Substitute Bride Phoenix, The Tyrant's Pampered Demon Empress

Han Moze hurled one of the memorials firmly at the head of Qiu Ying’an—the left minister while snapping angrily, “What the hell is written on that? Is it even readable? Redo it entirely before presenting it!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The elegant but scrawny Qiu Ying’an quickly answered, turning pale immediately.

The numerous ministers at court all gaped in shock. Lord Qiu had always been praised, so why was he being taken apart today?

How unexpected!

Meanwhile, Han Moze flipped open another memorial, just before hurling it on the head of the minister behind Qiu Ying’an, coolly seething, “The handwriting is so terrible! Who could read that? Rewrite a new one before presenting it!”

***

Eventually, the morning court session was over after Han Moze had hurled over a dozen memorials.

Every important minister had bruises over their heads as they left the throne room, and could not help gritting their teeth and clutching their foreheads while wincing in pain.

Then, the sharp-looking Sun Zichu, who maintained his usual profound gaze called out to Qiu Ying’an even as he hurried away, “Please wait, Lord Qiu!”

At his call, Qiu Ying’an had to slow down and turn around, bowing slightly towards Sun Zichu. “Why have you held me, minister of the right?”

The pair appeared distant.

Sun Zichu was younger than Qiu Ying’an. Staring at the bruised spot on the latter’s head, he cleared his throat and asked, “Lord Qiu, are you not curious why His Majesty is throwing a tantrum at court today?”

Qiu Ying’an sighed. “I was already beaten up. What good is knowing the reason?”

Sun Zichu could not help chuckling softly. “It seems that you do have a sense of humor, Lord Qiu!”

“If all you’re going to do is laugh at my face, forgive me for not humoring you—I need to go back and rewrite the memorial.”

Qiu Ying’an had a really dark look on his face as he spoke. He rarely shared Sun Zichu’s opinion, and wondered if the minister of the right was out to get him.

“What are you saying, Lord Qiu? I’m just showing my concern! Alright, I’ll stop here since I have to deal with my own duties. It won’t do for the emperor to hurl my memorial as well, since you only live once and face is very important.”

Despite what he said, Sun Zichu’s smile widened instead of fading, and he left right away after he had his say.

He always held contempt for Qiu Ying’an for his inflexible and conservative ways, and it feels like catharsis by proxy to have the emperor hurl that memorial.

“Hmph!” Qiu Ying’an snorted coolly after Sun Zichu had walked far, his gaze becoming distant. That damned minister of the right was utterly rotten!

‘Mocking me? Just you wait!’

There was no telling if the emperor would hurl a memorial at the minister of the right instead. Qiu Ying’an’s expression hence improved considerably, and he started forward.

“Ah! Lord Li, you were hit too?” Two ministers nearby were having a chat.

“Sigh! Who knows? His Majesty told me that my memorial was written too simply, but I don’t think so at all!”

“Yours is just fine—don’t you know what His Majesty told me? That my handwriting was a mess and the content was rubbish, without any sort of basis at all! He even asked how I managed to become chief magistrate! I had never been this humiliated before!”

“Sigh… I think His Majesty didn’t even read our memorial, and was simply picking a handful to throw, and vent his anger!”

“Yes, that is possible. Why do you think he’s throwing a tantrum, then?”

“It most likely has something to do with Her Majesty the Empress. Don’t you remember what happened three months ago, at the autumn banquet?”

“Of course I do. Her Majesty found a worm in her food. The emperor was left absolutely fuming, and switched out every last cook in the kitchen.”

“That alone left His Majesty beside himself with fury. His rage was absolutely astounding!”

“Absolutely.”