"This year, the north is flooded and the south is arid. Duke Du, who went south to provide disaster relief, sent back news that it is likely to be a year of great famine. The future empress is deeply concerned about the people of the world, so starting tomorrow, including my harem, everyone's food and clothing expenses will be halved. The salaries of all lords will be reduced to two-thirds of their original amount. Furthermore, starting today, you will lead the officials of the Censorate to thoroughly investigate cases of corruption and bribery in the past ten years. You must find the silver needed for disaster relief this year. Those who have embezzled ten taels of silver or more will be beaten twenty times with a rod. Those who have embezzled a hundred taels or more will be exiled five hundred li. Those who have embezzled a thousand taels will be subjected to ten years of corvée labor. Those who have embezzled five thousand taels will have their nine generations of clan exiled three thousand li. Those who have embezzled ten thousand taels will have their property confiscated and be beheaded, and their descendants for three generations will not be allowed to enter the capital, take imperial examinations, or serve in court!"
As soon as the words fell, the entire court knelt down in a mass.
"Your Majesty is wise!"
The Grand Censor raised his head slightly, "This humble minister obeys the decree!"
They didn't quite understand why His Majesty had mentioned that concubine before saying these words.
Was she trying to tell them that she was determined to make that person the empress?
Even then, it didn't seem logical.
"Also."
As she spoke, the people below became somewhat flustered.
They were worried she would say something shocking again.
"Regarding the marriage of my imperial brother that all lords previously mentioned, I have already issued a decree to bestow marriage upon His Highness Prince Nangong Haoxuan and Qin Dan of the Prince of Qin's mansion."
After a moment of silence, someone raised their head, "Your Majesty, this may not be appropriate."
"What is inappropriate?"
What do you think?
Many officials felt extremely speechless.
Everyone knew that these two people should not be together, and that the relationship between Prince Anyang and the Qin family should not be allowed to grow closer. Otherwise, if their power grew stronger, they might rebel one day.
Why would His Majesty consider bestowing marriage upon two such individuals?
"Since you cannot say, then do not speak. Previously, you all forced me to bestow marriage upon them. Now that I have, you say it is inappropriate. Am I the emperor, or are you?"
The person who had spoken earlier quickly said, "This humble minister dares not."
"It is best that you do not dare." She said meaningfully, "You people, day after day, are not concerned with my harem, nor with other people's marriages. Do the people of the world not deserve your attention?"
"This humble minister dares not." A group of people uttered this phrase unevenly.
"It is best that you do not dare." She said, "I select the worthy and promote the able, so that you may work for the welfare of the people of the world, not to manage my household affairs. From now on, each month, every official must propose one practical and feasible policy that benefits the country and the people. If you cannot propose one, your rank will be reduced by one level. If you fail to propose a plan for three consecutive months, you will be considered a sinecurist. You should request to retire to your hometown!"
"Your humble ministers obey the decree!"
After bothering them for so long, she was finally able to strike back, and Zhuo Ran felt extremely pleased.
In fact, if she had mentioned crowning Chong Yan as empress at another time, perhaps those people would have stood up to object. But today, there was too much content in her speech, too many key elements. Especially the order for the Censorate to investigate corruption, many people who could remain calm on the court were panicking inwardly, likely already thinking of returning to destroy evidence.
Zhuo Ran did not truly intend to exterminate them all, but according to the plot, there would indeed be severe natural disasters for several consecutive years. If preparations were not made in advance, Chong Yan would definitely lose a lot when collecting merit points.
In the original plot, the reason the female protagonist could defeat the original owner and seize the throne after being reborn was largely due to the natural disasters. The original owner had been drugged for a long time, her health was deteriorating, and her psychology had also become abnormal and cruel. The female protagonist, in contrast, had an advantage.
Being an emperor was a lot of work and very busy. If it weren't for Chong Yan, she would have long since quit.
Thinking of this, Zhuo Ran decided to ask for more benefits tonight.
She also had to find a way to put the marriage on the agenda.
---
Under Qiao Yu's unremitting persuasion, nine-tenths of the people in the harem decided to leave. Of the remaining three, one was the illegitimate son of that Lord Liu. He heard from his mother that His Majesty would later bestow him the title of secondary consort, and he was ecstatic, so why would he leave?
One was a respectable young gentleman who had been in the palace for many years. His reason was simple: "It's best if His Majesty doesn't summon me for a bedside visit. I only want to be a pampered parasite my whole life, with food and drink and nothing to do. It couldn't be better."
Another had been abused by the former emperor, leaving him disabled and his face disfigured. Remaining in the palace meant he could eat and drink without worry for the rest of his life, while leaving meant a lifetime of solitude and helplessness.
Qiao Yu watched him slam the door shut in his face, and was so startled that he quickly retreated a few steps. He calmed himself down and sighed inwardly.
If only His Majesty had become like this earlier.
He organized everyone's situations and took them to see Zhuo Ran, showing her the results of his work over the past few days.
Zhuo Ran was a little displeased to hear that three people were unwilling to leave. After hearing their situations, she decided to let it be for now.
"Since they have decided to leave the palace, I will not be ungenerous to them. These individuals will all be married off under the title of royal princes. Each will be bestowed one thousand taels of silver, fifty bolts of silk, ten pearls, and a manor as dowry. They are to be exclusively married for life, and their wives shall not remarry."
Qiao Yu kowtowed, "This humble minister thanks Your Majesty for your grace on their behalf. Several of them wish to see Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."
"No." Zhuo Ran said with a cold expression, "I have entrusted this matter entirely to you. The Ministry of Imperial Clan Affairs will select a date for their marriages, and the official matchmaker will facilitate it. It is best to hold them all on the same day to avoid trouble."
Qiao Yu: "..."
Zhuo Ran picked up a piece of yellow silk from the desk and said, "This is yours. Do you want me to read it for you?"
If she truly intended to, she wouldn't have asked him.
Qiao Yu very consciously said, "No need, this humble minister thanks Your Majesty."
"It sounds much better than calling yourself a humble minister." Zhuo Ran felt that his work ability was quite strong, so she said, "I will bestow you the title of my sworn brother. From now on, you will be a prince. If you are bored, you can also enter court and serve as an official."
Qiao Yu suddenly felt a little teary-eyed. He smiled and asked, "I have only read the male etiquette, I'm afraid I won't do well."
"Books can be read anytime. Your ability to handle matters is very strong, and I admire you greatly."
This kind of person was suited to be a laborer.
Hardworking and diligent, truly a model employee.
It was not a waste that the "farewell gift" she gave him was several times more valuable than that of others.
Qiao Yu suppressed his tears and said, "Yes."
"If there is nothing else, you may go down. I heard that Ah Yan will be cooking for me tonight, so I will go over first."
Qiao Yu's heartfelt emotion instantly vanished.
He had thought too much.
"Then, this humble minister takes his leave."
As soon as he came out, Zhuo Ran also followed. After exchanging greetings, she left the imperial study even faster than him, heading in the direction of Chong Yan's palace.
Qiao Yu watched her departing figure. He didn't feel as sad as before, merely sighed.
If it were more than a month ago, he would have been overjoyed to hear that he could leave the palace.
Now, if it weren't for the fact that that woman was carrying his child and he had to be responsible, he would actually prefer to stay.
Even without a formal title.