Chapter 147: The Emperor Can Do Whatever He Wants—Hes Willful! (2 / 2)
The old emperor burst into laughter.
The grand hall echoed with the emperor’s booming laughter.
Tears streamed from his eyes as he leaned to one side of the dragon throne, wiping the corners of his eyes with one finger while his other hand slapped the armrest repeatedly.
The emperor swore he wasn’t laughing on purpose, but Xu Yanmiao’s sudden question—“What about the Money-Catching Official?”—hit his funny bone just right.
It was such a simple, almost clueless remark, like a rabbit popping out of its burrow unexpectedly, landing on a fierce dog’s head, kicking it with its hind legs, and hopping away. The dog, stunned, didn’t know what hit it. Meanwhile, the rabbit, still oblivious, paused a few steps away to glance back at the dog with confusion before bounding off again.
Fortunately, Xu Yanmiao didn’t suspect anything. He assumed the emperor was laughing at the official’s words.
The old emperor remained in his slouched posture, and after a brief moment of consideration, he chuckled and said, “I know you speak for the sake of Da Xia.”
The issue raised by the official did indeed exist. Why had dynasties throughout history prioritized agriculture over commerce? Surely, over thousands of years, no emperor could have been blind to the potential power of merchants.
“Very well then, let the matter of merchants taking the imperial examinations be shelved for now.”