I'll Give You Everything You Want

Gu Yuanshi said, "It's been seventeen or eighteen years, and His Majesty has always missed the Marquis; if he knew this in the afterlife, he would also be grateful for His Majesty's support and promotion of the Marquis over the years."

The Emperor did say something objective and fair.

He said, "The main reason is that this child is promising. It's just a pity he didn't get to see it."

The atmosphere became somber when the conversation turned to the past and life and death.

Gu Wanning secretly touched Xu Weibei's hand through his clothes under her sleeve.

Xu Weibei forced a smile at her, then cupped his hands to the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty and I thank you for your great kindness. It's all a family matter, not worth mentioning. Your Majesty must have something else to say to Gu Wanning."

The topic has returned to normal.

Gu Wanning thought to herself, she originally thought that the emperor really wanted to see her and had something to say; now it seems that it was just a ruse.

What the Emperor truly wanted to say was for Xu Weibei to hear.

It's simply that I have done everything I could, and I value loyalty and righteousness. You should continue to fight for me, protecting our country. I deserve it.

Gu Wanning said innocently, "Your Majesty, please give your orders. I may not know anything else, but I am quite good at farming."

It's not that she's not humble, but rather that she stands on the shoulders of her predecessors, which gives her a lot of knowledge.

"What shall I reward you with?" the Emperor stroked his beard and chuckled. "Although you are a woman, your actions are exactly like your father's."

Gu Wanning feigned indifference. "Your Majesty flatters me."

She didn't think that being like her biological father was something to be proud of.

"You have made such a great contribution, and I've heard that the people have spontaneously come to thank you; if I don't show my gratitude, wouldn't that be unfair to both reward and punish?"

After a pause, the Emperor continued, "Speak, girl, what do you want?"

Gu Wanning bit her lip. "I didn't dare to take credit and ask for a reward, but then I thought, if you don't reward me, how will others be eager to help you in the future? Although my contribution is small, it might attract more people to care about farming."

The Emperor pointed at her with his index finger and chuckled as he scolded Gu Yuanshi, "Look at this! Doesn't she inherit your quick wit? But she's not honest at all. She clearly wants a reward, yet she beats around the bush with me. That's not like you; you're truly not greedy."

Even if the emperor truly meant it when he said "I am not greedy," it always left people wondering if there was something more to it than met the eye.

So Gu Yuanshi knelt down and said, "This humble subject is also greedy, greedy for sharing the emperor's burdens, greedy for the people's gratitude, greedy for leaving a lasting legacy..."

Gu Wanning: What is the function of parallelism again?

Anyway, it gave her goosebumps.

She still has a lot to learn about praising herself, both openly and subtly.

Gu Wanning listened patiently to their nonsense, then tried to find the key points within it.

So tired...

"Get up. I've told you there are no outsiders here, Gu Aiqing, you're always so cautious. Come, girl, tell me, what do you want?"

Gu Wanning pretended to ponder for a while, and then said, "This humble woman does not like fancy clothes or grand mansions. The only thing I crave is a good appetite, but it doesn't cost much. Being self-sufficient is enough."

She loves money, but she is not greedy.

Having enough money is enough; there's no need to be burdened by money.

You can't do without money, but you don't have to become a slave to money.

Moreover, she had a "higher goal"—to save her life.

"To tell Your Majesty the truth, I have no worries about food or drink, nor do I envy luxury. It's just that every time I think of my father's insistence on reform and the Marquis's frankness and integrity, I feel that my head is not very safe."

"Is your head in danger? Hmm?" The Emperor feigned seriousness, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.

Beneath the smile lay the emperor's probing and wariness.

Gu Wanning thought that she had probably become more perceptive; she could read people's expressions and understand so much now.

"Others say that serving a ruler is like serving a tiger, but I was fortunate enough to have an audience with him and learned that His Majesty's magnanimity is unparalleled, and my heart was completely at ease. But—"

"The Emperor's favoritism towards my father, brothers, and the Marquis is obvious to all. I fear that some petty people, out of jealousy and envy, will nitpick. They are upright and honest, but I, a mere woman, am filled with trepidation."

"Stop beating around the bush and just tell me what you want."

Gu Wanning bit her lip and forced herself to say, "A get- Death-Exemption Gold Plaque."

Upon hearing this, the entire imperial study fell silent once more, a silence so profound you could hear a pin drop.

After a long pause, the emperor seemed to laugh in exasperation, "You really dare to speak like that. Do you even know who gets Death-Exemption Gold Plaque?"

Gu Wanning lowered her head and honestly said, "Since the founding of this dynasty, only the Emperor has shown favoritism to my father, bestowing upon him a Death-Exemption Gold Plaque."

"Since you know that, why do you dare to make such a request?"

There's no turning back now that the arrow has been released; Gu Wanning has no choice but to grit her teeth and go for it.

Moreover, neither her biological father nor Xu Weibei reprimanded her, which shows that she wasn't being delusional.

"Because I am very important," Gu Wanning declared loudly, "I want all the people of the world to have enough to eat, for the national treasury to be full, and for all the world to pay tribute to me!"

"Such arrogance."

"As long as His Majesty supports me, I will do whatever I say."

"Then come and ask me for Death-Exemption Gold Plaque after you've accomplished that."

Gu Wanning: "..."

You stingy thing, you still won't give it to me, humph!

That's a waste of her breath.

"But you have rendered meritorious service, and I will still reward you," the Emperor said. "Besides the Death-Exemption Gold Plaque, what else do you want?"

Gu Wanning thought to herself, "You want it but won't give it to me, and you even let others want it? You're the emperor, so what!"

Fine, fine, you're the emperor, you're amazing.

Gu Wanning's eyes darted around, and suddenly she had an idea.

Chapter 274 I'll give you everything you want

If I can't escape death, surely I can at least escape kneeling?

Gu Wanning really disliked kneeling and kneeling. Moreover, after losing her status as the Marquis's wife, she was now just a commoner, inferior to everyone else in every way, even one, two, three, four... heads lower.