Smelling the aroma of the boxed lunch, Ao Bai's stomach rumbled a few times.
This instinctive physical reaction made Ao Bai both embarrassed and annoyed!
Li Huan laughed and said, "Lord Ao's stomach is clearly growling with hunger, but he's still forcing himself to eat it. Could it be that Lord Ao is a vegetarian and never eats meat?"
Ao Bai was so angry that his tiger eyes widened, and he stared fiercely at Li Huan.
Then, Ao Bai said to Kangxi, "Since Your Majesty is hungry, I will wait until Your Majesty finishes your boxed lunch before I request Your Majesty to issue an imperial edict to punish Sony!"
Emperor Kangxi frowned, picked up his beer, and drank it down in one gulp in frustration.
Li Huan said, "The Emperor is not a three-year-old child. He is wise and powerful, understands the situation of each minister, and knows who is loyal and who is treacherous. There is no need for Lord Ao to interfere!"
Upon hearing this, a smile appeared on Kangxi's lips.
Ao Bai suppressed his anger: "His Majesty is young and easily deceived by treacherous officials. As the regent, I must assist His Majesty in distinguishing the loyal from the wicked!"
Li Huan said, "Lord Ao, you underestimate the Emperor! Although he is young, he is mature and acts prudently!"
"To be honest, besides being the Emperor's trusted confidant, I am also an undercover agent appointed by the Emperor to secretly investigate the background of every minister in the court and know your every move!"
Kangxi's eyes suddenly lit up.
"An undercover agent?" Ao Bai asked in surprise.
Emperor Kangxi quickly replied, "That's right, he is my spy!"
Li Huan continued, "And they are top-notch undercover agents! There are hundreds, even thousands, of people like me, secretly planted next to every minister!"
The ministers, who were eating their boxed lunches, were filled with fear and their faces showed worry.
Li Huan said, "As far as I know, the reason why Lord Ao hates Grand Secretary Sony is because Lord Ao covets the beauty of Grand Secretary Sony's wife and attempts to imprison Grand Secretary Sony in a death row so that he can keep his wife for a long time!"
"Damn it!" Ao Bai's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, his anger flaring up!
"You're spouting nonsense! How could I possibly covet Sony's wife?! I have countless beauties in my mansion, at my disposal day and night, summoned and dismissed at will!"
"I've never even seen what Sony's wife looks like. How can I leave the beauties in my household untouched and instead harm Sony and seize his wife?"
Ao Bai tried his best to defend himself, spitting as he spoke.
Li Huan said, "Oh, you have countless beauties in your mansion for your enjoyment day and night! You yourself admitted that!"
Ao Bai was taken aback again.
Li Huan clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, Ao Bai, as a regent minister, holds a high position. Instead of wholeheartedly assisting Your Majesty in handling state affairs, he indulges in women and lives a life of unrestrained debauchery. He is not qualified to continue serving as a regent minister!"
"Your Majesty, please issue an imperial edict immediately to remove Ao Bai from his official post, confiscate the many beauties in his household, and fine him one million taels of silver, so as to serve as a warning to all the ministers in the court!"
These words were powerful and inspiring.
Ao Bai was even more astonished and involuntarily took a step back.
A look of delight flashed in Kangxi's eyes, and he stood up abruptly: "Excellent! I will issue an imperial edict immediately!"
Ao Bai hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, please calm down! Don't listen to the slander of petty people! This humble subject is innocent!"
Kangxi's expression was stern: "Slander by petty people? Junior Guardian Ao, you just said it yourself, that you have countless beauties in your home for your enjoyment day and night! How can you be wronged?"
“This…this…” Ao Bai was speechless.
In a moment of arrogance, he was so engrossed in arguing with Li Huan that he inadvertently revealed his dissolute lifestyle.
If a minister who assists the court in governing is obsessed with women, he can indeed be dismissed from his post and should not be given important responsibilities.
Ao Bai never expected to fall into Li Huan's "trap," and he was unable to explain himself or vent his anger!
Emperor Kangxi commanded: "Bring me pen and ink!"
Wei Xiaobao hurried to the Imperial Study.
Ao Bai broke out in a cold sweat.
But he was experienced and remained calm, bowing respectfully.
"Your Majesty, there are indeed many beautiful women in my household! It is only because I am strong and energetic that if I do not enjoy the company of these beauties, my heart will be too fiery, my mind will be restless, and I will be unable to handle the affairs of state."
Wow, that's a great reason.
A minister hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, as everyone knows, Lord Ao is the greatest warrior in the land. He is indeed extremely energetic, and it is not surprising that he has many beautiful women in his household!"
Another minister said, "Although Lord Ao enjoys beautiful women day and night, he has never neglected state affairs. He has always been diligent and conscientious in his duties. I beg Your Majesty to investigate!"
Ao Bai's accomplices pleaded for his life one after another.
Li Huan knew that with Kangxi's current strength, he was not able to deal with Ao Bai for the time being.
For now, the only thing we can do is to keep Ao Bai in check and prevent him from continuing his rampage.
Emperor Kangxi said, "Excessive energy and restlessness can be treated with prescriptions and medicine by the imperial physicians! But Junior Guardian Ao is indulging in a large number of beautiful women; how can I continue to trust you?"
Ao Bai said, "Your Majesty is right! This humble subject knows his mistake. This humble subject will go find the imperial physician to treat his excessive energy!"
"Your Majesty, I take my leave. I will not disturb Your Majesty's lunch!"
Ao Bai turned and left, escaping punishment.
The ministers, each carrying a boxed lunch, took their leave.
"Phew!" Kangxi breathed a long sigh of relief, as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Li Huan bowed and said, "I was unaware of Your Majesty's identity before and offended you. Please forgive me!"
Emperor Kangxi laughed and said, "Ignorance is no excuse. I will not blame you; on the contrary, I will reward you."
Li Huan asked, "I cannot accept rewards without merit, so why did the Emperor bestow them upon me?"
Emperor Kangxi said angrily, "That old scoundrel Ao Bai, relying on his command of a million soldiers and colluding with many ministers in the court, has never taken me seriously!"
"He is an enemy of Grand Secretary Sony, forcing me to issue an imperial edict to detain Sony. This is utterly lawless!"
"Fortunately, you were quick-witted and, with just a few words, seized on Ao Bai's weakness, giving me the opportunity to unleash my power in public!"
"Although we failed to remove Ao Bai from his post just now, it was enough to make him tremble with fear and temporarily restrain himself!"
"Therefore, I will reward you, and reward you handsomely!"
Wei Xiaobao looked at Li Huan with envy in his eyes.
Li Huan shook his head: "Your Majesty, dealing with Ao Bai just now was simply my duty! It is only right that I help Your Majesty share your burdens! I don't think I have made any contribution!"
After hearing this, Emperor Kangxi sighed deeply.
"Ah, if I had more talented people like you by my side, I could rest easy!"
Princess Jianning said with a smile, "Brother, Xiao Huanzi is quite capable. Why don't you bestow him upon me?"
As Princess Jianning spoke, she stared ambiguously at Li Huan's abdomen.
Kangxi's expression turned serious: "No! I urgently need someone brave and resourceful. How can I bestow Xiao Huanzi upon you as a servant?"
Princess Jianning was immediately disappointed and pouted.
Emperor Kangxi said, "Xiao Huanzi, I not only appoint you as the chief steward of the Imperial Kitchen, but also as—the Imperial Gold Medal Undercover Agent!"
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