A Scummy Alpha Emperor Transmigrated and Marked the Powerful Prime Minister - Chapter 18

Lin Jiayue’s strategy was simple: whatever Teacher Lu says is right, whatever Teacher Lu teaches is good, and Teacher Lu, you are simply amazing.

She was playing the role of a fawning courtier—no, a fawning Emperor.

Lu Siling, expressionless, moved to take her leave. If it weren’t for the fact that the entire world already knew she was the young Emperor’s teacher, she really would have wanted to tell Lin Jiayue not to mention her name to anyone.

Lin Jiayue, of course, had no idea. Luckily she was the Emperor; otherwise, Lu Siling would have disowned her as a student long ago.

When she returned to Daming Palace, the outstanding examination papers from the various provincial exams had already been delivered to her desk. It was a thick stack, looking to be over a hundred copies.

Zhang Huairou bowed and reported, “Reporting to Your Majesty, the Grand Chancellor has sent one hundred and thirteen exemplary papers from the provincial examinations.”

“How many?”

Lin Jiayue sat down, asking in disbelief. She looked up and realized the stack of papers was actually taller than her while she was seated. She could only tilt her head to look at Zhang Huairou behind her. “A-Rou, are you sure these are all…?”

Zhang Huairou smiled; she loved it when the Emperor called her so intimately. “Yes. They have been sorted by province and region.”

For so long, the young Emperor had been gloomy, ill-tempered in private, and full of malicious suspicion toward others. It was rare to see her being this cute. Her Majesty really has changed, Zhang Huairou thought, lowering her head as her eyes grew slightly misty.

Lin Jiayue’s mind was entirely on the exams and didn’t notice Zhang Huairou’s reaction. With a look of utter despair, she resigned herself to fate and picked up a paper.

“The charcoal pen I asked you to make—is it done?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the Bureau of Equipment has encased the lead in wood, though it is a bit small.”

Zhang Huairou presented a brocade box. Inside lay a single pencil stub.

It was indeed quite small. It reminded Lin Jiayue of primary school, when she couldn’t bear to throw a pencil away even when it was only as long as her pinky finger. However, the craftsmanship of the Bureau of Equipment was excellent; the surrounding wood was exquisitely carved. It didn’t look like a pencil; it looked like a work of art.

“Tell the Bureau to make them more practical. If they make them this beautiful, who would dare use them?”

Whoever used this expensive wood-carved pencil to write would be committing a sin against nature. Lin Jiayue pushed the box back. “Send it to the Grand Chancellor.”

Lu Siling was different; she was a Zhuangyuan (Top Scholar).

Speaking of Lu Siling’s resume, there were few in history who could compare: passed provincial exams at fifteen, Top Scholar at eighteen, entered the Hanlin Academy, became Minister of Rites at twenty-three (the youngest to ever enter the Secretariat), became Tutor to the Crown Prince at twenty-five, Minister of Personnel, Senior Pillar of State, and Grand Chancellor of the Secretariat, and was named Imperial Preceptor at twenty-six.

With a resume like that, what was wrong with using a pencil?

Zhang Huairou was stunned. What was the Emperor thinking? She couldn’t bear to use it herself, so she gave it to the Grand Chancellor?

Half an hour later, Zhang Huairou appeared at the Grand Secretariat.

“Grand Chancellor, Her Majesty asked me to bring this to you.”

She opened the box to reveal a piece of carved wood. At least, that’s what Guang Wei thought. The young Emperor is so stingy; she doesn’t send gold or silver, but she sends wood.

Lu Siling also frowned. What did Lin Jiayue mean by sending a piece of wood? Was she implying she was a “blockhead”? After all, Lin Jiayue had called her a “stodgy old-timer” before.

Zhang Huairou hurriedly explained, “Her Majesty says this is a ‘charcoal pen’ used for writing. She specifically commissioned the Bureau of Equipment to make it. This is the very first one. Her Majesty couldn’t bring herself to use it, so she sent it to you, Grand Chancellor.”

The wood was high-quality, and inside was a solid piece of charcoal—and not just any charcoal, but top-tier silver-silk charcoal.

What a spendthrift!

“Give my thanks to Her Majesty.”

“Yes, this servant will certainly convey your words.”

As soon as Zhang Huairou left, Guang Wei leaned in to investigate. “A pen? This is a pen?”

“Pick it up and see,” Lu Siling said with a helpless smile.

She wouldn’t speak, but even someone as straightforward as Guang Wei wouldn’t dare touch it without permission. Hearing her words, Guang Wei picked up the pen and observed it for a long while. “How do you write with this?”

“The tip likely needs to be shaved,” Lu Siling replied after a casual glance.

“My Lady, why would the Emperor have people make this? Expensive wood and expensive charcoal—who could afford it?”

“What if it was ordinary wood and ordinary charcoal?”

On the first day Lin Jiayue had ordered the charcoal pens, the report had reached Lu Siling. It was a trivial matter, so she hadn’t taken it to heart. However, the Empress Dowager’s side had sent word that it must be the very best.

Lu Siling immediately understood the Empress Dowager’s intent. If the Emperor spent so much money on a mere “toy,” what would happen when the censors found out? That group was the least afraid of death; they considered dying for a cause an honor. They would launch a collective impeachment and “remonstrate unto death,” and the history books would record that the young Emperor hounded her officials to their graves.

Setting aside history, in the short term, if the young Emperor handled it poorly, it would give the vassal kings a perfect reason to rebel.

Now, by sending the item to her, it could be framed as the young Emperor’s respect for her teacher—specifically crafting a gift for her Imperial Preceptor. Or, it could be framed as the Grand Chancellor being extravagant, using “Ten-Gold Wood” for a toy.

Ten-Gold Wood was famous for its price; it took ten taels of gold to buy a single piece. Lu Siling only remembered this when Zhang Huairou called it a charcoal pen. She recalled Lin Jiayue had ordered ordinary wood and charcoal; it was the Bureau of Equipment that had been “compliant in speech but defiant in deed.”

Did Lin Jiayue only think of sending it to her after she saw the finished product? Was she “diverting the disaster” onto her? If so, Lin Jiayue really was a bastard.

Lu Siling viewed Lin Jiayue through a villainous filter; no matter what she did, Lu Siling would assume the worst. She sat in thought for a while. “Spread the word about what the young Emperor said at the martial arts field today. The more people who know, the better.”

“Also, keep an eye on the censors. See if anyone is feeding them information.”

Regarding Lin Jiayue’s pro-war stance at the martial arts field, Lu Siling had originally intended to let it spread naturally. An Emperor advocating for war is a major card; it shouldn’t be played lightly. However, the censors’ protest would likely use the charcoal pen as a breakthrough point.

Fine. Let the water get muddy so she can catch the fish. The more chaotic things were, the more opportunities she would have.

The news of the Emperor’s pro-war stance swept through the capital in just half a day, causing a massive stir. The shockwaves from the assassination attempt and the Emperor’s move against the Empress Dowager’s two generals hadn’t even passed before this new bombshell dropped. The hearts of the court officials were in flux—especially the military officers.

The Great Zhou had not been at peace for long. During the reigns of Emperors Xian and Xuan, they favored peace talks, sparing no expense in gold and jewels for fear of war. Emperor Ying was tough: If we must fight, we fight! Even if we talk peace, we talk from a position of victory.

Unfortunately, Emperor Ying cared too much about his reputation and balancing the court. He was fooled by the Grand Chancellor of the time, who sent out a general touted as a legend. The result? That general refused to engage, telling the enemy: “I’ll give you money, just don’t hit me.” He wasted time until he ran out of money, at which point the enemy attacked without hesitation and he surrendered the city.

The Grand Chancellor hid the news, telling Emperor Ying it was a great victory. The Emperor only found out when the Northern Di were at the gates of the capital. Emperor Ying sent the retired Marquis of Jingning—an eighty-year-old woman—back to the battlefield, and she successfully drove them off. In truth, the Northern Di were too far from their supply lines and were forced to retreat.

The Great Zhou was crippled by that war; the treasury had been in deficit every year since. It wasn’t until Emperor Xining took the throne that they had five years of reform and recovery, followed by the three years of Yuanfeng under Lu Siling’s leadership. Unfortunately, the deficit was deep, and after all this time, the country was still not wealthy. Many were terrified of war, believing a payout was better since it wasn’t their money.

Now that the young Emperor was pro-war, they wanted to say something, but they couldn’t exactly curse her just for wanting to defend the country. However, the Emperor had ordered toys made of Ten-Gold Wood—not only was she “sapping her will through play,” she was also being wasteful.

Thus, on the next day—the final morning assembly of the third year of Yuanfeng—Lin Jiayue found herself being scolded to her face by a censor.

“Your Majesty has not yet taken full power, yet you are already so extravagant! I ask, who taught Your Majesty to act with such luxury? You do not empathize with the hardships of the state or the suffering of the people. If this is not corrected immediately, I fear the world will criticize you and the foundation of the state will be shaken. This servant remonstrates unto death—I beg Your Majesty to recognize your error and turn over a new leaf!”

The sovereign is never wrong; if there is an error, it is always the fault of the ministers. Lin Jiayue sneered; even as a modern person, she knew that logic. These people had clearly studied their books into a dog’s belly. A bunch of people seeking “loyal” reputations were making a mountain out of a molehill.

Ha! Did they think this Peking University Debate Team Champion was a pushover?

Especially seeing Lu Siling standing there with her eyes closed as if she were meditating, Lin Jiayue felt even more annoyed. This woman was certainly living a carefree life. Lu Siling took advantage of the fact that she was in the front row where no one could see her expression. And she wasn’t afraid of Lin Jiayue seeing her with her eyes shut.

Lin Jiayue hummed softly. “Teacher Lu, what do you think of this man’s words?”

Lu Siling: “…”

Calling me “Teacher Lu” at a time like this? What is she up to? Truly a bastard.