I Can Hear Your Voice 04

"Father, why do you look so unhappy?" Xu Jiao asked coquettishly.

Xu Yuanzhi, however, did something unprecedented and didn't reply. Instead, his mind was echoing with the words his daughter had just used to curse the Emperor in her inner thoughts.

It wasn't until Xu Jiao asked again that Xu Yuanzhi snapped out of his daze and forced a smile. "Father is just hungry."

"Hahaha, when Father gets back and finds out that Mother has discovered his secret stash of money, I bet he won't be hungry anymore!" Xu Jiao's inner voice chimed in.

At this moment, Xu Yuanzhi paid no attention to Xu Jiao's inner voice, much less his secret stash. He began to scrutinize Xu Jiao. The Xu family had been full of loyal subjects for generations, yet this daughter actually dared to insult the Emperor in her heart... This...

But he couldn't speak up. He couldn't exactly tell his daughter that he could hear her thoughts, could he? It seemed he would just have to go back and discuss this with his wife.

When Fang Zhiyi saw Xu Yuanzhi bring his daughter forward, claiming that it was best for girls not to attend the morning court, Fang Zhiyi was amused.

At the same time, Xu Jiao was sizing up the environment of the Imperial Study, continuing her endless internal chatter: "This Imperial Study is way too luxurious. As expected, the Emperor really knows how to enjoy life... Speaking of which, eldest brother should still be suffering at the border right now, right? The conditions there are terrible. Some other day, I should have Father submit a memorial to improve eldest brother's treatment."

Fang Zhiyi took a deep breath.

Improve treatment? Did she not understand what dynasty this was? What the level of productivity was? Just being able to avoid delaying military pay and keeping the border soldiers from starving and freezing was already an achievement! And she specifically wanted to improve her eldest brother's treatment?

Xu Yuanzhi's face looked a bit grim. He carefully observed the Emperor in front of him, and fortunately, the Emperor's expression remained as usual.

Thank goodness only their family members could hear his daughter's inner thoughts. However, for the sake of future peace, it would be better to just let her stay at home.

"General Xu, it is fair to say that you are a veteran general, right?"

Xu Yuanzhi hurriedly nodded. "Yes."

"Back then, the Empress Dowager was fond of this girl of yours and granted her special permission to follow you to court. For this, I even specifically issued a hand-written edict. Now you suddenly say you won't let her come anymore. So, I must ask, are you looking down on the Empress Dowager, or are you looking down on me?"

Xu Yuanzhi was stunned and raised his head in utter panic. "Your Majesty, this old minister has no such..."

"What does this Emperor mean? If he doesn't agree, then he doesn't agree. Anyway, I also like watching those idiots argue. But on what grounds is he threatening my father?"

"Our dynasty has always had records of women serving as officials. I believe that women hold up half the sky. Do you agree?"

Xu Yuanzhi's legs trembled slightly. These words were a bit too much! But he didn't have the courage to refute Fang Zhiyi either.

Xu Jiao, on the other hand, grew excited in her heart. "That's exactly right! I shouldn't have cursed you before. You are a good emperor! A great, good emperor! Yoshi!"

"Hear my decree. From this day forward, Xu Jiao is appointed as an Investigating Censor, of the secondary seventh rank." After Fang Zhiyi finished speaking, he looked at Xu Jiao with a meaningful gaze. "You must work hard."

Xu Jiao was overjoyed. "Thank you, Your Majesty! Xu Jiao will definitely be a good official!"

"Your Majesty, this..." Xu Yuanzhi panicked a little. What do you mean secondary seventh rank? And an Investigating Censor at that? Wasn't this a job that offended people? In the past, Xu Jiao only cursed people in her heart. If she became a Censor, wouldn't it be disastrous?

But the imperial decree was hard to disobey, and the matter was thus settled.

Almost that very night, all the court officials learned that Xu Yuanzhi had taken his daughter into the palace, and then Xu Jiao had transformed into an Investigating Censor. Although it was only a seventh-rank official position, one shouldn't forget that the post of Investigating Censor truly allowed one to scold whoever they wanted!

At the same time, they also realized one thing: the Emperor truly could not hear Xu Jiao's inner thoughts. Otherwise, it would be absolutely impossible for him not to make trouble for the Xu family, let alone give her an official position.

The next day at court, Fang Zhiyi sat high above in high spirits. It was still the familiar opening.

The officials had various expressions. Some secretly turned their heads to look at Xu Jiao in the back, and when they saw that she had indeed put on the official uniform of a Censor, they felt somewhat surprised in their hearts.

However, two people were absent today. One was the Crown Prince, who was still grounded. The other was the Palace Attendant Guo Hongru; the old fellow had submitted a memorial overnight and then personally rushed off to the Northwest.

Truth be told, although this guy didn't act like a third-rank official, he took the matters Fang Zhiyi instructed very seriously.

"Hahaha, Guo Hongru got dealt with? Serves him right. This is what they call evil bringing its own retribution. Who told him to scold me in the past?"

The abrupt inner voice appeared once again.

Then came some nonsense. One moment she was talking about what she wanted to eat today, and the next she was talking about which young lady her second brother was interacting with, and so on.

The string of gossip made the officials somewhat distracted.

Fang Zhiyi was starting to suspect that this transmigrated girl had brought along some sort of soul-snatching item. Since you all aren't making a move, then I will.

"Lu Shiwang, I heard that the border army has expanded. What is the situation now?"

"Your Majesty, the expansion of the army has been completed. It's just that... because of the expansion this year, the winter clothes for the border soldiers are still short by thirty percent..." The Minister of War, Lu Shiwang, snapped out of the gossip and hastily stepped forward. "But the Ministry of Revenue has been delaying giving them to us..."

The Minister of Revenue, Liu Yuezhang, closely followed and stepped out. "Your Majesty, Lord Lu is unclear about the procedures of the Ministry of Revenue. We must conduct detailed accounting before we can distribute the winter clothes."

"You've been doing the accounting for a month!"

"The Ministry of Revenue manages the money and grain of the entire world. The accounts are numerous. Do you expect us to revolve solely around your Ministry of War?"

The two gradually began to argue.

Fang Zhiyi was somewhat satisfied. This was what a normal court session should be like.

"Argue away, argue away. It's just dogs biting dogs, mouthfuls of fur." The inner voice sounded, and everyone was taken aback.

"Liu Yuezhang is no good thing. He thinks he's so awesome just because he manages the Ministry of Revenue. He demands bribes and exacts tolls all day long. He's just a huge corrupt official. Lu Shiwang is even worse; he doesn't know squat. The one leading the troops in battle is my eldest brother, not you. Do you know how tough that place is, and all you're asking for is winter clothes? Bah."

Instantly, the two arguing old men shut their mouths.

"Oh right, speaking of this, I can speak up now too, right? I originally wanted to have Father submit a memorial to improve eldest brother's treatment, but now I don't need to. I'm a Censor too! A Censor!"

But just as she was about to open her mouth, Xu Yuanzhi stepped forward, terrified that his daughter would cause some disaster.

"Your Majesty, this old minister also has a memorial to present."

Fang Zhiyi waved his hand. "No rush. Let's take things one at a time." Saying this, he turned to look at the two men in front. "You two continue. You must argue out a result today."

However, the two old men exchanged a glance and reached a rare consensus. "Your Majesty, the winter clothes will definitely be rushed to completion within ten days."

Fang Zhiyi nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Xu Yuanzhi. "Old General, what is the matter?"

Xu Yuanzhi gritted his teeth. His daughter's inner voice still hadn't stopped.

"I beseech Your Majesty, please slightly improve the treatment of the border soldiers."

Everyone looked at him, but no one found it surprising. After all, this Great General was famous for cherishing his soldiers.

Fang Zhiyi nodded. This was what a truly loyal subject was like. He wasn't just thinking of his own son, but also of the other soldiers.