The meal wasn't exactly pleasant.
It wasn't what Zhuo Lin had imagined of a female-dominated society at all.
There were no young consorts constantly begging for kisses and hugs, only noble sons shackled by feudal ethics, which left her with no sense of romance.
Even though she knew these were the original owner's mess, Zhuo Lin was still quite annoyed.
What annoyed her even more was that after eating, she still had to work.
No matter the world, she couldn't escape the drudgery of work. When she transmigrated into someone from the lower rungs of society, her main task was clocking in. Now, as an emperor, she still had to clock in.
Looking at the stacks of memorials piled before her, Zhuo Lin silently recited the Heart Calming Mantra several times before she could finally quiet her mind and start reviewing them.
She had barely gone through two when the absurd actions of the civil and military officials blinded her. She had underestimated the situation; even without the protagonist's rebirth, it would be quite difficult for her to be a good emperor.
What in the world were these submissions?
They brought every major and minor issue to her. What was the point of her paying their salaries each year?
Were they meant to give her a headache?
Zhuo Lin simply stopped reviewing and skipped work.
She decided to first understand the specific background of the entire world, especially the relationships between the four countries. The plot had been explained too simply, and she needed to inquire about it in detail.
She spent the entire day doing just that.
In the evening, Zhuo Lin, as usual, went to Chenyue Palace for dinner, then returned to her own chambers to sleep.
The next morning, the first thing Zhuo Lin did upon ascending the throne was to execute someone. Without a word, she had the two officials who had angered her yesterday dragged out and beheaded. Then, she instructed the head palace maid to return all the memorials detailing trivial matters to their submitters, letting them deal with it themselves.
"Everyone, take a look at what your memorials are about. Who is Li Xuanqing from the Ministry of Justice?"
A female official trembled as she stepped forward. "Your Majesty, I am Li Xuanqing."
"Where is Yang Wei, the Minister of Justice?"
"Your Majesty, I am here."
"Who handled the case of the refugees in the west of the city?"
The Minister of Justice remained silent. As he hesitated, Li Xuanqing spoke up first, "Replying to Your Majesty, it was I."
"Effective immediately, you and the Minister will swap positions. Within half a month, investigate the case of the merchants in the south of the city. If you fail to find a resolution by then, you will both bring each other's heads to court!"
The two immediately knelt. "Yes, your subject obeys."
"Where is Liu Lingyu of the Capital Prefecture?"
"Your subject is here."
Zhuo Lin stood up. "I have heard that your legitimate son is pampered and precious, requiring eighteen attendants whenever he travels, and using people as a bridge to go boating. Even the consorts in my harem dare not act so presumptuously. Lord Liu, how do you discipline your offspring?"
That person also knelt with a thud. "Your subject's teachings have been inadequate. Your subject admits guilt and begs Your Majesty for punishment."
"Since you admit guilt, I shall administer a small punishment. You are fined one year's salary. Without a salary, I imagine your esteemed son will not be so arrogant."
This statement was not only a fine on her salary but also a warning that the Liu family would have to live frugally for the next year. If they lived as they had before, it would be considered corruption, and the consequences would be more severe than just losing a year's salary.
Zhuo Lin had already executed several officials in court these past two days. When Liu Lingyu heard her name being called, she thought her head was forfeit. To her surprise, she was only fined a year's salary. She was overcome with both sorrow and joy and quickly kowtowed in gratitude.
"Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your benevolent grace!"
After resolving these matters, Zhuo Lin looked at those still holding memorials and reading them. "Have all esteemed lords finished reading?"
"This subject has finished."
"What have you read?"
"Replying to Your Majesty." The official, an elder of over sixty, stepped forward after completing his bow and said, "This subject has read the memorial from Prince Pingnan, requesting the enfeoffment of His Highness Prince Haoxuan and a marriage for him. His Highness is twenty-two this year and has reached the age of marriage. This subject believes this matter should be expedited." Sudana Novel Network
Zhuo Lin did not reply but asked others, "What about the other lords' readings?"
An official stepped forward. "This subject read the memorial from Lord Zhou, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial. She stated that the Azure Dragon Kingdom to the west has been restless recently, and the court should be prepared, deploying troops and strengthening defenses to remain vigilant against the Azure Dragon Kingdom."
"What do you think?"
Before she could speak, an official standing at the front stepped forward. "Your Majesty, this subject believes that peace currently reigns supreme. The frequent unrest in Azure Dragon is merely due to the scarcity of water and grass in the west, leaving the people of Azure Dragon poorly clothed and fed. If Your Majesty could grant Azure Dragon convenient trade relations, foster amity between the two nations, and use a marriage alliance for pacification, the Azure Dragon Kingdom would surely be grateful, and Vermillion Bird would win without a fight."
"Your Majesty, when the late Emperor was alive, he said that Vermillion Bird would not seek peace through marriage alliances. Lord Yan disrespects the imperial authority. I beg Your Majesty to severely punish him!"
"Marriage alliances are a national humiliation. Azure Dragon is a male-dominated nation, and to send Vermillion Bird's eldest daughter to become a concubine in Azure Dragon is unbearable. Lord Yan's words are truly malicious! I beg Your Majesty to severely punish him!"
"Vermillion Bird cannot engage in marriage alliances. I implore Your Majesty to reconsider."
The said Lord Yan defended himself, "The marriage alliance I spoke of does not necessarily mean Vermillion Bird's daughter must marry into another country. Men from other countries can marry into ours. Why are all the lords reacting so strongly?"
Zhuo Lin found their mutual bickering quite amusing.
When their exchanges had subsided, she said, "This matter will be discussed later. What about the other lords' readings?"
The others held memorials about trivial matters and dared not speak.
"Have you not finished reading?" she surveyed them. "Or are you unable to speak of it?"
The entire hall was silent, so quiet that a pin drop would be audible.
Her voice suddenly rose significantly. "It seems you are unable to speak of it. Indeed, the memorials submitted by all of you are so trivial that even a toddler on the street could point out their flaws. Are all the officials in the court less capable than children?"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."
Everyone immediately knelt, recalling the two officials who had been executed earlier. Each of them felt a chill down their spine.
After a few minutes of stalemate, Zhuo Lin finally said, "I give you your salaries not for you to waste my time with trivial matters every day!"
"Your subjects know their mistakes. Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"
Zhuo Lin slammed the dragon throne and declared, "Effective immediately, anyone who submits such a memorial to waste my time will be treated as an object of amusement and made to perform a beheading for my entertainment!"
The civil and military officials lowered their heads, speechless.
Zhuo Lin watched them kneel for several minutes before allowing them to straighten up. Her anger had subsided, and she calmly inquired about the candidates they had recommended yesterday.
Perhaps due to the shock, after a period of silence, someone stepped forward and stated their recommendation.
The official trembled as he said, "This subject recommends Assistant Minister of Rites, Lord Zhong. Lord Zhong cares for the people and is dedicated to the nation and its populace. He will undoubtedly be able to handle this matter well."