Xiao Ye cupped his fists towards Mu Qinglan, "Your Majesty, the Empress, your harem is empty and without issue. This minister wishes to ask you to consider selecting consorts."
"You worry about my harem too?"
Mu Qinglan's face darkened. Seeing Xiao Ye's nonchalant demeanor, she couldn't help but feel angry.
The Grand Tutor, who was at odds with Xiao Ye, immediately interjected, "Your Majesty prioritizes the nation and its people, and has no interest in the harem!"
"The former Emperor had two children at sixteen. For the continuation of your lineage, Your Majesty should also take several concubines."
Xiao Ye had come today specifically to anger Mu Qinglan. In his past lives, he had never bothered with the harem.
This time, acting as a treacherous minister, Xiao Ye became even more excessive.
As expected, Mu Qinglan angrily exclaimed, "Are you saying I'm old?"
Xiao Ye smiled faintly, "This minister would not dare."
A clever "would not dare," Xiao Ye was clearly riding roughshod over the Empress, both inside and out.
"Grand Tutor, you may withdraw first."
Mu Qinglan saw the Grand Tutor about to argue further with Xiao Ye, and she felt a little tired.
She first dismissed the Grand Tutor and the Marquis of Lin'an.
Xiao Ye, however, remained in the study, continuing to make his presence known to Mu Qinglan.
Mu Qinglan held her brush, writing on the memorial in a vigorous style.
Xiao Ye stood behind her, observing the Empress's fluctuating expressions.
His presence in the study made her even more agitated.
Then she heard Xiao Ye's voice from behind, "Your Majesty, your writing is incorrect."
Seeing Xiao Ye's admonishing look, Mu Qinglan's hand tightened on the brush, almost breaking it.
She irritably said, "Prime Minister Xiao, why don't you write this memorial then?"
"This minister dares not."
Mu Qinglan snorted coldly, looking at the man standing in the room. She said, "Prime Minister Xiao, you even dare to threaten me. I see you are fearless!"
Xiao Ye also dropped his humble posture, a smile playing on his lips.
His tall figure approached Mu Qinglan. Xiao Ye took the Empress's hand and his gaze fell on the brush.
"Does Your Majesty wish for this minister to teach you?"
Mu Qinglan's body stiffened, and she immediately blurted out, "Get out."
However, Xiao Ye seemed unfazed and continued to hold Mu Qinglan's hand.
His deep, warm breath continuously brushed against Mu Qinglan's neck.
Xiao Ye leaned against Mu Qinglan's back, holding her hand as he wrote on the memorial.
The character "power"!
Seeing the character "power," Mu Qinglan immediately regained her senses. She wanted to scold Xiao Ye for his insubordination.
Xiao Ye's deep voice fell into the Empress's ears, "Your Majesty, does this feel familiar?"
What?
Mu Qinglan froze.
Xiao Ye chuckled, "When you were young, this minister taught you just like this."
Mu Qinglan's breathing hitched, and images uncontrollably flooded her mind.
Before she inherited the throne, when she was still a carefree princess...
Her father had found a teacher for Mu Qinglan, to guide her in understanding the world and the ways of an emperor.
At that time, Mu Qinglan was spoiled and willful, and absolutely unwilling to study.
Until she saw that young man's face. He was courteous and smiled at her, saying, "Princess Qinglan, I am Xiao Ye."
The young Xiao Ye was proficient in both literary and martial arts.
Countless times she had managed to read through books and write the Thousand Character Classic by looking at the young man's face.
Mu Qinglan had once admired him; his swordsmanship was exceptionally elegant.
She had even asked Xiao Ye to teach her martial arts when she came of age.
Later...
Xiao Ye was called by his family to fight in wars. Despite being born a military general, he became a prime minister to the Mu family.
Mu Qinglan's youthful affection was deeply buried in her heart.
She never imagined that Xiao Ye would become an utterly wicked traitor.
Mu Qinglan's ears tingled as she heard Xiao Ye's low chuckle, "Princess, have you remembered?"
Mu Qinglan looked into Xiao Ye's eyes. So what if she remembered?
The past with Xiao Ye was now a world away.
Her feelings towards Xiao Ye now were only endless killing intent.
"Prime Minister Xiao, if you intend to mock me..."
Mu Qinglan's gaze turned cold, and she forcefully pushed Xiao Ye's arm away.
"I will be angry."
Xiao Ye laughed even more wantonly. Hearing Mu Qinglan's response, he found it incredibly soft.
Mu Qinglan's heart grew more agitated. She dismissed him, "Prime Minister Xiao, I am tired. Are you not leaving?"
Xiao Ye's brows subtly furrowed. He said, "Your Majesty has not yet agreed to this minister's proposal for selecting consorts..."
"I will not select consorts, nor do I want male consorts."
Her harem was still empty to this day entirely because...
Mu Qinglan did not want to be betrayed by those closest to her. She didn't trust any man.
Xiao Ye, "Your Majesty, the overall situation is important..."
Seeing Xiao Ye still attempting to persuade her, Mu Qinglan's disgust was about to overflow.
She hated Xiao Ye's coercive demeanor the most. Suddenly, Mu Qinglan took a step forward towards Xiao Ye.
Mu Qinglan stood very close to Xiao Ye, her gaze fixed on his face. "Is selecting consorts so important? If Your Majesty fancied Prime Minister Xiao, would you be able to enter the palace?"
She was provoking Xiao Ye, saying this deliberately.
This was a great humiliation for Xiao Ye.
Mu Qinglan's face held a hint of vindication. She wanted to see Xiao Ye's stiffened expression.
However, she never expected Xiao Ye's answer!
Xiao Ye looked up, his gaze peaceful, and he curved his lips, "If Your Majesty fancies me, then of course I can."
Mu Qinglan saw Xiao Ye's nonchalant demeanor, his dark eyes deep and captivating.
This time, her face blushed slightly, and Mu Qinglan's expression froze. "Prime Minister Xiao, what joke is this? How could I..."
Before Xiao Ye became a traitor, Mu Qinglan had considered this possibility.
However, she and Xiao Ye could no longer go back.
Seeing Mu Qinglan continue to review memorials and tell him to leave again, he no longer stayed in the study and strode away.
The system saw Xiao Ye leave the palace. 【Host, I cannot see the 'whitewashing' value and cannot detect Mu Qinglan's status.】
On the surface, Xiao Ye seemed to have angered Mu Qinglan again.
This whitewashing was extremely difficult, relying entirely on Xiao Ye's judgment.
【It doesn't matter, I will make a move anyway.】
Xiao Ye walked out of the palace gates calmly and saw the sedan chair waiting for him.
He couldn't rush Mu Qinglan, so Xiao Ye didn't attach too much importance to it.
If he wanted to capture the Chigui Clan Leader, he had to interact with everyone in the illusion.
"Xiao Si, come with me to Lord Li's and Lord Min's houses to extort their wealth!"
The people Xiao Ye named were all officials of rank three or higher, and they were all from the Grand Tutor's faction!
His close attendant, Xiao Si, nodded in surprise.
"Yes, Prime Minister."
He took out boxes from the carriage. When they arrived at the homes of the lords, they would be filled to the brim.
The palace servants at the entrance heard this with trepidation. Xiao Ye truly lived up to his reputation as a powerful and treacherous minister.
He spoke so brazenly about robbing and oppressing officials' wealth.
Xiao Ye, with Xiao Si, visited all the officials' residences belonging to the Grand Tutor's faction.
Countless family fortunes were loaded into boxes by Xiao Ye and taken away.
He departed with a flourish, while the families wailed like ghosts.
Upon returning to the Prime Minister's mansion, a group of commoners lined up to perform their household duties.
Xiao Ye instructed Xiao Si to pay them their wages and welcomed them all into the Prime Minister's mansion.
He even hired people to renovate the mansion!
The entire impoverished Prime Minister's mansion became opulent, finally looking like the residence of a treacherous minister!