Chapter 285: The Brainless Empress in the Arrogant Stallion Novel (35)

Chapter 285: The Foolhardy Empress in the Arrogant Stallion Novel (35)

Liu Qingshu was assigned to escort the group of Zheng captives to Lin State. It wasn’t until the final headcount that she realized Guo Kai had escaped.

“What did you say? That weasel slipped away during the journey?” Qu Kaichang snapped.

In the council hall, Qu Kaichang flew into a rage upon hearing the news, already picturing how he would tear Guo Kai apart limb by limb. Yet, to his astonishment, the man had vanished without a trace...

“It must have been during that heavy rainstorm midway,” Liu Qingshu said, frowning. “The rain was torrential, and we had no choice but to take shelter in a temple for half a day.”

It was during that half-day of chaos that the oversight in the count occurred—giving Guo Kai the perfect chance to escape!

“Hmph, that brat does have some luck,” the Empress mused. Guo Kai’s escape wasn’t entirely surprising.

After all, he was the Divine Martial Emperor who once ruled over the Five Countries in the original storyline.

This council in Lin State would later be recorded in history as the “Bingshen Conference.”

Lin and Chu had crushed Zheng and Zhao. With the aid of the mountain barbarians, Lin State was no longer the underdog.

Instead, Zheng and Zhao were the first to show signs of decline.

Especially Zheng—the acknowledged hegemon among the Five Countries—suffered two devastating defeats at the hands of the mountain barbarians, losing a significant portion of its military strength.

During the conference, the Empress of Lin granted the mountain barbarians of Chu the rights to iron ore mining, further solidifying the alliance between the two.

With Zheng and Zhao defeated, the Empress proposed an unconventional form of reparation:

The imposition of tariffs.

All trade between Zheng and Zhao would be subject to an additional 30% surcharge on all tariffs.

Furthermore, all import and export transactions had to be conducted exclusively in Lin State’s currency, which was pegged to iron prices.

If iron prices rose, so would the value of Lin’s currency, and exchange rates would adjust accordingly—and vice versa.

By the end of the conference, it was clear that Lin’s currency would dominate trade across the Five Countries—an unstoppable trend!

“Congratulations, President Mu! From today onward, Mu’s Chamber of Commerce will be the largest in all Five Countries!” As he left the council hall, Chang Yongshou happened to spot Mu Zimo and hurried after him.

The portly old man beamed, his congratulations sincere.

Her Majesty had already signed treaties with Zheng and Zhao. To facilitate trade, at least eight branch offices would be established in those two countries alone.

Add to that the branches in Chu—no other chamber of commerce in the Five Countries could match this scale.

Mu Zimo was now the president of Mu’s Chamber of Commerce—the Empress’s golden boy!

“President Mu, your exceptional talent has earned Her Majesty’s trust. You are truly a man of extraordinary ability!”

Here it comes! Here it comes!

This plump old man had finally come looking for him!

Ever since the Empress mentioned the roster that day, Mu Zimo had been waiting patiently, quietly anticipating the *Vice Minister of Rites* to approach him.

After days of eager waiting, the old man could no longer restrain himself—today, he had finally made the first move.

Anticipating the possible words from Chang Yongshou, even though Mu Zimo had mentally prepared himself, he still felt somewhat hesitant, and uttered flatly, "Lord Chang,"

"President Mu, you actually know me!" Chang Yongshou spoke even more cheerfully. "Just now, seeing you, I was worried you might not enjoy the company of someone of my years..."

"When I first entered officialdom, I was around your age..."

"Thirty years passed in the blink of an eye, and now I’ve become an old-timer in the Lin State court..."

So much blabbering.

Why hasn’t he brought up the roster yet?

Growing impatient, Mu Zimo tried several times to interject, but Chang Yongshou was on a roll, rambling nonstop without any sign of stopping.

"Lord Chang!"

Finally, Mu Zimo couldn’t help but raise his voice, proactively trying to steer the conversation. "Lord Chang, did you seek me out for something?"

That roster—isn’t it just to add my name?

Ask me already!

Having prepared his response, Mu Zimo's eyes gleamed as he stared at Chang Yongshou.

"President Mu..."

"Why the sudden blinking? Do you have an eye ailment?"

"This old official knows a physician..."

Bullshit eye ailment!

Still not getting to the point!

Drawing a sharp breath, Mu Zimo finally spoke up. "Lord Chang, I heard you presented a roster to Her Majesty?"

Chang Yongshou exclaimed in shock, "Her Majesty actually told you about this?!"

"President Mu truly is Her Majesty’s right-hand minister! It seems Her Majesty holds you in high regard..."

Still nonsense!

Who else would Her Majesty trust but me?

"Lord Chang!"

Speaking again, Mu Zimo recalled Her Majesty’s words that day, and his composed face couldn’t help but flush slightly...

"I heard from Her Majesty..."

"On the roster, you wanted to add..."

Chang Yongshou was even more astonished, his eyes widening. "How did you know I wanted to add Qu Kaichang!"

"I can ag—"

Both spoke simultaneously. Mu Zimo’s agreement choked back his words the moment he heard the name from Chang Yongshou!

Who the hell did this portly old man just say?

Qu Kaichang?

That mountain of a Vice Minister of War?

This man's getting up there in age, and still unmarried?

In the midst of his intense emotional turmoil, the Vice Minister of Rites continued speaking, "Like President Mu, Vice Minister Qu also made a name for himself young. It's just a pity that Vice Minister Qu spent most of his younger years on the battlefield and missed the chance to settle down."

"I've noticed that Vice Minister Qu stands eight feet tall, built like a tank... If he could partner with His Majesty, he would surely be able to father another healthy royal heir for our Lin State!"

"However, I have yet to inform His Majesty of this... nor have I asked Vice Minister Qu for his thoughts..."

Why ask?!

That's complete bullshit!

What royal heir?!

Listening to Chang Yongshou's words, Mu Zimo felt a surge of white-hot rage, nearly had a stroke!

Qu Kaichang is being put on that list, and yet it still isn't his turn?!

"President Mu, what do you think..."

"Could this work?"

In Chang Yongshou's questioning tone, he noticed that Mu Zimo, who had been all cheerful and smiling just moments ago, suddenly his face fell.

Even his gaze had turned downright hostile...

The Vice Minister of Rites felt inexplicably uneasy and cautiously asked again, "President Mu... are you truly not suffering from an eye problem?"

"I notice your eyes seem to be twitching like crazy..."

"Are you sure you don't need a doctor?"

Mu Zimo: "Vice Minister Qu, I think... you might need that doctor more than I do..."

Ignoring such an excellent candidate like me, and instead considering Vice Minister of War Qu Kaichang?!

What awful taste!

Fucking terrible!