Chapter 7: Surprisingly Kind

Phoenix Palace.

Having finished listening to Zhao Siwen’s report, the Empress Dowager waved her hand dismissively. "I understand. You have done well. Go now, and focus on ensuring my birthday celebration is handled perfectly!"

Zhao Siwen bowed immediately. "Yes, Your Majesty. Rest assured, this subordinate will devote his full effort!"

Watching Zhao Siwen retreat cautiously, the Empress Dowager, who had been smiling, suddenly furrowed her brows slightly and muttered to herself, "Unexpected. This little good-for-nothing has actually managed to surprise me."

"What exactly is he plotting?"

"If he wanted to win people's hearts, why would he not only refuse to help Fan Dayou raise funds but even speak up for Zhao Siwen and lecture Fan Dayou instead?"

The elderly maid standing by her side stooped low and whispered, "Your Majesty, in this servant’s opinion, perhaps you are overthinking it. Maybe the little Emperor never intended to win anyone over at all."

"Just as he said himself, he is merely afraid that the refugees might affect your birthday celebration, and that is why he chose to come forward personally to curry favor with you..."

The Empress Dowager shook her head. "If that were truly the case, it would be for the best."

"A nine-year-old child should not have warranted such caution or deliberate testing from me, yet I cannot shake the feeling that he is strange."

"You know, a woman’s intuition is rarely wrong..."

At this point, the Empress Dowager’s expression turned solemn. "No, even if he isn't worth my serious regard, I cannot be careless. The surveillance on him must continue. I won't have peace of mind otherwise."

"Yes, Your Majesty..."

Meanwhile, the carriage carrying Ning Chen had arrived at the entrance of the Jingzhao Prefecture Office.

As the government office of the capital of Great Ning, its scale was indeed significant. However, precisely because it was in the capital, under the very nose of the Emperor, the buildings appeared exceptionally dilapidated despite their size.

Ning Chen understood clearly that in such a place, even if one were corrupt, one had to maintain an outward facade of integrity.

After revealing his identity, Ning Chen, accompanied by Xiao Anzi and several guards, soon met with Wang Zhongliang, the Prefect of Jingzhao.

"Magistrate Wang, you are aware that the Empress Dowager’s birthday is approaching, right?" Ning Chen looked at Wang Zhongliang with wide, innocent eyes.

"Replying to Your Majesty, this subject is aware. However, this subject is of humble status; while I wish to express my filial piety, I lack the resources to do so. Yet, Your Majesty, rest assured, even if this subject has to exhaust his family fortune, I will certainly offer a token of my heart to the Empress Dowager..."

They were all shrewd characters. The moment Ning Chen spoke, Wang Zhongliang understood the young Emperor’s intent.

With so many refugees outside and the young Emperor stubbornly insisting that the old pedant Fan Dayou lead the disaster relief, it was obvious: this puppet Emperor could not raise the funds himself and had come to him, the local official, to squeeze money out under the guise of celebrating the birthday.

What a joke! Anyone with a brain could see the Empress Dowager’s stance. To support the Emperor’s relief efforts would be to offend the Empress Dowager. Even if he had the money, he would never spend it on refugees.

Unexpectedly, Ning Chen smiled. "I know you have always been upright, Magistrate Wang; there is no need for you to exhaust your family fortune!"

Wang Zhongliang sneered inwardly: *No need to exhaust my fortune? It seems you intend to squeeze something out of me regardless!*

"Magistrate Wang, the Empress Dowager’s birthday is the greatest event in the world and a time for our Great Ning to celebrate together. I want you to initiate some folk activities to celebrate her birthday!"

"Think about it: even if you drained your family coffers for a gift, how much could you really offer? Would it even catch the Empress Dowager’s eye?"

"It would be better to find a new path and mobilize grand folk celebrations. That would be far more cost-effective than you paying out of your own pocket!"

"As long as you handle it well, the Empress Dowager will remember you. For your future, you know what that means!"

*Initiate folk activities to celebrate the Empress Dowager?* Wang Zhongliang was stunned. *What is this? Is this puppet Emperor really not trying to use the birthday as an excuse to raise disaster relief funds?*

Wang Zhongliang spoke cautiously. "B-but, organizing folk activities still requires a great deal of money. This subject has heard that the national treasury is empty and our Jingzhao Prefecture is similarly strapped for funds. I fear we lack the capital to organize such events..."

Ning Chen smiled. "You may not have it, but do the wealthy families in the capital not have it?"

"Rest assured, those people are very shrewd. They won't donate to disaster relief, but for the sake of celebrating the Empress Dowager, they will certainly open their purses."

"I left the palace under the pretext of disaster relief specifically to prepare this surprise—letting the people of the capital honor the Empress Dowager through various festivities!"

"This form of celebration is unprecedented!"

"As long as you handle it well, my goal will be achieved. When the Empress Dowager is pleased, I will naturally put in a good word for you before her!"

Wang Zhongliang was stunned again, his brows knit together as he scrutinized the seemingly naive nine-year-old child who was acting so mysterious.

*Could I have overthought this?* he wondered. *This little Emperor doesn't care about disaster relief at all; he’s just trying to curry favor with the Empress Dowager!*

Soon, he calculated the potential gains. The little Emperor was right—no matter how much money he personally provided, it would pale in comparison to the high-ranking officials at court. It would be better to try this new approach. If he could make the Empress Dowager remember him, his rise to power would be just around the corner.

The key was that, as the Emperor said, he wouldn't need to spend a cent of his own money. Which of the wealthy people wouldn't scramble to throw their money at this to curry favor? He might even be able to skim a little off the top for himself!

A smile gradually bloomed on Wang Zhongliang’s face. He bowed deeply to the young Emperor. "Your Majesty is wise! This subject will certainly do his best!"

Ning Chen chuckled inwardly: *Excellent, he’s taken the bait!*

Still putting on his naive act, he said, "You could organize a Dragon Boat Festival. You can let the people organize their own teams..."

After detailing his ideas, Ning Chen added a final instruction: "These are the only things I’ve thought of so far. If you have other ideas, feel free to add them."

"I have only three requirements. First, try not to spend government funds, including your own!"

"Second, the activities must be grand, and the more variety, the better!"

"Third, keep this strictly confidential until everything is ready. Only heaven, earth, you, and I should know. Do not let other officials find out!"

"Otherwise, if others mimic this, it will no longer be a surprise, do you understand?"

Wang Zhongliang nodded vigorously, his mind already conjuring images of success, his mouth stretched wide with excitement.

Before leaving, Ning Chen added, "The office is quite dilapidated; you should renovate it. Remember, don't use government money!"

A shrewd man like Wang Zhongliang understood perfectly—this was a hint that he could embezzle some of the funds raised for the activities to renovate the office.

Ning Chen’s visit had been truly unexpected. Even after the carriage left, Wang Zhongliang stood at the entrance for a long time, watching them go.

He couldn't help but exclaim, "That little Emperor is actually quite decent!"

"The more I look at him, the more adorable he seems!"

"No time to lose, I must get to work immediately..."

As the carriage pulled away, Xiao Anzi lifted the curtain again to check on the guards following behind. Then, turning back, he asked in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Your Majesty, you told Magistrate Wang to initiate these activities, but will he hire the refugees as you intended?"

Ning Chen blinked his clear eyes and smiled. "Rest assured. I already had Fan Dayou put the refugees to work, paying them only thirty percent of the standard wage."

"Such low labor costs will spread quickly. Whether it’s Wang Zhongliang or the wealthy commoners, once they start organizing these festivities, they will need various projects. They won't let such cheap labor go to waste!"

"Soon, they will spend money to hire large numbers of refugees, which means they will be helping me provide disaster relief!"

"This is what we call 'relief through work'."

Xiao Anzi was stunned. "Relief through work?"

Soon, his gaze filled with awe. "So that’s it! Your Majesty is brilliant!"

Speaking of which, he added worriedly, "But I don't know if Fan Dayou will understand your painstaking efforts..."

Ning Chen laughed. "Him? Right now, he’s probably busy borrowing money everywhere. He might even hate me!"

Xiao Anzi asked softly, not without concern, "Your Majesty, I’m afraid that even if Fan Dayou understands your intentions, he might not necessarily help you!"

"Besides, even if he were willing, he is only a censor. Even if he were to protest to the death, it would be difficult to change the Empress Dowager’s decision to depose you..."

A confident smile appeared on Ning Chen’s youthful face.

"You still don't quite understand a man like Fan Dayou. Don't worry. Through this disaster relief effort, I will make Fan Dayou support me wholeheartedly!"

"And as long as Fan Dayou truly assists me, I have ways to deal with the Empress Dowager!"

With that, Ning Chen reached out and patted Xiao Anzi’s shoulder. Looking into his eyes seriously and earnestly, he said firmly:

"You must believe in the power of intellectuals, just as I believe in you..."