15 – If Wages Are Not Paid, I Will Go on Strike (Revised)
Wuhuan thought his master was wise and mighty, and would surely give a profound and mysterious answer.
Who would have thought, Shang Guanqi merely raised an eyebrow and lazily said, “This lord is in a good mood today and wants to give her a grand gift.”
Wuhuan grew even more puzzled; Nine Thousand Years had been increasingly lenient toward the little emperor lately.
Unconvinced, he opened his mouth to bring up the poisoning incident: “Lord of a Thousand Years was poisoned, we should capture the little emperor and make her hand over the antidote.”
Shang Guanqi’s body stiffened, sitting up from the chaise lounge with a stern expression.
“Wuhuan, you talk too much.”
Wuhuan would rather be punished than hold back: “Lord of a Thousand Years, this subordinate is only worried about you.”
“This lord knows you care, which is why I tolerate you. If it were anyone else, just for pushing her into the water yesterday, you could have died a hundred times over.”
This was the first time Shang Guanqi had shown killing intent toward Wuhuan. Wuhuan was startled, falling to his knees with a thud.
Shang Guanqi didn’t want to hurt his loyalty and raised a hand, saying, “Get up. This lord has a handle on her matters; you need not worry. As for the poisoning, secretly seek out renowned physicians for now.”
“Yes,” Wuhuan accepted the order.
“Go rest.”
“Yes.”
Wuhuan exited Qingyang Hall, and Wuqing came in from outside, routinely reporting to Shang Guanqi on the movements of Moon Departure Palace.
Wuhuan waited outside for a long time before seeing Wuqing emerge.
“Why did it take so long today? Did something happen at Moon Departure Palace again?”
Wuhuan and Wuqing had known each other for many years, having faced life and death together numerous times, and were as close as brothers.
Wuqing: “Nothing major, just that Lord of a Thousand Years asked in great detail today.”
Wuhuan: “Don’t you think Lord of a Thousand Years was a bit unusual today?”
Wuqing: “How so?”
Wuhuan thought for a moment: “It seems that ever since returning from the Sacrificial Altar, Lord of a Thousand Years has been in a very cheerful mood, lying on the chaise lounge completely relaxed. Usually, Lord of a Thousand Years sits at the desk, stern and unsmiling like a fierce deity.”
Wuqing, puzzled, said: “Every time I go to report on Moon Departure Palace’s movements, Lord of a Thousand Years is lying on the chaise lounge. I thought it was because he was tired… So…”
As he spoke, Wuqing thought of something and leaned closer to Wuhuan’s ear, whispering a few words.
After hearing it, Wuhuan was greatly shocked: “Impossible, I don’t believe it!”
Indignant, he threw out a sentence, turned his head, and left.
…
“Li Fu, how’s your butt?”
Li Fu was lying on his bed, listening intently as a young eunuch vividly recounted the events of today’s Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony. He was just hearing about how Jiang Lige summoned the phoenix from the flames and how miraculous it was, regretting that he wasn’t there to witness this once-in-a-millennium spectacle.
Just then, Jiang Lige appeared before him.
“Your Majesty.”
“Greetings, Your Majesty.”
Li Fu struggled to get up and kowtowed to Jiang Lige.
Seeing his movements, Jiang Lige smiled and said, “Looks like you’re almost healed. Get up.”
Jiang Lige dismissed the young eunuch. “Li Fu, I have something to ask you.”
“Your Majesty, please speak,” Li Fu was now extremely respectful toward Jiang Lige.
Jiang Lige knew that part of this was due to the “auspicious sign.”
Jiang Lige got down to business: “I’ve reviewed the palace regulations. Everyone in the palace with a rank receives a monthly allowance. Logically, as the emperor, I should have one too, right?”
Li Fu hesitated, “It’s true that everyone in the palace has a monthly allowance, but that regulation refers to the consorts in the rear palace. For the Emperor to receive a monthly allowance… there’s no precedent.”Of course there is no precedent, as there have been few puppet emperors in history. A real emperor, who possesses the entire realm, would hardly need such a meager salary.
Jiang Lige felt increasingly displeased just thinking about it.
“I work from dawn till dusk attending court sessions all year round, yet I don’t have a single coin to my name. This is utterly unreasonable. The Imperial Household Department must pay me.”
“Otherwise, I will go on strike. I won’t attend court anymore!”