My husband is not easy to mess with. - Chapter 4: The Rookie Faints
Chapter 4: The Rookie Faints
The civil officials were the most articulate.
They always spoke with a passive-aggressive tone. To highlight their uniqueness, they would even quote classics when insulting people.
Hilarious, the military officials simply didn’t understand.
No matter how much he cried, they would casually dig their ears once he finished.
Kneeling and presenting the classic three-part denial: “This official is not, this official did not, he is talking nonsense!”
“This official has been wronged!”
Hitting someone in plain sight and still claiming to be wronged.
The new Emperor even laughed.
Very heartily, “Minister Nie, your people are indeed unique.”
His slender fingers were warmer and fairer than flawless jade.
He casually played with the dull-looking jade cup, asking with an amused voice: “I wonder which is superior, the skill of talking nonsense or the ability to fight?”
“Replying to Your Majesty, this official is quite slow-witted, the only thing this official is good at is fighting!”
“It’s not bragging, but this official’s fighting skills are the best!”
The speaking military official gave a thumbs-up.
They were also kneeling.
Their group knelt straight and tall, and when facing the Emperor’s question, they not only didn’t quickly admit guilt but dared to climb the ladder and praise themselves.
As expected of the Great Traitor’s people, these guys didn’t put the new Emperor in their eyes at all! What was even more hateful was that His Majesty seemed completely unconcerned about it.
The civil officials bit their teeth and their eyes were red with jealousy, no, hatred.
Shameless brutes!
It must be that they used underhanded means to curry favor with His Majesty, otherwise, with His Majesty’s methods, they would have been beheaded long ago! They wouldn’t have been given the chance to confuse right and wrong!
“Your Majesty! This Hu Sheng dared to lay hands on this official right in front of you today; he is utterly reckless and his crime is inexcusable!”
“I beg Your Majesty to severely punish Hu Sheng and others, to serve as a warning to others!!”
Guan Junmao hadn’t even finished applying his medicine.
Upon seeing this, he immediately knelt down and slandered his opponent.
“What are you screaming about, old geezer? Your voice isn’t even as loud as His Majesty’s. What, are you more capable than His Majesty?”
Guan Junmao wouldn’t dare admit that.
He immediately prostrated himself in rebuttal, “Your Majesty is wise! This official’s loyalty is known to the sun and moon!”
He knelt on the ground, weeping and wailing.
With snot and tears, he looked pitiful.
The shameless fellow, just taking a few punches and then being such a crybaby in front of the new Emperor!
Hu Sheng looked down on him.
He puffed out his chest: “Your Majesty, when it comes to loyalty, no one can compare to this official! Especially this old geezer, he probably can’t even compare to this official’s toes!”
It was “old geezer” and “toes” again.
These few words were Guan Junmao’s no-go zone.
Now there was a good show to watch.
Nie Yao took a sip of the expensive tea from the palace to wet his mouth, then motioned for Hu Sheng to kneel a bit further away, lest bl00d splatter on his clothes later.
It would be hard to wash.
“Aah aah, you boy! I’ll fight you!!”
Although Guan Junmao looked mature and his hair was sparse, he was indeed only twenty-seven years old.
He usually hated it most when people called him old, and he absolutely hated it when people repeatedly called him old.
Coupled with the fact that the new Emperor showed no intention of seeking justice for him, Guan Junmao immediately exploded and lunged at Hu Sheng.
The two wrestled into a ball.
Unsurprisingly.
Guan Junmao was pinned down and beaten.
If his hands couldn’t scratch, he frantically used his feet to kick. He desperately tried to get some fairness for himself, but the difference in combat strength was too great.
Even if he used all his strength, it was useless.
His heart was filled with anger, but he couldn’t vent it.
Guan Junmao felt utterly desperate.
Just then, Hu Sheng even mocked him: “So weak and yet trying to fight someone? Go home and drink more milk. You’re like a little chick, I’m afraid I’ll accidentally punch you to death.”
“You, you…”
Angry and hateful.
And wronged.
Guan Junmao trembled all over, and in a moment, he closed his eyes and fainted.
What the heck?
Hu Sheng was puzzled, shook him, and seeing that Guan Junmao still didn’t respond, he realized he had caused trouble.
He quickly glanced at Nie Yao beside him.
Nie Yao raised an eyebrow and ignored him, casually tapping the table twice with his curled fingers.
“Your Majesty, this official knows his mistake.”
This time, he kowtowed and knelt down obediently.
After a while of silence, Hu Sheng quickly looked up to glance at the high seat.
He saw the new Emperor looking towards his side.
Hu Sheng quickly retracted his gaze, prostrated himself on the ground in the manner of the civil officials, awaiting his punishment.
“Minister Nie.” His Majesty put down the teacup that looked strikingly similar to the one in front of Nie Yao. The expensive jade cup, touched by his peach-colored lips, glowed with a delicate, captivating luster.
Nie Yao looked down at the teacup on his own desk.
—It looks quite nice.
It must be very expensive, right? If only he could take it home…
“What does Minister Nie think?”
Nie Yao was uncharacteristically lost in thought.
When he snapped back, everyone’s eyes were on him.
Nie Yao remained calm and composed, looking straight ahead, and faintly said: “This official believes that what His Majesty says is right.”
“Since that is the case, then Minister Hu, go back and prepare to depart tomorrow. Go early and return early, don’t disappoint Us.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
As punishment for making Guan Junmao faint, Hu Sheng was assigned by the new Emperor to work in the south.
Hu Sheng was Nie Yao’s man.
In the past, no one could command him except Nie Yao, and in fact, no one could move him.
Now, the new Emperor, having just ascended the throne, dispatched him to the south, and surprisingly, that Great Traitor—Nie Yao, who usually demanded a huge payment for even the smallest favor—agreed so easily.
He didn’t even ask the new Emperor for money?
How strange!
It was initially thought that with Nie Yao’s reckless and ferocious style, coupled with the new Emperor who was a silent killer, the scene would be an explosion of fire and peril, a battle of kings.
But this was it?
Their first confrontation passed so calmly, without even a war of words.
It… passed…!!!
This greatly disappointed those who planned to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight.
The banquet dispersed.
Many officials felt an emptiness in their hearts, a sense of dissatisfaction.
“Minister Nie.”
Just outside the palace.
Sun Ji, the Minister of Rites, approached Nie Yao with a faint smile that most people would find friendly, and actively greeted him.
That cunning old geezer.
They had worked together for seven years, and he had only spoken eight sentences to him.
If he was actively seeking him out today, he must be up to no good!
Nie Yao coldly snorted internally.
On the surface, however, he maintained the cool and indifferent demeanor of a master, looking very aloof and inscrutable.
“Minister Nie.” After getting closer, Sun Ji cupped his hands to show friendliness and greeted him again, smiling and praising: “The banquet Minister Nie hosted today was truly solemn and majestic, fully showcasing the imperial family’s style.”
Imperial family’s style?
Is the old geezer here to mock the banquet organizer?
Then why is he looking for him?
It wasn’t his doing this time.
If that eight hundred and thirty thousand taels of silver were in his hands, he wouldn’t have prepared so much meat. And that tea and teacup, which were obviously ridiculously expensive, he would absolutely not have bought them.
In his opinion, today’s event could have saved another thirty-eight thousand taels.
All wasted!
Nie Yao: “What does Minister Sun want to say?” Just say it, don’t waste my time!
“What does Minister Nie think of His Majesty now?” Sun Ji knew a bit about his personality, and upon hearing this, he stopped rambling and went straight to the point.
“Commander Hu fought for our dynasty, overcoming thorns and thistles and achieving great military feats. Today’s matter was not Commander Hu’s fault to begin with, yet His Majesty…”
He whispered, speaking ill of the Emperor to Nie Yao.