Let's just drift through life together in this quick transmigration story.

Chapter 724 Phoenix Returns to Its Nest (10)

Upon hearing the "plop" sound, Xiong Bufan felt a pain in his knee.

Ancient times were good, but there was one bad thing: people always liked to kneel—kneeling to heaven and earth, kneeling to their parents, kneeling to even the lowest-ranking officials, and kneeling to the emperor.

"What are you doing kneeling? Get up."

Wang Shijun cautiously looked up at Xiong Bufan and found that she hadn't opened her eyes, but was fully aware of her actions.

"Your Majesty, I am guilty, please punish me."

Xiong Bufan: "Get up. What kind of behavior is this, always kneeling like that? Go sleep on the couch."

"Yes."

After Xiong Bufan finished eating, he was still very tolerant of people, especially those who first performed songs and dances for him and then fed him.

Having violated two of the palace's taboos, it's a miracle that Wang Shijun is still alive.

In the palace, you can't worship evil gods, the romance system is obviously not a good thing, and you have to obey the emperor's orders, or you'll lose your head.

After all, the emperor doesn't come to the harem to quarrel; he comes to rest.

Wang Shijun carefully climbed onto the couch, covered herself with the quilt, and opened her eyes to look at Xiong Bufan.

His Majesty now has more humanity than before, and is not as cold-blooded and doting on Consort Liu.

The next morning, as soon as Xiong Bufan woke up, he saw Wang Shijun waiting to help him change his clothes.

Whether in a matriarchal society or elsewhere, Xiong Bufan was not used to the approach of women. He reached out his hand to refuse Wang Shijun and said, "No need to trouble yourself. You were tired last night, so go back to sleep."

Although what he said was true, it sounded so misleading.

Wang Shijun nodded shyly, then lay down on the couch.

The palace maids who were helping Xiong Bufan dress watched the interaction between the two and felt that Xiong Bufan was deeply in love with Wang Shijun.

Wang Shijun was probably the most favored man in the harem.

After dressing properly, Xiong Bufan went to court. Today she also needed to check on the progress of disaster relief. If necessary, she could execute a few corrupt officials and confiscate their property to replenish the national treasury.

The ministers' injuries had healed somewhat, but their faces were still bruised. However, they were always full of fighting spirit, wanting to get revenge for the beatings they had suffered and not wanting to be beaten for nothing.

Xiong Bufan didn't want them to fight right now; he simply didn't want to watch the spectacle.

Good news came from the disaster relief efforts at the morning court session, but along with them came two complaints, each speaking ill of the other, for their own reasons.

Xiong Bufan didn't read the bad comments, only the good ones; she didn't want their hostility to affect her.

Imperial Censor Li felt that his emperor had made something of himself and looked at Xiong Bufan with great satisfaction.

Xiong Bufan is increasingly resembling a qualified emperor, rather than a bear forced into a difficult position.

There are endless matters to be resolved in the imperial court. After solving the major issues, there are always minor ones, and once the minor issues are resolved, new issues will arise.

"Your Majesty, no heir has been born in the palace. Do you think we should continue the selection of candidates? There are already eligible men in the court. What do you think?"

Xiong Bufan: "I will not marry or take in a concubine. Instead of spending your time asking around about which families have eligible young men, you should investigate which powerful countries are nearby."

The official said, "Your Majesty, we are the only powerful nation."

Xiong Bufan: "I don't want to hear flattery. I'm serious."

The ministers in the court fell silent. In terms of power, they really couldn't compare to other countries, and their territory wasn't very large either.

The surrounding countries didn't attack because the surrounding mountains isolated the powerful nations outside, but from time to time, smaller neighboring countries would still harass them.

Xiong Bufan angrily cursed, "The country is not yet stable, and you want me to choose a concubine? You people can't even tell what's important and what's urgent."

"Keeping concubines doesn't cost money, you bunch of useless busybodies!"

Previously, it was always the ministers who wrote memorials to advise the emperor, but this fearless person actually cursed the emperor. This was the first time he had been cursed by the emperor three or four times.

The ministers' pride was somewhat unable to accept it, but they could only endure being scolded by the emperor.

A military officer threw his hat on the ground and said, "I want to resign. I'm not going to be an official anymore."

I can't win fights or arguments every day. My colleagues are like shrewish thugs. I even get scolded by the emperor for no reason. I entered the court to seek happiness for the people and protect the country, not to quarrel.

If it's like this every day, what's the difference between that and being a doormat?

Xiong Bufan's expression changed slightly. He admired this person's courage. To be so weak yet so self-righteous, and to resign from his post in the end, he was quite capable.

Their shamelessness is so great that it could form a city wall.

The ministers in the court dared not breathe too loudly, for their emperor was unpredictable, and no one could be sure what she would do next.

Xiong Bufan picked up the memorial on the table and threw it away.

The military officer hadn't even left the main hall when he was already covered in blood, his head and body severed. The memorial he had sent flew to a pillar not far away and was firmly embedded in it.

The ministers in the court were now too afraid to even breathe, wondering when their emperor's martial arts skills had become so formidable.

The guards entered the main hall and silently dragged the military officer away, just as they had dragged away Liu Xi before.

Xiong Bufan: "Leng Menglin's collateral descendants for three generations are not allowed to serve as officials in the imperial court."

The Leng family's property was confiscated.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The imperial court is never a place you can come and go as you please, let alone put on airs in front of Xiong Bufan.

"Dismiss the court!" Xiong Bufan strode out of the main hall.

The ministers wanted to leave, but they were too frightened to move and could only sit on the ground to catch their breath.

The price of resigning from office was too high. It was a pity for the Leng family, because because of one person's problem, none of their descendants could enter the court to serve as officials.

I thought he was a rising star in the court, but it turns out he's a brainless idiot.

When Xiong Bufan returned to the Imperial Study, food was served one after another. Since there was no shortage of money recently, the food was much more plentiful, but it was time to pay salaries again.

Shangguan Yi: "Your Majesty, please calm down. General Leng has also been bewitched."

"When you raid someone's home, remember to be thorough."

"Yes."

Being an emperor isn't easy either; encountering outrageous ministers always takes a toll on one's mental energy.

Although Fengchao has fertile land and many talented people, many officials are recommended by local authorities.

The quality of the officials in the court was uneven. Some had bought their titles but were merely filling official positions. Many lacked real talent and learning. Moreover, those who were recommended for promotion mostly formed cliques and factions.

After truly understanding the situation, Xiong Bufan could only scratch his head repeatedly, racking his brains for a solution.

Shangguan Yi: "Your Majesty, you,"

Xiong Bufan: "I'm fine. Issue an order to demote the official who recommended Leng Menglin by one rank and deduct his salary for one year."

Shangguan Yi: "Yes, Your Majesty."

Xiong Bufan actually wanted to get rid of all the small teams, but the number of officials was not enough. If they were all demoted, there would be no one to do the work in the court.