Chapter 6: Your Majesty is Wise!
"Your Majesty, Grand Secretary Ouyang Yu and the other ministers have been kneeling outside the palace for two hours now."
Li Chen, lying on a rocking chair, slowly opened his eyes.
Damn it. It seems the schedule here needs to be changed; I’m dying of sleepiness. Do these ministers never get tired?
"Let them kneel. Let them kneel as long as they like. Also, tell them that from now on, the morning court session is moved to the hour of Si (9:00 AM to 11:00 AM)."
*Giggle...*
Li Chen turned his head to see Wan'er covering her mouth, suppressing a laugh.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Your Majesty, ever since you fell ill, you have changed so much. In the past, you would never have treated the ministers this way."
Li Chen slowly sat up, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"And do you think I am doing the right thing, or the wrong thing?"
Wan'er pondered for a moment.
"There is no right or wrong. I have been with Your Majesty since I was a child. Whatever Your Majesty does, I believe there must be a reason for it."
Li Chen burst into laughter, affectionately pulling Wan'er into his arms and planting a peck on her blushing cheek.
Wan'er pulled away in a panic, covering her flushed face.
"Yo... Your Majesty, please don't..."
*Ding-dong!*
A system notification echoed in his mind.
[Congratulations, Your Majesty, you have received a reward: a flashlight. It has been placed in your storage ring.]
Damn it! What use is this piece of junk to me?
[Choose one of two other rewards:]
[1. The national treasury increases by 100,000 taels of gold.]
[2. Obtain the Art of Disguise. Your Majesty can change your appearance and voice for a short period.]
Fantastic! Finally, something useful.
Is there even a need to choose? Whether the treasury has money or not has nothing to do with me!
It has to be the Art of Disguise. With this, can't I hide my identity and be a real man?
"System, how long is 'a short period'?"
[One hour.]
Only one hour? You really look down on me. Well, it’s better than nothing.
"Your Majesty, Minister Tao Yixuan and the other ministers are urgently requesting an audience!"
Is this ever going to end... The Minister of Rites? Could it be that something went wrong with foreign affairs? This is actually good news! But why did he bring the other ministers along? It must be a coincidence, and the ministers are just taking the opportunity to see me. Fine, I'll be a tyrant once more right in front of them!
...
A short while later, led by Prime Minister Ouyang Yu, several high-ranking officials entered the study where Li Chen was located.
"What is it, ministers? Why are you in such a hurry to see me?"
"Let me say this first: if you are here to change my mind about building the Great Wall, don't even bother opening your mouths!"
Ouyang Yu stepped forward and bowed to Li Chen.
Li Chen was secretly overjoyed. Judging by the state of these fellows, they aren't here for a desperate remonstrance—they have actual business! This is great; you all think I’m not being enough of a tyrant, right?
"Your Majesty, it was I who misunderstood you two days ago. I am guilty!"
Li Chen was completely bewildered.
Immediately after, Minister of Revenue Bai Lian stood forward.
"Your Majesty is truly a brilliant monarch. Your foresight is so profound that we cannot even hope to catch up. We implore Your Majesty to forgive us!"
The other ministers chimed in one after another.
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Li Chen scratched his head until it nearly broke, unable to understand what these ministers were playing at.
At this moment, the Grand Master of the Ministry of Rites, Tao Yixuan, stepped forward and handed a scroll toward Li Chen.
"Your Majesty, this is the letter of surrender from the Song State."
Li Chen was shocked.
"What the hell? A... a letter of surrender?"
"Your Majesty, this strategy of yours—advancing by retreating—is truly brilliant. In my twenty years in politics, I have never seen such a masterful scheme."
"The Emperor of Song learned that Your Majesty was planning to demand tribute instead, so he hurriedly dispatched envoys to submit a letter of surrender to our Great Zhou. Not only are they willing to double their tribute in the future, but they also wish to be in a permanent alliance with Great Zhou!"
As Tao Yixuan finished, the other ministers echoed in agreement.
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Wise my foot!
Li Chen panicked instantly and threw the letter of surrender onto the floor.
"Quick, quick, send it back!"
Tao Yixuan straightened his posture slightly, looking full of pride.
"Your Majesty, rest assured! With such conduct from the Song State, I certainly did not agree directly. I have already made it clear to the Song envoys that they must show more sincerity!"
*Slap!*
Li Chen slammed his hand on the desk.
"You fool!"
The ministers were stunned for a few seconds before exchanging knowing glances.
Bai Lian immediately stood forward.
"Your Majesty, Minister Tao is not a fool! He did this in front of the envoys from other countries."
"Seeing this, the smaller nations have already returned home, intending to follow the Song State's lead and double their tribute to our Great Zhou from now on!"
Li Chen’s eyes went dark; he nearly fainted on the spot.
Just then, Ouyang Yu said in a low voice, "However, Your Majesty, I have some bad news."
Li Chen immediately perked up. When it comes to a timely savior, it has to be Ouyang Yu!
"Quick! Tell me!"
"Your Majesty, although many small nations have expressed their willingness to persuade their own emperors to double their tribute to our Great Zhou..."
"This move has also caused dissatisfaction among the envoys of other major powers. Alas, this has indirectly affected our country's relations with other great powers."
Li Chen felt a bit warmer in his heart. "Good news!"
Ouyang Yu was slightly taken aback. "Your Majesty, how did you know there was good news?"
"Although many envoys from major powers expressed dissatisfaction, the envoy from the Qin State has stated they wish to petition their court to form an alliance with our Great Zhou and remain in permanent friendship. With this, those smaller nations will never dare to cause trouble again!"
The ministers were filled with joy, chanting in unison, "Your Majesty is wise!"
...
Damn it! You Qin State people are even further away than the Song State, why are you getting involved in this mess!
Li Chen slumped into his chair. "Leave, all of you, get out of my sight..."
The ministers looked at each other.
"Your Majesty..."
"Get out!"
...
After the ministers left the imperial study, "My Lord, you say that with such a great outcome, why does His Majesty look so unhappy?"
"Indeed, he even seemed furious! He actually told us to get out?"
Ouyang Yu sighed softly.
"His Majesty is striving to make the country prosperous. Can we really fathom his thoughts? Which great monarch in history wasn't like this? I suppose there must be even higher goals that haven't been achieved yet, and he is merely blaming himself."
"Yes, that must be it. Our Great Zhou is already strong, and with such a far-sighted Emperor, how could we not flourish?"
...
As the ministers discussed the Emperor's brilliant deeds, Li Chen lay on the desk with vacant eyes, listening to the system's voice in his head.
[His Majesty's actions have been deemed those of a wise monarch, causing the National Fortune of Great Zhou to rise by 500 points. Currently, 8,850 points remain.]
[Friendly reminder: Based on the current rise in National Fortune, 0.5 points of Misfortune have been converted. Once the Misfortune value is full, Your Majesty will experience the Nine-Heaven Thunder Tribulation!]
Li Chen remained silent for a moment.
"Screw you!!"
"Wan'er, change my clothes!"
A tyrant being mistaken for a wise monarch? They say Great Zhou is good? They say Great Zhou is the number one power in the world? Fine! Then I’ll go out and see for myself why Great Zhou is so prosperous!
It’s better than nothing; I might as well go for a walk. These ministers, talking about how great the Zhou State is all day long. I want to see for myself why it’s so prosperous... and while I’m at it... hehehe...
"Wan'er, change my clothes!"