, let's talk in the study!" He strode forward, with Teng Shuchang following behind, puzzled.
In the original storyline, Teng Shuchang ordered his men to kill many people in order to barely collect the taxes due to the people's resistance to taxes. Fang Zhiyi naturally wouldn't stand by and watch such a thing happen.
Inside the study.
Looking at Fang Zhiyi's confident demeanor, Teng Shuchang said, "Since that's the case, I'll give you a chance. If you don't handle it well, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Upon hearing this, Fang Zhiyi got up and left, saying, "Then you might as well just kill them all."
"Huh?" Seeing his resolute departure, Teng Shuchang also wavered. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I'll listen to you. You handle it."
Fang Zhiyi turned around and smiled, "But there's one thing, you have to cooperate with me."
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