The Female Lead Decides to Act Wickedly

Chapter 1297 - 483: Palace Schemes Pale Before Rebellion (Part 20)_2

Emperor Yongcheng grinds his teeth secretly.

"Imperial Secretary Feng, you can’t say it like that. Does the court stop reforming just because the salt policy is complex and difficult to handle?"

Suppressing his dissatisfaction, Emperor Yongcheng spoke in a pompous manner, pretending to follow official protocols.

He thought he was concealing his feelings well, but little did he know that most of the people standing in this hall were seasoned veterans of the bureaucracy.

How sharp are their eyes? How keen their senses?

A mere glance, and they could see this little Emperor Yongcheng had developed a resentment toward Imperial Secretary Feng.

The ministers: ...This Emperor, isn’t he just a fool?

This old trickster Feng Shou was absolutely the most loyal minister to the late Emperor.

Tao Yong and a crowd of military merits were also loyally devoted to the late Emperor, but these people had wives, children, and family friends, so their loyalty always carried a touch of personal interest.

But Feng Shou, he had long since dissociated from his family, with no children, and his only old wife passed away last year.

Feng Shou, in this world, could be said to have no ties or burdens.

If not for an agreement with the late Emperor years ago, he probably would have sought to become a hermit in some deep mountainous forest by now.

In this Imperial court, if anyone was wholeheartedly loyal to Emperor Yongcheng, without any selfish thoughts, it would undoubtedly be Feng Shou.

Yet, this extraordinarily loyal "Emperor Faction" was resented by the Emperor!

Oh dear... While everyone felt it was unfair for Feng Shou, they also felt a vague unease.

The Emperor sitting on the Dragon Throne is not very smart, foolish perhaps, but overly self-assured and arrogantly clever.

Sigh, the Imperial court that had just stabilized for a few years might soon fall into chaos again.

Some who may not be part of the "Emperor Faction" but are still upright and candid ministers of the previous and current dynasties couldn’t help but worry.

After the court session, they went to pay respects to Empress Dowager He.

They thought, Empress Dowager He is the birth mother of Emperor Yongcheng; despite their not-so-great affection, her prior initiative to return power makes the ministers believe that she loves the little Emperor.

Therefore, Empress Dowager He surely wouldn’t stand by and watch Emperor Yongcheng act foolishly.

For a young Emperor who has just taken power, attempting to challenge every noble and aristocratic family in the world?

The ministers couldn’t even say "a newborn calf does not fear the tiger"; while the calf may be destined to fail against the tiger, it can fight to the death.

Perhaps it can even end up "beating the master with a flurry of punches."

But Emperor Yongcheng versus the noble families?

There wasn’t a single person in the entire court who held an optimistic attitude.

"I have already handed the Jade Seal over to His Majesty, essentially entrusting the entire Dayuan empire to him; how he wishes to govern is up to him!"

"Moreover, the issue of salt policy reform indeed cannot be postponed any longer. The national treasury is empty, urgently needing salt tax replenishment!"

"...His Majesty is indeed rather young and inexperienced, but there are still the three Assistant Ministers including Grand Scribe Wang, and the officials in the Political Affairs Hall, they will surely assist the Emperor well!"

"As for me, I should have retreated to the harem long ago to enjoy my majesty’s remaining years, I truly do not wish to worry about the affairs of the Imperial court anymore!"

He Tiantian completely disregarded the requests of the veteran ministers, directly and tactfully retorted.

What a joke?

Taking charge to discipline a little Emperor who is determined to reform the noble families to concentrate imperial power?

Ha-ha, hasn’t Imperial Secretary Feng already hit a wall and incurred Emperor Yongcheng’s disfavor?!

He Tiantian will definitely not act in such a thankless and foolish way.

Furthermore, her initiative to return power and swiftly withdraw from the affairs of the previous dynasty was precisely to give the little Emperor the opportunity to "command Jiangshan."

If the little Emperor doesn’t act foolishly, how can she, as Empress Dowager, demonstrate her merits before the ministers and the entire world?

In a way, He Tiantian and some of the old foxes in the court are both waiting for the little Emperor to plunge himself into the mire.

It’s just that no one expected Emperor Yongcheng would plunge so aggressively, starting off with such a large maneuver!

Re-registering salt fields, enforcing salt tax collection, almost upsetting the interests of all the noble families and powerful clans in the world.

Such a massive force, forget about the little Emperor, even the late Emperor didn’t dare to provoke easily.

Actually, it’s not just aristocratic families, even some of the military merits have some salt fields.

Well, during the times of war, some lesser noble families or ruined households, the entire clan was overturned.

And the industries they left behind were divided by other powerful clans or passing military merits.

Furthermore, as the "Righteous Army" lacking logistical support, those military merits of the late Emperor had to rely on extortion, oh no, persuasion for local clans to make donations to maintain the army’s provisions.

Among these numerous "donations," there were salt fields, fertile lands, mines, and other cash cows.