Can I Become Emperor by Being This Lazy? - Chapter 66

Chapter 66

After finishing their final meal before departure, the procession officially set out, advancing toward Chang’an in a grand formation. With only brief stops of a few hours along the way, they pressed forward at a rapid pace. While the soldiers showed no signs of fatigue, Xu Mao herself nearly reached her limit and called for a short rest outside Zhuang County.

Xu Mao dispatched several soldiers in disguise to infiltrate Zhuang County and gather intelligence from the capital, ensuring she remained updated on any shifts in the political situation during their journey.

Knowing both the enemy and oneself ensures victory in every battle.

In war, information is the most valuable asset.

Before long, the soldiers returned and reported: Marshal, the Emperor has fled the city with the Crown Prince and key ministers. Chang’an is now under Yang Mu’s control. It is said the Emperor has executed the treasonous Consort Feng and, under the protection of the imperial guards, is heading south.

Tang Zhegui grew excited and eager, proposing: Marshal, should we change course, capture the Emperor alive, and command the officials?

Absolutely not!

Xu Mao, still processing the news of Consort Feng’s execution with some regret, immediately suppressed Tang Zhegui’s idea upon hearing it. She stopped and said: Holding the Son of Heaven hostage won’t allow us to command the nobles and officials. Moreover, with ambitious figures across the land watching closely, acting without legitimate authority would bring us no benefit. It’s better to press on to Chang’an and take our chances there.

Tang Zhegui lowered her head in disappointment and retreated back into the ranks.

Having promptly dashed Tang Zhegui’s hopes, Xu Mao returned to the main topic. You said Consort Feng was executed? I recall Yang Mu demanded the death of the treacherous chancellor, so how did it end up being his sister Consort Feng who died?

The soldier was taken aback; she hadn’t given the matter much thought and replied blankly: Rumors say Consort Feng bewitched the Emperor with her charms, causing him to indulge in women and neglect state affairs, leading to decadence and tyranny. Moreover, she was intensely jealous, forbidding any woman from easily approaching the Emperor. There was even an instance where the Emperor merely glanced at a palace maid, and she had the maid expelled from the palace—utterly domineering.

Additionally, Consort Feng repeatedly shielded her corrupt clansmen from punishment, petitioning the Emperor to pardon the Feng family’s crimes. Victims among the common people had nowhere to turn for justice, and some families met tragic ends.

Everyone says Consort Feng got what she deserved. With her death, the Emperor is no longer deceived and may restore his divine authority, eradicate abuses, and bring back an era of peace and prosperity.

Ridiculous! Xu Mao disregarded decorum, rolling up her sleeves and addressing everyone, deliberately countering: A consort ruining the nation? How absurd! If she were that powerful, could she have been executed so easily? The Emperor’s own incompetence and folly are blamed on the consort—aren’t those spreading such tales ashamed?

Xu Mao refuted the rumors point by point: The Emperor indulging in women and ignoring governance is clearly his own lust and laziness. Even without Consort Feng, there would have been a Consort Zhao or Consort Li. If the Emperor were upright and restrained, how could he be led astray by beauty?

Since ancient times, how many emperors have had three thousand beauties in their harems, surrounded by stunning women? Even Emperor Wu of the previous dynasty waged wars for a decade without entering the rear palace. Why could other emperors maintain their focus and diligently govern, while our current Emperor cannot? Is he uniquely flawed, or is it Consort Feng’s fault for being peerlessly beautiful? There’s no need to make excuses for him—the Emperor’s nature is simply thus.

To say Consort Feng is inherently jealous is even more absurd. Between husband and wife, who can tolerate the other’s divided affections? I’m afraid those gentlemen who accuse the consort of jealousy would themselves be consumed with rage, unable to tolerate their own wives stepping out to exchange a few words with other men. How dare they criticize others? Moreover, the Emperor himself has no objections—since when is it their place to comment?

Taking a step back, flies don’t go after uncracked eggs. If the Emperor had been more self-disciplined and understood propriety and shame, would Consort Feng have needed to ruin her reputation by keeping such a close watch on him?

The crowd gaped, struck by Xu Mao’s remarkably novel perspective. Though they found it shocking and outrageous, it seemed to hold some logic.

Xu Mao grew even more impassioned. As for shielding the Feng clansmen who committed crimes, she was merely following Prime Minister Feng’s orders—a means of self-preservation in their interdependent relationship. Consort Feng bears fault, but the greater blame lies with the Feng clan, with Prime Minister Feng, with the civil and military officials, and most of all with the Emperor!

Consider this: if the Emperor could distinguish loyalty from treachery and right from wrong, would he have allowed the Feng clan to roam free after their crimes? If the officials were truly loyal and virtuous, daring to remonstrate and seek justice for the victimized people while upholding the law’s authority and fairness, could Consort Feng’s mere words have swept it all aside? If Prime Minister Feng had restrained his clansmen, warning and intimidating them, would those offenders have dared to act so recklessly and commit evil abroad?

Xu Mao roared, flames blazing in his eyes. When disaster strikes and it’s time for reckoning, suddenly no one is at fault. The Emperor isn’t at fault—he was deceived. The officials aren’t at fault—the court was controlled by a demonic consort and treacherous ministers. Prime Minister Feng, who loves his kin, is willing to hand over the chief culprit Consort Feng, showing his remorse, so his fault isn’t fatal. Only Consort Feng is punished—how laughable!

The crowd couldn’t help but lower their heads in contemplation, falling into silence.

It seemed true indeed. In this matter, the final choice lay with the Emperor, who held the power of life and death. Without his approval, could the offending Feng clansmen have left prison? He simply turned a blind eye.

If the court officials had held firm convictions and brought the perpetrators to justice, wouldn’t there have been any chance for reversal? They were merely protecting themselves.

Prime Minister Feng, who domineered and manipulated power in the court, remained unscathed, while Consort Feng, with the least fault, was pushed out to take the blame. No one else was seen, as if Consort Feng alone had stirred up clouds and covered the sky with one hand, wielding immense power.

Seeing that his point had been made, Xu Mao waved to Wu Hongying and Du Caiwen. Consort Feng’s death is somewhat regrettable. The truly guilty still roam free. Yet some deliberately spread such narratives to conceal their own crimes—I cannot stand for it. Form a team; you two select the members. Take charge of this matter: reveal the truth to the world. Whether through street announcements, storytelling, singing, or opera excerpts—any form will do.

Wu Hongying and Du Caiwen, caught off guard by the summons, widened their eyes in surprise, their minds blank and devoid of ideas.

Clearly, Xu Mao was in a foul mood and had no intention of elaborating. After announcing the dismissal, they dared not disturb him further and could only ponder between themselves.

Wu Hongying sighed. The Marshal’s insight is truly sharp and piercing, hitting the mark directly. He quickly saw through and seized those hiding behind Consort Feng, and his wording was unsparing. But… since the Marshal is entering the capital to rescue the Emperor, should we still emphasize the Emperor’s role?

Rescuing the Emperor with righteous fervor on one hand, while cursing his incompetence on the other—that didn’t seem quite appropriate.

Du Caiwen was less restrained. The Marshal said we can use storytelling, singing, and opera excerpts. We just need to write the lyrics well, pay silver to wandering performers to spread them through song and narration. Who would know our identities?

Wu Hongying agreed, That makes sense. Let’s compose opera lyrics based on what the Marshal just said. This way, more people will hear it.

Du Caiwen nodded, The Marshal’s words are deafening and thought-provoking. They’re indeed excellent material for writing opera lyrics. The final result will surely be impressive.

I’ve heard there are women in the army who previously worked in the Theater District. They have more experience and understand better what stories common people enjoy. Why not borrow their help? The Marshal said we can choose anyone we want, so there shouldn’t be any problem. Considering candidates, Wu Hongying immediately thought of Lü Feiyan, whom the soldiers discussed most frequently, though unfortunately she was in Fengcheng.

Exactly. This will not only facilitate dissemination but also make it easier for common people to accept.

Du Caiwen and Wu Hongying immediately took action, selecting women who had previously worked with Lü Feiyan in the Theater District to form a team. They adapted the events between the emperor and Consort Feng into dramatic short stories and composed opera lyrics.

The focus was mainly on Consort Feng, depicting her helplessness and how her fate was beyond her control.

The consort, named Feng Qiuye, was originally a farmer’s daughter who lived freely in the countryside. In the bloom of her youth, just as romantic feelings began to stir, her true identity was suddenly exposed. The Feng family discovered their daughter had been mistakenly switched and raised by a farming family, so they specifically retrieved her.

However, this family reunion altered the course of her destiny, bringing unpredictable fortune and misfortune. Feng Qiuye was sent to the palace to please the old emperor and win his favor.

After entering the palace, before she could even establish her footing, survival was difficult. At this time, the Feng family frequently sent letters urging her to seek rewards from the emperor, exhausting her both physically and mentally.

It wasn’t until Prime Minister Feng gained the emperor’s favor that Feng Qiuye was enfeoffed as a consort, receiving abundant favor. She carefully flattered the emperor while maintaining her relationship with the Feng family.

Seeking official positions, noble titles, gold, silver, and treasures.

Feng Qiuye became dazzled by wealth and luxury, gradually losing herself. She was bound hand and foot by the Feng family, becoming their puppet in the palace, her every thought and desire dictated by Prime Minister Feng.

Everything seemed to be progressing well, but who could predict the unpredictable winds of change? Rebels breached the palace gates, the nation teetered on the brink of crisis, and the emperor fled in haste with her.

Midway through their escape, the imperial guards mutinied, demanding the execution of the treacherous prime minister.

To save himself, Prime Minister Feng slandered her to the emperor, using his sister Consort Feng as a bargaining chip. He shifted the blame onto the consort, accusing her of misleading the nation to quell the public’s anger.

Feng Qiuye met her end in the underworld, while the true culprit breathed a sigh of relief, clinking glasses and celebrating their narrow escape with continuous laughter.

Du Caiwen was not entirely satisfied and added a new segment at the beginning. Starting with Consort Feng’s death, she depicted her spirit wandering in confusion, forgetting her identity, returning to the underworld where the Judge of the Underworld passed judgment. Inserting Feng Qiuye’s life experiences, Feng Qiuye protested, debating with the Judge to point out the hidden roles of the emperor and Prime Minister Feng behind the scenes.

Since women were neither allowed to read, write, nor serve as court officials, confined to a limited world unaware of worldly changes, how could the nation’s peril be their responsibility?

The brilliant and mighty ruler of the land did not manage it, the well-read sage advisors paid no heed, yet the blame fell upon an ignorant and unaware woman. Speaking of it only invites ridicule.

The Judge of the Underworld could not out-argue Feng Qiuye. Spitting blood in fury, he revealed the truth to her: the suffering she endured in this life had roots in her past incarnation, where she had slaughtered countless people and committed every imaginable evil. As punishment, she was reborn as a woman to atone for her sins.

Feng Qiuye said, So women in this world are reincarnated as punishment? They are born guilty, is that it?

The Judge fell silent, unable to respond. He condemned her to be reborn as a woman again, to live anew until she had fully redeemed her sins.

Resentment surged within Feng Qiuye. She devoured the Judge, and a golden light suddenly flashed across the sky. When one looked at Feng Qiuye again, her bluish-purple complexion and the strangulation marks on her neck had vanished, revealing her originally elegant beauty. She now stood clad in majestic official robes, having unmistakably become the new Judge of the Underworld.