Chapter 333: What Happened to the Promised Tyrant?

Song Junzhan had survived his brush with death. Under Cen An’s care, his health had improved considerably. He looked a little thinner now, but there were no serious lingering problems.

Therefore, the first person Xiao Li rewarded upon her return was Cen An.

The reward was not an official title, nor was it money or medicinal herbs. Instead, it was a share of the profits from the pharmacies opened in the Empress’s name, for a term of one hundred years.

In other words, Cen An and his descendants for the next three generations would be free from worry for life.

As far as Cen An knew, he was the only person to have received such a share to date.

The Empress did not hand out titles like prince or marquis, only tangible benefits. What he had received already far surpassed what many others had.

Cen An: ’...The Empress is always tormenting me while simultaneously eroding my will.’

’There would never be another woman in his life who could make him feel such a mix of love and hate.’

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The Empress had intended to slack off upon returning to the palace, but she couldn’t catch a break.

With the expansion of the empire’s territory, new management plans were needed. The war in Yizhou was still ongoing. While coordinating the court for the war effort was no issue, the real problem was how to govern Yizhou after its conquest.

She couldn’t just kill the scholars of Yizhou. She might be brutal, but she wasn’t so inhumane as to order the massacre of an entire city.

Yet, she couldn’t employ them either.

They were a mob of arrogant, self-important individuals who only knew how to read and write. They had no ambition, couldn’t distinguish right from wrong, and she couldn’t be bothered to waste the court’s resources on teaching them.

She was short on officials, but she wouldn’t accept just any piece of trash.

’Especially since this group had insulted her before. Appoint people who had cursed her, to show magnanimity and attract talent? Heh, Xiao Li didn’t have that kind of generosity.’

’But she couldn’t just let them go, either. They had insulted her with such glee; if there was no punishment at all, what would become of the Empress’s authority?’

In the end, it was her courtiers who came up with a brilliant solution: lock up the group and have them copy imperial edicts and the Empress’s biographies.

The kind of stately, formal imperial edicts issued by the Ministry of Rites, as well as the Empress’s various supplementary biographies.

’Aren’t they scholars? Don’t they love to write? Then let them write to their hearts’ content.’

’This would serve as punishment and might also change their way of thinking. In the future, she might even unearth a hidden gem or two from the group and send them to her factories to tighten screws.’

Xiao Li was deeply appreciative. ’Not bad, not bad at all.’

’Now she didn’t even have to lift a finger; the veterans were automatically finding ways to tame the newcomers. It was simply brilliant.’

With the second problem solved, there was still a third: the imperial examinations.

Because of the long delay in Xiao Li’s return, the matter had been postponed for some time. Now that she was back, preparations for the imperial examinations could begin.

She could simply assign people to handle the arrangements. Xiao Li was only responsible for creating a few of the questions, which wasn’t too difficult.

Xiao Li suddenly snapped back to reality. ’...Whoops, I’ve accidentally started being a diligent ruler again.’

’What happened to being a tyrant?’

’Aren’t tyrants supposed to be brutal, debauched, and licentious, indulging in pools of wine and forests of meat?’

’So why am I here, conquering and governing the realm?’

Xiao Li had the heart of a decadent ruler but always ended up performing the deeds of a wise one.

Meanwhile, Lou Yan’s treacherous heart, eager to seduce the monarch, was raring to go. Alas, Xiao Li gave him no opportunity to act. ’If only Your Majesty weren’t so guarded against this servant, all my plans could come to fruition.’

After several busy days, Xiao Li had a banquet held in the palace. All high officials of the third rank or higher were in attendance.

A banquet held by the Empress was, without a doubt, the most prestigious event in the entire realm.

The lavishness of the banquet and the exquisite ingredients were a given. What mattered most was that those seated here were chosen not for their status or family background, but for their ability.

Everyone in attendance represented the collective supreme authority of the Longsheng Dynasty. Not a single person was redundant.

What’s more, there wasn’t a single old man among them. The eldest was no older than forty, and most were young people in their twenties and thirties. One look was enough to sense the dynasty’s burgeoning vitality and upward momentum.

Moreover, the Empress required no one to bring gifts. In fact, every guest could take an exclusive gift box with them upon leaving.

The Empress was the ultimate contradiction. When she was vicious, she was utterly ruthless. When she was benevolent, she was exceptionally kind.

The same was true of how she handled state affairs. When she felt lazy, she couldn’t be bothered with anything. But the moment she decided to be diligent, it was a nightmare for all her officials.

Profound, mercurial, and unpredictable; possessing superior wisdom; mysterious and powerful—in short, all of them respected, and even revered, the Empress.

The Empress herself was aloof and rarely held banquets, usually preferring to just grant rewards. As a result, an imperial banquet had become the event her officials most looked forward to.

Attending one of the Empress’s banquets was a greater source of prestige than receiving a promotion.

Xiao Li, of course, had no idea her simple desire to be lazy had this side effect. She simply felt it was time to hold a banquet to reward her courtiers.

The banquet concluded perfectly. Xiao Li was the first to leave, returning to her bedchamber. And then...

Xiao Li glanced to her left at Lou Yan, then to her right at Song Junzhan. ’How long are these two going to keep up this confrontation?’

’They’ve already had three cups of tea. Aren’t they bloated?’

Xiao Li couldn’t be bothered to join their contest of patience. She turned and went inside to wash up and go to bed.

The moment the Empress left, the atmosphere between the two men, which had been merely a subtle stalemate, instantly became charged. The tension was palpable, their animosity laid bare.

Right now, the hottest topic in the entire Capital City was the relationship between the Empress and the Prime Minister.

Rumors had long circulated about a romance between the Empress and the Prime Minister; there were even books published on the subject.

But the Empress had fallen into a long coma after her accession, and not long after waking, she had left for the battlefield and been gone for half a year.

So even if people wanted to believe there was something between them, the facts just didn’t add up.

But ever since that day at the city gates when the Empress decisively took the Prime Minister’s hand, the people of the Capital City had gone into a frenzy.

The Empress and the Prime Minister are the real deal!

The Empress truly loves the Prime Minister most of all!

The Empress and the Prime Minister are about to have a child!

Just one public appearance, one moment of holding hands, and the common folk were already speculating on the name and appearance of a future Crown Prince.

And yet, Lou Yan was the only one who had ever attended the Empress in her bedchambers. He was the one who had emerged from her carriage that day. His looks were striking and his presence was powerful, yet somehow, no one paid him any attention.

Even if they did notice him, and even if rumors spread that he was not a eunuch, people still habitually dismissed him as one.

It never occurred to them that there could be anything romantic or amorous between him and the Empress.

Lou Yan had originally considered it beneath him to contend with Song Junzhan, but a baseless rage burned ever hotter within him. The more he looked at Song Junzhan, the more irritated he became.

Just as he was now.

Song Junzhan sat perfectly composed, as unshakable as a mountain. It was Lou Yan who couldn’t hold back any longer. "The hour is late, Prime Minister. It is time for you to leave the palace."

Song Junzhan slowly lifted his gaze, his composure unruffled, and returned the sentiment. "The hour is indeed late. Why has Lord Lou not yet departed?"

Lou Yan lifted his chin, his posture arrogant. "I am awaiting Her Majesty’s summons to attend her."

As he spoke, his eyes narrowed into a cold, mocking smile. "The Prime Minister is the head of all officials, a paragon for the entire realm. Matters such as serving Her Majesty are best left to me."

Song Junzhan’s expression remained placid. "That depends on whom Her Majesty wishes to serve her. As her subject, if Her Majesty gives a command, I would not dare to disobey."

Lou Yan tightened his grip on his teacup, and cracks instantly spiderwebbed across its surface.

He fixed Song Junzhan with a baleful stare. "Don’t you scholars care most about your reputations? By engaging in such fawning behavior, aren’t you afraid the world will mock you, Prime Minister?"

Song Junzhan smiled, delivering the killing blow. "Why would they mock me? They would only hope for Her Majesty and I to produce an outstanding Crown Prince."

The air between them crackled, thick with killing intent.

"Ahem."

Holding back a laugh, Hong Yue stepped out. "My lords, Her Majesty has already retired for the night. You may both take your leave."