My husband is not easy to mess with. - Chapter 3: A Big Pot of Trouble

Chapter 3: A Big Pot of Trouble

The new Emperor’s ascension to the throne, without even offering sacrifices to his ancestors, was utterly preposterous.

The civil officials, who valued rules and strictly adhered to rites, were already filled with righteous indignation. Innumerable eyes blazing with anger glared at Nie Yao, wishing they could point at his nose and thoroughly curse him out the next second.

Unfortunately, due to various reasons, they remained silent.

Only Guan Gu.

His sharp, weathered eyes fixed intently on Nie Yao.

“This old official has long heard rumors that General Nie’s son overthrew the ancestral system, disregarded the law, and casually executed court officials. General Nie had magnificent military achievements and unparalleled righteousness, and this old official originally thought this matter was just slander circulated by the public to defame the General.”

“But seeing it today… Nie Yao, Minister Nie! How can you, by insulting the court and showing contempt for His Majesty like this, be worthy of General Nie’s complete loyalty? You are truly an unworthy son!”

His words were harsh.

However, Nie Yao had heard even worse insults over the years and didn’t mind it.

He merely lifted his eyelids, glanced at which old man was scolding him, quietly noted it in his mind, and that was that.

He said nothing.

But the military officials, who had eaten their fill, had mouths.

They immediately overturned a table: “What nonsense are you talking about, old geezer!”

“What do you, an outsider, know to spout off like that!”

“I think you old bookworms are just jealous of our youth, strength, and capability, so you’re stirring up trouble! Damn it, I’ve wanted to beat up you old scoundrels full of bad ideas for a long time! Today, I’ll show you how powerful I am!”

The strong man tucked his cumbersome official robes into his waist, rolled up his sleeves, and prepared to fight the opposite side.

Even more alarmingly, his colleagues next to him not only didn’t stop him but hastily put down their bowls and chopsticks and joined in, looking fully intent on ganging up to beat the other side.

Seeing over a dozen fierce-looking strong men approaching them.

The civil officials trembled.

The more timid ones silently moved and hid behind the Prime Minister, lest their arms and legs be broken. After settling, they still tried hard to straighten their backs to show that they weren’t cowards but were supporting the Prime Minister.

“B-bold!”

“How dare you lay hands on court officials! Guards, quickly, guards! Arrest them and throw them into jail!”

Tch—

Anyone with a seat this close to the Emperor was a high-ranking official themselves.

The military officials looked disdainful.

No matter what harsh words the other side uttered, they just rolled up their sleeves and fought!

“You, you, you… %^￥$＜&◎+#…”

Finally getting to fight.

The few civil officials who usually liked to look down on people and spew foul words were the focus of attention and were soon beaten black and blue.

Satisfying!

The military officials were satisfied with the beating.

But the new Emperor’s coronation ceremony was a mess.

The Imperial Guards protected His Majesty.

In fact, at the very first sign of trouble, the Commander of the Imperial Guards was about to bring men to quell the situation, but before the swords were even drawn, the new Emperor stopped him.

His Majesty was seen lightly resting his chin on one hand.

His face was full of interest in watching the show.

Thus, the Imperial Guards sheathed their swords, forming layers of tight circles around the Emperor to ensure he wasn’t harmed, and that was all.

“B-brutes!”

“Daring to use violence in front of His Majesty, their crime deserves death!”

“Your Majesty! These vulgar bumpkins are rebelling, Your Majes— Mh, mhmm!!”

Military officials didn’t like to use their brains for political scheming.

But they were obedient.

Nie Yao had instructed them that if they were going to fight, they shouldn’t give the beaten ones a chance to complain. So, as soon as the little weaklings cried for help, rough, large hands covered their mouths.

One hand covered the mouth, and the other was still hitting.

“Clang—”

In the chaos.

Someone unexpectedly pulled out a sword from somewhere and walked towards Nie Yao. Stopping in front of him, he raised the sword and slashed downward.

Nie Yao was still eating.

Seeing that the other party wasn’t slashing at him but at the table of food in front of him.

He frowned slightly.

He quickly raised his hand and used his chopsticks to clamp the large sword.

Doesn’t he know the food on the plate, every grain is hard-earned?

Nie Yao originally didn’t want to bother with this old man who had just been retrieved from exile, but he dared to mess with his dining table!

He flipped his left hand and struck the opponent with a palm.

The force was neither too light nor too heavy.

Just enough to send the person flying back to land at the feet of the Prime Minister, who hadn’t spoken yet.

Then, he slightly raised his hand.

Signaling the fighting military officials to stop.

The military officials received the signal, spat, cursed under their breath, and stopped, obediently standing behind Nie Yao, waiting for him to speak.

“Prime Minister! They are simply too much!”

The more seriously injured civil officials covered their wounded cheeks and burst into tears, pointing at the people and complaining, asking the Prime Minister to seek justice for them.

“Your Majesty.”

Only after the fighting had finished did Dou Jinyuan slowly stand up, slightly cupping his hands towards the new Emperor above, “Minister Guan seems to have injured his tendons and bones this time. Your Majesty is merciful, I request Your Majesty to order the Imperial Physician to treat him.”

Guan Gu was the one Nie Yao hit.

Compared to the other civil officials who were just punched, he was actually the least injured.

He managed to get up himself.

“Your Majesty, this official is fine.”

You might be fine, but we are not!

Your bones are tough, so you don’t hurt, but we do! This whole thing was started by you anyway. Tell us, who else could you criticize with that mouth of yours? Why did you criticize Nie Yao?

Is Nie Yao someone you can just casually curse at?

He has a million troops in his hands, and even the Prime Minister occasionally avoids his sharp edge. Why did you, an old man who just returned from exile, provoke him?

Didn’t you see that we all only dared to be angry but not speak?

Only you had to blabber!

Trying to show off, huh?

You tactless old man, no wonder your property was confiscated and you were exiled! Serves you right!

“Your Majesty, this official is injured! This official is injured!”

A civil official whose injuries were swollen knelt on the ground, crying to the new Emperor with snot and tears: “This official has always been law-abiding, and I don’t even know when I provoked these wolves and tigers! This official, this official… Wuwuwu…”

He cried sadly.

The new Emperor couldn’t help but show a bit of sympathy on his face.

“Since Minister Guan is injured, let the Imperial Physician take a look.”

His voice was quite pleasant.

Nie Yao, full from eating, put down his chopsticks and glanced at the new Emperor.

At that moment, the new Emperor also looked over.

Their eyes met.

The new Emperor slightly raised an eyebrow and smiled: “Minister Nie, your subordinates have caused trouble. How do you plan to punish them? Hmm?”

Hmm what hmm?

Nie Yao felt this person was strange.

The look in his eyes was strange, and the tone of his voice was strange. As for how strange, he couldn’t quite articulate it for now.

In any case, something was off…

“Reporting to Your Majesty.” Nie Yao gathered his thoughts, stood as he was, and slightly cupped his hand. “If one were to truly debate this matter, it would be Minister Guan’s fault. The execution of the corrupt official was permitted by the late Emperor. How can there be talk of this official disregarding the law?”

“Minister Guan unjustly accused and insulted this official. These gentlemen are righteous people who cannot stand to see a good person wronged. It’s just that they are not articulate, and resorting to force was merely an emotional reaction.”

Punishment was impossible.

They were all his men, and the action was tacitly approved by him. Even if they screwed up, he had to protect them.

Moreover, these people weren’t seriously injured.

Nie Yao: “Today’s incident dampened Your Majesty’s spirits, which is truly this official’s fault. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”

“You, you, you, you’re spouting nonsense!”

“Your Majesty, please investigate! The one making baseless accusations is Guan Gu, it has nothing to do with this official!”

“But those brutes only focused on beating this official; how innocent am I! Please, Your Majesty, dispense justice for this official!”