Great, it's just a lackey, we're saved!

Chapter 141 Chicken Si Chen!

As soon as the decree was issued, everyone's eyes turned to the Crown Prince.

Doesn't the emperor's intention amount to having the Imperial Noble Consort oversee the country?

Then what is the Crown Prince, the heir apparent?

The Crown Prince stared in shock at Bai Xiaoxiao on the dragon throne, his face turning deathly pale.

It took him a while to react, and he immediately glared angrily at the eunuch who was delivering the imperial edict.

"Nonsense! I am the Crown Prince. Even if Father Emperor appoints someone else to manage state affairs, he should let me, the Crown Prince, oversee the country."

"How can matters of state be entrusted to a woman? This is tantamount to a hen crowing at dawn!"

Bai Xiaoxiao remained unmoved despite the Crown Prince's insults, as if he wasn't actually cursing her.

Chen Wenyu also stepped forward and asked, "Grand Eunuch Liu, is this truly His Majesty's decree?"

The head eunuch quickly bowed and said, "Lord Chen, this is indeed His Majesty's decree. I just brought it out from Hexi Palace yesterday."

"Even if I had the greatest courage in the world, I would not dare to deceive you all!"

Everyone fell silent for a moment. Since the chief eunuch by the emperor's side had said so, there was no way to question it anymore.

How can they accept Bai Xiaoxiao, a woman, sitting on the dragon throne to oversee the country? How can they face the people of the world?

Chen Wenyu turned his gaze to the Crown Prince. With the court in chaos, it was time for Crown Prince Jiang Yueshan to take responsibility!

Not only Chen Wenyu, but other civil and military officials were also watching the Crown Prince.

Bai Xiaoxiao is an Imperial Noble Consort, a woman of high status. Only the Crown Prince and the Eldest Princess in the Fengtian Palace can rival her.

The Crown Prince originally wanted Chen Wenyu and other civil officials to step forward, but seeing that everyone was watching him, he knew that he could not hide at this moment.

The only option was to grit his teeth and continue the confrontation with Bai Xiaoxiao.

"Imperial Noble Consort, although my father has issued this decree, I have some doubts."

Bai Xiaoxiao smiled and said, "Your Highness, please feel free to speak your mind if you have any concerns."

"If Father Emperor truly appointed the Imperial Noble Consort to oversee the country, why have all the memorials sent to Hexi Palace these past few days been left unreviewed? Could it be that Father Emperor only granted the Imperial Noble Consort the right to attend court, but didn't allow you to see the memorials?"

Bai Xiaoxiao remained calm upon hearing this.

He winked at the head eunuch beside him.

The chief eunuch immediately came out carrying an imperial seal.

When the crown prince saw the seal, his breath hitched.

"Jade Seal of Chuanguo?!"

“Indeed, it is the Imperial Seal of the State,” Bai Xiaoxiao reached for the tray and picked up the Imperial Seal of the State directly. “How could His Majesty refuse to allow me to see the memorials? The Imperial Seal of the State is in my hands.”

"However, I have been busy with the investiture ceremony these past few days and have had no time to deal with government affairs."

"See, as soon as the investiture ceremony ended, I began the court session."

"Is that right, Lord Chen Wenyu? I told you myself yesterday that court would be in session today. Did I lie to you?"

Chen Wenyu was so angry that his beard was trembling.

Yesterday, upon hearing the news of the founding of the dynasty, he was moved to tears, believing that the Great Zhou Dynasty was saved!

I never expected to be dealt such a heavy blow today. It's bad enough that the incompetent emperor doesn't attend court, but now a concubine has come along who is bringing disaster to the country.

Whom did my Great Zhou offend to become so turbulent?

Chen Wenyu cried out inwardly, but his face remained unusually cold.

"If I had known that the Imperial Noble Consort would be presiding over the court assembly today, I would have claimed illness and not come."

Chen Wenyu's words were extremely disrespectful to Bai Xiaoxiao.

Bai Xiaoxiao didn't hold it against him.

She merely toyed with the Imperial Seal of the State and looked at the Crown Prince, saying, "Your Highness, I now possess His Majesty's decree and hold the Imperial Seal of the State."

"Who supports my role as regent, and who opposes it?"

The crown prince glared at Bai Xiaoxiao, but couldn't utter a word in rebuttal.

Seeing this, Chen Wenyu sighed in disappointment.

He cupped his hands towards Bai Xiaoxiao and said, "Since the Imperial Noble Consort is presiding over the court assembly, may I then present my memorial?"

Bai Xiaoxiao waved her hand, "What is it, sir? Please speak freely."

"The heavy snow in Beijing has caused great hardship for the people. Food is scarce and prices are soaring. In just over ten days, hundreds of people have died of cold and starvation."

"Your Majesty, I request that you issue an order for disaster relief, commanding all prefectures and counties to transport essential supplies such as grain and charcoal to aid the capital."

Wang Shu, the Prefect of Jingzhao, also stepped forward and said, "I also request the Imperial Noble Consort to allow the granaries to be opened and grain to be distributed, and at the same time allocate funds to the Prefect of Jingzhao for disaster relief in the capital."

The other court officials immediately understood.

They stepped forward one after another, and the matters they reported were all related to natural disasters!

Not only that, Luo Maocheng, the Minister of Revenue, began to complain: "Your Highness, the Prefect of the Capital has requested that the granaries be opened to distribute grain, and I do not object, but if the Ministry of Revenue is asked to allocate funds again, the Ministry of Revenue does not have the money!"

Bai Xiaoxiao raised her eyebrows slightly: "The Ministry of Revenue is in charge of the nation's finances, so why does Lord Luo say there is no money?"

Luo Maocheng explained, "Your Highness, you may not know this, but many places in the south suffered from disasters last year and this year, including droughts and floods, followed by rampant plagues."

"The refugees from the capital that Lord Wang just mentioned came from the disaster-stricken prefectures in the south."

"Natural disasters are unpredictable, people are displaced, the south has poor harvests, and there are still arrears in taxes from last year and this year in various parts of the south."

"As we all know, the southeast is the lifeblood of the Great Zhou. When the southeast suffers a disaster, the Great Zhou's tax revenue becomes a problem."

Luo Maocheng's words silenced everyone.

Although it was meant to create difficulties for Bai Xiaoxiao, what he said was also true.

The disasters in the south and the tax arrears were originally suppressed and kept hidden by the Great Zhou Emperor.

However, with the Great Zhou Emperor not attending court for more than ten days, capable officials began to save themselves. To do things, they had to spend money, and to spend money, they had to go to the Ministry of Revenue.

Luo Maocheng had no money at all, and under pressure, he told them about his difficulties.

If he continues to keep it a secret, he will likely be accused of embezzlement and dereliction of duty.

Only then did the officials realize that the entire country was already in turmoil!

Now, after much anticipation, the Great Zhou Emperor has finally convened court, yet Bai Xiaoxiao, a woman, finds herself seated on the dragon throne.

The court officials, naturally, no longer held back, and they exposed all the sores to Bai Xiaoxiao.

Hoping to scare away this hen-like imperial concubine!

No one expected a woman to be able to solve such a problem.

Bai Xiaoxiao sat comfortably on the dragon throne, glancing at Jiang Yueli standing quietly below.

Throughout the entire process, the eldest princess of the Great Zhou Dynasty remained silent.

It was as if these national affairs had nothing to do with her!

Jiang Yueli stood with her hands tucked in her sleeves, her manners impeccable, her eyes lowered, making it impossible to tell what she was thinking.

Bai Xiaoxiao withdrew her gaze and then raised her hand to signal everyone to stop.

"After all you've said, I understand now."

She looked at Chen Wenyu and Wang Shu, "You all want me to issue an imperial decree for disaster relief and request the court to allocate funds."

After saying that, he looked at Luo Maocheng.

"Lord Luo's meaning is that the imperial court has no money and cannot allocate a single penny."

“The soldiers’ pay is the most important thing, especially the troops stationed at the gorges. The conditions for fighting are harsh, and not a single penny can be delayed.”

"If you insist that the Ministry of Revenue take something out, you can only take some supplies. Don't even think about giving us essential supplies like grain and charcoal. At most, you can give us some spices from the Southern Frontier and some cloth that's about to rot, is that right?"

After explaining his points in detail, Luo Maocheng's face turned bright red.

But he had no choice; what he said was true.