Chapter 143 The Unloved Princess 18
Smoke rose from the double-eared stove, and the main hall was filled with the fragrance of lotus.
Lin Qinghuai put down his teacup and said, "Your Majesty, I heard that Your Majesty granted the Qin family the grace to walk within the palace the other day?"
His voice was calm and composed, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.
Nan Qiao nodded and said, "The Qin family's head presented tens of thousands of taels of silver to the imperial court."
Even with a token that allowed them to enter the palace, they still needed His Majesty's permission to do so. They couldn't enter at will. Using such a favor to eliminate tens of thousands of silver coins. If Lin Qinghuai had no selfish motives, he would have chosen this approach as well.
Unfortunately, Lin Qinghuai is selfish, and his selfishness is not small.
Lin Qinghuai's eyes were as dark as ink, and the smile on his lips faded a little. He lowered his eyes and said softly, "The snow has been getting heavier these past few days. I know Your Majesty has been worried about the national treasury."
Nan Qiao's upper eyelashes fluttered like two small fans, and she did not deny Lin Qinghuai's words.
The snow is getting heavier every day. In recent days, there have been many reports of people dying due to accumulated snow crushing their houses. Money needs to be allocated to local areas to provide relief to the victims of the snow disaster.
However, the national treasury was empty and the court could not come up with the money at the moment. Even with Lin Qinghuai's assistance, this matter still weighed on Nan Qiao's mind.
Hanyun Temple was not a popular place, and there were not many dignitaries who came to pray to the gods. Most of them were common people who had difficulty in making ends meet. She had grown up in the temple, and she knew more about the lives of common people than the powerful people who lived in the imperial capital.
"I have already found a way to fill the treasury, so I hope Your Majesty can rest assured."
Lin Qinghuai's words were calm and steady, which made people believe him the most. Sure enough, the eyes of His Majesty, who was sitting opposite the desk, lit up slightly, raised his little face, and acted as if he was listening attentively.
A smile flashed across his face, and Lin Qinghuai didn't keep the secret: "The late emperor was kind and compassionate, and sympathized with the hard work and great contributions of the noble officials. When he was in power, he specially allowed them to borrow money from the Ministry of Revenue."
The word "benevolence" was pronounced with a slightly heavier tone, revealing a barely perceptible mockery.
Nan Qiao seemed oblivious to the mockery and only grasped the key point, saying, "You mean... some of the noble ministers in the court still owe money to the imperial court?"
Lin Qinghuai nodded.
This news made Nan Qiao happy, and his eyes lit up, but soon dimmed again.
As the saying goes, those who owe money are the boss. She has just taken up her position and her position is still unstable. If she rashly asks the court officials to return the money, it may not be appropriate.
But now it is the only way to get the money...
Her delicate eyebrows were tinged with a bit of entanglement, and her watery eyes could not help but move towards Lin Qinghuai, the Prime Minister Lin who was omnipotent in her heart.
Facing the other party's tangled and pleading eyes, Lin Qinghuai laughed, and his heart was filled with the satisfaction that His Majesty needed, which quickly diluted the loss of the morning.
"I have already sent someone to handle this matter, and the money will be recovered soon."
He already had countless enemies in the court, so it wouldn't be a problem for him to offend a few more people now.
There was a solution to the problem that was weighing on my heart, and my heavy heart suddenly relaxed. A smile appeared on my face unconsciously, like a sudden burst of light in the dark clouds, which made people happy.
His slightly gloomy gaze fell on His Majesty's unusually bright face. Lin Qinghuai curled his lips into a smile and whispered, "Your Majesty... I heard that the son of the Zhenbei Marquis broke into Cuiwei Palace this morning?"
Nan Qiao paused, raised his eyes slightly, looked at the expression of Prime Minister Lin opposite him, and hummed lightly.
Lin Qinghuai stared, "Has His Majesty punished me?"
His Majesty, feeling a little guilty, pursed his lips and shook his head. He soon noticed that Prime Minister Lin opposite him had a look of disapproval on his face.
"Breaking into the palace is a serious crime," Lin Qinghuai shook his head. "Your Majesty is merciful, but this act should not be forgiven..."
Lin Qinghuai still had the responsibility of teaching the new emperor, so there was nothing wrong with what he said, but it made Nan Qiao's ears burn a little, as if he felt that he was a prodigal son who didn't listen to his teacher's teachings.
Lin Qinghuai was like a diligent and responsible teacher, slowly and methodically teaching the still ignorant emperor how to punish his ministers who were disrespectful to him.
"The Crown Prince of Zhenbei has guarded the northern border and has made remarkable military achievements, so he deserves gracious treatment. However, trespassing into the palace without permission is considered disrespectful to the Emperor, and even more so, treason. His current light treatment is truly inappropriate."
Nan Qiao's eyes fell on Prime Minister Lin in front of him and asked, "Then according to what Prime Minister Lin said, how should I deal with it?"
Lin Qinghuai smiled and said without hesitation, "The Crown Prince of Zhenbei has made great military achievements. Why don't you order him to be beaten with a hundred sticks as a warning to others?"
Even Wei Ce, who was very powerful, had to rest for some time after being beaten with a hundred sticks before he could drive the people back to the northern border.
One hundred boards?
Nan Qiao glanced at Lin Qinghuai again and said with some concern, "...One hundred boards, isn't that a bit too heavy?"
His Majesty is pleading for Weice.
Realizing this, Lin Qinghuai's eyes darkened even more, and the irritation he felt this morning, that His Majesty was about to be taken away by someone else, surged in his heart again.
"Your Majesty, are you reluctant to part with the Prince of Zhenbei?"
Nan Qiao still noticed the subtle ambiguity in this sentence, which was different from the usual clearness. She paused slightly and looked up at Lin Qinghuai.
Lin Shoufu, who was originally as tall as a bamboo, was staring at her closely, with all kinds of strong emotions rolling in his eyes. He was patiently waiting for her answer. His original elegance and indifference disappeared at this moment.
Nan Qiao felt nervous when seeing the unfamiliar Prime Minister Lin. Her hand holding the white porcelain teacup tightened suddenly, and a hint of panic appeared in her eyes.
"Could it be that the Prince of Zhenbei Marquis expressed his feelings to Your Majesty this morning, and Your Majesty has softened his heart?"
"I am not soft-hearted..."
"If Your Majesty is not soft-hearted, why do you prevent me from punishing Wei Ce?"
"Has Prime Minister Lin lost his mind? Is now really the time to punish Wei Ce?"
Nan Qiao concentrated and frowned, then asked back.
Wei Ce's trespassing into the palace was a serious crime, but for Nan Qiao, Wei Ce had no ill will towards him, and it was a critical moment, so he could let him go lightly.
The new emperor has just ascended the throne, and a woman is the heir. All matters have not been handled properly. The barbarians in the northern border and the southern border are probably ready to make a move. If something happens to Wei Ce in the court, wouldn't it give foreigners an opportunity to invade?
These concerns are so simple, she understands them, so Lin Qinghuai should understand them.
"Minister Lin taught me that I must always remain calm..." Nan Qiao lowered her eyes, looking at the tea in the cup, and said with some complexity: "...Could it be that Minister Lin really has no selfish motives this time?"
An unexpected low laugh spread out, and Nan Qiao was stunned. She looked over again, only to see that Prime Minister Lin, who had a bad look on his face just now, had his mouth corners slightly raised, without any trace of the gloom just now.
"I have my own selfish motives." Lin Qinghuai murmured frankly, "I am jealous of Wei Ce."
Nan Qiao was stunned, with Lin Qinghuai's unconcealed voice still ringing in her ears.
"I'm jealous that he revealed his true feelings before me, and I'm jealous that Your Majesty protects him... I'm such a selfish person."
As he spoke, Lin Qinghuai stood up, walked around the desk towards His Majesty, and reached out to hug the seated His Majesty in his arms in a treasonous manner.
He finally held the bright and charming pair of eyes in his arms, and Lin Qinghuai felt an indescribable satisfaction in his heart, a satisfaction that could not be compared even when he became the top scholar despite being from a poor family.
The Majesty in his arms seemed to have not yet come to his senses. His body was trembling slightly, but he did not show any resistance.
The room outside became quiet, with only the crackling of the burning charcoal and the whistling of the cold wind blowing through the red window.
"I know what you want."
After a long time, His Majesty's slightly deep voice finally rang out in his arms. Lin Qinghuai curled his lips and smiled: "Your Majesty is intelligent."
Nan Qiao was choked by his words, and placed her hand on the other's chest, pushing it with some annoyance, but failed to move.
Lin Qinghuai's breathing quickened a little, and he smiled bitterly in his heart. He could only hold the soft, boneless hand on his chest with one hand, looking somewhat helpless.
After pushing it away to no avail, Nan Qiao put his hand down in frustration, muttering to himself, "I know you're all very powerful..."
He was so powerful that he could easily overthrow the Great Zhou Dynasty, push a woman like her onto the throne, and even more easily control her.
"But what if I don't want to? What will you do?"
Will she be locked up?
Will he manipulate her without regard for her wishes?
After realizing their feelings for her, these questions have been nagging at her. She had only recently ascended the throne and did not have any power of her own within the court. If they really insisted on having her, she would not be able to refuse them.
The body in his arms was soft as if boneless, and the cold voice revealed a hint of confusion and hesitation. Even when Lin Qinghuai lowered his eyes to look, he only saw His Majesty staring blankly at the desk.
After thinking about His Majesty's question, Lin Qinghuai said frankly: "I don't know."
Don’t know?
The unexpected answer made Nan Qiao look up at him, only to see Prime Minister Lin at the top smiling faintly.
"I hope Your Majesty will always be honored, that You won't have to bow to anyone, and that You will receive the best of everything in this world..."
The subject changed, his voice lowering slightly, with a lingering intimacy: "...But I am also very conflicted...I also hope that Your Majesty will always keep his eyes on me, hope that Your Majesty will be close to me, hope that I can hug Your Majesty, kiss Your Majesty, and do romantic things to Your Majesty..."
"But I, who harbor all sorts of blasphemous thoughts towards Your Majesty, do not wish to displease Your Majesty."
Lin Qinghuai smiled with a hint of bitterness. He lowered his eyes to look into His Majesty's eyes and said, "If Your Majesty is unwilling, I will not force you. However, I am afraid that I will be unwilling to do so and will cling to Your Majesty for the rest of my life, until death..."
I'm afraid that by that time, the saying "a virtuous woman is afraid of a clinging man" will become his golden rule. After all, he is such a selfish person that even if he can't get it, he won't let others get it.
Despite his bright and cheerful appearance, the words he said were even more obscene and explicit than Wei Ce's. Nan Qiao's cheeks couldn't help but blush, and she didn't know whether it was out of embarrassment or anger.
The blush on His Majesty's face also showed that he was not indifferent to his words, and the darkness in Lin Qinghuai's eyes faded a little.
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