Chapter 2 Is the Female Emperor a Negligent Ruler?
"Well, reading leads to both wealth and beauty... The plight of the refugees is not something outsiders need to concern themselves with. It\'s enough for our family to know; just be sure not to spread it around."
Seeing their astonishment, Gu Lan realized he had inadvertently revealed some " Mysteries."
However, his pretext was not unreasonable.
After all, recounting the "book" of this world was akin to narrating the books he had read himself!
The reason for caution was to prevent outsiders from raising suspicions... It didn\'t matter if the family knew, but attracting unnecessary attention could be troublesome.
Mu Yuyan\'s eyes flickered, and after a moment of restraint from delving further into her curiosity, she nodded slightly.
Liu Yexi, seeing that the Female Emperor did not inquire, could only bow her head and eat her food as her role as a maid dictated.
On the contrary, Old Yang wiped his mouth at this moment, his face full of dissatisfaction, saying,
"Alas, the female Emperor lacks virtue, and heaven\'s wrath has fallen!"
"In my opinion, our current female Emperor is playing poorly. The ministers in the court are all capable of governing, but they\'ve ended up with a ruler who is obsessed with seeking immortality and cultivation every day!"
As these words were uttered, Liu Yexi nearly dropped the chopsticks she had just picked up!
Hastily glancing at Mu Yuyan, she saw her calmly enjoying the dishes, a delicate smile on her exquisite face, showing no signs of concern.
Only her knuckles gradually turned a bit pale...
"Ahem!" Liu Yexi coughed, wanting to change the topic.
However, Gu Lan patted Old Yang on the shoulder, saying, "Didn\'t I tell you not to drink fake wine, Old Yang? Slandering the current female Emperor may be acceptable within our circle, but how many heads in our residence would be chopped off when your words reach the female Emperor?
Mu Yuyan: "..."
Liu Yexi: "..."
"So what? I\'m not afraid of that negligent ruler!"
Old Yang, coming from the bottom, obviously harbored long-standing grievances against the current regime. Fueled by the effects of alcohol, he continued, "Since the female Emperor ascended to the throne, she has secluded herself in the deep palace for cultivation, ignoring political matters. This is something known to all commoners. How can it be considered slander?"
"If it weren\'t for the ministers left behind by the late emperor supporting her, who knows what state the country would be in now!"
After hearing this speech, Mu Yuyan\'s expression became somewhat unpleasant.
Although she knew that Old Yang was just a commoner at the bottom of society, ignorant of the truths of the court, and unaware of how much she had sacrificed for the continuation of the nation, carrying such a reputation and being criticized by the masses would inevitably be distressing to anyone!
Liu Yexi looked at the female Emperor with pity, then fiercely glared at Old Yang!
Old Yang was puzzled.
At this moment, Gu Lan suddenly spoke and broke the silence in the room: "Old Yang, rumors in the streets are not trustworthy. In fact, the current female Emperor is not as you imagine her to be."
"If... our Emperor is considered a negligent ruler, then I\'m afraid there have been very few wise rulers from the founding of Jing Nation until now."
Gu Lan finished speaking and leisurely took a sip of tea.
Old Yang\'s face was full of confusion.
However, suddenly, a pair of beautiful eyes beside him gained a radiant expression!
"Why does Master Gu defend the female Emperor?" Mu Yuyan pretended to be puzzled, but her lips curled up slightly, a hint of sweetness lingering in her heart.
It was said that scholars often criticize emperors to gain a reputation, but Master Gu rose unsullied from mud! Full of righteousness, he had no trace of the usual cynicism of literati!
Fortunately, the young master is different... Liu Yexi also breathed a sigh of relief, a smile on her face.
However!
Gu Lan\'s subsequent explanation made their smiles freeze directly!
"Natural disasters and man-made calamities are not due to the lack of virtue in the female Emperor, but because the fortune of Great Jing has gradually declined."
"The Female Emperor appears to ignore court affairs, but in reality, all commands are issued by her through the hands of some old ministers and dukes. It\'s just that everyone is unaware!"
"The female Emperor\'s cultivation in the deep palace is just a façade. She has left the palace long ago... seeking a way to rescue the fate of the country!"
Gu Lan casually placed the teacup on the table and smiled as he finished speaking, .
The room fell into complete silence!
From the beginning, Mu Yuyan was only slightly shocked when she heard "the decline of the country\'s fortune." However, it wasn\'t until Gu Lan mentioned that the Emperor had long left the palace that she was utterly dumbfounded!
Liu Yexi was even more dumbfounded!
If Gu Lan knowing about the severe drought in the southern region before could be considered a coincidence, this time was definitely not!
Because what the old supervisor said about the "Emperor enters the mundane world" was something only the female Emperor herself and two close female attendants knew about!
None of the court ministers were aware!
It could be said that this was the top secret of Great Jing!
How did Master Gu know about it? Could he read such information from books?!
No, he has known something. Does he already know who I was, but he didn\'t reveal it... Mu Yuyan became nervous with the mind in chaos.
Looking at Gu Lan\'s handsome face at this moment, she increasingly felt that he already knew the depths of her secrets, while she remained clueless about his.
After a long time, Mu Yuyan tentatively spoke, "Master Gu... do you know where the female Emperor has gone to seek a solution?"
Gu Lan turned his face and looked into her beautiful eyes like bright moons.
He shook his head.
"I don\'t know."
Gu Lan knew a lot about the character settings in this world because the novel had already covered it in the opening.
As for later developments such as the fate of the female Emperor, that book had not yet been written.
Phew~
Hearing his serious response, Mu Yuyan gradually loosened the grip on her jade-like hand that was clutching her sleeve.
Apparently, he hasn\'t found out who I am...
Fortunately, the identity of the Majesty has not been exposed; otherwise, the efforts made in the past six months in the secular world would have been in vain... Liu Yexi followed with a sigh.
"Hehe, the story that the young master told is even more enjoyable than that of the storyteller hired in the teahouse. It almost got me, hehe..."
Old Yang, realizing the situation, chuckled.
Of course, he didn\'t think it was true; how could his young master know so much!
He considered it as the young master making up stories to please the lady.
"Old Yang, ah, go and light some charcoal, rest early." Gu Lan was a bit speechless, and waved his hand, not intending to keep this old bull around to listen to them.
After he left, Mu Yuyan pondered for a moment and asked curiously, "Master Gu,you know so much about the court affairs. Do you know how to rescue our Great Jing?"
"If you were the emperor, what would you do next?"
She supported her chin with her jade-like hand, and when she spoke, the urgency from her heart added a bit of cuteness.
On the surface, it seemed like she just wanted to hear Gu Lan tell a story.
In reality, a hint of cunning was hidden in her peach blossom-like bright eyes!
The female Emperor\'s stunning beauty combined with her charming voice, who could resist?
My wife is so nice... Gu Lan felt delighted in his heart, sighing at the beauty of this otherworldly realm!
Isn\'t the supporting role important?
Even if I can\'t show off in front of those big shots, it\'s still enjoyable to play the part at home for the wife!
On the side, Liu Yexi, witnessing the Female Emperor coquettishly talking to a man for the first time, had his pupils shaking!
Damn, showing affection in front of me... is this still the female Emperor who is dignified and decisive in court?
If those aristocratic sons who admire Mu Yuyan see this scene, I don\'t know how many petals of their hearts will shatter!
Liu Yexi was in a daze for a while. Meanwhile, Gu Lan, in the hopeful gaze of the female Emperor, began to narrate, "Since my lady wants to hear, let\'s start with the recent severe drought in the southern border..."