TPITWOHEF

Chapter 75

"I can devise a solution after listening to you for just a few sentences," said Emperor Xiao Yunzhou, folding his arms behind his back and tilting his head up at a 45-degree angle.

Hong Xing opened his mouth and looked towards the Emperor, bathed in sunlight from the waist up, his face stern and daunting.

Hong Xing had a vague sense that something was amiss, but couldn't quite put his finger on it. Before he could ponder further, the Emperor spoke again, "I have come up with a way to address the issue of high piglet mortality."

Hong Xing opened his mouth soundlessly.

"High piglet mortality is reminiscent of the previous dynasty's imperial palace, where the princes seldom survived and mostly died in infancy or grew up sickly," Xiao Yunzhou remarked solemnly, glancing at Hong Xing.

Hong Xing's jaw dropped, barely suppressing the urge to curse the Emperor's shamelessness.

Likening the former dynasty's princes to piglets? How outrageous!

What a deep-seated grudge!

Hong Xing suddenly felt a chill down his spine, realizing for the first time that Xiao Yunzhou was not a good man.

If he regarded the former imperial family as mere animals, how would he view disobedient officials?

The thought made Hong Xing break out in a sweat.

But soon, Xiao Yunzhou spoke again.

"The high mortality rate of princes in the previous dynasty prompted our founding Emperor to learn from that experience. Whenever a woman in the palace became pregnant, dedicated physicians and nannies were assigned to care for her."

"If any mistake occurred, not only would the physicians and nannies be held accountable, but also the eunuchs attending to them."

"Thus, they took their duties seriously, devising various remedies to ensure a safe pregnancy and proper nourishment for the consorts."

"After the child was born, physicians would immediately examine the newborn's pulse, and daily records were kept of how much milk they drank and how often they urinated. Any abnormality would prompt immediate investigation into the cause."

Xiao Yunzhou took a sip of tea to moisten his throat and looked at Hong Xing.

Hong Xing was dumbfounded.

What did he mean?

Was the Emperor suggesting they treat piglets like princes?!

Hong Xing didn't know what to say.

If he agreed with the Emperor, would he be admitting that princes were no different from pigs?

Xiao Yunzhou shot a displeased glance at the speechless Hong Xing and snorted.

Still haven't grasped the concept?

Fool!

"Hong Sir, if you regarded the valuable assets of the people – the expectant and nursing sows – as your own kin, and the precious piglets that families depend on to raise and sell for income as your own children, wouldn't you be able to devise a way to reduce piglet mortality?"

Hong Xing's mouth twitched violently.

So the Emperor was implying that his family were pigs!

He was speechless.

"Hong Xing, you receive your salary from the people, you are sustained by the people, yet you place less importance on the plight of pigs than you would your own offspring. You should be ashamed of yourself, Hong Xing!" Xiao Yunzhou slammed the table in distress.