Chapter 1 Palace

The Chang Le Palace in the Imperial Palace.

Facing Jiang Chen, the Empress Dowager Lu sat and said with a gratified smile, "It's good that Your Majesty knows what he's doing. Now this old one can rest assured."

"By the way, have those rebellious traitors been executed? Have their accomplices been arrested?"

"These kind of ambitious wolves must be eradicated completely, or the consequences will be endless!"

Hearing this, Jiang Chen stopped the jade chopsticks in his hand and glanced at Empress Dowager Lu with a complicated expression.

He said slowly, "Empress Dowager, please rest assured. I have already beheaded all those involved in the rebellion. As for Mei Wen Shi's accomplices, I am investigating them, and I believe there will be results in a few days."

A look of doubt flashed across Empress Dowager Lu's beautiful and dignified face, "Your Majesty, do you mean that the instigator of this rebellion is not just Mei Wen Shi?"

"Yes, there are several big fish behind Mei Wen Shi that I am investigating," Jiang Chen said plainly.

Empress Dowager Lu's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, but her expression quickly returned to normal. She nodded with relief and praised Jiang Chen a few times.

Then, she changed the subject and said, "Your Majesty, the reason why this old one invited you here today is to ask for a favor."

Here comes the main event!

Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow, a hint of vigilance flashing in his eyes, and said, "What is it, Empress Dowager? Tell me about it."

Without answering immediately, Empress Dowager Lu bit her red lip lightly and looked up at Jiang Chen with a hesitant expression.

That kind of well-controlled charm made people's minds wander.

Even though Jiang Chen knew it was wrong and that the woman in front of him might not be a good person, he couldn't help but be moved.

"Your Majesty, since you have asked, then this old one will speak frankly."

Empress Dowager Lu straightened her posture and said seriously, "You have been on the throne for so long, but none of the concubines in the harem are pregnant with a prince. How can this be?"

"A monarch without an heir is a major event that shakes the country!"

"When your father was your age, there were already seven or eight princes and princesses in the harem."

Hearing this, Jiang Chen was a little surprised. He didn't expect Empress Dowager Lu to be sincerely thinking of him.

Sighing, Empress Dowager Lu looked at Jiang Chen and said euphemistically, "This old one doesn't mean anything else, but just wants to ask Your Majesty, are the concubines in the harem not to your liking?"

Jiang Chen's expression softened a little, and he said, "Empress Dowager, I know what I'm doing when it comes to heirs, so don't worry about it."

"Besides, the ministers of the court are also watching this matter, and I take it very seriously."

Empress Dowager Lu glanced at Jiang Chen again, her movements exuding an indescribable charm.

"Take it seriously?"

"But this old one has heard that Your Majesty only favors Noble Consort Shu and Jieyu Liu, and the other concubines hardly receive your grace!"

"This old one has thought it through. We can no longer let Your Majesty do as you please. For the sake of the Great Wei, we must bring some new people into the harem."

"There are many unmarried young ladies in the aristocratic families of the imperial capital. This old one is preparing to have someone examine them and select twenty of the most outstanding women to bring into the palace to bear children for Your Majesty."

Jiang Chen frowned, "This matter is not urgent. I just lost two concubines, and I really have no interest in these aristocratic women."

Empress Dowager Lu was a little unwilling and was about to persuade him again.

But Jiang Chen interrupted her and said, "Empress Dowager, I have my own decisions regarding the matter of heirs, so please don't interfere anymore."

"Besides, there is no shortage of women in the palace, so there is no need to choose any more."

Jiang Chen's tone was majestic, with an unyielding coldness.

Seeing this, Empress Dowager Lu did not dare to disobey Jiang Chen's wishes any further and could only remain silent unwillingly.

Seeing that the atmosphere was a little tense, Jiang Chen picked up the serving chopsticks and took the initiative to put a piece of lychee meat in Empress Dowager Lu's bowl.

He said with concern, "Empress Dowager, let's eat first. I see that you have lost a lot of weight. You need to take good care of yourself."

Empress Dowager Lu was flattered and said with a soft smile, "Your Majesty too. You are busy with state affairs, so you must eat more."

About a quarter of an hour later, the two finished their dinner in a relaxed atmosphere.

Taking this opportunity, Jiang Chen suddenly probed, "Empress Dowager, I intend to hold a family banquet and invite a few of my imperial brothers and members of the imperial clan to gather in the palace. What do you think?"

Empress Dowager Lu's hand holding the tea trembled, and light-colored tea overflowed, wetting her jade fingers.

"This, this old one naturally agrees, but the palace rules are strict. The princes and members of the imperial clan can only enter the palace during the annual ancestral sacrifices. Your Majesty should not break this rule, lest it cause controversy in the court."

Jiang Chen noticed her abnormality, but he couldn't be completely sure. After all, spilling tea was also a common occurrence and couldn't represent anything.

He got up and handed Empress Dowager Lu a handkerchief, wanting to observe her up close.

But Empress Dowager Lu declined in fear, not daring to trouble Jiang Chen, the emperor.

Just as the two were pulling at each other, Jiang Chen had completely walked in front of Empress Dowager Lu, and this angle allowed him to see Empress Dowager Lu's snowy and enchanting scenery!

The looming roundness, constantly trembling with the owner's breathing, directly stunned him on the spot.

This, this is too big!

Moreover, judging from the outside, the snowy white firmness and pink moistness were not inferior to those of young women like Noble Consort Shu.

Feeling the burning gaze on her body, Empress Dowager Lu's pretty face instantly changed color.

The beauty on her face was gone, replaced by deep coldness and deeply hidden shame: "Your Majesty, this is Chang Le Palace. This old one is your elder, and I hope you will pay attention to your words and actions!"

As she spoke, the majesty of an empress dowager was revealed, making people dare not look directly at her.

Jiang Chen retracted his gaze, his expression a little embarrassed.

"Cough, it's getting late, I'll go back first. Empress Dowager, take care of your health. I'll come to see you again another day."

After saying that, Jiang Chen left directly.

He didn't get anything out of the probing, but instead made a fool of himself.

He didn't mean to do it just now. Besides, in that kind of situation, any man would take a few glances, right?

It wasn't until Jiang Chen's figure completely disappeared from Chang Le Palace that the anger on Empress Dowager Lu's face subsided, and she returned to her calm.

Her heart was not as indignant as she had shown just now.

Having been in the palace for many years, this small matter was not enough to shake her will.

The reason she pretended to be like this was entirely to make the emperor relax his vigilance and reduce his wariness of her.

However, thinking of Jiang Chen's frivolous appearance just now, a look of disdain appeared on Empress Dowager Lu's beautiful face.

She murmured coldly, "Mei Ruo Ying, you couldn't even hold onto such a fatuous and lustful person. The Mei family was completely destroyed, so you can't blame others."

...

Ten days later.

Under Jiang Chen's dispatch, the Great Wei court finally returned to normal.

At the same time, on this day, the new tax law revised by Jiang Chen took effect and spread throughout the states and prefectures of the country.

In order to reduce the burden on the people.

This tax law lightened the agricultural tax, increased the commercial tax, and even specially reduced the tax for one year in several poor and disaster-stricken states.

As soon as this law was promulgated, the poor people of Great Wei were overjoyed. Many families even set up longevity tablets for Jiang Chen.

They hoped that this wise monarch who cherished the people would live a long life and rule the country for a few more years.

"Your Majesty, with the new law, your reputation among the people has greatly improved!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, many aristocratic families, in order to distance themselves from the rebellious traitors such as Mei Wen Shi, have taken the initiative to pay for writing biographies for you!"

In the Qin Zheng Hall, the ministers were all smiles, complimenting Jiang Chen.

But there was not much joy on Jiang Chen's face.

At the moment, he was still facing a difficult problem...