Chapter 126 Fiefdom
Seeing Pei Yan's ashen face, Xiao Fengyi knew that her words had worked—but with the opposite effect.
But in order to get this done, she gritted her teeth and said:
"Your Majesty is well-intentioned with state affairs and may sometimes be negligent. I only thought that since I had thought of it, I should share Your Majesty's burdens. If you could grant the Princess a wealthy and peaceful fiefdom, such as a superior county in Jiangnan... Firstly, it would fulfill the proper etiquette and silence any dissent; secondly, it would be Your Majesty's benevolence, recognizing the Princess's hard work and great achievements, and bestowing extra favor. In this way, the Princess would be grateful for the Emperor's grace, and the court and the people would praise Your Majesty's wisdom. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"
Jiangnan?!
Pei Yan felt a surge of blood rush to the top of his head!
Xiao Fengyi! How dare you!
Jiangnan is a prosperous and tax-rich region, attracting the attention of many.
You're just going to offer it to Xie Sangning?!
"Enough!" Pei Yan slammed his hand on the imperial desk!
The air inside the hall froze instantly!
All the palace maids and eunuchs who were standing there were so frightened that they knelt down with a thud, trembling and not daring to breathe.
Xiao Fengyi immediately knelt down, bowed her head, and spoke in a terrified voice:
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger! I dare not! I would never dare to force Your Majesty! I am utterly sincere, only wishing to share Your Majesty's burdens and to consider the dignity of the court! If my words have been inappropriate and have offended Your Majesty, I deserve to die! I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"
She adopted a strategy of retreating to advance, adopting an extremely humble posture.
Pei Yan stared intently at Xiao Fengyi, who was kneeling on the ground, and he really wanted to kick her!
He was like a trapped beast cornered and helpless, panting heavily as he paced back and forth behind the imperial desk.
Grant land! Grant land!
Give it to us? Absolutely not! The Jiangnan region is a prosperous land, the lifeblood of the nation. How can we allow a tiger to become a threat?
Refuse to give it? Xiao Fengyi has already brought up ancestral rules, public opinion, and the will of the people! If we stubbornly refuse to give it, that vixen Xie Sangning will have even more reason to cause trouble, and that brute Xie Zhenting might even use it as an excuse to stir up trouble in the capital!
Those civil officials and censors who were just watching the show would probably submit many more impeachment memorials, accusing him of mistreating meritorious officials and being cruel and ungrateful!
How should I give it? Where should I give it?
Pei Yan felt a splitting headache. He rubbed his temples in frustration and quickened his pace.
Just then, Desheng's brain suddenly had a stroke of genius!
He had been pondering why the young lady didn't want Xi Han, but instead went for this damned Jiangnan.
It turns out it was a feigned retreat! They wanted him to cooperate!
He took a deep breath and knelt down at Pei Yan's feet with a thud:
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, please calm down! Your health is of utmost importance! This servant has something to say, but I don't know if I should say it..." He raised his fat face and cautiously glanced at Pei Yan's dark and gloomy expression.
Pei Yan was in a state of agitation when Desheng abruptly interrupted him, his gaze piercing like a knife: "Speak!"
The tone suggested that if Desheng uttered even a single useless word, he would be dragged out and beaten to death!
Desheng shrank back in fright, quickly kowtowed, and spoke rapidly, like beans pouring from a bamboo tube:
"Your Majesty! This servant dares to be bold! This servant just heard the Empress mention the matter of fiefdoms... This servant is foolish, but I think... I think this matter is actually not difficult!"
He swallowed hard and continued:
"This servant was thinking... Princess Jianing, didn't she... she came back from Xihan? And she lived there for quite a few years! Your Majesty, you see, people always have some longing for the places they're used to living in, right? Although Xihan is known as a poor and desolate place, a godforsaken place... perhaps in the princess's eyes... it has a unique charm?"
His beady eyes darted around, observing Pei Yan's expression. Seeing that the emperor's brows seemed to have softened slightly, he immediately added fuel to the fire:
"Your Majesty has always been wise and benevolent, showing compassion for your subjects! If Your Majesty were to bestow this Western Han... upon Princess Jianing as her fiefdom! Firstly, it would perfectly suit the princess's wishes! She grew up in Western Han and has deep feelings for it! Your Majesty's bestowal upon her is surely the act of a wise ruler who shows compassion for his subjects! The princess... she will surely be moved to tears, deeply grateful for Your Majesty's profound kindness and virtue!"
"Secondly..." Desheng lowered his voice, "You know Xihan... it's dirt poor! Forget about taxes, the imperial court even has to spend money to provide relief every year! It's a bottomless pit! If we give this hot potato... cough cough, to the county princess, the imperial court won't have to throw any more money into it, and... it'll be much easier, right? The county princess is very capable, maybe... she can even help the imperial court govern Xihan?"
"So, as for the three things... Your Majesty has already granted the fiefdom! The rules are all in place! No one in the court or the public can find fault with Your Majesty! They can only praise Your Majesty for remembering old friends and valuing loyalty! And... this impoverished place was given to the county princess... hehe..."
He chuckled dryly, not daring to say the words "it'll annoy her to death," but the meaning was clear to everyone!
Xiao Fengyi, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly raised her head and looked at Desheng in disbelief!
Should Xi Han be given to Xie Sangning?
What kind of terrible idea did that lackey come up with?! That lousy place is even more useless than a chicken bone! It's completely worthless! How could he use something like that to win over Xie Sangning?! Didn't she just make a wasted trip and get scolded for nothing?
If they get Xi Han, the whole thing will be a disaster. How can Pei Shan still have the face to bring up the matter of marriage?
Pei Yan was also stunned.
He stopped pacing anxiously, his face showing astonishment!
Brilliant!
That's brilliant!!!
West Cold!
Oh yeah! How could I forget about this lousy place!
Every year, disaster relief funds are thrown into that place, but not a sound is heard!
The land is barren and the people are poor, with no productive output. Even dogs wouldn't go there except for exiled prisoners!
Wasn't Xie Sangning, that vixen, from there?
Fine! I'll grant your wish! I'll give you that wretched place! You think you're so capable? Well, then go fill that bottomless pit yourself!
Desheng, that lackey, is indeed a bit cunning and wicked!
Do you want this junk?
Moreover, just as Desheng said, by getting rid of this burden, the imperial court can legitimately stop caring about Xihan's life or death, saving a lot of money! It's legitimate, and it can also make Xie Sangning suffer a setback!
Killing three birds with one stone! No! Killing four! Killing five!
Desheng's plan was exactly what he wanted! It solved his immediate problem and also gave him a perfect outlet for his long-suppressed anger!
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Pei Yan felt increasingly pleased with himself and couldn't help but burst into laughter!
He suddenly looked at Xiao Fengyi, who was still kneeling on the ground, her face pale with shock and uncertainty, and waved his hand:
"Empress! Your reminder is very good! It was my oversight! Princess Jianing has made great contributions, how can she be granted a fiefdom without real power? Of course, she should be given one!"
He strolled back to his desk and sat down:
"That lackey Desheng has a point! Hmm... Xihan... Xihan is good!"
He deliberately dragged out his words, "Xie Sangning grew up in Xihan, and every blade of grass and every tree holds sentimental value for her! I bestow this old land upon her as her fiefdom, which is a testament to my compassion and consideration for our past relationship!"
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