The Prodigal Son

With Yun Ying's help, Qin Yu finally got the terrified Zhao Luan ashore.

With great effort, Yun Ying finally managed to "remove" Zhao Luan from Qin Yu and quickly helped the trembling Zhao Luan towards the palace.

Seeing Zhao Luan's terrified expression, Qin Yu realized that something was wrong.

The female demon's appearance doesn't seem to be an act!

She seems to be really afraid of water?

At this moment, Shangguan Youyi also rushed over.

Upon learning that Zhao Luan had been dragged into the pool by Qin Yu, Shangguan Youyi was furious. "You're really something! Just wait and see what happens!"

"no……"

Qin Yu looked completely innocent and asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, what exactly is going on?"

Shangguan Youyi said angrily, "Your Majesty almost drowned when you were a child, so you must have some kind of trauma. This is the first time I've ever seen Your Majesty like this!"

Qin Yu's eyelids twitched.

Come on!

Why didn't you say so sooner!

It's over! It's over!

He had just made a contribution, but then he offended the female devil!

Once the female demon recovers, she'll probably have to deal with me again.

Are I and the female demon truly incompatible according to the Five Elements?

Qin Yu felt uneasy and quickly said to Shangguan Youyi, "Then you should appease His Majesty first! I... I'll go back now!"

Before the female demon can recover, let's make a quick getaway!

"stop!"

Shangguan Youyi grabbed Qin Yu, who was trying to slip away, and said, "I advise you to change your clothes first and wait until His Majesty has recovered!"

"this……"

Qin Yu inwardly groaned, feeling utterly frustrated.

It's not my fault, you bastard!

She was the one who tried to kick herself into the pool first!

Filled with frustration, Qin Yu, along with the two generals, escorted Zhao Luan back to her palace.

After changing his clothes under the guidance of the palace ladies, Qin Yu waited outside the palace.

It felt like being a prisoner waiting to be executed.

This female demon is absolutely toxic!

Being near her is never a good thing!

Anyway, I was going to get punished, so I should have taken advantage of her while she was panicking in the water!

That way, getting a beating won't be a bad deal!

Ah!

I deserve to die!

Why pretend to be a gentleman?

Qin Yu waited for a long time outside Zhao Luan's palace.

It wasn't until it was completely dark that Shangguan Youyi emerged from the palace. "His Majesty invites you in!"

"oh."

Qin Yu craned his neck to peek into the palace, then asked guiltily, "Your Majesty... are you alright?"

Shangguan Youyi replied, "He's recovered, but His Majesty isn't in a good mood right now, so you'd better be careful!"

"..."

Qin Yu was speechless again.

I'm the victim here!

I'm more wronged than Dou E!

Led by Shangguan Youyi, Qin Yu entered Zhao Luan's palace for the first time.

Zhao Luan's bedroom was not decorated with any fancy ornaments. On the walls of the bedroom, there was a huge map of the entire region surrounding Da Ning, and there were many books on the bookshelves.

The palace is divided into inner and outer chambers.

When Qin Yu entered, Zhao Luan, who had finished bathing and changing, was sitting on the throne in the outer room.

Zhao Luan had recovered and regained her former momentum.

As soon as Qin Yu saw Zhao Luan, he felt a cold glint in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, this matter is truly not my fault!"

Qin Yu looked at Zhao Luan with a frustrated expression, "Your Majesty suddenly kicked me into the pool. That was just a natural bodily reaction, like a person about to fall off a cliff instinctively grabbing anything they can..."

Zhao Luan gritted her teeth, glaring at him with an unfriendly expression: "But I want to slap you right now, what should I do?"

Got it!

When a scholar encounters a soldier, reason is useless!

This woman is completely unreasonable!

Qin Yu inwardly scoffed, then said seriously, "Your Majesty, I have something to say, but I'm unsure whether I should."

"explain!"

Zhao Luan clenched her fists, already imagining Qin Yu being hung up and whipped in her mind.

Qin Yu glanced at Zhao Luan and said righteously, "This humble subject believes that Your Majesty, as the Empress of Great Ning, should be fearless! Difficulties should be overcome, and fears should be dispelled! How can I, the Empress of Great Ning, fear a mere pool of water? Your Majesty should master this pool of water..."

Qin Yu seemed to be possessed by a self-help guru, frantically brainwashing Zhao Luan.

Upon hearing Qin Yu's words, the two generals, Heng and Ha, immediately glared at him.

That bastard!

Does he want His Majesty to jump into the water again?

He really deserves to be smoked!

Hang him up and whip him hard!

Zhao Luan remained silent, quietly pondering Qin Yu's words.

Actually, before today, she herself did not know that she was so afraid of water.

She has never felt any fear of water when she takes a bath.

But the moment you fall into the pool, the fear that has been lurking in the hidden corners of your heart suddenly surfaced.

She knew that Qin Yu was trying to escape her punishment, but what Qin Yu said made sense.

Yes!

As the Empress of Da Ning, how could I be afraid of a stagnant pool of water?

"I accept your suggestion!"

Zhao Luan raised her head, staring at him with a half-smile. "However, you've made me look so disheveled today. Tell me, how should I punish you?"

Qin Yu grinned: "Merits and demerits cancel each other out!"

"You're dreaming!"

Zhao Luan's phoenix eyes widened. "I'll give you two choices! Either I'll order someone to hang you up and give you a good beating, or I'll dismiss you from your position as a secretary in the Six Ministries and appoint you concurrently as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue!"

Hearing Zhao Luan's words, the two generals, Heng and Ha, were speechless.

Is this what you call punishment?

Is this a reward for him?

However, Qin Yu was not happy at all.

The Ministry of Revenue was in charge of the nation's finances and grain, and it had the most trivial matters to deal with!

Moreover, there is a high probability that a war to destroy Yan will be launched next year, so the Ministry of Revenue must prepare money and supplies in advance!

Furthermore, the drought in Longzhou and other areas continues to worsen, and the task of disaster relief also falls on the Ministry of Revenue.

If I were to become the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, I would be extremely busy!

Who knows, she might even be hoping to subsidize the imperial court with her own money!

No, no!

I'm not short of money right now, and I've never thought about embezzling. I absolutely cannot be the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue!

Qin Yu didn't want to choose either option and looked at Zhao Luan with a distressed expression. "Your Majesty, are there any other options?"

What do you think?

Zhao Luan deliberately kept a straight face, but Qin Yu almost made her laugh out of anger.

That bastard!

Everyone else is trying every means to get promoted, but if you want to promote him, you have to find something to hold against him!

What kind of nonsense is this!

If it weren't for valuing talent, and if it weren't for the pain they felt, she would have really wanted to give this bastard a good beating!

Seeing that Zhao Luan wouldn't give him a chance to discuss, Qin Yu immediately wilted like a frostbitten eggplant, "Then Your Majesty, why don't you have someone hang me up and give me a good beating!"

Go ahead and fight! Go ahead and fight!

This is a good opportunity to test her!

If this beating comes down, I will never offer another suggestion again!

And things like refined salt and distilled liquor must never come from my hands!

Anyway, I've already achieved financial freedom, so I don't need these things to make money!

"you……"

Zhao Luan was so angry that she was panting heavily, and her legs were twitching.

It seemed to be hesitating whether to use its 1.2-meter-long legs to kick this ungrateful thing away.

That bastard!

Would you rather be hung up and whipped than get promoted?

Is he really born in the Year of the Donkey?

He used to move if I whipped him, but now he won't even move an inch after I whip him.

"The Empress Dowager has arrived."

Just as Zhao Luan was secretly annoyed, the voice of a eunuch suddenly came from outside...