She Was Indeed Dissatisfied

Within the Great Gan Dynasty's Imperial City, Luoyang.

Many powerful factions had already arrived.

"Eunuch Wang, this is the Imperial City of the Great Gan Dynasty. The Dragon Qi here is a hundred times more concentrated than it was back then, far exceeding even the Imperial Observatory's predictions..."

The man at the head of the group had graying hair and wore plain clothes that made him look utterly ordinary. A deep wariness flickered in his aged eyes.

"With Dragon Qi this concentrated, even back when the Ye Family Old Ancestor had yet to ascend, it could never have reached this level. Truly strange..."

Wang Jingzhong looked up. The streets were bustling with crowds, golden notices had been posted everywhere, and magnificent flowers hung along both sides of the roads.

"Have people from the Imperial Observatory secretly investigate the area around the imperial palace. The sudden surge in Dragon Qi within the Great Gan Dynasty is far too bizarre. It also coincided with that woman's Grand Wedding. I can't help thinking the two are connected. Perhaps the Emperor Consort is not as simple as he seems..."

"This subordinate obeys."

After his subordinate left, the old eunuch found a seat and listened to the discussions around him.

The rumors matched what they had learned: Ye Qinglian had appointed her Emperor Consort out of the blue, even defying tradition to do so. Of all things, the dynasties of the world cared most about propriety. Her actions were tantamount to dragging the Ye imperial family's dignity through the mud—especially if this Emperor Consort was no extraordinary talent.

What could have made Ye Qinglian act so rashly?

Was the surge in Dragon Qi connected to him?

Regardless, he had come to the Great Gan Dynasty.

Once he confirmed the truth, he would personally pay the Great Gan Dynasty a visit.

The Emperor Consort could be killed—and must be killed.

But the Empress's fate would depend on the circumstances.

If the Dragon Qi came from the Empress, she would have to die. If not, then to preserve the balance among the Five Great Dynasties, they could only cripple her cultivation.

After all, killing the Empress would be tantamount to telling the other nations that they intended to unify the realm. But Great Zhou was not yet capable of crushing the combined might of the other four dynasties.

Killing her would inevitably unite the four dynasties against them, bringing no end of trouble. But if they spared her, then even if the Great Gan Dynasty fought to the death, they could simply use a little trickery to destroy it and still maintain stability.

Wang Jingzhong suddenly sensed something. He raised his eyes slightly and looked toward the imposing procession in the distance.

"The Luohan Dynasty actually sent so many people? Heh. It seems they didn't come in peace either..."

The old eunuch had already devised a plan. He stared intently at the face of the man leading the procession.

Soon, his aura became indistinguishable from that of the Luohan Dynasty's delegation, and a human-skin mask appeared in his hand.

The old eunuch simply pocketed it, narrowing his eyes in delight.

The four dynasties had already gathered in the Imperial Capital, Luoyang.

Some had come with hostile intentions; others hoped to form an alliance, seeing an opportunity.

Everyone was waiting for the right moment to reveal their offers and make their moves.

Another five days passed in a flash.

Inside the imperial palace, at Mingde Hall.

Prime Minister Qiu Zun was startled to see Chu Ning in Mingde Hall, but he quickly recalled Ye Qinglian's earlier arrangement.

They were to govern together. Her Majesty really hadn't been joking...

Never mind. It was Her Majesty's realm; she could do as she pleased. Her Majesty had her cultivation, after all. There was no need to worry that Chu Ning might usurp her throne or anything.

"This old subject pays his respects to Your Majesty and the Emperor Consort."

Chu Ning smiled and waved a hand.

"There are still ten days to go. We haven't held the Grand Wedding yet. I won't be the Emperor Consort until afterward."

Ye Qinglian glared at Chu Ning in displeasure.

The prime minister was simply following protocol. There was no need for him to say anything.

The old man smiled. "Your Majesty's decree has already been issued, and you personally agreed to grant Sir Chu the title of Emperor Consort. There is nothing improper about my addressing him as such."

"What matter brings you before me?"

Ye Qinglian decided it would be best to change the subject and spoke coolly.

At her words, the old man's face lit up with excitement.

"Your Majesty is truly farsighted. Only now has this old subject realized the depth of your plans. Your foresight is peerless!"

Ye Qinglian furrowed her brows, puzzled.

"What happened?"

She hadn't done anything these past few days, had she? How had she suddenly become so farsighted?

Qiu Zun tremblingly took out a memorial and presented it to her.

"This is an urgent memorial sent today from Jiangnan. It details the current situation there!"

"Three days ago, over ten thousand merchant ships carried nearly thirty million jin of grain to Jiangnan to sell. The authorities immediately blocked the river with iron chains!"

"The local gentry couldn't afford to buy the grain, and the merchants couldn't leave either. Then the authorities opened the granaries and released grain!"

"The merchants couldn't sit still. In the early hours of last night, they began selling off their grain in droves. Prices at the two markets plunged from fifty taels per shi to eight hundred copper coins per shi—a drop of dozens of times. The price is still falling sharply!"

Ye Qinglian froze at his words and immediately opened the memorial, staring intently at its contents.

It reported not only that the merchants were selling off their grain, as Qiu Zun had said, but also that the local gentry couldn't hold back by dawn and had begun selling theirs as well.

The price of grain in Jiangnan was expected to fall to around one hundred copper coins—lower than it had been before!

The authorities planned to buy grain once prices hit rock bottom and use it to provide relief to the disaster victims.

Thirteen days!

Only thirteen days had passed since Chu Ning had written up his plan!

Grain prices in Jiangnan had even been driven lower than before!

Qiu Zun was overjoyed. "Your Majesty's decision had puzzled this old subject. I wondered why you hadn't opened the granaries, and many local officials had their complaints as well. But now the dust has settled, and all has been revealed!"

"Some of the Jiangnan gentry even bankrupted themselves buying grain at sky-high prices, hoping to make an even greater profit. Little did they know they had long since become pieces on Your Majesty's board. Now we're hearing that quite a few gentry in Jiangnan have hanged themselves at home."

"Your Majesty's move was truly inspired. This old subject congratulates you—the disaster in Jiangnan has been resolved!"

Ye Qinglian drew a deep breath, her spirits soaring, and immediately picked up her brush.

She ordered the Ministry of Revenue to dispatch silver from the state treasury to Jiangnan, help the local people rebuild, and send cultivators to lend their assistance.

She also ordered men to arrest the Jiangnan gentry. Anyone involved in driving up grain prices was to be investigated, from the bottom up. Any court official implicated was to be executed!

She had been swallowing her anger for far too long. At last, she could vent it!

Those damn profiteers had driven grain prices up hundreds of times. Unless they were all wiped out, she would never be able to ease the fury in her heart!

Had they not behaved this way, grain prices in Jiangnan would have risen only two or three times at most. So many commoners would not have died!

The gloom that had lingered for so long finally lifted. This stroke of hers would surely go down in the history books as one of Ye Qinglian's masterstrokes.

Qiu Zun bowed and withdrew, taking the memorial with him so he could carry out her orders.

Now all that remained was to tie up the loose ends.

All the trouble had been resolved, and it was just in time for her Grand Wedding!

After the old man left, Ye Qinglian looked at Chu Ning.

She had thought Chu Ning might say something now, perhaps use the matter as an excuse to claim some credit or take advantage of her. But his expression hadn't changed at all. He simply sat there, reading a book.

Ye Qinglian asked in confusion, "You didn't hear what Old Qiu just said? Aren't you happy?"

Chu Ning looked up and closed the book.

"I expected this. I just didn't think it would happen so quickly. I thought it might take a month or two, but it's only been thirteen days..."

"Is water transport really that fast in your world?"

Ye Qinglian was so taken aback that she could barely react.

Wait, did he really not know what he'd done?

Or did he think she had taken the credit that belonged to him?

"The trouble in Jiangnan has been resolved."

She repeated herself, afraid Chu Ning hadn't heard.

"Mm, I heard."

Ye Qinglian's heart sank.

As I thought, he was unhappy...