Chapter 28: Hidden Mysteries

The Prime Minister’s residence had always observed an unspoken rule: once a meeting was in session, no one was to disturb it, unless a major crisis occurred.

Hearing a commotion outside, Ouyang Yu felt a sudden, sharp pang of alarm. A sinister premonition welled up in his heart. Seeing his reaction, the other officials also rose to their feet.

As the door opened, the steward called out in a frantic rush, "My Lord, it is terrible! A decree has arrived from the palace. His Majesty has actually ordered every household to present pastries as tribute, and he even claims there will be rewards for those who make them well!"

Hearing this, Ouyang Yu’s expression turned increasingly peculiar. He hurried back into the room, and the moment he entered, everyone turned their eyes to him, eager to know what had happened. Ouyang Yu, feeling helpless, had no choice but to recount the steward’s words exactly as they were.

The moment he finished, Zhang Cong spoke up with dissatisfaction. "What kind of nonsense is this? What exactly does His Majesty want? To demand pastries as tribute? Could it be that after his obsession with beauty, his gluttonous desires have been awakened?"

Another official chimed in with similar discontent. "Indeed, what is this about? In all the world, where is there a decree requiring officials to pay tribute in the form of pastries?"

"I suspect there is a deeper meaning behind this move by His Majesty!"

Before Ouyang Yu could respond, Ge Siwang spoke up again. "Think about it, gentlemen. His Majesty has never been one for gluttony. Moreover, the palace chefs possess skills far superior to those in the common market. Even if His Majesty were gluttonous, he would not bypass the imperial chefs to favor the pastries of his officials!"

Ouyang Yu frowned, his brows knitting together as he finally voiced his own doubts. "Old Ge, to be honest, I felt something was amiss, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Since you say so, could it be that you have guessed His Majesty's true intent?"

Ge Siwang smiled. "In my view, His Majesty is trying to use food to create a trend in the Great Zhou to stimulate the economy. Think about it: if the emperor favors pastries, will the gentry and wealthy clans of the common folk not scramble to follow suit?"

At Ge Siwang’s suggestion, Ouyang Yu immediately recalled historical precedents from former dynasties.

"That’s right! The Emperor of Chu once favored slim waists, and to please him, the women of the land tightened their corsets and even starved themselves, nearly costing lives. But at the same time, it truly did foster a new trend among the people."

"His Majesty recently sold off imperial treasures to show solidarity with the commoners; if this news spreads, the people might follow his lead. By then, he could likely make a fortune off of crops and other goods."

Though Zhang Cong was shaken by Ouyang Yu’s reasoning, he held a deep-seated grievance against Li Chen’s policies and was reluctant to accept this explanation so easily. After a brief moment of thought, he asked, "Even if that is true, this is but a petty path. Even if it makes money, how much could it possibly amount to? Is the great Great Zhou to rely on such trivialities for its wealth in the future?"

As soon as he spoke, silence fell upon the group. Even Ge Siwang, who had a favorable view of Li Chen, found it difficult to offer a rebuttal.

Meanwhile, Li Chen, the source of this turmoil, had no idea that his mere thought—not yet fully put into action—had already sparked such intense speculation.

In the Imperial Garden, Li Chen gazed at the mountains of assorted pastries before him, his eyes shining with excitement.

*Now that the news is out, it won't be long before everyone in the world knows that I, the Emperor, love pastries.*

*When I take these exquisitely crafted palace pastries out to flaunt them, encouraging them to compete in wealth or compare styles, won't that surely trigger an atmosphere of extravagance?*

*Once the heat is turned up, I, the Emperor, can introduce various delicacies and make a fuss over tableware and spirits. I don't believe they won't become corrupted; I don't believe they won't fall into decadence!*

To Li Chen, his mind was filled with enough historical tales of ruined states and squandered fortunes that he only needed to pick a few to play the fate of the Great Zhou into the ground. He was brimming with confidence.

Simultaneously, in a room at a local tavern, the Prince of Dai wore a look of triumph, while by his side, Cai Jing fawned over him.

"Given the Emperor's level of incompetence, it seems we won't even need you to take action, my lord; the Great Zhou will descend into chaos on its own."

"With his current three decrees, I fear that in a few days, the world will be in turmoil. When that time comes, you will step forward to rectify the court, and it will naturally be the will of the people!"

Hearing Cai Jing’s words, the Prince of Dai’s smile deepened. He let out a cold laugh.

"Hmph. The Moon Worship Ceremony has made the Great Zhou lose face before the entire world—it is an insult to the state! Furthermore, his decrees have offended the scholars and the entire populace, violating the laws of our ancestors."

"Tell me, throughout history, has there ever been such an emperor who could maintain long-term stability?"

Cai Jing quickly continued his flattery. "Heaven is assisting you in your great cause; this is an auspicious sign! Once I return, I will unite with other officials to submit a memorial supporting today’s decrees. Then, my lord, you need only wait for the right moment to achieve your goal!"

The Prince of Dai laughed, gesturing to the tea and snacks nearby with a look of disdain. "It is more than that. You likely don't know yet that a decree just came from the palace—this Emperor of ours has actually demanded that all officials offer him pastries."

"To be honest, I am beginning to find this Emperor hard to read. If you call him muddled, some of his actions seem to have deeper meanings. If you call him wise, he makes one foolish move after another."

"Just wait and see; the court session in a few days should be quite lively! You must seize the opportunity to goad this Emperor into making even more shocking moves!"

...

At an inn, in a private chamber.

"Miss, I just received word that the Emperor is actually demanding all officials send pastries to the palace! I tell you, he is a massive fool; all his previous actions must have just been pure luck!"

As soon as Yue Yao entered, she heard Xiao Die chattering incessantly. Yue Yao was momentarily startled, her beautiful eyes narrowing. Seeing that Yue Yao remained silent, Xiao Die continued on her own.

"The entire city is discussing today's ceremony, and once the news of the pastries gets out, I expect there will be even more people cursing him. He might not even be able to keep his throne!"

Upon hearing Xiao Die’s words, Yue Yao suddenly smiled.

"Miss, why are you laughing? Do you also think this Emperor is unreliable?"

Yue Yao shook her head. "I think this Great Zhou Emperor is quite an interesting person. His seemingly absurd actions always seem to hide a calculated plan."

"If I hadn't been watching him for a while, I probably wouldn't have realized it so quickly!"

"I must say, with an emperor like this, the vassal kings, the royal clan, and the corrupt officials of the Great Zhou will certainly find it hard to sleep soundly from now on!"