"Is this what it feels like to be an emperor?" Ji Xiaoxiao concluded decisively, "Awesome."
Having had her fill of being an emperor, Ji Xiaoxiao parted her lips slightly and said, "My lords, rise."
The original owner disliked attending court and had little experience to guide Ji Xiaoxiao. Ji Xiaoxiao also didn't want to be called a country bumpkin who had just entered the city, so she never spoke unless it was something important.
Keeping her mouth shut, Ji Xiaoxiao watched with great interest. High above, like a celestial being, she looked down upon the countless people of the world, observing their every little action.
Sure enough, Ji Xiaoxiao didn't miss a single subtle gesture from Lu Guiting, Lu Zhixuan's biological mother, who was a woman nearing fifty.
After a while, a woman dressed in the robes of a third-rank official said, "Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present."
"Speak." Ji Xiaoxiao's expression was serious, her authority unassailable.
"Yesterday, the Imperial Noble Consort, virtuous and talented, was imprisoned. I humbly beseech Your Majesty to release her without charge, considering that she has served Your Majesty for six years and has worked hard even if she has not made any great contributions."
After the woman finished speaking, her legs seemed to be pulled down by a thousand pounds of steel and stone. That powerful kneeling struck straight to one's heart.
Ji Xiaoxin was as hard as iron, unmoved. She shifted to a more comfortable position and sprawled out on the dragon throne like a boneless stream.
Virtuous and kind? Of both moral character and artistic talent? This is a veiled criticism that I'm being unreasonable!
"Even without merit, there's hard work? I don't even know how serving the emperor is considered meritorious and hard work in the eyes of you ministers." Ji Xiaoxiao was furious and slammed her hand on the armrest. "Being able to serve me is a blessing that your ancestors accumulated over nine generations. Now you talk to me about merit and want to release Lu Zhixuan without charge. How shameless and arrogant you are! Are you going to make me roll off this dragon throne in a little while?"
Seeing that Ji Xiaoxiao was truly angry, the ministers hurriedly kowtowed and admitted their mistakes, almost as if they were about to raise their heads and swear on the spot that they had been loyal to the princes and grandsons of the Lü family for generations.
Ji Xiaoxiao was angry and didn't want to speak. The ministers, who didn't care about their own affairs, didn't want to be the first to speak out. For a moment, the once bustling Golden Palace was so quiet that it made people feel scared.
Some people are as timid as mice, while others are incredibly brave.
Lu Guiting, who was kneeling in the front row, moved to the middle aisle, her head bobbing up and down with a thud.
"Your Majesty, no matter how bad Lu Zhixuan is, he is still my only son. I beg you to spare his life. I am willing to exchange my life for his."
"You know that I have imprisoned Lu Zhixuan, so you should also know that Lu Zhixuan committed the capital crime of regicide. Prime Minister, you want me to spare Lu Zhixuan's life, but one life for another is not enough. I want your entire Lu family."
"Your Majesty... this old minister only has this one son. If... if anything happens to him, this old minister will not live either." Lu Guiting was at a loss for words and cried out.
No longer alive?
Upon hearing this, Ji Xiaoxiao's eyes snapped open, sparkling brightly and piercing straight into her eyeballs.
"Then you might as well die."
Silence, speechlessness, stunned silence, disbelief. No one could have imagined that the emperor, who had once relied on Lu Guiting for everything, would so casually order someone to die.
Is this a sign that the Lu family has fallen out of favor?
In that instant, countless ministers were swirling in his mind, and dark thoughts flashed through his head, enough to burst the Golden Palace.
"Your Majesty, you...?"
It was just a joke; she wasn't really trying to kill herself. However, Ji Xiaoxiao's actions were completely unconventional; she readily agreed to Lu Guiting's request. Lu Guiting was speechless, as if someone had choked her, leaving her speechless and at a loss for words.
Ji Xiaoxiao glanced at him coldly for a moment and said, "The morning court session is almost over, Lord Lu, why aren't you dead yet? I've been waiting for you for a long time."
Cold sweat beaded on Lu Guiting's forehead, gathering in droplets that trickled down her temples and dripped onto the floor. In no time, the once dignified Lu Guiting was transformed into a disheveled, drenched mess.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." Not speaking is wrong, speaking is also wrong; caught in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat.
"Our Left Prime Minister is going to break his promise," Ji Xiaoxiao said regretfully.
"Prime Minister Zuo, you are a rare and insightful person in the court. If word gets out that you are not keeping your promises, it will not only disgrace your Lu family. I appointed you as Prime Minister Zuo. As the head of all officials and a role model for all people, you are inconsistent in your conduct and make promises lightly but are not trustworthy. My appointment of you is not a reflection of my incompetence."
Ji Xiaoxiao must completely block Lu Guiting, even if it means sacrificing her reputation.
"Your Majesty, I am guilty and beg for punishment."
Being stubborn and inflexible would only backfire, so Lu Guiting softened her stance and yielded to Ji Xiaoxiao.
We're backing down and temporarily retreating; that's exactly what we want!
"The Left Chancellor is a high-ranking official in the court, and he has rendered meritorious service to the country and the people. There is no need for the Left Chancellor to speak of punishment," Ji Xiaoxiao said loudly. "However, promotion and demotion should be carried out according to the law. As the emperor, I should not be biased. Alas, this is all my fault." Ji Xiaoxiao sighed deeply.
"No, no, no, Your Majesty, all the faults are mine."
Seeing this as a golden opportunity to demonstrate her loyalty, Lu Guiting hurriedly took on all the responsibilities.
"Since it's all the Left Chancellor's fault, I won't say any more."
Ji Xiaoxiao climbed up the pole with remarkable ease.
---Aside---
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