My Husband Is Not Easy To Mess With. - Chapter 32: Someone Is Coveting!
But he did a lot.
The common people didn’t understand the inner workings of the court. They only knew that Lord Nie would reduce their taxes; when there was a disaster, it was Lord Nie who sent troops to provide relief; and when their sons and daughters were kidnapped by the powerful, it was Lord Nie who helped get them back, and so on.
Many people had benefited from his kindness.
They were deeply grateful to him.
That’s why his family could expand their army just like that. When the people heard that the Nie family was recruiting, they scrambled to sign up, unlike other families where everyone hid when they heard about conscription.
The subordinate was crying profusely: “When I left home, my mother told me that I must protect you, Lord Nie. It’s okay if I die, but you must live, Lord! Wuwu aaaah…”
Truly a loving mother.
It made Nie Yao wonder if this subordinate was crying because of what his mother had said or for something else.
Nie Yao had a slight headache, “Alright, alright, stop crying. Everything I said just now was to trick Sun Ji, it has nothing to do with you. Don’t take it to heart.”
How could it have nothing to do with him?
No one knew better than them the things their Lord had done over the years!
The subordinate firmly believed that his Lord was a great hero who spoke up for the people.
The fact that they, the common people, could live peacefully, eat their fill, dress warmly, and occasionally have some meat, was all thanks to Lord Nie!
Because of him, their older and younger siblings could survive.
Subordinate: “Lord, we will remember your kindness for a lifetime!”
He truly remembered.
Even after starting work, he firmly believed it was fine if he died, but his Lord absolutely could not be harmed.
The subordinate, who had been rough and tough for many years, suddenly becoming emotional left Nie Yao speechless. In fact, he was not some great philanthropist; he did those things simply because he didn’t want to live in a chaotic world.
He wasn’t as good as these people thought.
Seriously.
Nie Yao handed the subordinate a handkerchief and told him to quickly wipe his tears, “I usually tell you that I’m not a good person. Don’t wrongly label me; I’m no great philanthropist. Everything I do is for myself.”
“Yes, I know.”
The subordinate hastily wiped his tears.
He nodded profusely, saying he knew and understood.
His Lord always spoke harshly but had a kind heart.
He understood.
He understood everything!
Nie Yao’s men were well-trained; after a brief emotional outburst, they quickly composed themselves and returned to work.
The redness in his eyes hadn’t faded, but his sharp gaze was still daunting.
“Um, how is your mother doing?”
“Reporting to Lord! My mother is doing well!”
“Then… how about your siblings?”
“Reporting to Lord! They are all doing very well!”
The subordinate stood straight, and his answers were firm and forceful.
His composure was back.
Very good.
Nie Yao nodded, relieved.
When he returned home.
Qian Hen-duo (Lots of Money), who had been transferred to Outpost Number Two not long ago, was actually back.
Of course, he hadn’t left his post without reason; he was here to report an important matter.
“Lord, news has come from Mo-shi County: He Gui-zhang is willing to pay five million taels of silver to ask us to help find a person.”
Messages from Mo-shi County to the capital were usually received by Outpost Number Two first. If they could be resolved there, they were. Only matters that couldn’t be solved or important major issues were passed on to Nie Yao.
But it was just a job to find someone.
Although the payment was considerable, was that alone enough for him to make a special trip?
Nie Yao raised an eyebrow, waiting for Qian Hen-duo to elaborate.
“Lord, the person He Gui-zhang wants to find is named Du Sui-lan.”
“Why is he looking for His Majesty?”
“He said he wants to find his sweetheart.”
Sweetheart?!
Nie Yao, who had been leisurely, was stunned, and then flew into a rage.
“Tell me, why is he looking for His Majesty?!”
His voice had risen.
Qian Hen-duo answered honestly: “He said he was looking for his sweetheart. He’s reportedly a ‘ge’er’ whose wisdom is unparalleled and whose beauty is unmatched.”
He scratched his head and chuckled.
He said, “I didn’t expect the new Emperor to be a ‘ge’er.’ That’s incredible. A ‘ge’er’ can be the Emperor now.”
Nie Yao ground his teeth.
He wanted to smash something with a slap, but the pillar in the long corridor was solid wood and quite expensive; the fruit trees planted nearby had been nurtured for six or seven years and bore large, sweet fruits; the bamboo not far away… forget the bamboo, he still needed it to make bamboo tube rice.
He was reluctant to destroy anything.
Nie Yao looked around and finally clapped his hands, “We can’t take this job!”
That was his future wife; he wouldn’t sell her for any amount of money!
Qian Hen-duo regretted, “Shouldn’t we ask His Majesty to cooperate a little? That’s five million taels.”
Cooperate with what?
Have his future wife cooperate with him to meet a love rival?
Nie Yao: “Does my head look green to you?” (Green head is slang for being cuckolded)
Qian Hen-duo looked closely.
He shook his head, “No, Lord, your hair is black and thick, a rare good head of hair!”
He flattered him.
Unfortunately, the leader was not pleased and shouted at him: “Then reject this job!! Did you hear me?”
“I heard you!”
Qian Hen-duo stood at attention and quickly ran out.
A moment later, he poked his head out from the door again, “But Boss, I heard He Gui-zhang has already brought people to the capital! Should we kick him out?”
“No need! Scram!”
Nie Yao was furious.
Qian Hen-duo didn’t understand why his Lord was so angry, but all he needed to do was execute the order.
“Yes, Lord, I will scram now!”
After driving away the clueless subordinate, Nie Yao returned to the study to review the large budget requests sent by other departments that required his final approval before funds could be allocated.
“Twenty thousand taels of silver for what foreign envoys eat? Are they eating gold? Denied!”
“Ten thousand taels to renovate the post station? Renovate what crap!”
“Leaking roof? Even if it’s leaking, it’s denied!”
“Thirty thousand taels for purchasing officials’ holiday gifts? Scram, there are none!”
Nie Yao was filled with anger. Aside from necessary appropriations, he rejected all other dispensable items whose denial would cause no great harm.
He wouldn’t give a single copper coin.
He also cursed on the budget requests, saying that if they submitted such flashy, wasteful budgets again, they would all be sent to the prison to share a bed with the trash from the Ministry of Rites!
After this outburst, he felt much better.
Nie Yao called a subordinate and calmly told him: “Change the meals for the people from the Ministry of Rites in prison. Make them eat less to save grain. It’s okay if they’re hungry, just don’t let them starve to death.”
“What if they are willing to pay?”
“One gold ingot for one steamed bun. Also, triple the price for vegetables and tenfold the price for meat.”
“Yes, subordinate understands!”
The prisoners from the Ministry of Rites were in for a terrible time.
The subordinate silently lit a row of candles for them.
The next day in court.
The court officials all lodged complaints.
“Your Majesty, Minister Nie acts outrageously and disregards the laws of Great Yu. We beg Your Majesty to severely punish Nie Yao as a warning to others!”
“Your Majesty, entrusting the task of entertaining foreign envoys to Minister Nie is truly inappropriate!”
“Your Majesty, the matter of purchasing year-end gifts is imminent as the New Year approaches!”
Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty… There were too many people complaining.
Nie Yao listened expressionlessly.
Finally, he spoke with an air of indifference: “All you officials say that this official has violated the law. Where is the evidence? I warn you, don’t talk nonsense without evidence. Otherwise, it’s defamation!”