After her transformation and rebirth, she manipulates the innocent and ruthless to overthrow the wor

As Xiao Ran gently tugged at He Wan's sleeve, He Wan slowly knelt down as if waking from a dream.

Her eyes were filled with confusion and helplessness; this was the first time Xiao Ran had ever seen He Wan show such an expression.

It seems that Xiao Ran's calculations were correct this time.

In his previous life, Minister Zhao mentioned the disasters of drought and flood to the emperor at the end of a palace banquet. At that time, the three princes offered their suggestions, and in the end, the eldest prince Ruichen's plan was adopted.

However, that's precisely where the problem lies.

The plan was good, but the wealthy merchants in Jiangnan did not buy it.

Emperor Jingyang's governance was hardly adept; the people were displaced, and merchants, finding no profit, resorted to usury to exploit them.

How could they possibly be so generous to the common people? It's only natural for merchants to pursue profit.

Therefore, He Wan had an additional consideration: using the fame and fortune that merchants crave as bargaining chips. Merchants are merchants precisely because they pursue profit. And the reputation of a "righteous merchant" was precisely the profit He Wan offered.

But how could someone like He Wan truly understand the suffering of ordinary people?

The emperor's incompetence was deeply ingrained, and the common people and merchants were already disheartened. Even if they were given benefits, it was far from enough to satisfy their ambitions.

Xiao Ran's proposal to restart the Longshou Canal, which neither involves profit nor causes distress to the disaster victims, truly solved this dilemma.

Emperor Jingyang sighed, his eyes revealing deep weariness.

"My dear minister, please rise."

Xiao Mu, however, dared not get up.

"This matter is my fault. Back then, my father asked me to work with Prince Yan to manage the floods in Yunzhou. My younger brother is indeed exceptionally intelligent."

Emperor Jingyang's gaze swept over Prince Yan, his expression indifferent, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Your Majesty, I dare not accept such an honor."

Prince Yan rose and bowed. Nangong Ming, standing beside him, frowned but dared not say anything, and could only lower his head in silence.

"I know that my father once valued you as his son, but in the end he handed the throne to me. Do you know why?" Emperor Jingyang's voice was deep, with a hint of coldness that was hard to detect.

Prince Yan maintained a respectful demeanor, but his gaze met Emperor Jingyang's without flinching.

"Regarding the Yunzhou affair, I was misled by the slander of petty men and ordered the disaster victims to build irrigation canals. As a result, they used the nation's funds to revolt. Although I made a mistake, I have a heart of repentance. It is precisely because of this heart that my father recognized my talent for governing the world."

"That is why, after I ascended the throne, I continued to recruit talented people. Generals like General Xiao eventually recovered lost territory for me, and my worries were finally relieved."

If one's mental illness is truly resolved, how could one not bring it up?

This is not a mental illness at all, but a stain that an emperor can never erase.

Xiao Ran noticed that her father's kneeling body seemed to be trembling slightly.

"I am guilty. I should not have raised my daughter to be like this. Please forgive my daughter, Your Majesty!" Xiao Mu pleaded in his voice.

Emperor Jingyang's gaze swept over the three people kneeling in front of the hall, his expression indifferent, and finally landed on He Wan.

He spoke slowly: "Your adopted daughter is clever, but she has been neglected in her upbringing. On the other hand, your eldest daughter, though rumored to be a good-for-nothing, seems different to me today; she is more like..."

"The appearance of someone who achieves great things late in life."

Xiao Mu was about to speak when the emperor interrupted him.

"Let's stop here for today. I'm tired."

Having said that, Emperor Jingyang rose and walked towards the rear hall. The Empress glanced at the crowd in front of the hall, said nothing, and followed him away.

The palace banquet had finally come to a true close.