I Lie Flat to Win Over Powerful Ministers

The new emperor, Xi Shuhua, had barely taken office when he started three fires:

First, he stopped attending morning court.

Second, courtiers skilled in ritual music and blessed with exceptional looks were to enter the palace and perform for the new emperor's amusement.

And the last fire was aimed at the chancellor, Gao Xichong. After praising him to the skies, Xi Shuhua told him to focus on state affairs and stop coming to the palace to meddle in his business.

The courtiers, still waiting for the new emperor to attend court, were all stunned. Some felt their own faces, while others sympathized with them. Only Gao Xichong kept his gaze straight ahead and his expression unchanged, though inwardly he was already sneering.

He wanted to see what other tricks Xi Shuhua could pull.

He ignored the palace attendants' attempts to stop him and barged into the bedchamber.

The foolish emperor lay lazily on a soft couch, casting him a casual glance.

"Chancellor... Mm."

The foolish emperor's expression suddenly changed. He clutched his chest and gasped for breath.

Gao Xichong frowned. He had barely taken a step closer when the emperor grabbed his hand and pressed it against his chest.

"Chancellor, could you help me... rub it?"

Gao Xichong fell silent for a moment, then asked with a false smile, "This subject does not understand what Your Majesty means."

The foolish emperor impatiently held down the hand Gao Xichong tried to pull away. "I said, use a little more force."

After finally outlasting the late emperor, Xi Shuhua thought he could lie flat at last. Instead, a strange thing calling itself the Foolish Emperor Reward System came looking for him, promising rewards whenever he lay flat.

Xi Shuhua rubbed his chin. Oh? A freebie might be worth considering.

[Reward: Level One Tingling Chest Package.]

Xi Shuhua: ?

[Time until redemption: 3, 2, 1.]

The next moment, his chest began to tingle, and his arms and legs went weak.

System: [Meet with a capable minister whose index is above 60% to cut the intensity by 99%!]

Xi Shuhua: ...?

A forced-to-act-deep foolish emperor gong (Xi Shuhua) x a powerful minister who hides a blade behind his smile shou (Gao Xichong)

Theme: A ruler should rule, and a minister should serve.