Do Not Offend the Reborn Wicked Wife

Chapter 881: Chapter 881: Empress Dowager Li’s Revenge

"Seventeenth brother, what do you plan to do next?"

Leaving the dungeon, Qi Junyi asked Li Qingmu about his next move.

"What else can I do? Naturally, I will report their crimes to the court and let the court handle it. Also, request some people from the court to fill the vacancies of officials here."

Thinking of the officials in the dungeon, Qi Junyi couldn’t help but have a headache. "Seventeenth brother, so many officials, it’s not possible to replenish them all at once, right?"

"It’s impossible, but it still needs to be done. Besides, why not? How many students participate in the imperial exams each year? How many become Scholars, Jinshi, and more? Yet, how many of them are idle at home? We can put them to use."

Dazhou has been established for hundreds of years, holding exams every three years. Though few pass, over many exams, it’s accumulated quite a number.

However, the good positions are often occupied for over ten, even decades, so what should those newly graduated Scholars and Jinshi do?

Actually, many people who pass the Scholar and Jinshi exams can become clerks and minor officials, but there are too few good positions to allocate to them.

This time, after dealing with this group of corrupt officials and allocating those idle Scholars and Jinshi, I guess the common folk will be clapping with joy?

Li Qingmu thought of this and chuckled softly.

Qi Junyi felt his scalp tingle; had his seventeenth brother anticipated all this? So he didn’t have any mental burden about arresting those officials?

But, wasn’t he worried that the newcomers would clash with the existing people and cause trouble?

Qi Junyi voiced his doubts, and Li Qingmu simply shook his head gently: "They won’t. Those people, given new assignments, will be grateful and naturally won’t abuse this hard-earned position. As for the original ones, with precedents before them, why would they act recklessly?"

Furthermore, they hadn’t been corrupt with Liu Hui and others before, which speaks to their character, worthy of affirmation."

Uh...

After hearing Li Qingmu’s explanation, Qi Junyi suddenly felt a bit foolish.

Yes, despite their new and old relations, a little patience would go a long way, and they would definitely adjust to one another.

Thinking this way, the idea seemed feasible.

So, Li Qingmu devised the handling method for Qi Junyi, who went off to implement it.

Shengjing City, the Imperial Palace.

In Lixiu Palace, Empress Dowager Li listened to her people’s report, her face turning unsightly.

"In the end, he’s still uneasy about me, actually sending his most beloved son along with Consort Zhen’s son to test me? Hmph, I may not be able to deal with Princess Consort Yun, but Consort Zhen, am I supposed to fear her?"

Empress Dowager Li said this and revealed a sinister smile!

The mother and son, Qi Junmu, one in Beiyuan Palace, serving the Supreme Emperor; of course, who serves whom, it’s uncertain.

As for Qi Junmu, with his exceptional martial arts skills and being the Regent King, the main issue is, now that he’s outside, she cannot intervene.

Qi Junyi serves the Supreme Emperor’s orders, even if his handling of matters is inappropriate, it should be the Supreme Emperor to reprimand him. If she intervenes, the Supreme Emperor would trust her even less.

When the Supreme Emperor passes, she might even be made to accompany him in death!

She wouldn’t want to be remembered in such a way.

However, this time Qi Junyi independently mobilized the army, which has indeed touched the bottom line for the Emperor and her, so even under the Supreme Emperor’s orders, it’s unacceptable!

She couldn’t swallow this indignation and had to vent it properly!

"Someone, spread the word that the flowers in the back garden have bloomed, and I wish to entertain the concubines of each palace, inviting them all over to chat, haven’t seen them for quite some time."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

A palace maid bowed and then left.

Soon after, a banquet was set up in the back garden, and the palace concubines gathered, chatting and laughing together.

Most of these palace concubines were Qi Yun’s concubines, and since he had run off with Rong Si, these palace concubines were left feeling bored, doing nothing useful in the Imperial Palace every day.

Without the previous competition for favor, as a result, the relationships among these women have surprisingly improved.

Every day, they chatted about various things, and now, with Empress Dowager Li’s invitation to gather, they truly began talking.

Moreover, looking at their smiling faces, they actually seemed quite happy!

Seeing this scene, Empress Dowager Li’s face turned colder.

As expected, they were all women with no ambition!

All abandoned by their men, yet still looking so content?

Shouldn’t they be on the other side cursing Rong Si with a bitter end?

She indeed had no common language with these foolish women!

Thinking this, Empress Dowager Li’s heart grew even more uncomfortable.

At that moment, she saw Consort Zhen walking in the distance, her eyes flickered, and she slowly stood up and walked over.

"Sister is here, please come in!"

Empress Dowager Li, who usually gave a rather aloof impression, surprisingly greeted with such politeness that Consort Zhen felt flattered and immediately bowed, "You’re too gracious, sister, I am undeserving."

"Sister speaks too modestly. After all, we’ve been sisters for many years, didn’t we? Back then, it was thanks to sister that I managed to get by when I first entered the palace!"

This was indeed true; many years ago, when Empress Dowager Li first entered the palace, Consort Zhen had helped her several times, but those were events from a very long time ago.

Besides, nowadays, even fathers and children could become estranged, let alone a little kindness; there were plenty of ungrateful people out there.

But Consort Zhen thought Empress Dowager Li genuinely remembered the kindness and laughed, "Sister, it’s dangerous in the palace; helping each other is only natural. I’m happy that sister remembers!"

"Please, have a seat!"

Empress Dowager Li smiled amiably, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.

Consort Zhen, noticing the slight delay, finally sat down with a thud.

Soon, tea and snacks were brought out by palace maids, followed by entertainers from the Music Bureau who began their performances, playing instruments and inviting a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere.

"Woof Woof, Woof Woof!"

"Ahhhh—"

Just as the palace concubines were thoroughly enjoying themselves, a dog’s bark suddenly rang out, followed by a shriek from a palace concubine.

Everyone looked towards the sound and saw a small dog, all white with a circle of black fur around its neck, emerging from nowhere, aggressively barking and attacking a palace concubine, stretching out its claws to bite her.

The concubine screamed loudly, plowing into the crowd with disheveled hairpins and adornments, looking very disheveled.

"Crash!"

"Crack!"

The concubine ran around the table, and the dog leaped onto it, knocking over a table of snacks and dishes, causing the surrounding palace concubines to scream repeatedly.

This place suddenly became chaotic!

"Woof Woof, Woof Woof!"

"Ah, someone help stop it!"

"Crack!"

Amidst the commotion, the dog suddenly bared its teeth and lunged towards the right, heading straight for Consort Zhen’s position!

"Oh dear, sister, be careful!"

Seeing this, Empress Dowager Li shouted loudly.