The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife
Chapter 287: This Emperor Would Rather Do Nothing

Chapter 287: This Emperor Would Rather Do Nothing

Emperor Muwu had already understood when he was the Crown Prince that officials couldn’t always remain incorruptible and clean. At the right time, they needed a little benefit to ensure they performed their duties well. As long as it wasn’t too excessive and didn’t harm the court’s order, he would turn a blind eye and not pursue it too much.

"Brother, rest assured, I will always leave you with a few people," Ye Siheng said. "If there are no such people in the court, then the country’s days are numbered."

Emperor Muwu glanced at him. "Although you had the evidence against these people before, you didn’t intend to take action against them. Why are you so ruthless this time?"

Ye Siheng didn’t hide his intentions and explained his plan.

Emperor Muwu’s brows furrowed even more when he heard it, unable to refrain from rebuking, "You are causing chaos. To stir up such a commotion just to find out who is behind it? You’ve arrested several families without any results. If you continue like this, how will it end?"

He was afraid that Ye Siheng wouldn’t stop.

Ye Siheng didn’t care. "Then let’s continue."

Emperor Muwu finally became angry. "You’re disregarding the law! Ninth Brother, you’ve always been prudent in your actions. Why are you so impulsive now?"

No matter how high one’s achievements were or how great one’s power was, there were times when they couldn’t suppress people.

Ye Siheng’s eyes flashed with a cold light. "Brother, have I had fewer enemies over the years?"

Emperor Muwu choked back his words, feeling somewhat ashamed. Because there were many things he couldn’t do, it was Ye Siheng who acted on his behalf. In the eyes of some officials and common people, Ye Siheng was like a ruthless Yama. But Ye Siheng had previously punished those officials who spoke out of turn, and now he had caused such a stir again. Emperor Muwu was afraid he couldn’t suppress the impeachment memorials.

Helpless, he could only change his approach.

"But the people you’ve arrested are all in conflict with the Anyang Marquis’s Mansion. How do you expect others to view the Anyang Marquis’s Mansion? Have you forgotten what the commoners did when Chu Huan was framed?"

Ye Siheng’s previously resolute gaze wavered slightly.

It was true that he wanted to expose the mastermind and ensure the safety of the Chu family, but he also didn’t want to go through this and create more enemies for the Chu family.

But he quickly came up with a plan. "Brother, rest assured, I already have a plan."

"Really?" Emperor Muwu raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, it’s true," Ye Siheng nodded.

Emperor Muwu, upon hearing this, stopped worrying.

After attending the court meeting and exchanging a few words, he was already feeling a bit tired. He sighed inwardly, realizing he was getting old and couldn’t keep up anymore.

Ye Siheng went to the Cabinet for discussion, and Emperor Muwu took the opportunity to rest. In previous years, he would have gone to the summer palace to escape the heat, but now, with his frequent health issues and the expense of going to the palace, he decided to stay in the palace for the summer.

However, the summer days in the palace were stifling. In the morning, it was bearable, but in the afternoon, it was so hot that he felt dizzy. Even with several ice basins placed in the hall, they couldn’t dispel the heat.

The imperial physician had repeatedly advised him to watch his diet, but in this sweltering weather, with the sun almost melting the ground, he was already dressed lightly, but his inner clothes were soaked through. How could he endure it?

"Bring me a bowl of icy sour plum soup," Emperor Muwu ordered.

The eunuch steward hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, please think twice. You shouldn’t have something so cold."

Emperor Muwu looked impatient. "I usually eat very light. Is it not acceptable for me to have a sip of something cold to cool off?"

"Your Majesty, please endure it."

The eunuch steward quickly gestured for a eunuch to fan the ice basin to disperse the cool air, making the hall a bit cooler.

But Emperor Muwu had endured many days of suffering already. If he didn’t have a sip of something cold today, he feared he might die of heatstroke in the hall.

He frowned, slamming his hand heavily on the table, causing the writing implements to shake.

"If you disobey my orders again, I’ll chop off your head," he threatened.

The eunuch steward looked uneasy. "Even if Your Majesty chops off my head, I won’t go and fetch it."

He remembered the warnings from the Ninth Prince’s consort and the imperial physician.

Emperor Muwu gritted his teeth but didn’t really intend to chop off the eunuch steward’s head. After all, this old man had served him for decades.

But he was cunning. When the eunuch steward changed shifts with his apprentice, he said, "Quick, bring me a bowl of icy sour plum soup."

The apprentice, named Fushun, bowed nervously. "Your Majesty, spare me. My master has instructed me countless times not to let Your Majesty have anything cold."

Emperor Muwu gave him a cold glance. "I won’t punish your master, but do you think I’ll spare you?"

Fushun trembled.

It was truly like walking on thin ice when serving the emperor.

"Your Majesty, please spare me..."

"Half a bowl. I’ll only have half a bowl," Emperor Muwu relented.

Being an emperor, there were so many restrictions on what he could and couldn’t eat. It was boring.

Fushun was still hesitant.

Emperor Muwu became angry and threatened to call the Imperial Guards to drag him away and give him twenty strokes of the cane.

Fushun felt the pain in his buttocks before he even got hit. He hurriedly said, "I’ll go get it immediately, Your Majesty, please wait!"

Emperor Muwu smirked. "Hurry up."

He waved his hand, letting the Imperial Guards leave.

However, after Fushun left the Golden Hall, he didn’t go straight to the imperial kitchen. Instead, he sent a little eunuch to the Cabinet to summon the Crown Prince.

When he finally got the sour plum soup from the imperial kitchen, he intentionally walked slowly.

By the time he returned to the Golden Hall, Emperor Muwu was already impatient.

Although it was evening, the heat was still intense.

"Quick," Emperor Muwu beckoned impatiently.

Fushun had no choice but to bring out the sour plum soup from the food box, along with another porcelain bowl containing some small ice cubes. After walking for a while, some of the ice had already melted.

He put two or three ice cubes into the sour plum soup, but Emperor Muwu shouted, "Put in more ice. These two or three pieces are not enough."

Fushun hesitated, "Your Majesty, if I put in more, it will be too cold."

Emperor Muwu didn’t want to listen to his excuses. He personally added five or six more ice cubes.

After waiting for a while, the sour plum soup was already icy cold.

Emperor Muwu swallowed his saliva, ready to take a sip.

"Your Majesty, wait. Let the eunuch try it first," Fushun hurriedly stopped him.

Emperor Muwu felt troubled but remembered his previous experience with slow poison. He couldn’t help but feel lingering fear. Without hesitation, he asked the poison-tasting eunuch to try it first.

The poison-tasting eunuch didn’t dare to delay and took two sips, waiting quietly for a while, but nothing happened.

"Your Majesty, the sour plum soup is fine."

"Ah!" Emperor Muwu looked at the nearly melted ice cubes in the sour plum soup, feeling annoyed.

But fortunately, it was still cold, so he could drink it comfortably.

Just as he was about to take a sip, he heard Ye Siheng’s voice from outside the hall, "Father!"

Emperor Muwu instantly got a headache. He just wanted to drink a bowl of sour plum soup, why was it so difficult!

He didn’t care anymore. He took a sip first!