Transmigrated as the Emperor, but Slacking Off - Chapter 26.2

“The Six Ministries are short by one hundred and thirty-two officials! For over half a month, state affairs have ground to a near halt! You all abandoned your posts what punishment do you deserve?!” An official from the Ministry of Personnel bellowed, pointing angrily at the opposing Wang faction.

A member of the Wang faction refused to back down, mocking, “Abandoned our posts? Currently, His Majesty neglects state affairs and has handed all authority to Ning Wujie alone. The Supervisor of the Arsenal Bureau was even executed without a trial. How could we dare remain on duty?”

“You people shrugged off your duties, but what about us? Just yesterday, a secretary from the Ministry of Justice fainted from exhaustion. Right now, one person in each department is doing the work of three! If this continues, all of us will collapse.”

“Then go find His Majesty!”

“If you ask me, why don’t you all just request leave together?!”

“Bastards!”

While some fought fiercely at the front lines of the argument, other officials stood at the back, whispering in hushed tones.

“Alas, if Ning Wujie hadn’t insisted on imprisoning the Prince of Pingyang and offending the Wang clan, we wouldn’t be facing this mass strike of officials today.”

“Don’t mention it. Ultimately, it’s because our Emperor excessively favors Ning Wujie. He’s willing to openly break ties with the Wang clan just to win a beauty’s smile.”

In ancient times, King You lit beacon fires to amuse his concubine; today, our sovereign cuts off his own arms for the sake of male lust. A foolish tyrant!

The official kept the words “foolish tyrant” bouncing around his throat several times, but ultimately managed to swallow them, restraining himself from spitting them onto the golden floor tiles of the Hall of Imperial Supremacy.

Hearing this, Wang Fuwei felt the timing was right. Curving her lips, she said, “Alright, ministers, quiet down. This Dowager…”

“No matter how His Majesty decides, it is not an excuse for you to strike and threaten the Emperor!”

“Easy for you to say! The imperial edict demanding your life hasn’t fallen on your head yet!”

Wang Fuwei’s temple twitched, and she deepened her voice again. “Ministers, quiet down!”

“You all strike and skip court today, but it will be difficult if you wish to return tomorrow!”

“Then we won’t trouble your lordship to worry about it!”

Wang Fuwei was speechless. Losing her patience entirely, she barked sharply, “All of you, shut your mouths!”

The scene finally fell silent.

Only then did Wang Fuwei regain her composure. Just as she struck the pose of one managing the grand situation, a high-pitched cry suddenly rang out: “The Emperor arrives!”

The voice echoed through the grand hall, interrupting her speech once again. Wang Fuwei’s face instantly turned black.

The officials lowered their heads to welcome the sovereign’s arrival.

The hem of Wen Xing’s light-green casual robe swept across the floor as he walked. Under the gaze of the crowd, he leisurely took his seat upon the high dragon throne.

Ning Wujie followed closely behind. Upon reaching the steps, he stood alone, completely separate from the two factions of officials. His silhouette was like a solitary mountain peak, entirely mismatched with the chaotic court.

Seeing Wen Xing take his seat, Wang Fuwei suppressed her anger, adjusted her expression, and squeezed out a benevolent smile. “Huaiyu, you’ve finally come.”

Wen Xing’s appearance in court was solely because Ning Wujie had told him that a mass strike by the civil and military officials was tantamount to a coup. If the Emperor remained indifferent to this, then everyone would feel entitled to bully him at will, and imperial dignity would cease to exist.

Though Wen Xing liked to slack off, he would absolutely not allow people to walk all over him. Since they dared use their jobs to threaten him heh, just wait.

He glanced at Wang Fuwei out of the corner of his eye, feigning surprise. “Why is Imperial Mother here?”

Wang Fuwei sat righteously on her phoenix chair. “This Dowager heard about the officials striking. Truly outrageous! As the Empress Dowager, I must properly reprimand them on behalf of the Emperor.” As she spoke, she extended her sleeve toward the officials below. “Look, haven’t they all returned to court following This Dowager?”

A sneer curled Wen Xing’s lips. He chuckled. “Some people think far too highly of themselves, believing the imperial court stops spinning without them.”

The expressions of the Wang faction below stiffened.

Wang Fuwei’s sharp finger guards brushed against the golden cast phoenix head on her armrest. She remarked coldly, “Ever since His Majesty took personal charge of the government at eighteen, This Dowager has not stepped foot into the Hall of Imperial Supremacy. But looking at it now, His Majesty managing this court alone seems to be a task where the heart is willing but the strength is lacking.”

“If the Emperor lacks the ability, why not call upon your mother for help? You are This Dowager’s child; what mother in this world would abandon her own child?”

The meaning behind these words was already explicit: as long as Wen Xing was willing to soften his stance, the Wang clan was still willing to support him as Emperor.

Wen Xing replied coldly, “Imperial Mother worries too much. For such a trivial scene, there is no need to trouble you.”

Wang Fuwei assumed he was merely boasting and let out a mocking laugh.

Among the Wang faction, some showed disdain, while others openly mocked, “It is not that your servants wish to strike. It is truly because treacherous officials hold sway in the current court. We harbor a heart to serve the country, but have no avenue to do so.”

Another official advised, “Your Majesty, the various ministers are slacking and requesting leave solely because Master Ning’s power is too immense, making everyone feel insecure. We hope Your Majesty will consider the state; the power of the imperial brush and the power of investigation must absolutely not be gathered on Master Ning alone.”

“Otherwise, if this continues long-term and officials slack off, the central government will inevitably paralyze. During the Wanli era of the previous dynasty, weeds grew rampant on the steps of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and the Office of Transmission accumulated petitions over three zhang high. The signs of a nation’s downfall began there. We hope Your Majesty will take history as a mirror!”

Wen Xing narrowed his eyes, a cold light flashing in their depths. “Take history as a mirror? If we take history as a mirror, what is the outcome when imperial relatives usurp power?”

“Ning Wujie, you answer.”

Ning Wujie did not hesitate. Looking up at the Emperor on the high throne, he said in a deep voice, “Imperial power crumbles, court discipline is thrown into chaos, civil uprisings erupt everywhere, and the dynasty collapses.”

A mere sixteen words left the ministers speechless with shock.

Wen Xing laughed loudly. “Well said!”

Upon hearing this, some officials looked in terror at Wang Fuwei on her phoenix chair, only to see her face turn incredibly hideous. This was practically pointing at the Empress Dowager’s nose and cursing her.

Wang Fuwei’s fierce gaze swept toward Ning Wujie, looking as if she wanted to skin him alive. However, a moment later, she reined in her expression and issued a cold threat to Wen Xing. “Does the Emperor intend to just watch the central government paralyze?”

Ignoring her completely, Wen Xing arbitrarily commanded: “Order all departments to tally the number of officials. Anyone still on duty today shall receive a thirty percent salary increase. For any department heads currently striking, their deputies shall replace them and be promoted this very day.”

Wang Fuwei gasped in disbelief. “What did you say?! You want to dismiss all department heads?!”

The hall instantly erupted into an uproar.

Some members of the Wang faction could hardly believe their ears. Exchanging bewildered glances with their colleagues, they asked in trembling voices, “What did His Majesty just say? Did I just lose my official hat?!”

“I… I must have misheard, right?”

What was happening?!

Before anyone could react, Wen Xing’s gaze swept over the shocked crowd in the hall. He continued, “As for the remaining officials on strike, anyone who does not return to court after three days shall be dismissed and dealt with accordingly.”

The Wang faction members were paralyzed with shock.

Wang Fuwei was incredulous; her finger guards almost dug into the armrest of her chair. She shouted sharply, “Emperor! Do you know what the consequences will be if you dismiss half the court officials?! Do you wish to destroy the nation?!”

Below the steps, the officials were in utter chaos. They hadn’t misheard, His Majesty intended to dismiss all of them! He was completely insane!

Wen Xing slowly curved one side of his mouth, saying darkly, “We won’t trouble Imperial Mother to worry about that.”

Within the magnificent hall, some people who had lost their chief positions on the spot stood dazed, looking as if they were still in a dream. Others were as anxious as ants on a hot skillet, urgently consulting with colleagues next to them; some even cast pleading glances toward the Empress Dowager.

What should we do? There is only a three-day limit.

If we return, we fear the Empress Dowager’s wrath; if we don’t, our official hats are gone! If we had known it would turn out like this, we wouldn’t have joined the blind chaos! Didn’t we agree to hold the Emperor hostage by slacking off? Now, the Emperor isn’t taking the bait at all! He directly made our plans fail completely and took our official hats to boot!

Conversely, the officials on the other side were singing a different tune. Quite a few had been promoted right there in court, leaving them somewhat dazed. What kind of auspicious day is today? Those lucrative posts previously monopolized by the Wang clan’s cronies have just fallen from the sky into our laps?

Some officials’ eyes shone with excitement. A thirty percent salary increase?! I’ve been working non-stop for half a month! Heaven does not betray those who persevere!

In the midst of the chaos, Wang Fuwei closed her eyes tightly. After a long while, she suppressed the shock and anger in her heart, forced herself to remain calm, and said in a heavy voice, “Emperor, don’t be too naive. Even if others replace the chief positions, this court will remain half-empty. That is not a vacancy you can fill just by adding a bit of salary!”

However, Wen Xing seemed prepared. He said decisively, “If there is still a shortage of manpower after three days, go to Ning Wujie to ask for people.”

To prevent these officials from swarming him after court adjourned, he needed to shift the blame immediately.

The recipient of the blame, Ning Wujie, was speechless. He took a deep breath and pressed his twitching brow. Although he had a list in hand, it hadn’t been vetted yet, and the numbers were insufficient. Filling up half of the massive vacancies in the Six Ministries was not something that could be achieved overnight. He had intended to screen the candidates first, then issue decrees gradually through memorials, assigning them one by one.

Now, the Emperor had spoken imperial words, carelessly blurting it out. Having received the imperial command, wouldn’t the civil and military officials break down his doorstep?

This foolish tyrant, truly didn’t care whether he lived or died.

The officials were utterly dumbfounded. The entire court had opposed and impeached Ning Wujie for so long, yet not only had they failed to harm him in the slightest, but he had also just been granted the authority of official appointments on top of his existing powers! It was terrifying!

Wang Fuwei glared furiously. “Emperor, do you intend to hand the entire realm over to this boy?!”

Wen Xing thought to himself: Yes, I do.

Ignoring the Empress Dowager entirely, he stood up and swept his grand sleeves. “This matter shall not be discussed further. Dismiss the court!”

This sentence felt like the final dust settling, shattering the remaining psychological defenses of the Wang faction officials who still harbored a sliver of hope. Finally, someone stumbled, collapsing limply to their knees. Their chief positions were gone for good! Someone smashed their fist onto the ground in bitter regret.

The Emperor and the Empress Dowager fight, yet it’s our official positions that are lost. What kind of nonsense is this?!

Wen Xing walked slowly down the steps, preparing to leave.

Right at this moment, a green-robed official from below stepped forward. “Your Majesty, the Senior Compiler of the History Office in the Hanlin Academy is on strike. Currently, only five Compilers remain. Your servant does not know who should replace the Senior Compiler’s position. We pray for Your Majesty’s instruction.”

Wen Xing paused on the jade steps. This person looked rather familiar; he seemed to have seen him somewhere before. After recalling for a moment, he said, “This Emperor has seen you at Imperial Mother’s birthday banquet.”

Hearing this, Ning Wujie’s brow slowly knit together. His gaze landed with ill intent upon that official. The birthday banquet? The one where the Empress Dowager tried to stuff someone into this foolish tyrant’s bed?

Wen Xing said, “Your name is… Wang…” Wang what again?

The green-robed official froze, looking somewhat flattered. He hurriedly replied, “Your servant is Wang Jiang, a Compiler of the Hanlin Academy.”

“Oh, right.” Wen Xing remembered. “The one who gave This Emperor math problems.”

Ning Wujie’s brow furrowed even tighter. As expected, This person with the surname Wang was the very bed-warmer recommended that day. Thinking of this, his fists clenched tightly, emitting a cracking sound.

Wen Xing wondered internally: Huh? Isn’t this guy from the Wang family?

“You… actually didn’t join the strike?”

Wang Fuwei, snapped out of her rage, also shifted her puzzled gaze toward Wang Jiang. This child belonged to the household of the Count of Danyang; how could he? However, she quickly dismissed it. A mere Compiler, striking or not didn’t carry much weight.

Wang Jiang spoke with righteous fervor, his voice resonant. “Though your servant is insignificant, I know that those who eat the sovereign’s bounty must perform the sovereign’s duties. I will absolutely not commit such acts of slacking off to threaten Your Majesty!”

This display of loyalty made Ning Wujie’s brow twitch.

Wen Xing raised an eyebrow. There really is someone who places loyalty above family interests? He observed the young man, then caught sight of Wang Fuwei’s face turning iron-blue once more out of the corner of his eye. After a brief pause, a smirk played on his lips, a flash of cunning gleaming in his eyes.

Seeing the intense gaze the tyrant directed at the young man, an ominous premonition rose in Ning Wujie’s heart.

Sure enough, in the next breath, he heard the foolish tyrant say, “Then you shall replace the chief of the History Office.”

Ning Wujie was rendered speechless. Why does this scene give him a sense of déjà vu?

Wen Xing added, “This Emperor sees that you are proficient in mathematics. Why don’t I grant you another decree?”

“The mathematics discipline of our dynasty is weak. This Emperor intends to add mathematics to the imperial examinations to select talents for various departments. Henceforth, you shall preside over the mathematics portion of the imperial examinations.”

Ning Wujie was stunned.

The thought that had constantly echoed in his mind today surfaced once more: A lecher will one day shift his affections because of lust.

As expected, Foolish tyrant!