Substitute Bride Phoenix, The Tyrant's Pampered Demon Empress

There was a thick layer of snow covering the ground. Even though Little White Flower, was shaking from the cold, she insisted on making snowmen.

When Qing’er found Liu Rushuang and Little White Flower making snowmen, she naturally joined in.

Meanwhile, Han Moze and Han Moxi were behind a desk and seeing to administrative matters.

“Green, I heard that a cult was founded up north at Hidden Sword Valley, and that they had developed a drug that could muddle a person’s consciousness. Many daughters from proper families fell victim to the cult’s machinations due to that drug and were reduced to playthings—go forth and investigate this matter, and destroy said cult if their crimes proved true, as well as rescue the captive girls.

“Yes, Master.” Green Dragon responded respectfully before swiftly departing.

With that, Han Moze turned away from the folded memorial before him and turned to the next.

“Brother, there’s a memorial here that says the Sun Moon Sect of Sun Moon Island had been using underhanded methods to manipulate many other famous factions. There are also many governing officials who are under their control… how do you think we should deal with this, Brother?”

Han Moze narrowed his eyes, and sneered when he remembered the dozens of burly folks whom he encountered at the sea of flowers months ago. “It seems that the Sun Moon Sect is quite ambitious.”

Han Moxi’s eyes widened. “Are you saying that they are planning a coup, Brother?”

“It’s only too obvious. Either way, you don’t have to worry about that—I’ll destroy them eventually.”

Han Moxi nodded, but something occurred to him then and he asked, “The weather is turning cold recently. Brother, and I myself had seen a beggar froze to death beside a road out there. It was such a pitiful sight… I wonder if you have some idea to help the homeless, Brother?”

“Open the door!” Lian Jiuhua’s anxious voice could suddenly be heard from outside.

Soon, the doors were opened and Lian Jiuhua dashed in, his arms folded before his chest as his teeth chattered from the cold, “This damned weather! It’s so cold!”

He then hurried to the table, poured himself some warm tea and feeling much better once the beverage was down his stomach.

“The winds are certainly blowing hard today. Jiuhua—to think that it would blow an old man like you into the palace!” Han Moxi looked up and smiled at Lian Jiuhua.

Ever since the climate was turning cool, Lian Jiuhua had confined himself in his residence without taking a single step out of his room, and everyone else had to go to his place to see him. It was therefore really surprising for him to suddenly show up today, and Han Moxi did not feel that the man suddenly developed the instincts of a royal secret agent.

“Are you for real, duke? Do you think those winds could blow a big man like me? And what do you mean, old man? I’m twenty-seven, please!”

Humph!

There’s no way the duke would understand that he just had a little argument with his wife Piao Piao!

“You probably had a quarrel with the missus, didn’t you?”

Be that as it may, Han Moze let the cat out of the bag right then, deliberately putting Lian Jiuhua on the spot with a cheeky smile.

Lian Jiuhua appeared visibly distressed, and he panickily tried to defend himself, “Your Majesty, you can’t just say anything you like, you know?”

Clearing his throat, he then continued, “Alright, let’s stop talking about that. Gentlemen, let’s not return until after we’re drunk! I still remember back then, His Majesty—”

“Brother, you probably understand the principle of ‘give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him how to fish and you feed him for his lifetime’?”

“Indeed, I do.”

“Regarding the peasant who died, you should arrange for a soup kitchen, before sending them aid to start a new life. If that is still not enough, build some pavilions at the north of the city for those who could yet to find a job.”

Han Moxi nodded, but frowned after some thought and said, “Even so, you would need to spend money on those people, brother… It’s not like you to do something so thankless!”

Han Moze smiled thinly. “It’s only natural that they are not allowed to freeload. They would work hard for their emperor—since I plan to build a residence at Mount Xiang Cui to the west of the city, we’ll have them work on that.”

Han Moxi did a double-take and replied, “Yes, Brother, I’ll send my men to settle the matter.”

In the end, he knew that his brother was not the charitable type.

With that, the brothers continued reviewing the memorials, having long since given Lian Jiuhua the cold shoulder.