He may be the most neglectful emperor in history.
After being bitten by mosquitoes all night, he immediately announced a reward of one hundred thousand taels for an effective mosquito repellent.
The ministers called him incompetent, but the people were delighted. This was a fortune raining down from heaven.
When he grew tired of the Imperial Kitchen serving the same old dishes, he held a food competition by the Ling River, awarding a hundred taels of silver for every winning dish.
The ministers called him an idle, foolish ruler, but famous chefs flocked there from all over, setting off a nationwide food craze.
When staying up late to review memorials wore him out, he simply roped in the heads of the Six Ministries, the censorate, and the Hanlin Academy to form an “inner cabinet.”
He couldn’t let the ministers head home early to drink tea, listen to music, and cuddle up with their concubines, only to come back the next morning and argue with him!
You think he’s a foolish ruler? Yet every absurd thing he does somehow ends up benefiting the people.
You think he’s a wise ruler? No, he really is a foolish ruler. Everything he does is just to make sure he eats well, dresses well, and sleeps well…
Not bad, the pace is a bit slower.