Chapter 61: I Never Joke Around

Ji Yucang said, “Unwilling?”

Princess Pingyao was not particularly unwilling, “The Minister of War is still young. Isn’t it a bit early for him to retire and return to his hometown?”

“I didn’t ask you to take it seriously.” Ji Yucang said, “Carry the royal fan bestowed by the late Emperor, hang a notice at the Ministry of War, report to the ministry daily, understand the daily work processes of the officials there, hold nominal power while controlling real authority.”

Princess Pingyao smirked, “Once I go there, I’m afraid the court will be in chaos. Those courtiers probably wish they could tear me apart and swallow me whole.”

“Are you so easy to bully?”

“Of course not.” Princess Pingyao sneered, “But why should I leave behind a comfortable life of luxury and meddle in court affairs? Even if I do hold real power, it’s a thankless job. Why should I give up the joy of everyday life at the princess’s residence?”

Ji Yucang lightly tapped the chair’s armrest, “The Empress Dowager has always wanted to rule behind the curtain. If something happens to me in two years, do you want to watch her wield great power in court?”

Princess Pingyao replied, “In two years, the Emperor will be old enough to rule. Even if something happens to the Crown Prince, it won’t be the Empress Dowager’s turn to rule from behind the curtain.”

“The Emperor is the Empress Dowager’s own son. Regardless of who holds power, once they mature, their authority will become more secure. Within five years, they can fully rule over Yong Kingdom.”

Princess Pingyao lightly smiled, “So what? Even if they secure the throne, they wouldn’t dare touch me.”

“Do you want the Empress Dowager to enjoy a lifetime of wealth and luxury, to peacefully live out her days?”

Princess Pingyao fell silent. All her previous indifference was just a facade, shattered by that one sentence.

The Empress Dowager enjoying a lifetime of wealth and luxury?

A pipe dream.

“Alright. I agree.” She nodded, “But can Uncle tell me why he wants me to go to the Ministry of War?”

Yan Qingchen explained the question for her, “During wartime, the Ministry of War is responsible for the soldiers’ salaries and food supply at the borders. Although the funds are allocated by the Ministry of Revenue, many officials at the Ministry of War profit from it. While profiting is one thing, if someone with ill intentions tampers with the food supply, it affects the lives of tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of soldiers at the borders. Negligence is not tolerable, so the Regent wants a trustworthy person to supervise, to prevent any malicious intent.”

Currently holding both civil and military power, the Regent is feared deeply by the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. They especially want to eliminate his fierce and skilled military commanders.

If there are malicious individuals in power, soldiers being manipulated is not uncommon.

Princess Pingyao’s eyes narrowed slightly.

It is evident that the Regent will not personally go to the battlefield. The Empress Dowager and her son see him as a mortal enemy. Given the late Emperor’s appointment of him as Regent, his current grip on the Emperor’s power means he won’t easily leave the capital.

Even if there were real military conflicts at the borders, he would dispatch capable commanders. With him overseeing the court, no one would dare meddle significantly with the food supplies unless they want their entire family exterminated slowly.

But now, the biggest variable is the Regent’s health.

Understanding the deceit and treachery in power struggles, Princess Pingyao decided not to inquire further and simply nodded slowly, “Alright.”

With that settled, Princess Pingyao didn’t linger and left promptly.

Yan Qingchen and Xie Tinglan watched in silence, their gazes fixed on Ji Yucang and Shen Ning seated at the main positions, sensing something ominous, their expressions tinged with seriousness.

Xie Tinglan furrowed his brows, “The young Emperor will personally rule next year. We still haven’t found a solution to His Majesty’s poison. Even if we suppress the Empress Dowager and the Qin family, what difference would it make?”

Shen Ning calmly stated, “I have already found a way to create an antidote. In another two months at most, his poison will be neutralized, freeing him from the Emperor’s control.”

What?

Yan Qingchen and Xie Tinglan were startled and stood up, “Is the Princess Consort joking?”

Shen Ning looked at them silently, “I never joke.”

“This is simply impossible.” Xie Tinglan seemed skeptical, “Over the past year, we’ve consulted no less than ten renowned physicians, and none of them could find a solution—”

Shen Ning furrowed her brows, “So you hope that your Regent will never find a solution?”

Xie Tinglan hesitated, “Of course not.”

However, reality doesn’t always align with one’s hopes.

Shen Ning, just a lady of the inner chambers, had hardly ventured out until the age of fourteen, never studied medicine under a master, nor had the chance to interact with exceptional experts. How could she possibly find an antidote?

Moreover, the poison afflicting the Regent was far from ordinary.

The renowned physicians mentioned that the antidote was complex and hard to produce, with rare ingredients that were difficult to obtain unless a miraculous healer emerged.

But how many miraculous healers existed in the world, and how easy were they to find?

“The Princess Consort is telling the truth.” A respectful voice from outside the hall, belonging to Ling Feng, said, “A few days ago, when the Regent’s poison flared up, the Princess Consort temporarily alleviated it using a silver needle.”

With this revelation, Yan Qingchen and Xie Tinglan were astonished, their gazes towards Shen Ning changed significantly.

The Princess Consort could actually detoxify?

If it weren’t for Ling Feng’s honesty, they wouldn’t have believed it at all.

Yet, they couldn’t comprehend where the Princess Consort acquired such skills.

“Your Majesty, is what the Princess Consort said true?” Xie Tinglan’s gaze shifted to Ji Yucang’s face, “Can she really cure him?”

Ji Yucang didn’t answer this question, as he hadn’t yet decided whether he wanted Shen Ning to detoxify him.

This matter could be discussed later.

“The Emperor’s health has been unstable recently. Let’s not burden him with state affairs.” Ji Yucang’s voice was indifferent, carrying a subtle but chilling air of ruthlessness, “Qin Guoju now controls the Ministry of Revenue. Find an opportunity to accuse him. I want the Qin family to suffer irreparable damage.”

“Yes.” Yan Qingchen acknowledged.

“A few of those bandits from the outskirts have been captured. Does His Majesty want to interrogate them personally?”

“Send them to the Ministry of Justice, order the jailers to torture them severely.” Ji Yucang’s tone was cold and ruthless, “Not a single one should escape. If they don’t reveal the mastermind behind them, interrogate them relentlessly around the clock.”

“Understood.”