Chapter 59 Turning the Tables

Inside the vast Hall of Supreme Harmony, one could hear a pin drop.

A palpable air of gunpowder steadily permeated the atmosphere.

The civil and military officials, including the Empress Dowager, stood frozen in place like statues, unable to utter even a single word!

No one could believe that a nine-year-old child like Ning Chen could raise a massive fortune of millions of silver taels in such a short period!

Unless immortals descended from the heavens to grant the young emperor the ability to turn stone into gold!

Yet, the problem was that although Ning Chen was merely a nine-year-old boy, at this very moment, his demeanor, his words, and especially his fiercely sharp gaze left everyone wondering if he had truly accomplished the feat!

Otherwise, how could he be so arrogant?

How could he dare to turn the tables on Zhao Siwen?

But how on earth did he pull it off?

Wasn't that utterly impossible?

Everyone was dumbfounded, momentarily at a loss for words.

Consequently, they cast their gazes one after another toward Zhao Siwen, whose expression had remained inscrutable all along.

They were well aware that if Zhao Siwen accepted, and if the young emperor genuinely succeeded in front of the gathered court and all the civil and military officials, wouldn't Zhao Siwen truly have to commit suicide to appease the realm?

Yet, if Zhao Siwen declined, he was the one who had proactively proposed this wager in the first place.

If he backed out now, how could Zhao Siwen ever hold his head high in the imperial court again?

He was, after all, a dignified second-rank official and the absolute confidant of the Empress Dowager!

To think he would one day be driven to such a corner by a nine-year-old child!

Zhao Siwen parted his lips, flames of fury burning directly in his eyes!

Yet, in the end, he hesitated, unable to squeeze out a single syllable.

He did not believe Ning Chen could pull it off, but he was equally awed by the aura Ning Chen exuded at that moment.

A sliver of doubt involuntarily arose in his heart: Could this little good-for-nothing actually...

Thus, a bizarre scene unfolded:

The high-ranking ministers present, who had always considered themselves the pillars of the state, were utterly cowed at this moment by a mere nine-year-old boy they had always looked down upon—Ning Chen!

Even including the lofty Empress Dowager herself!

Seeing the deathly silence of the crowd, Ning Chen's voice rang out once more: "Lord Zhao, what is the matter? Are you afraid?"

"Do not forget, you were the one who took the initiative to propose this wager before all the civil and military officials!"

"If you back out now, it means you are untrustworthy, publicly making a mockery of the civil and military officials of Great Ning, mocking Us, and mocking the Empress Dowager!"

"You ought to know the consequences of such actions!"

As these words fell, the previously silent court instantly erupted into a clamor of discussions.

No one present was a fool; anyone could see that Ning Chen had completely cut off all paths of retreat for Zhao Siwen!

Originally, everyone had been waiting to watch the young emperor make a fool of himself—waiting to see how the young emperor would admit defeat and beg the Empress Dowager not to depose him.

Yet now, the young emperor had completely reversed the situation and utterly suppressed Zhao Siwen.

A thought that even they found hard to believe involuntarily popped into everyone's mind: Could the young emperor have actually pulled it off?

The exact same doubt had already echoed through the Empress Dowager's mind countless times.

She looked at Ning Chen with a complex gaze:

You little good-for-nothing, just where on earth do you get such immense confidence?

Everything you do is clearly under my surveillance!

As she thought this, a foreboding premonition suddenly surged within her heart: Could this little good-for-nothing have secretly done something right under her nose?

A profound sense of unease told her she could not let Ning Chen continue, so she spoke up, "Regarding the matter of the wager..."

Unexpectedly, the moment she opened her mouth, Zhao Siwen suddenly burst into loud laughter: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you need not attempt to provoke this old minister!"

"Are you not simply trying to frighten this old minister into backing down while forcing me to willingly accept punishment?"

"Several million silver taels cannot be raised simply by Your Majesty flapping your lips!"

"The victory or defeat of a wager is not decided by posturing, but by tangible, solid silver!"

At these words, everyone in the court instantly experienced a sudden realization!

Indeed, they had all been bluffed by the young emperor's imposing manner.

Under normal circumstances, anyone would assume that if the young emperor was this confident and even dared to cut off Zhao Siwen's retreat, it must mean he had already secured the funds.

Yet, as Zhao Siwen noted, how could a puppet young emperor possibly raise several million silver taels?

The more confident the young emperor acted, the more he deliberately blocked Zhao Siwen's retreat, and the more aggressive he became, the more it proved he was merely putting up a false front!

His true objective was to enrage Zhao Siwen, intimidate him with sheer presence, and compel him to willingly forfeit the wager while accepting punishment!

While the crowd was lost in thought, Zhao Siwen sneered again and said, "If Your Majesty has truly raised the silver, then please bring it out!"

"Rest assured, if Your Majesty has indeed gathered so much silver, I, Zhao Siwen, will not break my word and shall gladly commit suicide to apologize to the realm!"

"However, if Your Majesty cannot produce this much silver, then I ask Your Majesty to honor the wager and voluntarily abdicate the throne!"

Hearing this, Ning Chen did not reply. His expression suddenly darkened, carrying a hint of nervousness and apprehension.

It was as if he were a completely different person from just a moment before, resembling a deflated ball.

Seeing this, Zhao Siwen sneered, his gaze growing increasingly confident. He bowed toward the Empress Dowager and said firmly, "Your Ladyship, I beg you to bear witness. If His Majesty fails, he must voluntarily abdicate!"

"If His Majesty succeeds, then I, Zhao Siwen, shall commit suicide in front of all the officials to apologize to the realm!"

The Empress Dowager was momentarily stunned. Although she still felt a lingering sense of unease regarding her earlier thought, seeing Ning Chen's deflated appearance now firmed her resolve:

It seemed she was simply overthinking; this little good-for-nothing was truly just bluffing!

To dare flaunt such petty cleverness in front of all the officials was nothing short of seeking his own death!

Seeing that Zhao Siwen was relentless and refused to let the matter drop, she opportunistically put on a helpless expression and said, "Very well, this Empress shall bear witness!"

Zhao Siwen said excitedly, "Many thanks for your grace, Empress Dowager!"

He then turned to Ning Chen and asked, "Can Your Majesty rest easy now?"

"May I ask when Your Majesty intends to produce the silver?"

Ning Chen stood frozen in place, seemingly failing to hear the question. It was only after Zhao Siwen repeated it a second time that he stammered, "To-Tomorrow at the morning court..."

Before he could finish, Zhao Siwen immediately chimed in, "Good, everyone has heard it. His Majesty has stated that by tomorrow morning's court session, he will produce the several million silver taels!"

"This old minister will simply wait to see how Your Majesty manages to produce it..."

The wager was set. The Empress Dowager, whose mood had vastly improved, cast a meaningful glance at the dejected-looking Ning Chen before announcing the dismissal of the court and striding away.

Seeing this, the officials likewise withdrew one after another!

Only Ning Chen was left standing alone in the grand hall.

However, no one noticed that at this moment, the corners of Ning Chen's lips finally curved upward.

Upon returning to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Xiao Anzi, having learned what transpired, danced around with excitement.

"Splendid, it worked!"

"As long as we show them that silver tomorrow, that old dog Zhao Siwen is a dead man for sure..."

As he spoke, as if suddenly recalling something, he asked with belated realization, "Your Majesty, but why did you deliberately intimidate them?"

"Weren't you afraid of scaring Zhao Siwen off? What if he was really frightened and refused to take the wager?"

"And you mentioned the Empress Dowager had intentions of stopping this wager. If Zhao Siwen hadn't rushed to accept it and the Empress Dowager had truly managed to halt it, what—what would you have done?"

A confident smile appeared on Ning Chen's youthful face: "You do not understand. They are the cream of the crop among clever people!"

"If We hadn't intentionally intimidated them, they wouldn't have wavered out of uncertainty regarding the truth!"

"Remember, people only firm up their previous convictions after experiencing inner turmoil!"

"And usually, at that exact moment, no one can stop them!"

Xiao Anzi nodded, half-understanding: "Oh, so that's how it is! No wonder Lord Zhao rushed to accept the wager before the Empress Dowager could stop it!"

"It was because he was intimidated by Your Majesty, which caused him to waver, and in turn made him even more convinced that Your Majesty was just bluffing!"

"Because he is so convinced, even if the Empress Dowager wanted to stop him, she wouldn't be able to. Besides, the Empress Dowager herself also experienced that wavering, so she too will firmly believe that Your Majesty is bluffing..."

At this, he looked at Ning Chen with boundless admiration, as if staring at a monster: "Who would have thought that a simple reverse psychology trick could hold such profound depths!"

"Brilliant, truly brilliant!"

"If they are on the first floor, Your Majesty, you are easily on the fifth floor—oh no, the tenth floor..."

Meanwhile.

The Empress Dowager summoned Cao Dahai and asked in a deep voice, "Has Ning Chen been raising funds lately?"

Cao Dahai shook his head. "No. His Majesty has only left the palace once during this period, and he merely ate, drank, and visited a brothel..."

"Aside from that, he has only been preparing for the Lotus Viewing Festival!"

At this moment, old nanny added, "Indeed, Your Ladyship, the reports from Xiao Anzi and the others previously were all the same. This young emperor hasn't honestly tried to make money at all, nor has he had the opportunity to raise any..."

The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction and murmured, "Very good. It seems this Empress is about to experience a double blessing..."

Concurrently.

Inside the main room of the Ministry of Revenue, Gao Xiwen, the Left Vice Minister of Revenue, said with a flattering smile:

"My lord is truly brilliant not to have been bluffed by the young emperor!"

"You have no idea; if I hadn't seen the young emperor deflate the moment you eagerly accepted the wager, Your humble servant would have really thought he had managed to get his hands on all that silver!"

Zhao Siwen sneered and said softly, "I almost believed it myself..."