“True Lord, why not rest for a moment before reviewing the memorials?” Huang Jin, worried that Emperor Jiajing might fall ill from anger, cautiously ventured to advise in a soft voice.
These days were a time of many troubles—northern barbarians, southern pirates, natural disasters, and human calamities kept piling up. The memorials were mostly filled with bad news, and to make matters worse, some officials were utterly tactless. The Emperor had already been so angered that he couldn’t even eat his evening meal. If he kept going, forget eating—he probably wouldn’t even sleep tonight.
Not eating, not drinking, not sleeping—how could his body endure this? Wouldn’t he end up making himself ill from rage?
Huang Jin was genuinely worried.
“No matter. I’ll finish them in one go. There aren’t many memorials left—rest can wait until I’m done,” Emperor Jiajing said with a hint of irritation, waving his hand dismissively. He was determined to read through every last one, eager to see what else there was.
My dear Emperor, will you even be able to rest after finishing them?!
Then, under Huang Jin’s anxious gaze, Emperor Jiajing beckoned a young eunuch and picked up another memorial to read.
Sigh.
Huang Jin felt utterly helpless and deeply worried, but he had no solution. He could only watch as the Emperor flipped through the pages.
“Haha.”
The Emperor had barely opened the memorial when he let out a laugh.
The moment Huang Jin heard the Emperor laugh, he nearly collapsed onto the floor. Heavens above, which blasted minister had submitted this blasted memorial now?!
Just earlier, the Emperor had been so angry he’d let out a “hehe,” and now he was laughing “haha” from anger again!
You ministers are truly something—you’re determined to drive the Emperor to ruin today, aren’t you?!
I’ll find out later who this wretched minister is and what nonsense he’s written. I’ll have the factory guards keep a close eye on him!
When the time comes, I’ll dig up all his dirt and see how I deal with him!
Huang Jin watched the Emperor with immense concern, secretly resolving to make this minister—who’d made the Emperor laugh in anger—pay dearly.
“Hahahaha.”
Under Huang Jin’s increasingly worried gaze, Emperor Jiajing, still reading the memorial, burst into hearty laughter again.
Thud.
The young eunuch presenting the memorial dropped to his knees with a thud, his face pale and his body trembling.
When the Son of Heaven is enraged, millions of corpses lie in his wake.
Even if he were dim-witted, he’d figured it out by now. Earlier, the Emperor had only let out a “hehe” in anger over that last memorial. Now, this one had made him “haha” once, followed by a string of “hahahaha.” Just how infuriating must this memorial be to drive the Emperor to such a state?
It wasn’t just the young eunuch—Huang Jin dropped to his knees too, not out of fear, but out of worry.
The Emperor laughing “hahahaha” repeatedly meant this memorial’s audacity far surpassed Liu Zui’s earlier one, which had only earned a “hehe” of rage.
Who wrote this memorial?!
What was in this memorial?!
To make the Emperor lose his composure like this—laughing “haha” once wasn’t enough; he had to keep going with “hahahaha.”
What had the Emperor been driven to?!
Huang Jin was so furious he gritted his teeth!
Just as Huang Jin was seething, another round of “hahahaha” laughter echoed from above him.
“Hahahaha.” Emperor Jiajing, still engrossed in the memorial, laughed heartily once more.
Hearing the Emperor’s continuous laughter, the young eunuch was so terrified that he banged his head on the floor and didn’t dare lift it, trembling all over. Heavens, the Emperor wouldn’t take it out on me, would he? After all, I was the one who brought these memorials from the Duty Office of the Hall of Leisurely Affairs.
True, it was on the Emperor’s orders, but when he’s angry, he’s not likely to think that far.
When Huang Jin heard yet another round of “hahahaha,” his vision darkened, and he nearly fainted on the spot.
My heavens, what kind of memorial was this? What was written in it to make the Emperor like this?
You just wait—I’ll find out who you are, and I’ll make you regret ever submitting this memorial!
To drive the Emperor to such a state! I won’t let you off!
I’ll dig up every scrap of dirt on you, your entire family, and everyone in your household—leaving you with nowhere to hide!
Huang Jin swore to himself that he’d make this minister—who’d driven the Emperor to this—suffer.
“Huang Ban, order the Imperial Kitchen to bring food and a pot of the Huadiao wine tribute from Wu. I want to eat while I read this memorial, savouring it carefully, hahahaha.”
As Huang Jin was grinding his teeth in fury, Emperor Jiajing’s voice suddenly drifted down to him.
Good! The Emperor’s taking action—you’re done for! Just like Liu Zui, you’ll be ruined beyond redemption!
How’s the Emperor striking this time?
Wait.
Bring food?! Serve wine?!
Huh?!
What?
Food? Wine?
Huang Jin’s brain couldn’t process Emperor Jiajing’s words at first—the turn was too sharp.
Order the Imperial Kitchen to bring food and serve wine?!
Did I hear that right?! The Emperor wants to eat and drink?! He’s not angry—he’s happy?!
Huang Jin’s mind nearly short-circuited from the whiplash. Only then did it belatedly dawn on him: the Emperor wasn’t angry—he was delighted, and not just mildly so.
The last time the Emperor had actively requested food and wine—what was it for?
It was too long ago; he couldn’t quite recall.
Was it when Consort Yan gave birth to the late Crown Prince Aichong, or when Consort Cao bore a princess?!
Huang Jin was overjoyed. He looked up, staring at Emperor Jiajing in disbelief, double-checking to make sure it wasn’t an illusion.
In his line of sight, the Emperor was reading the memorial and laughing.
No mistake.
The Emperor was laughing—a genuine, heartfelt laugh, not one born of extreme anger. Even his wrinkles seemed to smooth out from the joy.
How long had it been? How long since he’d last seen the Emperor this happy?
Whoever wrote this memorial, I, Huang Jin, bow to you. I misjudged you with my petty mind, thinking ill of a noble soul.
I’m sorry—I was wrong. I mistook a benefactor for an enemy. I’ll kowtow a hundred times later to atone.
“What’s this, Huang Ban? Didn’t you hear me? I’m famished and parched—hurry and order the Imperial Kitchen to bring food and wine. It has to be the Huadiao wine from Wu; only that matches the memorial in my hands.”
Emperor Jiajing shot Huang Jin a mock-angry glare, urging him on.
“Calm your anger, True Lord. This old servant will go at once.” Huang Jin quickly kowtowed in apology, then got up with a beaming face and dashed out.
It was rare for Emperor Jiajing to request food and wine of his own accord—Huang Jin couldn’t wait to send someone. But giving orders would take time, and the Emperor had said he was “famished and parched,” so he ran straight to the Imperial Kitchen himself.
In his excitement, he tripped over the threshold on his way out. Luckily, he was nimble enough to regain his balance mid-air and, like a gust of wind, sprinted off to the kitchen.
“That old fool,” Emperor Jiajing chuckled, scolding him affectionately.
