A wise ruler would not do such a thing. The emperor slowly suppressed his emotions, trying to make his voice less hoarse and trembling: "I believe in the chieftain's character and integrity, and naturally I believe his words. This matter must not be investigated. I have believed him out of respect for the chieftain's reputation and character. I grant the chieftain's request to exempt the barbarian lands from grain taxes. For three years, the barbarians will no longer need to pay grain to the Celestial Empire."
A country so impoverished that it has resorted to cannibalism—do you think you can save it by simply withholding grain payments for three years? Emperor, you are too cruel and too heartless.
Luo Zhiheng stared coldly at the emperor, her demeanor at that moment no less imposing than his. Now that she had spoken, she would not give up easily. Without achieving her goal and providing a fundamental guarantee and explanation to her people, how could she face those pitiful and tragic elders who had given her a second chance at life?
482 A Battle of Wits! Like an Old Friend Returns! (Bonus Chapter for 37,000 Comments)
Updated: 2013-12-06 19:31:43 Word Count: 3516
So, when the court officials, their faces pale, unanimously agreed to the emperor's decision for the first time, and shouted that the emperor was wise and benevolent, Luo Zhiheng loudly proclaimed, "The emperor is indeed wise, then Ruilin dares to humbly request that the emperor be even more wise and benevolent, and ask that Your Majesty relieve your barbarian people of the burden of ten years' grain tax!"
As people stared in disbelief, Luo Zhiheng knelt before the new emperor of the Mu Dynasty for the first time, solemnly and without hesitation repeating, "Your Majesty, please grant my request!"
She knelt there with her back straight, head held high, showing no sign of being subservient to anyone. It was as if she, kneeling there, was the sky, and everyone else was just a passing cloud.
The hall fell silent once more. The ministers had different thoughts. Some felt that Luo Zhiheng was truly ungrateful, some sympathized with the barbarians, but most were unwilling for the emperor to agree.
A minister stepped forward and pleaded, “Your Majesty, please allow me to speak. I find the barbarian chieftain’s words sincere, and the situation in the barbarians is indeed heartbreaking and pitiful. Your Majesty’s mercy in granting three years of grace is already an immense act of kindness and compassion, and it is truly inappropriate to extend the term. Firstly, because the barbarians are a vassal state of the Mu Dynasty, they have an obligation and responsibility to pay tribute to the Mu Dynasty. Even if the barbarians are currently facing difficulties, the Mu Dynasty should not take advantage of our grace.”
"Secondly, the grain tax for ten years is an astronomical figure. These ten years can allow people to develop a habit and forget that the barbarians are just a country subordinate to the Mu Dynasty. Gradually, they will develop a greedy and resistant nature. The people of the barbarians are inherently arrogant, rude, barbaric, and unreasonable. At that time, it will be as difficult as climbing to heaven to make the barbarian people submit."
"I believe that we should not allow the barbarians to develop such a dangerous trend. The barbarian chieftain's suggestion and starting point are good, but they are inappropriate. I beg Your Majesty to make a wise decision."
This man was Yan Qing, the current prime minister, a man of both literary and military talent, young and promising, barely in his early thirties. He was a close friend of Luo Zhiwu and a key figure in the royalist party. He was also upright and incorruptible, his most notable characteristic being his willingness to speak out against what others dared not. Few dared to flatter him, and even fewer dared to provoke him.
Upon hearing this, Luo Zhiheng couldn't help but look at Yan Qing. He had a square face and was clearly upright. Although he wasn't exceptionally handsome, his noble and dignified demeanor made him appear exceptionally serious and composed, like a piece of jade that concealed its smoothness, warm yet with a hidden sharpness.
Luo Zhiheng knew him; she had already surveyed the court officials before she arrived. She didn't fight unprepared battles; she said she came prepared and that she would know herself and her enemy to win every battle.
She had been quite worried that Yan Qing would interfere with her plans, but today she was already on the verge of action, yet he still stepped forward. To put it nicely, he was upright and incorruptible, but in Luo Zhiheng's eyes, he was inflexible and stubborn! If Luo Zhiwu were fully conscious, perhaps Yan Qing would have listened to him, but now that Luo Zhiwu was unconscious, even if he were conscious, he wouldn't know her identity, so how could he help her?
Luo Zhiheng frowned and turned her head, feeling annoyed. A slight fierceness emanated from her pupils, directly targeting Yan Qing.
Yan Qing, however, was unfazed by Luo Zhiheng's gaze. She glanced at Luo Zhiheng and nodded slightly, her eyes cold and her attitude unyielding. She truly wouldn't give an inch.
Luo Zhiheng was naturally unwilling to back down, as this concerned whether her people could turn their lives around in the next ten years.
"Your Majesty, those people are also your people. They are starving to death. Where will they get the grain to hand over? What can three years change? Even if it's not a famine, even if the weather is good, they have already been severely damaged. How can they recover in three years? Even if the things the Prime Minister is worried about might happen, and ten years might change their habits, the Prime Minister's words just now were indeed too general and irresponsible in drawing conclusions." Luo Zhiheng changed the subject, pointing the finger directly at Yan Qing.
"The Prime Minister says that the people of my barbaric lands are savage and uncivilized, but has the Prime Minister ever seen the elders and folks of the barbaric lands save their own food to feed their children? Does the Prime Minister know that when the brothers and sisters of the barbaric lands are united, they can overcome anything! And how could the Prime Minister know that the men of the barbaric lands are all loyal and righteous, and that as long as someone is a friend they acknowledge, they will go to great lengths for them without hesitation!"
“We barbarians value sincerity above all else, not being treated like barbarians. We should even smile at them. The barbarians certainly don’t have the noble and magnanimous spirit of Prime Minister Yan. If someone slaps your left cheek, you’ll stick your butt out and let them hit you!” Luo Zhiheng’s arrogance returned, and she started to speak nonsense.
Her words caused Yan Qing's usually composed face to darken slightly. Yan Qing snorted coldly, his tone becoming even more forceful: "Your Majesty, please see the truth. If even the barbarian chieftain is so arrogant and unreasonable, then the people of the barbarians must be even more wretched. Your Majesty should not grant the barbarian chieftain's request!"
Luo Zhiheng instantly flew into a rage, jumping up and pointing her finger at Yan Qing's nose, yelling, "You son of a bitch, you're mixing public and private matters! If you have any complaints, come at me! You treat the lives of so many people in the wilderness as a joke, letting them slip away with just a fart from your lips! You're treating human life like dirt! Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning?!"
Yan Qing's face was dark with anger. Luo Zhiheng's sudden outburst had shaken the entire court. General Murong's eyelids twitched at Luo Zhiheng's sudden curse, and his gaze towards her deepened.
Mu Yunhe also looked at Luo Zhiheng in astonishment. In that instant, he felt as if he saw the shadow of someone. The two of them were completely different—they didn't have the same body or voice, they didn't have similar temperaments, and even their eye colors were different—but at this moment, he felt that this woman looked so much like her!
How could such a bizarre thing happen in the world?
Mu Yunhe, who had been silent all along, finally had to step forward. Ignoring the surprised and astonished looks on the faces of the others, he pulled Luo Zhiheng into his arms and whispered something in her ear. The little woman, who had been furious just a moment ago, instantly became as docile as a house cat and asked him softly, "Are you serious?"
"I'm not lying to you. Be good and stop making a fuss. We'll talk about it after court." Mu Yunhe stroked her long hair, his hand trembling slightly. His face was serious and solemn, but in his heart, he was actually excited and overjoyed to be able to touch her.
Luo Zhiheng nodded, appearing unusually naive, as if the lioness from just moments ago wasn't her at all. She glared coldly at Yan Qing and whispered, "You just wait!"
Yan Qing glanced at Mu Yunhe with an ambiguous look before falling silent.
The entire court was equally silent. Mu Yunhe was so openly embracing Luo Zhiheng—what did this signify? Was it Mu Yunhe's attitude towards the matter? If Mu Yunhe agreed with Ruilin, then things probably wouldn't have developed as they had hoped.
The emperor thought the same way; he agreed with Yan Qing's words, which expressed his own thoughts. But with Mu Yunhe stepping forward, he really couldn't speak. He valued Mu Yunhe's attitude highly; if Mu Yunhe agreed, even if he was unwilling, he would smile and agree to Ruilin's request.
"Let the ministers discuss this matter; after all, it's no small thing. Is anyone else leaving today? If not, let's adjourn the court." The emperor was exhausted; talking to Luo Zhiheng felt like a battle.
"Wait! Since His Majesty has brought this matter up for the ministers to discuss, then let's discuss another matter immediately. The people of the barbarian lands are starving. Not only are they unable to deliver their grain, but they are also on the verge of starvation. They are waiting for their grain rations. Please, Your Majesty, allocate some grain to the barbarian lands to alleviate their urgent needs." Luo Zhiheng no longer bothered with beating around the bush and spoke frankly.
This was her primary purpose in coming to the Mu Dynasty. Only by living can one possess everything; by dying, one has nothing.
The court officials were greatly surprised when they heard Luo Zhiheng finally say these words. Although they had expected Luo Zhiheng to make this request, it was clearly inappropriate to say it today. Was she really foolish?
Yan Qing, true to his reputation as a stubborn rock in the pit, immediately stepped forward and said, "This is absolutely unacceptable! With years of drought, the national treasury is nearly empty. The Mu Dynasty has many people besides the barbarians, including countless others who also cannot live without food. The fact that the barbarians haven't offered any grain is already an act of extraordinary leniency from His Majesty. Please, Chief, do not push your luck!"
"It is true that there has been a drought for years, but the only place so impoverished that people have to eat their own children is probably the Wilderness, right? Don't you know how to put out an emergency? The Wilderness is already in dire straits, and you're still not helping, instead of whining here. Are you even a man?" Luo Zhiheng looked at him with disdain and said coldly.
Yan Qing glared at her just as coldly, his gaze seemingly trying to bore a hole through her. His disgust was utterly obvious: "Does the leader want to personally test whether I'm a man or not?"
Mu Yunhe suddenly glared at Yan Qing with a sinister look, the ferocity in his eyes almost tangible. Yan Qing felt a chill run down his spine and his muscles ache from Mu Yunhe's gaze. Although he was unwilling to accept it, he still lowered his head and remained silent.
Mu Yunhe, however, did not let Yan Qing off the hook, and said coldly, "Watch your attitude. Not everyone is someone you can provoke! Who do you think you are?"
Yan Qing's expression changed. Even though Mu Yunhe was a high-ranking official of the country, he shouldn't be humiliated like this! He looked up, about to retort, when a slightly weak laugh came from behind him: "Oh, this is quite tense, full of gunpowder! It seems I'm late. What good show have I missed? I heard the Prime Minister is arguing with a little girl? How could I miss such a good show?"
It's past four in the morning! 20,000 words updated today! I'll keep working hard tomorrow. It was so difficult to finish updating "Painting Silk"; the constant power outages were really frustrating. Please vote, leave comments, and give monthly tickets! Group hug!
483 Brother! I lost to this heart!
Updated: 2013-12-07 18:16:06 Word Count: 7934
Everyone was startled by the voice, and Yan Qing whirled around, staring incredulously at the newcomer walking towards him against the light. He was utterly shocked, but what shocked him even more was the chilling undertone in the man's voice, despite his smile. The newcomer was angry, and that anger was clearly directed at him!
The man walked slowly towards them, his body tall and slender, his clothes loose and baggy, giving him a somewhat roguish air, unrestrained and carefree. His flirtatious eyes swept over Yan Qing with a cold glint in them, finally landing on Luo Zhiheng, his gaze ambiguous and unclear.
Luo Zhiwu!
It was Luo Zhiwu! He actually came back to life! And he could even go out! This seemed particularly abrupt amidst the rumors that Luo Zhiwu was definitely going to die, that she was deeply poisoned and beyond cure.
The entire court was shocked to see the person who was almost impossible to be there. They stared in disbelief, and then burst into discussion.
Luo Zhiheng was also stunned by the shock, but then she couldn't hide her surprise and joy. She even forgot her identity and took a few steps forward. It looked like she was about to lose control of her emotions and rush towards Luo Zhiwu, forgetting her current status.
Mu Yunhe reached out from the side, glanced at Luo Zhiheng with a sharp and cold look, his eyes concealing an extremely dangerous storm, and then turned his gaze to the newcomer, his voice low and slow: "Your arrival is quite coincidental."
Logically speaking, the man in front of him was his brother-in-law, and he should treat him with courtesy. However, Luo Zhiheng's ambiguous and intimate attitude towards Luo Zhiwu made Mu Yunhe feel uncomfortable from the bottom of his heart. He didn't want to admit that he was petty, jealous, and possessive. Those things never belonged to him, but he really couldn't stand the way Luo Zhiheng looked at Luo Zhiwu.
Previously, it seemed that Luo Zhiwu and Mu Yunhe had a flirtatious relationship. Was Luo Zhiheng taking care of Luo Zhiwu really because he wanted to get closer to him? Not necessarily. After all, Luo Zhiheng had given him an answer before, saying that he and Luo Zhiwu were old acquaintances. There must be something fishy going on between the two of them. Thinking this way, Mu Yunhe became even more uncomfortable.
This was the first time Luo Zhiwu had ever really looked at Mu Yunhe so closely. Mu Yunhe had previously been a hidden gem, obscured and overlooked. When he left the capital, there was practically no one around him. Who would have thought that his precious younger sister would marry this man? Who could know how furious he was when he found out?
It was clearly Luo Ningshuang who decided to marry Mu Yunhe on her own initiative, but in the end, it was the darling of the Luo family who married into the family. This drove Luo Zhiwu, who was on the frontier, crazy. He refused to believe there wasn't something fishy going on. He wanted nothing more than to rush back, kill Mu Yunhe, and take his sister away. However, the war was intense at that time, and the Crown Prince was determined not to let her go. He couldn't be a deserter, so he could only swallow his anger.
In the subsequent series of rumors, his sister stood out from the crowd and became famous throughout the world. She and Mu Yunhe were also deeply in love. He finally breathed a sigh of relief on the frontier. He had met with his father before, and his father's attitude was terrible. According to his father's idea at the time, he should not be allowed to return. If he returned, he would destroy Mu Yunhe!
His precious daughter had inexplicably become someone else's wife, and the head of the family wasn't even around. It would be a miracle if Loge wasn't furious! Logically speaking, if Mu Yunhe had met the hot-tempered Loge, he wouldn't care if you were royalty or not; he would have grabbed you and given you a good beating first.
However, in the eyes of the Luo family's doting fathers and sisters, Mu Yunhe's performance was still quite commendable and acceptable. They would never utter a single word of praise for Mu Yunhe. In the Luo family, it was always the daughters and sisters who made up; what about everyone else? They certainly didn't know that.
Later, his father's trusted confidants repeatedly reported in detail how Mu Yunhe treated Luo Zhiheng, which slightly reduced the anger in Luo Ge's heart.
However, the father and son were worried about whether Mu Yunhe's health could bring Luo Zhiheng happiness. Fortunately, news came that Mu Yunhe had recovered. But little did they know that this young couple's happiness would be fraught with difficulties, one problem after another. Luo Zhiheng was in a coma for three years, and he and his father were not at peace while fighting outside. If it weren't for the inviolability of military orders, they would have really thrown away their military flags and uniforms and returned to the battlefield.
Thinking of this, Luo Zhiwu's eyes flickered slightly. His long, slender, smiling eyes were very eye-catching. When he looked at people, he always had a smiling face. He was a little lazy but also very comfortable. No one knew how cruel he was under that beautiful face.
After returning, he handed the medicine to Mu Yunhe and then fell into a coma due to the poison. Only today did he finally have the opportunity to properly see this legendary, stunningly handsome man. Indeed... breathtakingly beautiful.
No wonder he could bewitch such a wild little girl. Luo Zhiwu chuckled, then glanced at Luo Zhiheng, who was being forcefully shielded behind Mu Yunhe, and said with a half-smile, "It's no coincidence, isn't it? Since I'm not sick, I don't have a penchant for playing dead. Of course, I have to get up and jump around a bit, otherwise wouldn't I be letting down... the little beauty's good intentions?"
Luo Zhiwu looked meaningfully at Luo Zhiheng, whose small head peeked out from behind Mu Yunhe. He really didn't know how to address Luo Zhiheng. The seemingly frivolous "little beauty" carried a hint of amusement and extra intimacy.
Luo Zhiheng was hesitant to meet Luo Zhiwu's gaze. Her eyes were filled with conflicting emotions. One concern was whether her own brother would see through her, the Luo Zhiheng who now occupied Luo Zhiheng's body. Another was whether Luo Zhiwu had heard her ramblings by Luo Zhiheng's bedside. If he had, wouldn't he know about her feud with Luo Ningshuang? What would he do then?
Luo Zhiheng thought again, she was already Luo Zhiheng, and she was originally called Luo Zhiheng. She had long accepted Luo Zhiwu as her brother and Luo Ge as her father, so there was nothing to worry about.
Mu Yunhe's expression turned somewhat unpleasant, but he always maintained a cold demeanor in front of outsiders. At this moment, he simply said in a low voice, "I had no idea that Young Master Luo was such a frivolous and unrestrained person. To speak to a woman like that in public, isn't that undignified?"
Luo Zhiwu looked rather lazy, somewhat similar to Luo Zhiheng's current demeanor: "Don't be so righteous with me. I'm still your brother-in-law, after all. Besides, what kind of behavior is it to protect another woman like this in front of me? What do you take Heng'er for? Heng'er is still lying in your house right now, isn't she? It's not very nice of you to be out there having an ambiguous relationship with other women."
Luo Zhiheng felt heartbroken upon hearing this and remained silent.
Mu Yunhe was equally displeased, but he knew that his behavior today had indeed been too indulgent, which was unfair to Luo Zhiheng. So he said coldly, "We were just discussing important national affairs together, and we didn't have those sordid thoughts of Young Master Luo."
"Really? I hope so." Luo Zhiwu shrugged noncommittally, then exaggeratedly acted as if she had just seen the emperor's surprised expression, bowed, shouted "Long live the Emperor!" three times, and then said with a grin, "Your Majesty, I have missed you so much."
The ministers' lips twitched violently, Yan Qing suppressed a laugh, and the emperor suffered internal injuries.
Beneath the emperor's stern face lay a mixture of excitement, joy, and helplessness. This kid, having barely survived a near-death experience, was starting to act unruly. However, the emperor couldn't do anything about the remaining members of the Luo family; they were all extremely important to him.
Luo Zhiheng goes without saying; as the Lady Protector of the Nation and Mu Yunhe's beloved wife, she undoubtedly played a crucial role in securing his throne. As for Luo Ge, he had been secretly trying to win him over. On the surface, the Luo family was a third-class noble family, but in these chaotic times, the treacherous battlefield was a breeding ground for military achievements and reputation. Luo Ge had spent years on the battlefield, accumulating numerous victories; upon his return, a promotion of three ranks would be a certainty, and with significant military power, his future was immeasurable. However, because Luo Ge was hot-tempered and incorruptible, he was difficult to win over. Over the years, he had only managed to cultivate a good relationship with Luo Ge, gaining nothing else.
If it weren't for meeting Luo Zhiwu, he and Luo Ge would never have had any connection. Luo Zhiwu was a true sworn brother to him and Yan Qing; the three of them fought side by side on the battlefield like brothers. Because of Luo Zhiwu's relationship with the emperor, and because Luo Zhiheng married Mu Yunhe, whose father, Prince Mu, was a staunch supporter of the crown prince's faction, General Luo Ge finally agreed to side with the emperor.
In this way, the three members of Luo Zhiheng's family were a completely different matter to the emperor. They were now all under his control, and with Luo Ge stationed on the frontier, guarding the border and fighting, they were essentially part of the emperor's own network. Naturally, the emperor treated the Luo family's children even better.
Luo Zhiheng was a little dumbfounded. Why was her brother talking to the emperor like that? And the emperor didn't seem angry at all. Could it be that her brother and the emperor had a very close relationship? Luo Zhiheng's little brain started working. Should she try to get the emperor to provide food through Luo Zhiwu?
However, upon further reflection, Luo Zhiheng rejected the idea. Mu Yunhe's identity made the emperor both wary and reliant on her. If Mu Yunhe promised to get her the grain, she would definitely do so, so there was no need to drag her brother into it. Besides, if she used her brother's help, she would inevitably have to tell him her identity. What if her brother didn't believe her? Although she had many ways to prove it, now was not the time.
"It is truly a blessing for my Mu Dynasty that Awu has recovered. I am very happy." The emperor laughed heartily, and the ministers followed suit with their flattery and congratulations.
Luo Zhiwu waved his hand impatiently. He just wanted to see the girl behind Mu Yunhe, but Mu Yunhe was like a wall, blocking her view completely. Luo Zhiwu glared impatiently, finding Mu Yunhe utterly displeasing. He deliberately pointed at Luo Zhiheng, his lips curled into a smirk, and commanded like a lord, "Hey you, little darling, come here. I've just woken up and I'm still feeling unwell. Help me out. If you make me comfortable, I'll get you some food."
His last sentence was spoken very lightly. Despite his arrogant demeanor, he was still sensible and knew better than to speak too confidently in front of his ministers. He had to leave the emperor a way out.
But Mu Yunhe still heard it, and his handsome face turned completely black. His gaze towards Luo Zhiwu was also icy and sinister. Was she flirting with Luo Zhiheng right in front of him? And dared to say there was nothing between them!
The ministers were also somewhat bewildered. To openly call someone "little darling" like that... wasn't that a bit too presumptuous? However, it was said that the barbarian chieftain had also disregarded his reputation and moved into the general's mansion to take care of Luo Zhiwu. So, was there really some unspeakable secret between the two of them?
The young emperor Shinri was startled and asked casually, "Does Awu know the chieftain of the barbarians?"
"Of course... we know each other. Our friendship goes beyond that of friends; it's reached the point where our souls resonate. Don't you agree, little beauty?" Luo Zhiwu lied through his teeth. In reality, he didn't even know what this girl's name was. Barbarian Chief? That name was too vague.
Mu Yunhe was startled and subconsciously looked at Luo Zhiheng, his eyes filled with deep questioning and disappointment. In his view, achieving a resonance of souls meant that they were truly in love? Had they already reached the point of discussing marriage?