Chapter 101: The Officials’ Donation

What kind of danger will Ah Bao fall into again?

Extreme pampering is a double-edged sword!

It has both advantages and disadvantages.

Concubine De wants Ah Bao to keep a low profile and bide her time. The Seven Kingdoms have been in constant conflict over the years, and she is genuinely worried that Ah Bao might get caught up in some terrible conspiracy because of certain rumors.

She must be cautious.

“Don’t worry, Mom. Don’t be afraid. Ah Bao will be good from now on.”

[Mom must be worried about me, right?]

[This time, Mom is really angry. Sob sob sob.]

[Mom’s spankings really hurt. Sigh, it’s my fault for making her angry.]

[I need to apologize to Mom properly. Ah, the boundless love of parents!]

Ah Bao, a tiny little figure, hugged Concubine De’s leg, looking up at her with a small, upturned face.

Concubine De picked Ah Bao up into her arms, nestled her on her shoulder, and wiped away a tear.

[Did Mom cry?]

[Sob sob sob, I’m such a terrible brat, making Mom cry.]

“Ah Bao, I’m sorry, did it hurt when I spanked you earlier?” Concubine De apologized, looking at Ah Bao’s slightly reddened palm, her heart aching with guilt.

“Mom, blow on it, it won’t hurt.” Ah Bao extended her small hand.

Concubine De gently blew on it.

Taking advantage of the moment, Ah Bao quickly planted a kiss on Concubine De’s cheek.

[Mom, I’m sorry. I’ll never make you cry again. Sob sob sob.]

[It’s Ah Bao’s fault for being disobedient.]

“My little Ah Bao is the most obedient. It’s Mommy who got a little too worried.” Concubine De pinched Ah Bao’s little nose and took her into the room.

She had already personally prepared breakfast for Ah Bao, including Ah Bao’s favorite minced meat egg custard.

…

Ah Bao, who was taking a nap, heard voices outside the Imperial Study.

“Your Majesty, it’s already deep winter now, and the situation in the Lingnan epidemic area is dire. In another two months, it will be the end of the year. If the epidemic isn’t curbed by then, I fear Lingnan will turn into a living hell,” reported the Minister of Revenue.

“Your Majesty, our Ministry of Revenue manages the national treasury, and as you are aware, it has been severely depleted over the past three years.”

The Minister of Revenue couldn’t bear to continue, letting out a heavy sigh.

The tyrant flipped through the memorials in his hand, weariness etched on his face. Over the past three years, the Tiansheng Dynasty had been unstable. Epidemics, floods, and natural disasters all required funds.

Additionally, sporadic border wars also demanded money.

The treasury was growing poorer by the day.

Now, it was even more impoverished.

“I’ve already ordered the harem to reduce their clothing and food expenses, to cut down on extravagance, and to refrain from hosting large banquets. But relying on just these measures, the savings are far from enough,” the tyrant said as he closed the memorial.

Even the funds for managing the epidemic in Lingnan were barely available from the treasury, let alone the funds needed for other areas.

“Your Majesty, this humble servant does have an idea, but I’m not sure if it’s feasible,” the Minister of Revenue suggested.

“Speak your mind.”

The Minister of Revenue continued, “The officials in the court, many of whom have been in office for years, have amassed considerable wealth. I propose we ask the officials to make donations. It’s not enough to only have the harem tighten their belts; as citizens of the Tiansheng Dynasty, we should all contribute.”

The tyrant’s eyes lit up. “Officials’ donations? That’s actually a good idea! I didn’t expect you, Chen Aiqing, to come up with such a clever idea in your old age.”

The Minister of Revenue chuckled, “Your Majesty, to be honest, this idea was proposed by Lin Xuanzhi.”

“Lin Xuanzhi?” The tyrant remembered this person well. Wasn’t he the one sent to manage the Lingnan epidemic?

“Yes, Minister Lin from the Ministry of Revenue! Though he’s just a low-ranking fourth-grade official, Minister Lin has always had unique insights. When the Lingnan epidemic area experienced riots before, Minister Lin went and, along with the First Prince, did his best to stabilize the situation.

But as winter set in, the epidemic spread rapidly, and Minister Lin didn’t have any highly skilled doctors by his side, which is why the epidemic in the area has yet to be resolved.”

“It seems you and Lin Xuanzhi are on good terms?”

“Hah, Your Majesty jests. We only had some dealings before he left for the epidemic area.”

The tyrant felt a sense of relief. He almost had Lin Xuanzhi’s head chopped off due to a moment of rashness.

To think that such a loyal minister was only spared because of Ah Bao’s inner voice.

The news of the officials’ donation spread quickly through the court.

The ministers were trembling in fear, unwilling and complaining.

The next day, more than half of the officials called in sick.

They didn’t attend court at all.

In the vast Jinluan Hall, more than half of the seats were empty.

The tyrant slammed the table in anger. “Outrageous! Each one of them, when nothing’s going on, they’re all about serving the people, saying things like ‘take from the people and use for the people.’

But when it comes to a crucial moment, when we need them, they all turn into cowardly turtles.”

Many officials had developed their own businesses at home. Now, being asked to donate a little, they were being so stingy.

This infuriated the tyrant.

The officials who didn’t call in sick were trembling in fear.

It was tough for them.

If they had known, they would have called in sick too, so they wouldn’t have to face the emperor’s wrath.

They were afraid that the emperor’s anger would spill over onto them, and even a few heads wouldn’t be enough to placate it.

“Are you going to donate or not?” The tyrant, now furious, demanded.

The officials all knelt in unison, “Your Majesty, if the Tiansheng Dynasty needs it, if the country and the emperor need it, this humble servant will do their utmost, sacrificing everything for the country, even unto death.”

And then, they donated silver.

This one gave a hundred taels, that one gave a hundred taels.

The tyrant looked at the pitiful amount of silver, unsure whether to be angry or not.

What could a few thousand taels do?

It wasn’t even enough to cover the expenses for Lingnan, let alone replenishing the treasury.

“Dismissed!”

The officials felt as if they had been granted amnesty and quickly left.

The tyrant sat on the dragon throne, sighing deeply. Life had been truly difficult recently.

Ah Bao patted the tyrant’s leg, “Daddy, have some watermelon.”

Ah Bao held a small slice of watermelon in her hands.

The little one was really unafraid of the cold in the dead of winter. While everyone else ate watermelon in the summer, she ate it in the winter.

[Officials’ donations are actually quite easy.]

The tyrant, who was at his wit’s end: ?

His eyes brightened.

He placed Ah Bao on his lap and chuckled, “I heard that Ah Bao not only went to the Star Observation Tower yesterday but also visited the Right Prime Minister’s residence?”

Of course, this was something that Di Zian had informed him of.

Ah Bao nodded her little head.

[I did, I did.]

[The matter at the Right Prime Minister’s residence isn’t finished yet. I have to go again today, but I just can’t find a reason to leave the palace.]

“Mother was angry yesterday and gave both Ah Bao and the Seventh Prince a beating. Sigh, it’s better to just stay in the palace and avoid making Mother angry again.”

“Father.”

While the father and daughter were resting, Di Zian came in.

The Tyrant Emperor knew exactly why Di Zian had come at this time—to take Ah Bao to the Right Prime Minister’s residence.

He couldn’t understand why the Seventh Prince needed to bring his sister along when chasing after a wife.

What the Tyrant Emperor didn’t know was how crucial Ah Bao’s role was in the situation; without her, Di Zian might not have had any chance with his future wife.

As soon as Di Zian saw the Tyrant Emperor holding Ah Bao, he panicked.

It’s over.

Since he sneaked his sister out of the palace yesterday, he can’t sneak her out in front of their mother anymore.

But in front of their father, that was definitely impossible too.

The Tyrant Emperor was much sharper than their mother.

“What brings you here, you rascal?” The Tyrant Emperor pretended to be unaware.