Chapter 310: Streamlined: She Really Is an Idiot
If Young Master Sang heard correctly.
The acting national master referred to the position of Li Shanyan.
Although his current role as a substitute morality teacher was also acting in Li Shanyan’s stead, the difference was just a bit too significant.
The national master was part of the legitimate top power in the Holy Kingdom, able to participate in discussions about national matters.
For a mere mountain dweller who had barely entered the Holy Kingdom for half a month, how bold must Huo Ningxue be to let him take on the role of acting national master?
“Uh, Your Majesty, is this…”
Before Young Master Sang could finish, Huo Ningxue slowly began, “Before the national master entered seclusion, whenever I was uncertain about state affairs, I could seek the national master’s advice.”
“The national master is knowledgeable and well-informed, with his hundreds of years of experience allowing him to perfectly address all my concerns.”
“With the national master present, I handled matters of state like a fish in water, very smoothly.”
“However…” Huo Ningxue changed her tone, “the national master has been in seclusion for over a month now and hasn’t even shared a hint of news with me.”
“I often feel uneasy, and listening to the endless debates among the officials has exhausted me.”
“Coincidentally, I see that Mr. Sang is also well-versed and has a broad perspective. I thought to let you temporarily take the role of national master to relieve my worries.”
At this point, Huo Ningxue smiled, “I would also love to hear what the supposedly all-knowing Mr. Sang has to say about important national matters!”
Upon hearing this, Young Master Sang began to grasp the situation.
It seemed that Huo Ningxue didn’t intend to fully delegate the authority of the national master to him.
She simply wanted him to help deal with state affairs and listen to his opinions.
Thus, even if his suggestions were unreasonable, she could still reject them herself, ensuring the normal order of the Holy Kingdom remained unaffected.
But this was a pleasant surprise for Young Master Sang.
After all, Huo Ningxue probably didn’t realize just how good he was at sweet-talking.
After a symbolic moment of hesitation, Young Master Sang slowly bowed, “I am truly honored by Your Majesty’s favor, and I will do my utmost to relieve your burdens.”
Hearing him refer to himself as “this subject,” Huo Ningxue nodded in satisfaction.
Turning to gaze out the window at the night, she suddenly spoke again, “In that case, I have the first question for you.”
“Have you heard of a peculiar object from the common folk called the Communication Device?”
Slightly jolted, Young Master Sang composed himself and replied, “Of course I’ve heard of it.”
“Before coming to the Holy Kingdom, I used this thing and found it quite convenient. However, after arriving, I heard from people around me that the use of the Communication Device is prohibited in the Holy Kingdom, though I don’t know the reason.”
“It’s not some secret,” Huo Ningxue sighed, “The prohibition of the Communication Device was the national master’s idea.”
“The national master said that while it is beneficial for the people, if the Holy Kingdom resolves to clash with the Floating Splendor Commerce, this device could pose a risk of disaster.”
…Indeed, Li Shanyan wasn’t wrong about this.
Had the Holy Kingdom not strictly banned the sale of the Communication Device during the previous period, Young Master Sang wouldn’t have had to rack his brain to figure out how to deal with the Holy Kingdom.
With just the Communication Device, he had ten thousand ways to keep the Holy Kingdom busy and unable to trip up the Floating Splendor Commerce.
“I’m not familiar with the intricacies, but since the national master has made such definitive claims, I choose to believe him.”
“However,” she changed her tone, “recently, there has been rampant smuggling of the Communication Device within Tianlang City, with the situation even spiraling out of control.”
“Today in court, the officials have been debating fiercely about this. One side states the Communication Device is a tool for national ruin and that the prohibition should not be relaxed, while the other argues that since we have given up on targeting Floating Splendor Commerce, we might as well take this opportunity to open the Holy Kingdom’s market, strengthening our ties with Floating Splendor Commerce while also adding a bit of tax revenue.”
“I’m a bit undecided myself and would like to hear your thoughts on this matter.”
After saying this, she watched Young Master Sang quietly.
The moment Young Master Sang heard the question, countless thoughts flashed through his mind.
Did the empress discover his smuggling of the Communication Devices? Why was she asking him such a sharp question right off the bat? Was she testing his identity? If he answered blindly that the ban should be lifted, would that play into her hands?
A myriad of possibilities arose in Young Master Sang’s mind.
One by one, they were dismissed.
For the first time, Young Master Sang felt uncertain about the empress’s stance, hesitating and pondering.
But fortunately, the empress had the national master Li Shanyan, and he had his dog-headed military advisor Nian Nian.
“Nian Nian, what do you think?”
Young Master Sang mumbled to himself: “What does the empress mean by setting this trap? Did our matters get exposed? Or has my identity been revealed?”
“How should I answer to smoothly get through this? How can I prevent her from continuing to suspect me?”
Young Master Sang rambled on for a long while before he finally heard Nian Nian’s nonchalant voice:
“I think I finally understand what the ‘di’ in ‘dihua’ means in novels.”
“Is there a possibility, I mean just a possibility.”
“…that the empress really knows nothing and is just asking you?”
Young Master Sang shook his head: “Impossible! Absolutely impossible!”
“This is the Holy Kingdom’s empress!”
The woman who, upon first seeing, made him feel all the pressure rise to maximum, under whose gaze all secrets seemed to have nowhere to hide.
She sat on the dragon throne, emanating a natural air of authority that seemed fit for an emperor by birthright.
“The fact that she so readily trusts me—a person who has been here only half a month—to act as the national master is already enough to make me alert.”
“And now she’s asking me such sensitive and sharp questions, there’s no way she knows nothing! If she were that foolish, how could she become empress?”
During this time, Young Master Sang had done some investigating.
The current sovereign Huo Ningxue was rumored to be an extraordinary talent rarely seen in the Holy Kingdom for a century. Naturally intelligent, quick-witted, well-versed in strategy, and especially talented in governance.
That’s precisely why she could ruthlessly defeat several royal brothers in the struggle for power and ascend to the throne.
Now you want to tell me that this terrifying figure, referred to as the divine ruler, is just a brainless fool who blindly trusts outsiders?
“There must be a trap in her words; there’s definitely something hidden within.” Young Master Sang said seriously, “I need to think of a way to break her rhetorical traps.”
Nian Nian gradually materialized beside him, giving him a somewhat speechless glance.
Then, crossing her arms, she huffed, “In that case, just say what I told you.”
“You should say—”
“I believe that lifting the ban on the Communication Device has both advantages and disadvantages. However, for Your Majesty, lifting the ban has one significant advantage.” Young Master Sang respectfully stated, “That is—”
“After this, we can use the Communication Device to have the young prince order stationery from the Fusa Pavilion!”
Huo Ningxue: “?”
After saying this, Young Master Sang himself was dazed.
…What in the world!?
Nian Nian, what did you just make me say?!
What kind of absurd reasoning is this?
As Huo Ningxue’s expression became increasingly grave, Young Master Sang inwardly screamed that he had been thoroughly tricked by Nian Nian, but his mind was racing to find justifications.
“That, um, Your Majesty, the manufacturers of stationery in Tianlang City are limited, and their quality is quite uneven,” Young Master Sang said, sweating bullets, “The stationery the young prince uses is of poor quality and lacks durability, far inferior to the stationery I use abroad.”
“I always purchase my stationery directly from the Fusa Pavilion; I just need to place an order with the Communication Device. It’s not only convenient and fast but also has dedicated delivery to my door, saving time and effort.”
“The young prince is currently swamped with studies and consumes a lot of stationery. The Tianlang City manufacturers can’t be relied on, and going out to buy repeatedly is a hassle.”
“Isn’t it better to directly use the Communication Device to order from the Fusa Pavilion? The order today gets delivered tomorrow; how convenient could it be?”
“What do you think, Your Majesty?” After finishing, Young Master Sang anxiously looked toward Huo Ningxue.
Right now, he wasn’t thinking about whether his explanation could fool Huo Ningxue.
But rather the penalty for deceiving the emperor that could wipe out his family.
There was no way he would have ever spoken such a foolish explanation if he hadn’t trusted Nian Nian so much.
The empress was discussing national affairs with him, and he was talking about her brother’s stationery problems?
He might as well say the stain is no good.
Yet, precisely because he had too much faith in Nian Nian, he had recited her words without considering them at all.
Huo Ningxue’s expressions deepened as she listened, her light golden eyes seemingly able to see through every thought in Young Master Sang’s heart, making him sweat profusely.
After a long time of being coldly scrutinized by Huo Ningxue, she finally spoke:
“What you said…”
“…is indeed insightful.”
Young Master Sang: “…Huh?”
“I was troubled earlier as well; most of the stationery is rough and unfashionable, even the royal-exclusive stationery feels substantial but has poor functionality.”
“Every ten days and half a month, I have to replace it. Initially, I thought the young prince studied too diligently, using stationery excessively.”
“Now that I think about it, it does indeed stem from the local manufacturers being stagnant for too long, unwilling to innovate or improve quality, focusing only on how to make an outer appearance pleasing to the royals.”
“If the Communication Device allows direct ordering of quality stationery from outside, that would be quite convenient.” Huo Ningxue said slowly.
“In this case, we will follow your advice and lift the ban on the Communication Device starting today.”
Young Master Sang, frozen in shock, nodded unconsciously.
But in his heart, he still found it hard to believe: “Why, why did she trust me?”
“Good question.”
Nian Nian gave Young Master Sang a thumbs up and laughed, “Congratulations, you’ve discovered the key issue with Empress Huo Ningxue.”
“No need for 998, no need for 98, just 50,000 points to unlock~”
“You should just rob, you know!”
Fifty thousand points!
Young Master Sang, after completing so many main and side quests, had barely managed to accumulate just over 100,000 points.
And now you say it costs 50,000 just to get this answer?!
At this moment, however, Young Master Sang felt like he was halfway through taking a dump—miserable and awkward.
“Oh momma, please, just give me a discount.” Young Master Sang helplessly pleaded, “Fifty thousand is truly too expensive.”
Nian Nian seemed quite pleased with Young Master Sang’s reliance on her, the corners of her mouth subconsciously curling up: “Hmph.”
“Since you’ve sincerely requested, I shall mercifully grant you a streamlined version of the answer.”
“If you carefully look back at the segments in this book where the empress has appeared, you’ll notice one thing.”
“Why does the empress need to consult civil and military officials on everything? Why does she never blame her subordinates for her failures but instead attribute it all to herself? Why, after just a month without Li Shanyan, does she eagerly seek an acting national master?”
“Streamlined: Empress Huo Ningxue.”
“…she really is an idiot.”
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