TBFCWTE - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Xu Congyi's repeated questioning left Ke Wenqing and his subordinates speechless. They could only cup their hands and beg him to show mercy and not leave the Ministry of Revenue humiliated before such a crowd.

But someone in the crowd immediately cried out, "Good heavens, isn't this just taking advantage without end, relying on the crown prince not caring about fame or profit and only wanting to do real work for the state and the people?"

Someone else took up the thread. "Yes, this looks truly ugly. Wherever Eastern Palace workshops are built, they benefit the whole area and let countless people gain. Roads, bridges, housing, hiring workers, all of that costs a great deal. I never thought the Ministry of Revenue would keep eyeing the money earned by Eastern Palace enterprises."

These words set off another round of discussion, leaving Ke Wenqing with very complicated feelings. He would swear that the people saying such things had to be plants hired by that old fellow Xu Congyi.

Those Eastern Palace officials who neglected their proper duties and thought only of money were, leaving all else aside, consummate professionals when it came to using paid plants to build momentum.

Thinking again of the new system the crown prince had proposed at morning court, what was there left for Ke Wenqing not to understand?

Xu Congyi had brought people to make this scene all to build momentum for the crown prince, and the most infuriating part was that the other side had chosen the Ministry of Revenue as their whipping boy.

But understanding was one thing. Apart from feeling that Eastern Palace money truly scalded the hand, Ke Wenqing had no way to retaliate.

"Steward Xu, this is, after all, an important government office. Please show mercy. On behalf of the Ministry of Revenue, I apologize here to the crown prince and to the realm for certain improper conduct in our previous work."

Hearing Ke Wenqing, one of the six chief ministers, actually apologize, the onlookers, who had still harbored some doubts, instantly lost them all.

The anger they had accumulated over years of dealing with the Ministry of Revenue was vented fiercely this time. Seeing the other side soften, Xu Congyi's tone also eased.

"Since it is to clear the crown prince's name and apologize to the realm, you should show sincerity. Repay the money, or publish the sums the Eastern Palace has advanced over the years. Choose one."

Repaying the money was impossible. Over the years, Ke Wenqing had long since lost count of exactly how much had been used from the Eastern Palace, but he was certain it was an astronomical sum.

So when the palace distributed copied versions of the new tax system to the prefectures for posting, a bill listed by the Ministry of Revenue was attached beside it.

Of course, it was not an itemized bill. Each entry simply stated that at a certain time the Ministry of Revenue had drawn a certain amount from the Eastern Palace and what it had been used for.

Only the largest total, the sum Xu Congyi had publicly exposed, was broken down in detail, showing how much each prefecture in Great An had drawn, and the figures were startling.

When the ministers who opposed the crown prince's new tax system and had gathered to discuss countermeasures learned of this move by the Ministry of Revenue, they were shocked and furious.

"Does Ke Wenqing know what he is doing?"

At such a critical moment, in the name of the Ministry of Revenue, to post such a list and even say it was a public apology to the crown prince and the realm.

Was the crown prince's reputation not good enough, and power not great enough?

A minister on good terms with Ke Wenqing could not help defending him. "This really cannot be blamed on Ke Wenqing. The Eastern Palace meant to make the matter big and spread it. If he did not do this, surely he could not really make the Ministry of Revenue repay the money?"

If they truly repaid, everything currently in the Ministry's accounts might not be enough.

And if the Ministry of Revenue had no money, what would happen to the court? What would happen to them, the ministers?

Even if everyone present was wealthy and did not need a salary to eat, the situation would only become worse.

Because then they would not only be unable to do their work, but would also face the emperor once more, knife in his left hand and right hand finding ways to get money out of their pockets.

Having been through experiences that still made them shudder, no one wanted a repeat.

So everyone present tacitly chose to drink tea strategically. To ease the awkward atmosphere, they laughed dryly and said, "Minister Cui is right, that is exactly how it is. Pushed to this point, Minister Ke has it hard too."

To protect the court's money, he could only sacrifice his old face and publicly apologize to the crown prince and the realm. Such a sacrifice was enough to make them all admire him.

So everyone present voiced agreement and no longer brought up the matter of the Ministry of Revenue dragging them back at such a time.

Because He Shu had always valued the direction of public opinion, Emperor Zhengning had also formed the habit.

The late emperor had left two branches of Shadow Guards. One was inherited by Emperor Zhengning, and the other was given directly to He Shu to protect her safety.

Of He Shu's branch, apart from those kept for her daily protection, most were assigned by her to the Eastern Palace, the palace, and the Ministry of Revenue industries.

Most of the branch beside Emperor Zhengning became a professional team responsible for monitoring officials, gathering intelligence, and guiding or shaping public opinion and its direction.

They were all the more loyal to the two masters who were willing to carefully cultivate them and give them all a chance to live openly before others.

Now, nine years later, the two branches had grown and developed, and talents had emerged in abundance.

So the disturbance Xu Congyi made outside the Ministry of Revenue gate, and the people's comments afterward, were reported back to Emperor Zhengning deep in the palace at the first opportunity.

When He Shu returned, the two met as they both intended to dine at Fengyuan Palace. Emperor Zhengning dismissed the palace maids and eunuchs attending them, laughed loudly, and patted her shoulder.

"Haha, Shu'er, you did beautifully today. When Ke Wenqing was taking advantage without end, he never thought you would be waiting for him here. Haha, and you even told him to repay the money. You might as well ask for his life; he still would not repay."

Seeing Emperor Zhengning vigorously pat He Shu's shoulder like a brother to show approval, the empress was deeply speechless. She pulled He Shu away and said, "Your Majesty, mind your deportment. If people see you father and child so lacking in propriety, it will truly damage both your images."

Emperor Zhengning replied unconcernedly, "We are close as father and child. How can that be called damaging our image?"

His father had maintained imperial identity and image all his life, and what had come of it?

In the end, the other man had personally ruined the sons he loved and valued, and finally had to pick the taller among dwarfs, choosing him, a son with whom he had little affection and who had never entered his eyes, as heir.

Whenever he thought of this, Emperor Zhengning felt that having no son was not so bad. Daughters were so considerate.

Very self-aware, Emperor Zhengning knew that if he did not have a daughter whose ability could crush his long string of brothers, he could never have sat securely on the throne.

Moreover, Emperor Zhengning even secretly suspected that the reason he could not produce a son was that his father had ruined so many sons in those years that Heaven had made him suffer on his father's behalf.

Emperor Zhengning's unrestrained words and behavior were, to some extent, also influenced by some of He Shu's words and thinking.

So He Shu cared even less whether such behavior damaged their image, but she knew the empress would surely find it hard to adapt. She smiled and let the empress push her to sit down at the side.

"Imperial Father must have heard as well. Empress Mother also did something beautiful today. My maternal grandmother and two aunts' faces when they left were reportedly very ugly."

Emperor Zhengning instinctively glanced at the empress's expression, put his hands behind his back, cleared his throat, and put on the air of a father to admonish He Shu.

"How can Shu'er be so childish? They are your elders after all. If they have a conflict with your mother, you should mediate more between them."

The empress naturally knew that this speech was entirely meant for her, but that her husband could take such an attitude still satisfied her somewhat.

"Enough. The Jiang Family may be my natal family, but for their own selfish ends they wanted to ruin your proper business. I certainly cannot indulge them."

He Shu stood and put on a deliberately solemn display. First she brushed her sleeves with both hands, then lifted her hem, knelt on one knee, and cupped her hands in salute.

"Empress Mother is wise. Thank you for your support and protection of your child."

This slightly exaggerated performance made both Emperor Zhengning and the empress laugh despite themselves.

"Where did you learn these strange movements? They look odd, but rather interesting."

She had learned them from the stage in her previous life, but of course she could not say that truth.

As far as He Shu knew, although Great An had entertainment such as song and dance, storytelling, shadow puppetry, and comic drama, it had not yet developed a fully formed stage opera art.

"Someone once saluted me with similar movements. I found it interesting and made the routine even more exaggerated."

Emperor Zhengning smiled and nodded. "So Shu'er still has the better temper. If someone dared salute me like that, he would certainly be charged with disrespect before the emperor."

He Shu, now standing, replied unconcernedly.

"They are just small tricks to court attention. That is human nature. For truly capable people, I am naturally more tolerant. As for incompetent fools, no matter how they jump about and draw attention, I will not pay them any mind."

After saying this, He Shu sat down at the side again and raised a plan she had long been considering.

"Imperial Father, Empress Mother, I plan to take advantage of the time before the new tax system is formally implemented to leave the palace and travel, and hear the people's feedback with my own ears."

Deep in the palace, she could obtain outside information through different channels, but where Tax Reform was concerned, no amount of caution was excessive.

Although she had indeed accomplished many things in recent years, He Shu had never therefore grown careless.

She knew deeply that every decision she made, even every word and action, could, in the larger sense, affect the future and development of Great An, and in the smaller sense, directly concern the lives and prospects of the people involved.

Because she always held such reverence, He Shu had not lost herself in the land of wealth and power, doing whatever she pleased on the strength of unmatched authority and status. Instead, before making any decision, she thought it through again and again.

Hearing that He Shu intended to leave the palace for a time, Emperor Zhengning was even more anxious than the empress.

"Shu'er, why would you have such a risky idea? Besides, if you are not here, what will happen to the government affairs?"

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