Free Web NovelChapter 1258: Chapter 1225: Resigning from Office (Part 3)
The Little Emperor’s eyes lit up as he heard this, and his drooping head instantly lifted, his whole body brimming with enthusiasm and excitement, "Really?"
Zhao Hanzhang nodded with a smile, "Really."
The Emperor was overjoyed, disregarding his status, he repeatedly said, "I thank the Great General for your thoughtfulness."
Seeing the Little Emperor smile until his eyes narrowed, his entire demeanor was like a different person from before. Not only Zhao Cheng, but the other court officials also understood this.
What he earned through his own efforts is completely different from what everyone else has.
The officials watched the excited Little Emperor, and they could already imagine how he would relax himself after receiving an hour of break each day;
The common people who could only do hard labor, how would they happily arrange their money after receiving the wages issued by the court through their efforts?
The shrewd officials had already thought of another layer. They glanced at the composed Zhao Hanzhang, then at the gleefully naive Little Emperor, thinking to themselves: Zhao Hanzhang was beginning to reduce the Little Emperor’s time and power in dealing with political affairs. When would she completely replace the Little Emperor?
Zu Ti also threw a meaningful glance at the Little Emperor, with a slight curl at the corner of his mouth.
After the palace banquet dispersed, when Zhao Hanzhang was walking towards the palace gates, she saw Zhao Cheng walking ahead of her, head bowed and deep in thought, walking very slowly, even though she had stayed behind and talked with the Little Emperor for a long time.
Thinking he hadn’t figured it out yet, she approached and said, "Uncle Cheng, the private estates of court officials also have to pay taxes. This year the national treasury is empty, if I told the officials I couldn’t pay their salaries and could only exempt them from the corresponding taxes, do you think they would agree?"
Still immersed in his own thoughts, Zhao Cheng didn’t think carefully, impulsively saying, "How could that be? If the treasury is truly out of money, it can owe it for now, but this method cannot be used, otherwise..."
Zhao Cheng stopped mid-sentence, realizing Zhao Hanzhang’s metaphor, and pursed his lips, saying, "You clearly have a better metaphor you didn’t use, why did you use Your Majesty as an example?"
Zhao Hanzhang: "What do you think, Uncle Cheng?"
Zhao Cheng looked around, seeing only the two of them on the long palace road, with guards standing ten steps apart on both sides. He was certain, even if he misspoke, the words wouldn’t get out; everyone on this palace road must be her people.
Zhao Cheng sighed and said, "Your Majesty is just a very ordinary child, indeed not possessing high intelligence, nor ambition, or strategic talents, but he has never harbored ill intentions."
Zhao Hanzhang said, "I will treat him kindly."
After a moment of silence, Zhao Cheng said, "He has some talent in music."
Zhao Hanzhang: "I have a pipa at home, named Thunderclap, I’ll give it to Your Majesty."
Zhao Cheng said nothing further.
Few knew, the Little Emperor’s favorite instrument was not the guqin often placed in the hall, but the pipa. He occasionally played it in music lessons, but mostly played the guqin, and all the teachers said the Little Emperor’s guqin playing was excellent.
Zhao Cheng guessed he liked the pipa after seeing the Little Emperor searching for pipa sheet music.
If Zhao Hanzhang, who was overwhelmed with state affairs, could notice the Little Emperor’s true preference, she either had someone very trustworthy and smart by her side, or she herself usually paid very close attention to the Little Emperor.
Zhao Cheng walked silently onward, unable to resist saying as he got into the carriage, "I want to resign from my position and travel."
Zhao Hanzhang took the reins from Zeng Yue’s hands, turned her head to look at Zhao Cheng, who had one foot on the carriage step, and after looking at him for a moment, nodded and said, "Okay."
Zhao Cheng exhaled a breath, then boarded the carriage with the driver’s hand.
Zhao Hanzhang also mounted her horse, riding behind the carriage until she escorted Zhao Cheng’s carriage back to the Zhao Mansion. After watching his carriage enter, she turned her horse back home.
Upon entering the gate, Zhao Hanzhang tossed the reins to her trusted aide, waved to Zeng Yue, and strode towards the backyard.
Because it was almost New Year, Ting He had many red lanterns hung in the yard. To save lamp oil, only every few lanterns were lit, and extinguished when she returned.
But at this moment, all the lanterns in the yard were lit, and shadows were moving around the yard.
Walking in with a puzzled look, the person who had their back to her in the yard turned around upon hearing footsteps, smiled upon seeing her, "Back?"
Her footsteps paused, looking at him in surprise, "When did you come back?"
Fu Tinghan: "I’ve been back for two hours, you were at the palace banquet, so I didn’t want to disturb you."
He looked her up and down, then went forward to take her hand, leading her into the house, "Go bathe first, otherwise it’ll get too cold."
Zhao Hanzhang obediently went.
After bathing and changing into her clothes, sitting cross-legged on the bed, Fu Tinghan asked her, "Not feeling well?"
The annoyance from when she returned had long dissipated, Zhao Hanzhang replied, "No, I feel quite good now."
