My Wife Turns Out to be an Empress of the Dynasty

Numerous officials exchanged glances, their faces mirroring bewilderment.

"Wasn't this proposed by Her Majesty earlier?"

"Her Majesty must have had guidance from a sage behind the scenes. Our previous speculations were not far off..."

They surveyed the room, yet no one stepped forward to claim credit.
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They were all perplexed.

The individuals capable of suggesting such beneficial agricultural measures must be experts in the field, yet why have neither the South nor the North heard of them?

Moreover, these initiatives, once implemented, would revolutionize agriculture throughout Jing Nation.

With a few more years of silent development, the might of Jing Nation would become formidable, making conquests of other nations seem trivial.

Although this speculation may be far-fetched, the ministers present were all puzzled, unaware of the identity of the visionary behind these nations—and people-benefiting innovations.

Although Sima Qin had some guesses, he chose not to voice them. Instead, he tactfully inquired, "Your Majesty, could you enlighten us as to the originator of these beneficial reforms?"

Mu Yuyan's exquisite countenance revealed a slightly proud smile as she replied, "It was none other than Prince Jingyang, Master Gu! His proposal is one of the reasons for my decision to confer him the title of prince..."

Of course, this was only the least significant reason, Mu Yuyan supplemented in her thoughts.

"What?"

"It's him!?"

"Isn't Prince Jingyang just a... uh, a promising scholar who emerged from the small town of Lang Province?"

The officials engaged in lively discussions, their faces showing evident shock, yet they quickly regained composure.

Observing Mu Yuyan's attitude towards Gu Lan, they immediately changed their tone, avoiding uttering anything that might cause trouble.

Nonetheless, their discussions still caused a brief commotion in the Jinluan Palace, their expressions of astonishment and disbelief unabated.

Many officials simply couldn't believe that Gu Lan could have orchestrated such developments.

After all, he was merely a scholar; what qualifications did he possess?

They found it more plausible that Mu Yuyan herself had conceived these innovations within the confines of the palace.

However, none dared to directly refute Mu Yuyan's claim or raise questions; to do so would invite trouble.

"So, it was Prince Jingyang's idea. Unexpected indeed! Prince Jingyang's talents are truly a blessing to Your Majesty and to Jing Nation!"

Sima Qin remarked with a smile, a hint of anticipation evident in his expression.

When Mu Yuyan initially posed the question, he had vaguely suspected it might be Gu Lan, but he hadn't expected it to be true.

Hence, Sima Qin's smile contained both surprise and contentment.

The court assembly soon concluded amidst the astonishment of the attendees.

The officials now knew that Gu Lan had amassed considerable merits, essentially donning a protective layer of immunity from punishment.

Except for causing disturbances in the harem...

While Gu Lan was currently in a similar position, with Her Majesty's robust support, he could act with even greater impunity.

Since Her Majesty affirmed that the agricultural reforms were his idea, the courtiers had no choice but to acknowledge him, incapable of refuting his claims.

After the morning court session, Luo Chen soon learned of the events that transpired.

"Hmph! They're all a bunch of fools, useless!"

Within the meeting hall of Luo Chen's residence, he angrily slammed his teacup to the ground, shattering it into pieces.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the hall, Wu Fan remarkably restrained his temper and even took a sip of tea with interest.

"The situation is as it is. Being impatient won't help. It's better to remain calm and think about how to proceed to turn the situation around," Wu Fan advised.

Luo Chen couldn't contain his anger.

Although they were in a cooperative relationship, Luo Chen used to be wary of General Wu Fan.

However, now, he no longer feared him because Mu Yuyan had stripped Wu Fan of his position as general and even issued a warrant for his arrest.

If it weren't for their common enemy, Gu Lan, Luo Chen would have been the first to push Wu Fan out to gain favor.

Consequently, Luo Chen's attitude toward Wu Fan was far less respectful than before.

"Calm? How can I remain calm? Everyone in the court knows that Gu Lan is flourishing, and no one dares to offend him. What methods do we have left to harm him?"

Fury filled Luo Chen's eyes.

He firmly believed that Gu Lan was nothing more than an unlearned upstart.

There was no way he could have devised agricultural reforms.

All of this was merely Mu Yuyan's favoritism, her attempt to embellish his reputation.

Regardless of Luo Chen's beliefs, the situation had progressed to this point, rendering his opinions inconsequential to the larger picture.

"In this world, power does not solely reside within the court. Beyond the court, there is power within the populace that can be utilized," Wu Fan stated cryptically.

He sensed the change in Luo Chen's attitude toward him but pretended not to notice for the sake of the bigger picture.

"The power of the people?" Luo Chen furrowed his brow.

"What do you mean?"

Wu Fan wore a smug smile as he looked into Luo Chen's eyes, exuding a sense of superiority akin to a highly intelligent being.

Of course, his expression was subtle enough for Luo Chen not to detect it.

"Although Mu Yuyan has confiscated my assets, my connections still remain substantial. I can utilize a portion of them to spread rumors in the populace and tarnish Gu Lan's reputation. Once his reputation is tainted among the common folk, even with a hundred mouths, he won't be able to defend himself convincingly."

"Rumors spread quickly, and they are nearly impossible to stop. The difficulty of refuting them is multiplied manifold. By dispatching individuals to spread rumors in tea houses and taverns, we can quickly disseminate rumors about Prince Jingyang throughout the capital city. By then, even if he attempts to refute the rumors, it will be too late."

Luo Chen's eyes lit up, and he immediately inquired, "I've considered this before, but spreading rumors without any basis... won't that be counterproductive? There must be some credibility to it!"

"It's simple. Since Gu Lan enjoys such favor, we can claim that he is misleading the king, bringing calamity to the nation and its people. With him around, Mu Yuyan's mind will be preoccupied, neglecting state affairs. Moreover, he is arrogant and oppressive, and sooner or later, he will deplete the nation's strength."

"We can specifically mention that Prince Jingyang advocates doubling the agricultural taxes of Jing Nation, which will inevitably incite public discontent... These taxes are the lifeblood of the commoners! Although the realm has recently stabilized, thanks to the magical rice harvest, and the issue of food scarcity is gradually diminishing, increased taxation will likely make life difficult."

Luo Chen looked puzzled.

"But these decrees are false. The commoners will soon see through the rumors. Isn't this strategy more harmful than beneficial?"

Wu Fan smiled and shook his head. "All we need is for a minister to stand up and oppose it. We don't even need to arrange it. By spreading rumors that a minister has advised against it, implying that Her Majesty hasn't issued the decree, we can prevent the commoners from seeing through the rumors."

"This plan is ingenious. I'll set it in motion right away!"

Luo Chen regarded the former General Wu Fan with a look of admiration.

Wu Fan inwardly cursed...

Sandstone...

Soon, various rumors filled the capital city, but the most prevalent among them was how Gu Lan had bewitched Her Majesty, Mu Yuyan.

Many storytellers capitalized on this narrative, vividly portraying Gu Lan as an unforgivable villain, cunning, and jealous.

They exaggeratedly claimed that if Gu Lan were not removed, Mu Yuyan would inevitably fall under his spell, leading to the depletion of Jing Nation's strength and the nation's demise.

These rumors proliferated throughout the capital city, and many uninformed citizens grew to detest Gu Lan vehemently, wishing for his demise.

Though they lacked the power, they spread rumors during leisurely gatherings, continually smearing Gu Lan's reputation...