The night was as dark as ink.
Inside the Kunning Palace, candlelight illuminated the sleeping quarters as brightly as day.
After the discussions in the Imperial Study concluded, Xiao Che used the excuse of "refining the details of disaster relief" to stay in Kunning Palace. He dismissed all the palace servants, leaving only Ruolan to guard outside the palace. Inside the large sleeping quarters, only he and Lin Wanwan remained.
A huge map of Jiangnan was laid out on a spacious carpet. The emperor and empress did not sit at their desks as usual, but sat on the floor around the map, conducting a meticulous calculation concerning the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.
“The first priority in the work-for-relief program is the selection of engineering projects.” Lin Wanwan held a vermilion pen and circled the main rivers that were most severely flooded on the map. “Repairing the main river embankments is of paramount importance. This will not only resettle the largest number of disaster victims, but also lay the foundation for subsequent production recovery.”
“Excellent.” Xiao Che’s eyes gleamed with excitement as he was completely absorbed in this unprecedented brainstorming session. “Besides repairing the dikes, we can also organize manpower to dredge the blocked canals. In this way, we can not only solve the livelihood problems of some disaster victims, but also restore the flow of goods between the north and the south as soon as possible, killing two birds with one stone!”
"And then there's the bond issuance; the target market must be precise," Lin Wanwan added. "The wealthy merchants in the capital are profit-driven; as long as the interest rate we offer is attractive enough, they'll flock to it. But those deeply entrenched aristocratic families, they're probably looking for more than just interest..."
The two engaged in in-depth discussions and refinements regarding the specific scope of the "work-for-relief" program, the issuance interest rate and target beneficiaries of the "disaster relief bonds," and even the subsequent supervision of fund disbursement and prevention of corruption.
Their thinking, one stemming from a modern knowledge system ahead of its time, was macroscopic and meticulous; the other deeply rooted in the power center of this era, was pragmatic and precise. The collision of these two approaches resulted in a seamless integration, and one seemingly unsolvable problem after another found ingenious solutions in their discussions.
Before I knew it, the water clock outside the window had struck three times, and it was already late at night.
With the last detail finalized, the basic outline of the disaster relief plan was already on paper. Xiao Che looked at the map, which was covered with red and black ink markings, his eyes filled with unprecedented brilliance and satisfaction.
He let out a long sigh of relief, leaned back on the cushion behind him, and exclaimed, "Wanwan, it's so good to have you."
These words came from the bottom of his heart. If it weren't for her, he would probably still be in the Golden Palace, receiving the humiliating "gift" from the Regent.
Upon hearing this, Lin Wanwan shook her head, her expression still serious: "Your Majesty, the plan is good, but don't forget, we still have a crucial problem to solve—how to get those old fogies in the court to agree?"
Upon hearing this, the relaxed atmosphere in the imperial study instantly became heavy again.
Yes, that's the biggest problem.
Xiao Che's smile gradually faded, and his brows furrowed again: "I know. When we meet again tomorrow, Xiao Yuan's faction will surely attack me on the grounds of 'violating ancestral rules' and 'competing with the people for profit.' At that time, even if I forcefully implement it with the power of the emperor, I will probably be branded as 'stubborn and self-willed,' sowing endless hidden dangers for the future."
This is the complexity of politics. No matter how good a plan is, if it cannot pass the hurdle of the imperial court, it is just a piece of paper.
“Therefore, we need a reason that they can’t refuse.” Lin Wanwan repeated what she had said in the Imperial Study during the day.
"What reason?" Xiao Che pressed, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
Lin Wanwan looked at him, a sly, fox-like smile slowly curving her lips.
"Your Majesty, think about it, what do those old fogies believe in most? Is it the classics? Is it the family rules passed down from ancestors?" she asked patiently.
Xiao Che pondered for a moment, then a flash of realization appeared in his eyes: "No, what they believe in most is destiny!"
“That’s right!” Lin Wanwan snapped her fingers, her voice tinged with a playful and mysterious tone. “Since human strength is sometimes limited and reasoning doesn’t work, then we… won’t try to reason with them.”
She leaned close to Xiao Che's ear, lowered her voice, and spoke slowly and deliberately her groundbreaking "packaging plan."
“Let’s bring on the ‘divine power’.”
"Your Majesty, you may proclaim to the world that your sincere concern for the disaster in Jiangnan, which has moved Heaven, has led to... the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden appearing in your dream last night and personally bestowing upon you these three strategies for disaster relief!"
"What?!"
Even though Xiao Che was used to Lin Wanwan's whimsical ideas, he was still stunned when he heard this absurd suggestion, and almost jumped off the carpet.
"Wanwan, you...you're asking me to...play tricks?" He looked at her, both amused and exasperated. "This...this is too absurd! I am the Emperor, how could I engage in such nonsense?"
“Your Majesty, you are mistaken.” Lin Wanwan’s expression turned extremely serious. “Since ancient times, the right of kings has been divinely ordained. You are the Son of Heaven, the Son of Heaven. Heaven saw the suffering of its people and sent a goddess to earth to guide its son. How is this absurd? This is clearly the natural order, the mandate of Heaven!”
Her words were like a wake-up call, leaving Xiao Che stunned for a moment.
yes!
How could he forget this!
He kept trying to use "reason" and "strategy" to outmaneuver those veteran ministers, but he forgot that he held the most powerful and unreasonable trump card in his hand—the legal basis of "divine right of kings"!
He looked at Lin Wanwan, and the shock in his eyes was gradually replaced by a kind of amused admiration.
He quickly realized that this seemingly absurd "dream of the goddess" was actually the only and most brilliant move he could make at the moment!
It skipped all the tedious debates about "ancestral rules" and "advantages and disadvantages," elevating the entire event to the level of "divine will" and "oracle."
At that time, who will dare to object?
Opposing "work relief" is to question the wisdom of the goddess!
Opposing the issuance of bonds is defying the will of Heaven!
Even if the regent is extremely powerful, would he dare to openly defy "Heaven"? Would those censors who constantly invoke "ancestral laws" dare to question the revelations of "the gods"?
This is absolutely a fatal blow! A devastating attack that cuts off the enemy's lifeline!
Having figured all this out, Xiao Che not only didn't object, but his eyes blazed with excitement. He looked at Lin Wanwan like two mischievous children about to team up for a huge prank.
"Alright! Let's do it this way!" He slapped his thigh, then hesitated, "But... I've never experienced a dream before. How should I respond if I'm asked about the details in court tomorrow?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Wanwan burst out laughing.
“What’s so difficult about that?” She glanced at him with a sly smile. “Your Majesty, then let’s ‘rehearse’ tonight.”
Thus, the sleeping quarters of Kunning Palace were transformed into a unique "theater" that night, belonging only to the Emperor and Empress.
A serious political crisis concerning the fate of the empire was transformed by the two of them into a "couple's late-night chat" full of laughter and sweet interactions.
"Come, Your Majesty, you are now a mortal emperor, and I am the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden." Lin Wanwan cleared her throat, suppressing a laugh, and imitated the tone of a theatrical performance, saying in a high-pitched voice, "Mortal, why do you not bow before this goddess?"
Xiao Che suppressed a laugh and replied in a serious tone, "I am the Son of Heaven, I do not bow to Heaven above nor to Earth below. Who are you, goddess, that you dare to make me pay homage?"
"How dare you! I, the goddess, am here on the orders of the Heavenly Emperor, out of compassion for the suffering of your people, to bestow upon you the method of disaster relief. How dare you be so disrespectful?" Lin Wanwan tried her best to maintain the aloofness of a "goddess".
"Oh? Since it's a divine strategy, why not tell me about it? If it makes sense, I will thank Heaven. If it's just empty talk, don't blame me for punishing you for spreading heresy!" Xiao Che was deeply immersed in his role, exuding imperial majesty.
Next, the two of them, one playing a cold and arrogant "goddess" and the other a "mortal emperor" who had the world in his heart and received divine revelation in a dream, rehearsed all the tricky questions that the old fogies might ask in the court the next day in a question-and-answer format.
Why didn't the goddess just send down sweet rain, but instead made mortals build dikes?
"Ordinary people must save themselves to receive divine help. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime!"
"Isn't borrowing money from merchants a disgrace to the nation?"
"In the face of natural disasters, all beings are equal. The rich should contribute money, and the poor should contribute labor; this is the true way. The dignity of a nation lies in the well-being of its people, not in the face of its ruler!"
The entire bedchamber was filled with their barely suppressed laughter and sweet interactions. The originally oppressive national crisis seemed to lessen in their perfect chemistry and humorous performance.
By the time the rehearsal ended, it was nearly dawn.
Looking at the empress before him, whose eyes gleamed with cunning and whose cheeks were slightly flushed from suppressing laughter, Xiao Che felt an unprecedented tenderness and affection welling up in his heart.
He could no longer restrain himself, and stretched out his long arm to pull her into his embrace.
Caught off guard, Lin Wanwan gasped softly as she bumped into his broad, warm chest, her nose instantly filled with his unique, cool ambergris scent.
She heard him whisper in her ear, in a deep, husky voice filled with boundless affection and admiration:
"You are hardly an empress..."
"You are clearly a little enchantress bestowed upon me by heaven."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com