Royal Gold Magistrate

In the imperial court, Li Yuanzhao listlessly watched the ministers below engage in heated discussion.

Without Old Fang around, things were much less interesting.

The main topic was still the grain disaster, but Li Yuanzhao had lost interest in listening.

For three consecutive days, he had submitted memorials to the Imperial Father, requesting permission to extensively construct buildings in the three prefectures near Jianjiang.

The first two were left unanswered.

Finally, Li Yuanzhao couldn’t hold back and directly spoke up in court.

The outcome was predictable – fierce opposition from the officials! Emperor Jing remained expressionless, ultimately dismissing him with a single sentence.

Today’s discussion about the grain disaster was the same old routine.

It was all about where grain was needed and how to quickly distribute it, where prices had risen, and how to suppress them quickly.

Li Yuanzhao felt like his ears were growing calluses from listening.

At last, he endured until the court session ended.

Li Yuanzhao didn’t leave the palace, but instead closely followed Emperor Jing.

Emperor Jing looked back at Li Yuanzhao, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. “Why are you following me? Do you have something to say?”

Li Yuanzhao mumbled, “Wherever Imperial Father goes, I go.”

Emperor Jing chuckled, “Then come with me. I’m going to the Imperial Study!”

In the Imperial Study, Emperor Jing sat down in his usual place and glanced at Li Yuanzhao.

He saw him looking around curiously.

Emperor Jing said flatly, “What are you looking at? Do you have business or not? If you do, speak quickly. If not, get out of my sight! Stop being a nuisance!”

Li Yuanzhao grinned and rubbed his hands together. “Where’s my chair? Your dutiful son is exhausted!”

“Hmph, bring him a chair!”

A eunuch brought a chair, and Li Yuanzhao sat down with a smirk, cautiously asking, “Did Imperial Father see the memorial I submitted?”

“Is that what this is about?” Emperor Jing smiled.

“Then there’s no need to discuss it with me. It’s impossible. Fang Zheng taught you all this, didn’t he?”

Li Yuanzhao’s face hardened. “No! It was my own idea.”

He couldn’t get Old Fang into trouble. If he were sent even further away, the capital would become unbearably dull.

“Oh? Then tell me what exactly you were thinking.”

Li Yuanzhao eagerly explained, “Your son thought that relying solely on the court’s power is clearly not enough.”

“Encouraging the construction of houses, building temples, and renovating government offices will require a lot of manpower. So once various projects are launched in the disaster areas, the situation will surely improve.”

“If Imperial Father issues an order, local officials will certainly find ways to cooperate with the wealthy households.”

“This way… most of the money and grain hidden among the people can be released! Don’t you think your son is right?”

Emperor Jing sighed, “Right, you’re quite right. Yuanzhao, you’ve grown a lot.”

Li Yuanzhao pressed urgently, “Then why won’t Imperial Father approve it?”

“Do you think there’s anyone in the court who doesn’t understand such simple logic?” Emperor Jing stood up and slowly walked towards Li Yuanzhao.

Placing both hands on Li Yuanzhao’s shoulders, he said coldly, “But I absolutely cannot do this!”

“The common people might not realize the implications, but that’s not the issue.”

“If I issue an imperial edict, how will the scholars of the world view me?”

“As a foolish ruler who still promotes extravagance when the people are suffering from disaster, who doesn’t care about the people’s hardships. How then will the historians write about me?”

Li Yuanzhao’s face immediately turned ashen. “I didn’t expect Imperial Father to be burdened by reputation too. In the end, what’s more important – the lives of the people or the opinions of scholars?”

“This world… ultimately belongs to the scholars.” Emperor Jing’s gaze seemed somewhat dejected. “Although I am the ruler of the world and appear all-powerful in the eyes of the people, only after sitting in this position does one realize they’re bound by shackles.”

“The so-called will of the people doesn’t lie with the common folk, but with the scholars…”

Li Yuanzhao’s face flushed red with anger as he loudly retorted, “In my heart, Imperial Father has always been invincible! I never thought you’d now fear even a group of pedantic scholars!”

“Those people are nothing but a mob! Full of petty scheming, let them say what they want!”

“A bad reputation can be restored, but lost lives are gone forever!”

“I don’t want to hear those grand principles. I never thought Imperial Father would be so timid!”

Guo Tianyang panicked and hastily interjected, “Your Highness, please be mindful of your words!”

Emperor Jing waved his hand to stop Guo Tianyang, a glimmer of approval flashing in his eyes.

“You can say whatever you want now, but I will absolutely not agree to your proposal.”

“One day, when you sit in my position, you’ll understand!”

“The world is not as simple as you think!” As he spoke, Emperor Jing walked back to the table, picked up a piece of yellow silk, and tossed it to Li Yuanzhao.

“This is the latest news from the border. A powerful leader has emerged on the northern steppes, unifying all the tribes.”

“The forces I planted on the steppes have also been uprooted one by one. In recent days, they have been constantly probing our borders.”

“Based on the news from the border, I guess it won’t be long before they send envoys.”

“This person will surely be a great threat to our Jing Dynasty in the future!”

“The crisis has never abated for me. If an imperial edict from me causes turmoil in the world and alienates the scholars from me, that would be losing the big picture for a small gain! Do you understand?”

Li Yuanzhao looked at the contents of the yellow silk, his eyes lighting up!

He exclaimed excitedly, “We’re going to war? Don’t worry, your son will surely sweep across the northern tribes!”

“You beast! Get out!”