Xiao Zili glanced at her, then at Xiao Yubai, "Is it just because of this that you're helping Xiao Yubai and letting him sit on the throne?"
“I let An Huairou enter the palace because of you. I like Ruohua, but before I could even mention it, you married her off. I had no choice but to let the An family’s daughter enter the palace.”
An Shuyi sneered, "Don't make it sound so nice. You only like me because you have my daughter in your hands. You think we can keep helping you? Don't you even know what kind of person you are? Do you think you're good enough for my daughter?"
"Xiao Yubai, hurry up and get started. If you keep dawdling, it will be dawn, and the new emperor is waiting to ascend the throne."
"Yes! Kill them all!" With a command from Xiao Yubai, the iron cavalry began to kill the guards and secret agents protecting the emperor.
Seeing Xiao Zili trying to escape, Xia Hua took the arrow from the iron cavalryman's hand, pulled it hard, and shot him directly in the stomach. Then she shot him in the thigh with another arrow, and he was soon unable to move.
Xia Hua aimed the arrow at the Empress again, then pulled hard, shooting her in the neck, rendering her speechless. As for the child in her womb, she also shot it with the arrow.
Seeing what Xiao Zili wanted to say, he raised his arrow again and shot him in the neck. Why didn't he kill him at the beginning? He just wanted him to see his hopes disappear.
Although it was somewhat vicious, she wouldn't give the Xiao family another chance to rise again; she had to nip it in the bud.
Now that the Emperor and Empress are dead, and the concubines and two-faced ministers have also been killed in the chaos, those remaining are all usable.
After dealing with everyone, Xiao Yubai stepped onto the high throne. "Xiao Zili is dead. A country cannot be without a ruler for a day. Eunuch Deng, bring me the imperial edict. I will write the decree. If anyone is dissatisfied, they may come out, and I will resolve the matter once and for all."
"Since so many people have already been killed, it doesn't matter if a few more are killed. However, you can consider your family members: whether to return to assist the new emperor or oppose him."
Seeing that no one stepped forward, Xiao Yubai began to write the imperial edict, then stamped it with the imperial seal, "Eunuch Deng, proclaim the edict."
Eunuch Deng received the imperial edict and began to read it aloud. Everyone else knelt down, saying, "By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees!"
After the ministers heard who the new emperor was, they all looked up in surprise at the man standing on the high seat, only to realize that the new emperor was not Xiao Yubai, but a stranger, who was also a member of the Lin clan.
"My beloved subjects, rise." Yan Zhen raised his hand, gesturing for everyone to stand up. Even though this was his first time, he exuded an imposing presence and the aura of a righteous emperor.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The ministers all stood up.
Seeing their surprised expressions, Xiao Yubai said, "I have no interest in the throne. Naturally, the most capable person should take it. The new emperor is the grandson of Lady An. Since childhood, his teachers have been Grand Tutor Liu and Grand Tutor Xie."
"In recent years, the teacher has been changed to Cheng Yumo. I think you are all familiar with him. Putting aside his talent, his father is Grand Tutor Cheng. Well, now that this matter is settled, I will not stay in the capital any longer."
"You all had better do your utmost to assist the new emperor. If any disloyal person is discovered, they will be executed." With that, he left alone.
Yan Zhen ordered the ministers and other noblewomen to leave the palace, and then had the palace maids and eunuchs clean the palace before he went to deal with government affairs. With Eunuch Deng there, things were handled very well.
The cavalry did not leave. After cleaning their bodies, they stood guard in various parts of the palace like guards. The secret guards trained by Xia Hua also provided covert protection.
An Shuyi and Xia Hua did not leave. Instead, they sent someone to Peach Blossom Village to inform Village Chief Lin and others that now that Yan Zhen had taken power, they would no longer interfere unless it involved treason or war.
The night passed, and the new emperor began his first morning court session. Only then did the people realize that a new emperor had taken over. Although they didn't care who the emperor was, as long as they could eat their fill, they were content.
But they were very happy that day, because the first thing the new emperor did upon ascending the throne was to reduce taxes by 10%, whether it was farming or doing business, and they would no longer have to serve in the military, with enlistment becoming voluntary.
If a family member is serving in the military, they can go to the yamen (government office) to collect five taels of silver, even if the soldier is dead. The yamen has a record of such cases. You can't just say anything, or you'll be punished.
Those who wanted to enlist in the army also received silver, though only two taels. Upon hearing the news, the people rushed to the government office. When they finally received the silver, they knelt on the ground and shouted, "Long live the Emperor!"
Looking at the people below, Xiao Yubai turned to the person beside him and said, "My wife has played a good trick. This way, not only will Yan Zhen's reputation be raised, but the people will also love and respect him even more."
An Shuyi smiled smugly, "My grandson, I have to think of everything for him. Besides, I'm not doing this entirely for Yan Zhen, but for those people. They've suffered enough. With this little bit of money, I can make their lives a little better."
Anyway, she has so much money that she can't spend it all, and she doesn't even know if she can bring it back to the modern world. She might as well give the money to Yan Zhen so that he can win the hearts of the people.
"They are suffering, but does the lady have enough money? Soldiers from other places besides Jincheng have money." And if they really work, it's hard to say whether the morale of the Jincheng army will remain stable.
"Don't worry, I don't have much else, but I have plenty of money." She still has over 200,000 in her trading system and a lot more in her warehouse. She'll give it to Yan Zhen tonight.
To ensure that the people received the money instead of having it embezzled by officials, people were assigned to monitor them. If any official dared to do so, they would be dragged out and beheaded as a warning. If this happened even once, the officials would be guaranteed not to dare to do it again.
Xiao Yubai laughed, "My wife is really amazing. I was thinking that if it wasn't enough, I would give some more to you too!"
"No need, keep yours for yourself. I have plenty here, I don't need yours." Peach Blossom Village has a high annual income, and they also have two shops in the capital, which are doing quite well.
And the things grown in the fields, each time sold, brought in a considerable amount of silver. Over the past ten years, a lot of silver has been saved up.
"If my wife doesn't need it, then forget it! When shall we leave?" He wanted to marry his wife as soon as possible.
An Shuyi glared at him. "What's the rush? Can't we stay a few more years? Once Yan Zhen is more settled, I'll stay in the palace for a while longer. I won't be able to stay there again. If I don't enjoy it, I won't be satisfied."
She was, after all, the Empress Dowager. I wonder if she'll be written into history, but it's unlikely, since it's just a novel, not real.
"Alright, I'll listen to you, my wife. My wife, what do you think I'll be like if I travel to your world? Will I be very old?"
He's almost forty now. If his wife travels back in time and becomes someone in their twenties, how could he possibly be worthy of her? Besides, his wife won't be back for a few more years, by which time he'll be over forty, which would make him even older.
An Shuyi shook her head. "I don't know either, but even if you get old, you'll only look like you do now. You can't possibly turn into a seventy or eighty-year-old man." If that's the case, what should she do!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
