Kapitel 24: 24. Clean up the ministers
Days passed. Even weeks passed and the drought became the worst ever in their country's history.
In front of the Emperor stood reports from all sides of the country. ''Interesting... these reports.''
He took one report and with precision hit Left minister Tang Lao. ''You killed of two famous families just after I proclaimed my wish to reinstate their properties in fear I would take your properties away. Not bringing them here, killed them! Not only you did that, but you also raped their women and then let your men on them as well. On top of that, you even cut their heads off and threw their bodies in the forest so their bodies should be eaten by animals. Guards!''
A bunch of guards surrounded the shaking man. ''Bring him and every family member of his and pin them alive to the outer walls of the city. Write next to them why I did this. His men will be given the task to find every single bone in the entire forest and a mass grave will be put on. The monks will go there to pray for their souls to calm down. Your property, ALL property will be confiscated. Stop. Before you pin them on the outer wall rub, some sweet water over them.''
The minister started begging for mercy while he was dragged away, but soldiers still were in the room what made the rest of ministers giddy.
He smiled at them. ''I am not for any reason called an unreasonable bastard by all of you.''
In his hands were more reports. ''Minister of revenue, minister of outer affairs, minister...'' He started calling their names and they had to come in front of him shaking with pale faces. Over twenty names were called.
''You all pulled your strings to harm commoners in any way you could. You will be released of your duties and will be sent as normal officials to the outer regions. If you prove yourself and work hard, I might bring you back. If not, I will just send someone to kill you and your families. Understood?'' His words were cold and as his expression got darker as he threw the reports at their heads.
The soldiers escorted them out and now he looked at the tallest pile and turned his head towards them. ''You do your job properly, but I guess you people have too many women in your household or you think of me as a promiscuous horse. Do I look like a mating animal?''
He threw the books with the beauties that the ministers recommended. They stepped back as the pictures were flying everywhere.
''From today on, I will send all the concubines out. It seems not even one of them was the one that should be my empress, as the drought is getting worse. This time I will choose one myself. I don't care. If I think she can save my people even if she has six arms and a beard, I will marry her and have an heir with her. My preference doesn't matter. The monk told me he will search for her approximate location. When I find out where she might be, I'll just dismiss all women and the one that is chosen by gods will become my next empress.'' He just sat down heavily and patted his chest.
''Please don't say any word. That woman, no matter her background will become the mother of the country. If any of you disrespect her in any way, I will kill nine generations of your family. And you all know, I really will.'' His eyes were red from tiredness and black patches around his eyes showed he didn't have any rest for days.
One of the ministers came closer and bowed deeply. ''Sir, what if that woman is already married?''
The Emperor looked at him cynically. ''You better no talk to me. Didn't you kill a few husbands just to get their wives to become your concubines? They accepted only after you promised them to care about their children and support their future lives.''
The right minister Cho Ling was stunned. He was actually very low key. Those women were simple farmer women and he found them pleasing to his eyes. How did the Emperor find out? He paled realizing the situation.
''Emperor...'' he went on his knees when he saw the expression on his face getting icier.
''If she is married I will ask her to divorce her husband and marry me for the sake of our country. If she is a widow I will do my best to be good to her family and if she is a foreigner I will give her status and include her family into my own family line. For the sake of my country, I am willing to do it all. No matter if she is a young woman or an old grandma. If she is able to save my country from disappearing, I will accept her and respect her completely.'' He couldn't kill all of them, but some punishment has to be.
''For your atrocity, I will give them a choice. If they chose not to live as your concubines anymore and go back to their children, I will give them noble names and property. You, on the other hand, will have to pay your idiocy with five years of service as a lower minister in outer affairs and your doings will be rechecked after that. You will be forbidden to take in any further concubines. All those that choose to leave you, you would have to provide enough money for them to live for the rest of their days and property where they can live on. If I hear of some strange sudden deaths of your concubines, I might as well give you sudden death as well. '' He just waved his hand and two soldiers picked up the minister and dragged him out.
He silently sat on his throne at first, making the rest of ministers scared but then began to speak with the low tone. ''There is no lie that doesn't come up sooner or later. If you did something wrong in your households, you better take care of them. If I hear you mistreating your women and servants, you might as well write the resignations yourself. Or I will definitely do it for you.''
His words seemed calm but actually hit like a bomb in the crowd. Who from them is completely clean? After that he let them go back to their work, while he took a small nap in the side room.
Before closing his eyes, he called for his guard. ''Xiao Mo.''
Suddenly one man appeared next to the bed. ''Did you check on her? Soon she will need to handle many things here in the palace. I need her to be healthy and save.''
''Sir. I went there today and young doctor Zhao no now he is doctor Heng came to visit her. But that small servant of hers just sent him away not even letting him get close to her mistress. That child is interesting.'' He could clearly see a foxy little smile on that girl's face when she sent him away.
The Emperor smiled lightly. ''Be careful. That child has a poisonous tongue that even older servants avoided her in the palace. If she chooses to protect the future Empress, you all will be dead not knowing what happened to you.''
His guard was stunned. He was training since he was almost a baby. How can a small girl like her be so dangerous?
''You probably don't know that Xiao Ran has a special ability and the strongest inner energy I ever felt. She could literally obliterate half of my army and we wouldn't be able even to touch a small hair on her head.'' He was completely aware of that child's powers. But as it seems that child truly has a thing for Liu Mei.
He closed his eyes and fell asleep with a smile on his face, while his guard was shocked and thought about the tiny body of that child. How can someone so tiny be so dangerous?
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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Rangliste 
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Stein