Chapter 26 Chapter 26 A lustful person will one day...
The next day.
Wen Xing slept until noon. When he woke up, he was surprised to find that Ning Wujie did not disappear early in the morning as usual. Instead, he was sitting upright in the armchair by the window, with his head down, writing something.
The young man was dressed in a straight-legged suit of light green brocade with narrow sleeves and a dark bamboo pattern. His narrow waist was cinched by a wide belt. His black hair was tied up with a high crown and a jade hairpin was placed in his bun. He was handsome and extraordinary.
The murderous aura he had displayed last night had completely vanished. At this moment, he picked up his brush and dipped it in ink. The joints of his wrist, which were suspended in motion, were as smooth as jade. He looked more like a pure student from some academy than a young general who had emerged from a sea of blood and corpses.
Wen Xing sat up, leaned his lower back against the soft pillow, and quietly admired the beauty with his chin in his hand.
Outside the window, the maple leaves rustled in the wind, occasionally making a rustling sound.
After an unknown amount of time, Ning Wujie finished his last stroke, raised his eyelashes slightly, as if he had noticed something, and turned his eyes to look at the person on the bed.
"His Majesty."
He put down his pen and walked towards Wen Xing.
Wen Xing raised his eyes and feigned anger, saying, "Didn't I tell you not to bring government affairs into the bedroom?"
Ning Wujie glanced sideways at the booklet beneath the window. Without making any excuses, he simply said, "I will leave it to your Majesty to punish me."
Wen Xing raised his eyebrows.
"How can I punish you?"
Wen Xing felt that there must be an evil villain in his heart who always encouraged him to do bad things.
"Then you are punished to change my clothes and feed me. You are responsible for my daily life today. You are not allowed to delegate to others."
He raised his arms as he spoke. "Now, pick me up."
If it were the same as before, he would definitely hear all kinds of excuses from Ning Wujie.
He was ready to use his ultimate move to threaten.
But today, Ning Wujie just looked at him and then bent down to pick him up horizontally.
Wen Xing: ...
Are you so obedient?
While being held horizontally, he looked carefully at Ning Wujie's earlobe, trying to see the red color of humiliation.
But I didn't see anything.
Wen Xing was a little dazed.
So Ning Wujie last night was not an exception, but this stubborn guy is actually not stubborn anymore!
what happened?
What did he do?
Wen Xing was reflecting on himself in a daze, like a puppet without any ability to move, allowing Ning Wujie to take off his pajamas, put on his undershirt, and then put on his Taoist robe.
He was pushed to sit in front of the mirror, and then he was shocked to see Ning Wujie took the comb and hairpin and tied his hair!
Wait a moment.
Wen Xing was more than flattered.
It's already a bit scary.
He mechanically turned his head to look at Ning Wujie, "Are you sick? Or have you been poisoned?"
Where's your intense and sensitive teenage self-esteem?
Where is the proud and awe-inspiring character of your military commander?
Didn’t you say you wouldn’t learn how to serve the king?
Ning Wujie simply said, "I'm fine."
Wen Xing: ...
I feel very bad.
He was once again convinced that he must be some kind of pervert.
I just like to see Ning Wujie's look of humiliation and anger, yet he has to submit.
Instead of being humble and submissive like now.
Something is very, very wrong!
He didn't believe it and thought there must be something wrong.
He pondered over the scene last night when Ning Wujie knocked him over after he kissed someone, and suddenly realized that it must be because he didn't bully him hard enough.
After all, people will become numb if they are bullied for a long time.
The pain threshold becomes higher, requiring more intense stimulation.
Wen Xing felt that this was the only reasonable explanation.
Haha, look, I’m going to show your true colors.
He was about to use his old trick again, but he saw Ning Wujie had already tied his hair and said, "I have already made the list that Your Majesty requested."
"Want to see it?"
Wen Xing remembered that he had assigned someone this task last night, but he didn't expect it to be ready so quickly. So he nodded.
Ning Wujie walked to the window, picked up the booklet he had just written on the desk, and handed it to Wen Xing.
"This is the list of military commanders. Five of them are in the capital, including Ji Chengyun of the Five Thousand Battalion, Xu Zhengchu of the Divine Machine Battalion, and Yu Wenming of the Three Thousand Battalion. There are also thirteen people in the local area, including Di Quan, the deputy general of the Jinshan Guard, and Lu Mingzhi of the Xuanfu Guard."
Wen Xing glanced at the entire article and said, "Look for opportunities to expand their military power, but don't do it too obviously. You can only transfer their positions, or demote them openly but secretly promote them."
He handed the booklet back to Ning Wujie, "I know you now have the list of Wang's forces, but in order to avoid alerting the enemy, the people they hold cannot be touched yet."
The reason why he was constrained by the Wang family was that not only many officials in the court were dependent on the Wang family, but there were also many in the army.
This is the confidence of this aristocratic family.
Therefore, he needed to expand his control over the military to check and balance the Wang family.
Ning Wujie looked at him, his eyes suddenly becoming somewhat deep, and he said in a deep, warning tone, "They are all from the Ningyuan Army."
Ning Wujie said this deliberately just to see Wen Xing's reaction.
He wrote on behalf of the emperor and was in charge of supervision. He seemed to have tremendous power, but in the final analysis, he was just a knife in the hands of the emperor. As long as the emperor was unhappy, he could take back his power at any time.
He is just a favorite.
Such favorites can be replaced or even killed at any time.
But once the military is involved, the nature is completely different.
These people who came out of the Ningyuan Army all had a comradeship with him or his father and brothers, and would never betray the Ning family.
He placed his own people in various armies. Once the situation becomes powerful, will these people listen to the Ning family or the royal family?
Military power is the real power, even surpassing imperial power.
If he controls the army in the future, deposing the emperor will be easy.
Even in such a dangerous situation, this tyrant would still...
But Xing looked at him doubtfully, "Shouldn't it be like that? When you choose someone, you should naturally choose someone you trust. Otherwise, what's the point of me asking you to make this list?"
Ning Wujie's pupils trembled, and he blurted out in disbelief, "Your Majesty, aren't you afraid that I might rebel in the future?"
Wen Xing looked at him meaningfully and thought to himself, I'm afraid you won't rebel.
But he said half provocatively, half teasingly: "Ning Qing, can you?"
As if these words weren't exciting enough, he stood up and approached Ning Wujie, whispering in his ear, "I've entrusted my entire life and property to Ning Qing. Are you touched?"
The warm breath blew against Ning Wujie's ears, and his back stiffened.
However, realizing the implication of the foolish monarch's words, he clenched his fists tightly again and did not feel happy at all because of this complete trust.
Instead, I felt a chill down my spine because of the other party's lack of sense of crisis.
Just because you like someone's appearance, can you give up your life and property?
absurd!
Today I like his face, but what about tomorrow?
If you meet other handsome boys, will you also be tempted by their looks?
Will he then pamper others and turn them into powerful officials, and then indulge them without any bottom line and even give up their lives?
Thinking of this, Ning Wujie was almost furious and clenched his teeth tightly.
I wish I could wake this tyrant up with one punch!
No matter how much he cares or feels bad for her, what's the point? !
Wen Xing finally saw the anger in Ning Wujie's eyes and the redness at the corners of his eyes from a close distance.
That's right.
He curled his lips and smiled.
This kid is finally normal.
Ning Wujie glanced at him from the side, his gentle gaze suddenly turning cold. "Your Majesty is a royal descendant. I am afraid I cannot bear the responsibility for your life and property."
"Ning Qing is too modest. If I say you can bear it, then you can bear it."
The tyrant emperor laughed, not noticing anything strange in the young man's expression. Instead, he went to the outer room to eat in a good mood.
Ning Wujie stared at the tyrant's back, thoughts swirling in his mind.
What should I do? What should I do?!
A lustful person will one day be tempted by beauty and change his mind.
Did he really have to wait until this tyrant emperor despised him and then favored a beautiful young man? Would he then hand over military power like he was doing today, putting himself in an irretrievable situation?
Ning Wujie suddenly felt deeply powerless.
He closed his eyes for a long time, perhaps thinking of something, but his gaze suddenly became firm.
*
The Armoury Bureau of the Ministry of Works.
When they heard the words "The imperial edict has arrived" from afar, the officials on duty were surprised. They had not heard the imperial edict for several months since the emperor had been in power.
Everyone put down their work and knelt down to greet him.
The eunuch delivering the decree opened the yellow silk scroll and announced, "By the Mandate of Heaven and Earth, the Emperor decrees: Xue Shichang, Supervisor of the Gunpowder Depot of the Ministry of Works' Armament Bureau, has illegally sold gunpowder to the criminal Gu Chengping, attempting to assassinate an imperial official. The evidence is clear; he must be executed according to the law, and his property must be confiscated. Zhang Qianzhi, a doctor in the Armament Bureau, has been negligent in his duties and neglected his duties. He is hereby dismissed from his post, stripped of his official title, and never to be employed again. This is my decree."
Xue Shichang panicked and said, "This is unjust! When did I sell drugs to the murderer? This is a false accusation! I am an official appointed by the court, how can I be executed without trial?"
The eunuch delivering the decree laughed and said, "If you don't want others to know, then don't do it yourself."
"The person Gu Chengping wanted to kill was the apple of His Majesty's eye. Their Gu family was raided that day, and they were executed without trial. Don't you have any idea what the consequences will be for helping such a murderer?"
Xue Shichang's pupils trembled violently, and he said in panic, "I... I don't know, I don't know! It's unfair!"
The eunuch who delivered the imperial edict waved his hand, and two Jinwu guards dragged the man away. They then took the official hat of Zhang Qianzhi and left.
A group of military officials began to whisper.
"When did Your Majesty resort to such drastic measures? Gu Chengping's case has only been going on for a few days, has it even been concluded? Why are you so hasty in executing one and expelling the other?"
"You don't know? It's because I hurt His Majesty's most beloved one. It is said that Ning Wujie almost died at that time!"
"Last time, when the Prince of Pingyang beat the drum to report the incident, Your Majesty publicly broke off relations with the Wang family in order to protect Ning Wujie. Now they are plotting this public assassination, which must have angered Your Majesty. Your Majesty is seeking justice for his beloved."
One official said coldly, "Since a tyrant is in power, Sir Zhang, we might as well quit our jobs."
Zhang Qianzhi was not annoyed when his official hat was taken away. He just sneered and said, "Since Your Majesty thinks so highly of the man from the Ning family, why not give him all the official seals of the civil and military officials in the court?"
Three or five figures suddenly stood up, looked at each other as if they had a tacit understanding, and left with Zhang Qianzhi.
Most of the official residences were empty at once, and the few remaining officials looked at each other in bewilderment.
One green-robed official, observing the retreating figures, revealed a look of insight and sneered, "They speak so righteously, but they are simply afraid of being held accountable, so they're taking the initiative and slacking off to threaten Your Majesty."
Inside the Armoury Bureau's office, officials kept sighing.
*
At dusk, Huangji Palace.
Queen Mother Wang Fuwei sat upright on the curtained seat behind the dragon throne, with a barely perceptible smugness on the corners of her lips, looking down coldly at the two distinct groups of court officials below the steps.
They were accusing each other, spitting everywhere without any official etiquette, and the waves of quarreling were almost enough to overturn the roof of the hall.
"The six ministries are short of 132 staff members, and government affairs have been almost at a standstill for more than half a month! What crime should you be punished for leaving your posts without permission?!" The official from the Ministry of Personnel pointed angrily at Wang's party opposite him, his voice as loud as a bell.
Some of the royalists, unwilling to be outdone, taunted, "Abandoning your post? Your Majesty is now absent from state affairs, leaving all power in the hands of Ning Wujie. The head of the Armory even executed someone without trial. How can we dare to be on duty?"
"You guys gave up, but what about us? The head of the Ministry of Justice just fainted yesterday, and now each department has to use one person as three people. If this continues, all of us will fall."
"Then go find His Majesty!"
"If you ask me, why don't you all take leave together?"
"Asshole!"
Some were charging forward and making loud noises, while others were standing in the back, whispering and discussing quietly.
"Alas, if Ning Wujie hadn't insisted on imprisoning the Prince of Pingyang, angering the Wang family, why would all the officials have stopped attending court today?"
"Don't mention it. Ultimately, it's because our Majesty favors Ning Wujie. He would rather break up with Wang in public just to win the beauty's smile."
In ancient times, King You of Zhou set fire to beacons to trick the princes. Today, a king cuts off his arm for male homosexuality.
What a tyrant!
The official kept turning the word "tyrant" around in his throat for several times, but finally he managed not to spit on the golden brick floor of the Huangji Hall in front of all the officials.
Wang Fuwei felt that it was about time, so he curled his lips and said, "Okay, everyone, be quiet, I..."
"No matter what His Majesty decides, it's no reason for you to slack off and hold His Majesty hostage!"
"That's just a nice way of putting it. The imperial decree to kill you just didn't fall on you!"
Wang Fuwei's forehead twitched, and he said again in a deep voice: "Everyone, be quiet!"
"If you slack off today, it will be difficult for you to come back later!"
"Then don't bother me, sir!"
Wang Fuwei: ...
Wang Fuwei could no longer bear it and shouted, "Shut up, everyone!"
The scene finally quieted down.
Wang Fuwei regained his composure and was about to assume control of the situation when he heard a loud voice suddenly chime in: "Your Majesty has arrived—!"
The voice echoed throughout the hall, interrupting her speech again.
Wang Fuwei's face suddenly darkened.
The court officials bowed their heads to welcome the emperor.
Wen Xing walked with the hem of his light blue Taoist robe trailing on the ground. Under the gaze of everyone, he calmly sat down on the high-level dragon throne.
Ning Wujie followed closely behind, walked to the front of the steps, and stood alone apart from the two groups of court officials. His figure was like a solitary peak, out of place in the chaotic court.
Seeing Xing sitting down, Wang Fuwei suppressed his anger, composed his expression, and forced a kind smile: "Huaiyu, you are finally here."
Wen Xing appeared in the court purely because Ning Wujie told him that the suspension of court sessions by all civil and military officials would be tantamount to a coup d'état. If the emperor remained indifferent to this, then everyone could bully the emperor at will.
The majesty of the imperial power was completely gone.
Even though Wen Xing is in a bad mood, he will never allow himself to be bullied.
Since you dare to threaten him with his job, just wait.
He glanced at Wang Fuwei out of the corner of his eye and said in feigned surprise, "Why is the Queen Mother here?"
Wang Fuwei sat upright on the phoenix chair and said righteously, "I heard that all the officials have withdrawn from court. This is outrageous! As the empress dowager, I must reprimand them on behalf of the emperor."
As she spoke, she spread out her sleeves and pointed at the officials below the steps, saying, "Look, aren't you all following me back to the court?"
Wen Xing raised a sneer at the corner of his mouth and snorted, "Some people think too highly of themselves, thinking the court will cease to function without them."
The royalists below the stairs froze in their expressions.
Wang Fuwei's sharp armor brushed against the golden phoenix head on the chair's armrest. He said coldly, "Ever since Your Majesty took power at the age of eighteen, I have not set foot in the Imperial Palace. But now it seems that Your Majesty is unable to manage the court alone, even though he has the will."
"If the Emperor is unable to do so, why not ask the Queen Mother for help? You are my child. What mother in the world would abandon her child?"
The meaning of this statement is very clear. As long as Wen Xing is willing to submit, Wang is still willing to support him as the emperor.
Wen Xing said coldly, "Your Majesty, you are worrying too much. This is just a small matter, you don't need to worry about it."
Wang Fuwei thought he was just bragging and sneered.
Some of the royalists showed disdain, while others sneered, "It's not that we, the ministers, wish to resign. It's simply that with treacherous officials in power, we have a deep desire to serve our country, but we have nowhere to turn to."
Someone else advised, "Your Majesty, the officials are slacking off and taking leave simply because Lord Ning's power is too great, making the officials feel insecure. For the sake of the country, please do not allow Lord Ning to take on all the responsibilities of approval and supervision."
"Otherwise, if this continues, officials will slack off, and the central government will inevitably collapse. During the Wanli period of the previous dynasty, the steps of the Hall of Supreme Harmony were overgrown with weeds, and the Tongzheng Bureau's pile of memorials was over three meters high. This was the beginning of the country's demise. I hope Your Majesty will learn from history!"
Wen Xing narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing in them: "Learn from history? If we learn from history, what are the consequences of the abuse of power by relatives of the emperor?"
"Ning Wujie, you answer."
Ning Wujie looked at the emperor on the high step without thinking and said in a deep voice: "The imperial power has collapsed, the government is in disarray, civil unrest is spreading, and the country is overturned."
Just sixteen words shocked all the ministers and left them speechless.
Wen Xing laughed: "Well said!"
Upon hearing this, an official looked at Wang Fuwei on the phoenix chair in fear, and saw that her face suddenly became extremely ugly.
This is already pointing at the Empress Dowager's nose and scolding her.
Wang Fuwei swept his fierce gaze towards Ning Wujie, as if he wanted to skin him alive.
However, after a moment, she calmed down and threatened Wen Xing coldly, "Does Your Majesty want to watch the central nervous system paralyzed?"
Wen Xing ignored her and issued an order: "Each ministry shall count the number of officials. Those who are still on duty today shall receive a 30% increase in salary. The chief officials of each department who are absent from the court shall be replaced by assistant officials and promoted immediately."
Wang Fuwei was incredulous: "What did you say?! You want to dismiss all the chief officers?!"
The scene was suddenly in uproar.
Some members of the royal party could hardly believe their ears. They looked at each other in bewilderment and asked in trembling voices, "What did your Majesty just say? Did I just lose my official hat?!"
"Did you hear it wrong?"
what happened? !
Before anyone could react, Wen Xing glanced at the shocked crowd in the hall and continued, "Any other officials who do not return to court after three days will be dismissed from their posts."
All the royalists: ! !
Wang Fuwei was in disbelief, his armor nearly digging into the armrests of his chair. He sternly shouted, "Emperor! Do you know the consequences of dismissing half of the court officials? Do you want to destroy the country?!"
The officials below the stairs were in chaos.
You heard it right, Your Majesty wants to dismiss them all!
It's crazy!
Wen Xing slowly raised the corner of her lips and said quietly, "I won't bother you, mother."
Inside the grand hall, someone lost his position as chief officer on the spot, with a dazed look on his face, as if he were still in a dream.
Some people were as anxious as ants on a hot pan, and they discussed things eagerly with their colleagues. Some even looked at the empress dowager on the high stage for help.
What to do? There are only three days left.
Should I return to the court? I'm afraid of being blamed by the Queen Mother. If I don't return, I'll lose my official hat!
If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have messed around!
They had clearly agreed to threaten His Majesty with a strike against the court? Now His Majesty refused to listen! Their plans were completely thwarted, and even their official hats were lost!
In contrast, there were court officials on the other side.
Many people were promoted in court and were actually a little dazed.
What good day is today? Are those lucrative positions once held by Wang's cronies now falling upon me?
There were even officials with gleaming eyes. A 30% increase?! He's been working non-stop for half a month! God will always be there for those who work hard!
Amidst the chaos, Wang Fuwei closed her eyes deeply. After a long moment, she suppressed her shock and anger and said in a deep voice with forced composure, "Emperor, don't be so naive. Even if someone else takes over the position of chief official, most of the court will be vacant. You can't fill the vacancies by simply increasing your salary!"
However, Wen Xing seemed to have been prepared and said firmly, "If you are still short of manpower after three days, go and ask Ning Wujie for them."
In order to avoid these officials coming to him one by one to ask for the person after leaving the court, he had to quickly pass the blame on.
Ning Wujie, who was blamed: ...
Ning Wujie took a deep breath and pressed his twitching brow. Although he had a list in hand, he hadn't selected anyone yet, so the number of people was insufficient. Furthermore, filling half of the six departments in a short period of time would not be an easy task.
He originally wanted to screen the people first, and then issue an edict in the form of a memorial, assigning them to the six ministries one by one.
Now that the emperor has spoken out so openly, will all the civil and military officials in the court break down his door after receiving the emperor's order?
This tyrant...
He really doesn't care whether he lives or dies.
The officials were stunned.
The government and the public have been opposing the impeachment of Ning Wujie for so long, but not only has this failed to harm him in the slightest, but he has also been given the power to appoint officials in addition to the power of approval and supervision!
It's so terrifying!
Wang Fuwei's eyes widened in anger. "Emperor, do you want to hand over the entire country to this brat?!"
Wen Xingxin said: That’s him.
He ignored the Queen Mother, stood up, and waved his sleeves: "This matter cannot be discussed further. The court is dismissed!"
This sentence seemed to have settled the matter, shattering the psychological defenses of the royalists who still had a glimmer of hope.
Finally, someone stumbled and fell to his knees.
They have completely lost their position as chief officers!
Someone punched the ground in regret.
Your Majesty and the Queen Mother were fighting each other, but they lost their official positions. What kind of thing is this?!
Wen Xing slowly walked down the stairs and was about to leave.
At this moment, a green-robed official stepped out from the steps and said, "Your Majesty, the editors of the Hanlin Academy's History Bureau have been dismissed. Now there are only five editors left. I don't know who should take over the position of editor. Please give your instructions."
Wen Xing stopped on the jade steps and looked at the man. He thought he looked familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before.
He thought for a moment and said, "I have seen you before, at my mother's birthday banquet."
Hearing this, Ning Wujie's brows knitted together, and his eyes fell on the official with hostility.
Birthday party? Was it the one where the Queen Mother wanted to put someone beside the tyrant emperor?
Wen Xing: "Your name is...Wang..."
What's the name of Wang?
The green-robed official was startled, and even seemed a little flattered. He quickly said, "I am Wang Jiang, the editor of the Hanlin Academy."
"Oh, right." Wen Xing remembered, "The one who gave me math problems."
Ning Wujie's brows furrowed even tighter.
really.
The man surnamed Wang was the one who was recommended as my partner that day.
Thinking of this, he clenched his fists tightly, making a clucking sound.
Wen Xing thought to himself: Huh?
Isn’t this person from the Wang family?
"You... didn't even join the strike?"
Wang Fuwei, who was extremely angry, also came to his senses and glanced at Wang Jiang in confusion. This child is from the family of the Earl of Danyang, how could it be possible?
But she soon stopped caring about it. She was just a small editor, so it didn't matter whether she was dismissed from office or not.
Then Wang Jiang spoke righteously and sternly, saying, "Although I am a humble servant, I know that those who receive the emperor's salary must be loyal to him. I will never do anything like slacking off and blackmailing Your Majesty!"
Ning Wujie's eyebrows twitched when he heard this expression of loyalty.
Wen Xing raised his eyebrows. Is there really someone who puts loyalty above family interests?
He observed the young man, and then glanced sideways to see Wang Fuwei's face turn ashen again. After a while, he slowly raised the corners of his lips, and a cunning light flashed in his eyes.
Seeing the tyrant emperor staring at the young man with a burning gaze, Ning Wujie felt a sense of foreboding.
Sure enough, the next moment, he heard the foolish emperor say, "Then you will replace the chief of the History Museum."
Ning Wujie: ...
Why did he feel like he had seen this scene before?
Wen Xing: "I see that you are proficient in mathematics, so why not give you another decree."
"The mathematics exam is declining in this dynasty. I intend to add a mathematics exam to the imperial examination system to select talents for various ministries. From now on, you will be in charge of the mathematics exam."
Ning Wujie:!
A thought that has been echoing in my mind today popped up again: A lustful person will one day be tempted by beauty and change his mind.
really.
Tyrant ruler!
-----------------------
The author has something to say: 5j: A lecherous and incompetent ruler! He's always tempted by other things! (Insanely angry) (Insanely jealous)
A tyrant who did nothing:?
——————
Ah, sorry for going off the plot in this chapter, but the next few chapters will be interactive and high-energy! Trust me!
PS: Some people said that there is no nutrient solution, so you can stop it a little bit, and you can add more chapters after you finish it, right? (winking.jpg)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
