Chapter 45: A Wager at Court

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire imperial court froze in place, with everyone casting their gazes toward Ning Chen.

The Empress Dowager furrowed her brows even deeper, looking at Ning Chen with suspicion.

What is this little good-for-nothing up to now?

Yesterday he went on and on with a lengthy speech in the court, and today is he going to cause another scene?

Just like the Empress Dowager, all the court officials shared the exact same thought.

Though they had initially been startled by Ning Chen’s sudden outburst, moments later, led by Zhao Siwen, the officials' expressions were once again filled with utter disdain.

Zhao Siwen even laughed out of sheer exasperation. After being publicly and severely berated by the young emperor yesterday, this little good-for-nothing was actually trying the same stunt again today.

Thus, he muttered inwardly to himself:

You little good-for-nothing!

What can you do besides roaring in impotent rage?

Yesterday you were so righteous, so awe-inspiring, and even proposed such an extraordinary strategy.

But what was the result?

Wasn't your proposal dismissed by a single imperial decree from the Empress Dowager, who sent Prime Minister Song Guozhong north to sue for peace instead?

A puppet is nothing more than a puppet after all; it is the Empress Dowager who calls the shots in the court of Great Ning!

With this thought in mind, he said disdainfully, "Your Majesty, you might as well just listen quietly. These measures are the collective result of all the ministers deliberating together, and this is the true capability required to govern a country!"

As soon as Zhao Siwen finished speaking, several other officials headed by him chimed in immediately. "Indeed. Your Majesty is young and hot-tempered, lacking a sense of propriety in speech, but we ministers hold no grudge against you!"

"However, for you to say that we ministers are hoping for the early demise of Great Ning is simply laughable!"

"We are all subjects of Great Ning, born as its people and dying as its loyal souls; how could any of us ever wish for the early destruction of Great Ning?"

"Your Majesty, you should just stay put obediently. If you have any ideas, wait until Your Majesty takes personal control of the government!"

"Your Majesty is still a long way from taking the reins of government yourself. You should first calm down, study diligently, cure that youthful and hot-headed flaw of yours, and stop being so ambitious yet incapable..."

Seeing that the officials' attitudes were becoming increasingly contemptuous, even the Empress Dowager felt it was somewhat inappropriate. She gave a light cough and said, "Mind your language, all of you!"

"Although His Majesty is young, do not forget that he is the Son of Heaven of our Great Ning!"

This mild and painless reprimand made the officials shut their mouths, but there was not a shred of fear on their faces, let alone any awe or respect toward Ning Chen as the emperor!

"Chen'er, *Aijia* knows you are still angry about the Empress Mother agreeing yesterday to send envoys north to seek peace, but this is a decision made after weighing the pros and cons!"

The Empress Dowager assumed the persona of a loving mother offering earnest advice:

"*Aijia* also knows you feel these measures will make life too harsh for the common people, and *Aijia* is worried too, but these are extraordinary times!"

"If we cannot get past this hurdle with Great Jin, our Great Ning Dynasty will be in extreme peril. Didn't Lord Zhao say so? Once we successfully get through these next few years and eventually retake Shanhai Pass, the taxes will be reduced!"

"What you said just now was indeed a bit too much. Be a good boy, Chen'er, and apologize to the ministers. They will still continue to assist you wholeheartedly..."

Just as she was speaking, Ning Chen suddenly burst into a loud laugh and said, "Later? When is 'later'?"

"Could it be that we must wait until every single commoner of Great Ning starves to death, until all our people rise up in rebellion?"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of everyone in the court changed instantly, and a fierce glint flashed in the Empress Dowager's eyes.

Just as she was about to speak, Ning Chen cut her off again preemptively. "Empress Mother, Your Son understands everything you have said, and the Imperial Tutor has also taught Your Son that special circumstances require special measures!"

"But the problem is, Great Ning has already suffered consecutive natural disasters over the past few years, and now we have just agreed to Great Jin's terms, ignominiously sending the Prime Minister north to sue for peace. If we immediately impose such heavy taxes on the people right now, how could the common people possibly endure it?"

"If they cannot survive, they will inevitably rise in armed rebellion, and by then Great Jin will certainly seize the opportunity to launch a massive invasion. Then Great Ning will truly be finished..."

Meanwhile, Zhao Siwen suddenly interrupted with a sneer, "Your Majesty's words are greatly exaggerated. If the armies of Great Ning cannot defeat Great Jin, surely they can still suppress those rebellious peasants within our own borders..."

Unexpectedly, Ning Chen refused to yield an inch. He immediately stepped forward and shouted angrily, "I am speaking with the Empress Mother! Is there any place for the likes of you to butt in?"

"You may disrespect Me, but do you still have any regard for My Empress Mother in your eyes?!"

At these words, Zhao Siwen instantly froze in place.

It was true; he had never taken Ning Chen seriously at all. But interrupting the Empress Dowager—that was a completely different matter.

Thus, he could only close his mouth, burning with anger and frustration, while cursing inwardly: *You little good-for-nothing, go ahead and be arrogant. This old man will see just how much longer you can act wildly; sooner or later, you will be deposed!*

The Empress Dowager could not help frowning either, and the look she directed at Ning Chen was suddenly filled with a sense of complete unfamiliarity.

If yesterday's outburst could be attributed to the shock of Great Jin's invasion, which made Ning Chen so agitated, then today, even after she, the Empress Dowager, had personally stepped in to soothe him, he still refused to concede even a single step!

Even if the old tutor had taught him true statecraft, where did this temper of his grow from as well?

It even faintly carried the domineering aura of a true monarch!

Just as the Empress Dowager was harboring her doubts, Zhao Siwen seemed to have figured out a way to refute Ning Chen. He sneered, and calmly said, "It is indeed commendable that Your Majesty can empathize with the sufferings of the common people!"

"However, the problem is: if we do not increase taxes, how is Great Ning supposed to satisfy the tribute demanded by Great Jin?"

"How are we to resolve the emptiness of the imperial treasury? How can we maintain the normal operation of the Great Ning imperial court and palace?"

"Since Your Majesty objects to the measures proposed by this old minister and the others, then I must ask Your Majesty to come up with a solution instead!"

"Knowing only how to object while failing to produce any solutions is the behavior of a mere ignorant child!"

Ning Chen let out a cold laugh. "Of course I have a solution!"

The Empress Dowager furrowed her brows. "What solution does Your Imperial Son have?"

Ning Chen immediately bowed to the Empress Dowager, speaking every word with firm determination. "Your Son cannot reveal the method just yet, but as long as the Empress Mother grants Your Son half a year, Your Son can not only fill the empty imperial treasury, but also guarantee the annual tribute to Great Jin!"

The Empress Dowager was momentarily stunned, and then she actually laughed out loud, continuing to play the part of the doting mother. "My Imperial Son, we are talking about millions, or even tens of millions of taels of silver; this is no child's play!"

"You must still consider this carefully..."

Before her voice had even faded, Zhao Siwen chimed in impatiently, "Good, very good!"

As he spoke, he also bowed to the Empress Dowager and said with a stern expression, "Your Majesty, since His Majesty is so certain, this old minister is also very much looking forward to it!"

"Why not let His Majesty have a try? Since His Majesty was able to propose those strategic plans yesterday, presumably he has his own unique insights when it comes to making money!"

At this point, Zhao Siwen cast another sneering look at Ning Chen.

"This old minister believes Your Majesty can achieve it, especially since doing so would also spare the common people from suffering."

"However, just as the Empress Dowager said, this is after all no child's play, and empty words carry no weight. Would Your Majesty be willing to make a wager with this minister?"

"Oh? What kind of wager does Lord Zhao want Me to make?" Ning Chen sneered.

Zhao Siwen replied, "Let us set a deadline of half a year. If Your Majesty fails to achieve what you just claimed, then..."

At this juncture, a fierce, malevolent light flashed in Zhao Siwen's eyes.

"Then I must ask Your Majesty to voluntarily abdicate the throne!"

As soon as these words were uttered, a wave of chaotic murmurs erupted across the entire court.

The Empress Dowager was also left in a daze; she had never expected Zhao Siwen to utter such words.

She initially wanted to open her mouth to stop him, but upon second thought, it might actually be for the better if Ning Chen stepped down voluntarily. At least her reputation as a "virtuous empress dowager" would remain intact.

Wasn't it precisely to preserve her reputation as a "virtuous empress dowager" that she had originally declared that the emperor would never be deposed?

Furthermore, this matter was strictly between the little good-for-nothing Ning Chen and the court officials; it had nothing to do with her.

Even if people across the world cursed, the blame could never fall on her head!

Even if those political rivals wanted to target her over this, they would lack any rightful pretext!

Therefore, adopting a wait-and-see attitude, she happily turned into a spectator enjoying the drama.

While the Empress Dowager was lost in her own thoughts, Zhao Siwen had already turned around to glance at the officials standing behind him.

The group led by him immediately stepped forward in unison to echo his sentiment. "Indeed! Since it is a wager, there must be stakes!"

"If Your Majesty fails to fill the emptiness of the treasury and fails to raise the required tribute for Great Jin, then please abdicate the throne immediately!"

Upon seeing this, the corners of the Empress Dowager's mouth curled up slightly, and the gaze she cast toward Ning Chen was filled with utter contempt:

Ning Chen, oh Ning Chen, you are nothing more than a nine-year-old good-for-nothing after all!

Even with Confucius himself teaching you, you are still destined to amount to nothing!

If you dare not accept the wager and beg *Aijia*, *Aijia* can help you call off this bet. Anyway, *Aijia* is not in a hurry to depose you right now.

Besides, you probably don't have long to live anyway...

Unexpectedly, just as the Empress Dowager was thinking this, Ning Chen let out two hearty laughs. Although the voice was still that of a nine-year-old child, his tone and demeanor were already those of a true sovereign!

"Very well!"

"I accept this wager, with the Empress Mother and all the ministers present in court as my witnesses!"

As soon as these words dropped, the imperial court instantly erupted into an uproar!

Has the young emperor gone mad?

He is simply ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth...

Ning Chen, however, stared straight at Zhao Siwen and said in a deep voice, "But if I succeed, what will be Lord Zhao's stake in this wager?"

Zhao Siwen was momentarily stunned. He had never considered what his own stake should be, because in his mind, it was an absolute fantasy that Ning Chen—a nine-year-old good-for-nothing—could accomplish this within half a year, even with the aid of immortals!

Thus, he stammered, "This, this..."

Just as Zhao Siwen was pondering, Ning Chen spoke again in a profound, resonant tone: "If I succeed, it will prove that you, the Minister of Revenue, are nothing more than a parasite who only knows how to squeeze the common people, a good-for-nothing who eats the imperial stipend for doing nothing!"

"If I succeed, then you, Zhao Siwen, shall commit suicide by your own hand to atone for your crimes before the realm..."

Hearing this, Zhao Siwen froze in place once again.

He never imagined that this nine-year-old child would be so vicious as to demand his very life!

Yet, how could he possibly lose?

Such a massive amount of wealth—for a nine-year-old child to earn it in half a year was nothing short of sheer lunacy.

Therefore, gritting his teeth with a disdainful expression, he snapped, "Very well!"

"This old minister accepts as well! If Your Majesty succeeds, this old minister will commit suicide to atone before the realm!"

At the sight of this, a trace of imperceptible triumph flashed across Ning Chen's eyes!

As expected!

Zhao Siwen has fallen right into the trap...