"Today you dare close the case with 'Yin Ghost Steals Grain.' Does that mean tomorrow you'll dare use 'Fire Dragon Burns Granary' to balance the books?" Though there had been no wars these past few years, and though she had not personally led an expedition even when the Ten Crows rebelled, Shen Tang's temper had hardly mellowed.
What was this about not showing one's emotions?
She wasn't even afraid of Gu Chi reading her mind, so why would she care if others guessed her thoughts from her expression? She had even cursed people out and kicked them during Court Sessions—though, of course, not often. Most of the time, she still adhered to the principle that a gentleman used words rather than fists: if something could be solved with words, there was no need to use force. The last person she had kicked had been someone who tried to fool her with "Fire Dragon Burns Granary." It was probably almost a year ago.
Gu Chi poured oil on the flames. "It's not impossible."
Shen Tang suppressed her blazing fury. "Fire Dragon Burns Granary" had involved more than five hundred people last time. She had executed seventy percent of them and sent the rest to plant corn, pick cotton, and reclaim wasteland. She had thought that would serve as a warning to the others, making anyone with greedy inclinations fear her a little and cause her less trouble. Yet before a year had passed, they had pulled another stunt called "Yin Ghost Steals Grain." Did they think they were Bai Niangzi?
Seeing the viciousness rising in Shen Tang's eyes, Gu Chi guessed how many heads would be chopped off this time. Before he could reach a conclusion, he heard the young Sovereign calmly order, "Have the Ministry of War mobilize troops from