Peaceful Farm Life

Chapter 903: Chapter 904: How Dare You Play Such Tricks with Me?

By this time, Prime Minister Li could only brace himself and say, ”Prince Yi’s actions suggest a lack of contentment with his station, and we feared that Prince Yi might harbor rebellious thoughts, which would be detrimental to Xiyun and the Emperor.”

The Emperor of Xiyun sneered, ”I encourage frank advice, but you seem to regress further with time. Do you really dare to play these little tricks on me?”

Pausing for a moment, the Emperor of Xiyun then erupted in anger, ”It’s true that I hold dear Prince Yi, but I have not yet reached a point where my affection clouds my judgment of right and wrong! By doing this, are you suggesting that I am a fatuous ruler?!”

The people kneeling on the ground became even more frightened, their faces turned pale as they repeatedly cried out, ”We wouldn’t dare, may the Emperor’s anger subside! May the Emperor’s anger subside! May the Emperor’s anger subside!”

”Prince Yi opening numerous rice shops signifies his rebellious intentions?” The Emperor of Xiyun sneered again. ”So, by submitting the rice shop ledgers for my review since the opening of the first shop, was he indicating his rebellious intentions to me? How impatient for death he must be!”

The people kneeling on the ground had not anticipated that Xiao Changyi would regularly show his accounts to the Emperor of Xiyun and were completely stunned.

The Emperor of Xiyun looked coldly at the people kneeling below, and after a long pause, he continued, ”You all filed your accusations without fully understanding the situation. I should severely punish you for this, but considering that you did it for Xiyun, I will show leniency. I will fine you half a year’s salary and order you to copy the Laws of Xiyun five times.”

Half a year’s salary is one thing, but copying the Laws of Xiyun five times?

The Laws of Xiyun is a very thick book; when will they ever finish copying it five times?

The hearts of the officials kneeling on the ground cried out in agony, yet outwardly they could only kowtow and express their gratitude, ”Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor, long live, long live!”

...

As soon as Prime Minister Li returned from morning court, he saw his daughter, who had come back to her parental home to visit him, prompting a sigh, ”Wuyu, you and Youbao were right. I should not have gotten involved in these matters.”

”Father, what do you mean?” Li Wuyu didn’t understand what Prime Minister Li was talking about at the moment.

Prime Minister Li sighed again, ”Your father and the other officials jointly submitted a report about your master and mentor opening many rice shops.”

Li Wuyu immediately became anxious, ”Then father, are you in trouble?”

Her master had said, if this matter were to be reported, the ones in trouble wouldn’t be them. Wouldn’t that mean the ones in trouble were exactly those who submitted the report?

Prime Minister Li shook his head, ”Fortunately, we did it for Xiyun. The Emperor did not impose a heavy penalty, only forfeiting half a year’s salary and ordering us to copy the Laws of Xiyun five times.”

Li Wuyu was relieved to hear her father was not in mortal danger and quickly became curious, ”Father, how come master and mentor got away with no trouble?”

Prime Minister Li explained how the Emperor of Xiyun had long been aware of the rice shop matter and even regularly reviewed the rice shop ledgers.

”No wonder...” Li Wuyu realized. ”Father, you shouldn’t do this again in the future.”

Prime Minister Li sighed yet another sigh, ”I did it for Xiyun. In truth, I deeply respect Prince Yi. It’s just that... having seen many powerful individuals slowly change, no longer the same as before, I feared Prince Yi might change as well.”

Li Wuyu remained silent. She couldn’t guarantee that her mentor would remain the same forever. Apart from her silence, all she could do was remain silent.

”My reporting today has implicated Prince Yi. I hope he remains as magnanimous as he has always been, and doesn’t hold it against me, which naturally would not implicate you.”

Li Wuyu said, ”Father, you did it for Xiyun; you had no ulterior motive. If my master and mentor are upset with me because of this, I accept it, and I believe Youbao shares my feelings.”