To Xiao Che, that tearful "Delicious" was like the most beautiful celestial music in the world.
He succeeded!
He successfully melted the Empress's "iceberg heart" with his homemade "love longevity noodles"!
"The Domineering Young Master Fell in Love with Me" truly lives up to its name!
Xiao Che's heart was filled with joy, and he felt completely elated. Looking at Lin Wanwan's "moved" tears streaming down her face, he felt an unprecedented sense of pride and accomplishment.
See? I can not only govern the country, but I can also cook! I am such a perfect man!
He felt that after his series of textbook-level attempts to make amends, the little misunderstanding between them had completely disappeared, and the storm had passed.
Now that the storm has passed, it's time to bring some things up and have a proper discussion.
Xiao Che, a typical workaholic straight man, immediately decided to strike while the iron was hot.
He wanted to bring the argument from a few days ago to a perfect close in a way that he considered very "gentle" and very "reasonable".
He felt that now that the Empress was in a better mood and her emotions were stable, she should be able to listen to his "grand principles".
So, after Lin Wan-wan ate a few more mouthfuls of that "biological weapon" with great difficulty and "tears in her eyes," Xiao Che spoke with satisfaction.
"Wanwan," he said in what he considered to be a gentle, soothing tone, "pack your things and come with me to the Imperial Study."
Lin Wan-wan was questioning her existence because of the saltiness of that bowl of noodles when she heard this, and her hand holding the chopsticks suddenly froze.
To the Imperial Study?
She looked up at him with a questioning, teary gaze.
Seeing her pitiful appearance, Xiao Che's heart softened even more, and he felt that he had to be gentler in his upcoming "lecture".
"I would like to hear your opinion on some details regarding the 'Military-Civilian Inspectorate'," he said in a tone that suggested "we are equal partners."
Lin Wanwan's heart sank even further.
Discussing business?
He just made amends with a bowl of noodles, and now he wants to start talking business immediately?
What does this mean?
Does he feel that he has made up for the emotional "debt" and now it's time to show off his imperial majesty in the "work" part?
Although her mind was racing, Lin Wanwan showed no sign of anything amiss on her face.
Her heart had become numb.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey." She put down her chopsticks and replied calmly.
...
The Imperial Study.
The atmosphere was completely different from the tense atmosphere of the previous few days.
Xiao Che specially ordered someone to give Lin Wanwan a seat and served her her favorite fragrant tea and snacks.
He felt that he had created the "gentle" atmosphere to the fullest extent.
He cleared his throat and handed Lin Wanwan a copy of the detailed rules and regulations for the "Military-Civilian Inspectorate" that he had personally drafted.
“Take a look first.” His tone was full of “democracy” and “openness.”
Lin Wan-wan silently took the document, lowered her eyes, and began to read it word by word.
The more she looked, the colder her heart became.
This set of rules is very detailed, and also very... tough.
It is almost a "militarized" upgrade of Lin Wan-wan's original, relatively mild proposal.
For example, Lin Wan-wan proposed that if the Inspectorate discovered any illegal activities, it could submit a secret report. Xiao Che's detailed rules, however, directly granted the Inspectorate the power to "act first and report later." Once a corrupt general was discovered, he could be dismissed on the spot and detained for trial if the evidence was conclusive!
For example, Lin Wan-t proposed that the accounts of the logistics officers should be made public regularly. Xiao Che's detailed rules added another clause on this basis—anyone who embezzles military funds, regardless of the amount, will be punished as "treason," their family property confiscated, exiled, and their descendants barred from taking the imperial examinations for three generations!
ruthless!
That's too ruthless!
This is no longer a reform; it's a top-down, ruthless "purge"!
Lin Wan-wan held that thin memorial in her hand, yet felt it weighed an immense weight.
She could imagine the bloodshed that would ensue once this charter was implemented throughout the military towns of Dali!
At this moment, Xiao Che was completely unaware of what his "thunderous methods" meant in Lin Wanwan's eyes.
He was still pleased with his "far-sightedness".
He believed that in times of chaos, harsh measures were necessary. For those parasites who leech off the nation, the most ruthless methods had to be used to instill fear in them and truly eradicate these deep-seated problems.
He looked at Lin Wan-wan and spoke in a consultative and gentle tone.
He was about to begin what he considered to be a “gentle sermon.”
"Regarding the details of this 'Military-Civilian Inspectorate,' I think..."
He paused deliberately, trying to create an atmosphere of "I respect your opinion".
However, it was precisely his opening remark that struck the most taut string in Lin Wanwan's heart!
Lin Wan-wan, a woman who was already extremely sensitive and whose heart was filled with the pain of being "betrayed" and "distrusted," had her mind explode when she heard the keywords "government affairs," "details," and "I think."
He's here!
He's finally here!
He has completed all the procedures for "apologizing"!
Gifts, flowers, eyebrow drawing, cooking... all these insincere "compensations" have been done!
Now, he is finally about to reveal his true colors as an emperor, that of "autocratic rule"!
He wasn't there to "discuss" things with her at all!
He came to "inform" her!
He has already made all the decisions. Calling her here now is just a formality, a way to tell her—look, I have given you enough "respect," but the final decision is still in my hands!
You, Lin Wan-wan, are nothing more than an empress under my imperial power who can be "respected" but never "questioned"!
This thought struck her like a bolt of lightning.
Her already battered heart was shattered completely at this moment.
It turns out that he not only betrayed her emotionally, but also began to...distrust her in his career.
He felt that her proposal was too "mild" and too "womanly."
He felt that she could no longer keep up with him as an iron-fisted emperor.
A huge, cold wave of disappointment washed over her instantly.
She slowly raised her head.
That face, which had been relatively calm, was now covered with a thick layer of frost.
Her voice was cold, devoid of any warmth.
"Your Majesty, please speak freely."
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