The Prodigal Son

What should I do?

Zhao Luan gets angry just thinking about it.

"What else can we do?"

Zhao Luan took a deep breath. "Lu Si beat Shi Lian'er so badly, the marriage between the two families has to be called off! I'll summon Shi Yi later and give Lu Si a severe beating in front of him. That will be enough to appease the Shi family! Prime Minister Gao will present a memorial on the salt administration issue in court tomorrow. Let's see if Shi Yi knows what's good for him!"

As expected, we still have to fight Lü Si!

Qin Yu raised his eyes, smiled, and asked, "How severe are you planning to be with these dozens of lashes, Your Majesty?"

A flash of anger crossed Zhao Luan's eyes. "At the very least, there has to be bloodshed! Ideally, this bastard should be bedridden for three to five months!"

"Isn't this inappropriate?"

Qin Yu frowned slightly and tentatively said, "After all, Lü Si is Empress Dowager Shi's nephew. His Majesty and the Empress Dowager have finally repaired their relationship. If it gets ruined again because of Lü Si..."

"Did Lü Si give you any benefits?"

Zhao Luan interrupted Qin Yu, a playful look suddenly appearing on her face.

Lu Si wanted to drag him down with him, yet he pleaded for Lu Si's life?

When did Qin Yu become so magnanimous?

"Twenty thousand taels of silver."

Qin Yu grinned and readily admitted it.

"you……"

Zhao Luan never expected Qin Yu to admit it so readily, and for a moment she didn't know what to say.

"Your Majesty, accepting these twenty thousand taels of silver will benefit everyone!"

Then, Qin Yu told Zhao Luan his plan: "What I'm thinking is that in front of Shi Yi, we'll make it look like we're going to beat Lü Si badly, to appease the Shi family! But in reality, we'll prevent Lü Si from being seriously injured, so as not to affect the relationship between Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager..."

After hearing Qin Yu's words, Zhao Luan almost kicked him.

That bastard!

This is trying to get me to lie with him!

However, his method is indeed quite good.

Zhao Luan pondered for a moment, then said seriously, "Your method can be used, but Lü Si will definitely have to learn a lesson, otherwise he won't learn his lesson!"

"That's true!"

Qin Yu nodded slightly, muttering to himself.

Lu Si, this is all the damn thing I can do for you!

Who told you to court death?

Zhao Luan raised her eyes. "Logically speaking, I should have made you share half of the silver with me! But I'm not as shameless as you!"

"what?"

Qin Yu feigned surprise, "I thought Your Majesty was going to reward me!"

Zhao Luan's face stiffened, then he slammed his hand on the imperial desk, growling in a frantic voice, "Do you want me to give you two lashes?"

asshole!

How dare you ask for a reward?

He deserves a beating!

"Your Majesty, please don't be angry."

Qin Yu chuckled and quickly stepped back. "I was just joking with Your Majesty because you were in a bad mood over the loss of Zhubei City."

"A high-ranking official of the second rank, all he does is think about these crooked and wicked schemes!"

Zhao Luan glared at Qin Yu, annoyed. "If it weren't for your contributions to the court, I would have punished you long ago!"

"Yes, yes! Your Majesty's kindness is deeply appreciated by your subject," Qin Yu replied perfunctorily.

"Don't try that on me!"

Zhao Luan scoffed, "You've told me some important matters, so I'll tell you some important matters too!"

"Your Majesty, please speak."

Qin Yu immediately put on a serious expression, secretly pondering to himself.

Could it be that they're going to hand over the task of overseeing the salt administration to me?

Zhao Luan glanced at Qin Yu and said in an unquestionable tone, "You are fully responsible for the reorganization of the salt administration!"

Got it!

Song Zhuo guessed it right!

Qin Yu felt a pang of helplessness and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I am willing to share your burdens!"

"Um?"

Zhao Luan looked at Qin Yu with surprise, "You're not even going to bare your teeth at me?"

"Ugh!"

Qin Yu sighed softly, "His Majesty has decided that I should handle this matter; I cannot refuse even if I wanted to!"

Judging from the way she spoke, she wouldn't give herself a chance to refuse.

Since I can't refuse, what's the point of saying anything?

Zhao Luan narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly, staring at Qin Yu with a playful expression: "Perhaps your mentor said something to you?"

"No!"

Qin Yu lied, saying, "If Your Majesty would be so considerate as to spare me this thankless task, I would be eternally grateful!"

"Dream on!"

Zhao Luan composed himself and said seriously, "Looking at the entire court, indeed no one is more suitable than you to handle this matter!"

Qin Yu secretly pursed his lips, then tentatively said, "I have a question for you, Your Majesty, please don't be angry."

Zhao Luan: "Ask away!"

Qin Yu secretly observed Zhao Luan's expression, "If this matter is handled poorly or not handled well, will His Majesty...?"

"That's impossible!"

Zhao Luan interrupted Qin Yu directly, "At this critical juncture, you must handle this matter well! I also believe you can do it well!"

Ah!

A good beating and a barrage of psychological manipulation tactics.

Qin Yu inwardly scoffed, pondered for a moment, then looked up and said, "If that's the case, I'm afraid I'll have to ask Your Majesty for some authority!"

We absolutely must have the right to act first and report later!

Anyone who dares to obstruct my work, I'll just shut them down!

You can't expect yourself to get things done well while also restricting your own actions.

"You don't need to worry about that!"

Zhao Luan slightly raised her hand. "Since I've entrusted you with this task, I will give you sufficient authority! We'll discuss the specifics after this matter is settled!"

"good!"

Qin Yu didn't waste any more words.

Just give yourself enough power!

Aren't they just salt merchants?

Anyone who dares to bare their teeth at me, I'll show them what the state apparatus is all about!

After chatting with Qin Yu for a while, Zhao Luan ordered Shangguan Youyi to personally prepare some things.

Once everything was ready, Zhao Luan led Qin Yu to the Imperial Garden and ordered someone to summon Shi Yi there.

Soon, Shi Yi arrived at the Imperial Garden.

"His Majesty!"

Upon seeing Zhao Luan, Shi Yi immediately knelt down, weeping and wailing, "Your Majesty, please do justice for my daughter!"

"Please rise, Lord Shi!"

Zhao Luan rubbed his forehead, feigning a headache. "I've known about Lü Si and Shi Lian'er's affair for a long time! I should have dealt with it much earlier, but urgent military news came from Shuozhou, and I was discussing matters with my ministers, which delayed things for a while!"

"I have also heard the news of the fall of Zhubei City."

Shi Yi nodded repeatedly: "Your Majesty, I do not wish to trouble you with the private affairs of the younger generation, but Lü Si has gone too far! I do not ask Your Majesty to severely punish Lü Si, but only that Your Majesty speak to the Empress Dowager on my behalf, begging her to have pity on my daughter and prevent her from falling into a pit of fire!"

As he spoke, Shi Yi kowtowed heavily, his head hitting the ground.

"Alright! Get up!"

Zhao Luan raised her hand to stop Shi Yi, "As the saying goes, a forced marriage is never sweet. Since neither Lü Si nor Shi Lian'er has any intention of marrying the other, their marriage should be called off!"

"My lord, thank you Your Majesty!"

With tears in his eyes, Shi Yi kowtowed again and slowly stood up.

"Although Lü Si is the Empress Dowager's nephew, he beat Shi Lian'er so badly without cause, and I will not let him off easily!"

As Zhao Luan spoke, he immediately and sternly ordered Yun Ying, "Bring Lü Si here to me!"

"yes!"

Yun Ying accepted the order.