Chapter 115
"Is there a possibility of negotiation?" Liu Wenchang's words left Xiao Yunzhou astonished.
Negotiation?
Indeed.
In a war between two nations, the messenger is never killed!
Negotiation, why hadn't he thought about it?
Wait, won't the assassin know that he's been exposed?
Liu Wenchang was different today, "Your Majesty, if you can conduct a test every ten days for civil and military officials, why can't you hold a censored question-and-answer test for the entire harem?"
Xiao Yunzhou abruptly lifted his head to look at Liu Wenchang, "Master Liu, are you suggesting, like the Imperial Examination System, that everyone can seal their names? This way, everyone can freely express what they need..."
Including the assassin.
"Yes. Your Majesty, the other party can read and write, right?"
Xiao Yunzhou was stunned, he really didn't know.
Not all eunuchs in the palace had been educated, many of them were illiterate, after all, many only performed cleaning duties.
As Xiao Yunzhou was worried, Wei Zheng reported.
"Your Majesty, Consort Min's place was robbed today."
"Thankfully, neither the Consort nor the Princess and Prince were frightened."
Xiao Yunzhou and Liu Wenchang were alarmed at the same time, how could there be thieves, was it the assassin's doing?
"What's missing from Donghua Palace?" Xiao Yunzhou hurriedly asked.
Wei Zheng remained silent for a moment, "Hmm... a string of roasted pork belly, and a fresh leaf of lettuce."
"...?"
Xiao Yunzhou's mouth gaped open.
His tension evaporated like foam, looking at Wei Zheng with a gaze that said 'is the thief sick, or are you?'
However, Liu Wenchang quickly understood, "Hmm? Roasted pork belly, fresh lettuce? Is this a new way of eating?"
As Liu Wenchang spoke, he couldn't help but salivate.
Without thinking too much, it must be his precious granddaughter's idea!
Just like the roast duck.
"To answer Master Liu's question, this is Concubine Liu trying to imitate the fried skewers that His Majesty invented a while ago."
Wei Zheng’s words made Xiao Yunzhou's face both gratified and relaxed, and a little embarrassed.
Concubine Liu really thinks about him, the Emperor, all the time!
Even though she's not by his side, even though he's left the palace, even when she eats something, she wants to imitate him, the Emperor!
Ah, Xiao Yunzhou's self-esteem was greatly satisfied, especially today when the cabinet ministers ignored him.
But Xiao Yunzhou also couldn't help but blush.
Because it wasn’t him, the Emperor who comes with an open mouth for meals, who thought of the fried skewers, it was all the little princess who told him.
Fried skewers are a delicacy of the fairy world.
Xiao Yunzhou is the supreme ruler, but he knows he's only the earthly supreme ruler, he must not claim the things of the fairy world as his own.
"Cough, focus." Xiao Yunzhou stopped Wei Zheng’s digression, "Don't always flatter me, I don't fall for that."
"!"
Wei Zheng's sycophantic expression froze. The Emperor has changed.
The Emperor is not so easy to serve now.
Wei Zheng could only honestly say, "Concubine Liu wanted to imitate the fried skewers, but thought about how the palace was cooperating with the Ministry of Revenue to save on various expenses, so she said to use less oil this time."
"Cut thin slices of pork, with fat and lean meat, without needing too much additional oil, just roast it directly."
"Remembering how hard it is for the common people to eat meat, Concubine Liu persuaded Consort Min and others to eat less meat today, add lettuce, and consume it wrapped together with the meat."
Xiao Yunzhou's eyes vibrated, "Good!"
Upon hearing this, he was truly elated, "I am blessed with such a concubine, why worry about discord in the harem! If all were like this, why worry about instability in Jing Country!"
The remnants of the previous dynasty, the assassins from the previous dynasty, should see this!
"Wei Zheng, for tonight's supper, I will also use this vegetable wrap for roasting meat, less oil," said Xiao Yunzhou, increasingly feeling that Concubine Liu was a gift from heaven.
Every single thing she did touched his heart.
"Liu elder, you have raised a good daughter," Xiao Yunzhou looked at Liu Wenchang, his affection extending by association.
Look at the previous favored concubine, look at the Empress... it's obvious that Chancellor Fu Cha, the former Tong Prime Minister, may not be as good as Liu Wenchang in education!
The Liu family truly is a household of loyal and capable officials.
"I only regret that I discovered your talents too late, Liu elder. Otherwise, I could have educated the Prince earlier..."
"Ah, Liu elder, you are the best choice to teach the Prince in the Study Room."
Liu Wenchang almost spit out his tea from coughing, his ears burning.
It wasn't him who taught her.
It was his granddaughter teaching her daughter.
Oh my.
"Strengthen the guards in Donghua Palace," finally, Xiao Yunzhou remembered the main issue.
But even after saying it, he was still not at ease, "No, in these few days, let them change their sleeping quarters."
Upon hearing this, Liu Wenchang also furrowed his brows, "Your Majesty, we must hurry with the assassin matter."
Indeed!
Xiao Yunzhou was originally hesitating, whether or not to listen to Elder Liu and proactively talk to the assassin.
But now... the situation forced him!
If this issue is not resolved, with a piece of meat and a vegetable lost in the palace, he, the emperor, feels like he has a fishbone stuck in his throat, always jumping at shadows.
"Liu elder, please help me strategize, this negotiation involving the entire harem."
Thinking of this, Xiao Yunzhou remembered the young eunuch who served him tea, who was not even twenty years old.
Looking at Liu Wenchang again, his first son was smart, his second daughter virtuous and kind-hearted, very good at educating children.
Xiao Yunzhou couldn't help but say more, "Liu elder, the other party is only a few years older than the Eldest Prince."
Liu Wenchang was shocked, the remnants of the previous dynasty actually sent such a young man as an assassin.
This is most likely a suicide mission... not intending to let him return.
"Your Majesty, the assassin is so young, we have a high possibility of... ahem... persuading him to surrender."
Xiao Yunzhou looked at Liu elder and suddenly had confidence.
*
【Awoo, isn't this just a survey?】
The next day, when Xiao Chuchu saw Liu Wenchang, he got the permission to visit Concubine Liu and the little princess, who were 'shocked' by losing a piece of meat and vegetable.
Liu Wenchang told Concubine Liu about the secret talk last night.
This was also allowed by Xiao Yunzhou, after all, the thief now involved Donghua Palace.
But Liu elder's words shocked Xiao Chuchu, who was still nursing.
【Awoo, how does Emperor Father know there's an assassin?】
Xiao Chuchu's grape-sized eyes were wide open.
【He even knows it's from the previous dynasty, and he knows who the assassin is?】
Liu Wenchang's mouth corners tightened, barely holding back a smile, isn't his granddaughter just too adorable?
Liu Wenchang lowered his voice, "The Emperor has been feeling the other party's murderous intent these days. The other party almost can't suppress the desire to kill him."
【!】
Xiao Chuchu was stunned.
Cheng Qian, who came to greet in the morning, also heard and was taken aback.
【That's impossible, the assassin's progress in persuasion is already ninety percent.】
Xiao Chuchu's small face scrunched up in confusion, **"Why does he still harbor murderous intent towards the Emperor?"**
**"Hasn't he been almost completely influenced by the Emperor?"**
Cheng Qian looked at his little sister, young in age but already showing signs of beauty, and his heart pounded.
An answer that felt absurd to him yesterday, today he couldn't help but reconsider.
**Could it be, the degree of influence wasn't the work of the Emperor?**
**Did he snatch the task from the Emperor?**
Cheng Qian's breathing became messy.
Then Liu Wenchang spoke again, "The current negotiations, we adopt a model where all palace maids participate. Those who can read and write will seal their names in writing, those who cannot will answer at the back of the wooden board."
"We designed several main questions with the Emperor."
"How many months' allowance do you want?"
"Where do you wish to serve in the future?"
"What do you desire the most?"
These are conditions for negotiating with the assassins, offering personal interests.
"What do you think needs to be improved in the Jing Country's royal family?"
"What would you like to say to the Emperor?"
These are parts for influencing the assassins.
After Liu Wenchang finished speaking, he turned his gaze to Concubine Liu and his grandson Cheng Qian, "Do you have any additions?"
With that, his gaze drifted towards his newborn granddaughter.
Indeed, before Concubine Liu or Cheng Qian could speak, Xiao Chuchu let out a wail, **"Ahh, isn't this the modern version of anonymous corporate surveys!?"**
**"With a little improvement, it would be the employee satisfaction surveys common in modern companies!"**
Liu Wenchang, Concubine Liu, and Cheng Qian were all startled and pricked up their ears.
**"Not only can you survey employee satisfaction towards their superiors and the company, but you can also set up a corporate complaint channel."**
**"Regularly collect anonymous employee complaints, assign a dedicated person to follow up and handle it, and feedback to the employees about the progress of resolving their dissatisfaction with the company, colleagues, and superiors."**
**"Oh yes, for negative employee emotions, you could set up a psychological counseling group, mainly targeting issues caused by work pressures, wage gaps, and other negative emotions, leading to lack of work enthusiasm."**
Liu Wenchang, who is currently serving in the Ministry of Personnel, managing civil servant assessments: "!"
Cheng Qian, who is studying with his brothers in the Study Room: "!"
Concubine Liu, who is currently managing the making of winter clothes: "...!"
All three of them were startled.
They learned something new!