mtlumby2d Chapter 263 The Incompetent Emperor
Chapter 263 The Incompetent Emperor
When Li Zhen arrived, he found Xu Jiaoran in a trance in front of the mirror. He walked over gently and called her back to her senses: "What are you thinking about?"
When Xu Jiaoran heard his voice, she glanced at him lightly and then continued to look at herself in the mirror calmly.
Li Zhen was a little surprised. This was the first time that he did not see disgust towards him in Xu Jiaoran's eyes.
Li Zhen thought that her attitude towards him had finally improved, and he couldn't help feeling happy.
However, Xu Jiaoran stroked her face and asked Li Zhen: "Do you think my face looks like a demon concubine?"
There was a hint of self-mockery and determination in Xu Jiaoran's voice.
When Li Zhen heard this, he was shocked.
He knew she had heard the rumors, the rumors that she was a demon concubine.
He took her hand, his eyes full of determination and affection: "You are not a demon concubine, you are my queen."
Xu Jiaoran sneered, looked at herself in Li Zhen's eyes, and understood what was going on.
She was the demon concubine they were talking about, the demon concubine who brought disaster to the country and the people. If that was the case, she would have to do what a demon concubine should do.
She walked out of the room, wearing the gorgeous palace dress. She stepped on the luxurious carpet and walked through the magnificent hall. Every step she took was like a declaration of war, announcing her existence and her power.
She looked at the magnificent palace and thought coldly: I am a demon concubine, a demon concubine who brings disaster to the country and the people.
Since you say so, then I will do what a concubine should do.
"Jiao Ran, what's wrong with you?" Li Zhen was a little worried about her.
Xu Jiaoran turned around and smiled at Li Zhen: "Li Zhen, you said you would make it up to me, right?"
Li Zhen nodded: "As long as you promise to stay by my side, I will do my best to make it up to you!"
Xu Jiaoran smiled, but her eyes were cold and indifferent. She asked Li Zhen, "You promised me before that I would be the only woman in the harem, but you still haven't kept your promise!"
When Li Zhen heard this, he suddenly felt that the situation was a bit difficult. He had just used the promotion of concubines in the harem to calm the court officials. Now it was really difficult to drive all the concubines away.
Xu Jiaoran saw the difficulty in his eyes and was particularly happy. She said, "Why? Don't you want to? I knew you couldn't do it!"
Xu Jiaoran turned around and didn't want to pay any more attention to Li Zhen. However, seeing that she had finally made a request to him, Li Zhen held her and promised: "Wait a little while, okay? I will definitely clean up the harem after a while!"
Xu Jiaoran said coldly: "No!"
Seeing Li Zhen in trouble, Xu Jiaoran felt extremely happy.
How could she be the only one suffering? Her suffering came from Li Zhen, so she had to make Li Zhen suffer too.
"Okay! I promise you, I will issue an order immediately! Clean up the harem."
It was late at night, and the morning glow had not yet risen. The palace, which had once been filled with beauties and flourished, was now in chaos due to a huge change.
For the sake of his beloved Queen Xu Jiaoran, Li Zhen actually ordered the dismissal of all the concubines in the harem.
His action was like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, stirring up thousands of waves. The court officials were talking about it. In their eyes, the emperor was a symbol of absurdity and a shame to the world.
In the court, the courtiers who were usually elegant and graceful were now full of anger. They used harsh words to stop Li Zhen's will and advised him to think twice.
However, Li Zhen was unmoved and only said, "My family, my subjects, do not need to meddle in it!"
Seeing that persuasion was fruitless, the ministers began to speak fiercely, angrily scolding Li Zhen for being absurd and unjust, and angrily scolding Xu Jiaoran for being a demon queen and a disaster. Their words were like sharp swords, piercing the hearts of the two again and again.
However, no matter how much slander and accusations there were, Li Zhen only had Xu Jiaoran in his eyes. Since he had promised her, he could not let her down. This was the first time. She made demands on him and asked him to dismiss other women, which also showed that she cared about him, just as he could not tolerate other men in her eyes. So Li Zhen was happy to do this.
Li Zhen's eyes revealed determination and firmness. He was determined to cut off the world's troubles for the sake of his love, even if it was the doubts and anger of the whole world.
Under the verbal criticism and pens of the courtiers, many innocent people were implicated, just because they expressed a little dissatisfaction. However, those who criticized him still took root in the palace walls like silkworms, and never woke up.
In such a situation, the emperor became as hard as stone. He swung his sword to cut off the petitions from the courtiers, and he cut off their anger and dissatisfaction. However, this did not quell the chaos and unrest in the court.
The beheaded courtiers, their families, friends, and colleagues were filled with chills and grief. They began to doubt whether the emperor had lost his humanity and reason.
Then another court official took the opportunity to bring up the old matter again, causing the public's anger to rise to a new level. Under the turbulent debate, even if the swords were built into a fortress, it would not be able to calm the public's anger and impatience. Many words were ruthlessly attacked Li Zhen and Xu Jiaoran, but they did not seem to react at all when they heard it.
Finally one day, Li Zhen made a decision. In order to calm the chaos and anger and restore peace and stability in the court, he decided not to endure those vicious accusations and slanders any longer.
He ordered the beheading of those who led the accusation against him, which immediately caused the entire court to fall into shock and panic.
However, this did not really resolve the issue. Although the ringleaders were executed, the chill in the hearts of the court officials did not dissipate.
They began to lose confidence and loyalty to the emperor. Their feelings towards Empress Xu Jiaoran changed from dissatisfaction and suspicion to deep dissatisfaction and disgust. The entire court became panic-stricken.
However, disbanding the harem is only the first step.
Later, Xu Jiaoran asked the emperor for a pot of blooming lotus, and Li Zhen ordered people to transport the purest lake water from Jiangnan, thousands of miles away, and then put it in the most exquisite porcelain pot. The lotus bloomed in the palace, like a poem or a painting, as if her temperament bloomed in the flower.
After that, Xu Jiaoran's demands seemed increasingly difficult to satisfy. She began to ask for all kinds of rare gems, antiques, and even the legendary magic herbs. Li Zhen did not hesitate, as he already knew in his heart that as long as it was for her, he would not hesitate to give up everything in the world.
The precious gems on her headdress shone like stars, and the antiques were filled with traces of history and cultural heritage. The legendary fairy grass was a treasure that attracted countless people. However, in Li Zhen's eyes, these treasures could not compare with Xu Jiaoran's smile.
As time went by, the emperor's favor and satisfaction seemed to have become an endless cycle. Xu Jiaoran asked for more and more, and Li Zhen did more and more excessive things. Not only were the court officials dissatisfied, but even the people of the world began to complain.
"This emperor has really been bewitched by his enchanting concubine! Today he wants the East Pearl, tomorrow he wants the Snow Lotus. It's us, the people, who are suffering!"
"If you ask me, this emperor is incompetent and not a wise ruler!"
The news that the emperor had wasted a lot of money and resources for the empress also spread to the northwest.