Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

Chapter 34: 34 Your Majesty, why would you rebel?

With a sigh in her heart, Xiao Yunxi said, ”The harem should not interfere in political affairs, but the southwest is a natural barrier for our Great Song Dynasty against the Jing Kingdom. Now that there is a rebellion in the southwest, Your Majesty should dispatch a large army to quell the unrest. Only then can we ensure the long-term peace and stability of our Great Song.”

”I understand the reasoning, but unfortunately, the National Treasury is out of funds. Moreover, Nanyang is only a few hundred miles from the Capital. If the drought in Nanyang is not resolved and a riot occurs, it could threaten the Capital.”

Zhao Ji went to sit on the Dragon Bed, and Xiao Yunxi hurriedly poured him tea. As she prepared to lay in his arms, Zhao Ji dodged her.

Xiao Yunxi immediately showed a hint of resentment: ”Your Majesty, it has been many years since I have been close to you.”

”Cough... I’m... I just woke up not long ago and my body is somewhat unwell, so...” Zhao Ji distanced himself from Xiao Yunxi.

Once again, Xiao Yunxi sighed inwardly. Every time, he uses this excuse to brush me off, but then turns to other concubines’ palaces. It’s obvious he’s avoiding me.

”I was thoughtless...” Xiao Yunxi no longer sought intimacy with Zhao Ji and instead said, ”The disaster in Nanyang needs relief, and the rebellion in the southwest needs quelling. In any case, the construction of Gan Yue cannot be completed in the short term, so why not allocate that money to General Huangfu and solve the rebellion in the southwest first?”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji appeared somewhat irritable, but still said, ”The Empress might not know, but the southwest is several thousand miles from the Capital. Each time a large army is deployed, we first need to gather supplies, and a round trip takes at least several months, at most a year or two. These military expenses, along with travel costs and coordination with the departments, are far from being covered by five million taels...”

”Moreover, I’ve already understood the rebellion in the southwest is not particularly severe and can be handled by local authorities.”

”Your Majesty could follow the previous Emperor and have the ministers and the royal relatives donate. I’ve understood that they all are quite wealthy.” Xiao Yunxi thought for a moment and said.

”Does the Empress want me to lower the dignity of an emperor to plead with these ministers? If this spreads, where would my face be?”

Zhao Ji was about to sip his tea, but upon hearing this, he was so furious that he threw the teacup to the ground, spilling tea everywhere.

”I didn’t mean that...” Xiao Yunxi’s face showed sadness, and she hastily bent down to tidy up, then said, ”If not, let me go home once, and have my father handle the donation matter. This way, Your Majesty won’t need to lower yourself.”

Zhao Ji remained silent.

Xiao Yunxi knew he had consented.

A smile appeared on her face, and Xiao Yunxi stood and said, ”I see Your Majesty doesn’t look well. How about I press to help you relax a bit?”

Saying that she started towards Zhao Ji.

Zhao Ji furrowed his brows immediately, and, as if avoiding a snake or scorpion, waved his hand, saying, ”No... no need, I’m a bit tired, let the Empress return first.”

Seeing this, Xiao Yunxi looked saddened and said, ”Does Your Majesty despise me?”

Seeing Xiao Yunxi’s expression, Zhao Ji knew he had gone too far, immediately smiled, and said, ”What is the Empress saying? You are my Empress, mistress of the Harem, and my support. How could I despise you? I am truly just a bit tired.”

”Then Your Majesty should rest well, and I’ll go find my father...”

Xiao Yunxi turned around, and out of Zhao Ji’s sight, wiped the corners of her eyes, then quickly stepped out.

Not long after Xiao Yunxi left, Zhao Ji murmured, ”The State Preceptor says that the construction of Gan Yue not only concerns whether my body can return to normal but also whether I can break through to First Grade. Not a moment can be delayed...”

...

Xiao Yunxi was indeed swift.

By afternoon, the Imperial Father-in-law, and also Grand Commandant of the Great Song Imperial Dynasty, Xiao Yunqi, using the excuse of acquiring a unique stone, invited all the officials to view it, gathering them at his residence.

After the viewing, the discussion about donations was brought up.

However, the outcome was less than desirable.

The royal relatives were utterly stingy.

The civil and military officials feigned ignorance, playing dumb.

The final tally was a mere two hundred thousand taels collected after the entire effort.

And Xiao Yunqi, as the Imperial Father-in-law and Grand Commandant, bearing such important responsibilities, only donated thirty thousand taels.

When the civil and military officials were combined, they had only managed two hundred thousand taels.

Eventually, the news reached Zhao Ji’s ears, driving him to rage.

Immediately, he summoned Chief Eunuch Wei Xian, instructing him to take the Eastern and Western Factories to execute raids.

Wei Xian showed immediate concern, saying, ”Your Majesty, please think twice!”

Due to Zhao Ji’s reforms and under the instigation of the officials, the first target was the Eastern and Western Factories, which practically stripped them of most of their power, resulting in the two factories being far less powerful than before.

If the raids are carried out now.

Wei Xian feared such a scenario.

Why is Your Majesty inciting rebellion?

Zhao Ji, also consumed by anger, cooled down upon hearing Wei Xian’s words, suppressing the fury in his heart, and ordered Wei Xian to summon the Empress.

...

At this moment, Xiao Yunxi had not yet received the news about the donation.

Upon hearing that His Majesty called for her.

Xiao Yunxi was overjoyed, knowing that it had been nearly four years since His Majesty had last summoned her proactively.

She quickly prepared and went to Taihe Palace.

Upon entering the hall, a smile appeared on her face, and she just began to speak: ”Your Majesty, is it...”

But before she could finish, Zhao Ji interrupted and scolded, ”Look at what you’ve done, making me lose face entirely. After the donation event, only two hundred thousand taels were collected, turning me into a laughingstock for the entire court.”

”Two hundred thousand taels, how could this be?” The smile vanished, and Xiao Yunxi’s face immediately fell to a pallor, her eyes moistening.

”How could it be? You must have anticipated this, wanting to see me embarrassed. Your father only donated thirty thousand taels, thirty thousand taels! Is that meant to be charity for me?” Zhao Ji furiously supported himself by the bed.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yunxi immediately collapsed to the ground. She knew what thirty thousand taels represented. Although she hadn’t been home for a long time and didn’t know the family’s resources, even thinking with the simplest logic, she knew thirty thousand taels was not nearly the limit.

Even three hundred thousand taels would be scant.

What is Father planning?

Seeing Xiao Yunxi remain silent, Zhao Ji assumed he was right and further berated her fiercely.

Despondently, Xiao Yunxi left Taihe Palace and sought out Xiao Yunqi once again.

Resulting in Xiao Yunqi immediately feigning poverty: ”Empress, though others may not understand me, you, the Empress, should know me well. I am a clean official, typically not receiving much salary. Those thirty thousand taels were painstakingly saved by tightening my belt. How would I have so much money?”

Xiao Yunxi was naturally not convinced: ”Father, in doing so, how will I act in the Imperial Palace?”

”Did His Majesty make it difficult for you?” Hearing Xiao Yunxi’s words, Xiao Yunqi immediately furrowed his brows and promptly said:

”His Majesty, having been in high position for so long, doesn’t know how people at the bottom live. The two hundred thousand taels were gathered through much persuasion and pleading with my colleagues. His Majesty treats you like this, and yet you’ve borne him sons and daughters...”

Having said this, Xiao Yunqi unleashed his energy, and the aura of a First Grade expert surged forth, saying, ”I will enter the palace immediately and speak to His Majesty properly.”

Xiao Yunxi wiped away her tears and hurriedly said, ”His Majesty hasn’t made it difficult for me.”