Chapter 147: Chapter 146 Jinling City 18
Corrupt officials who preyed on the people would meet with nothing more than dismissal, beheading, or exile.
Was he too merciful?
He always thought that when an official made a mistake, at most they would be killed and that would be the end of it. There was no need to implicate their families; after all, they were just women and children. Kill the women and children? He couldn’t do such a thing. If he truly couldn’t quench his anger, he would pull out those conspiring for selfish ends one by one. Deal with them one after another, until his rage was satisfied.
But now, he realized. My previous beliefs seem somewhat incorrect.
As for Prefectural Magistrate Hou, he knew that no matter what he did, he couldn’t quench the hatred in his heart!
Now, he had only one thought. To exterminate the entire clan! To ensure they have no descendants!
The case of Chen Juzheng was even more straightforward.
He couldn’t hold back any longer and, using the excuse of a bathroom break, he left once again. It wasn’t clear whether he truly couldn’t bear it, or if he went out to record criminal acts, or perhaps it was both.
Prefectural Magistrate Hou drank a few more cups and was already drowsy. Zhao Junyao silently continued drinking his wine.
Before long, Chen Juzheng returned, holding a piece of paper that documented the crimes. Zhao Junyao glanced at it; it was filled to the brim.
He slowly stood up, moved behind Prefectural Magistrate Hou, and struck with a hand chop. Prefectural Magistrate Hou instantly lost consciousness.
Zhao Junyao pulled out a dagger and made a cut on his thumb; fresh red blood instantly flowed out.
SNAP!
The blood-stained finger was pressed onto the list of charges.
This was... his signature.
With this paper, they could essentially declare him guilty. After several days of effort, it was finally not in vain.
But Zhao Junyao was not satisfied. He wanted more than just to wipe out the entire clan.
"Emperor... Your Majesty, I fear that today..."
Zhao Junyao raised his hand to stop him, his gaze stern. "I know!"
With that, he ordered, "Someone come, Magistrate Hou is drunk. Escort him back to his mansion!"
After finishing his command, he left with Chen Juzheng.
The servants carried the thoroughly drunk Prefectural Magistrate Hou back.
The people of Wanchun Tower didn’t suspect a thing. After all, wasn’t this a common occurrence?
The people of the Hou Mansion didn’t suspect anything either. This was already the 289th time this year that their lord had gotten drunk; it was nothing serious! A sobering soup and a good night’s rest would fix everything.
And indeed, it was just as they thought, for he truly was just drunk.
...
「Jingtai Tower」
The keeper of Jingtai Tower had become much more amiable since making amends with Magistrate Hou. He personally switched Zhao Junyao to the top floor’s best room. It was the very room he stayed in when he first arrived.
Zhao Junyao didn’t say much and went to bathe and change before going to sleep.
The lights were still on in Consort Yun’s room.
Cai Die came back to report. "Master, the lord has returned, and he seems to have drunk quite a bit!"
Consort Yun hadn’t been favored for a long time. That day, the Master was about to favor her, but... she was interrupted by the ruckus brought about by Hou Tianbao. She even had to move rooms in the middle of the night. Really! Truly! It was a missed opportunity! She had thought that in the following days, the lord would surely remember her and favor her once again. But to her dismay, he seemed to have been in a poor mood lately. Even on the rare occasions when he was in a good mood, he only joked with Lady Xia and never seemed to remember her existence.
Consort Yun thought for a moment and then tentatively asked, "Did you see? How was Master’s mood today?"
Recently, Master’s mood has been poor, and she didn’t dare to flirt.
Cai Die thought for a moment and had no choice but to speak the truth. "This servant did not see..."
Consort Yun sank into thought. "Who knows what Master has been doing these past few days, with such heavy rain outside!"
After struggling with the thought for a while and seeing that it was too late, she eventually did not go up.
However, before going to sleep, she gave an order. "Go have the kitchen stew a pot of chicken soup. Tomorrow morning, I will bring the soup to the Emperor!"
Cai Die agreed to the order.
Consort Yun then went to bed, satisfied.
These women of the Harem, in their efforts to please the Emperor, actually have just a few tricks. Those who can meet him might throw a flirtatious glance, sway their hips a little, and try to hook him with their charms. Those who cannot see him create opportunities to meet him, for example, by offering a nourishing soup or a fragrant sachet. And then there are some who, if truly unable to meet him, do not sit idle either; writing little love poems to express their yearning is also acceptable! If the Emperor happens to see these by chance, who knows, they might just be favored. Anyway, the women of the Harem all revolve around the Emperor.
Zhao Junyao never cared about these women’s schemes.
For Xia Ruqing, she didn’t like doing this either.
Just like tonight, when it began to rain outside. The first thing she thought of was not ’the Emperor has not returned yet,’ but rather ’rainy weather is perfect for sleeping.’
By the time the Emperor returned, she had already begun to snore lightly.
In her presence, Zhao Junyao always had the illusion that he was eager to dote on her. But he couldn’t help it; he just enjoyed being with her!
...
The next day, Zhao Junyao woke up a bit late. After all, he had drunk a little too much the night before, and it was all strong liquor, so now his head was aching somewhat.
Li Shengan timely brought over a bowl of hangover soup. "Master, it’s almost time for breakfast. Have some soup first to sober up!"
Zhao Junyao frowned, massaged his temples for a moment, and then took the soup bowl and drained it in one gulp.
"How is the Wei River’s embankment? It’s been raining for another two days. Can it withstand it?" Zhao Junyao asked, walking to the window and gazing at the gloomy sky.
Just as Li Shengan was about to reply, Zhao Junyao turned around. "Never mind, I’ll go and see for myself!"
No sooner had he spoken than Li Shengan fell to his knees with a PLOP.
"Emperor... Master, you cannot go! This servant has already arranged for people to watch the embankment day and night. If there’s any issue, a report will immediately be made. There’s no need for you to go in person!"
Li Shengan added anxiously, "If Your Majesty really isn’t at ease, this servant will go out of the city today to take a look!" After speaking, he hastily kowtowed. "Your Majesty, please let this servant go!"
Zhao Junyao frowned. "I was just making a remark. Why are you so nervous!"
"Besides, I’ve already seen it on my way. The embankment is still fine; it will hold for a year and a half!"
Li Shengan hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, it looks like it’s going to rain outside! The Wei River water levels are rising, and the roads are muddy and difficult to traverse. If something were to happen to you, Your Majesty, this servant’s hundred lives wouldn’t be enough to compensate!"
Zhao Junyao: "..."
"I am not going to jump into the river. What danger could there be!"
"There’s no need for further discussion; it’s settled!"
As soon as he finished speaking, someone knocked on the door; it was Consort Yun.
Zhao Junyao sat back down and ordered, "Let her in..."
Consort Yun entered, carrying the chicken soup she had asked the kitchen to stew, her hips swaying and her smile enchanting as she walked in. "Master... You have been working hard these past few days. This consort has stewed chicken soup to nourish your body!"
After speaking, she brought the chicken soup up and personally uncovered the pot and served the soup.
Zhao Junyao was sitting there, initially quite pleased. But as soon as he saw the soup, he lost his appetite. Hot and stuffy on a rainy day, drinking something so greasy...
Consort Yun also paused, taken aback. "This..."