Chapter Thirty-Six: Let the Bullets Fly for a While
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In front of the imperial palace, Shen Wanyi clutched a splendid brocade robe, his excitement beyond description.
The moment he saw Ouyang Yu and the others, Shen Wanyi hurried over. Before anyone could ask him anything, he spoke first.
“Lord Ouyang, I really must thank you properly on behalf of Xi'an!”
The abrupt remark left Ouyang Yu bewildered.
Even the other officials turned to look at him, eager to know what had happened.
“Boss Shen, what do you mean? And what is this?”
Ouyang Yu’s gaze fell upon the brocade robe in Shen Wanyi’s hands, his confusion impossible to conceal.
Seeing his bewilderment, Shen Wanyi quickly produced the imperial edict from behind his back. His excitement grew even greater.
“Lord Ouyang, just look! Our Emperor truly is a sagacious ruler!”
“I originally thought His Majesty had found my methods too radical. Or perhaps he had listened to the idle gossip of others. Before I came here, I had even prepared my coffin!”
“But what happened? His Majesty not only declined to punish me, he also agreed to my earlier proposal for a joint venture and intends to support me in opening even more pleasure houses!”
“Not only that, His Majesty said that during tomorrow’s court session, he would give me a tremendous surprise.”
As he spoke, Shen Wanyi handed over the imperial edict.
At the same time, he discreetly tucked a banknote inside it.
Clearly, the merchant believed that for Emperor Li Chen to value him so highly, he must have had Ouyang Yu, the chancellor, to thank.
After all, while paving the way earlier, he had sent various benefits to everyone around Ouyang Yu.
But Ouyang Yu, who was directly involved in none of this, had no idea what Shen Wanyi was talking about. Naturally, he felt utterly lost.
As chancellor, however, Ouyang Yu was not concerned with such minor details.
What occupied his thoughts most at that moment was the matter Shen Wanyi had described.
Ouyang Yu was not the only one. Bai Lian, Zhang Cong, and the others were all wearing expressions of astonishment.
“No! This concerns not only the imperial court, but the dignity of the royal family itself! We must immediately remonstrate with His Majesty and urge him to withdraw his decree!”
Zhang Cong was the first to step forward, voicing his concerns and displeasure.
Many of the other ministers also harbored objections, but none dared to stand up as openly as he had.
At that moment, everyone’s attention turned toward Ouyang Yu.
Meanwhile, inside the imperial palace, Li Chen had already finished writing another decree.
“Hmm. Didn’t Shen Wanyi just say that officials and gentry throughout the various kingdoms look down on merchants?”
“Then the imperial academy I am about to establish shall deliberately appoint people to teach commerce, raising the status of merchants to roughly the same level as theirs—or perhaps even a little higher.”
“Let’s see them keep their composure then. And even if they manage to endure it without causing trouble, merchants pursue profit. Won’t they create a whole host of problems before long?”
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Li Chen muttered to himself about his plans, the smugness on his face growing more pronounced.
At that moment, he seemed already able to see the future: himself ascending to immortality with Wan’er, spending his days as a carefree celestial being.
Thinking of Wan’er, Li Chen simply handed the decree to an attendant and plunged straight into the inner palace.
The next day, when all the officials gathered at court, prepared to jointly remonstrate with the Emperor and demand that he withdraw his decree, they discovered that Li Chen himself had not appeared at all.
None of the memorials had even received a reply. All that remained was a decree announcing plans to begin construction of the imperial academy.
It specifically stated that the academy would include not only a school of commerce, but also a school of engineering and crafts.
For a time, the solemn court became no different from a bustling marketplace.
A group of high-ranking officials immediately gathered around Ouyang Yu and several ministers of state, hoping to persuade them to seek another audience with the Emperor.
“Your Excellency, the students of the imperial academy are destined to become officials in the future. That was His Majesty’s own promise! Yet now His Majesty intends to establish a school of commerce there, and even allow craftsmen of every trade to join them. This is utterly disgraceful and an insult to all propriety! How are we to conduct ourselves under such circumstances?”
“Indeed! Are we supposed to stand in court and serve alongside merchants and artisans from now on?”
“We implore Your Excellency to join us in signing a joint petition! Great Zhou can no longer allow His Majesty to behave so recklessly!”
Faced with the furious officials, Ouyang Yu felt as though his head were splitting apart. Even Ge Siwang, usually so quick-witted, wore a troubled expression and could find no words.
Yet both Ouyang Yu and Ge Siwang harbored the same doubt.
What deeper meaning lay behind Li Chen’s actions?
After the brief chaos, Ge Siwang finally stepped forward.
“Hmph! We are all His Majesty’s subjects. With conduct such as this, do you still remember the proper etiquette owed by ministers?”
“Even if we do not understand His Majesty’s intentions, we cannot press him so aggressively!”
Hearing this, Ouyang Yu quickly took the opportunity to steer the discussion in the same direction.
Thus, the court protest that should have erupted quietly vanished.
But during the period that followed, as the decree was promulgated and implemented by all sides, a series of subtle changes soon began to unfold throughout Great Zhou.
Within the imperial palace, in the bedchamber—
Li Chen spat out a grape and looked at Wan’er before him with a broad grin.
Her face flushed with maidenly shyness. She covered it with a handkerchief, yet could not conceal the unmistakable reaction of a young woman.
“Your Majesty, in broad daylight, what will people think if they see us?”
After saying this, Wan’er turned her back to him, wearing an expression of evasion.
Yet when Li Chen saw her like that, she only seemed even more alluring.
“Listen to you, acting as though this were some unforgivable crime. Besides, you certainly weren’t saying that last night!”
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At the thought of the previous night, Li Chen’s expression grew somewhat intoxicated.
He could hardly be blamed. In all his two lifetimes, he had seemingly never experienced anything as enthralling as the night before.
But before he could savor the memory any further, familiar system notifications began ringing in his mind one after another.
[His Majesty has acted as a wise ruler, causing Great Zhou’s national destiny to increase by 500 points... causing the nation’s fortune to increase by 500 points... There are currently 9,550 points remaining.]
[Helpful reminder: Based on the current increase in national destiny, 0.5 Misfortune Points have been generated... converting to 0.5 Misfortune Points... converting... Current Misfortune Points: 8.6. Once Misfortune Points are fully accumulated, His Majesty will undergo the Nine Heavens Lightning Tribulation!]
When the final notification ended, Li Chen was stunned.
The national destiny he had worked so hard to ruin had actually risen again—and had even surpassed its former level.
If this had happened earlier, Li Chen would certainly have panicked.
But now, he did not need to ask to know that it was surely connected to Shen Wanyi.
Still, merchants pursued profit. Li Chen refused to believe that Shen Wanyi would devote himself to developing Great Zhou.
This time, the increase in national destiny had come about through an accidental miscalculation. Next time, however, it would most likely be ruined again.
After all, the strange novelties Shen Wanyi had introduced would undoubtedly be regarded by other rulers as immoral and corrupting.
Some might even consider them criminal acts.
Li Chen did not believe that the growth brought about by such an accident could sustain Great Zhou’s development for long.
He could already imagine the catastrophic collapse in national destiny that Shen Wanyi’s actions would eventually cause.
No need to rush. Let the bullet fly a little longer. My good days are still ahead!
Li Chen gave a mocking snort, then began calculating his next move.
Just as he was pondering in silence, a voice came from outside.
“Your Majesty, Lord Ouyang and several ministers of state have arrived. They are waiting for you in the imperial study. It seems they have something important to report!”
“It appears... the frontier is in urgent danger!”
Upon hearing this, Li Chen sprang to his feet, joy instantly appearing on his face.
Excellent! Excellent!
Something had finally gone wrong?
He had still been wondering last night whether the system’s rewards had stopped working. After waiting so long, the moment had finally arrived.
“Wan’er, come and help me change!”
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