Empress Zhao Jiaqi sat on the phoenix throne, looking down at the sea of people kneeling below.
Regardless of whether they had looked down on her before or had no prejudice against her, they all bowed before her at this moment.
It made her instantly feel like the most awesome person in the world.
She held the lives of some people in her hands. With just one word from her, she could change their destinies. No wonder men desired the throne and women the phoenix position.
After a few busy days, the envoys were finally sent away. What remained was to investigate the mastermind behind the poisoning of the late emperor.
Zhao Jiaqi summoned Wang Zhanlin, the former head of the Imperial Household Department. "Uncle Wang, you know why I've called you here without me needing to say it!"
Wang Zhanlin gave an awkward laugh and nodded quickly. His first words were an apology to her.
"Your Majesty the Empress, please quell your anger. I only learned later about Prince Ping's assassination attempt on you. The reason I didn't report it was twofold: firstly, you were already safe, and secondly, Prince Ping was quite pitiful. I thought that since his plan failed, he wouldn't target Your Majesty again. If I had spoken up, His Majesty would surely not have let it go, which is why I concealed it!"
She had already heard about the background of Huangfu Qiuping from the Empress Dowager. Being pitiful in his upbringing did not mean he could use his life as an outlet for his anger.
Even more so, he shouldn't have tried to use her to frame Huangfu Yifan, Prince Xian, and Prince Xiaoyao. This was tantamount to provoking a conflict between the Emperor and the princes.
Looking at the aged Wang Zhanlin, the former head of the Imperial Household Department, Zhao Jiaqi, despite her anger, could not utter a harsh word to him. He had shown kindness to her and her husband, a debt they would always remember.
"Uncle Wang, after my investigation, the person who poisoned and murdered Huangfu Yifan was Jiang Youyou's personal maid. Do you know about this?"
Wang Zhanlin nodded, having been quite surprised when he first heard about it. "I do. However, when people were sent to find her, the maid, upon seeing her plan exposed, committed suicide by poison. Things became chaotic afterward, and the investigation was not pursued further."
Zhao Jiaqi lowered her gaze and said slowly, "I sent Huang Kangtai to the Jiang mansion today to summon Jiang Youyou to the palace for questioning, but... the Jiang mansion is deserted. According to reports from the city gate, Jiang Zhancheng's carriage left the capital early this morning, and their whereabouts are unknown!"
Wang Zhanlin's mouth dropped open in surprise. At this moment, he seemed to realize something.
"Are Jiang Zhancheng and Huangfu Qiuping working together? If they have both disappeared, could they be returning to their fiefdoms to plot rebellion?"
The more he spoke, the more agitated he became, his voice trembling slightly. It was evident that Jiang Zhancheng's feigned allegiance to the Emperor was a conspiracy.
Zhao Jiaqi did not want to admit it, but the facts were laid bare before her.
Jiang Zhancheng had become the Emperor's father-in-law, and Jiang Youyou was the Empress. They were considered new nobility in the capital. Why would they risk their heads by colluding with Huangfu Qiuping to do such a thing?
If the people couldn't be caught, the matter was unsolvable!
The Emperor had only been on the throne for half a month when Huangfu Qiuping led the Jiang family army to move troops towards the inner city, preparing to take it in one fell swoop.
The inner city was well-supplied with grain and was prosperous, a large piece of fat for the Yun Kingdom. Clearly, Huangfu Qiuping had underestimated the common people of the inner city and the soldiers guarding it.
Zhang Heng led the Bear and Leopard divisions, cooperating with the common people in the fiefdoms to resist the Jiang family army with all their might. Bai Lu continuously supplied the front-line soldiers with food and medicine, and even organized some commoners to pour oil and throw stones from the city walls, charging forward fearlessly, exhibiting the spirit of a fierce general's daughter.
In the capital, with the Emperor gone, the Empress attended court, setting a precedent for the Yun Kingdom.
Not only did a woman sit on the dragon throne, but she even participated in state affairs.
The ministers below were unconvinced, but no one dared to point fingers. Huang Kangtai, by the Empress's side, was not to be trifled with.
"Minister of Revenue, have you looked at the booklet I gave you yesterday? What are your thoughts!"
The Minister of Revenue, Yan Qingyun, who was called upon, stepped forward, raised his eyelids to glance at Zhao Jiaqi on the throne, and cupped his hands. "Reporting to Your Majesty the Empress, this minister has read it. The extensive construction of water conservancy projects is a good policy to benefit the people, but its implementation is rather difficult."
Zhao Jiaqi looked down at him from above. "Speak!"
"First, the Yun Kingdom is vast. To complete such water conservancy projects, it is feared that it cannot be finished within a few years. Not only will it be costly, but the common people might not even agree!"
The first reason was somewhat passable, but the latter words made Zhao Jiaqi roll her eyes. This was clearly shirking responsibility, and he had no intention of implementing a policy to benefit the people.
Did he think he could brush her off with such excuses? He must be dreaming!
"Absurd! The large-scale construction of water conservancy projects is for the good of the common people, to avoid the possibility of crop failure due to natural disasters. Why would the common people be unwilling? Yan Qingyun, you must take responsibility for your words! Do not expect to fob me off with possibilities, probabilities, or maybes!"
The Empress reprimanded him sternly. Yan Qingyun's heart tightened. He lifted the hem of his robe and knelt on the ground. "Reporting to Your Majesty, the national treasury does not have much silver. Some is spent on soldiers, some on building dams, filling this deficit and that. The taxes collected each year are not enough to cover the losses. I beg Your Majesty to reconsider!"
So, the royal family had raised a bunch of good-for-nothings!
Zhao Jiaqi was so angered that she almost laughed. With a smile that did not reach her eyes, she said, "In your words, the Ministry of Revenue cannot collect money, and construction cannot proceed, which will be bad for the common people, right?"
"This minister... did not mean that!"
"Yes, you meant that. Aren't you just waiting to see how I handle this matter? Aren't you trying to embarrass me? Then keep your eyes wide open and watch carefully!"
Zhao Jiaqi was furious. Looking at the people below, they all acted like shrinking turtles, content to watch the show, with few being genuine workhorses.
"Huang Kangtai, summon Song Fei to the hall!"
Her hand rested on the cold dragon throne, her fingers digging fiercely into the armrest, wishing she could dig off the gold.
"This commoner, Song Fei, pays his respects to Your Majesty the Empress. May you live for ten thousand, ten thousand, ten thousand years."
She looked at the two people respectfully before her. "Song Fei will serve as the Minister of Revenue. Yan Qingyun is to have his salary suspended and will cooperate with Song Fei to hand over all the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue."
"This minister obeys." Song Fei replied crisply.
Yan Qingyun's face was extremely grim. Gritting his back teeth, he slowly lowered his head, utterly unwilling, and said, "This minister... obeys."
Even though Yan Qingyun was dismissed from his post, no one in the hall stood up to speak for him. Despite their unwillingness, they could only endure.
Affairs in the imperial court followed one after another.
Regarding water conservancy projects and agricultural production, everything was carried out according to Zhao Jiaqi's wishes. Each prefecture was responsible for the towns and villages under its jurisdiction. If any area was not managed properly, or not managed at all, and was discovered by an inspector, the person in charge would, at best, lose their official position, and at worst, lose their life.
There was no thought of shifting the blame to subordinates. Even if a subordinate made a mistake, those above them would bear joint responsibility and be punished accordingly.
Zhao Jiaqi appointed two incorruptible individuals as inspectors.
Fang Mingjiang and Gao Wenbin. These two men, it could be said, wouldn't spare even their parents' faces, let alone officials who tried to bribe them.
Fang Mingjiang was the visible inspector, while Gao Wenbin was the hidden one.
He traveled with his wife and daughter to visit the prefectures, towns, and even villages of the Yun Kingdom, sightseeing while working, living a leisurely life.
Li Sisi, taking advantage of this opportunity, even opened milk tea and pastry shops all over the country.