RPAGF Chapter 131 The Prime Minister is actually a woman, and His Majesty the Emperor drools over her.
Chapter 131 The Prime Minister is actually a woman, and His Majesty the Emperor drools over her.
After she finished speaking, the woman coughed violently, and the baby beside her seemed to sense her mother's grief and started crying as well.
Mu Wanwan patted the woman's back to help her catch her breath. She was deeply sympathetic to the woman's feelings, and tears welled up in her eyes.
“This is a small token of my appreciation, which should be enough to ensure that you three are well-fed and clothed for a while. But as far as I know, the emperor is a diligent and benevolent ruler. I believe he is unaware of the proposed tax increase. He would never want to see the people suffering. I believe he will soon give you justice. Don’t you agree, my husband?”
Mu Chenfeng slowly stepped forward and took Mu Wanwan's hand. "Yes!"
"Little friend, if the emperor punishes those who levy taxes arbitrarily, will you be able to join the army and serve your country when you grow up?"
The little boy leaned against his mother, pondered for a moment, and said, “Ignorance is no excuse. If what you say is true, madam, I am willing to join the army in the future.”
Mu Wanwan nodded in satisfaction before leaving with Mu Chenfeng.
They also visited other parts of the surrounding towns. Unlike the bustling market, which was heaven, this place was hell.
A day of unannounced visits was enough for Mu Chenfeng to understand the current state of people's lives.
Upon returning to the city, he didn't remain idle. He had Zhao Yihan bring the captured Prefect Li to the Emperor's presence.
"Your Majesty!"
Zhao Yihan kicked Lord Li in the knee, and he immediately fell to his knees, clutching his leg and wailing in pain.
"Hurry up and pay your respects to the Emperor!"
Lord Li then looked up at the man sitting on the high platform, exuding an air of authority. Wasn't this the man he had met today?
He is the emperor, and what he did today is a capital offense.
"Your Majesty, please spare me! I shouldn't have forcibly taken that woman. Please forgive me."
Mu Chenfeng's eyes were sharp, as if he wished he could immediately torture the person in front of him to death. Countless ordinary people had been ruined and killed because of his illegal tax collection.
"Lord Li, I had no idea you were the local tyrant of the Great Wu Dynasty! You can even make decisions for me now."
Mu Chenfeng slammed the memorial down in front of Lord Li. Lord Li opened the memorial with trembling hands; it was the very memorial he had written.
"Your Majesty, spare my life! I only wanted to collect more taxes to replenish the national treasury. I am completely loyal to you and have no selfish motives whatsoever. Please, Your Majesty, see the truth."
Mu Wanwan's lips twitched. The disgusting man in front of her was still trying to justify himself. Thinking of the little boy she had met today, her frustration lingered for a long time.
"No selfish motives? Your memorial hasn't even been reviewed by the Emperor yet, and you've already begun to implement it. Doesn't this count as falsely conveying an imperial edict? Do you know your crime?"
A puddle of water slowly flowed from beneath Lord Li. Mu Wanwan turned her head away, too disgusted to look.
The emperor's majesty was indeed immense, so much so that Lord Li, who was kneeling in the hall, was so frightened that he wet himself.
"Lord Li, do you know your crime?"
Lord Li knelt on the ground, his words trembling so badly he could barely speak, his whole body shaking, and he dared not even glance at Mu Chenfeng.
"Your Majesty, I am guilty. I am willing to hand over all my family property to the national treasury. I beg Your Majesty to have mercy."
"Lord Li, do you know how many people have died and how many others have gone hungry because of your arbitrary tax collection? As the local official, you do not serve the people or stand up for them. Instead, you go against the grain and ask me to show mercy? It's a ridiculous joke."
He slammed his fist on the table in a fit of rage, nearly causing Lord Li to faint.
Only then did Zhao Taiwei realize the purpose of Mu Chenfeng's trip. He never expected that Mu Chenfeng would personally concern himself with the affairs of ordinary people.
His reputation among the people is already terrible, which can be seen as preparation for his eventual removal from office.
By doing this today, haven't we cleared his name?
"Your Majesty, although Lord Li has made a mistake, please consider his past service to Your Majesty and punish him leniently."
If the emperor punishes Lord Li leniently, it will give others grounds for criticism, and the people will still be dissatisfied with him.
"Since Grand Commandant Zhao pleaded for you, I will punish you leniently and give Grand Commandant Zhao some face."
Mu Chenfeng stared at Zhao Taiwei with a meaningful smile, and Zhao Taiwei bowed respectfully.
"Then grant Lord Li a cup of poisoned wine, so that he may be spared the fate of being torn apart by five horses and leave his body intact."
All of Lord Li's property shall be confiscated, and his entire family shall be executed!
Mu Wanwan was practically clapping and cheering. Her man was so handsome. Receiving his wife's adoring gaze, Mu Chenfeng smiled knowingly.
"Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty..."
The guards dragged Lord Li out, and his voice faded into the distance.
"I've issued the decree, disperse!"
Zhao Taiwei stood there stunned. What kind of face was this? They were going to execute his entire family.
Back at her residence, Mu Wanwan couldn't wait to take a bath; she was exhausted after being out all day.
Following Mu Wanwan's instructions, Cui'er added milk and rose petals to the water, and Mu Wanwan tilted her head back and soaked herself in it.
Cui'er served her from behind, scooping water from the bucket and pouring it on her shoulders to keep it warm.
She closed her eyes and enjoyed it. "Cui'er, give me a shoulder massage!"
"Yes, master."
Cui'er massaged her shoulders, occasionally glancing at the movement at the window.
"Master, Mu Chenfeng is on his way."
Piggy spoke up to remind her, and Mu Wanwan raised her hand to stroke her smooth arm.
“I told you, I won’t go looking for him, he’ll find a way to come over.”
She was full of confidence. Mu Chenfeng was now deeply in love with her. At least for now, he wouldn't despise her. He would find that he couldn't live without her more and more.
The brains of modern society were indeed very useful in ancient times.
As expected, Lord Li's memorial could not withstand scrutiny. Before they could even launch a full-scale investigation, he delivered it to their doorstep himself.
But thinking about how he was so scared in the main hall that he wet his pants, she couldn't help but laugh.
Cui'er gently massaged her shoulders when she suddenly heard a strange noise coming from the window.
"Master, there's an assassin!"
Mu Wanwan waved to Cui'er, "Cui'er, go and rest! There's nothing for you to do here."
Cui'er looked towards the window, hesitating to speak, "But..."
"Go on, you've had a long day. It's just a kitten passing by outside the window."
Cui'er left, turning back every few steps. Just as she closed the door, the window was opened from the outside, and a eunuch jumped in through the window.
Mu Wanwan covered her chest, which was exposed above the water, and angrily rebuked without changing her expression, "You audacious servant!"
The eunuch with his head bowed slowly approached from behind, completely ignoring Mu Wanwan's reprimand.
"Prime Minister Mu, would you mind having me serve you during your bath?"
He placed his hands on her shoulders and gently massaged them. The room was quiet, and she could clearly hear him swallowing.
"Aren't you afraid? If the Emperor finds out, he'll chop off your head."
She closed her eyes to enjoy the massage, feeling the touch of the person serving her.
"Madam has had a long and tiring journey today, and I have come to repay your kindness."
What a jerk! You're addicted to cosplay, aren't you!