Chapter 16: Starting to Attack the Dungeon
She was still too young after all. She thought she had come up with a strategy that killed two birds with one stone, but little did she know that the interests between these aristocratic families ran deep.
Fortunately, Gu Zheng didn’t suspect her.
After paying respects to Gu Zheng, Lin Zhongyue led her into the yamen. The work Gu Zheng assigned her was nothing more than some daily trivial memorials, indicating that Gu Zheng hadn’t truly accepted her yet.
But she wasn’t in a hurry. Being too eager for quick success and instant benefits would only make people dislike her. It was better to take it slow.
The next day at court, all the officials gathered to report on the day’s political affairs.
In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Yue Shen sat high on the dragon throne, wearing a bright red robe embroidered with gold, her long hair tied up in a phoenix crown, her eyes lowered and indifferent.
A curtain of beads hung by her side. One could vaguely see a handsome and elegant man sitting behind it. As he lightly fanned himself, the beaded curtain swayed slightly, inadvertently revealing Qin Qing’s gentle and calm eyes.
Yue Shen was long accustomed to this scene of ruling from behind a curtain.
After the Minister of Revenue finished saying that the national treasury was empty this year, the hall fell silent. The civil and military officials all kept their mouths shut.
Yue Shen’s cold brows swept over them as she asked in a deep voice, “What countermeasures do you ministers have?”
It was only the beginning of spring, yet the national treasury was already in deficit. To make matters worse, there was a lack of rain in the south this year. A large portion of the early rice planted in March had fallen. The areas surrounding the capital also lacked water. No one dared to pick up where the Minister of Revenue left off at this juncture.
Only Gu Zheng knelt down on her inflexible legs. “Reporting to Your Majesty, this official thinks we can temporarily get through this by raising taxes on the people.”
“Inadvisable.” Yue Shen’s brows furrowed slightly.
Agriculture was the foundation of the country. This year had already shown signs of a great drought. If taxes on the people were raised at this time, she would lose the hearts of the people of Daqi even more.
Gu Zheng seemed to have anticipated her answer and continued, “Your Majesty, this year, the East Road and North Road Halls of Shuntian Prefecture have both experienced interrupted river flows. It’s even more severe in the Jingxian area. Many farming households have had to go to the outskirts of the capital to borrow water due to the lack of water. I’m afraid the autumn harvest this year won’t be guaranteed. If we don’t make plans early at this time, I’m afraid…”
Gu Zheng put it euphemistically, but Yue Shen understood. After the autumn harvest, if the peasants had nothing to eat, they would leave their homes and become refugees. At that time, the court might not even have money for disaster relief.
However, they couldn’t sharpen their blades against the people now either.
The two sides were at an impasse like this, and the officials all remained silent.
In the quiet hall, a soft laugh was heard from behind the beaded curtain. The ink-colored fan slightly lifted the beaded curtain as Qin Qing slowly walked out. “Lord Gu is wholeheartedly dedicated to the court. This heart is commendable. But you forgot one thing.”
Gu Zheng respectfully knelt. “Please enlighten me, Empress Dowager.”
“The Dian army defeated Baiyue. To express their sincerity in submitting to our great Daqi, Baiyue used the strength of their entire country to send a lot of gold, silver, jade, pearls, and beauties as tribute. If we could use these in the right place, it could solve our urgent problems. However, these tribute items seem to all be in the residence of the King of Dian.” The dark fan stirred up a cold and gloomy wind as it fanned towards Jiang Si.
Jiang Si knelt down with a thud, her kneecaps hitting the floor tiles with a muffled painful sound, but she couldn’t care about that. She had to keep the Empress Dowager’s fire away.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, although the Baiyue envoys are indeed in the King of Dian’s residence, that’s because there are often bandits in the border areas. To protect their safety, they were invited into the residence.”
Yue Shen said, “Since it’s to let them avoid bandits, when can they return?”
Jiang Si’s hands involuntarily clenched. Her mother, occupying land as a king, indeed had the intention of keeping this money for herself. But now that Empress Dowager Qin Qing’s faction was obviously asking for money, she wasn’t sure if the King of Dian could spit out the meat that was already in his mouth.
Qin Qing covered her lips with her fan and smiled indifferently. “Could it be that the King of Dian doesn’t want to give it up once he’s eaten it?”
“This official wouldn’t dare!” Jiang Si said loudly, “Since the Jiang clan came under the imperial clan, generations have been loyal to Your Majesty. We absolutely wouldn’t dare to do such a thing. The tribute items will return to the court with the army.”
Qin Qing satisfactorily closed her fan, stood tall with a smile in her eyes. “The Jiang clan is indeed loyal and steadfast.”
Gu Zheng also timely kowtowed at Qin Qing’s feet. “The Empress Dowager is wise!”
The other officials also knelt and prostrated, shouting “The Empress Dowager is wise!” as if the Yue Shen on the dragon throne didn’t exist.
The anger in Yue Shen’s heart spread. Her fingers tightly grasped the gold-woven sleeve.
She silently closed her eyes, blocking the rising gale in her eyes, repeatedly reciting that person’s cool words in her heart.
A gentleman hides his abilities and bides his time.
When she opened her eyes again, her clear eyes were already calm like a breeze.
—
After the morning court session, Gu Zheng met with the Empress Dowager as usual to report matters.
“Empress Dowager, the Qin clan reported that Qin Shu has already entered Dian territory. There’s not much movement on the King of Dian’s side.”
“Mm.” Qin Qing responded lazily, leaning on the noble consort chair. Yu Ye was serving tea and fanning her on the side.
“There’s been some movement in the King of Dian’s residence recently. It seems they’re privately hoarding Baiyue’s things. I’m afraid what they tribute to the court will…”
“No need to mind it. If that old thief, the King of Dian, can spit out half, it’ll be incredible. Let’s not push him too hard, lest that old thing throw a fit.” Qin Qing chuckled.
In the end, no matter how much he spits out, won’t it all go into the Qin clan’s pockets? How much can even enter the national treasury?
“This official understands.” Gu Zheng continued, “The Jiangnan Weaving Department paid respects with some goodwill. It’s been placed in your private residence outside the palace. This is the item list for your review.”
“Mm.” Qin Qing took another sip of tea. He didn’t even glance at the item list she presented.
He resided deep in the Empress Dowager’s position, above tens of thousands of people. Even the current emperor had to rely on his breath. The things sent by the Jiangnan Weaving Department, if placed before someone else, would probably make them gape in shock, but he was tired of even looking at them.
“Is there no other news?” Qin Qing slowly raised his eyes.
A hint of panic flashed in Gu Zheng’s shrewd eyes. Although Qin Qing was a man, he was so astute and experienced that she had to admire him. Therefore, when Qin Qing asked her back, Gu Zheng’s first reaction was whether he had grasped some handle on her.
“In the Yanshun area of the North Road Hall, illegal mining has occurred repeatedly recently. The local villagers are colluding with the bandits, running rampant in an area of ten li.” She truthfully reported. The Yanshun illegal mining matter had always been a tough bone to chew. The people colluded with the bandits, and the officials dispatched there were all defeated.
This was also a stain on her political achievements.
Qin Qing swept a cold glance, not taking this matter to heart at all.
“How has the Shuntian Prefecture been recently?” Seeing the doubt in Gu Zheng’s eyes, he began to hint.
Gu Zheng tasted a bit and tentatively said, “The Shuntian Prefecture has had no incidents recently. Everything is well. Lord Qiu has just been transferred into the prefecture and begun to take over government affairs.”
“How is her learning? Is she getting the hang of it?” Qin Qing suddenly became interested. His lazy body leaning on the noble consort chair also sat up slightly.
Gu Zheng instantly understood something. “Lord Qiu is extraordinarily intelligent and learns everything very quickly. The people of the Shuntian Prefecture also quite appreciate this Judicial Commissioner.”
Qin Qing’s thin lips involuntarily revealed a trace of a smile. “She is indeed young and promising. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to help Qin Shu retreat unscathed.”
Gu Zheng saw through his thoughts at a glance. Thinking of Qiu Shuzhi’s face and her not-so-glorious promotion path, a few hints of contempt arose in her heart.
A woman who relies on her face to gain a position will ultimately not achieve anything big.
Although the marriage between a commoner scholar and a noble son is called a beautiful tale, even Gu Zheng back then relied on marrying into the Qin family to display her talents and gain her current status. But Qin Qing can’t.
He is the current Empress Dowager. This is a great betrayal.
He can fall into it alone, but if he pulls the entire Qin clan down with him, it will be unacceptable.
“Lord Qiu is indeed intelligent and astute. This official believes the Yanshun illegal mining matter can be handed over to Lord Qiu to handle. She just entered the Shuntian Prefecture. As long as she can make some achievements, her subordinates will naturally be more respectful and trusting of her.”
Gu Zheng quietly threw the Yanshun mess, which was guaranteed to fail, to Qiu Shuzhi. As long as she couldn’t govern Yanshun well, then she could use the opportunity to demote her out of the capital, leaving her forever in that poor and remote place full of unruly people.
“Yanshun? No!” Qin Qing sat up straight, his expression solemn. “That place has fierce and unruly people. I’m afraid she won’t be able to govern it well as a novice.”
“Empress Dowager, you also said Lord Qiu is young and promising. This is also a test for her. If she can’t even handle this small matter of illegal mining, how can the Qin clan trust her? How can they entrust her with important tasks?”
Qin Qing pondered for a moment. He knew the people of Yanshun were fierce, but he also knew that Qiu Shuzhi’s official path had been too smooth. There were already people who didn’t submit to her below.
Sending her to Yanshun could appease those jealous officials and also enhance her credentials.
The Yanshun illegal mining matter was already a well-known difficult problem. Even if Qiu Shuzhi couldn’t solve much, it would still add to her qualifications. At that time, he could find an excuse to transfer her back.
“You’re not wrong. It’s good to let her gain some experience. However, the people there are not good. Send a few more guards to accompany her. Her going to Yanshun represents the court. Absolutely do not let those unruly people shame the court.” Qin Qing instructed.
Gu Zheng nodded with a smile. “Empress Dowager, rest assured. This official will definitely protect Lord Qiu’s safety.”
After the court session, Gu Zheng hurriedly called Qiu Shuzhi to the inner hall and told her the transfer order.
“Yanshun?” Qiu Shuzhi had been staying in Jiangnan before and wasn’t clear about the situation around the capital. She was even more unfamiliar with this place called Yanshun.
Gu Zheng patted her shoulder. “Illegal mining has appeared in Yanshun recently. For such an absurd thing to happen right under the Son of Heaven’s feet, the court attaches great importance to it and specially sent you to solve it. If you handle this matter well, the court will naturally reward you.”
“This official understands.”
Gu Zheng smiled kindly. “Don’t worry. I know you’re not familiar with the areas around the capital, so I specially sent a few guards to accompany you. When you arrive in Yanshun, the local county magistrate will receive you. This time is the court’s test for you. You must not let down the Empress Dowager’s high hopes for you.”
Empress Dowager?
Qiu Shuzhi vaguely felt that something wasn’t quite right, but the order had been given. She could only brace herself to face the challenge.
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*Spotlight on Finished Novel Translations*
Male Lead, The Black-Hearted Lotus (Female-dominant)
Short intro by Yuushi L:
At first, the male lead despised the female lead. Later, he misunderstood that she liked him, so he condescendingly and reluctantly reciprocated her feelings.
Then, he suddenly discovered that she was kind to everyone in the same way, and there was already someone she cherished in her heart, and that person was not him.
The male lead couldn’t believe it, he became angry and crazy. He was determined to capture her body and heart by any means necessary.
Synopsis:
Want to see how a green tea bitch male lead falls in love with the female lead?
Want to see how he flirtatiously pursues the female lead?
Want to see how he gets slapped in the face repeatedly?
The male lead is a green tea bitch, a poisonous lotus, jealous, ruthless, unscrupulous, with a venomous heart, and he’s also a delusional maniac.
The female lead is righteous, positive energy-filled, kind, a holy mother.
Let’s see how two people with extreme personalities come together~
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