```
"What kind of talk is that?"
Nangong Feiying naturally refused to admit it, "Isn’t it just that I wanted to spare you from seeing more of the world’s filth?"
He also understood the Second Master; he was very certain, no matter how exhausted and worn out the Second Master appeared now, as if with a turn of his head he would let go of everything and pay no more heed, yet should the Second Master witness an injustice, he would still intervene, no matter how difficult or tiring!
Good people should reap good rewards!
"Dongying is too far away, I won’t be going there."
Yang Ge laughed and slowly shook his head, speaking softly, "After this matter is resolved, I’m going back to my hometown, I’m telling you, I’m really good at farming now. In the future, if you receive some unexplained farm produce and dried fruits, that’ll be from me."
Nangong Feiying laughed with a "hehehe" and nodded, "Then I’ll be looking forward to your farm produce!"
"No problem!"
Yang Ge patted his chest, "Leave it to me."
Just then, a melodious chant of greeting, rising and falling in pitch, came from outside the yamen’s main gate: "The Emperor’s carriage has arrived... Ouch!"
The greeting was cut halfway through by a cry of pain.
One could faintly hear Zhao Hong’s varying shouts and scoldings.
Nangong Feiying hurriedly put down his chopsticks, stood up, straightened his robe, and bowed silently in wait.
Yang Ge leisurely picked at his food, turning his head to look toward the main gate, he saw Zhao Hong, dressed in a round-necked pale blue brocade robe, with a piece of mutton-fat jade hanging at his waist, striding into the hall with Tang Xiong by his side.
Nangong Feiying started to bow: "Your servant Nangong Feiying greets..."
Yang Ge narrowed his eyes, a glint of ferocity flashed through them.
Seeing this, Zhao Hong immediately waved his hands and called out, "All right, all right, what’s all this formality among our own? Aren’t you just trying to blind me with respect?"
Yang Ge, smiling a dry smile, interrupted the about-to-explain Nangong Feiying, "From the sound of it, the Emperor seems quite displeased with me... how about, should I also get up and give you a kowtow?"
"Enough, enough..."
Zhao Hong waved his hands in mock distress, "Stop making me shiver with fright. I may be the Emperor, but I’m also the little shop boy under you!"
Yang Ge, puzzled, turned to Tang Xiong, "With all your experience, who does this little guy remind you of? Neither Emperor Zhongzong nor Emperor Gaozong acted like him!"
Tang Xiong, struggling to keep a straight face, didn’t dare to truly laugh, and replied with all seriousness, "Emperor Taizong, when he was young, was also quite... hmm, carefree!"
Though in his heart, he complained silently, ’Who does he remind you of? Don’t you have a clue in your heart?’
Zhao Hong, listening to the two men talking as if no one else was there about the previous emperors, looked left and right; he dared not provoke either of them, his expression growing increasingly aggrieved, "I am still the Emperor, big or small. Can you two show me at least a little respect? Speaking about a father to his son, an ancestor to his grandchild, this is truly impolite!"
Tang Xiong, unchanging in expression, "I addressed Emperor Taizong as brother, even in his presence, I dared to speak so!"
Yang Ge expressionless, "Your father didn’t dare to talk to me like that in my presence!"
Zhao Hong: ...
All are living ancestors!
He sat down in a huff in the seat that Nangong Feiying had just vacated, his gaze quickly scanning the few dishes on the table, he then hollered, "Has the royal court not been paying your Western Factory salaries? Is this how you treat Marquis Luting with these things?"
Nangong Feiying stood to the side with his head lowered, not daring to speak.
The corner of Yang Ge’s eye twitched, and the food he had been about to eat was returned to the bowl.
He gently put down his chopsticks and, with a pleasant expression, said to Tang Xiong, "How about this, why don’t you take a walk outside and come back later?"
Zhao Hong’s face stiffened as he attempted to divert the awkward situation, "There’s no need for that, surely..."
Tang Xiong nearly laughed aloud but graciously waved his hand, "Then you two masters and apprentice can have a slow chat. I’ll take a walk... Nangong, why are you still standing there?"
```
Nangong Feiying was at a loss, "This, this..."
Tang Xiong didn’t wait for an explanation but stepped forward to grab his shoulder, lifted him up like an eagle snatching a chick, and strode towards the entrance of the public hall. As he left, he kindly closed the main door behind him.
"Bang."
The door closed with a heavy thud.
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Zhao Hong shuddered all over.
Yang Ge slowly rolled up his sleeves with an expressionless face.
Zhao Hong turned pale, trembling as he raised a hand to protect his face, "N-n-no, let’s get this straight first, you can’t hit the face again, I am the Emperor now, I need to save face..."
But bracing himself for a moment, he didn’t experience the tempest he had imagined.
He slightly lowered his arm and stole a glance, only to discover Yang Ge vigorously eating his meal with a bowl in hand, "Aren’t you supposed to be winning hearts in the palace? Why are you showing up here?"
Zhao Hong relaxed, lowered his arm and chuckled sheepishly, "I just came to see if you still needed my cooperation..."
"Don’t expect me to help you further."
Yang Ge replied expressionlessly, "I’ve done what I could, the rest is up to you."
Zhao Hong didn’t really expect that, shaking his head repeatedly, "I know you’ve already done so much; pressing on would only cause the court’s system to truly collapse. I truly came to see if there’s anything else that needs doing, something I could help with."
"You don’t need to worry too much about the matters of the court. You’ve pulled out a few of the most stubborn nails for me; half of the rest are scared out of their wits by you, and the other half go whichever way the wind blows. If, with all you’ve done, I still can’t control the court, then I don’t deserve to be Emperor, and I might as well abdicate early to let a worthy successor take over!"
Yang Ge heard him speak, his expression not changing much, but his eyes softened considerably.
He ate in silence, focused on his meal.
Zhao Hong sat quietly beside him, occasionally pushing some side dishes towards Yang Ge.
After a while, Yang Ge spoke again, pointing at some scrolls on the table with his chopsticks, "Later, I will have Nangong Feiying return these files to the corresponding corrupt officials. Take a look so you know roughly what’s going on. After this matter is settled, drag your feet a bit and gradually replace and deal with these people. Move slowly and secretly; don’t give them another chance to band together against you!"
Zhao Hong nodded, rose to his feet, and walked briskly towards the table.
Yang Ge set down his empty bowl and lounged back in his chair, meaningfully adding, "I’ll stay in the capital for the next half a month and won’t go anywhere. If you have something in mind, make it quick..."
Zhao Hong understood but a hint of hesitation crossed his face, "Allow me to think it over a bit more."
Yang Ge glanced at him and said softly, "I’m not here to boast. I only ask, if you miss this opportunity, where will you find someone like me who can hold the fort and buy you half a month’s time?"
Zhao Hong pursed his lips tightly and nodded assertively, "I will arrange it as soon as possible; if there are changes, I might trouble you to intervene again!"
Yang Ge turned his head away and closed his eyes to rest, "You need to figure it out yourself. If I get involved too much, they’ll become useless..."
Zhao Hong nodded, "I will try to resolve issues without violence."
Yang Ge hummed softly in acknowledgment.
Zhao Hong opened a scroll in his hand, looking it over as he asked, "Nangong Feiying submitted a request, saying you want to give those Tusi in the Southwest Region a way out?"
"Hmm..."
With eyes closed, Yang Ge responded in a soft voice, "Nangong Feiying should have explained the reasons to you. I will only add this: ’How many more lives and provisions is the court willing to spend to achieve the territorial reform in the Southwest Region? By giving them a way out, not only can the court save on military strength and provisions, but the northern frontier can also gain more able-bodied forces, and the people in the Southwest Region can live in peace sooner. Three birds with one stone, why not do it?’"
Zhao Hong frowned and mulled it over for a long time before replying, "Your idea is very idealistic, but those mountain chiefs might not appreciate your benevolence!"
"Moreover, these people are like ungrateful wolf pups. We’ve already defeated them but letting them go is like releasing the tiger back to the mountain!"
Yang Ge replied, "You’re oversimplifying the territorial reform. It’s not as easy as you think. Although the court is nearly defeating those Tusi, if they refuse to cooperate, it will take at least twenty or thirty years to completely carry out territorial reform in the Southwest Region. With the threat of the northern invaders, if the court gets mired in the Southwest at this time... the consequences will be ten times, a hundred times worse than releasing the tiger back to the mountain."
"Besides, since I have initiated this, I will see it through to the end..."