My brother entrusted his child to me, and I livestreamed raising the baby, making the Empress cry wi

Shu Jingwei suddenly grabbed the teacup beside her and threw it forcefully at Chen Youfang—

"boom--"

The teacup hit Chen Youfang on the forehead, causing him to bleed profusely!

Chen Youfang didn't dare wipe it, but kept his head down, secretly relieved that he hadn't been dragged out to be beheaded.

Not satisfied with smashing a teacup, Shu Jingwei then overturned everything on the table in front of her.

Otherwise!

If it weren't for the fact that Chen Youfang was a veteran official who served three dynasties and was indeed good at managing money, Shu Jingwei would have wanted to drag him away and behead him right now!

"What's wrong with me spending a little money?! I'm the emperor! This whole world belongs to me! Why should I have to worry about your opinion when I'm spending my own money?!"

Chen Youfang kowtowed, his forehead quickly breaking open, blood streaming down his face along with the wound from the teacup. "Your Majesty," he cried, "I dare not! But... but the national treasury is truly nearly empty. If the Lantern Festival banquet is held in such extravagance, I'm afraid... I'm afraid we won't even be able to pay next year's military salaries!"

"Then raise taxes!" Shu Jingwei's voice was shrill and sharp, like a knife scraping across the brick surface, echoing throughout the hall. "Those peasants, they've had tax cuts year after year, cuts for so many years, it's time to pay them back!"

Chen Youfang abruptly raised his head, his pupils shrinking sharply, then slammed his head down as if burned: "Your Majesty! You mustn't! The people have only had a few years to recover and rebuild; if taxes are increased again, I fear there will be a rebellion—"

"A popular uprising?" Shu Jingwei sneered, her laughter echoing through the hall, chilling to the bone. "I have a million soldiers, what do I have to fear from a popular uprising? Anyone who dares to rebel, I will annihilate!"

She whirled around, her gaze sharp as a knife, piercing the hunched-over eunuch behind her: "Go and draft an edict! This autumn's taxes will be increased by 30%—no, 50%! I refuse to believe those peasants will dare not pay!"

The chief eunuch's lips trembled slightly, his face as white as paper, but he didn't dare utter a single word and bowed deeply.

Chen Youfang's face turned deathly pale, his lips trembled violently, but he couldn't utter a single word.

He knew that once this decree was issued, the Great Flame Kingdom would be thrown into chaos.

But he dared not try to persuade him any further.

The people who tried to persuade her last time were severely scolded by Shu Jingwei, and two of them even lost their lives.

"I... obey your order."

"Step back." Shu Jingwei waved her hand, as if shooing away a dirty fly.

Chen Youfang got up, his legs felt like they were filled with lead, and staggered out of the hall.

The moment the palace doors slammed shut behind him, his legs gave way completely. He slid slowly to the ground against the wall, covered his face with both hands, his shoulders heaving violently, and cried silently.

He remembered the time when Ye Fan was still alive.

Although the national treasury was not abundant at that time, every penny was spent wisely.

Ye Fan said he wanted to reduce taxes so that the people could recuperate; Ye Fan said he wanted to build schools so that children could have books to read; Ye Fan said he wanted to build water conservancy projects so that crops could have a good harvest.

When he was around, no one dared to embezzle.

Because Ye Fan can calculate, he can calculate every single penny, so that you won't be able to hide even a single copper coin.

Ye Fan was later dismissed from his post.

Then, the person disappeared.

Chen Youfang didn't know where he went, or even whether he was dead or alive.

But he knew perfectly well that since Ye Fan left, the Great Flame Kingdom's treasury was like a huge hole had been dug out from underneath, and no matter how hard he tried, it could never be filled...

Shu Jingwei stood in the main hall, her chest heaving violently, like an enraged mother beast.

She stared at the empty palace gates, her breathing heavy and rapid.

These ministers are really taking advantage of her good temper; they're becoming more and more presumptuous!

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Yao Jingyuan had come out at some point and was standing by a pillar with his head down, his expression unreadable.

"What are you doing out here?" Shu Jingwei's voice still carried lingering anger.

Yao Jingyuan immediately strode over, his face full of gentle smiles: "I heard Your Majesty was angry and was worried that Your Majesty would harm your health, so I came to keep you company."

He reached out and gently stroked Shu Jingwei's arm, his fingertips sliding slowly across it. His voice was low and soft, "Your Majesty, please calm down. That Chen Youfang is ungrateful. I will teach him a lesson on Your Majesty's behalf later."

Shu Jingwei snorted coldly and flung his hand away: "Teach him a lesson? You should teach Rou'er a lesson first! After the banquet tonight, you'll be back in solitary confinement!"

Yao Jingyuan's smile froze for a moment.

A sinister glint flashed in his eyes, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, but it was immediately covered up by a gentle smile.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will certainly discipline Rou'er properly." He lowered his head, his attitude impeccably respectful.

"Your Majesty is not angry. I will think of a way to resolve the matter of the silver."

"You want to find a way?" Shu Jingwei glanced at him sideways, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "What way could you possibly have?"

Yao Jingyuan leaned closer, his voice extremely low, as if afraid the wind outside the hall would hear: "Your Majesty, those merchants and landlords have amassed considerable wealth over the years. Raising taxes won't affect them, but we can find another way to make them give it back. For example…"

He paused, his eyes gleaming, and continued, "Selling official positions. It's just a nominal post, nothing serious, but it's worth tens of thousands of taels of silver each. Those nouveau riche will probably fight tooth and nail to get it."

Shu Jingwei's eyes suddenly lit up. This idea was feasible!

Selling official positions and titles—when Ye Fan was around, that was a taboo that couldn't be touched. He would say things like, "Important positions in the court cannot be bought and sold with gold and silver."

But now that Ye Fan is gone, who cares about the farts he let out!

"You should draft a plan." Shu Jingwei's voice softened, and a hint of appreciation finally appeared in her eyes as she looked at him.

"Your subject obeys the decree." Yao Jingyuan bowed, the curve of his lips just right, his whole demeanor gentle and refined, exactly the kind of appearance Shu Jingwei liked.

But his eyes were dark and stagnant, like a bottomless pool of dead water.

It contains hatred, greed, and blatant, undisguised ambition.

He turned around and walked back to the side hall, his steps as light as if he were walking on clouds.

Selling official positions and titles.

Shu Jingwei thought it was just selling a few nominal positions.

But Yao Jingyuan had a hundred ways to place those who had received favors from him into key positions.

When everyone in the court is his man—

Wouldn't it be as easy as turning one's hand to push that stupid woman Shu Jingwei off her horse?

what.

As if imagining the wonderful future, Yao Jingyuan almost burst out laughing.

As for increasing taxes on ordinary people?

Add it.

The more you add, the better.

What does it matter to him whether those peasants starve to death?

As long as his pockets are full of silver, the life or death of others doesn't matter—

What does it have to do with him?

……

Inside a modern luxury car in motion.

"Godfather, what are we going to do?" Little Douzi couldn't help but ask after sitting for the whole ride.

Lin Ye looked at the maple forest outside, whose outlines were already faintly visible, and thought for a moment.

He turned to Xiaodouzi, took her hand and cupped it in his palm. He said, "Xiaodouzi."

"Actually, it was Godfather who wanted to throw Xiaodouzi a belated fifth birthday party. Godfather was late for Xiaodouzi's fifth birthday, it was Godfather's fault..."

Xiao Douzi's eyes were already red. It was her birthday; she had actually forgotten that she did have a birthday...

Upon hearing Lin Ye's last words, Xiao Douzi quickly shook her head: "No! How could it be Godfather's fault? Xiao Douzi thinks that meeting Godfather that day was the best birthday gift Xiao Douzi ever received!"

Lin Ye looked at her and shook his head, "No, Xiao Douzi, that's far from enough. Our Xiao Douzi deserves the best birthday!"

"Tonight, Godfather has prepared lots and lots of delicious food, fun things, gifts, a big cake, fireworks, and all sorts of great performances for Little Douzi."

He paused, remembering his friends saying they would bring their children to play. "I've even found a few friends for Xiaodouzi. From now on, Xiaodouzi will have new playmates in Jiangcheng."

The little boy's slightly red eyes widened instantly.

"Cake? Fireworks? Performance? And... new friends?"

"Yes." Lin Ye smiled and pinched her little nose. "Little Douzi can look forward to it!"

The car kept moving forward, getting closer and closer to that conspicuous red forest area...

Lin Ye also notified the system to prepare to start the live stream again.